Title: The Silence of Bones
Author: June Hur
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Raincoast Books
Publication Date: April 21st, 2020
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 336
Rating: ★★.5
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Plot Summary: 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 Renee 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.
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I received a finished copy from Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review.
I love historical mysteries. If there is one genre I can easily read back-to-back without getting tired of it, it’s that one. When I first heard about The Silence of Bones, I smashed that “want to read” button so hard the keys went flying off my laptop keyboard. The cover alone is beautiful and haunting, and so is the book.
Let’s face it, a lot of historical mysteries – particularly those that take place in the 1800s – are set in England. A vast majority of those set in England are centred around London. I love England, and I love London. But that’s ignoring the rich cultures and histories in other countries. Learning about Joseon was amazing. Class, gender, religion, and more added so much depth and richness to the story. It made it shine.
The characters and the setting are fascinating and compelling. Seol is such a captivating character, one who’s fighting to be heard in a time when women, particularly those who are indentured, are often silenced. Her interactions with those around her and the people she meets throughout the book were riveting. So many of the characters contrasted each other so I really felt like we got a well-rounded cast of characters.
So you might be wondering at this point why my rating isn’t higher, and it mostly comes down to the fact that the writing style was not my cup of tea. I felt it was at times disjointed, and for me that detracted from the plot and the characters. The prose didn’t flow but, rather, it stumbled. And so I struggled with the book. I think the other thing that frustrated me is the secondary mystery. I personally didn’t like the way it wrapped up because it made something that’s a big factor of what drives Seol seem almost unfulfilled in a way that didn’t benefit the story.
I may not have loved the writing style or the resolution of the secondary mystery, but I really did enjoy the history, the characters, and the murder mystery. Just because it didn’t end up working out for me, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read it! I’ve seen countless rave reviews, so that should prove how good this book is. I hope you add it to your tbr, read it, enjoy it.
Turning Pages 