The Good Son by You-jeong Jeong

This slow-burning psychological murder mystery set in South Korea features Yu-jin, a model student and competitive swimmer, who suffers from seizures and black-outs. Written in the first-person narrative this intriguing novel takes us on a journey into a complex mind and an (at least to me) unfamiliar culture. What should Yu-jin do when he wakes up covered in blood and finds the body of his mother downstairs? He can’t remember what happened. If he contacts the police, he will be accused. How can he put together the pieces of the puzzle? Nothing seems to make sense.

His frantic attempts to remember lead to an inspection of his past – and his complicated relationship with his mother and his adopted brother. Flashbacks are interwoven with the present - the reveals are slow coming, but your patience will be rewarded. Rather than amazing twists or thrilling action, The Good Son delivers an intriguing journey into a mind without a soul. Nothing good can come of it.

You-jeong Jeong is considered the leading Korean writer of psychological crime. The Good Son, translated by Chi-Young Kim, was first published by Little, Brown in May 2018 in Hardback for £16.99.