A razor-sharp psychological suspense about two librarians whose lives become dangerously intertwined, How Can I Help You explores the dark side of human nature and the dangerous pull of artistic obsession. No one knows Margo's real name. Her colleagues and patrons at a small-town public library only know her middle-aged normalcy, congeniality and charm. They have no reason to suspect that she is, in fact, a former nurse with a trail of countless premature deaths in her wake. She has turned a new page, so to speak, and the ...
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A razor-sharp psychological suspense about two librarians whose lives become dangerously intertwined, How Can I Help You explores the dark side of human nature and the dangerous pull of artistic obsession. No one knows Margo's real name. Her colleagues and patrons at a small-town public library only know her middle-aged normalcy, congeniality and charm. They have no reason to suspect that she is, in fact, a former nurse with a trail of countless premature deaths in her wake. She has turned a new page, so to speak, and the library is her sanctuary, a place to quell old urges. That is, at least, until Patricia, a recent graduate and failed novelist, joins the library staff. Patricia quickly notices Margo's subtly sinister edge and watches her carefully. When a patron's death in the library bathroom offers a hint of Margo's mysterious past, Patricia can't resist digging deeper - even as this new fixation becomes all-consuming.
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Add this copy of How Can I Help You to cart. $0.99, very good condition, Sold by Greenworld Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Arlington, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2023 by G.P. Putnam's Sons.
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Very Good condition book with a firm cover and clean pages. Shows normal use and some light wear or limited notes markings. A solid nice copy to enjoy.
Add this copy of How Can I Help You to cart. $0.99, good condition, Sold by Zoom Books Company rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Lynden, WA, UNITED STATES, published 2023 by G.P. Putnam's Sons.
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Book is in good condition and may include underlining highlighting and minimal wear. The book can also include From the library of labels. May not contain miscellaneous items toys dvds etc. We offer 100% money back guarantee and 24 7 customer service.
Add this copy of How Can I Help You to cart. $0.99, good condition, Sold by Greenworld Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Arlington, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2023 by G.P. Putnam's Sons.
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Good condition. It may show normal signs of use such as light writing highlighting or library markings but all pages are intact and the book is fully readable. A solid complete copy that's ready to enjoy.
Add this copy of How Can I Help You to cart. $1.37, good condition, Sold by Goodwill rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brooklyn Park, MN, UNITED STATES, published 2023 by G.P. Putnam's Sons.
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Good. All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover if applicable. Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include From the library of labels. Shrink wrap dust covers or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
Add this copy of How Can I Help You to cart. $1.37, fair condition, Sold by ClickGoodwill rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Indianapolis, IN, UNITED STATES, published 2023 by G.P. Putnam's Sons.
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Fair. Used-Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact but shrink wrap dust covers or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes highlighting or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may be missing bundled media.
Add this copy of How Can I Help You to cart. $1.49, good condition, Sold by Zoom Books East rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Glendale Heights, IL, UNITED STATES, published 2023 by G.P. Putnam's Sons.
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Good. Book is in like new condition with minimal signs of wear. Pages are clean and free from notes or highlighting. Dust cover is intact. May not contain miscellaneous items toys dvds etc. We offer 100% money back guarantee and 24 7 customer service.
Add this copy of How Can I Help You to cart. $1.57, good condition, Sold by Gulf Coast Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Cypress, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2023 by G.P. Putnam's Sons.
Add this copy of How Can I Help You to cart. $1.68, good condition, Sold by Goodwill rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brooklyn Park, MN, UNITED STATES, published 2024 by G.P. Putnam's Sons.
Add this copy of How Can I Help You to cart. $2.49, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2023 by G.P. Putnam's Sons.
Add this copy of How Can I Help You to cart. $2.49, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2023 by G.P. Putnam's Sons.
Margo has started a new life - she's moved to a new town and has a new job working in the Library - but when she lets slip a little too much about her previous life to new starter Patricia, a game of cat and mouse begins...
I really enjoyed How Can I Help You and was fully gripped, powering through the pages to find out what would happen next. The book starts from the perspective of Margo, a jolly lady working at the town Library with a loud laugh and funny stories. However, Margo is hiding a big secret about her previous identity. The book then switches perspectives to new starter Patricia and alternates between the two of them throughout. This narrative technique worked really well, and you got one side of the story from Margo and then a completely different perspective from Patricia. It was great to see the small behaviours that would be read one way by paranoid Margo and then the innocent explanation from Patricia.
It's a well plotted booked and paced to perfection, with tension that really ramps up to the action-packed finale. Margo's character is so creepy, down to the obsession with having baths and her compulsion to set items on fire to calm herself down. There are hints to her childhood in here as well as details from the past which slowly reveal themselves until you get a true picture of her. As she's the first POV you are introduced to, you actually find yourself rooting for her over Patricia at some points which just shows the depth of Laura Sims' writing.
Overall, How Can I Help You is a creepy and compelling read that I just couldn't put down. Thank you to NetGalley and Verve Books for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
