A fast-paced Australian crime novel that is well worth the read.
Feature image credit: MJ Ellis (via Unsplash)
After The Smoke Clears is the latest compelling book by Australian author Kylie Kaden. This marks Kaden’s fifth published novel, and her skill in weaving a gripping story that is impossible to put down is evident from the first paragraph.
August is a man of secrets. Lotti knows very little about her boyfriend — only that he has a six-year-old deaf son and a past that he doesn’t like to talk about. She is content to wait for him to share with her in his own time, but when August gets a phone call from his old mate, Brookes, Lotti knows it’s time to find out what he is hiding. What follows is a tense story of lies, long-held secrets, and decades-old trauma that comes to the surface.
Kaden gives just enough information at a time to hook in the reader, without giving too much away or being so vague that it’s too confusing. The story is well-paced, with the last third of the book racing to tie up loose ends and answer questions in that ‘everything-comes-crashing-together-at-the-end’ way that all the best crime writers have. The result was extremely satisfying to read.
The chapters usually alternate between Lotti’s perspective and August’s, with a clear distinction of voice between the two. Lotti’s observations of the world suit her experiences as a teacher, as someone who has grown up with wealth in the city. By contrast, August’s use of language in his narration is much rougher around the edges, uses more coarse vocabulary, and often includes car-themed similes in line with his job as a mechanic. Each chapter has a heading indicating the point of view, but even without this, it is always clear whose head the reader is inhabiting at any one time.
The writing of Brookes, a character with a disability, is an interesting one. It can be tricky writing a character with sensitivity and authenticity when you only see that character from other people’s point of view (mostly August’s). Most of the time, this is pulled off well. Brookes is August’s best friend, and as such, August clearly accepts him for who he is. However, there are a number of times where August speaks of Brookes’ disability in a way that comes across as crude or insensitive, such as “not right in the head” and other turns of phrase. While these speech patterns are consistent with August’s background, it’s a fine line to tread. I remain uncertain whether this crosses that line, and I have to admit I’m not in a position to speak for those who are differently abled. I will leave the reader to decide for themselves.
Another element of this story I enjoyed was the sheer volume of Australian-isms, including slang and cultural references such as Kevin-07, Schapelle Corby, and Acka-Dacka. Many of these come without context, which is of course fine for Australian readers, but international audiences may struggle to follow some of the references.
One choice I was a little confused by was the fact that the “present day” of the story is the year 2009. While this doesn’t really impact on the overall read, I thought it an odd choice for a book published in 2023 when there seemed to be no distinct reason for the year of setting. My other minor quibble is the remarkably consistent phone service these people have in a rural area in 2009. Much of rural Australia has very poor phone service, even in 2023, and I found this element unrealistic. While it did draw me out of the narrative a little, it had no real impact on my enjoyment of the book.
For readers looking for an Australian crime thriller with authentic characters, this was well worth the read.
Reviewed by Kristin Stefanoff
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Pantera Press
Released: May 2023
RRP: $32.99
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