Jeong You-jeong's thriller published in English
By Jin Yu-young
Crime and thriller author Jeong You-jeong's “The Good Son” has been published in English by global publishing company Penguin Group. This is her first book to be published in English.
“The Good Son” marks the second time a Korean author's fiction novel has been published by Penguin with the first being 'The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly' by Hwang Seon-mi in 2013.
Even before its official release, “The Good Son” sold out through pre-order sales, indicating high anticipation among readers.
Jeong You-jeong, author of "The Good Son" / Korea Times file
The nurse-turned-writer established herself as a notable author both domestically and internationally. Her “Seven Years of Darkness” was listed by German newspaper Die Zeit as one of the top ten crime novels of 2015.
She is known as Korea's leading author in the realm of psychological thrillers and crime fiction. Her novels have been translated into seven languages.
“The Good Son” revolves around Yu-jin, a young man who has suffered seizures throughout most of his life. He wakes up covered in blood and discovers the body of his mother, and sets out to pursue his mother's killer. His pursuit coincides with the disappearance of young women in his town.
The book has been met with great acclaim by critics and the media. A. J. Finn, the New York Times bestselling author of “The Woman in the Window” commented, it is a “cool, crafty did-he-do-it thriller for readers of Jo Nesbo and Patricia Highsmith.”
Others have gone as far as to coin Jeong as “Korea's Stephen King.”
“The Good Son” has been recognized not only in the United States but also in 16 other countries including Spain, Vietnam, and Brazil. Before Penguin announced that it would publish the novel, groups Philippe Picquier in France and Little Brown in Britain released the book in their countries in April and May respectively. The book has also claimed its spot on summer must-read lists of 2018 by Elle, Vulture, Entertainment Weekly, and Brit + Co.
To commemorate Jeong's great achievement, Kyobo Bookstore in Gwanghwamun will host signing event on June 16 at 3pm.
Jin Yu-young is an intern at The Korea Times.