Item: The Silence of Bones
Rating: 4.00
Author: chelssik

by June Hur

June Hur's elegant and haunting debut The Silence of Bones is a bloody YA historical mystery tale perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco and Renée Ahdieh.

I have a mouth, but I mustn't speak;
Ears, but I mustn't hear;
Eyes, but I mustn't see.

1800, Joseon (Korea). Homesick and orphaned sixteen-year-old Seol is living out the ancient curse: “May you live in interesting times.” Indentured to the police bureau, she’s been tasked with assisting a well-respected young inspector with the investigation into the politically charged murder of a noblewoman.

As they delve deeper into the dead woman's secrets, Seol forms an unlikely bond of friendship with the inspector. But her loyalty is tested when he becomes the prime suspect, and Seol may be the only one capable of discovering what truly happened on the night of the murder.

But in a land where silence and obedience are valued above all else, curiosity can be deadly.

I’ve watched way too many kdramas and was expecting some serious pain while reading this book but I’m happy to announce it wasn’t that painful and I really enjoyed reading about Seol’s adventures. She felt a little younger than her actual age but it was kind of nice reading a YA book with a main character on the younger side of YA.

I liked that this was a mystery that was unraveled bit by bit. I love a good plot twist but it was nice to guess who the murderer was half way through and then slowly find evidence to back myself up. It was like 2 mysteries in one too because on one side we had the murder and on the other we had Inspector Han who Seol was conflicted about. They intertwined a little bit making for one big mystery!

If you like a good mystery, an interesting setting, and are not a fan of the violence that comes with a lot of crime books, then this is a great one for you!

The Silence of Bones

by June Hur

Reviewed by Chelsea on May 27, 2020

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