The Red Palace

Hyeon is only 17, but she is already a palace nurse after years of hard work and study to achieve her goal. She simply wants to do a good job in her chosen profession, gain the respect of her colleagues, and perhaps win some approval from her estranged father. But then there is a massacre, and Hyeon’s world is turned upside down. When the bodies of four women are discovered, it is Hyeon’s trusted mentor, Nurse Jeongsu, who is arrested for the crime. Hyeon knows this can’t be possible, and so she decides to follow the clues and determine who the real murderer might be, despite knowing that the intrigues and secrets within the palace will make any investigation difficult, if not impossible.

June Hur once again provides a strong and charismatic young woman as her main character. While Hyeon is considered a low-class woman because of her family background, she overcomes this situation by first becoming educated and then by taking on a professional role as palace nurse. This determination to succeed carries on into her investigation of the murders as Hyeon proves to be dedicated and strong, unwilling to let anyone or anything stop her from finding the truth.

At her side is a young policeman named Eojin who sees Hyeon for the exceptional young woman she is, and he allows her to assist as he uncovers various clues and suspects. Eojin is progressive compared to others in the police force and doesn’t let the fact that Hyeon is a woman from a lower class change his mind about her ability to see details, follow leads and potentially solve crimes. As a nurse, she is able to reach people on a different, deeper level and so find out information unavailable to the police.

Hur’s first two novels were set in the time of the Joseon dynasty in Korea (1372-1897), and Hur returns to this era, specifically the year 1758. The historical details add interest and texture to the story and provide a look at Asian culture during a time which will be virtually unknown to most readers. We get a close look at the world of medicine and its use of herbal remedies and acupuncture. We also see how policing worked at the time, with brutality and beatings used to force confessions. Hur looks at the role of women in this society and helps her readers understand the class system which prevailed at the time. This is all done in a way which takes readers into a new and different world filled with detailed sights and sounds which transport us from our modern era. Hur is never didactic; her vivid descriptions tell readers all they need to know. The writing is descriptive and evocative, making the novel a pleasure to read.

The novel revolves around a murder mystery, and fans of this genre will not be disappointed. Suspects and motives are woven throughout the story, and only at the very end is the case solved. The detective story is complicated and detailed, and keeping the various characters straight can be a challenge, particularly at the beginning of the story, but they become more clearly delineated as the novel continues. Hur gradually builds suspense and excitement right to the dramatic ending of the book.

However, The Red Palace is much more than a murder case to be solved. Hur gives her readers plenty of drama and action throughout the story as well as introducing themes of family and class. And to top it off, there is a romantic thread within this historical fiction novel as well.

Who doesn’t like solving a mystery? And Hur also gives her readers a cast of interesting characters in an atmospheric historical setting which is both intriguing and fascinating. June Hur’s first two novels, The Silence of Bones and The Forest of Stolen Girls were both terrific, and she seems to just keep improving!