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Siobhan O'Brien #1
Skin Deep
Korean-American adoptee Siobhan O'Brien has spent much of her life explaining her name and her family to strangers, but a more pressing problem is whether to carry on the PI agency that her dead boss unexpectedly left to her. Easing into middle age, Siobhan would generally rather have a glazed donut than a romance, but when an old friend asks Siobhan to find her daughter who has disappeared from her dorm, the rookie private detective's search begins at Llewellyn College.
A women's institution of higher learning in upstate New York, Llewellyn, for the first time in its two-hundred-year history, has opened its doors to male students. Fringe group The Womyn of Llewellyn are furious, but their ex-fashion-model president declares they have little choice due to financial shortfalls. But if that's true, where did she get the money to build a brand new science center, and why is it under 24/7 surveillance by the town cops?
As Siobhan delves deeper into the search for her friend's daughter, she encounters politely dangerous men in white turtlenecks, vegan cooking that might kill her, possibly deadly yoga poses, and a woman named Cleopatra who's got more issues than National Geographic. This first in a new series introduces an endearing P.I. heroine in the tradition of classic female detectives like Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone and Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski readers won't be able to put down.
A women's institution of higher learning in upstate New York, Llewellyn, for the first time in its two-hundred-year history, has opened its doors to male students. Fringe group The Womyn of Llewellyn are furious, but their ex-fashion-model president declares they have little choice due to financial shortfalls. But if that's true, where did she get the money to build a brand new science center, and why is it under 24/7 surveillance by the town cops?
As Siobhan delves deeper into the search for her friend's daughter, she encounters politely dangerous men in white turtlenecks, vegan cooking that might kill her, possibly deadly yoga poses, and a woman named Cleopatra who's got more issues than National Geographic. This first in a new series introduces an endearing P.I. heroine in the tradition of classic female detectives like Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone and Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski readers won't be able to put down.
332 pages, Paperback
Published July 21, 2020
21 people are currently reading
283 people want to read
About the author
Sung J. Woo
7 books29 followersSung J. Woo's short stories and essays have appeared in The New York Times, PEN/Guernica, and KoreAm Journal. He has written two novels, Love Love (2015) and Everything Asian (2009), which won the 2010 Asian Pacific American Librarians Association Literature Award (Youth category). In 2014, Everything Asian was chosen for Coming Together in Skokie and Niles Township. A graduate of Cornell University with an MFA from New York University, he lives in Washington, New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
July 6, 2020
Despite her über-Irish name, Siobhan O’Brien is a Korean-born adoptee; she drifted into private investigating when her job at the local newspaper gave out. Just two years in, the boss dies, leaving the business to her. Unsure whether she’s up to taking over, Siobhan takes on a case brought to her by a girlhood acquaintance with a Korean adoptee daughter of her own. One that’s gone missing.
In searching for the daughter, Siobhan stumbles into a bigger crime — and real danger. I was really torn as to what to think of Skin Deep, obviously the debut of a mystery series. Entering middle age, with little direction, Siobhan’s a likeable protagonist with edge and humor; I definitely want to see more of her8uyhgbg bv. But the mystery at the heart of the novel is completely implausible, and the characters, other than Siobhan, are two dimensional at best. It’s disappointing because author Sung J. Woo wrote some wonderful first-personal articles for The New York Times, particularly a touching piece about his widowed mother. I hope Woo can recover that deft touch in the sequel.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Agora Books in exchange for an honest review.
In searching for the daughter, Siobhan stumbles into a bigger crime — and real danger. I was really torn as to what to think of Skin Deep, obviously the debut of a mystery series. Entering middle age, with little direction, Siobhan’s a likeable protagonist with edge and humor; I definitely want to see more of her8uyhgbg bv. But the mystery at the heart of the novel is completely implausible, and the characters, other than Siobhan, are two dimensional at best. It’s disappointing because author Sung J. Woo wrote some wonderful first-personal articles for The New York Times, particularly a touching piece about his widowed mother. I hope Woo can recover that deft touch in the sequel.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Agora Books in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2020
I've decided that this is cozy-noir. The PI has all the trappings of a hard-boiled detective, but her humor is a bit too goofy and her methods a little too empathetic for you to ever believe this is going to go down as dark a noir path. This isn't to say that there aren't teeth to the mystery or that people aren't as awful as you'd expect from a purely noir novel.
The greatest strength of the book is Siobhan. She's a pure pleasure to hang around with as she puts in all the legwork in her search for a missing college girl. And she knows her business. This isn't cozy in the way a typical cozy works (and I do love my cozy mysteries, I swear!). She's not an amateur who will just stumble across the right clue at the point of highest tension... Siobhan is methodical and puts all her training to use. She may feel a bit green, this being her second career, but there are reasons she inherited the detective agency.
I also loved all the explorations of cultural identity. I may only be half as Korean as Siobhan, but I do know something about being Korean with an Irish (last) name. ;)
The greatest strength of the book is Siobhan. She's a pure pleasure to hang around with as she puts in all the legwork in her search for a missing college girl. And she knows her business. This isn't cozy in the way a typical cozy works (and I do love my cozy mysteries, I swear!). She's not an amateur who will just stumble across the right clue at the point of highest tension... Siobhan is methodical and puts all her training to use. She may feel a bit green, this being her second career, but there are reasons she inherited the detective agency.
I also loved all the explorations of cultural identity. I may only be half as Korean as Siobhan, but I do know something about being Korean with an Irish (last) name. ;)
August 30, 2020
Excellent. And surprising. With a protagonist who is 40ish and recognizes she isn't perfect. The chance of actual adult romance. A plot with unusual twists and turns. And a male author who can write women. I'll be looking for more by Sung J Woo.
July 26, 2020
Cozy Korean-Irish Caper
Review of the Agora Books paperback edition (July 2020)
I've been following the new imprint of Agora Books from independent publisher Polis Books since they began in 2019. Their mission statement of being "a diversity-focused imprint devoted to crime and noir fiction" showed promise of providing a variety of new authors with different takes on the genre. Sung Woo's Skin Deep is on more of a cozy track than the mostly-noir inflected previous releases from the publisher.
The twist here is that detective Siobhan (pronounced Sha-Vahn) O'Brien is a Korean-American adoptee to an Irish-American family. Her adoptive brother Sven is African-American. Although we don't meet the rest of the family in this first outing, there are likely sure to be future mix-ups and misunderstandings down the road with the detective's extended clan.
Skin Deep's investigation is a missing person search that takes our detective down paths of academia and health retreats. The case is resolved perhaps a bit too easily with a sort of deus ex machina intervention towards the end, but the likeability of the protagonist was the main attraction regardless. This promises to be an entertaining series to come.
Review of the Agora Books paperback edition (July 2020)
I've been following the new imprint of Agora Books from independent publisher Polis Books since they began in 2019. Their mission statement of being "a diversity-focused imprint devoted to crime and noir fiction" showed promise of providing a variety of new authors with different takes on the genre. Sung Woo's Skin Deep is on more of a cozy track than the mostly-noir inflected previous releases from the publisher.
The twist here is that detective Siobhan (pronounced Sha-Vahn) O'Brien is a Korean-American adoptee to an Irish-American family. Her adoptive brother Sven is African-American. Although we don't meet the rest of the family in this first outing, there are likely sure to be future mix-ups and misunderstandings down the road with the detective's extended clan.
Skin Deep's investigation is a missing person search that takes our detective down paths of academia and health retreats. The case is resolved perhaps a bit too easily with a sort of deus ex machina intervention towards the end, but the likeability of the protagonist was the main attraction regardless. This promises to be an entertaining series to come.
August 15, 2025
Skin Deep is the first book in the cozy mystery series Siobhan O'Brien, written by Sung J. Woo, and published by Datura Books. A kinda cozy noir proposal that mixes the best of detective methods with a really relaxing sense of humour that helps to alleviate the tension, with a thrilling pace that suits really well the genre.
Siobhan O'Brien, a Korean adoptee, works as an assistant PI; when her boss suffers a coronary, leaves his agency to Siobhan. Immediately she gets a first case, as her friend Josie needs her to find her daughter; a difficult investigation that will take her to the Llewellyn College, getting involved in the dangerous politics of the university and embroiling herself into something bigger, hoping that it will be the key to find Josie's daughter.
Great part of the charm of this novel resides in the own character of Siobhan; while she's clearly outside of her element at many moments, we see how, at many points, she actually manages to advance the investigation in part due to her kindness. A bit naïve for the PI business, but it suits well with the kind of plot Woo is trying to establish. The rest of the secondary characters are kinda forgettable, eclipsed by Siobhan.
The pacing is really fast, partly motivated by how Woo is using really short chapters; I kinda liked how this makes you devour the book. Despite being a noir story, there's no much violence; many of the humour moments are introduced around stereotypes and physical characteristics, alleviating the tension that naturally grows in the genre.
Skin Deep is a nice cozy mystery proposal, introducing a character with a lot of potential and that knows how to play to its strengths. I'm kinda curious to know how it will be the next Siobhan O'Brien adventure!
Siobhan O'Brien, a Korean adoptee, works as an assistant PI; when her boss suffers a coronary, leaves his agency to Siobhan. Immediately she gets a first case, as her friend Josie needs her to find her daughter; a difficult investigation that will take her to the Llewellyn College, getting involved in the dangerous politics of the university and embroiling herself into something bigger, hoping that it will be the key to find Josie's daughter.
Great part of the charm of this novel resides in the own character of Siobhan; while she's clearly outside of her element at many moments, we see how, at many points, she actually manages to advance the investigation in part due to her kindness. A bit naïve for the PI business, but it suits well with the kind of plot Woo is trying to establish. The rest of the secondary characters are kinda forgettable, eclipsed by Siobhan.
The pacing is really fast, partly motivated by how Woo is using really short chapters; I kinda liked how this makes you devour the book. Despite being a noir story, there's no much violence; many of the humour moments are introduced around stereotypes and physical characteristics, alleviating the tension that naturally grows in the genre.
Skin Deep is a nice cozy mystery proposal, introducing a character with a lot of potential and that knows how to play to its strengths. I'm kinda curious to know how it will be the next Siobhan O'Brien adventure!
January 12, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. Sung Woo's writing style appeals to me. His chapters are short (average 3-4 pages long) but each one contains a fascinating story that links seemlessly to the next one. And I'm drawn with high expectations of "what's next". For some strange reason the last chapter of the book I was reading had an abrupt end...some pages were missing. So I wrote an email to the author and he promptly replied and graciously sent me the complete end chapter - thank you so much. Now I can't wait for his sequel. Sung Woo is a new author to me - it was what Steph Cha, award-winning author of Your House Will Pay, wrote on the book cover that prompted me to pick his book and I'm glad I did.
June 23, 2025
4.5 🌟
"An investigation is a living, breathing thing. Go with what happens, because what happens then is what was always supposed to happen." (Ch 53)
The main character, Siobhan, is a 40 year old transracial adoptee, she’s Korean, and her adoptive parents are American-Irish and Nordic. She's an apprentice to a private detective. His agency is left to her when he passes away suddenly. On her own now, her first case just happens to be the sister of her late best friend, pleading for her to investigate the disappearance of her daughter. Subsequently, her daughter is also a Korean born adoptee. As she looks further into the case, there is more to it than initially thought. A side-case, possibly interconnected, is thrown her way, and it might have dangerous ties. She goes in deeper and deeper with every twist and turn.
"....every adoptee leads two lives, the one that is and the one that could have been." (Ch 31)
Love the delve into the struggle of identity and acceptance. I'm of mixed nationalities and can roundaboutly relate to those struggles. It was rough growing up feeling like you're floundering and not quite sure where and with whom you belong. Along the way, I was mistaken for different nationalities, depending on where I lived - Mexican in California, Korean in Texas, half white/black in North Carolina... though I am none of those. For the longest time, in my youth, I wanted to ignore the Asian side of myself. I embrace all of me now, though! But back to the story... it was refreshing and enlightening, yet sad at the same time to read this part.
Siobhan's tentative romance was sweet, too!
Sung's writing is entertaining and interesting without any heaviness or intellectual exhaustion. The characters are diverse, relatable, and seemingly genuine. I don't read nearly enough of this genre. I might need to after this one!
eARC courtesy of Datura Books
"An investigation is a living, breathing thing. Go with what happens, because what happens then is what was always supposed to happen." (Ch 53)
The main character, Siobhan, is a 40 year old transracial adoptee, she’s Korean, and her adoptive parents are American-Irish and Nordic. She's an apprentice to a private detective. His agency is left to her when he passes away suddenly. On her own now, her first case just happens to be the sister of her late best friend, pleading for her to investigate the disappearance of her daughter. Subsequently, her daughter is also a Korean born adoptee. As she looks further into the case, there is more to it than initially thought. A side-case, possibly interconnected, is thrown her way, and it might have dangerous ties. She goes in deeper and deeper with every twist and turn.
"....every adoptee leads two lives, the one that is and the one that could have been." (Ch 31)
Love the delve into the struggle of identity and acceptance. I'm of mixed nationalities and can roundaboutly relate to those struggles. It was rough growing up feeling like you're floundering and not quite sure where and with whom you belong. Along the way, I was mistaken for different nationalities, depending on where I lived - Mexican in California, Korean in Texas, half white/black in North Carolina... though I am none of those. For the longest time, in my youth, I wanted to ignore the Asian side of myself. I embrace all of me now, though! But back to the story... it was refreshing and enlightening, yet sad at the same time to read this part.
Siobhan's tentative romance was sweet, too!
Sung's writing is entertaining and interesting without any heaviness or intellectual exhaustion. The characters are diverse, relatable, and seemingly genuine. I don't read nearly enough of this genre. I might need to after this one!
eARC courtesy of Datura Books
July 23, 2020
The Honest Review - Do you want to read a cozy mystery with lots of humor, no corpses and undercurrents of social satire. If yes, then 'Skin Deep' by Sung J. Woo is perfect. A breezy mystery which will make you laugh and exercise your grey cells. 💖
.
Siobhan O'Brien is a transracial adoptee who works as an assistant PI. Her boss suffers a major coronary and leaves his agency to Siobhan. She gets her first solo case finding the daughter of her best friend's sister Josie. In this comedy of errors, Siobhan gets more done due to sheer luck and sympathy of strangers than because of her real skills. 💖
.
Her case takes her to Llewellyn college - a women-only college transitioning to co-ed. Here instead of getting clues she finds herself embroiled in another top secret project of college President Vera Wheeler - to find an elixir for permanent beauty. So Siobhan keeps on running from college to Yoga retreats, finding clues, getting stymied, getting hurt, meeting Yoga gurus and conducting her investigation with all the finesse of a linebacker. 💖
.
The writing is witty and sharp and the fact I loved most was the satire on how much importance we place on names, cultural identities, physical attributes and race. The author cunningly inserts dialogues to emphasise these points and the reader must marvel at the dexterity of writing. It was a fresh, honest and witty story which I enjoyed a lot. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for honest review.
.
Siobhan O'Brien is a transracial adoptee who works as an assistant PI. Her boss suffers a major coronary and leaves his agency to Siobhan. She gets her first solo case finding the daughter of her best friend's sister Josie. In this comedy of errors, Siobhan gets more done due to sheer luck and sympathy of strangers than because of her real skills. 💖
.
Her case takes her to Llewellyn college - a women-only college transitioning to co-ed. Here instead of getting clues she finds herself embroiled in another top secret project of college President Vera Wheeler - to find an elixir for permanent beauty. So Siobhan keeps on running from college to Yoga retreats, finding clues, getting stymied, getting hurt, meeting Yoga gurus and conducting her investigation with all the finesse of a linebacker. 💖
.
The writing is witty and sharp and the fact I loved most was the satire on how much importance we place on names, cultural identities, physical attributes and race. The author cunningly inserts dialogues to emphasise these points and the reader must marvel at the dexterity of writing. It was a fresh, honest and witty story which I enjoyed a lot. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for honest review.
March 19, 2021
Not for school (although it could be for older students with parental preview as some themes are a tough)
Dashiell Hammett +, very, very in the tradition.
Probably threw in some Ellery Queen, also.
Tons of fun to read, which is half the job for a detective novel.
Was able to use new ways to flesh out characters, events, setting without falling into the trap you can fall into when trying to be unique instead of formulaic, making your reader work too hard for every line.
For example, during one chapter the detective is talking to a student who sends her a photo, and she asks whether she can receive the photo without accidentally ending the call. Such a little thing, such a real thing, and well into the book so not some form of crude exposition or character roll out, but a continuing consistency in the way the characters act.
Real good, recommend.
Only negative note, like so many books published post-Grammerly and post-spell check, there are editing errors a final proofread should have caught -- simple things like missing articles or verbs. No big deal, just a little distracting.
May 11, 2024
This book opens with Siobhan O'Brien discovering her boss dead of natural causes in their shared office. Unsure whether she wants to continue running their private investigation business on her own, she soon finds herself in pursuit of a missing college student. What is the connection between a small women's college and a posh Yoga retreat? Why are hefty security guards and local police such a large presence on the campus of a small college? How and why did Penny Sykes disappear so completely?
This is an entertaining mystery story full of surprises, unexpected characters and a dash of romance. I admit to being a little mystified by the final scenes but I'm sure if I wanted to read that part again I could figure it out. A great way to escape real life for a few hours.
This is an entertaining mystery story full of surprises, unexpected characters and a dash of romance. I admit to being a little mystified by the final scenes but I'm sure if I wanted to read that part again I could figure it out. A great way to escape real life for a few hours.
March 3, 2022
There's a quote from Ovidia Yu on the back that says "Perfectly fits the spunky independent investigator gap left by Kinsey Millhone." I wholeheartedly agree that this book follows in that tradition, but also is its own unique voice. I hope this will become a series, I loved the book and the characters and the whole story.
November 23, 2025
Sung J. Woo's Skin Deep is the sort of novel I classify as a not-too-cozy cozy mystery. There's no gore, but there are threatening situations. The plot provides a significant amount of bad people doing bad things for bad reasons. It also offers problematic family relationships.
The initial set-up is a bit complex, but Woo leads us through it deftly so we absorb backstory in a way that feels natural, not forced. For now, I'll give you this: Siobhan O'Brien, who is Korean by birth, regardless of what the name suggests, works as a PI trainee in an investigations agency. A friend she hasn't heard from in years—and who really wasn't that much of a friend—needs help finding her daughter, who has disappeared from college. It seems that a few people may know where the daughter is, but said daughter having just turned 18, they have no interest in sharing their knowledge.
I read Skin Deep in one day, not because it's skimpy, but because it's the kind of book one finds difficult to put down for long. The mystery has some complexity to it; it also teeters on the brink of I'm-not-really-sure-I-believes-this. Nontheless, it's an engaging enough read that I am now looking forward to Siobhan O'Brien's next investigation. She's a character I would like to get to know better.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
The initial set-up is a bit complex, but Woo leads us through it deftly so we absorb backstory in a way that feels natural, not forced. For now, I'll give you this: Siobhan O'Brien, who is Korean by birth, regardless of what the name suggests, works as a PI trainee in an investigations agency. A friend she hasn't heard from in years—and who really wasn't that much of a friend—needs help finding her daughter, who has disappeared from college. It seems that a few people may know where the daughter is, but said daughter having just turned 18, they have no interest in sharing their knowledge.
I read Skin Deep in one day, not because it's skimpy, but because it's the kind of book one finds difficult to put down for long. The mystery has some complexity to it; it also teeters on the brink of I'm-not-really-sure-I-believes-this. Nontheless, it's an engaging enough read that I am now looking forward to Siobhan O'Brien's next investigation. She's a character I would like to get to know better.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
July 31, 2025
Korean-American Siobhan O'Brien is a private investigator, recently in possesion of the investigation business, in the first of this detective series. I loved the character development of the protagonist in this novel, but the mystery plot was not upto the mark at all. Siobhan's case is to find a missing girl, which leads her to scandalous underground buisness in a high profile educational institution. Further clues lead Siobhan to a bizzare cult society, and the plot was handled too immaturely for my liking. It's Siobhan's professional journey of coming into her own as a lead (and only) investigator of her firm, and her personal journey too, which make me hopeful that the coming up books in the series can be satisfactory ones, provided the mystery plot is well taken care of.
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for a free copy of this novel. My review is unbiased and a reflection of my reading experience.
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for a free copy of this novel. My review is unbiased and a reflection of my reading experience.
July 5, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Skin Deep.
I'm always on the lookout for a mystery series headed by a strong female heroine so the premise of a female Korean American P.I. got me excited, more so when my request was approved.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
Siobhan O'Brien is working as a P.I. when her mentor and friend, Ed, dies unexpectedly.
When he wills her his agency, as she debates on the next step in her life, a case involving the sister of a dear friend arrives at her doorstep.
What appears to be a straightforward case of a missing college student turns into something more when Siobhan uncovers money mismanagement, dirty academic machinations and just how much power an elite and privileged family can wield.
I really liked Siobhan; she's funny, smart, resourceful. She's not aggressive or pushy; she cuts to the chase and gets the job done.
I didn't care much for the plot itself; entitled people, bratty students, New Age mumbo-jumbo, but I did like that there's no outright violence or gore.
No one dies (except Ed and that's due to natural causes). There's a lot of running and hiding and snooping around but that's Siobhan's job.
Siobhan is a great character, and the writing is good, the prose flows and is easy to read.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series and hope the plot is more interesting.
I'm always on the lookout for a mystery series headed by a strong female heroine so the premise of a female Korean American P.I. got me excited, more so when my request was approved.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
Siobhan O'Brien is working as a P.I. when her mentor and friend, Ed, dies unexpectedly.
When he wills her his agency, as she debates on the next step in her life, a case involving the sister of a dear friend arrives at her doorstep.
What appears to be a straightforward case of a missing college student turns into something more when Siobhan uncovers money mismanagement, dirty academic machinations and just how much power an elite and privileged family can wield.
I really liked Siobhan; she's funny, smart, resourceful. She's not aggressive or pushy; she cuts to the chase and gets the job done.
I didn't care much for the plot itself; entitled people, bratty students, New Age mumbo-jumbo, but I did like that there's no outright violence or gore.
No one dies (except Ed and that's due to natural causes). There's a lot of running and hiding and snooping around but that's Siobhan's job.
Siobhan is a great character, and the writing is good, the prose flows and is easy to read.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series and hope the plot is more interesting.
June 5, 2020
What first attracted me to this book was the cover. Interesting font, color, and title, plus I was in the mood for a mystery. I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of Skin Deep.
Siobhan O'Brien is a transracial adoptee, Korean adopted by an Irish father and Norwegian mother, who is mourning the loss of her boss and mentor and deciding whether or not to shut down the PI business that he left to her. When an old friend comes to her for help locating her daughter, Siobhan dives into a collegiate mystery with unexpected outcomes.
This book surprised me. I was a little wary of the college setting because sliding into the world of fraternities and dorm life can read a little young. However, Siobhan's approach to investigating the daughter brought her into contact with a wide array of characters, which brought a fresh mix and propulsive pacing to the narrative. The missing daughter becomes more of a part of a whole to the mystery, however, as Siobhan's philosophy is to gather as much information as possible because you never know what's going to be useful. I loved this about her, and as a narrator, I enjoyed her voice and interactions with others. Funny, smart, self-aware, and human; she doesn't get everything right on her first try, and she's doing her best to navigate the grief of losing someone close to her and her place in the agency without him.
More than the lighthearted tone, Siobhan's character is an interesting examination of identity. Countless times she feels obligated to explain the discrepancy between her Korean appearance and her Irish name. Naming is powerful, and throughout the casual jokes, weird looks, and offhand commentary, Woo is making a shrewd observation about the correlation between who our names tell us to be, how we see ourselves, and how others perceive us, as well. Several seemingly innocuous interactions left me pondering perception. For example, I'm not Asian, but I related to Siobhan's discussion with Craig about his weight. She asks him "how he got so big" and instead of being offended, he talks about his genetics, biological tendencies, and eating habits, all of which I realized is exactly how Siobhan's character handles the questions of her ethnicity. Oftentimes, we don't realize how invasive certain questions can be; we're used to instant gratification, information available at the touch of a button, and to a certain extent, a culture of feeling entitled to know everything about everyone.
Additionally, I found the astute commentary on beauty served as a foundation to this argument. Where beauty is often dismissed as a luxury, Siobhan's investigation forces us to question our own beauty standards and perceptions, the power behind conventional beauty, and who defines what is beautiful. It's a study in age, gender, youth, and identity, all wrapped in a beautiful, mysterious bow.
So while on its surface, there's a rather fun mystery, Skin Deep proves it is so much more than that, and I look forward to seeing where Woo takes this character and the series. I'd recommend this read to anyone looking for a fun, fast-paced mystery with relevant themes.
Big thanks to Polis/Agora and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.
Siobhan O'Brien is a transracial adoptee, Korean adopted by an Irish father and Norwegian mother, who is mourning the loss of her boss and mentor and deciding whether or not to shut down the PI business that he left to her. When an old friend comes to her for help locating her daughter, Siobhan dives into a collegiate mystery with unexpected outcomes.
This book surprised me. I was a little wary of the college setting because sliding into the world of fraternities and dorm life can read a little young. However, Siobhan's approach to investigating the daughter brought her into contact with a wide array of characters, which brought a fresh mix and propulsive pacing to the narrative. The missing daughter becomes more of a part of a whole to the mystery, however, as Siobhan's philosophy is to gather as much information as possible because you never know what's going to be useful. I loved this about her, and as a narrator, I enjoyed her voice and interactions with others. Funny, smart, self-aware, and human; she doesn't get everything right on her first try, and she's doing her best to navigate the grief of losing someone close to her and her place in the agency without him.
More than the lighthearted tone, Siobhan's character is an interesting examination of identity. Countless times she feels obligated to explain the discrepancy between her Korean appearance and her Irish name. Naming is powerful, and throughout the casual jokes, weird looks, and offhand commentary, Woo is making a shrewd observation about the correlation between who our names tell us to be, how we see ourselves, and how others perceive us, as well. Several seemingly innocuous interactions left me pondering perception. For example, I'm not Asian, but I related to Siobhan's discussion with Craig about his weight. She asks him "how he got so big" and instead of being offended, he talks about his genetics, biological tendencies, and eating habits, all of which I realized is exactly how Siobhan's character handles the questions of her ethnicity. Oftentimes, we don't realize how invasive certain questions can be; we're used to instant gratification, information available at the touch of a button, and to a certain extent, a culture of feeling entitled to know everything about everyone.
Additionally, I found the astute commentary on beauty served as a foundation to this argument. Where beauty is often dismissed as a luxury, Siobhan's investigation forces us to question our own beauty standards and perceptions, the power behind conventional beauty, and who defines what is beautiful. It's a study in age, gender, youth, and identity, all wrapped in a beautiful, mysterious bow.
So while on its surface, there's a rather fun mystery, Skin Deep proves it is so much more than that, and I look forward to seeing where Woo takes this character and the series. I'd recommend this read to anyone looking for a fun, fast-paced mystery with relevant themes.
Big thanks to Polis/Agora and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.
June 22, 2025
I enjoyed this mystery novel so much that on finishing reading, I immediately purchased a copy of the sequel so that I could read more of Siobhan O’Brien straight away!
Skin Deep has absolutely everything I look for in a mystery story – an interesting main character with some fun or mysterious side characters surrounding her; a well-constructed plot that isn’t too far-fetched or too easy to guess; and something that makes it stand out from the crowd – in this case, both the middle-aged rookie P.I. main character with her mixed heritage roots and a mystery that takes us from university to wellness centre with a little hazing thrown in along the way.
I found Siobhan O’Brien engaging as a main character. She reminded me a little of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone in her careful, diligent following of leads (although thankfully with less paperwork/admin involved!), but the author also brings a humour and playfulness to the character and dialogue which I really enjoyed. Not only does it help to lighten the tone generally, the wit and warmth really made me feel like I knew the characters and cared about what happened to them.
In fact, the only bone I have to pick with the author is that I have finished the sequel now and there are no more books for me to run out and purchase this weekend! I’ve had to satisfy myself with following so I will be notified as soon as the next book is released.
Skin Deep has absolutely everything I look for in a mystery story – an interesting main character with some fun or mysterious side characters surrounding her; a well-constructed plot that isn’t too far-fetched or too easy to guess; and something that makes it stand out from the crowd – in this case, both the middle-aged rookie P.I. main character with her mixed heritage roots and a mystery that takes us from university to wellness centre with a little hazing thrown in along the way.
I found Siobhan O’Brien engaging as a main character. She reminded me a little of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone in her careful, diligent following of leads (although thankfully with less paperwork/admin involved!), but the author also brings a humour and playfulness to the character and dialogue which I really enjoyed. Not only does it help to lighten the tone generally, the wit and warmth really made me feel like I knew the characters and cared about what happened to them.
In fact, the only bone I have to pick with the author is that I have finished the sequel now and there are no more books for me to run out and purchase this weekend! I’ve had to satisfy myself with following so I will be notified as soon as the next book is released.
September 8, 2020
Transracial Korean American adoptee, Shibhan O'Brien, is a second year private detective in a college town called Athena, NY. Her senior partner and mentor has died, leaving her the business. Once a reporter at the defunct Athena Times, she now uses her research skills in detecting. She is contacted by the younger sister of her deceased BFF to find the sister's daughter who has disappeared from the near-by newly co-ed college in Selene NY. And a mystery with a science-fiction-y twist ensues enjoyable with many laughing moments.
This was a delightful novel and detective story. Their are funny jokes as she navigates everyone's surprise at her very Irish name, often explaining that her Black adopted brother is named Sven O'Brien. There is a sweet beginning of a love story between two rather lonely people.
Having lived more than twenty years in a town near Ithaca, NY, the (very) thinly disguised name changes both delighted and distracted me. On the whole a completely enjoyable beginning to what I hope is a nice long series.
This was a delightful novel and detective story. Their are funny jokes as she navigates everyone's surprise at her very Irish name, often explaining that her Black adopted brother is named Sven O'Brien. There is a sweet beginning of a love story between two rather lonely people.
Having lived more than twenty years in a town near Ithaca, NY, the (very) thinly disguised name changes both delighted and distracted me. On the whole a completely enjoyable beginning to what I hope is a nice long series.
August 2, 2025
TW: mention of SA
3.5* rounded up
Korean-American adoptee Siobhan O’Brien, is a private investigator who has just been given the chance to take over the PI company she works for following her bosses death.
I absolutely loved Siobhan - to me she felt so realistic which was SO nice, it’s nice to not have a MC that’s perfect all the time!! I loved how this book explored Siobhan’s experiences as a Korean-American adoptee, and did so in a way that felt appropriate to the story, rather than as an additional side thought.
The majority of this book felt very fun and enjoyable, I loved the short chapters too and think it made the book a more manageable read.
I do with that Christopher’s actions had maybe been discussed a bit more, considering what he did is SA. It felt a bit brushed over which is disappointing, and made me feel slightly sour over an otherwise enjoyable book.
3.5* rounded up
Korean-American adoptee Siobhan O’Brien, is a private investigator who has just been given the chance to take over the PI company she works for following her bosses death.
I absolutely loved Siobhan - to me she felt so realistic which was SO nice, it’s nice to not have a MC that’s perfect all the time!! I loved how this book explored Siobhan’s experiences as a Korean-American adoptee, and did so in a way that felt appropriate to the story, rather than as an additional side thought.
The majority of this book felt very fun and enjoyable, I loved the short chapters too and think it made the book a more manageable read.
I do with that Christopher’s actions had maybe been discussed a bit more, considering what he did is SA. It felt a bit brushed over which is disappointing, and made me feel slightly sour over an otherwise enjoyable book.
April 3, 2021
This was a very good first mystery. I viewed the author on a zoom session at Left Coast Crime and was interested in trying this.
I love that the main character is Korean-American and adopted by Irish and Swedish parents and named Siobhon O'Brien. I have encountered this before in real life.
I also like PI stories as there is a reason for the protagonist to be investigating.
This has aspects involving a college campus and a yoga retreat. We also see how the multi millionaires live. All interesting and glued together with a nice love interest lawyer.
It has been many decades since I attended college, but the basics are the same and the human condition does not change much either.
I enjoyed this first effort.
I purchased a copy.
I love that the main character is Korean-American and adopted by Irish and Swedish parents and named Siobhon O'Brien. I have encountered this before in real life.
I also like PI stories as there is a reason for the protagonist to be investigating.
This has aspects involving a college campus and a yoga retreat. We also see how the multi millionaires live. All interesting and glued together with a nice love interest lawyer.
It has been many decades since I attended college, but the basics are the same and the human condition does not change much either.
I enjoyed this first effort.
I purchased a copy.
August 1, 2025
The story is told from the pov of Siobhan, a rookie detective who has just inherited a PI agency after the unexpected death of her boss. Whilst contemplating the future of the agency, Siobhan receives a call from an old friend, her daughter is missing and she wants Siobhan to find her.
This was a really interesting and engaging read. The chapters were short and concise which I thoroughly enjoyed as it kept the story moving along.
I also thought Siobhan's character was written perfectly. As a woman in a similar stage of life as Siobhan, I found her train of thought quite relatable at times.
This is the first book I've read from this author, I'm very excited to dive into the next book in the series.
This was a really interesting and engaging read. The chapters were short and concise which I thoroughly enjoyed as it kept the story moving along.
I also thought Siobhan's character was written perfectly. As a woman in a similar stage of life as Siobhan, I found her train of thought quite relatable at times.
This is the first book I've read from this author, I'm very excited to dive into the next book in the series.
June 15, 2020
A Korean-American female detective with the unexpected name of Siobhan O'Brien is a good enough hook to draw your attention to this new book. Siobhan, a forty-something former reporter, has just completed her PI apprenticeship when her mentor dies and leaves her the agency. When a former roommate asks her to find her missing daughter, Siobhan has her first solo case that takes her from the halls of the recently-coed former women's college to a yoga retreat, while tentatively exploring a relationship with the attorney down the hall. Great fun to read and looking forward to more adventures with Siobhan.
Thanks to Polis Books and NetGalley for access to a digital ARC.
Thanks to Polis Books and NetGalley for access to a digital ARC.
July 16, 2021
3.5 stars
What I loved about this book was the main character, Siobhan. She’s got a very wry sense of humor, and I appreciate how brave she is to get into investigating. I also like her upbringing, both her biological roots and the family she grows up with.
This book has a great setting in upstate New York, and I enjoyed the details and references. I had a harder time following the plot, especially as it veered into a lot of different directions. In some parts, it was too over the top for me.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, populated by some very interesting characters, especially female PI, Siobhan O’Brien.
What I loved about this book was the main character, Siobhan. She’s got a very wry sense of humor, and I appreciate how brave she is to get into investigating. I also like her upbringing, both her biological roots and the family she grows up with.
This book has a great setting in upstate New York, and I enjoyed the details and references. I had a harder time following the plot, especially as it veered into a lot of different directions. In some parts, it was too over the top for me.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, populated by some very interesting characters, especially female PI, Siobhan O’Brien.
June 22, 2025
Skin Deep has a lot of things I enjoy and yet, and yet, I am deeply, intensely conflicted about it. As a mystery it has all the fun and drama you might want, with an interesting protagonist and solid side characters. However, there are certain aspects of the main mystery I didn't feel were handled well, which affected by entire reading experience. Thanks to Datura Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
To get the big thing out of the way first: there is a certain element of the mystery Siobhan needs to solve that, in my opinion, is handled in a way that is utterly irresponsible, especially in this day and age. I am going to discuss it here, so spoilers, although I'll attempt to be a little vague. Do skip to the next paragraph if you don't want any spoilers, but for those whose triggers may include female reproductive health issues, perhaps consider reading.
Siobhan O'Brien finds herself at a crossroads. She has been left her boss' private detective company and isn't entirely sure if she is ready to run it all by herself. Enter the little sister of a childhood friend, who she had met at a summer camp for other Korean-born adoptees. Her daughter, Penny, herself adopted from Korea, has gone missing from university. Despite herself, Siobhan accepts the case and begins exploring the campus of Llewelyn College. There is more to this case than a young woman going no-contact with a slightly overbearing mother. The campus of Llewelyn College is in the midst of major changes and Penny's disappearance seems to be related. As Siobhan detects, more and more strange things occur which all seem to tangle around the college's president, a yoga retreat, and a super-wealthy Korean family. Reviewer Matthew Galloway described this book as "cozy-noir" on Goodreads and I think that is the perfect descriptor for it. It has the brooding and conflicted detective behind their big desk, the on-the-fly thinking, dark buildings with dark pasts, etc., but it is all covered in a slightly goofy and soothing sauce. Siobhan's interior monologue is very Millennial in a way I can't entirely put my finger on, but it's quite dry and sarcastic while also being empathetic. I really liked her as the protagonist and think I would've enjoyed following her on more mysteries, were it not for the above which made me feel icky.
I haven't read anything by Sung J. Woo before, but I did enjoy much of the atmosphere he created in this book. Siobhan is fun as a main character and because of this also makes the whole detective work seem quite fun. I like that she is not some ingenue just stumbling across a case but rather someone who has studied and paid attention, meaning that it makes sense she would solve a case. However, the case itself is a bit all over the place. As I mentioned above, it begins with Penny being missing but then spirals higher and higher until it loses much of its shape and proportion. Now, detective mysteries do not need to be realistic to be fun or good or both. But if I need to so utterly and entirely suspend my disbelief that I begin appreciating billionaires then something has gone wrong for me. This might not be an issue for other readers, who'll enjoy the hijinks across campus, but for me it somewhat dampened my enthusiasm. Also, while Siobhan is a solid protagonist, other characters felt quite two-dimensional by design. I appreciate that mysteries have their stock characters, but even where there was an attempt to add some background and flesh to them, it was delivered in such a direct way that it didn't feel entirely natural. All of this might sound very critical and yet I did have a lot of fun with at least the first half of the book. I really enjoyed Siobhan's inner monologue and some of the tensions Woo set up within her arc. I also liked the initial mystery and its expansion into campus drama. But especially the last third pushed this into territory that felt underdeveloped and not fully thought out. I might pick up future Siobhan O'Brien mysteries, but I'm not entirely sure yet.
In my rating I've tried to be fair both to the fact that I enjoyed much of Skin Deep and to the fact that I had serious issues with some of its focus. I'm in two minds about it, still, and don't know if I'll continue the series.
URL: https://universeinwords.blogspot.com/...
To get the big thing out of the way first: there is a certain element of the mystery Siobhan needs to solve that, in my opinion, is handled in a way that is utterly irresponsible, especially in this day and age. I am going to discuss it here, so spoilers, although I'll attempt to be a little vague. Do skip to the next paragraph if you don't want any spoilers, but for those whose triggers may include female reproductive health issues, perhaps consider reading.
Siobhan O'Brien finds herself at a crossroads. She has been left her boss' private detective company and isn't entirely sure if she is ready to run it all by herself. Enter the little sister of a childhood friend, who she had met at a summer camp for other Korean-born adoptees. Her daughter, Penny, herself adopted from Korea, has gone missing from university. Despite herself, Siobhan accepts the case and begins exploring the campus of Llewelyn College. There is more to this case than a young woman going no-contact with a slightly overbearing mother. The campus of Llewelyn College is in the midst of major changes and Penny's disappearance seems to be related. As Siobhan detects, more and more strange things occur which all seem to tangle around the college's president, a yoga retreat, and a super-wealthy Korean family. Reviewer Matthew Galloway described this book as "cozy-noir" on Goodreads and I think that is the perfect descriptor for it. It has the brooding and conflicted detective behind their big desk, the on-the-fly thinking, dark buildings with dark pasts, etc., but it is all covered in a slightly goofy and soothing sauce. Siobhan's interior monologue is very Millennial in a way I can't entirely put my finger on, but it's quite dry and sarcastic while also being empathetic. I really liked her as the protagonist and think I would've enjoyed following her on more mysteries, were it not for the above which made me feel icky.
I haven't read anything by Sung J. Woo before, but I did enjoy much of the atmosphere he created in this book. Siobhan is fun as a main character and because of this also makes the whole detective work seem quite fun. I like that she is not some ingenue just stumbling across a case but rather someone who has studied and paid attention, meaning that it makes sense she would solve a case. However, the case itself is a bit all over the place. As I mentioned above, it begins with Penny being missing but then spirals higher and higher until it loses much of its shape and proportion. Now, detective mysteries do not need to be realistic to be fun or good or both. But if I need to so utterly and entirely suspend my disbelief that I begin appreciating billionaires then something has gone wrong for me. This might not be an issue for other readers, who'll enjoy the hijinks across campus, but for me it somewhat dampened my enthusiasm. Also, while Siobhan is a solid protagonist, other characters felt quite two-dimensional by design. I appreciate that mysteries have their stock characters, but even where there was an attempt to add some background and flesh to them, it was delivered in such a direct way that it didn't feel entirely natural. All of this might sound very critical and yet I did have a lot of fun with at least the first half of the book. I really enjoyed Siobhan's inner monologue and some of the tensions Woo set up within her arc. I also liked the initial mystery and its expansion into campus drama. But especially the last third pushed this into territory that felt underdeveloped and not fully thought out. I might pick up future Siobhan O'Brien mysteries, but I'm not entirely sure yet.
In my rating I've tried to be fair both to the fact that I enjoyed much of Skin Deep and to the fact that I had serious issues with some of its focus. I'm in two minds about it, still, and don't know if I'll continue the series.
URL: https://universeinwords.blogspot.com/...
November 23, 2020
The author's descriptive prose immersed me in the setting without being wordy or flowery. Characters seeemed real. Even though Siobhan is forty-ish, this book had a YA vibe for me, not a criticism as I enjoy YA, just not as gritty as some might expect from an adult PI novel. Nicely set up for the next in the series and I will look for a next book. Enjoyed this one.
*I received a free copy of this book from the author via a First Chapter Fun facebook group giveaway.*
*I received a free copy of this book from the author via a First Chapter Fun facebook group giveaway.*
February 22, 2021
I had enjoyed Sung J. Woo's _Everything Asian_, and figured I'd give my fellow Cornellian's first foray into the mystery genre a try when I read about this new book in our Alumni magazine. It's a fast-paced story with twists, a welcome romantic bit, and lots of winks and nods to Cornell, Ithaca, upstate New York, and college life and college towns in general. I love the running "gag"(?) of the juxtaposition of Siobhan's name and her Korean heritage, too.
March 10, 2021
So rare, entertaining and enjoyable to have a transracial adoptee as a protagonist. While author Sung J. Woo doesn't lean too hard on Siobhan's background, he weaves it in to make her a fully realized person. The mystery is interesting enough, taking twists and turns I didn't expect but the characters were thin and the resolution predictable and unsatisfying. Still, this was worth reading for the protagonist alone.
February 11, 2023
Love a book with short chapters. It always reads quickly. Although I liked the main character and wouldn't mind reading more books with her, I felt the story brought in too many elements(side plots) that became a bit confusing. I heard this author speak and he was wonderful. Will definitely give more of his books a try.
October 21, 2020
A fun mystery by a fellow Cornell alum set in the fictitious Athena, NY. I look forward to the future adventures of Siobahn O'Brien, Korean adoptee and unexpected heir to her late boss's private investigative agency.
October 23, 2020
Quirky blend of P.I. novel and a cozy, leaning more to the cozy side. Siobhan O'Brien, a Korean child adopted by an Irish father and Scandinavian mother, inherits the P.I. agency she works for and takes a case that takes her deep into a local college with secrets. Enjoyable!
November 14, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed the first in a new series. Interesting plot, building step by step. I could believe in this story and this character. Not like other mysteries where with no plot building and suddenly everything solved.
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