- Overview
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This novel deals with the secrets of four serial murder cases committed during Passover week leading up to Jesus' death and resurrection. It is a truly impressive work that combines an elaborate subplot, an unexpected twist, extensive knowledge of history, philosophy, and religion, a vivid reflection of the times, and an exhilarating narrative arc.
- Book Intro
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One week before Passover, a series of terrible murders take place in Jerusalem. The murderer defiles the church and lets blood run into the spring water.
A spy named Matthias, who has been imprisoned for killing the Roman centurion, begins investigating the murder case under the orders of Jonathan, the garrison commander of the church. Since Matthias has seen countless deaths and killed many, Jonathan believes that nobody will be able to track the murderer’s motivation and behavior better than he. Jonathan promises to release Matthias if he successfully solves the case before Passover, an important Jewish holiday.
Meanwhile, the Roman governor Pilate arrives in Jerusalem for Passover and quickly recruits the sage Theophilos in order to tackle the murder case and the terrible rumors circulating. Pilate is prepared to remove anything that gets in the way of his rise to power and believes Theophilos is fit for the job because he excels at tracking and problem-solving.
However, even before they find any clues for the first murder case, two more men get killed. The serial killings become as mysterious as ever, and the identity of the murderer remains unknown. Confusion ensues in Jerusalem as rumors abound that evil spirits have appeared. Theophilos and Matthias join forces and launch a joint investigation. As the investigation progresses, Matthias suspects that the killings have something to do with Jesus from Galilee and his disciples. The disciples of Jesus tremble in fear, and Judas, one of the disciples, delves into Matthias’ background. The clues point to Jesus and his disciples, and Matthias, having realized that they were somewhat related to the victims, goes to see Jesus himself. However, Matthias sees that Jesus is nothing like the murderer that he’s had in mind. Matthias ends up confessing to a murder he’d committed and receives forgiveness. Despite his disciples' opposition, Jesus goes to Jerusalem, where he gets caught up in the shocking serial murder case. The murderer is someone that nobody had noticed before. What is Jesus’ final message for him?
- About the Author
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Lee Jung-myung
Lee Jung-myung has published the novels The Deep Rooted Tree, which depicts the little-known serial murders of the Jiphyeonjeon Hall scholars which lay behind the creation of Hangeul, and The Painter of the Wind, a mystery that unravels the secrets inside the paintings of Shin Yunbok and Gim Hongdo. He opened up a new chapter in Korean fiction, receiving an explosive response from readers for his fast-paced novels that include great period consciousness and in-depth intellectual quests. He also wrote The Investigation, which was nominated for the UK's Independent Foreign Fiction Prize in 2015 and won the Italy's Premio Selezione Bancarella, a literary award, in 2017, a first for a Korean. Other novels by Lee include After a Millennium, The Sunflower, The Last Picnic, and Memories of Evil.
Lee Jung-Myung opened a new chapter in Korean fiction, gaining an explosive response from readers, with fast-developing stories of deep intellectual inquiry. His novel, The Painter of Wind was adapted into a TV drama in 2008, and his novel Deep-rooted Tree was adapted into a miniseries that aired in 2011.
His novel, The Investigation (2012) became an instant bestseller upon its release and was translated and published in eleven countries including the United Kingdom. In 2018, he became the first South Korean writer to receive the Premio Selezione Bancarella, the most prestigious literary prize in Italy, for The Investigation.
