Translated by SL Park –– South Korean author Se-Ah Jang’s crime debut, A Twist of Fate, draws inspiration from classic gothic fiction. While utilising many of the genre’s tropes – family secrets, unexplained deaths, and a sinister mansion – the novel also has some unique surprises in store for you.
The story begins with Jae-Young, who is on the run after unintentionally killing her abusive boyfriend, Hyun-Wook. Yes, she hit him with a frying pan! With no money and nowhere to go, she jumps on a train. Her life takes an unexpected turn when a young woman in her late 20s, looking flustered, steps into the compartment with a three-month-old baby. The woman is on her way to meet her estranged husband’s well-off parents for the first time to beg for financial support.
When Jae-Young returns from the bathroom, the woman has vanished, leaving her baby behind. A note explains that her courage failed her and asks Jae-Young to deliver the child to the in-laws.
Despite having enough problems of her own, Jae-Young honours the request. Arriving at the mansion, the family immediately assume she is their eldest son’s wife. Jae-Young doesn’t correct them, but does find it strange that they don’t ask for proof of the child’s paternity or even her name. No questions are asked, and she and the child are welcomed with open arms by the family patriarch, the Chairman – an elderly, wheelchair-bound man who can hardly speak.
The youngest son, Soohyun, is particularly friendly toward his new ‘sister-in-law’, going out of his way to help her transition into the family. For someone who grew up in foster homes and has always struggled to make ends meet, this new, elaborate lifestyle is a dream come true for Jae-Young. She swipes the family credit card with wild abandon and imagines a flashy new life with her brother-in-law. But everything comes at a price.
Over the years, the family has been plagued by suspicious deaths, accidents and unanswered questions. Soohyun’s own mother died in a gas leak accident when he was 10 and his stepmother died from a fatal allergic reaction to nuts. After his mother’s death, Soohyun, the Chairman’s younger, illegitimate son, moved into the mansion.
The half-brothers became inseparable, but the eldest was certainly the golden child. However, seven years ago something happened and the older boy left, never to be heard from again. Jae-Young would do anything to maintain her place in the family, but her past threatens to derail her plans when a familiar face shows up on the mansion’s doorstep, bringing her fears to life.
A Twist of Fate starts with a quote from Daphne Du Maurier’s classic, Rebecca, making it clear that Jang was inspired by the novel. The story has all the characteristics of this ever-popular genre. Descriptions of the family’s mansion create a feeling of unease and dread; it gives the impression of a living thing “…breathing silently like a giant monster lurking in the darkness.” It may not be a ruin or a castle, but the mansion is old and daunting nonetheless.
True to the genre, the past haunts certain characters. Jae-Young tries to rebuild her life, but the uncertainty surrounding Hyun-Wook’s death is wearing her thin. To such an extent that Soohyun suggests she seek medication from the family doctor, Dr Kwon. Apparently, there are many ‘sensitive’ people in the family, so a steady supply of drugs is essential. While it seems like overkill for her anxiety, Jae-Young finds it the easiest way to cope.
This brings us to the psychological state of the main character. Jae-Young becomes more unpredictable and unstable, but is this due to her anxiety or the medication, or is she being gaslit by the very man she’s planning a future with?
A Twist of Fate is an entertaining novel that manages to blend classic gothic tropes with a modern, fast-paced narrative. Multiple plot twists and turns will keep you on your toes while the persistently unsettling atmosphere builds tension. If you enjoy unpredictable narratives or unlikeable, morally grey characters, this gothic family drama might be for you.
For more Korean crime fiction, try Soon Wiley’s When We Fell Apart.
Bantam
Print/Kindle/iBook
£15.63
CFL Rating: 4 Stars
