The Pinnacle of Korean Mystery — The Final Piece of the Puzzle!
The long-awaited conclusion to Ha-young trilogy, beloved by readers in Korea and the world, has finally arrived. Acclaimed author Seo Mi-ae presents her latest novel, <Absent Within>(Tentative English title).
“Is evil born or made?”
This haunting question launched the trilogy. Following <The Only Child> and <Every Secret Has a Name>, readers now face a powerful finale that seeks to answer it.
In this final chapter, Ha-young lives under a new identity —‘Yoo-jin’— in New York, trying to escape the horrors of her past. But when she becomes entangled in another murder and meets Senna, a girl who reminds her of her younger self, the murderous whisper returns. A new name and a new life weren't enough to keep the darkness at bay. It finds her again—relentless, inevitable. What final choice will she make?
A decade-long journey brought to a stunning close.
For over 15 years, Seo Mi-ae has developed the character of Ha-young from a girl with uncontrollable instincts, to a teenager who used death as a tool, and now to a woman navigating her relationship with the homicidal voice within. With <Absent Within>, Seo Mi-ae concludes this journey with poise and power, stating, “I couldn’t move on to my next novel without ending this one.”
Join Ha-young on the last leg of her unforgettable journey.
Only one confrontation remains—her final reckoning with evil.
<Absent Within> is now available in bookstores across Korea.
Kyobo Books: [link] (Korean)