I Loved this book!! I enjoy books that contain courtroom drama. This book was interesting because it dealt with immigrants and autism. I was really drawn into the book and look forward to more books by this author. i definitely ordered this book for the library!

Miracle Creek concerns a group of people affected by a tragic “accident” when trying an alternative medical treatment which ends in the tragic loss of life. This leads to a courtroom drama that slowly unravels how it has affected the people involved, what inspired those people to take part in the medical treatment and ultimately what happened the night of the explosion with everybody’s secrets coming to light.

This was an excellent debut read; but please understand, this is not your standard mystery as there's so much more going on that demands to be appreciated. This is one of those reads you need to know you're in the mood for reading – if you’re wanting to read a quick and high-octane mystery/thriller, this is not that. This has layers and layers of emotion piled on top of the overarching mystery-drama, that connects every plot development and character to make this story deeply engaging.

The characters, some more likeable than others, all play their roles in defining this as a stellar read. This is achieved by alternating perspectives, which illustrate the different angles of the book's mystery and sub-plots, the individual characteristics and lifestyles of said characters.
However, at times it was quite difficult to read through the personal chapters. I didn't find reading about the characters' personal lives to the extent they were explored, at all interesting. I had to fight the urge to skim read those pages – and it didn’t help that I felt the culprit was pretty obvious from the offset.

Nonetheless, this is definitely a book where you have to persevere with the dull bits, to appreciate and enjoy the great bits it has; such as the depth and exploration of humanity, family, friendships, cultures and so on. This, combined with the compelling courtroom scenes, massively compensates for any impatience with the book's fluctuating pace. Without a doubt, the payoff was well worthwhile for me because the story is well devised.

Overall, I read within a week and I'm rating this 4 stars. I cannot dismiss the early issues with my delayed investment, but by the story's end, I had shed tears. The chapters that mainly focused on the courtroom drama were exciting and lively. From the very start, to the middle, and then the end with the building climax, the story unfolds piece by piece, to cement the reader's appreciation. To use the analogy the author herself uses within the story; the plot comes together like jigsaw pieces; neat, correct and everything connecting to finish the puzzle and reveal a remarkable work. Miracle Creek is truly a profound and riveting read, that I recommend to those who like mystery-dramas.
Thank you kindly to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an e-copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

A wonderful courtroom thriller. A gripping start with a surprising twist. As the court case evolves a collection of backstories arise all giving doubt to Elizabeth on trial for murder. I loved learning about Young and Pak, hard working, Korean immigrants looking to give daughter Mary a better life in America but is it really? A series of events leads to the most tragic result and all involved seem to have paved the way. A great read.

4.5 stars

Miracle Creek is a courtroom drama with a difference. The Yoo family, Korean immigrants, are owners of a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy business (HBOT) which explodes causing the death of two of the patients. The mother of one of the victims, Elizabeth, is accused of starting a fire with the intent to murder. However, her defence lawyer claims that Pak and the Yoo family caused the accident in order to commit insurance fraud. The court case which ensues attempts to find out what really happened to cause the fire.

Although it took me a while to process this book, I have arrived at the same conclusion as most - this is a must read! This is definitely not the kind of book that I would skim through in one sitting. It is quite a dense book as we get to know so many different characters and explore so many themes within the format of a mystery courtroom drama.

I particularly enjoyed the way the book dealt with themes of identity and belonging, and how this can really have a real impact on human behaviour. This is evident in how differently Young, Pak and Mary deal with fitting into their host country as immigrants. It is evident in how Elizabeth, Thresa, Young and Janine cope with the challenges of motherhood (or lack of in Janine’s case) and how being a mother becomes part of your identity. It is also seen in both Pak and Matt and how much of an impact masculinity has on their identity and need to dominate. There are discussions of the impact of caring for someone with a disability, and how this shapes an individual.

The only one criticism I could offer (and why it was 4.5 and not 5) is that because of the large cast of characters/narrators, I didn't feel a connection with any particular character. However, I don't think the book would have been able to adequately explore the themes it set out to if it wasn't written this way.

That being said, with discussions of race, gender, class and disability running throughout and a fantastic plot to get lost in, this is one of my favourite books of the year.


**I RECEIVED THIS BOOK FREE FROM NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW**

This is without a doubt one of my top books of the year. Just amazing! Will be reviewing on my YouTube channel.

I really struggled with this book. Some of the reviews meant I expected an amazing read and unfortunately for me it wasn’t. The story seemed endless, it didn’t hold my attention for more than a few pages so it took far longer to read than it should.

It’s probably a great book for others but sadly this wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

Initially this book hooked me, fast but then about halfway through things changed for me. Honestly, I ended up feeling irritated by all the possible options of 'who (possibly) dunnit'. All the presenting options (people) began to feel totally contrived and I lost interest. I couldn't wait for the book to end. I didn't really develop empathy for any of the characters and ended up not caring what happened to any of them. I know I'm in the minority with this one as people seem to love it but it just didn't work for me. I was so hoping to love it as many others loved it, sadly, not for me.

Review: Miracle Creek by Angie Kim

Miracle Creek focuses on an explosion at an experimental therapy site that leaves two dead - autistic child Henry and his mother's friend Kit. In the aftermath, both the patients and site owners wrestle with their feelings over what happened as the court case progresses. 

Angie Kim weaves a fascinating tale, offering the reader sneak peaks into each character's perspective on the tragedy in turn. We aren't trapped in the head of one unreliable narrator and this adds so much depth to the story. Moral debates such as whether Elizabeth's difficulties in parenting her son and hatred of the impact on her life make her a bad person underlie the central tale.  

Some characters, such as Young Yoo and her daughter Mary are incredibly likeable. Others you will quickly grow to despise and hope that they get their comeuppance. 

The twists and turns of this novel made it a great read, as well as a thought-provoking read. I'd recommend it to anyone who would like a fresh take on a courtroom drama.

Miracle Creek is available now from Hodder and Stoughton!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my honest review.

A gripping and memorable courtroom drama with many layers, that will stay with me for a while.

Courtroom and crime dramas aren't my usual fare, but this one was getting so many good reviews, that when I saw it available on Netgalley, I decided to try to get an ARC. I'm glad that I did. This was so interesting, and such an impressive debut!

"My husband asked me to lie. Not a big lie. He probably didn't even consider it a lie, and neither did I, at first...."

[book:Miracle Creek|40121959]is set a year after a tragic explosion at a HBOT facility (patients were treated for various conditions through the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy) which killed two and injured others. It was set in a courtroom, but flashed back to the explosion and to before it happened as well. A mother was in court charged with the murder of her son, and the book is written from her Pov plus six others who were there on the day of the explosion.

You may think seven POV's?! But it worked! The writing was so well done, and the characters so well written, that I felt that I knew them all. They all felt so real, with their own secrets, lies and flaws. Each POV was distinctive and important, letting me piece together the many bits of information, and to try to figure out what actually happened on that fateful day. I basically suspected every character at some point in the book! The plot was so complex, but [author:Angie Kim|18035146] wove it all together masterfully, bringing it all to a great conclusion.

[author:Angie Kim|18035146] covered so much during the book, that its difficult to include it all! So many different types of readers will take so many different things from it. She managed to write about the lives of immigrants, struggling to settle in a new country, showing the cultural differences and the poverty and racism which they faced. I could see the sacrifices that the characters had to make for their family, and could tell that the author had been through it herself. The book also highlighted the difficult lives of parents of children with a variety of special needs, which was heart breaking to read about. It looked at marriage, and how important communication is between a couple. How harmful secrets and lies are to a marriage. It looked at disability and special needs, and how complex it can be. Family and how far you should go to protect your child was also a major theme.

The book was complicated and emotional. Every character was lying. Every character had secrets. Every character was hiding something. I felt great sadness reading parts of this, and a great revulsion at other parts, but it was so authentic. <spoiler>I did consider what Matthew did to Mary sexual assault, and it made me feel physically sick. It was assault.</spoiler>

This book was very impressive, and highlighted how different people see events in different ways. The writing was excellent, and both the characters and the plot were well developed. I do recommend it.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to enjoy Miracle Creek after seeing so many 4 and 5 star reviews I expected great things. However for me, I just didn’t enjoy it. The main plot seemed to go on forever with not much really happening. I didn’t particularly gel with any of the main characters and found the whole book quite uneventful. Sorry but not one of my favourite reads of the year.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and the author for the chance to review.

The premise of the book intrigued me. However, I found it hard to get into. Thank you for the opportunity read but it wasn't for me.

This is a fantastic book! It makes us look inside our ourselves and others and acknowledge a slew of human emotions and compassion that we don't usually think about at this level! This book is stunning and will leave you with a lump in your throat, a greater understanding, and compassion for others. I look forward to more from this author as she jumps to the top of some of my favorite author's list!

It is a credit to Angie Kim, that populating her novel, Miracle Creek, with unlikable characters couldn't prevent me from enjoying the read. The premise is thought provoking, and the storyline keeps the promise of the premise. The characters are realistic, complex, and clear voiced. There were times I was frustrated by a character, even dismayed or disgusted by their actions, but always compelled to read further. The pacing is a little choppy, and at times I felt the narrative could be tightened up a bit. I really appreciated the detail and reality of the court scenes.
I was entertained by Ms. Kim, and I would like to read more from her.
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

A disastrous event - deliberately caused - but by whom?
So there is a trial as the detectives think they know the answer to the question, and the story covers this trial as they try to establish the truth of the arson and thus murder.
But as the trial progresses, what started out as a small white innocuous lie seems to be just one lie among many, by many.
The untruths start spilling out and what seems obvious starts to become a lie too. And the little white lies become big and important.
I like the twist of using Korean immigrants and allowing their traditions to influence their behaviour in this story.
And note, all the treatments Elizabeth uses, including HBOT, seem to be at least partially recognised as potential 'cures' or assistance in alleviating autism. None of course have passed clinical trials so they are difficult to assess their outcomes, especially as many are used alongside each other.
Note that the author has used HBOT herself and is a trial lawyer and a Korean immigrant

I loved this book, It was certainly very interesting, kept my attention all the time.
It was so complex, but woven very well. The writer is very talented to tell the story from several point of views that are distinct.
It kept me guessing and guessing. The thrill and intrigue in this book was really amazing. It's a dark story, and it was quite emotional sometimes. I read it very fast, and I highly recommend it.

Thanks a lot to the publisher and netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

A tragic event at an alternative medicine site leaves two dead, and others severely injured. This story is about the court case that follows over a year later, through the testimonies and thoughts of the people involved at the time, the story explores what really happened and whether the person in the dock is truly guilty.

The courtroom scenes are detailed and enthralling, seen through multi-points-of-view they illuminate the actions, emotions and motivations of the people at the time of the accident and before. All have secrets, tell lies and many have a motive, but are they guilty? The perception is whilst their lies may be insignificant in abstract, they may form part of a conspiracy against justice and the truth.

The people undergoing treatment are vulnerable and deserve protection. The crime is shocking, as are the revelations that follow. It is not easy reading, but there is nothing gratuitous, everything is a piece in the puzzle or an insight into a character’s personality.

Parenting a child with a disability, maintaining your personal identity, as an immigrant, the role of women in society, abuse, culture clashes, society’s expectations and norms, and alternative medical treatments are themes of this complex, well-researched story. They interweave with a pacy, twisty, sometimes controversial plot. Making this story an addictive mix of courtroom drama, family secrets and psychological thriller.

The ending has a final twist, not unexpected, but still shocking. The sense that the guilt should be shared is paramount and is the perfect end for this thought-provoking novel.

The story is original and complex, the characters are well thought out and believable, The courtroom scenes are realistic, but did I enjoy reading it?

The overriding ethos is dark, and almost lacking in hope, showing the worst side of humanity. Also, there is a level of repetition because events are examined from multi-points- of-view. So, the jury’s still out for me. It’s down to personal preference. If you like a mix of courtroom drama and psychological thriller, you should give this a try.

I received a copy of this book from Hodder and Stoughton via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

An unusual subject for a courtroom drama. I enjoyed the book at the beginning but at about two thirds of the way through I found my interest starting to wane. I felt that the to-ing and fro-ing of the story line between different suspects too drawn out and I did not connect to any of the characters.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.

Miracle Creek tells the tragic tale of the Miracle Creek Submarine facility. This business, run by Young and Pak Yoo, doesn't offer the type of treatment that most( if any) health insurance plans will cover. Patients who enter the submarine, receive pressurized oxygen, and it is believed to treat infertility and autism. While there are believers, there are those who are equally opposed to this alternative medical treatment, and they are quite vocal about their beliefs.
Then the unthinkable happens,2 people are killed, and a trial will expose secrets, lies, the innocent, and the guilty. Courtroom drama can be well written with engaging characters, or to me, rather long-winded and boring. In this case, everything came together seamlessly and I found myself fully engrossed in the story. So many timely topics are introduced, and I would be lying if I didn't say this was such a sad, but compelling read. I can imagine this being a great choice for a book club, as it was thought-provoking and literally pulled at my heartstrings on more than one occasion. This is Angie Kim's debut novel, and I can't wait to see what comes next.
I received a DRC from Hodder & Stoughton through NetGalley.

Miracle Creek was a riveting debut novel by Angie Kim.  Part coutroom drama, part psychological thriller,  but at all times a character driven story portraying the lengths parents will go to for their children as well as providing insights into the difficulties for Korean families trying to assimilate into American life.   Her story had me guessing from start to end and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (H-BOT) is an alternative treatment said to help damaged cells heal and regrow.  In this novel Miracle Submarine - run by Pak Yoo, his wife Young, and daughter Mary - was one such facility.   The focus of the book was on one specific set of "dive" patients which included three mothers and their special needs children, plus Matt a young Doctor railing against his own infertility.     The scene is set with an explosion at Miracle Submarine in which two people are killed and three others, including Pak, Mary, and Matt, are seriously injured.     Investigators have found the explosion was caused by arson and Elizabeth,  the mother of one of the boys killed in the explosion, has been charged with murder.

The perspective changed often throughout the book with seven different characters sharing their inner thoughts, their recollections and passing commentary on the courtroom proceedings.    At one point the prosecution accused Elizabeth of "deliberate concealment".    Having been inside the minds of seven characters I can assure you there was one heck of a lot of deliberate concealment going on.   It seemed everybody had a secret and their own reasons for not disclosing certain pieces of information that may or may not have been important to the outcome of this case.   As I read, chaos theory was brought to mind time and again.    (Aka the butterfly effect -  the idea that tiny changes in complex systems can cause huge effects).   So many regrets that  if  they'd done even one small thing differently, there may have been  a huge difference in the ultimate outcome.  As one character described it " <i> It was almost as if the fates conspired to manipulate that day’s events </i>"

Finally, in reviewing this book it would be remiss not to comment upon the wonderful way Angie Kim portrayed the struggles of parents with Autistic and other special needs children.   All done willingingly but at great personal cost.   The endless therapies, financial strain, the drain on their time and isolation from former friends and lifestyles all sacrificed in the name of love.       By contrast, Pak and Young with their teenaged daughter Mary had challenges of their own.     Universal themes that I'm sure any parent could relate to.   The big question being where do you draw the line as a parent?

The more I reflect upon this book the more I appreciate it.   My congratulations to Angie Kim, and thanks to Hodder and Stoughton publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review which it was my pleasure to provide.

4.5 stars rounded up

I really struggled with this novel. It’s a tough subject but a real worthy examination of parental love, child health,medicine and so much more but I feel detached reading it. Was it the characters or the difficult subject matter? I’m not sure, but it’s still a novel I would recommend given the tough questions it raises.

It’s essentially the story of a Korean family who move to the USA. Problems of integration and language ensue, but its their setting up of a HBOT treatment facility, a chamber where children with disabilities can get oxygen treatment, which is the main setting of the story. There’s an accident, two people die and the resulting fallout examines so much about the type of treatment on offer, the cultural differences of treatment, the view of alternative medicine and disabled children that this novel raises.

There’s a lot to this novel but I struggled with the scenes of child abuse, suicide, sexual assault and the death of children to name but a few.