How Can I Help You

How Can I Help You by Laura Sims is something very different and great fun. Possibly the first psychological thriller based mostly in a public library it features 2 women with pasts circling around each other,at first attracted then distinctly uneasy in each other's company.
This is a slow burn story, reserved Patricia enters the domain of "Queen of Library" Margo and a tentative friendship is at least attempted and a lack of social skills has one of the women dropping clues to her past, a past that truly dark.

This is an excellent read,and an obvious,and acknowledged, homage to Shirley Jackson with its Gothic horror in a seemingly mundane environment involving unlikely protagonists. The characterisation is excellent, Margo in particular is "complicated" to say the least but entirely believable,a great story with a touch of dark humour.

4 stars
Hohohohohooooo damn I liked this. This was messed up and weird to read the POV of Margot (especially when she talks about certain things) and even to see how Patricia sort of starts going off through her POV.

I really liked this but the damn ending didn't do it for me like I wanted. What did I want? I have no clue maybe something even more messed up or intense I don't know but I do know that I felt a little deflated by it compared to the rest of the book.

BUT really did enjoy this! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC to review!

This was an easy and quick read, I read it in one sitting smd it did keep me hooked. I definitely recommend it.

'How Can I Help You' by Laura Sims is set in the world of librarians, which was what drew me to it, as I am a librarian too. And Sims perfectly described what it's like to work in the public library system, dealing with all manner of strange patrons and book requests etc. The story centres on two women, Margo, a librarian who has a very dark past (I felt a bit squeamish reading about her murderous exploits as a nurse, tbh) and Patricia, a writer who comes to work with Margo in the library and begins to suspect something is not right. I found the prose tight, perfectly paced, and I couldn't put the book down. This is a compelling psychological thriller, set in an unusual situation.

Set in a library, How Can I Help You follows Margo, who’s not at all who her colleagues think she is, and Patricia, a frustrated writer, new to the small town where she’s taken up the post of reference librarian.
Once an ICU nurse, Margo has worked as a circulation assistant for two years, accepted by her colleagues who see her as a good sport. When Patricia arrives, Margo’s slightly rattled but determined to make friends, uncharacteristically letting slip a detail about her past that fans Patricia’s writerly curiosity already ignited by her discovery of Margo apparently trying to save an elderly patron, collapsed in the toilet. Patricia spends her days writing in her notebook when she should be doing her job while Margo begins to unravel, increasingly suspicious of her new colleague.
Laura Sims alternates her narrative between Margo and Patricia ratcheting up the tension nicely culminating in a breakneck race to the denouement which fit the novel well. There’s lots of dark humour to enjoy along the way but Sims is careful not to make Margo a caricature. A thoroughly enjoyable piece of crime fiction which reminded me of Alice Slater’s excellent Death of a Bookseller.

A great, quick read! Margo is a wonderfully intriguing character. From the very beginning it is obvious how manipulative and deceiving she is and this only strengthens as her secrets are revealed. When Patricia arrives her at the library, the new life Margo has created for herself begins to crumble slowly. This leads to a brilliantly unexpected ending which is perfectly timed.

What a read in under 250 pages! You'll read this short yet engaging narrative in one sitting! It is written from the povs of the two main characters, Margo and Patricia, who we follow in a steam of consciousness writing through the story. The chapters often follow the same narrative from both perspectives, adding fresh details and hints about the people to make the plot progress and keep us interested.

I loved Laura Sims' previous novel so had very high hopes for this one and I'm so pleased to say that I loved it! This is a slow burn psychological novel that really gets under your skin. We follow Margo who works at the library but she has a dark secret in her past and is determined to keep it hidden whilst also wanting to feel those feelings all over again. One day Patricia joins the library and Margo seems quite fascinated by her. We then see Patricia's story and she is a failed novelist who is determined to make it as a writer and she starts writing down things about Margo. The two women are fascinated by each other but never quite become friends as they warily circle each other's lives. The tension in this book gets so ramped up that I had to remind myself to breathe as I got nearer the end. The ending of the novel is shocking and it's one I keep finding myself thinking about. I loved this novel and I highly recommend it!

I can confidently say this book kept me hooked and I devoured it in one sitting. Although it is short, I think it was the perfect length for this story and feel if it was any longer I would be bored!

Ery short but I loved every second of it! Such a fresh concept and worlds apart for any other book I've read recently. It's well plotted out and the characters are so well written and fleshed out. As I said, it is a short read but immensely enjoyable for anyone wanting a nice wee thriller!

Well, this was a pleasant surprise! 'How Can I Help You' was compulsively readable and I flew through it- it's possibly even one of my favourite books I've read this year! It tells the story of a killer nurse (inspired by the true tale of 'The Good Nurse') who is lying low in a small town to evade capture - and gets a job at a local library. The story alternates in viewpoint between Margot (or Jane, the killer nurse) and Patricia, a new recruit at the library's research station - Patricia is a failed author who becomes increasingly suspicious of her colleague Margot (and also becomes inspired by her). I was completely gripped by this thriller and loved the writing- the only thing that let it down is the ending felt far too rushed. Thanks to Netgalley for this early copy - UK publication date is 25th July 2024 (I believe it's already out in the US). I'd definitely recommend picking up a copy if you enjoy a cosy thriller!

What happens when a person in hiding becomes the new fixation of a new-to-town, struggling writer?

It's a small but no less eccentric novel about two characters and their spiral of obsessions. Margo, with her mysterious but horrid past as a nurse and her perverted mania with death. Patricia, with her desperation for a writing breakthrough and finding a new source of inspiration in her new suspicious colleague.

As the two librarians' lives intertwine, and we venture deeper into the novel's pages that chronicle their psyche, the thrill builds to see how the two will tip-toe around the other, chasing the adrenaline rush of being on the edge of discovering another new shameful thing of the other.

Margo and Patricia are well-characterised with passages devoted to exploring their pasts or setting up the context of who they are in the present contributing to the story's pacing instead of hindering it. Margo, in particular, I would imagine is a hard character to write. Someone so irrationally odd and complicated and twisted that most people can't empathise with. I mean, she chronicles and documents her 'patients' and is utterly possessive over them! Yet, we don't need to empathise with her; all we need to do is understand how she is the way she is. Patricia, however, is poised to be the underdog: a crap boyfriend, low job prospects, feeling disillusioned about her passion for writing after failing to sell her first novel. So when you put two desperate characters in one tame setting (a public library), you get an equally desperate pair of characters tugged into a death dance like binary stars, ever slowing inching towards the other, bound to collide together in an explosive climax.

Thanks to Netgalley and VERVE Books for providing me with the e-ARC/DRC in exchange for an honest review.

"How Can I Help You" is a compelling psychological suspense novel about two librarians, Margo and Patricia, whose lives become dangerously intertwined.
The story delves into the dark side of human nature and the dangerous pull of artistic obsession.
A great read!

Fast-paced, dark thriller. While it’s on the shorter side it certainly packs a punch! Very descriptive and keeps you engaged, the premise sells itself honestly! Would 100% recommend this to anyone looking for a solid thriller to enjoy.

Move over dark academia, it's time to meet the dark librarians. Margo seems every inch the mild-mannered librarian, but hides a very unpleasant past, working as Nurse Death in a hospital. We, the reader, are gradually given glimpses of her backstory, but it's when our second main character arrives that things get really interesting.
Enter Patricia, a failed novelist who moves to the Smallville town in part to escape the crushing dullness/gaslighting of her boyfriend and work on the Reference desk of the same library. Sizing up Margo sparks a new novel idea for Patricia and she gets scribbling in her notebook, introducing a meta layer to the story (along with some wink-wink reading matter references to the Queen of Unsettling Tales, Shirley Jackson).
How Can I Help You is pacy, slick and smart. It's in a similar how-far-can-I-push-this vein as Death Of A Bookseller and every bit as entertaining. I loved this slightly over-the-top expose of the twisted minds lurking behind the library shelves.

This is such an intriguing book with two very interesting main characters, Margo and Patricia. The author really captures the creepy and bizarre actions and thoughts of both characters in such an entertaining and disturbing way.

The story was nothing like what I expected and was full of great twists and surprises, really pulling me into the story with some tense moments. This book is great for anyone who enjoys characters who are outside the norm and maybe on the darker side too. A really enjoyable read and fairly short which is always a plus!

I was very intrigued by the library setting after initially feeling hesitant at the plot, mainly because I don't usually read stories involving murder. Something grabbed me however, and I just had to open this book.
This took me out of my comfort zone and I felt unsettled at times but also deeply engaged with the characters and wanting to see how this would unfold and where it could possibly be headed. I questioned Patricia's actions often but as we drew to a close, I pondered whether a particular turn would occur and was surprised that I was right. Looking back, certain things seem fated!

This did give me a spark of inspiration to pick up a notebook and write, haven't done in a long time and Patricia's drive and the buzz she was blooming with, really is so relatable when a story flows from you. I think that's where my similarity ends however in this case!

A great read, kept me engaged and was one of those where I struggle to put it down so look for an excuse - maybe another bath today - and sneak off to read.

Thank you to VERVE Books and NetGalley for the copy of this book.

This was so good. Such a page turner and full of suspense that I finished it in one sitting. Hard to put down and the author keeps you turning the pages. I love a short thriller that I can just fly through with my heart pounding all the way through

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc

From the first sentence I know I would devour this in one setting and let me tell I did.

We hear in the first person from sinister and compelling Margo who interested me right away. Margo who has much more to her than the floral dresses and hearty laughs she gives the patrons from the library she works at. Margo who really is not Margo at all.

And we hear from Patrica who whist isn't quite as compelling but is an equally complex interesting character. A failed lost writer. A writer needing a story.

The plot is a full on cat and mouse game between the two. It is very subtle yeah it's fast paced but nothing really happens as such which shows what a well written book it is as it keeps you reading. There is constant undercurrent that something is going kick off.
Whist this book is short with a fast paced plot the author really manages to develop the characters, in fact while this has a creepy, sinister, slow burning thriller feel, it's actually a very well written character lead novel. There is a lot inner monologue and examination of the self from the characters which greatly enriches the plot. Both characters are witty, complexed and are in a battle with each other and themselves. Margo in particular has a very dark humour despite her being somewhat of psychopath I really liked her.


I loved the library setting and the literature references real added bonus and a unique setting.

It reminded me in parts of The Good Nurse tv show and the book Death Of Book Seller.

This book could have been a clear five stars for me had it been longer, sprinkled in with some flash back chapters and a slightly better finish but it is nonetheless a solid four stars and accomplished debut I look forward to reading more from the author and I do hope there is more to come.

What a deliciously bizarre book.

Hook, line and sinker as I read the first page, wanting to know more about Margo, the calm librarian surely nursing (pun intended) a dark secret.

What I liked about this book was that both two main protagonists and the supporting characters are fleshed out masterfully, as the tension builds up between the former. I felt the ending was a bit rushed, maybe because I was expecting more of that diligent character study as Margo and Patricia unravel.

Oh wow.... what a marvellous book! A beautifully crafted, dark psychological thriller with two totally compelling central characters. Set in a library, the story centres around two female librarians - Margo and Patricia. On the surface, these two characters appear to have nothing in common. Margo, older and a little dowdy, is on the run from her previous life as a nurse. Patricia, on the other hand, is young, beautiful and recently qualified. Despite their differences, the two women are drawn into each other's lives. When Margo admits she used to be a nurse in a previous life, Patricia starts digging - and discovers Margo's dark secret.
Having tried her hand at writing a novel that never got published, Patricia has decided to stop writing. But now, she feels compelled to write about Margo - obsessively noting down every detail of Margo's past, as well as watching her as she goes about her day to day life in the library.

Original and gripping this is a must for anyone who likes their crime fiction dark and twisted.

I really liked this book and managed to finish within a day as I was hooked as soon as I started.
It begins by us meeting Margo - who used to be Jane a nurse, but is now working in a library so we know straight away that something happened previously where she was chased out of hospitals. I like how it is told from both Margo and Janes point of view. Jane has also recently started working at the library and has noticed Margos sometimes strange ways. We get to read all their inner most thoughts and some turn out to be quite unhinged which I liked! This is a book about a quiet library which plays host to a possible murder. I found this to be a really good quick read and will be recommending.

This was a fun novel! Margo Finch is a librarian with an iffy past as a nurse. No one suspects a thing until a new reference librarian joins the the crew and starts paying a little too much attention. An enjoyable, short read to burn through.

Being a librarian myself, there was something slightly unsettling about reading a psychological thriller set in a library! This is a dark (really dark in places) engaging thriller. Margo is really interesting to read. I felt less drawn to Patricia, but I liked seeing the interplay of their two stories. And watching Patricia become feverish in her writing, I did get caught up in where her story would go. I wasn't entirely sure about the ending, though I sort of sensed things might go that way. Very readable, though it wasn't always the best thing for me to read immediately before bedtime!.

4+

Once upon a time, Margo Finch is Jane, but they’re very different characters - maybe! As Jane, she works in a hospital, but that’s a whole other story but her only intention is to help, honestly. Margo applies for a job at Carlyle public library, she likes the calm working environment and on the whole that’s exactly what it is, as she surveys her surroundings two years later. Now, she tries to help at the library but will chaos erupt from the proverbial peace and quiet? All is going well until Patricia (Pa-tree-shee-ah) a wanna be author arrives. The story is told in alternating points of view by both women.

This is so good! It’s a well written psychological thriller that’s creative and different and which hooks me in from the beginning. The characterisation of Margo and Patricia is outstanding, though they’re not at all likeable and as far from reliable narrator as it’s possible to get! Margo’s anxiety and distinct unease at Patricia‘s arrival is palpable as her nerves are distinctly stretched. However, Patricia‘s reaction to Margo is, well, interesting. It’s fair to say they each become obsessed with the other but in different ways and for very different reasons. A fascinating game of cat and mouse begins as they try to “score points” off each other. Are they both chameleons or maybe even wolves in sheep’s clothing? Who is the harbinger of doom? Is a deliciously dark puzzle of lies and secrets galore as you try to figure it out.

The library setting is a perfect choice for the drama as it’s calm belies the storm building beneath the surface. I love the inclusion of Shirley Jackson’s “We have always lived in the castle” which is so appropriate and clever. It’s a well paced gripping novel which is darkly, entertaining and chilling on more than one occasion. The tension between the two of them radiates off the pages as situations escalate to a dramatic ending.

It’s a quick, easy, fun read and one I can recommend to fans of the genre.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to VERVE Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

This book is great if you look for a thriller / crime story to entertain you. It's quite fast paced and has short chapters and the characters are unlikeable in the best was possible. I like how Patricia was instantly suspicious about Margo and how we got to know a little bit more about her past as the story went on. Great read for in between but nothing that's on your mind for too long.

A feel good thriller novel for an evening! Loved the juxtaposition of Margo, desperately trying to hide the secrets of her past, and Patricia, the new library entry who is suspicious (italics intended). The setting was adorable and inventive; both Margo and Patricia were utterly unlikeable which only made the storyline more interesting, and Margo's creepiness factor was absolutely a delight!

This was a pretty good thriller. I think the ending felt a bit rushed and a bit too easy - but I enjoyed following the two main characters, Margo, who works in a library and hides a troubled past, and Patricia, who has just started working at the same place and immediately has suspicions about Margo. It was well-paced and interesting, I found the characters unlikable but engaging, and I liked the premise of the plot.

Compelling from the start as mysterious Margo arrives in town, finds solace in the library, and discovers there's a vacancy. She drops some disturbing hints about her former job as a nurse.

Two years later and Margo is well established as a popular member of staff. She feels disquiet when Patricia is hired as the first reference librarian for 11 years. Patricia finds herself fascinated by Margo, who it transpires, lives in the same apartment block. A frustrated writer, she finds Margo a source of inspiration, particularly after she finds Margo astride an elderly woman who's died in the library toilets.

Margo gets restless and realises how much she misses her old profession and killing ways.

As Patricia frantically writes in her notebook, creating a murderous nurse novel, Margo is planning just one more murder.

Events race towards a thrilling climax in a confrontational finale. I'll never look at librarians in the same way. An original psychological drama with ordinary women who are anything but.

The plot of this book really intrigued me. It was relatively short and kept me interested the whole way through. The ending maybe felt a little rushed and I really would've liked to have seen more of Margo's back story.

3.5 stars round up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

A librarian with a secret and an unconscious customer…. A book with twists, tension and obsession! What’s NOT to love… a story told from two points of view.

Margo is a librarian with a hidden secret that she has made her mission to hide. However, when Patricia joins the team and finds margo with a customer who's unconscious , she starts snooping and discovers margos' true identity. Will Patricia do the right thing or use this secret as writers' fuel to feed her newest obsession. A thriller with 2 POVs full of twists and turns. There was an expected assault scene with a corpse, so do check triggers. This book was packed with animosity and twisted tension. A book of obsession, dark desires, passion, and unhinged characters .

There wasn't anything I didn't enjoy about this book. Such a fun read and what an ending!
Margo is a librarian with a secret, Patricia is a research librarian/wanna-be author who just can't help but find Margos little back story fascinating, obsessed and enthralled by her. These 2 characters were so easy to like, the whole of the library staff were fantastic. I adored this story

Who would have thought that a book about two librarians would be so good? I definitely had reservations before I started reading this but I’m glad I have it a chance.

It’s an original and tense thriller that I devoured in a single sitting.

Margo is a middle aged librarian, she arrived into town and into her role in the library two years ago and is charming, competent, professional and pleasant. Margo loves the library and is settled into her new life but nobody knows that Margo is not her real name and that before working in the library, she was a nurse who left a string of hospitals suddenly, the last one in the middle of the night, leaving a stream of premature deaths in her wake.
When Patricia joins the library staff she immediately is aware that all is not as its seems with Margo, she spots signs of a darker edge to her courteous colleague and when a library patron is found dead in strange circumstances in the bathroom, Patricia's unease about Margo develops into a deep fixation.
I really enjoyed this, a cat and mouse style suspense between two librarians one of whom has a propensity for murder , its a great idea and setting for a book and Sims brings these characters to life with skill and detail. This was well paced, unsettling and hard to put down. Recommend.

How Can I Help You was a really fun, slightly psychotic tale about an unhinged character trying to survive in a mundane society - it had a bit of a Nurse Ratchet feeling to it. Jane / Margo was killing patients in her nurse role before she was forced to quit and take a job in a library. While she is trying to live a normal life, the urge doesn't leave her. And her new colleague is very interesting to her.
It was really fun and it was entertaining to read this, I also enjoyed the twist at the end because I figured Patricia was a bit of a red herring from the beginning. She was a bit fixated on Margo and particularly when she unearthed her past.

"How Can I Help You" by Laura Sims is like a chilling mystery wrapped in the cozy confines of a small-town library. Meet Margo, the seemingly unassuming librarian with a shadowy past. When Patricia, a keen-eyed newcomer, senses something off about Margo, she embarks on a spine-tingling journey to uncover the truth. Sims crafts a gripping narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat, delving into the complexities of human nature and the allure of artistic fixation. With its taut plot and compelling characters, "How Can I Help You" is a captivating read that will leave you guessing until the very end.

This book with its bright yellow cover immediately caught my eye when I came across it on NetGalley and the blurb guaranteed that I added it to my TBR. I am new to this author and was not sure what to expect.
This riveting psychological thriller explores the dark underbelly of seemingly ordinary lives. The author crafts a tale of suspense and danger within the confines of a small-town public library. At the heart of the narrative is Margo, a librarian with a carefully concealed past. Her colleagues and patrons see only her middle-aged normalcy, congeniality and charge, oblivious to the fact that she was once a nurse with a trail of premature deaths behind her. The library serves as Margo’s sanctuary, a place where she attempts to quell the haunting urges of her past. The author excels at creating an atmosphere of quiet unease, drawing you into Margo’s dual existence.
The arrival of Patricia, a recent graduate and aspiring novelist, introduces a new dynamic to the story. Patricia, keenly observant, quickly senses Margo’s subtle sinister edge. The tension builds as Patricia becomes increasingly fixated on unravelling the mystery behind Margo’s façade. You are drawn into Patricia’s descent into obsession, making you question whether her relentless pursuit of the truth is driven by curiosity or an innate danger of its own.
The turning point occurs with a patron’s death in the library bathroom, offering a glimpse into Margo’s mysterious past. This event catapults the narrative into a thrilling exploration of secrets, deception and the consequences of unearthing buried truths. Patricia’s quest for answers becomes an all-consuming force, blurring the lines between reality and her own psychological turmoil.
Laura Sims’ writing is razor-sharp, creating an atmosphere that is both chilling and captivating. The pacing is expertly controlled, maintaining a sense of suspense that keeps you engaged until the final page. The characters are well-developed and the author skilfully navigates the complexities of their relationships, adding to the narrative. These two women will make it hard for you to ever look at your local librarian in the same way.
“How Can Help You” is a fantastic psychological thriller that explores the intricacies of human nature and the haunting power of hidden pasts. This novel is a must-read for fans of suspenseful storytelling and psychological depth. I cannot recommend this one highly enough. I cannot wait to get my hands on more of this author's work.

This is a book like no other I really enjoyed this and can’t wait to read more from this author. Will be recommending to friends.

I love the idea of a thriller set in a library and I liked the inclusion of a writer in this. It was weird because I didn’t know who to root for which was fun but strange… I enjoyed the book a lot but think it might fade from my memory,

“People confess to you all the time. They tell you things they wouldn’t tell someone they knew - you’re a semi-anonymous sympathetic ear. And they think you might have answers.”

Laura Sims novel is about two strange librarians. One is Margo who is known for her middle-aged normalcy, congeniality and charm. They would never suspect she once was a nurse responsible for countless premature deaths in her wake. She reinvented herself at his library which has become her safe haven until Patricia is recruited. A failed novelist and recent graduate who instantly notices the flaws in Margo’s character. Soon this becomes an obsession for Patricia as she becomes one for Margo. There’s something about each other they both can’t resist exploring out of odd curiosity. When two deaths occur in this town, Patricia becomes fixated on Margo from something she herself has let slip.

This read like a fast paced suspense novel. From the start to the end the reader is pulled into the quirks of each of these librarians and how they navigate around each other. As more and more is revealed, the obsessive behaviours of both to an extent becomes “normal”. They way the characters are oblivious to how obvious they are being is at times unsettling and both funny.

This can easily be read in one go. Although at times the characters did frustrate me I did enjoy the majority of this book.

Margo is just your average small town librarian who is always there and happy to help, but oh...wait Margo isn't Margo and she really isn't what she appears to be. Margo is actually Jane who has reinvented herself to run from her murderous past.

I sped through this entire book so quickly. Laura Sim's writing style was so smooth and the switching between Patrica and Margo felt seamless. I loved the way we got to see both sides these women. Margo clinging onto her past, needing to help as she likes to call it and Patricia who is looking for an escape from her own life and recent personal failures. The unreliable nature of both narratives was so fitting for the story and helped build tension throughout.

My one gripe was that the ending was a little underwhelming. I felt like it crept up on me and happened so fast that I blinked and it was over. I went into this pretty blind and I would definitely define this a physiological tale which would be a perfect recommendation for those who subscribe the the unique 'weird girl books' genre.

"How Can I Help You" is a gripping and suspenseful novel by Laura Sims that looks into the hidden depths of a woman's dark past. The story is narrated by Margo, a seemingly ordinary middle-aged library assistant, and takes place in a small-town public library. However, unknown to her colleagues and patrons, Margo has a haunting history of premature deaths stemming from her past life as a nurse.
For years, Margo has been able to keep her past buried and find comfort in the library's sanctuary. However, her peace is disrupted when Patricia, a talented yet frustrated writer, joins the staff. Patricia's sharp observation and curiosity lead her to delve into Margo's hidden past, ultimately leading her down a dangerous path as she uncovers the truth.
As the story progresses, Laura Sims skilfully alternates between Margo's perspective and Patricia's, heightening the tension and building suspense. Patricia becomes increasingly suspicious of Margo, fuelled by her own failed ambitions and the enigmatic events that occur within the library's walls.
Sims brilliantly captures the essence of their complex dynamic, bringing dark humour and depth to the narrative. The writer's attention to detail and meticulous pacing keep readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly turning pages to uncover the truth.
The novel "How Can I Help You" is a well-crafted thriller that immerses readers in a world of secrecy and deceit. Laura Sims skilfully intertwines the stories of Margo, a nurse who disguises herself as a killer, and Patricia, an aspiring writer consumed by curiosity. The book's well-crafted characters and exciting storyline make it a compelling read. However, some readers may find the ending unsatisfying. Overall, the journey is an addictive and heart-pounding ride.

This is the ultimate cat-and-mouse thriller. A slow-burn book that took my breath away, HOW CAN I HELP YOU takes a simple library and makes it one of the most dangerous places to be. I was intrigued by the concept - a murderous nurse fleeing her past - and it really added a level of creepiness I never expected. A weird and sinister little novel that I adored.

How Can I Help You is a clever, slow burning thriller than can easily be read in a single sitting. The setting of a small town library is sure to appeal to avid readers as it did me.

This is a book that you want to go into fairly blind. The suspense builds throughout the story of these 2 women, neither If them really who they appear to be. It was fun to see how they saw the same incidents so differently. It is dark and disturbing but a fun and quick read.

Thanks to Verve Books for my advanced copy of this book to read. Published on July 25th

Laura Sims has succeeded in producing a slow-paced thriller that generates enough suspense through the psychological battle between two contrasting figures. It is also satisfying to the addicted reader in me that the setting of a library and the importance of the plot points of certain books to the plot have been used wisely by her.

How Can I Help You is told from the point of view of two protagonists, Margo and Patricia. Margo seems to enjoy her job in a small town library, but she isn't who she seems. Patricia is a frustrated writer who has just taken a job at the library after deciding she's "failed" as a writer. The story alternates between the two of them, and it's fascinating to see how they both view the same events differently. Margo is desperate to befriend Patricia as she feels seen by her. Patricia is fascinated by Margo, but she also gives her the chills; she suspects that Margo isn't who she appears to be on the surface, and she then starts writing about her.

It is a bit of a slow burn, but I was invested from page 1 as it is brilliantly written and draws you in from the start. I really wanted to keep reading to see where it went and learn more about both characters. I also enjoyed some of the interactions between the protagonists and the patrons. Anyone who has had a job that involves the general public will relate to those comical moments.

I felt that the ending came about quite suddenly and seemed quite rushed. Perhaps I'm greedy, but I just wanted more! I'd also have loved to have learned more about Margo's backstory, about exactly how the events in her childhood came about and more about why she felt compelled to do the things she had done throughout her life.

Generally, though, I loved the writing, the idea, and the characters. This was my first by Laura Sims, but it won't be my last.

I loved this book. Deliciously dark with dry humour and I even found myself almost rooting for our main character!

The Dark Side..
The lives of two librarians become inextricably intertwined in this dark, edgy and cutting tale of suspense set in a small town public library. Secrets and scandals are undeniably at the root of everything as the past surfaces, the present becomes impacted and obsessions overtake everything. With a deftly drawn cast of keenly observed characters, a well imagined setting and a premise that amply delivers, this a delicious delve into the dark side of the human psyche yet well peppered with a bleak and breaking humour.

Thank you to NetGalley UK and VERVE Books for an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

How Can I Help You is an addictive, read-in-one-sitting, dual POV psychological thriller about Margo and Patricia, two troubled women who both work at the Carlyle Public Library. These two main characters are obsessive, secretive, and unlikeable which made me want to keep reading to find out what they were going to do next. Add the vivid library setting, with its dullness and revolting smells and characters, and watch as the creep level rises. While I overall enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to thriller fans, I felt that the pace and tension varied throughout the book, which made me lose interest at points, but this may not be the case for other readers. Overall, How Can I Help You is the perfect book if you are looking for a disturbing, descent-into-madness type of thriller!

How Can I Help You by Laura Sims offers a refreshingly unique and thoroughly enjoyable twist to the psychological thriller genre, set predominantly within the confines of a public library. The narrative revolves around two women with complex pasts, initially drawn to each other but gradually becoming uneasily entwined.

Patricia, with her reserved demeanor, steps into the realm of Margo, the self-proclaimed "Queen of the Library." As the two women attempt a tentative friendship, their interactions reveal a subtle dance of attraction and discomfort. The story unfolds at a deliberate pace, allowing the complexities of their characters to surface.

Notably, one of the women, hindered by a lack of social skills, drops cryptic clues about a dark and troubling past. This slow-burning narrative style adds an intriguing layer of suspense to the story. The library setting provides a unique backdrop for the psychological dynamics between the characters, making the book a standout in its genre. Overall, it promises a gripping and distinctive exploration of psychological suspense within the seemingly ordinary world of a public library.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This solid thriller is a refreshing change of pace. Punchy and fast paced, How Can I Help You wastes no time drawing the reader into its dark mystery. Sims succeeds where so many writers fail: managing to strike the perfect balance between withholding information to maintain mystery but keeping the reader engaged. The story moves along at a great clip that makes it hard to drag yourself away from the page. Would recommend this for any fans of complex, unlikeable leads.

It’s just fun reading about people who are reading or in this case reading about people who are working in a library. It feels like some kind of inside joke.

The main protagonists of this book are Margot and Patricia. Both of them are working as librarians and become colleagues. But one of them isn’t who she pretends to be.
Margot lied not only about her name but also about her work credentials as she has a lot to hide about her past occupation.
Patricia soon becomes suspicious of Margot and as a recently failed novelist she can’t help but getting intrigued, even though some might call it an obsession.
Soon it becomes a cat-and-mouse game for those two. But who will come out of this as a winner?

A bizarre slow burn thriller that had me hooked. The narration switched between Margot’s POV and Patricia’s POV. This gave us insight in their dark and twisted minds, even though we have to keep in mind that they’re also both unreliable.
It definitely gives off some Gothic vibes, not only because of their mentions of Shirley Jackson.
It’s suspenseful and will have you entertained all of the 256 pages

Once Patricia is introduced into Margo’s pretend new life, I was heavily involved. I think to add to the suspense, I was in hospital at the time of reading. This made me look at the nurses in a more sinister way at times when they were injecting ‘medicine’ into my IV.
Patricia just wanted a story, but in turn she can help herself… is she projecting or does she see a slice of herself in Margo’s old personality?!
I loved this book, very short but intense unique entanglement.

A slow burn full of tension that only really gets going at 50% in but my goodness does it get going and fast 🔥 The dual POV definitely helped move things along after that. At only 256 pages I feel like more could have happened in the first half but since reading, I’m wondering if there is .a sequel in the works? It’s set up perfectly to carry on where How Can I Help You finishes and I would love to see where things go…

Thank you to VERVE Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book before it publishes. How Can I Help You is out in the UK on 25th January! #HowCanIHelpYouNovel #NetGalley

What a quick 250 ish pages!
I enjoyed this page to page so much was crammed in!
A perfect psychological crime book for short evenings!

Perfect

I read this book in one sitting, I just couldn't put it down! It is the perfect psychological, suspenseful thriller. A highly entertaining read.

Oh, a nice cosy little book about librarians working in a library? WRONG! 🔪🔪🔪

📖 'How Can I Help You' by Laura Sims is about Margo, who's just left her job as a nurse to start working at a small local library. She enjoys her work until Patricia starts as the new librarian. They begin to get to know each other and things start going very wrong, and getting very weird indeed.

💛 I binged this in a couple of sittings. The tension & suspense guarantees you'll want to keep reading - from the start you KNOW that Margo is hiding something, and there's a real sense of foreboding & unease which builds as it goes on.

🧾 The switches to Patricia's point of view were great, especially when you've already let your opinion be shaped by Margo's assumptions about Patricia. The two women are dragged into a game of cat & mouse, both waiting for the other to put a foot wrong.

🚑 I found the segments about Margo's former life as a nurse really unsettling, especially after some of the stories which have hit the news over the past couple of years. Laura Sims does a fantastic job of writing a character who is quite obviously not sane, but rationalises & justifies everything to herself.

📕 I especially enjoyed the subtle social commentary & exploration of the 'customer service' façade Margo & Patricia have to put on while working with the public. Laura Sims asks the question 'what if the façade was dropped?' and takes it to the extreme.

💥 As I was reading, I was concerned that the built up tension wouldn't go anywhere, and that all the suspense would have been for nothing. I was not disappointed - the ending was perfect & disturbing in equal measure.

📚 Overall, an excellent book which I'd highly recommend to anyone who's after a gripping read about two extremely unhinged women. Weird, witty, and darkly funny - a must read!

🗓️ This book publishes with verve books on 25th July.

🎁 Thank you netgalley for my advance reader copy.

- Katie