THE MIDNIGHT SHIFT

A detective story set primarily in Incheon, South Korea, finds a vampire preying upon a rehab hospital as an angel of death. Originally written in Korean, this novel, superbly narrated by Rosa Escoda, reflects themes of loneliness relating to old age, addiction, and solitude. A string of apparent suicides at the hospital catches the attention of Suyeon, a young detective. She soon focuses on Nanju, a night nurse, as a person of interest. A third woman, Violette, encourages Suyeon to think about possible vampire involvement. The story's point of view alternates among the three women. Escoda uses subtle differences in pitch, pace, and tone to distinguish them. Three Korean women have very different stories, and Escoda elicits empathy for each one. [Published: JANUARY 2026]