![]() The reader is often one step ahead of the narrator, and some readers may wish to steer clear due to scenes of abuse and torture. The Korean concept of han, as well as customs, language, and politics, are woven flawlessly into the narrative, which is firmly grounded in the novel’s historical basis: looming Catholic persecution, the Shinyu Bakhae of 1801. ![]() ![]() Hur builds suspense artfully, offering a noir-tinged atmosphere of late nights, mist-shrouded streets, and clandestine meetings. But things are not what they seem, and Seol’s own memories-of her father’s death her mother’s suicide and of her kind older brother, missing for 12 years-keep interfering with her duties. When the daughter of a high-ranking government official is found dead with her nose sliced off, Seol’s curiosity and impetuousness lead the enigmatic Inspector Han to recognize her sleuthing skills and promise post-investigation freedom if she cooperates. ![]() Debut author Hur’s gritty mystery, set in the Joseon dynasty of 1800, centers Seol, a 16-year-old indentured servant to the Hanyang police. ![]()
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