A Book A Week

"Heartbreak is the human condition in this town."

The once-booming Atlantic City is seeing the glitz and glamor of its heyday dimming to despair. The casinos that were so vital in cultivating the city's economy have slowly started to close, boarded up as a reminder to the town's past. The resorts that remain open struggle to fill their rooms. In the weeds of the marsh behind the rundown Sunset Motel lie the remains of two dead women, "laid out like tallies." They still wear their suggestive clothing, outfits used to attract the lustful eyes of men as they walk the streets. Unfortunately, they attracted the wrong man, the one who placed them here. Before all this is over, five more women will join their line.

Clara Voyant's whole life is based on lies and deception. Even her name isn't real. Ever since her mother left her with her aunt, the pair have operated a fortune-telling company off the Atlantic City boardwalk. Like the rest of the city, their small business struggles to attract guests. Clara has turned to petty pickpocketing to help pay the bills. Beyond her hustle, however, lies a true gift. Clara truly can see psychic visions. When a man from out of town comes in asking about his missing niece, Clara immediately recognizes the girl's face. Its been plastered on missing person posters that litter the boardwalk, just another casualty of the decaying town. Clara does see a vision about this girl, but it isn't really clear what it all means. The man leaves the shop, but the lingering dread about what she saw continues to torment her.

Lilly has come back to Atlantic City as an escape from her life in New York. In NYC, she was an up and coming art dealer, representing her hotshot artist boyfriend. He cheated on her, so she broke up with him, packed her things, and headed back to her childhood home in Atlantic City. Lilly has taken a job at one of the resort spas as a receptionist. It is not a glamourous as her art dealing job, but it will hopefully help her earn enough to make it back to the big city one day.

Please See Us by Caitlin Mullen is the kind of slow-burning suspense novel that had me reading into all hours of the night. Mullen drives the novel through shifting perspectives of each character, including the different Jane Does who end up in the marsh. As we learn more about the characters, the dread surrounding the murders only grows. This is a dark read, and Mullen does not shy away from the gritty details of the city and of prostitution. The novel immerses the reader into Atlantic City. I could practically feel the creak of the boardwalk beneath my feet and smell the salty air! I can't recommend Please See Us highly enough. It will certainly end up being one of my favorite books of the year.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2020, 9)