Anxious People

by Fredrik Backman

[kimbacaffeinate]

Eight strangers in one apartment during a showing open up to each other as the police try to coax a failed bank robber into surrendering. A suicide attempt, a psychologist, and father-son cops trying to find the perp, created the perfect recipe for humor, enlightenment, and unlikely outcomes.

Backman has this unique understanding of what it means to be human, flaws and all. He allows the reader to gain understanding and see fresh perspectives. What drives someone to commit suicide? What makes a normal mom try to rob a bank? Is that couple as perfect as they appear? And who’s the wealthy lady that appears out of place?

I loved the premise and the delivery. It’s a play on a murder in a locked room. Only the police are treating this as an armed hostage situation. Clever, insightful and at times downright hilarious, I completely slipped into the story.

Marin Ireland narrates and did a delightful job with the characters, tone and pacing. It took me a minute to settle into the format, but Backman has an ease about his writing that pulls you in. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer