This book was chosen as the winner at the 3rd Korea Story Competition.

It is the original novel of The Purloined Book, which received favorable reviews as a play and webtoon.

Screenwriter Suh Dongyoon was once successful, with every one of his works becoming a hit, and was busy saying no to new projects. He has now become an insignificant writer and is in a slump. A scenario that he wrote together with his disciples, Jiyang and Yeongrak, is rejected by a production company. Suh also loses his college scenario instructor job, which was his main job, to a colleague screenwriter, taking away any sense of leisure he had in life. This is when he reads a scenario by Kim Yeongheo, who was his disciple, and is considerably shocked. Suh Dongyoon feels a sense of defeat and jealousy towards Kim Yeongheo's talent, and tries to persuade Kim to join his team of writers. Kim Yeongheo refuses. Kim Yeongheo is found dead the next morning and Suh Dongyoon, who was the prime suspect, clears himself of suspicion. Afterwards, Suh Dongyoon meets Kim Yeongheo's wife, Jang Boyoon, and finds himself wanting to be with her, in addition to the sense of jealousy towards Kim Yeongheo's talent. He tries to steal Kim's works and take away Kim's wife. He then tries to steal Kim Yeongheo's entire life…

The Purloined Book is the first novel by director You Sundong, who is a feature-length film director, drama director, and scenario writer. This book won an award at the Korea Story Competition hosted by the Korea Creative Content Agency, and was made into a play and webtoon of the same name. The play premiered in 2014 and received favorable reviews from many from the audience. It is put on every year and has established itself as the nation's leading thriller play. The Purloined Book, which is being published as a novel, has added aspects that were not included in the play and webtoon, and is presented to readers as the original novel.