Kala by Colin Walsh

Kinlough is the Irish seaside town where our cast of characters reside. Helen, Aoife, Kala, Joe, Aidan and Mush are six teens who are young, wild and free. Immersed in the invincibility of their self-absorbed teenage years, we see the group striving to impress one another and pushing things to the limits. In the exposition of the book the group cycle down a steep hill and through crossing traffic; testing boundaries, intent on showing one another that they are brave, they are here, and that they are here for a good time. You’ll remember your youth in reading this book. Invincible yet insecure, teenage life holds a certain amount of vulnerability which is beautifully explored in this debut novel by Colin Walsh. 

Jump forward 15 years later and our protagonists are Joe, Mush and Helen. Mush works at his mums caff, Helen is a freelance journalist in Canada, and Joe’ struck gold in the music industry. Helen’s dad is getting remarried and she is home for the wedding. Joe is back for a solo residency. Mush has never left. Nothing’s been quite the same for them since Kala went missing, and the past is dug up and laid bare when Kala’s remains are found.

The story evolves perfectly as we dip in and out of the dual timeline. Every word in this book feels meticulously chosen, every narrative voice distinct. I loved how I could hear the characters in my head so clearly, and when I made the decision to listen on audio as well as read the physical book, I was delighted to hear a fantastic cast of actors speaking exactly as I had imagined. 

Kala looks at the intricacies of teenage friendships and adult relationships, the sense of identity or lack thereof, the innate desire to want to be seen, and the yearning to fit in. It took me almost two months to read this book and it is through no fault of the author because this was a wonderful, intricately woven book. Other reading commitments meant I had to put this aside quite often and I felt guilty for doing so - it was like a magnet pulling at me to pick it up and read it! I needed to find out what happened to Kala, I needed to know who was responsible. And boy, I did NOT see the reveal coming!

Elements of this were difficult to read. With misogyny, dog fighting, and a quiet but dark and powerful undercurrent in Kinlough, we see that things are never as they seem. In this sophisticated page turner, Walsh takes a look at the complexities of humanity, warts and all; a truly wonderful debut and must have for your summer TBR. 

- Claire