The Old Woman With the Knife Summary
Gu Byeong-mo

The Old Woman With the Knife Overview

In Gu Byeong-mo's novel The Old Woman with the Knife, 65-year-old Hornclaw cannot bring herself to retire from her job as an assassin. Although her founding partner died years ago, she is attached to her work with the so-called disease control agency. However, once Hornclaw becomes acquainted with a kindly young doctor and his family, her perspective of herself and the world around her begins to change. Written from the third person point of view, the novel explores themes including aging and invisibility, loss and grief, longing and desire.