Review by Amy Krakow
Carbondale Branch Library
I’ve always been afraid of the dark, but not of things that go bump in the night or scary monsters under my bed. It’s more like aliens beaming down to abduct me and my dog. That’s traditionally why I’ve steered clear of darker literature. However, I couldn’t resist the incendiary cover of Laura Sims’ recent novel, ‘How Can I Help You.’
It’s a short, suspenseful story that doesn’t quite scare the timid reader into hiding but can’t help making them want to turn the pages at warp speed. The novel finds Margo, our twisted protagonist, masquerading as a librarian. Formerly working as an ICU nurse, she finds herself working alongside her nemesis, a newly-hired reference librarian and aspiring author, Patricia.
Their lives become intertwined when Patricia develops suspicions about Margo’s unconventional behavior toward patrons as she witnesses vulgarities spewed from Margo’s mouth into the ears of the less fortunate individuals who have come to irritate her. Unbeknownst to them, death is only hours away, detailed in hauntingly imagined technicolor by Sims.
At times, the novel reveals its sparsely sprinkled comedic side, but as Patricia gets closer to the truth about Margo, she finds her own life to be in danger.
If you’re interested in a quick, alluring read, I highly recommend this novel which might send shivers up your spine but won’t give you nightmares.