How Can I Help You

Librarian Sims (Looker) writes a psychological thriller that stands out in a crowded field. After running from her former life, Margo has been hiding in plain sight for years as a library clerk; no one suspects that she’s really a former nurse suspected of killing patients across Chicagoland. Margo lives quietly and is friendly with colleagues and patrons while keeping everyone at arm’s length. The library is her sanctuary and refuge—until the new reference librarian starts. Patricia appears to be a competent and cosmopolitan new grad hired to bring the small library into the 21st century. Inside, she’s a failed novelist looking for a fresh start. When a patron dies in the library, Patricia gets a glimpse of Margo’s dark side. The writer in her is intrigued, and she begins to watch Margo’s every move, detached interest becoming obsession as she uncovers Margo’s secret past. At once terrified and exhilarated by Patricia’s watchful eye, Margo and her carefully crafted world begin to fall apart. The novel’s two unreliable narrators cannot seem to help hurtling toward obsession and mutual self-destruction.