by June Hur
First published 2021
Seol works for the police bureau in Joseon Korea, far from home and without family. At sixteen, she assists Inspector Kim with cases that matter to the powerful. When a noblewoman dies under suspicious circumstances, the murder threatens to expose political secrets that could topple careers. Seol and the inspector dig into the victim's hidden life, uncovering lies that reach into the highest circles. Their partnership grows into genuine friendship as they piece together clues. Then the inspector becomes the main suspect. Seol must choose between safety and truth. She alone holds the key to what really happened that fatal night. In a society that demands women stay quiet and follow orders, asking the wrong questions could cost Seol everything. She faces an impossible decision that will determine not just the inspector's fate, but her own survival in a world where curiosity marks you as dangerous.
Genres: historical-fiction, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, friends-to-lovers, impossible-choice
Setting: Joseon Korea
Period: 19th-century
352 pages · Paperback · Square Fish
Content warnings: violence