July 24, 2023
Kim’s bittersweet second novel (following Miracle Creek) intertwines an intimate family drama, a missing-persons mystery, and a philosophical rumination on happiness. Korean American college student Mia Parkson and her twin brother, John, are spending the Covid-19 lockdown at their parents’ house in suburban Virginia. One morning, their autistic 14-year-old brother, Eugene, races home from a hike with their father, his clothing spattered with blood. Their father is nowhere to be found, and Eugene—who is nonverbal—isn’t able to say what happened. While Mia and her family help authorities sift a bewildering array of clues, Mia studies analytical notes her father left behind, which posit that the experience of happiness is relative to an expected outcome—leading her to wonder whether her father is subjecting them all to an elaborate social experiment. Meanwhile, the Parksons investigate therapies Eugene has been undergoing that suggest they have underestimated his intelligence and ability to communicate—a revelation that dovetails with Mia’s own complex thoughts on how factors including race, language, and emotion all impact people’s interpretation of information and ability to relate to one another. Readers will be fascinated with how Kim bends the structure of a whodunit to serve a broader exploration of the dynamics of human relations and moved by her skill at wresting joy from tragedy. Agent: Susan Golomb, Writers House.
Starred review from June 10, 2024
Kim's (Miracle Creek) richly layered novel brings together philosophy, family drama, love, and hope. Korean American college student Mia Parkson usually has an answer for everything. The overly analytical 20-year-old is not concerned when her father disappears--at least not at first. When her brother, Eugene, who has a dual diagnosis of autism and Angelman syndrome, runs home alone from a walk in the park, concern grows in the family, especially since Eugene can't articulate what happened. As the clock ticks on the investigation, the family, confined by the beginning days of COVID lockdowns and quarantines, must face their secrets if they wish to uncover the truth of their patriarch's whereabouts. An ensemble featuring Shannon Tyo, Sean Patrick Hopkins, and Thomas Pruyn narrates this complex yet hopeful look at the intricacies of a family facing a personal tragedy and an international crisis. Kim provides a sincere and moving note at the end. VERDICT Although the novel is marketed as a mystery, this lushly atmospheric listen will have broad appeal. Share with fans of Celeste Ng and those who appreciate layered family drama that explores race, language, and neurodivergence.--Elyssa Everling
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