 |
An American-born daughter of Vietnamese refugees, Amy Nguyen struggled with depression, anxiety, and familial trauma and was open about going to therapy for her issues. Her therapist, Jackie Kessler, the daughter of Korean refugees, began seeing Amy when Amy was fifteen, and is now being sued for malpractice by Amy’s family. With a lawyer who doesn’t seem to be on her side and the media already convicting her of causing Amy’s suicide, Jackie sets out to find a murderer. Consulting with her three therapist friends, she uses them for supervision, which gives the reader insight into Amy, her poetry, and her songwriting and why Jackie thinks Amy was murdered.
The author's book places significant emphasis on culture-related aspects of being an Asian American, family ties, and generational trauma, as well as the relationships among various individuals. Berlin, a Korean-American with a thirty-year career as a marriage amd family therapist to her credit, writes with a professional’s insight and an intimate understanding of Asian-American culture. Her protagonist knows the ins and outs of Amy’s psyche—her thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that others would not understand, even Amy’s loved ones. The depth of this mystery could only be written by someone with such insight, which adds a significant dimension to the storyline. Yet the story is still written in a manner that allows those not in the field of counseling to relate to it. It also provides a nuanced examination of Asian culture and its differences with American culture, as observed in daily life and various cultural aspects. Overall, this is an excellent story, where the murder investigation is almost superfluous to the content, as the story is one of life and living. The conclusion of the murder investigation is well-executed and serves as the culmination of a story about family and friendship.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review
A 2025 Eric Hoffer Book Award Category Finalist