Synopsis
"We didn't call the police right away." Those are the first words of this extraordinary novel about a biracial Korean-American family in Virginia whose lives are upended when their beloved father and husband goes missing.
Mia, the irreverent, hyper-analytical twenty-year-old daughter, has an explanation for everything--which is why she isn't initially concerned when her father and younger brother Eugene don't return from a walk in a nearby park. They must have lost their phone. Or stopped for an errand somewhere. But by the time Mia's brother runs through the front door bloody and alone, it becomes clear that the father in this tight-knit family is missing and the only witness is Eugene, who has the rare genetic condition Angelman syndrome and cannot speak.
What follows is both a ticking-clock investigation into the whereabouts of a father and an emotionally rich portrait of a family whose most personal secrets just may be at the heart of his disappearance. Full of shocking twists and fascinating questions of love, language, race, and human connection, Happiness Falls is a mystery, a family drama, and a novel of profound philosophical inquiry. With all the powerful storytelling she brought to her award-winning debut Miracle Creek, Angie Kim turns the missing person story into something wholly original, creating an indelible tale of a family who must go to remarkable lengths to truly understand one another.
Review
At its core, Happiness Falls is a mystery, but it is so much more than that. The disability portrayal and family bonds are as heartbreaking as they are endearing. I loved every character, I loved the journeys they were each on, I loved their relationships with one another, and how they all had a unique relationship with Eugene. This was a very well-written story, and while it was my first Angie Kim novel, it won't be my last.
This is one of the few mystery/thriller novels I recommend to all readers. This is a contemporary fiction and a heartwarming story as much as it is a mystery, so do yourself a favor and read this book now.
Thank you, Goodreads and Penguin Random House for a copy of this book.
Dates read: Sept 30, 2023 - Oct 2, 2023