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A review by lynguy1
A Song for Lonely Wolves by Lee Evie
4.0
A SONG FOR LONELY WOLVES by Lee Evie is the first book in the Joseon Detective historical mystery series and the first book that I have read by this author. The story is set in 1590 in Korea during the Joseon dynasty; a time and place for which I have little knowledge.
Dan Ji is the main protagonist. She is a Damo, a class of servant and works for the police department. While damos often served tea and other domestic tasks, they are sometimes used as police officers to investigate crime; mostly crimes involving women. Dan Ji has earned a reputation for successfully investigating crimes. After the conclusion of the opening raid on a gambling den, she is dispatched to an isolated northern village where a noble woman is missing.
This is a dark mystery and the landscape as well as the conditions of most people are stark, cold and depressing. While damos are generally overlooked and undervalued, Dan Ji is not willing to stay quiet and be on the sidelines. The changing dynamics of her situation in the northern village kept me glued to the story.
Dan Ji was definitely someone you could root for. Her flaws and virtues felt real as well as her internal and external conflicts. The writing was descriptive and haunting. The plot twists were believable and the stakes were high. Themes include class systems, murder, abduction, trauma, vigilantism, poverty, torture, internal conflicts of right and wrong and much more.
Overall, this was a well-done historical mystery that is thought-provoking. I also learned about an era in a country that I knew almost nothing about.
I won a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks go to Goodreads, Interstice Press and Lee Evie for the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Dan Ji is the main protagonist. She is a Damo, a class of servant and works for the police department. While damos often served tea and other domestic tasks, they are sometimes used as police officers to investigate crime; mostly crimes involving women. Dan Ji has earned a reputation for successfully investigating crimes. After the conclusion of the opening raid on a gambling den, she is dispatched to an isolated northern village where a noble woman is missing.
This is a dark mystery and the landscape as well as the conditions of most people are stark, cold and depressing. While damos are generally overlooked and undervalued, Dan Ji is not willing to stay quiet and be on the sidelines. The changing dynamics of her situation in the northern village kept me glued to the story.
Dan Ji was definitely someone you could root for. Her flaws and virtues felt real as well as her internal and external conflicts. The writing was descriptive and haunting. The plot twists were believable and the stakes were high. Themes include class systems, murder, abduction, trauma, vigilantism, poverty, torture, internal conflicts of right and wrong and much more.
Overall, this was a well-done historical mystery that is thought-provoking. I also learned about an era in a country that I knew almost nothing about.
I won a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks go to Goodreads, Interstice Press and Lee Evie for the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.