#june hur

ash-and-books:

Rating: 4/5

Book Blurb: Joseon (Korea), 1758. There are few options available to illegitimate daughters in the capital city, but through hard work and study, eighteen-year-old Hyeon has earned a position as a palace nurse. All she wants is to keep her head down, do a good job, and perhaps finally win her estranged father’s approval.

But Hyeon is suddenly thrust into the dark and dangerous world of court politics when someone murders four women in a single night, and the prime suspect is Hyeon’s closest friend and mentor. Determined to prove her beloved teacher’s innocence, Hyeon launches her own secret investigation.

In her hunt for the truth, she encounters Eojin, a young police inspector also searching for the killer. When evidence begins to point to the Crown Prince himself as the murderer, Hyeon and Eojin must work together to search the darkest corners of the palace to uncover the deadly secrets behind the bloodshed.

June Hur, critically acclaimed author of The Silence of BonesandThe Forest of Stolen Girls, returns with The Red Palace—a third evocative, atmospheric historical mystery perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and Kerri Maniscalco

Review:

A serial killer on the loose and a nurse and investigator must team up in order to catch them before more people die. Enter: Joseon (Korea), 1758, Hyeon is an 18 year old illegitimate daughter to a Lord. There are very few options for her but she has made a place for herself as a nurse for the palace, in hopes of gaining her estranged father’s approval. Yet when nurses, people she knows are murdered and her mentor is accused, she finds herself thrust into a dark and dangerous world of court politics as the main suspect is the Crown Prince. Then she bumps into  Eojin, a young police investigator searching for the killer. Eojin is one of the youngest police investigators, a genius who also happens to be Hyeon’s friend’s cousin and has his own motives for capturing the killer. Hyeon is desperate to prove the innocence of her mentor and the only way to do so is joining Eojin in his investigation. Both of them will have to navigate court politics as well as the killer becoming more and more daring, it also doesn’t help that the more involved Hyeon becomes the more she finds herself in danger and will have decide if she is willing to sacrifice her career, her family, and even her life in order to solve these murders. Throw in some very light romance, a good mystery, and political intrigue, and this was a really fun read! Its the perfect blend of murder mystery with tension and budding romance with high stakes. Seriously go give it a read!