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Miracle Creek

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This was a tough one. I LOVED parts of it. I liked parts of it. A couple parts just felt like the flow was off and I had to go back and re-read to see if I missed something. This was a debut novel and deals with some tough subjects including how far will parents go for their children.

A immigrant family, the father Pak, mother Young, and teenage daughter Mary (her Americanized name) struggle now that they are reunited after years of separation. Pak.opens an HBOT facility. Link included because I googled to wrap my head around what it did to get a better understanding.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy/about/pac-20394380 The cast of characters have all brought their children (or themselves) in search of help. A horrific accident happens that results in injuries and loss of lives. The story is part family drama and part court room drama as both unfold as the book progresses.

The third party narration is helpful and also lets you see how judgement you may have made were false as you were reading one person's version of events. It makes you ponder how often this happens in real life.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I would say this is a 3.5 rounding up to 4.

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Wow.

This isn’t an easy read. It’s disturbing at times yet at once, incredibly moving. Miracle Creek is a thrilling courtroom drama in which the author respectfully touches on a bounty of poignant topics.

The story begins on the night of the incident. A family have recently migrated from South Korea and opened a business providing HBOT treatment. This is a treatment in which patients breathe in 100% oxygen and is said to improve a range of health problems, from infertility to autism. Then, a mysterious fire breaks out. Fast-forward one year and Elizabeth Ward is on trial for the murder of her eight-year-old autistic son and another patient. The pressure of parenting her autistic child was driving Elizabeth to the edge. Did she commit arson and murder her son? Or, is there another explanation?

Being a courtroom drama, I don’t want to delve too deep into the plot as you’ll no doubt want to uncover all the scandalising details on your own. I will note that this book is an incredible exploration of grief, prejudice, love and pride. The trial and mystery make for the perfect backdrop for a powerful character study. The people involved in the tragic event are flawed, complex and the ripple effect of their rash impulsive decisions spiral out of control and change their lives forever.

Furthermore, through the multiple characters perspectives, Kim sheds light on motherhood and what it’s like to care for disabled children. She explores how far a parent will go to protect their family and proposes thought-provoking questions; what would we do in their shoes? In addition, she illustrates the prejudice surrounding immigrant communities as we learn more about the Yoo family and their daily struggles in society.

Watching the courtroom action unfold, it’s fascinating how easily our opinions and beliefs are skewed by the manipulation of words and interpretations of events. I didn’t know who to believe. While I read each of the characters’ points of view, filling in the night in question, I felt hatred, anger but also sympathy for all of them. As they share more about their lives prior to the event, their omissions are what effectively keep the reader guessing.

We always want the best for our family and, sometimes, telling lies and keeping secrets are deemed necessary. Miracle Creek, a deeply moving mystery, presents the tragic consequences that can follow. I took so much away from this book. Sign me up for all of Angie Kim’s future releases!

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Angie Kim's writing is phenomenal. I picked it up during a reading slump, and the first chapter alone got me hooked!
Miracle Creek is the story of the tragedy and fallout surrounding an "accident" with the Yoo family's HBOT; a medical "submarine" that supposedly has healing properties. When the submarine explodes and two patients are killed, there are secrets and desperation abound... and everything makes its way to the surface.
At a time when we need more authors telling diverse stories that are well written and keep us on the edge of our seats, Angie Kim's story of a Korean immigrant family's sacrifices, hopes and dreams - with a totally new Big Little Lies-esque twist - is a welcome perspective!

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This fascinating debut novel covers all the bases - family drama, mystery, courtroom drama. A Korean couple opens an alternative health clinic that provides HBOT - hyperbaric oxygenation, which is supposed to help with autism, infertility, CP and other health problems. On a day that protesters have gathered outside the facility, it explodes. The same day one of the mothers chooses not to accompany her autistic son into the chamber. The same day the couple are both away from the controls of the chamber. So, who exactly is to blame when all the participants are either killed or injured? Who could be that much of a monster?

Told from multiple points of view, we get to see both the day of the “accident”, their lives prior to it and the ensuing court case when the mother is charged with murder. The multiple points of view are extremely effective. “Teresa hadn’t expected an exact match between his memories and hers - she watched Law and Order; she wasn’t that naive- but still the difference was unnerving.”

We are taken into the world of parenting autistic children; the anguish and the hardships but also the bliss of a small achievement.

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This book was amazingly written and plotted. Truly one of the best books I’ve read! The courtroom ready like the best episode of a Law and Order episode. Unique plot and lots to think about and discuss! Cannot wait to read something else from this author. What a amazing debut you won’t want to miss!!!

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The story of a deadly explosion at a medical treatment facility, Miracle Creek is both a suspenseful courtroom mystery and a fascinating societal critique.

Full review posted at BookBrowse.com: https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/reviews/index.cfm/book_number/3920/miracle-creek#reviews (paywall, link included for publisher)

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing house for providing an advanced copy for review- it allowed me to toggle between my hardback and Kindle this month. All thoughts and opinions are my own! 

I do not typically turn to courtroom dramas for reading, but the premise for this one was so intriguing that I decided to make Miracle Creek my Book of the Month in April. Don't worry, if you missed that one, you can probably still add this one to your box this month! Honestly, this book really blew me away with it's smart twists that it surprised me that such seasoned writing could be found in a debut novelist. 

If courtroom thrillers aren't your cup of tea or if you haven't picked up one since the Grisham days, I encourage you to give this one a spin! 

The book opens with the court case so it is one of those right-out-of-the-gates kind of books that I tend to gravitate towards these days. The story centers around a family who have immigrated to the states and decided to open an experimental medical treatment facility that utilizes a pressurized oxygen chamber as a therapeutic device to treat complex medical cases like autism and infertility. 

When the device, known as the Miracle Submarine, explodes, killing two people, everyone becomes a suspect and each have their own motives that could throw their innocence into question.

Told from alternating perspectives, Kim really builds layered characters that are real and relatable. I found the mother, who comes under scrutiny, to be among the most compelling because she is dealing with the heaviness of the day-to-day grind of appointments and struggles with her son and her need to escape from these burdens. 

If you are a fan of Celeste Ng or loved Defending Jacob, I have a feeling you will love this book as much as I did. Kim really uses her own complex background in a way that makes you feel sympathy in the Yoo's family struggles of trying to make their life in America and not always feeling welcomed or at home. 

Please note, this review will be posted on June 1st, in the link provided!

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Above all, a novel about how hard mothers are on themselves. No matter who we are, where we come from or our parenting challenges and successes, deep down lives the fear that we are just not a good enough mother. That the petty feelings and frustrations that erupt from time to time make us inherently toxic to our children. With that as the books core, I especially enjoyed watching the story unfold from the radically different persepctives of each of its characters, who are bound together by the tragedy that starts the book. Realistic characterizations, just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, and an interesting look into the lives of Korean immigrant families. An excellent read.

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This was an interesting look at how all of our little choices in life interact with each other to create both big and small consequences and experiences.

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"But that was the way life worked. Every human being was the result of a million different factors mixing together… Good things and bad – every friendship and romance formed, every accident, every illness – resulted from the conspiracy of hundreds of little things, in and of themselves inconsequential."

Miracle Creek is a courtroom drama centering around Elizabeth, a woman accused of killing her eight-year-old Autistic son, and the Yoos, a Korean immigrant family who run an experimental medical facility using hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). When an explosion occurs, killing two of the occupants in the “submarine,” evidence soon points to arson due to the remnants of a cigarette and matches being found near the point of ignition. The story follows the trial of Elizabeth, who is accused of starting the fire with the purpose of killing her son, as the drama of the courtroom unfolds.

One of the most interesting things about this novel was the intricacy in which the author wove together the stories from multiple disparate characters. As the drama unfolds, so do the lies that each of these characters have told and how those seemingly tiny and inconsequential lies have often disastrous consequences. The characters were really well-developed and interesting and sympathetic. Although I had my ideas early-on who set the fire – and ended up being correct, surprisingly – the motives behind said action were murkier to figure out. I also thought it was really interesting how much the author put herself and parts of her life in her novel – she immigrated to America from Korea when she was a young girl, she was a lawyer, she majored in philosophy in school, and her son underwent HBOT treatment.

The only thing that I didn’t like was the author’s overuse of imagery; though it was beautifully written and helped set the scene at several points in the novel, after a while it got to be too much.

Overall, I really enjoyed Miracle Creek. It was a really good read and kept me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

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I requested this one on NetGalley for the express purpose of being able to give my review but I had already chosen it from BOTM. So, with that being said, I chose correctly. This is an outstanding novel that is well paced and intriguing. It offers a very believable plotline, a family that has immigrated to Miracle Creek sets up a treatment center using hyperbaric oxygen tanks to do "dives" to treat all sorts of conditions, but primarily psychiatric and neurologic disorders of childhood. One day, the operator of the center leaves the center in the hands of his wife who is less than certain of her ability to manage. She does not feel confident in running the show and naturally things go wrong. This is only the first few pages. The real story unfolds in following the trial and what happens after.

This is a terrific read and I highly recommend it.

#MiracleCreek #NetGalley

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In a small town named Miracle Creek, a Korean immigrant and his wife run a hyperbaric oxygen treatment ‘submarine’ hoping to help others with many different medical conditions. One day, the submarine catches fire and explodes and injures some and leave others dead. A cigarette, matches, and a note are found where the fire started. Now they must figure out who started the fire. Was it the owner hoping to cash out on the insurance money to help his family? Was it the mother of an autistic child receiving therapy who just couldn’t take any more? Or was it someone else?

I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I requested this book and I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. It sucked me in from the beginning and I ended up LOVING it!!!! It was more of a courtroom drama type read than I expected which I absolutely loved and it kept me invested and guessing until the end. I cannot say enough good things about this book and am so sad that the book is finished! You HAVE to read this!


Thank you #NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!
#MiracleCreek #NetGalley

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Miracle Submarine provides pressurized oxygen treatment to a variety of clients in a non-medical setting. Among its clientele are parents with children having various conditions for which there are no solutions, cures, answers through medicine, diagnoses such as being on the autism spectrum or cerebral palsy. Located in Miracle Creek, Virginia, the business is owned by the Yoo family, immigrants from Korea pursuing the American dream of a better life for their daughter, Mary.

BUT! Everything is about to go wrong in a horribly awful way. And we readers will be caught up in a mesmerizing tale of deception, half-truths, shades of gray to black in assessing degrees of blame and or guilt. One evening, after a day of complications and delays, there is an explosion while people are still in the tank, while a session is still under way. This novel is the outcome of that night, the reworking of all that may have happened, the trial experience, for blame is apportioned.

This is a novel of responsibility, guilt and/or innocence, the uses of blame, truth vs expedience. It’s a novel of relationships or the lack of them or how they can become warped by so many factors. How the lack of human support can have unknown echoes on future events.

Above all, it’s a thrilling read that I very strongly recommend to all. 5 strong stars.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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Miracle Creek was a great mystery/courtroom drama. It’s one of those books that I didn’t want to put down. I was very impressed with this author’s debut.

The book opens with the night of the explosion and fire in the Miracle Submarine, used for HBOT medical treatment. HBOT stands for Hyperbaric oxygen therapy which is a medical treatment that uses increased atmospheric pressure and increased oxygen. The characters in the book use it for conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, and infertility. Two people die in the fire, and it looks like it wasn’t an accident. The majority of the book is a murder trial and each character recounting the events of that night and the days leading up to the tragedy. The author pieces together info as told through several of the characters. Bit by bit we learn more truths and uncover more lies.

4.5 stars rounded to 5! Highly recommended! Looking forward to more from this author. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

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This was one of the books published in 2019 that I was looking most forward to reading! It’s a mystery novel with a thriller-like pacing, so gripping I almost fell on my face reading it while going home. I just needed to know what happened next.

In the small town of Miracle Creek, the Yoos run the Miracle Submarine, an alternative medical treatment to promote healing of the body by breathing pure oxygen. When the submarine one day explodes and two people died, secrets threaten to come to surface during the trial. Did Elizabeth plan to murder her own child?

This court mystery is absolutely enthralling. There was a surprising depth of humanity in the book, which talks a lot about immigration and fitting in, about autism, about the difficulties of being a parent to a disabled child and the joys of it, too. Even infertility is discussed honestly. I was absorbed by the story and read this in one day. I loved the multiple POV, which gave each character such depth. A really, really great book that I highly recommend!

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I’m going to start by telling you that the hype and buzz surrounding this book is totally warranted, I had very high expectations after hearing from some of my most trusted friends that this was an incredible book and it exceeded them by a mile. The fact that this is a debut blows my mind, you know those rare debuts that take the literary world by storm? This is that book, it’s going to be huge and will be an extremely popular choice for book clubs for years to come, mark my words.

I don’t have the best track record with literary mysteries, I’ve only seriously enjoyed a couple but this was the best one I’ve ever read, hands down. Sometimes literary fiction in general feels like it’s trying too hard for me, all the flowery descriptions and ramblings tend to make my eyes glaze over but Kim wrote in a literary style that was pure magic. From the incredibly well crafted characters to the descriptions of the town of Miracle Creek and even to the retelling of the events of a tragedy through the eyes of several individuals, I was mesmerized, it was a totally magical reading experience.
You hear from several key people who were present the day of the accident and the story unfolds over the course of four days of trial testimony. Seeing how everyone involved had such different experiences and outlooks about not only the day in question, but also their memories from the months leading up to the event were endlessly fascinating as well. Choices played a huge role here too, how even the smallest, most seemingly innocuous decisions can have a huge impact was another thing that kept me riveted. The idea that a mundane day and a series of basic everyday choices can have consequences that add up to something no one ever saw coming still gives me the chills.

Any book with a character that has a special needs child draws me in, no matter what the subject matter, but when you have a group of parents of special needs kids and their struggles are so painfully honest and relatable, I’m a mess. This is the second book I’ve read this year that deals directly with ASD and also the second that portrays the daily life as a caretaker and advocate in such an accurate manner that I’m totally shook. Kim tapped into some of my innermost thoughts and fears about my own son, the dark and ugly fleeting things that fly through my head from time to time that once again, I felt seen, exposed even. It’s a powerful feeling making this already unforgettable book one that has earned its place as one of my favorite books of all time.

I’ll stop gabbing because we could be here all week if I don’t, but I recommend this one to everyone. If you like to read, add this one to your TBR. It’s incredible and not to be missed.

Miracle Creek in three words: Memorable, Vivid and Intoxicating

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Miracle Creek is a finely layered story that goes beyond the plot details - a courtroom drama that also shows how little of the full picture we actually get in court.

Pak and Young are a couple running a business called Miracle Submarine - a pressurized oxygen chamber that patients use for alternative medicine treatments.

Right at the start, there is an explosion that kills two people - and then we jump to a year later and the trial that is occurring to determine who caused the explosion.

The story unravels from many different viewpoints and we learn what was happening with the various characters leading up to the explosion and since it happened.

It’s a great story and it was beautifully written but for some reason I wasn’t totally drawn into it. I think it may have been a case of reading it at the wrong time or my expectations from all of the buzz around it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

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This book was one intriguing read! The way this author was able to weave this story together and give us little bits and pieces paced over time was pretty amazing. I love when a book explores the legal and emotional side of an event and this one delivered. I wavered for a long time between 4 and five stars on this one so I think I am landing on a 4.5. There were just a couple parts that I found a little disturbing and thought they could have been told in a different way. Also, the conclusion of one character just felt wrong to me. I would 100% pick up another book by this author. To think that she could tell an almost flawless story as a debut work is incredible!

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The Yoo family—Pak, Young, and their daughter Mary, have pinned all their American hopes and all their money on their new business. It’s a hyperbaric chamber that is supposed to help cure or improve all kinds of medical issues. Angie Kim’s new novel, Miracle Creek, begins while a session is in progress. In the chamber are two children with severe autism, one parent, and Matt, a man suffering from low sperm motility, which his wife believes can be helped by the high doses of pure oxygen pumped into the chamber. What begins as a normal treatment goes terribly wrong when the oxygen tanks explode, sending flames into the locked chamber. One boy dies, as does a parent. Matt loses fingers and Pak is paralyzed. How could this have happened and who is responsible?

This shocking opening scene also lets readers in on a lie. Pak is the licensed operator for the Miracle Submarine (as they call the hyperbaric chamber). No one else is supposed to manage things during a session. But that’s not the case at the time of the incident. This is just the first of the many lies that make Miracle Creek propulsive and hypnotic reading. But does this mean Pak is on trial? No. Elizabeth, the parent of Henry, the boy who died, is found to have planned the explosion in order to kill her son and free herself from a life in service to him that has become unbearable.

After the opening scene the novel segues immediately into the trial taking place a year later. In the same way that the defense and prosecution call witnesses, Kim lines up her characters and lets them testify to what happened not only that day, but in the days and even months before. Each has a lot of story to share, all of which they believe to be the absolute truth and none of which turns out to be the case. For every truth uncovered another lie remains hidden.

As each character tells their side of the story, Kim carefully teases out details in their lives that, on the surface, may seem unimportant or unrelated, but that later assume greater significance. There are the four years when Pak stayed in South Korea while Young and Mary lived in difficult circumstances in the U.S. Matt’s wife’s obsessive goal in adding a baby to her list of achievements. Elizabeth’s relationship, not just with her son, but with the other women in the autism community. The more you learn, the less you know. Kim heightens the tension by ending each chapter with another small twist. This could feel like manipulation, but in Kim’s hands, is irresistible.

There was a point, at about ¾ of the way through the novel, when I had a moment of feeling as Kim was reaching too far in expanding the list of suspects, but it quickly faded. It’s hard to believe this is a debut—she’s that good. Her sense of timing and character development makes Miracle Creek standout reading whether you’re a fan of mysteries, family drama, or social issues.

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Miracle Creek by Angie Kim is a well-written novel that is a mystery and much more. Two people die and several are injured due to a fire and explosion at the "Miracle Submarine," a controversial treatment (extended exposure to high oxygen levels) for people with autism and other various medical issues. The author uses multiple narrators and aptly weaves the stories of the patients and their families with the history of the Korean immigrants (Pak Yoo, his wife, Young and daughter, Mary) who run the center. In addition, Kim introduces the courtroom setting where the mother (Elizabeth) of one of the children (Henry) is tried for intentionally setting the fire which killed her own son.

There is certainly plenty of angst and guilt spread around: parents who experience a range of feelings towards their children, conflicts between spouses, questions of ethics for the lawyers, and actions by protesters who debate the medical efficacy of this treatment. As the reader hurtles from one lie to another and flips back and forth between suspicion and empathy for possible perpetrators, Kim propels the story forward to its surprising conclusion. Miracle Creek was chosen as a LibraryReads selection for April and received starred reviews from Kirkus and Library Journal. An excellent choice for book groups.

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