June Hur, critically acclaimed author of The Silence of Bonesand The Forest of Stolen Girls, returns with The Red Palace-a third evocative, atmospheric historical mystery perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and Kerri Maniscalco. 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. In her hunt for the truth, she encounters Eojin, a young police inspector also searching for the killer. Determined to prove her beloved teacher’s innocence, Hyeon launches her own secret investigation. All she wants is to keep her head down, do a good job, and perhaps finally win her estranged father’s approval.īut 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. 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. While we do know these things, I wish we got more than just being told about them, I think that would have strengthened her as a main character.Trigger warnings: graphic description of murder, dead bodies, mentions of torture, violence, gore I loved following her journey but I do wish the book went more into her backstory and aspirations.

The only thing I found lacking was Hyeon herself. This might deviate from other readers’ thoughts, but I found the pacing for The Red Palace to be slower – and I really liked that! The author spent so much time creating a rich world and showcasing Korean culture in this time period that it really helped amplify the mystery and other story elements.

And as we learn more and more, the suspense can very much be felt with each chapter, as we ask ourselves – can this character be trusted? Instead, we slowly uncover the fears and power that lie in those secrets that motivate each character’s actions. It’s very easy for this kind of setup to fall into unnecessary miscommunication, but that’s avoided in The Red Palace. From the beginning, you can tell how many secrets are being kept and how untrustworthy many of the characters are.

The palace setting (and the mystery that lies within) is so intriguing. But if you’re looking for a well-researched historical fiction novel with incredible world-building, I recommend this book to you. With the combination of a historical fiction novel and murder mystery, I wasn’t sure what to expect going into The Red Palace.

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