Silence of Bones

Set in Joseon Dynasty-era Korea, this evocative YA debut follows a 16-year-old indentured servant within the police bureau who becomes entangled in the politically charged investigation into the murder of a noblewoman.

  • 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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Other Editions

The Silence of Bones is also available in Russian!

Reader’s Guide

A Reader’s Guide to ‘The Silence of Bones’. Included are: Author’s note, discussion questions, pronunciation guide and further resources.

Immerse Yourself

What People Are Saying

“At once haunting and evocative, June Hur’s The Silence of Bones is a gorgeous, tightly-woven debut. Prepare to delve deep into the lush and dangerous world of Korea in the 1800’s for a page-turner you won’t soon forget.”

— Hafsah Faizal, New York Times-bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame

“An emotionally gripping journey. The Silence of Bones is a suspenseful, thrilling read, and readers will be swept away by Hur’s meticulous weaving of historical detail and the depth of her characters’ family ties.”

— Elizabeth Lim, author of Spin the Dawn

“An intriguing tale that touches on class, honor, the value of one’s beliefs, and the lengths one is willing to go for loyalty and family. Hur presents such a vivid portrayal of the Joseon Era that it’s like stepping back in time. With its breathtaking prose and complex characters, this mystery novel is sure to keep you guessing until the very end!”

— Kat Cho, author of Wicked Fox

Author’s Note


THE SILENCE OF BONES is, in part, my love letter to Korean history. I was born in South Korea, but I was raised in Canada, and spent all of my teenage years obsessing over British history, Jane Austen and BBC dramas. In short, I grew up knowing almost nothing about Korean history, except for the brief stories my parents shared with me, and the snippets I learned about whenever I managed to stay awake during Korean history class (back when I studied in South Korea).

Then everything changed for me in 2015 when I, out of sheer curiosity, read further into Korean history – and fell madly in love with it. I was fascinated by everything and was gripped by a terrifying desperation to write a Korean historical mystery. I hesitated for a while, wondering if I, a Korean-Canadian ‘diasporan’, even had the right to write about Korea, and afraid that no one would be interested in a mystery set in a non-western country. It was the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement that finally gave me the courage to write.

At the very heart of this book is a more personal story inspired by my family, a family dispersed. I spent nearly half my life living with my siblings in Canada, far away from my parents, far away from my relatives. And so, while I was writing this book, I found myself wrestling with two questions that always haunted me: What will it cost to keep family together when things are falling apart and everyone is scattered? And where is home when you live far away from those who have loved you for all of your life?

Soon THE SILENCE OF BONES will be out in the world, no longer mine but belonging to the readers! I hope this book will introduce you to—or deepen your appreciation for—the complexity, depth and grandeur of Joseon Dynasty Korea. I especially hope that those who are homesick, like I was and still am, will feel less alone.