Seven Years of Darkness--Starred Booklist Review

Seven years ago, Sowon, 11 at the time, became the unwitting pawn of a psychopathic killer. When Sowon’s father, Hyonsu, accepted the position of head of security at a reservoir in South Korea, the family moved into a shared company apartment with his employee, Sungwhan Ahn. Hyonsu and Sowon’s close friendship with Ahn becomes a beacon in their steadily darkening tale; things begin to deteriorate almost immediately after the battered body of a young girl who lived next door, Seryong, is found wedged in the dam, and Sowon’s father begins drinking heavily and sleepwalking through the forest. In a swirl of events that Sowon barely remembers, his mother and Seryong’s father disappear, and Hyonsu is convicted of the girl’s murder. Stigmatized by his past, Sowon is shuffled between relatives until he eventually finds peace in an isolated coastal village with Mr. Ahn. But, the Seryong Lake tragedy won’t stay buried. Mr. Ahn suddenly disappears, and Sowon receives a mysterious package containing his story’s missing pieces and a clear warning that he will have to match wits with a vengeful enemy if he hopes to survive his past. A dark exploration of human connections, this beautifully written redemption story holds strong appeal for fans of Yrsa Sigurardóttir’s haunting, atmospheric thrillers.

— Christine Tran