The debut novel from this South Korean author (translated by Sarah Lyo) concerns Jimin, a young woman working in Seoul. Her life takes a dramatic turn when, trying to play the long-game in a breath-taking act of revenge, she secures a position that brings her into the inner circle of the wealthy elite. To gain the trust of one particular family, Jimin fabricates a background for herself and gets an extracurricular teaching position in their home. The novel is divided into four sections and each one gives us a further insight into the protagonist’s dark deeds; our perspective skewing with each new revelation. It’s not a long read, at around 150 pages, but ‘Petty Lies’ is paper-cut sharp and a psychologically taut examination of class and aspiration. It also serves up a meticulous social critique – as well as a dissection of the moral compromises made by everyone – while also reading just like a thriller. RM

Published by Raven Books