How To Find Your Way In The Dark
by: Derek B. Miller
July 27, 2021 Mariner Books
368 pages
Review by: E. Broderick
I love a good genre mash. Which is why I don’t mind that I cannot tell you exactly what genre How To Find Your Way In The Dark by Derek B. Miller is. Candidates include historical thriller, detective noir, family drama, and even literary. What I can tell you is that reading it was a good time.
The book can be divided into 2.5 parts. The first chunk deals with the childhood of one Sheldon Horowotiz as he tries to discover the truth behind his fathers death. There’s no shortage of twists and Sheldon is shown to be very tenacious. Meanwhile readers all gain a huge respect for Sheldon’s older cousin Abe who refuses to let casual antisemitism go unnoticed and flees to Canada to join the air force and fight the Germans when the US won’t enter the war.
In the second half of How To Find Your Way In The Dark things take a comedic turn when Sheldon and his friend Lenny con their way into jobs at a popular borscht belt hotel. Shenanigans ensue as Lenny tries to work the comedy circuit. There’s some biting social commentary about what is and isn’t allowed in comedy, as well as a thoughtfulness about the cost of war when Sheldon discovers his deceased, veteran father took measures to make it impossible for him to enlist. Unable to follow in Abe’s footsteps, Sheldon must pave his own way. Most gripping though is the quasi heist that takes place when Sheldon’s cousin Mirabelle arrives as a guest, unaware of just how much trouble she’s in.
I’ve given the last bit of the book its own .5 because while technically it could be linked to the part right before, I found it thematically and emotionally distinct. We have the heart wrenching story of Abe’ war service, and also a glimpse into Sheldon’s future. Once again antisemitism is called out for what it is, even when society refuses to look it in the face, and Mirabelle finally gets her happy ending.
Sheldon is an engaging character. He moves between these genres like a ninja, graceful, smooth, but also whiplash smart and capable of inflicting some serious damage when he so chooses. In the afterword, Miller thanks the reader and tells them that if they haven’t read his prior book Norwegian by Night then he is envious because there is so much more Sheldon in store. Apparently, that book features Sheldon all grown up and with grandkids of his own. The character was so interesting, Miller felt the need to go back and write a prequel which resulted in How To Find Your Way In The Dark. Not having known any of that going in, I kind of agree. I am lucky there’s more Sheldon in store!