Review: Content notes: This book includes violence, murder, torture, (past) branding, misogyny, mention/description of animal abuse, and mention/description of suicide. Still, Seol’s determined pursuit of literacy and freedom, as well as the bittersweet ending, make for a memorable and worthwhile read. June Hur’s elegant and haunting debut The Silence of Bones is a bloody tale perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco and Rene Ahdieh.

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. The Silence of Bones is June Hur’s remarkable debut novel. 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. June is the bestselling author of The Silence of Bones, The Forest of Stolen Girls and The Red Palace, and currently lives in Toronto with. june hur the silence of bones

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. Suspenseful and richly atmospheric, June Hurs The Forest of Stolen Girls is a haunting historical mystery sure to keep readers guessing until the last page.

June hur the silence of bones