Broken Summer

On the morning of his 43rd birthday, successful artist Lee Hanjo awakens to find his wife has gone, leaving behind the manuscript of her soon-to-be-published novel. The novel closely parallels deadly events from Hanjo’s youth, which threatens his career. During a long-ago summer, Hanjo fell in love with Jisoo, the daughter of a wealthy neighbor. Jisoo, however, loved Hanjo’s brother, and perversely, Hanjo’s brother loved someone else. When Jisoo turns up drowned in a reservoir, the police, who are pressured to close the case quickly, conclude that Jisoo was murdered. The tragic combination of deception, misconception, and revenge that ensues threatens to destroy both families. Lee (The Boy Who Escaped Paradise) crafts an exquisitely written mystery of Shakespearian proportions. Once set on their path, none of the characters can halt the inexorable march toward tragedy. The audio is narrated by Greg Chun, who maintains tension throughout the story’s multiple twists and revelations.