Miracle Creek by Angie Kim

Book Review

I’d had this one sitting on my nightstand for the better part of a year and I FINALLY read it (in less than two days).

This gripping legal thriller will keep you guessing until the very end… it’s hard for me to believe this is a debut novel! Not only does the book spectacularly capture the drama of a contentious court case, but it also expertly portrays the family dynamics of an immigrant family in turmoil.

In the opening chapter, an explosion occurs at the Yoo family’s wellness center, killing two people and injuring several others. What follows is a whodunit-style mystery where every witness seemingly has a motive. Told from the POV of each of the surviving victims and witnesses, it’s difficult to discern who is a reliable narrator and who knows more than they may admit.Through a series of flashbacks, we’re taken back to the scene of the crime in the days leading up to the explosion. However, instead of exposing the truth, these flashbacks create more questions. Was the Yoo’s teenage daughter involved with a married man? Was the mother of one of the deceased victims abusive? Did the owner of the wellness spa, Pak Yoo, intentionally set the fire in order to obtain insurance money? Was it a coincidence that protesters showed up the morning of the explosion?

Every time I thought I had this one figured out, I was immediately proven wrong. While I do enjoy a continual guessing-game, I did feel that the book had a few too many twists. Nevertheless, they were all clever and thought-provoking.

As much as I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the book, I also really enjoyed hearing the stories of the wellness center’s clients. Called the Miracle Submarine, the center sought to treat those with conditions like autism, cerebral palsy and infertility. Hearing the first-hand experiences of the parents and clients living with these conditions was both eye-opening and heart-wrenching. The owners’ story was equally fascinating, as the family immigrated from South Korea in search of a better life for their daughter. The author, who herself is an immigrant from South Korea, dives deep into the challenges faced by immigrants searching for purpose and belonging far from home.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5