A police procedural set in 1800 Korea? Sign me up. The atmosphere of this book drew me in and didn't let go until the very end. Seol was such an interesting character and unlike many YA titles these days, you could feel that she was truly in that space between childhood and adulthood. Her determination to help the inspector and find out what happened to her brother helped drive the plot forward without bogging things down. The mystery was well crafted and as a non-mystery reader I was pleased that I couldn't figure it out until the end.

The Silence of Bones was a spooky debut from June Hur that got me hooked pretty early on. I am definitely sold on anything that she releases in the future because this was right up my alley! I loved the writing and the atmosphere and I am really glad I picked this up.

A thriller set in 1800s Joseon Korea following Seol, an indentured servant at the police bureau. Tasked with handling the female bodies male inspectors aren't allowed to touch, Seol finds herself increasingly in over her head in the newest case, that of a murdered young noblewoman. Everyone is a suspect, including the inspector who might have a shocking connection to her family's past. I adored learning about a period of history I knew little about, and Hur really knows how to craft a thrilling narrative.

TW: violence, murder, and religious persecution

2.5, but I'll round up.
There were parts I really enjoyed and was able to get into the story....but then there were parts that felt like they dragged on or I couldn't really get into. It seemed longer that it needed to be? I found the authors notes on the historical aspects of the book interesting and it was history I'm not familiar with, so I enjoyed the opportunity to be exposed to that in a historical fiction format.

The historical detail is impeccable! A thriller I can’t wait to share with my students. It opens with a bang and gets very dark at yikes, but the writing and storytelling are gripping.

The Silence of Bones was a very unique and appealing story. It was enjoyable to read, and I was never bored. I also learned a lot from the book (which is always a bonus of historical fiction). I am not sure how much this title would appeal to teens, however.

The Silence of Bones is an intricate and gritty historical mystery set in gritty mystery, set in the Joseon dynasty of 1800. Our main protagonist is Seol, a teen indentured servant to the Hanyang police. When the daughter of a high-ranking government official is found dead with her nose sliced off, Seol's curiosity and keen observational skills lead the enigmatic Inspector Han to recognize her natural sleuthing skills and promise post-investigation freedom if she cooperates. As in any mystery, nothing is what they seem. Through bits and pieces of Seol's memories we learn of her backstory: her father's death, her mother's suicide; and of her kind older brother who has been missing for several years-keep interfering with her duties. These two narratives eventually collide.
This book requires patience as the pacing is a bit slow as Hur builds suspense carefully while offering a noir-tinged atmosphere of late nights, mist-shrouded streets, and clandestine meetings. I had not heard of the Korean concept of han before reading this book so this part of the book fascinated me and kept me turning the pages. The customs, language, and politics, are woven flawlessly into the narrative, which is firmly grounded in the novel's historical basis: looming Catholic persecution, the Shinyu Bakhae of 1801, another element that I had never learned of and was intrigued by in the book. Some readers may solve the mystery ahead of Seol, normally a pet peeve of mine when reading mysteries; however I was so drawn in by the historical and cultural elements that I did not mind. The author does not shy away from cruelty in the book. I would recommend The Silence of Bones to readers who are eager to learn about cultures outside of Western-centric countries and a well written mystery. I look forward to reading more from Hur in the future.

I really enjoyed this book! The atmosphere was so all encompassing and beautiful, and Hur's writing was just as good. I've never read a book set in Korea before, let alone historic Korea, so it was really cool to dive into the different cultural and non-western historical setting, something that I don't expose myself to often enough.

As an avid mystery reader, I can usually tell how the story is going to go, but this one kept me turning the page so ferociously I got a paper cut! I absolutely cannot wait for June Hur's second release.

The Silence of Bones is a historical mystery set in the Joseon period of Korea, around 1800. The main character, Seol, is a damo - an indentured female servant for the police force that is able to assist in investigations involving women as men who are not family are not allowed to touch female bodies, even corpses. Seol also has demons in her past that have left her in search of her older brother and the discovery of a noblewoman's body sets Seol's past and present on a collision course towards each other. Seol is a strong and formidable character and that can be seen in how she often finds herself bristling against her duties and obligations as a damo and a woman in a very rigid and male dominated society. Seol also uses her quiet and thoughtful demeanor to eavesdrop and is able to gain more information that her male supervisors would not have been able to obtain.

This book is different than most mysteries in that the setting and time period are so vividly drawn that they become a driving force for much of the plot of the book. The Silence of Bones is well written and the characters and their circumstances and intentions so clear that the reader will feel for each of the characters - even those who perhaps don't deserve it. My favorite part of the book was learning about the culture and society of Joseon Korea and seeing how far women and society have come but also noting how many things are still quite similar to today's society. For example, a man has an affair with a woman and she becomes pregnant. He then leaves her and she is forced to raise the baby out of wedlock and is essentially an outcast from society at that point and must become a prostitute to provide for her son. The man goes back to his position as a Councillor and has almost no repercussions other than the fact that he doesn't ever have a legitimate male child to pass his position on to. June Hur weaves in so much of the past society in to a commentary on how it reflects on today's society that there can be many important discussions that arise from reading this book. I truly enjoyed the mystery though at times it was a bit hard to follow but the setting and the character of Seol made the book a very enjoyable read. I would recommend this book for those who like historical books and/or mysteries, especially those without romance as that was a nice departure from most young adult books that often feature some sort of romance element. This book will transport readers in to the past where they will find a well crafted mystery while learning about Korean history.

So, on the surface of it, this is a murder mystery with detectives and intrigue. What sets it completely apart is that it is set in 1800's South Korea, so you get a detective novel through the lens of a culture very different to our American one.
Seol, the main character is basically a slave at the police department. Officially she is an indentured servant, but she has to sever for "a generation" so it's not like she can look forward to ever leaving her post. The reason the police need her and other women like her is because there are places men in the culture are forbidden to go, and things men are forbidden to do, such as touch female corpses or conduct interviews with women, ESPECIALLY noble women, so when a noble woman is found murdered, Seol essentially becomes a detective herself. There are lots of twists and turns and all kinds of layers here, but I don't want to spoil anything! It's a good read!

I can’t even begin to articulate how beautifully and atmospheric this debut historical mystery was and how much I adored diving into the history of Korea – a topic that I have never really read about.

The Silence of Bones, set in 1800s Seoul follow the voice and the journey of a 16 year old girl, Seoul indentured with the police bureau – her main job is to assist the Officers when they interact not just female victims in lieu of male officers, and even stand in during autopsies of female victims.

The world that June Hur has put forward is a world where females are considered to be second class citizens; where a woman who runs away is branded yet a woman who born to aristocratic families are usually left alone. It is a world where wearing a cross is an instant death sentence; where the royal family is slowly cleansing its citizens, where abuse, misogyny and violence tends to run rampant.

When a high born lady is found murdered gruesomely with her nose cut off; the investigation goes to Inspector Han – a man, an aristocratic military officer with an aloof air and a hint of rebel within him. He allows Seoul a little more latitude than other officers; indulging her curiosity far better than any other officer would. This inspires a fierce loyalty within Seoul for Inspector Han – but the case they work on together will shatter any illusions Seoul might have for and about herself and the brother she has come looking for in the city!

June Hur has written a lyrical and poetic with a mysterious atmospheric historical mystery that would absolutely charm and intrigue even the most ardent fans of this genre – but it is also the perfect read for those who believe that historical fiction can become a little dry – because June Hur will definitely disabuse of this notion with this beautiful book!

I enjoyed reading several aspects of this book! The pacing was wonderful, characters were well drawn, and the reading experience on the whole was delightful.

Everyone should go buy June Hur's stunning debut THE SILENCE OF BONES, a YA historical mystery with a fascinating protagonist, gorgeous prose, and a puzzle that will keep you guessing until the end.

I love that this is a mystery set in historical Korean (1800). I also love that female characters, including the protagonist, demonstrate strength of heart and mind in a world that is dominated by men. What didn't work for me is the writing style. The narrative felt distanced, as if the the protagonist, Seol, were telling me events, focusing on what happened, instead of living through and experiencing events. I didn't feel like I got to know Seol and her emotions.

In 1800s Korea, a servant girl spends her days as an extension of the police force. She handles the bodies of deceased women and helps interview female suspects. But when the body of a noblewoman turns up murdered and her dead body mutilated, Damo Seol finds herself pulled into the investigation of a lifetime. Her world is turned upside down and she must find a murderer and possibly uncover the secrets of her own past. Holy crap. This was a fantastic read. This historical mystery thriller interweaves the story of the Catholic persecution in Korea with the class and gender issues of being a servant girl in a caste system that is built to keep those in power - in power while those without must stay without. A trend I’m finding in a lot of books that I’ve read lately is the importance of being able to read and how to gain the skill or how to succeed despite it. But yeah, highly recommend this one.

Is it just me or are debut authors setting the bar extremely high? I delved into this book expecting a quick YA mystery. Instead I got a book that is far challenging than I expected. And this is a good thing. I knew nothing about Korea in the early 1800’s. I had anticipated that life for females would have been very demeaning, and yet the girl in this story managed to exert her intelligence and her voice to provide vital assistance in a murder investigation. It is a deeply moving story, and the only quibble I have is the author’s afterword about real historical figures in this book should have been a preface. I suggest that if you read this book read the afterword first.

The writing and atmosphere of this book were impeccable. I absolutely loved reading about Seol and her life in this world inspired by Korea; I felt completely immersed in the world. The mystery of the story, unfortunately, just didn't grab my attention and I felt a little bored throughout the book. I know the mystery is working for many other readers, however, so I'm very glad for that.

The Silence of Bones is a murder mystery in 1800 Joseon (Korea). We follow Police Damo, Seol, who is serving out her indentured servitude. I absolutely the writing in this book and the way the story kept you riveted as the mystery unfolds.

Seol is a bright and clever girl. She has a very analytical mind and often sees things in this very clinical way. She is very curious and thirst for knowledge and also has a very good memory. We navigate this story and world with her as she can’t help but feel a need to help solve the case. Her motivations change as she goes on her journey but the fact of the matter never changes that this is fuel for her bright mind.

I loved the way the plot unfolds. There were certain things that I figured out because there are clues all over but I didn’t necessarily know how they fit together until I was supposed to. I thought the pacing and discovering of information was perfect. I was never like come on Seol, I felt like she was figuring out things at the same rate the reader was for the most part. Which I think always makes a murder mystery more enjoyable. I don’t want to give anything away though so I don’t even want to talk about the other characters. Like all mysteries there are offshoots of other things that are happening to the characters, besides the main case.

There was a point in the book that I felt mad at everyone except for Seol. Ha ha

I found 1800 Joseon really interesting too. Just the culture references and the way the class system works. The treatment of women was really interesting. It’s made me want to research more about the era. I think June Hur did a wonderful job of incorporating it in a way that made you feel like you were there. I love the way the mood was set.

I loved the book. I thought it was well written and super intriguing up until the mystery is finally solved.

I have been looking forward to June Hur's debut for years, long before I became somewhat jaded by YA literature, and so I was not really expecting my expectations to be met, but I am so pleased to say that they absolutely were. The Silence of Bones is a vibrant, carefully researched, melancholic murder mystery that kept me reading for hours straight, until I lost track of time. Hur's writing is elegant and mature, as are her characters, who are all multi-faceted and complex. The mystery is intricately crafted and genuinely interesting; Hur managed to weave her own characters into actual historical events and people in a skillfull way.

The Silence of Bones is murder mystery book sets in Joseon Dynasty that follows a young police berau’s servant, Seol, who becomes a part of a big investigation of the death of a noblewoman. Somehow, the investigation tangles with Seol’s family and past that leaves a layered story, in which readers are expected to follow and solve as the story goes.

The Silence of Bones is one of the book that leaves you begging for more clues so you can have your own little investigation throughout the book. This is a book that will make you guessing and connecting the dots that are served for you. I love unexpected turn and twist in book, and I love when author is making us frustrated with the hints but yet you can’t still guess the outcome. For her debut novel, June Hur is giving me a great impression here.

June Hur is not going to let you give up on her book, because it is beautifully written and her writing is consistent from the beginning until the end. Every phrase is balancing each other, even foreshadowing the climax of the book. I can say that, she is wicked like that.

ALL CHARACTERS ARE WELL WRITTEN AND SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT
Authors tend to push aside minor characters because they’re irrelevant to the story or to give the main characters more ‘screentime’ than the rest. Minor or side characters are often written two dimensionally with no strong personality or motive. It’s tricky to write minor characters and make them feel alive when you’re writing a first person POV. But June Hur? She’s not like that.

I don’t know how she does it, but, every characters are well written have their own motive and goal prior to the murder and investigation. June Hur takes her time to develop characters that feel so human. Are they perfect? No. They have their own dirty laundry to carry during the entire investigation.

Seol, our main character narrator, is introduced as someone with determination, curiosity and strong mind. She comes to the capital of Joseon with one mission in mind and even it feels so hopeless, Seol still continues to look for the closure she would gain with her own mission. All the conversations and interactions Seol have with people, I can conclude that she is a person who is very loyal, but she won’t let her royalty blinded her from taking hard decision. Although she is naive and reckless, I admire her dedication to her job. Like I said earlier, all characters have their own motives that when combined together, they are all actually hints and clues we need to uncover. I appreciate this so much, but unfortunately, I don’t really feel connected with the characters. While reading this, I feel like following the investigation and waiting for the murder to be captured, rather than hearing a friend telling their story. That is my only reason why I don’t give this book a higher rating.

ATMOSPHERIC AND THRILLING
I’m not an #ownvoices reviewer for this one so I can’t speak of the cultural and historical aspects of this book. But, I can talk about the world building and how I feel about her writing about that.

If we talk about the world building, it feels atmospheric it was easy for me to imagine the surrounding. I suggest you to read this book during rainy day because it will hits you differently. While writing this review, I still can feel the cold and terrifying atmosphere during the investigation.

As for the custom that is showed throughout the book, I have to look up few things for my better understanding. It is not because June Hur isn’t descriptive with her world building, but, I have little knowledge with Joseon dynasty and I found myself learning new things as I turn the pages.

Is the world building confusing to me? Not at all! It was very easy to me to imagine the things and June Hur does not use lyrical phase that may confuse some people. It was easy to understand. I fall in love with the way June Hur described the surrounding around Seol; it is detailed but not in an overwhelming way.

OVERALL
I feel like The Silence of Bones would gain many attention for readers from various age range. To be honest, just because Seol is still sixteen years old, I feel like this book is not actually fall in the young adultbook. I feel like it’s more general fiction than young adult, though I’m not complaining. I recommend for you to read this if you love story driven, fast paced book.