The Silence of Bones

 

The Silence of Bones by June Hur, 336 pages

This young adult historical mystery takes place in 1800 Joseon (Korea). Seol is an orphaned teenager, indentured to the capital's police bureau. As men are forbidden from touching women they are not related to, damos like Seol are used to investigate crimes against women. She gets involved in the murder investigation of a noblewoman found with her throat slit, and forms a friendship with the lead investigator, Inspector Han. But the murder of the woman is only the first, and both Seol and the inspector have secrets in their backgrounds that may or may not have bearing on the case.

June Hur's prose is beautiful, and I loved all of the period detail she put into this novel. I had no idea that Korea had such advanced techniques for solving crime in 1800, and about how the introduction of Catholicism from China influenced many of the events during this time period. It really shone a light on a place that we do not study here in the West, and I always appreciate broadening my historical knowledge. I really liked that Seol is the narrator of this story, and we can hear her thoughts and observations of the world around her. I actually cried at the end (and not just because the book was over). I have two more of June Hur's books at home to read, and am really looking forward to being immersed in Joseon-era Korea again!