Book Review: "Miracle Creek" by Angie Kim
The only thing better than this book was reading it outside on a sunny day with my puppy pal, Taffy.
Synopsis: How far will you go to protect your family? Will you keep their secrets? Ignore their lies?
In a small town in Virginia, a group of people know each other because they’re part of a special treatment center, a hyperbaric chamber that may cure a range of conditions from infertility to autism. But then the chamber explodes, two people die, and it’s clear the explosion wasn’t an accident.
A powerful showdown unfolds as the story moves across characters who are all maybe keeping secrets, hiding betrayals. Chapter by chapter, we shift alliances and gather evidence: Was it the careless mother of a patient? Was it the owners, hoping to cash in on a big insurance payment and send their daughter to college? Could it have been a protester, trying to prove the treatment isn’t safe?
“A stunning debut about parents, children and the unwavering hope of a better life, even when all hope seems lost" (Washington Post), Miracle Creek uncovers the worst prejudice and best intentions, tense rivalries and the challenges of parenting a child with special needs. It’s “a quick-paced murder mystery that plumbs the power and perils of community” (O Magazine) as it carefully pieces together the tense atmosphere of a courtroom drama and the complexities of life as an immigrant family. Drawing on the author’s own experiences as a Korean-American, former trial lawyer, and mother of a “miracle submarine” patient, this is a novel steeped in suspense and igniting discussion. Recommended by Erin Morgenstern, Jean Kwok, Jennifer Weiner, Scott Turow, Laura Lippman, and more-- Miracle Creek is a brave, moving debut from an unforgettable new voice. - Sarah Crichton Books
Rating (out of 5): 5
Review:
When I was ten years old, my parents let me read “The Firm” by John Grisham (tbh, they may have given it to me to keep me quiet on a long car ride), and since then, I have loved a good courtroom thriller. I couldn't count how many I have read in the past few decades, but I do consider myself a minor expert on this subject — and so when I say that “Miracle Creek” is an excellent entry into this genre, you’ll just have to believe me.
The book opens with “The Incident” — the explosion at the Yoo family’s business in Miracle Creek, Virginia: a hyperbaric chamber that can “cure” some “incurable” diseases. At the time of the last dive, the people inside were Matt, a man suffering from infertility; Kitt and her extremely autistic son, T.J.; Henry, the autistic son of Elizabeth; and Theresa and her daughter Rosa, who has Cerebral Palsy. There’s an intentional fire set, a giant boom, and at the end of the day, Kitt and Henry are dead.
A year later, it is the trial of Elizabeth, Henry’s mother. From that point on, the book is totally focused on the four days of her murder trial. I assumed that this would be a cut and dry story - we would learn about the background of the accident, we would understand the motive, and Elizabeth would be proven a monster (author’s note: though my name is Elizabeth, I don’t think I’m a monster?). Well, it wasn’t that at all - it was a wild ride once we entered the courtroom, and until the last 15 pages, I didn’t know who actually committed the crime.
Angie Kim did an amazing job with the characters — they were all a little bit suspicious, a little bit sympathetic — and I kept changing my mind as to who set the fire? Was it Elizabeth, who shows no emotion during her murder trial? Was it Pak, who would collect $1.3 million dollars in the event of a fire? Was it the Protestors, who swore to shut the facility down? Was it Janine, who thought her husband Matt was having an affair? The book is told in the different viewpoints of those affected by the explosion, and I am not exaggerating when I say I thought a different person did it at the end of each chapter.
With that said, the end was satisfying and sad and hard to come to terms with, but also totally believable. In a few months, once I’ve let it settle, I’m honestly considering picking it up again (#comfortrereader) to see if knowing who did it impacts the story and its telling in any way. If I am able to get it back in my “to-read” rotation, I promise to come and update here.
Trigger Warnings: violent death, autism, shifty characters, smarmy lawyers
TL; DR: Read this. Especially if you like lyrical prose, courtroom drama, family strife, the immigrant experience. I’m embarrassed I passed on it for my April Book of the Month Club book* and I am so glad it was one of my virtual book club books this summer.
If you liked these, you may also like:
Anything old school John Grisham - my personal favorites are “The Firm”, ”The Pelican Brief”, “The Brethren”, and “The Chamber”
*This is an referral link to my Book of the Month Club account - I have been a member for about 2 years now (I’m so pleased to be a BOTM BFF), and I don’t think there’s a better value. You get a new release (hardback) for less than $10 a month, and there are tons of add-on books for the same price. If you are a big reader and you love reading the latest books, couldn’t imagine a better deal.
