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Kala
A gripping literary page-turner from a rising Irish talent in which former friends, estranged for twenty years, reckon with the terrifying events of the summer that changed their lives.
In the seaside village of Kinlough, on Ireland’s west coast, three old friends meet for the first time in years. They—Helen, Joe and Mush—were part of an original group of six inseparable teenagers in the summer of 2003, with motherless, reckless Kala Lanann at its white-hot center. But later that year, Kala disappeared without a trace. Now remains have been discovered in the woods—including a skull with a Polaroid photo tucked inside—and the town is both aghast and titillated at reopening this old wound.
On the eve of this gruesome discovery, Helen had reluctantly returned for her father’s wedding, the world-famous musician Joe had come home to dry out and reconnect with something authentic, and Mush had never left, too shattered by the events of that summer to venture beyond the counter of his mother’s café. But when two more girls go missing, they are forced to confront their own complicity in the events that led to Kala’s disappearance. Ultimately, they must do what others should have done before to stop the violent patterns of their town’s past repeating themselves once again.
In cracklingly vivid prose, Kala brilliantly examines the sometimes brutal costs of belonging, as well as the battle in the human heart between vengeance and forgiveness, despair and redemption.
In the seaside village of Kinlough, on Ireland’s west coast, three old friends meet for the first time in years. They—Helen, Joe and Mush—were part of an original group of six inseparable teenagers in the summer of 2003, with motherless, reckless Kala Lanann at its white-hot center. But later that year, Kala disappeared without a trace. Now remains have been discovered in the woods—including a skull with a Polaroid photo tucked inside—and the town is both aghast and titillated at reopening this old wound.
On the eve of this gruesome discovery, Helen had reluctantly returned for her father’s wedding, the world-famous musician Joe had come home to dry out and reconnect with something authentic, and Mush had never left, too shattered by the events of that summer to venture beyond the counter of his mother’s café. But when two more girls go missing, they are forced to confront their own complicity in the events that led to Kala’s disappearance. Ultimately, they must do what others should have done before to stop the violent patterns of their town’s past repeating themselves once again.
In cracklingly vivid prose, Kala brilliantly examines the sometimes brutal costs of belonging, as well as the battle in the human heart between vengeance and forgiveness, despair and redemption.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 6, 2023
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September 9, 2024
“Grief is like falling in love; it is always narcissistic. Some catastrophe cuts through your life and immediately you reshape the world to make this disaster the secret heartbeat of all things, the buried truth of the universe.�
Katherine "Kala" Lanann was 15 years years old when she disappeared in November 2003, leaving her friends Joe, Aoife, Helen, Mush, and Aiden and the whole town of Kinlough in shock. The once tight-knit group of friends eventually go their own ways, their friendship fractured in the aftermath of Kala’s disappearance. Fifteen years later Helen, Joe and Mush reunite in their hometown. Joe is a famous rockstar who is back in town due to personal reasons and Mush never left and helps run his mother's café. Helen is a freelance journalist who settled in Canada and is back in town to attend a wedding. Past events come back to haunt them when Kala’s remains are discovered in the woods by the lake, evidence confirming that Kala was murdered. Who killed Kala and why?
The subsequent disappearance of Mush’s twin teenage cousins sends shockwaves through the small town. Could their disappearance be in any way related to the events from fifteen years ago? The narrative follows the three friends as they cope with their past trauma and try to get to the truth behind Kala’s murder while also searching for the two missing girls.
The strength of Kala by Colin Walsh lies in its characterizations and the author’s powerful writing. Part coming-of-age story and part literary thriller this is a dark and immersive novel. The narrative is presented from the perspectives of Mush and Helen in the first-person, and Joe in the second–person, in alternating chapters. The plot is well structured, though I did find the pacing a tad uneven. Past and present timelines are seamlessly woven into an intense, cohesive narrative that traces how the events from the past have cast a shadow on the lives of Kala’s friends � their grief, confusion, guilt and personal struggles that have followed them into their adulthood. I loved how the author built up Kala’s character giving us a vivid look into who she was and her dynamic with each of those in her circle of friends. Initially, I found it a bit difficult to keep track of the large cast of characters, especially how they were related to one another but as the narrative progresses, it becomes much clearer. To be honest, the mystery behind Kala’s disappearance and subsequent murder became a tad long-drawn and as the narrative progresses there are enough breadcrumbs to get an idea of what might have happened, but the author’s writing, the characters and the description of the dynamics within a small town riddled with corruption and secrets had me captivated till the very end.
I could not believe this is the author’s debut novel and I look forward to reading more from Colin Walsh in the future. Many thanks to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
“It takes strength to be open to life, to the possibility things will change for the better.�
⚠Please Note that there are descriptions of animal cruelty and violence that are quite disturbing.
Rating: 3.75�
Connect with me! � � �
Katherine "Kala" Lanann was 15 years years old when she disappeared in November 2003, leaving her friends Joe, Aoife, Helen, Mush, and Aiden and the whole town of Kinlough in shock. The once tight-knit group of friends eventually go their own ways, their friendship fractured in the aftermath of Kala’s disappearance. Fifteen years later Helen, Joe and Mush reunite in their hometown. Joe is a famous rockstar who is back in town due to personal reasons and Mush never left and helps run his mother's café. Helen is a freelance journalist who settled in Canada and is back in town to attend a wedding. Past events come back to haunt them when Kala’s remains are discovered in the woods by the lake, evidence confirming that Kala was murdered. Who killed Kala and why?
The subsequent disappearance of Mush’s twin teenage cousins sends shockwaves through the small town. Could their disappearance be in any way related to the events from fifteen years ago? The narrative follows the three friends as they cope with their past trauma and try to get to the truth behind Kala’s murder while also searching for the two missing girls.
The strength of Kala by Colin Walsh lies in its characterizations and the author’s powerful writing. Part coming-of-age story and part literary thriller this is a dark and immersive novel. The narrative is presented from the perspectives of Mush and Helen in the first-person, and Joe in the second–person, in alternating chapters. The plot is well structured, though I did find the pacing a tad uneven. Past and present timelines are seamlessly woven into an intense, cohesive narrative that traces how the events from the past have cast a shadow on the lives of Kala’s friends � their grief, confusion, guilt and personal struggles that have followed them into their adulthood. I loved how the author built up Kala’s character giving us a vivid look into who she was and her dynamic with each of those in her circle of friends. Initially, I found it a bit difficult to keep track of the large cast of characters, especially how they were related to one another but as the narrative progresses, it becomes much clearer. To be honest, the mystery behind Kala’s disappearance and subsequent murder became a tad long-drawn and as the narrative progresses there are enough breadcrumbs to get an idea of what might have happened, but the author’s writing, the characters and the description of the dynamics within a small town riddled with corruption and secrets had me captivated till the very end.
I could not believe this is the author’s debut novel and I look forward to reading more from Colin Walsh in the future. Many thanks to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
“It takes strength to be open to life, to the possibility things will change for the better.�
⚠Please Note that there are descriptions of animal cruelty and violence that are quite disturbing.
Rating: 3.75�
Connect with me! � � �
February 20, 2023
4-5 stars
The ‘crew� of 2003 are Kala (Katherine ‘Kala� Lannan), Aiofe, Helen, Aidan, Joe and Mush. Kala, aged 15, has been missing since 2003 in the days after a Halloween party that had a disastrous outcome. It’s now the summer of 2018 and human remains have been found and subsequently two teens go missing. What dark secrets lie at the heart of Kinlough in Ireland? The story is told via Mush, Joe and Helen in 2003 and now. Mush never leaves Kinlough and is the last known person to have seen Kala in 2003, Joe Brennan is the golden boy, he’s a famous musician but has many struggles and finally Helen, who lives in Canada and finds it hard to come back to Ireland and even harder when she does. All of them pay a high price for Kala’s disappearance, it hangs over everything and affects all.
Initially I find this hard to get into because the pace is a bit slow but suddenly, wham, I realise I’m transfixed and glued to the pages and remain so for the rest of the book! The brilliant portrayal of the town of Kinlough and its inhabitants draws me into its heart via the atmospheric descriptions and lively dialogue. This is a clever and very well told combination of literary fiction and a gripping mystery thriller and as the characters spring to life before your eyes I become desperate to understand the towns rotten core and it is frightening beyond belief.
The portrayal of the teens and then as adults is excellent, their friendship and dynamics are a constant source of intrigue and chop and change. Kala comes to life even in 2018 but the outstanding character for me is Mush. He is just so likeable.
The mystery thriller element is fear inducing and scary and especially towards the end I realise I’m holding my breath it’s soooo tense. The plot contains a multitude of ingredients including tragedy, grief, guilt, revenge and corruption. In places the atmosphere is darkly dangerous and violent and some scenes make you gasp in shock but it’s impossible to lift the eyes from the pages. I’m completely invested in understanding the who, the what and the why.
To sum it up, once it gets into fifth gear it’s a wow book and one of those that creeps up on you and hoiks you in and doesn’t let go The plot is very well constructed, the two timelines compliment each other and help you to understand the craic in Kinlough. It ain’t pretty.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Atlantic Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
The ‘crew� of 2003 are Kala (Katherine ‘Kala� Lannan), Aiofe, Helen, Aidan, Joe and Mush. Kala, aged 15, has been missing since 2003 in the days after a Halloween party that had a disastrous outcome. It’s now the summer of 2018 and human remains have been found and subsequently two teens go missing. What dark secrets lie at the heart of Kinlough in Ireland? The story is told via Mush, Joe and Helen in 2003 and now. Mush never leaves Kinlough and is the last known person to have seen Kala in 2003, Joe Brennan is the golden boy, he’s a famous musician but has many struggles and finally Helen, who lives in Canada and finds it hard to come back to Ireland and even harder when she does. All of them pay a high price for Kala’s disappearance, it hangs over everything and affects all.
Initially I find this hard to get into because the pace is a bit slow but suddenly, wham, I realise I’m transfixed and glued to the pages and remain so for the rest of the book! The brilliant portrayal of the town of Kinlough and its inhabitants draws me into its heart via the atmospheric descriptions and lively dialogue. This is a clever and very well told combination of literary fiction and a gripping mystery thriller and as the characters spring to life before your eyes I become desperate to understand the towns rotten core and it is frightening beyond belief.
The portrayal of the teens and then as adults is excellent, their friendship and dynamics are a constant source of intrigue and chop and change. Kala comes to life even in 2018 but the outstanding character for me is Mush. He is just so likeable.
The mystery thriller element is fear inducing and scary and especially towards the end I realise I’m holding my breath it’s soooo tense. The plot contains a multitude of ingredients including tragedy, grief, guilt, revenge and corruption. In places the atmosphere is darkly dangerous and violent and some scenes make you gasp in shock but it’s impossible to lift the eyes from the pages. I’m completely invested in understanding the who, the what and the why.
To sum it up, once it gets into fifth gear it’s a wow book and one of those that creeps up on you and hoiks you in and doesn’t let go The plot is very well constructed, the two timelines compliment each other and help you to understand the craic in Kinlough. It ain’t pretty.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Atlantic Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
August 7, 2023
2 stars. Could have been a solid, 3-star, "I liked it" book. While this debut effort from Ireland had some good moments, it takes FOREVER to launch. For example, the book jacket tells you that part of the mystery will involve the disappearance of two teenage girls, possibly connected to the disappearance of the title character 15 years back. However, the book moves so slowly that that present-day event doesn't happen till after 200 pages have passed, which is more than halfway through the book. That wouldn't be so bad, actually, if only there had been things happening before that, but, no, very little in fact happens in those 200 pages, mystery-wise.
Another way of talking about the above is that easily 20-25% of those first 200 pages could have been edited out, and that's my being generous. Full disclosure, I became so impatient that I did a hard skim of the second half of the book, only landing in the text again in the last 30 or so pages. Turns out I correctly guessed the main "villain(s)" behind the disappearance, so no big surprises as to that and the motives.
So, a decent debut, with some interesting passages along the way, but I don't know if I would read a second novel, unless the premise were to be as intriguing as this one had promised to be, and maybe not even then.
Another way of talking about the above is that easily 20-25% of those first 200 pages could have been edited out, and that's my being generous. Full disclosure, I became so impatient that I did a hard skim of the second half of the book, only landing in the text again in the last 30 or so pages. Turns out I correctly guessed the main "villain(s)" behind the disappearance, so no big surprises as to that and the motives.
So, a decent debut, with some interesting passages along the way, but I don't know if I would read a second novel, unless the premise were to be as intriguing as this one had promised to be, and maybe not even then.
Shelved as 'dnf-lost-interest'
July 11, 2023Literary mysteries are my love language right now, so I’m buddy reading with Irina!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
August 20, 2023
My Rating: 3⭐️⭐️⭐️SOLID stars� It was good just not next level good!!
Set in the Irish seaside town of Kinlough three estranged friends meet for the first time in twenty years. All bearing the scars (figuratively and literally) from their childhood and a terrible disappearance of their friend Kala.
Remains have now been discovered in the woods including a skull with a Polaroid tucked inside and the town is both horrified and curious at what lies in store.
When two more girls go missing the friends must do what they can to uncover the disappearance on Kala before it is too late to find the girls.
Ok so just to preface this� the 3 stars is not bad� BUT if you want action and you want it fast you will not get it here� probably not until maybe 80% and even then its not action as such. If delving into the deep of the characters back stories and slowly slowly getting to the heart of the mystery is not for you then this book will not be a winner for you at all. I suggest you move along and find something with a faster pace and a bit more action.
Having said that I do like a slower pace, with decent character development however� even for me this one was a little draggy� it wasn’t ever bad� it was just a little bit maybe too long� if it had been 50-100 pages shorter then perhaps it would have been fine. I would have really liked a little bit more connection between the new kidnapped girls and Kala� it was really grasping at straws and also no reason for it to be 20 years later at all.
I dunno the execution kind of fell a bit flat but the story was still good� it was grimy enough, everyone had secrets and things were happening� the ending was a bit meh� I don’t mind being left to my own imagination a bit but it kind of was a bit abrupt� so I would have liked something more. Sorry I take it back about the ending it was actually really sad� but I think the lead up to the ending could have been less rushed� we had so much story and then boom the end and it was a little bit sudden� so yeah I think it could have slowed it down at the end but sped it up in the middle.
I am also not one to say this but two of the MC had some decent chemistry and I wouldn’t have minded seeing a love arc in there� it didn’t end up happening but I think it would have been nice. I know� I know� what am I saying� look I don’t want smut here but I think a little romance might have been nice.
The writing was quite good I would definitely read more by this author and I really appreciated the Irish slang used and also without the explanation as to what certain slang meant� I think its great when authors just use their own slang or language the way it is intended and if foreign audiences (like me) aren’t sure well we are welcome to look it up. I prefer that to and over complicated this means this and that means that� it just flowed better.
We had the story from multi POV which by now we all know I love� and this was no exception� it was actually interesting because most of the POV were written a certain way but the POV of Joe was written as if he was talking to himself�. It worked though because of the kind of character he is. I didn’t like it at first but it did really fit him� so that was good.
I did guess the baddie� not fully but I did have my suspicions about who it was� but not the whole why. I wasn’t disappointed to guess and the baddie part was done really well� but again� there were elements (no spoilers) that I would have liked changed about the big reveal.
I would have liked more of Kala’s story as well� she is our centre piece the one that all the friends either loved, wanted to be loved by, wanted to be with or just wanted to be besties with� so it would have been good to get more on her inner workings throughout the book� it skirted the edges and perhaps more on her rather than some of the other not so important characters.
Either way� this was a good read� I enjoyed it but didn’t love it. I don’t really know anyone who I would recommend it too other than to reiterate if you like a slower more developed story then this one might be for you� I am not issuing any 5 star statements though so if you hate it then don’t yell at me 🤣
August 6, 2023
As I've mentioned before on this site, any novel that earns favorable comparisons to immediately grabs my attention. And when I heard it was the debut of a writer who hails from my neck of the woods, I knew I needed to check it out.
Like Donna Tartt's masterpiece, the story focusses on a tight group of friends and a tragic death. The action takes place in the fictional Irish town of Kinlough (a thinly disguised version of Galway). It opens in 2003, when six teenagers are enjoying a glorious summer. Kala is the most charismatic member of the gang, mysterious, fearless and effortlessly cool. But in November of that year, she disappears without trace, shattering the lives of her close friends. Fifteen years later, three of them meet up again. Mush has never left Kinlough, staying to work in his mother's cafe. He's a shy and sensitive soul, his facial scars giving him further reason to hide away from the world. Joe Brennan on the other hand is now a world famous rock star. On the surface he has everything, yet he's secretly struggling with an alcohol problem and has never truly processed the death of Kala, who was his girlfriend at the time she went missing. Helen lives in Canada, working as an investigative journalist, but she's back in Kinlough for her father's wedding. She has kept her family and friends at a distance in recent years. The trio meet up and reminisce about the good old days. However, their world is rocked when Kala's remains are found on a local construction site and Mush's twin cousins go missing. After all this time, it looks like the truth will finally come out.
On the whole, I found this novel engrossing but I'll get a few small criticisms out of the way first. The pacing of the book felt off to me. Too little happened in the first two thirds of the story, and too much happened at the end. At times it felt crammed with red herrings and unnecessary detail. I also guessed the killer early on, but maybe that's because I read too many of these kinds of books. However, there is much to commend about Kala. The characterisation is superb and that's where the comparisons to Tartt are worthy in my opinion. I really felt like I got to know the thoughtful Mush and a stubborn Helen intimately. To me, Joe is the most intriguing of all: a flawed and weak individual hiding underneath a shallow veneer of success. The dialogue is excellent - an emotional argument between Helen and her sister Theresa was the standout scene in the whole book for me. And I thought Walsh nailed the local slang without overdoing it. So despite a few reservations, I can still heartily recommend Kala. It's a compelling story of friendship and grief, with a haunting mystery at its core. Colin Walsh is off to a flying start.
Like Donna Tartt's masterpiece, the story focusses on a tight group of friends and a tragic death. The action takes place in the fictional Irish town of Kinlough (a thinly disguised version of Galway). It opens in 2003, when six teenagers are enjoying a glorious summer. Kala is the most charismatic member of the gang, mysterious, fearless and effortlessly cool. But in November of that year, she disappears without trace, shattering the lives of her close friends. Fifteen years later, three of them meet up again. Mush has never left Kinlough, staying to work in his mother's cafe. He's a shy and sensitive soul, his facial scars giving him further reason to hide away from the world. Joe Brennan on the other hand is now a world famous rock star. On the surface he has everything, yet he's secretly struggling with an alcohol problem and has never truly processed the death of Kala, who was his girlfriend at the time she went missing. Helen lives in Canada, working as an investigative journalist, but she's back in Kinlough for her father's wedding. She has kept her family and friends at a distance in recent years. The trio meet up and reminisce about the good old days. However, their world is rocked when Kala's remains are found on a local construction site and Mush's twin cousins go missing. After all this time, it looks like the truth will finally come out.
On the whole, I found this novel engrossing but I'll get a few small criticisms out of the way first. The pacing of the book felt off to me. Too little happened in the first two thirds of the story, and too much happened at the end. At times it felt crammed with red herrings and unnecessary detail. I also guessed the killer early on, but maybe that's because I read too many of these kinds of books. However, there is much to commend about Kala. The characterisation is superb and that's where the comparisons to Tartt are worthy in my opinion. I really felt like I got to know the thoughtful Mush and a stubborn Helen intimately. To me, Joe is the most intriguing of all: a flawed and weak individual hiding underneath a shallow veneer of success. The dialogue is excellent - an emotional argument between Helen and her sister Theresa was the standout scene in the whole book for me. And I thought Walsh nailed the local slang without overdoing it. So despite a few reservations, I can still heartily recommend Kala. It's a compelling story of friendship and grief, with a haunting mystery at its core. Colin Walsh is off to a flying start.
December 5, 2024
As the story begins we first learn of a group of six Irish teenage friends, three girls and three boys, delighting in the life they’re living in a large village in north County Leitram, lying between the Dartry Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. The action then quickly shifts to a period some years later, a time when a two of the group have temporarily returned to the village. We learn that one of the group, a high-spirited girl called Kala, has gone missing at some point between these two events. It’s a mystery. Nobody knows either where she went or what fate has befallen her.
We are to see more of some members of the group than others; we learn that aside from Kala, another of the six, Aidan, is not around � it seems that he may have died? And we also begin to discover more about the relationships between them: the three boys formed a band, but only Joe went on to achieve fame; Mush, the third boy, still works at his mum’s café in the village; Kala and Aoife were close friends already when Helen moved to the village with her dad and sister, the two then became three.
The narrative is fragmented, with events and timelines being regularly interweaved. It requires concentration. There are plenty of smart lines, making me pause and even to note some down for continued appreciation. And there’s a good deal of Irish slang mixed in, some of it explained, and some not. It all bubbles along for more than half the book with nothing much more than the fact that there are clearly some hidden truths here to even hint at the reason for Kala’s disappearance. But then an event happens, a further disappearance, and suddenly the pace picks up, things kick off.
There are a number of mysteries here, some small and obviously the major one concerning Kala. Not all will be resolved, and some loose ends will remain. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, I feel. In fact, the only gripe I have is the fact that the pace and feel of the book was significantly disturbed by events in the second half, and not in a good way. To me, it felt unbalanced. It didn’t quite work. But even so, it’s a book I enjoyed, and I think plenty of other readers will too.
My thanks to Atlantic books for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
We are to see more of some members of the group than others; we learn that aside from Kala, another of the six, Aidan, is not around � it seems that he may have died? And we also begin to discover more about the relationships between them: the three boys formed a band, but only Joe went on to achieve fame; Mush, the third boy, still works at his mum’s café in the village; Kala and Aoife were close friends already when Helen moved to the village with her dad and sister, the two then became three.
The narrative is fragmented, with events and timelines being regularly interweaved. It requires concentration. There are plenty of smart lines, making me pause and even to note some down for continued appreciation. And there’s a good deal of Irish slang mixed in, some of it explained, and some not. It all bubbles along for more than half the book with nothing much more than the fact that there are clearly some hidden truths here to even hint at the reason for Kala’s disappearance. But then an event happens, a further disappearance, and suddenly the pace picks up, things kick off.
There are a number of mysteries here, some small and obviously the major one concerning Kala. Not all will be resolved, and some loose ends will remain. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, I feel. In fact, the only gripe I have is the fact that the pace and feel of the book was significantly disturbed by events in the second half, and not in a good way. To me, it felt unbalanced. It didn’t quite work. But even so, it’s a book I enjoyed, and I think plenty of other readers will too.
My thanks to Atlantic books for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2023
If it were possible for dullness to be profound (rather than simply flat) this would take the cake. I read only the first section, “Friday�, and was enervated by the tedium. Multiple characters� perspectives could neither jumpstart my attention nor prevent my eyes from glazing over. I could not have cared less about the characters. I understand that the glacial creep of the narrative was supposed to accelerate later, but the idea of enduring the literary equivalent of watching paint dry and getting to “Tuesday� (the penultimate section) felt like unnecessary punishment. I’m obviously an outlier, but I was not impressed with this book. In addition to poor (nil) plot momentum and uninteresting characters, the prose felt forced, trying too hard to be noticed. I noticed . . . and then some. After that, I closed the ebook and returned it to the library. I did enjoy that feeling.
August 7, 2023
For once, the comparisons in the blurb to are justified! While this is essentially a seen-it-before plot, the lyrical writing and the intense attention to characterisation lift this out of the crowd. It does feel a little as if the book isn't quite sure whether it wants to be a story of lost adolescence, nostalgia and a study in the effects of violence on the psyches of those affected, or whether it wants to be a full-blown crime/thriller about sinister secrets and corruption that undermine the placid surface of a small Irish town. As a result, the pacing can be uneven, with a slow start and then eruptions of 'thriller-esque' components.
I definitely preferred the non-crime aspects but can see how the 'mystery' of Kala's disappearance drives the forward momentum of the narrative. It's just a shame that they're so familiar: a missing adolescent girl in the past; a present where the friends involved all return to the small town where they grew up and experienced this traumatic coming-of-age; the journalist turned investigator; the uncovering of dark secrets... It all comes together but I found it overly familiar and unsurprising.
But Walsh's writing is so Irish-lyrical and yet precise that I kept reading (I listened to the audiobook) anyway. I'd love to see him branch away from the genre and concentrate on something that puts his writing and characterisation skills full centre. 3.5 rounded down for the predictable plot.
Thanks to W.H. Howe for an audiobook via NetGalley
I definitely preferred the non-crime aspects but can see how the 'mystery' of Kala's disappearance drives the forward momentum of the narrative. It's just a shame that they're so familiar: a missing adolescent girl in the past; a present where the friends involved all return to the small town where they grew up and experienced this traumatic coming-of-age; the journalist turned investigator; the uncovering of dark secrets... It all comes together but I found it overly familiar and unsurprising.
But Walsh's writing is so Irish-lyrical and yet precise that I kept reading (I listened to the audiobook) anyway. I'd love to see him branch away from the genre and concentrate on something that puts his writing and characterisation skills full centre. 3.5 rounded down for the predictable plot.
Thanks to W.H. Howe for an audiobook via NetGalley
May 14, 2023
I know this isn't Colin Walsh's first published work but it is a debut novel. It doesn't read like one.
The writing is accomplished, the characters are rounded, the plot is intricate and complex but easy to follow. All in all I'm a little in love with what is quite a horrifying novel. There's quite a lot it covers including underage motherhood, a lot of violence, small town hatreds, police corruption, old friendships.
I know that sounds like a lot to throw at you but this is truly a slow burn novel. It builds at such a pace that the tension is wonderfully oppressive by the time it takes off.
The story revolves around the disappearance of the eponymous Kala (Katherine Lannan). The mystery has not been solved when a wedding brings the original friends - Mush, Joe and Helen back to their home town of Kinlough. Previous tensions are stirred again and added to as more tragedies occur.
I can't say enough good things about this book. I looked forward to reading it and had to force myself not to race through it so I could savour it.
Excellent, highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
The writing is accomplished, the characters are rounded, the plot is intricate and complex but easy to follow. All in all I'm a little in love with what is quite a horrifying novel. There's quite a lot it covers including underage motherhood, a lot of violence, small town hatreds, police corruption, old friendships.
I know that sounds like a lot to throw at you but this is truly a slow burn novel. It builds at such a pace that the tension is wonderfully oppressive by the time it takes off.
The story revolves around the disappearance of the eponymous Kala (Katherine Lannan). The mystery has not been solved when a wedding brings the original friends - Mush, Joe and Helen back to their home town of Kinlough. Previous tensions are stirred again and added to as more tragedies occur.
I can't say enough good things about this book. I looked forward to reading it and had to force myself not to race through it so I could savour it.
Excellent, highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
June 5, 2023
Talk about cover love. Y’all know I dig houses, but winding roads and small bodies of water are quickly becoming a can’t resist situation for me too. And a story about a missing girl from years past, the discovery of a body and potentially two new missing girls??? You know what that amounts to . . .
I wish I would have had an easier time with this one. If you know me you know I get through a book in about a day or day and a half. This took FIVE. There is an excellent story here - it just got buried in a super murky back and forth timeline and characters with very similar voices. If you are patient the payoff is definitely worth the wait, but I also would completely understand those who DNF doing so here.
3.5 and I’m rounding up even though my brain is trying to convince me to round down by reminding me how much I struggled to make progress despite reading whenever I had a free moment.
ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
CONTENT WARNING: I'm not a person who needs trigger/content warnings, but for those who do please note
I wish I would have had an easier time with this one. If you know me you know I get through a book in about a day or day and a half. This took FIVE. There is an excellent story here - it just got buried in a super murky back and forth timeline and characters with very similar voices. If you are patient the payoff is definitely worth the wait, but I also would completely understand those who DNF doing so here.
3.5 and I’m rounding up even though my brain is trying to convince me to round down by reminding me how much I struggled to make progress despite reading whenever I had a free moment.
ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
CONTENT WARNING: I'm not a person who needs trigger/content warnings, but for those who do please note
Read
August 14, 2023I tried listening to this book and it just didn’t work for me. And then to read that dog fighting becomes a part of the plot, I decided to return it to the library.
September 20, 2024
4,5*
We are younger and thinner than I remember ever feeling. We look so clean. As if we mean no harm. As if we are not harm itself.
Não ligo particularmente a thrillers, mas não resisti a este sendo de um autor irlandês e tendo sido já comparado a Tana French, conterrânea conhecida pelo excelente desenvolvimento de personagens. E é precisamente esse o ponto forte de “Kala�: as personagens redondas, a sua interacção e a sua vivência numa pitoresca vila. Não resisto a histórias de levam adultos de volta à santa terrinha, aos lugares onde foram mais felizes e mais infelizes, muitos anos depois de a terem deixado, para reencontrar amigos de juventude e reviver momentos marcantes. Do grupo da carismática Kala fazem também parte Aoife, Aidan, Mush, Joe e Helen, mas nesta obra só temos o ponto vista destes três últimos, para aos poucos percebermos o que aconteceu aos restantes.
The moments when you can say something are just that—moments—and once they’re gone, they’re gone, and you’ve added another brick to the wall.
Sem terem conseguido ultrapassar o trauma do desaparecimento misterioso de Kala, o elemento agregador do grupo, é palpável a nostalgia quando Helen regressa a Kinlough 15 anos depois, para reencontrar Mush, que continua a trabalhar no café da mãe, e Joe, cantor de sucesso que também voltou a casa para recuperar do alcoolismo. Ainda que todos eles adorassem Kala, guardam uma culpa, a sensação de que poderiam ter feito mais, dito mais para evitar o trágico desfecho. “Kala�, escrito com uma prosa muito cuidada, é um livro que retrata bem o ambiente opressivo e viciado das pequenas localidades, atingindo picos de violência arrepiantes, com todo o tipo de agressões que se pode temer: físicas, psicológicas e sexuais, incluindo contra jovens, e com uma cena extremamente gráfica de luta de cães.
Up ahead on the Coast Road there's a bunch of teenagers, guys and girls. You don't understand kids' clothes anymore, what it all means. Back in the day things were all tribal -- clear lines. Your haircut and clothes said what music you liked, how smart you were, whether or not you were real, if you were reaching for the Other Place or stuck in the gutter. Internet's taken all of that, mangled the codes. People are mongrels of whatever the fuck now. Kurt Cobain shot himself for being a sell-out and these kids wouldn't even grasp the concept. You hate these kids. Wish you were these kids. Envy their obliviousness, like the world had just come into being, and existed only for you and your friends, and all you had was time.
We are younger and thinner than I remember ever feeling. We look so clean. As if we mean no harm. As if we are not harm itself.
Não ligo particularmente a thrillers, mas não resisti a este sendo de um autor irlandês e tendo sido já comparado a Tana French, conterrânea conhecida pelo excelente desenvolvimento de personagens. E é precisamente esse o ponto forte de “Kala�: as personagens redondas, a sua interacção e a sua vivência numa pitoresca vila. Não resisto a histórias de levam adultos de volta à santa terrinha, aos lugares onde foram mais felizes e mais infelizes, muitos anos depois de a terem deixado, para reencontrar amigos de juventude e reviver momentos marcantes. Do grupo da carismática Kala fazem também parte Aoife, Aidan, Mush, Joe e Helen, mas nesta obra só temos o ponto vista destes três últimos, para aos poucos percebermos o que aconteceu aos restantes.
The moments when you can say something are just that—moments—and once they’re gone, they’re gone, and you’ve added another brick to the wall.
Sem terem conseguido ultrapassar o trauma do desaparecimento misterioso de Kala, o elemento agregador do grupo, é palpável a nostalgia quando Helen regressa a Kinlough 15 anos depois, para reencontrar Mush, que continua a trabalhar no café da mãe, e Joe, cantor de sucesso que também voltou a casa para recuperar do alcoolismo. Ainda que todos eles adorassem Kala, guardam uma culpa, a sensação de que poderiam ter feito mais, dito mais para evitar o trágico desfecho. “Kala�, escrito com uma prosa muito cuidada, é um livro que retrata bem o ambiente opressivo e viciado das pequenas localidades, atingindo picos de violência arrepiantes, com todo o tipo de agressões que se pode temer: físicas, psicológicas e sexuais, incluindo contra jovens, e com uma cena extremamente gráfica de luta de cães.
Up ahead on the Coast Road there's a bunch of teenagers, guys and girls. You don't understand kids' clothes anymore, what it all means. Back in the day things were all tribal -- clear lines. Your haircut and clothes said what music you liked, how smart you were, whether or not you were real, if you were reaching for the Other Place or stuck in the gutter. Internet's taken all of that, mangled the codes. People are mongrels of whatever the fuck now. Kurt Cobain shot himself for being a sell-out and these kids wouldn't even grasp the concept. You hate these kids. Wish you were these kids. Envy their obliviousness, like the world had just come into being, and existed only for you and your friends, and all you had was time.
August 21, 2024
Easy 5 🌟
‘It takes strength to be open to life, to the possibility things will change for the better�
When I brought this book to the till of the bookshop, the man told me this was his favourite book of the year. That being said, Kala had a lot to live up to and considering I picked it up knowing nothing except that it was based in Ireland, it definitely did not disappoint! In fact, I can’t actually put into words who excellently executed this book was.
Throughout the book there lies an undercurrent of a dead body found in the woods…after all these years could it really be Kala? 15 years after she disappeared without a trace and now…was she back with an excruciating force?
The real question was: who would want to hurt this unforgettably beautiful soul of a girl?
This book was all about the finer details of their lives; their pasts and present. I was desperately trying to absorb every word, especially as the book was coming to a close. There was a brilliantly intensity Colin developed early in the story and it only gathered with rapid pace as the storyline continued. In one way I found myself connecting with the characters quite quickly; most likely because of the Irish connection. However, the same can’t be said for the storyline - the beginning was a very slow burn, I was very slowly being drip-fed information from past and present, as well as multiple POV. I’m not usually one for a slow burn book but this time it WORKED!
I think it partly worked because Colin spent much of the book highly romancing Kala, by all who knew her: � I looked at Kala giggling with the girls and she was cheerful, weightless, slapping her knee as she laughed.� Both her girl friends and guy friends seemed to be enchanted by her. Kala had a deep and profound effect on anybody in her path; ‘the space within me was filling with a light that was growing fuller and brighter, and I knew that this light coming from inside me not mine, that it was Kala’s� In that moment, I was also soaring through myself, above myself, beyond myself, further into the everything that was not myself, into a world where there were no separations, only souls moving through one another…i lived it and I was scared of it…that meant it was real.� - a powerful description from her friend Helen. This connection Kala had on people was so intense and gripping that it turned what could have been an ordinary story into a compulsive page turner�
Yet Kala did not have it easy. Growing up with her grandmother and her own parents unspoken of, Kala remained in a difficult position. One she was determined to explore for herself. She was also quick to reminded the others “Quiet’s not peaceful, man. Quite is when the monsters come out.�
“We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are�
Overall, I absolutely loved this read…I was definitely getting Tana Trench vibes from the book; particularly her book ‘In the Woods� - which I absolutely LOVED and would highly recommend! Yet again, it is a book that you must FEEL and open your heart to. It’s more than just words on a page or a well plotted story. It’s about the powerful connections between the various characters as well as the small town dynamics of this Irish village. And finally, all that is left to say is that this was an astonishing debut novel 👏
‘It takes strength to be open to life, to the possibility things will change for the better�
When I brought this book to the till of the bookshop, the man told me this was his favourite book of the year. That being said, Kala had a lot to live up to and considering I picked it up knowing nothing except that it was based in Ireland, it definitely did not disappoint! In fact, I can’t actually put into words who excellently executed this book was.
Throughout the book there lies an undercurrent of a dead body found in the woods…after all these years could it really be Kala? 15 years after she disappeared without a trace and now…was she back with an excruciating force?
The real question was: who would want to hurt this unforgettably beautiful soul of a girl?
This book was all about the finer details of their lives; their pasts and present. I was desperately trying to absorb every word, especially as the book was coming to a close. There was a brilliantly intensity Colin developed early in the story and it only gathered with rapid pace as the storyline continued. In one way I found myself connecting with the characters quite quickly; most likely because of the Irish connection. However, the same can’t be said for the storyline - the beginning was a very slow burn, I was very slowly being drip-fed information from past and present, as well as multiple POV. I’m not usually one for a slow burn book but this time it WORKED!
I think it partly worked because Colin spent much of the book highly romancing Kala, by all who knew her: � I looked at Kala giggling with the girls and she was cheerful, weightless, slapping her knee as she laughed.� Both her girl friends and guy friends seemed to be enchanted by her. Kala had a deep and profound effect on anybody in her path; ‘the space within me was filling with a light that was growing fuller and brighter, and I knew that this light coming from inside me not mine, that it was Kala’s� In that moment, I was also soaring through myself, above myself, beyond myself, further into the everything that was not myself, into a world where there were no separations, only souls moving through one another…i lived it and I was scared of it…that meant it was real.� - a powerful description from her friend Helen. This connection Kala had on people was so intense and gripping that it turned what could have been an ordinary story into a compulsive page turner�
Yet Kala did not have it easy. Growing up with her grandmother and her own parents unspoken of, Kala remained in a difficult position. One she was determined to explore for herself. She was also quick to reminded the others “Quiet’s not peaceful, man. Quite is when the monsters come out.�
“We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are�
Overall, I absolutely loved this read…I was definitely getting Tana Trench vibes from the book; particularly her book ‘In the Woods� - which I absolutely LOVED and would highly recommend! Yet again, it is a book that you must FEEL and open your heart to. It’s more than just words on a page or a well plotted story. It’s about the powerful connections between the various characters as well as the small town dynamics of this Irish village. And finally, all that is left to say is that this was an astonishing debut novel 👏
July 20, 2023
thank god it’s over! such a drag on audio, pacing was off and by the time it picked up, it was too late for me to care.
July 24, 2023
3.75 stars
Kala is a solid mystery but there's also depth which elevates it from your typical run of the mill book in this genre. Quite a few different themes floating around throughout the story.
Back in 2003, in a seaside village in Ireland, 6 teenagers were inseparable until one of them, Kala Lanann, went missing. Helen, Joe, and Mush were a part of her group of friends. Now 20 years later, and two other people in the village have disappeared. So what exactly is going on?
The story alternates between the 3 friends and shows how Kala impacted their lives. Along the way you get bits of everything leading up to her going missing as well as what's happening in the present day. It's a depressing story but the desire to get answers is what drove my interest. The Irish small town setting brought a lot to the table.
Thank you to Doubleday Books and Netgalley for providing a digital advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
Kala is a solid mystery but there's also depth which elevates it from your typical run of the mill book in this genre. Quite a few different themes floating around throughout the story.
Back in 2003, in a seaside village in Ireland, 6 teenagers were inseparable until one of them, Kala Lanann, went missing. Helen, Joe, and Mush were a part of her group of friends. Now 20 years later, and two other people in the village have disappeared. So what exactly is going on?
The story alternates between the 3 friends and shows how Kala impacted their lives. Along the way you get bits of everything leading up to her going missing as well as what's happening in the present day. It's a depressing story but the desire to get answers is what drove my interest. The Irish small town setting brought a lot to the table.
Thank you to Doubleday Books and Netgalley for providing a digital advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
August 28, 2023
i feel like this book could've been so much better than it actually was. it was too long and yet somehow also underdeveloped in parts. we spend so much time in the beginning just treading water, and then about two thirds of the way through its just nonstop action till the end, with barely any breathing space at the end for the characters (or us) to process all of it. also, the writing didn't quite work for me, especially in Joe's chapters.
September 16, 2023
This is one of the best literary novels I've ever read. The poetic prose, the honest exxaminations of human conflict--all hit authentic notes. The book is not just a gripping mystery, but also a genuinely moving story of friendship and loss.
Read
August 10, 2023Greatly enjoyed the varied writing styles. Could have done with some tension and higher stakes, as well as a more satisfying conclusion.
July 16, 2023
THE GOOD:
Lively and fun Irish vernacular. Told in rotating perspectives, each character has his or her very own, distinctive voice. The pull to keep reading and find out the secrets behind the mystery at the heart of the novel are solid.
THE BAD:
A couple of unpleasant themes are represented, but they do in fact lend to the overall story.
CONCLUSION:
Somewhat spooky, a lot of obsession, almost a coming-of-age tale, but not quite. Fantastic Irish immersion. Well worth a read for mystery and thriller fans.
Lively and fun Irish vernacular. Told in rotating perspectives, each character has his or her very own, distinctive voice. The pull to keep reading and find out the secrets behind the mystery at the heart of the novel are solid.
THE BAD:
A couple of unpleasant themes are represented, but they do in fact lend to the overall story.
CONCLUSION:
Somewhat spooky, a lot of obsession, almost a coming-of-age tale, but not quite. Fantastic Irish immersion. Well worth a read for mystery and thriller fans.
August 21, 2023
I have a lot of thoughts. While Kala wasn’t a bad novel it was�.well a little weird. It starts off extremely slow and feels like it excludes a large chunk of what should have been a core cast. If the characters weren’t going to be important to the story then why use them at all? For example Aoife really served zero purpose here except to kind of be a bitch to everyone in flashbacks. Aiden also was superfluous. His character kind of had a purpose but really did nothing to serve the plot and could have been covered by Mush.
Now the mystery. I pegged what was going on pretty quickly. Maybe that’s just me but the groundwork was layed out for you. Then there were a ton of things that were just weird. The dog fighting came out of nowhere. The acid seemed weird to me. If the cops were on their side why would they need acid to dispose of the bodies? Then there’s the few weird supernatural elements that are never explained or commented on and we just kind of brush over them. Like Kala hearing a drunk adult Joe yelling for Mammy to let him in or Kala seeing Mush throwing up. They were weird and pointless and it served no purpose. Maybe I’ve missed something but I don’t know. It seems like the story was a lot of good ideas mixed with some weird ones and all shoved together to create a whole.
Then the ending has no real resolution? Everyone is all messed up and in the hospital and no one is on their way to healing emotionally or really physically and it was just all very odd. I didn’t hate the book but I think it could have benefited from an editor being like “Hey do we really need all these things?�. Anyway there’s my late night review!
Now the mystery. I pegged what was going on pretty quickly. Maybe that’s just me but the groundwork was layed out for you. Then there were a ton of things that were just weird. The dog fighting came out of nowhere. The acid seemed weird to me. If the cops were on their side why would they need acid to dispose of the bodies? Then there’s the few weird supernatural elements that are never explained or commented on and we just kind of brush over them. Like Kala hearing a drunk adult Joe yelling for Mammy to let him in or Kala seeing Mush throwing up. They were weird and pointless and it served no purpose. Maybe I’ve missed something but I don’t know. It seems like the story was a lot of good ideas mixed with some weird ones and all shoved together to create a whole.
Then the ending has no real resolution? Everyone is all messed up and in the hospital and no one is on their way to healing emotionally or really physically and it was just all very odd. I didn’t hate the book but I think it could have benefited from an editor being like “Hey do we really need all these things?�. Anyway there’s my late night review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2023
A group of six inseparable teenage friends hang out together in a small town in Ireland in 2003. But when Kala - the lynchpin of the group - goes missing, the friendships unravel. Fifteen years later two of the group, Helen and Joe independently return to the town and a little while later human remains are discovered on a nearby building site. There was lots to enjoy in this: the characterisation, the dialogue, the writing. It's described as a literary thriller and that's correct, but maybe that's its downfall. Not quite pacey enough for a true thriller, but such a high body count (past and present day) to make it a little too unbelievable to be fully literary. But I'd be really interested to read anything else that Wash writes.
October 5, 2023
I've thought about the best way to write a review of this book, in a way that not only does the book justice, but also encourages you to pick it up. Especially if you think it's a book that's outside your comfort zone.
Colin Walsh fuses the genre of literary fiction and mystery-thriller with Kala. It starts as a slow-burn; an emotional and psychological contemplation of coming-of-age, following a group of teenage friends over one heightened summer in their lives. Teenage angst, family drama, first love, and the search for independence and belonging are all handled beautifully here, and I was swept up in the plot immediately. The book has been compared to The Secret History and while I agree with that comparison, for me, it felt a lot more like The Girls by Emma Cline. I also got a vibe of IT by Stephen King from it. Bear with me!
While it doesn't have any supernatural element to it, the story of Kala hinges upon a darkness - more a dark past - that echoes and reverberates and surrounds the characters. It has rooted itself in the small, coastal Irish town of Kinlough, and threatens to unmoor the teenagers. Unfortunately, one of the members of the group, the titular Kala, goes missing at the end of that formative summer, and the case soon runs cold.
Fifteen years later, the group - now adults - are still nursing the wounds of that summer. They are still haunted by the horrific events that unfolded, and the town's darkness is still lurking, threatening to pull them under. The group must revisit the past to try to make sense of it and move forward, which brings the story to a climactic and shocking crescendo.
There is so much I loved about this book - I could talk about it for hours! I love a coming-of-age story written for adults, and I also can't resist a story about a group of outcasts taking on a greater evil force (IT, again!). I also love a 'going home again' trope. But Walsh's writing is also stunning, and his precise, engaging character study completely drew me in.
Kala is beautifully considered and layered, expertly plotted, and will keep you guessing right to the end. It's a propulsive and addictive page-turner, with just the right amount of murkiness. I have read a lot of excellent books this year, but this is among the best. I can't wait to read what Colin Walsh writes next. All of the stars.
Colin Walsh fuses the genre of literary fiction and mystery-thriller with Kala. It starts as a slow-burn; an emotional and psychological contemplation of coming-of-age, following a group of teenage friends over one heightened summer in their lives. Teenage angst, family drama, first love, and the search for independence and belonging are all handled beautifully here, and I was swept up in the plot immediately. The book has been compared to The Secret History and while I agree with that comparison, for me, it felt a lot more like The Girls by Emma Cline. I also got a vibe of IT by Stephen King from it. Bear with me!
While it doesn't have any supernatural element to it, the story of Kala hinges upon a darkness - more a dark past - that echoes and reverberates and surrounds the characters. It has rooted itself in the small, coastal Irish town of Kinlough, and threatens to unmoor the teenagers. Unfortunately, one of the members of the group, the titular Kala, goes missing at the end of that formative summer, and the case soon runs cold.
Fifteen years later, the group - now adults - are still nursing the wounds of that summer. They are still haunted by the horrific events that unfolded, and the town's darkness is still lurking, threatening to pull them under. The group must revisit the past to try to make sense of it and move forward, which brings the story to a climactic and shocking crescendo.
There is so much I loved about this book - I could talk about it for hours! I love a coming-of-age story written for adults, and I also can't resist a story about a group of outcasts taking on a greater evil force (IT, again!). I also love a 'going home again' trope. But Walsh's writing is also stunning, and his precise, engaging character study completely drew me in.
Kala is beautifully considered and layered, expertly plotted, and will keep you guessing right to the end. It's a propulsive and addictive page-turner, with just the right amount of murkiness. I have read a lot of excellent books this year, but this is among the best. I can't wait to read what Colin Walsh writes next. All of the stars.
July 2, 2023
This new debut novel makes a good summer read: literary but not too much; a murder mystery, but a well-written one.
A group of friends in a small Irish town reconnect twenty years after one of them has been killed. The murder was never solved and the group has dispersed. A wedding brings them back together right at the time there are developments in the case. The book is told from the perspectives of three friends and alternates between them in short chapters.
This is not a candidate for the Booker - it doesn't really address bigger themes - but the writing is surprisingly good, the characters are very well developed and especially the coming of age sections were excellent.
I mostly listened to the audio version and it reminded me that Irish English is the most beautiful of English accents. It is told by three different narrators for each of the friends.
Well recommended! And many thanks to the publisher for the audio-ARC.
A group of friends in a small Irish town reconnect twenty years after one of them has been killed. The murder was never solved and the group has dispersed. A wedding brings them back together right at the time there are developments in the case. The book is told from the perspectives of three friends and alternates between them in short chapters.
This is not a candidate for the Booker - it doesn't really address bigger themes - but the writing is surprisingly good, the characters are very well developed and especially the coming of age sections were excellent.
I mostly listened to the audio version and it reminded me that Irish English is the most beautiful of English accents. It is told by three different narrators for each of the friends.
Well recommended! And many thanks to the publisher for the audio-ARC.
September 18, 2023
I haven’t had much spare time in which to read recently, so my consumption of Kala was spread over a few spaced-out bursts, and I’m not sure whether this helped my experience of the book or hindered it. Certainly I felt the pacing was off, which I’d probably just think a result of my disjointed reading if it wasn’t mentioned in so many other reviews. I also had a few reservations about the voices. But, but, it was a pleasure to be drawn into a world that felt so complete, and I loved the depth of the character work. This is what made Kala a success for me, ultimately; the plot is secondary to the people who populate this book, their relationships and memories. Like so many people who enjoyed this, I’m looking forward to the future novels Colin Walsh will write.
August 25, 2023
“Kara� is a HIHLY ANTICPATED BOOK OF THE YEAR by many publishing reviewers including Electric literature, Kirkus, The Book Reporter Network, The Daily Mail, and The Observer. I am always a bit hesitant when a book gets such heavy promotion, but at the same time my interest was piqued by the description of this literary mystery.
Then I browsed some reviews on ŷ and Amazon and noticed an interesting pattern of feedback. Most readers fell into two camps. The first were those who felt that the book’s first 100 � 200 pages were so slow that they gave up. The second group were of the mind that yes, the book has a slow start, but if you hang in and get through it, the ending is worth it.
Now my interest was stoked and I reserved the book at my local library. I AM SO GLAD that I did. Yes, patience is required in this slow, slow burn of a small Irish town mystery. But if your patient, it will be greatly paid off in the end.
“Kala� is the first novel by Colin Walsh, who has won several awards for his short fiction. It is the story of three old friends � Helen, Mush, and Joe � who reunite in their seaside town of Kinlough, on Ireland’s west coast. However, bad memories remain. Bad memories that have never gone away.
Fifteen years ago, they were part of a group of six teenagers that were best friends - inseparable, supporting one another, and sharing their innermost secrets. Their social and emotional leader was Kala Lanann, fifteen-year-old reckless, fly-by-the-seat-of her-pants, strong-willed girl, who lived with her grandmother. Kala never met her mom and knows nothing about her or her lineage, but that has never kept her independent spirit down.
However, something horrible happened and Kala went missing and has never been found.
Now, fifteen years later, Helen and Joe have returned home for different reasons, and join Mush who has never left town. None of them have really let go of their haunted past. To make things worse, human remains have been discovered in the nearby woods. Then two more girls go missing.
Helen, Mush, and Joe’s past and present will collide, and each of them will be forced to confront their own complicity and guilt that led to Kala’s disappearance�
This is a complex and deeply layered novel that is character driven and the mystery is a slow burn. A really slow burn. The first 130 pages lays a lot of groundwork � history of the town, a large cast of characters (the list of characters in the front of the book is actually a very helpful resource), and truly understanding the six teenage characters and their unique relationships to each other � while sprinkling in the mystery elements here and there.
Yes, patience is required. This is 400-page book in which the first 200 pages are like act 1 in which the table is fully set at a slow burn, and then the last 200 pages things take off like the last 45 minutes of James Cameron’s Titanic movie. The multiple payoffs are delivered in several emotional climaxes that are powerfully and emotionally driven, and showing respect and honor to the reader for the time they invested in this book. It is intelligently written, putting right smack in the heads of certain characters, while only seeing others from the outside.
Now, let me share another thought as to why the first 130 pages or so seem slow. And I believe this is important to understand because once you figure it out, the reading experience is greatly improved.
First, some writers use multiple voices to tell the story. In this case, Walsh uses three voices � Helen, Mush, and Joe � to do that. Each successive chapter flips between them in that order, Helen, then Mush, then Jow, then Helen, and it repeats itself from beginning to end. However, Walsh also adds another twist. Helen and Mush’s voices are told in first person, but Joe is presented in a third person style, which is an interesting choice. Getting used to the three different voices is one thing that the reader has to get comfortable with. There is more.
Second, a lot of mystery novels now tell their story in using flashbacks, so there is one story taking place in the current timeframe, and a second one sharing what happened in the past and how it impacts the current one. This is often told in alternating chapters, one in the present, then one in the past, and going back and forth. The chapter breaks help signal a shift in the timeframe and transition the reader.
That is not the case in this book. Walsh alternates between the current time period and the past one within each chapter, with whichever character is telling the story (Helen, Mush, or Joe). Walsh moves back and forth in time with his scenes, and sometimes multiple times in a chapter. At first, this was a bit frustrating for me because the transitions were not always as clear as I would have liked, causing me to slow down and really make sure that I was understanding things correctly. Once I got to somewhere around pages 130 � 150, I finally got comfortable with it, and it made my reading experience all the more intense and fully engaged.
For me, I can see how interesting compelling of a structural approach Walsh took in crafting this book, and for the most part, it really worked well. But the requirement is that the reader has to make it through the first half of the book, adjusting to the multiple voices and shifts in time throughout the story without any breaks. The result is that it requires a patient reader, not a casual one who reads a lot of writers like James Patterson, the master of easing “mind candy� reads.
This requires an unusual investment of time and attention. It’s kind of like the approach that Stephen king takes. He gets you emotionally invested in his characters and the story, and when your fully engaged, only then does he deliver elements of horror. Walsh successfully does the same, substituting a murder mystery for horror elements.
I tried to think of similar books and the one that this most reminded of was “We Begin at the End� by Chris Whitaker, with a dash of flavor from “Where the Crawdads Sing� by Delia Owens.
Overall, this is definitely one of those “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder� situations. In my opinion, if are willing to get through the first half of the book, this is a strong 4-star or even a five-star read. However, if you are more of a casual reader, struggle with, or get annoyed with the constant time jumping and voice changes, this is probably a 2-star rating or less.
For me, the story was complex, emotional, and impressive; the characters were empathetic and drew me into their lives on an intimate level, and the slow burn mystery built methodically with serious tension and a riveting pulse, paying off masterfully in the end. I am going to give Walsh the benefit of the doubt with the slow burning beginning and go with a solid five-star review. It was definitely a beauty in the perspective of my eyes.
I will go as far to say that I am very confident that “Kala� will be included in my top ten favorite books list for 2023. I also look forward to Colin Walsh’s next book, to see where he goes from here as a writer�
Then I browsed some reviews on ŷ and Amazon and noticed an interesting pattern of feedback. Most readers fell into two camps. The first were those who felt that the book’s first 100 � 200 pages were so slow that they gave up. The second group were of the mind that yes, the book has a slow start, but if you hang in and get through it, the ending is worth it.
Now my interest was stoked and I reserved the book at my local library. I AM SO GLAD that I did. Yes, patience is required in this slow, slow burn of a small Irish town mystery. But if your patient, it will be greatly paid off in the end.
“Kala� is the first novel by Colin Walsh, who has won several awards for his short fiction. It is the story of three old friends � Helen, Mush, and Joe � who reunite in their seaside town of Kinlough, on Ireland’s west coast. However, bad memories remain. Bad memories that have never gone away.
Fifteen years ago, they were part of a group of six teenagers that were best friends - inseparable, supporting one another, and sharing their innermost secrets. Their social and emotional leader was Kala Lanann, fifteen-year-old reckless, fly-by-the-seat-of her-pants, strong-willed girl, who lived with her grandmother. Kala never met her mom and knows nothing about her or her lineage, but that has never kept her independent spirit down.
However, something horrible happened and Kala went missing and has never been found.
Now, fifteen years later, Helen and Joe have returned home for different reasons, and join Mush who has never left town. None of them have really let go of their haunted past. To make things worse, human remains have been discovered in the nearby woods. Then two more girls go missing.
Helen, Mush, and Joe’s past and present will collide, and each of them will be forced to confront their own complicity and guilt that led to Kala’s disappearance�
This is a complex and deeply layered novel that is character driven and the mystery is a slow burn. A really slow burn. The first 130 pages lays a lot of groundwork � history of the town, a large cast of characters (the list of characters in the front of the book is actually a very helpful resource), and truly understanding the six teenage characters and their unique relationships to each other � while sprinkling in the mystery elements here and there.
Yes, patience is required. This is 400-page book in which the first 200 pages are like act 1 in which the table is fully set at a slow burn, and then the last 200 pages things take off like the last 45 minutes of James Cameron’s Titanic movie. The multiple payoffs are delivered in several emotional climaxes that are powerfully and emotionally driven, and showing respect and honor to the reader for the time they invested in this book. It is intelligently written, putting right smack in the heads of certain characters, while only seeing others from the outside.
Now, let me share another thought as to why the first 130 pages or so seem slow. And I believe this is important to understand because once you figure it out, the reading experience is greatly improved.
First, some writers use multiple voices to tell the story. In this case, Walsh uses three voices � Helen, Mush, and Joe � to do that. Each successive chapter flips between them in that order, Helen, then Mush, then Jow, then Helen, and it repeats itself from beginning to end. However, Walsh also adds another twist. Helen and Mush’s voices are told in first person, but Joe is presented in a third person style, which is an interesting choice. Getting used to the three different voices is one thing that the reader has to get comfortable with. There is more.
Second, a lot of mystery novels now tell their story in using flashbacks, so there is one story taking place in the current timeframe, and a second one sharing what happened in the past and how it impacts the current one. This is often told in alternating chapters, one in the present, then one in the past, and going back and forth. The chapter breaks help signal a shift in the timeframe and transition the reader.
That is not the case in this book. Walsh alternates between the current time period and the past one within each chapter, with whichever character is telling the story (Helen, Mush, or Joe). Walsh moves back and forth in time with his scenes, and sometimes multiple times in a chapter. At first, this was a bit frustrating for me because the transitions were not always as clear as I would have liked, causing me to slow down and really make sure that I was understanding things correctly. Once I got to somewhere around pages 130 � 150, I finally got comfortable with it, and it made my reading experience all the more intense and fully engaged.
For me, I can see how interesting compelling of a structural approach Walsh took in crafting this book, and for the most part, it really worked well. But the requirement is that the reader has to make it through the first half of the book, adjusting to the multiple voices and shifts in time throughout the story without any breaks. The result is that it requires a patient reader, not a casual one who reads a lot of writers like James Patterson, the master of easing “mind candy� reads.
This requires an unusual investment of time and attention. It’s kind of like the approach that Stephen king takes. He gets you emotionally invested in his characters and the story, and when your fully engaged, only then does he deliver elements of horror. Walsh successfully does the same, substituting a murder mystery for horror elements.
I tried to think of similar books and the one that this most reminded of was “We Begin at the End� by Chris Whitaker, with a dash of flavor from “Where the Crawdads Sing� by Delia Owens.
Overall, this is definitely one of those “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder� situations. In my opinion, if are willing to get through the first half of the book, this is a strong 4-star or even a five-star read. However, if you are more of a casual reader, struggle with, or get annoyed with the constant time jumping and voice changes, this is probably a 2-star rating or less.
For me, the story was complex, emotional, and impressive; the characters were empathetic and drew me into their lives on an intimate level, and the slow burn mystery built methodically with serious tension and a riveting pulse, paying off masterfully in the end. I am going to give Walsh the benefit of the doubt with the slow burning beginning and go with a solid five-star review. It was definitely a beauty in the perspective of my eyes.
I will go as far to say that I am very confident that “Kala� will be included in my top ten favorite books list for 2023. I also look forward to Colin Walsh’s next book, to see where he goes from here as a writer�
April 16, 2023
Oh wow! My actual heart! This book is amazing. It’s part thriller, part literary fiction part family saga. I was completely gripped. The way the information is dropped to the reader is genius. We find out more with every chapter but in a very quiet way. You can’t skim anything for fear of missing something vital. I read the final 40% ignoring everything and everyone around me, desperate to find out the answers.
Really recommend this one. It’s fantastic and I could imagine it being a thoroughly gripping film or TV drama.
Really recommend this one. It’s fantastic and I could imagine it being a thoroughly gripping film or TV drama.
July 30, 2023
A girl goes missing in the Irish town Kinlough. Her friends feel devastated and lost, but lose touch of one another. Years later three of them meet again, and the body of a girl is found. And then two more girls go missing. Is there a connection?
‘Kala� is a great literary mystery and page-turner with wonderful characters. And Walsh writes beautifully about friendship and family. Highly recommended!
Thank you Doubleday and Edelweiss for the ARC.
‘Kala� is a great literary mystery and page-turner with wonderful characters. And Walsh writes beautifully about friendship and family. Highly recommended!
Thank you Doubleday and Edelweiss for the ARC.
July 28, 2024
wow wow wow wow wow wow WOW
June 1, 2023
What is the truth about the disappearance of 15-year-old Kala in the west coast Ireland tourist town of Kinlough? It can be summed up by the legendary line delivered by Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men: “You can’t handle the truth!�
Fifteen years afterwards, her friends Aoife, Helen, Aiden, Mush, and one-time boyfriend Joe meet up for a wedding: Helen’s father to Mush’s aunt. Life has changed dramatically for some of them: Joe is a rock star, Helen is a Canadian journalist, and Mush works in his mother’s “caf�, keeping a low profile be because of a deforming facial injury. Aiden is dead. Some of this, we suspect, is the direct result of what happened years ago to Kala, a troubled girl who lives with her Mammy and has no knowledge of her parentage.
The reunion triggers two events: the discovery, after all these years, of Kala’s bones. and the disappearance of Mush’s two highly spirited twin cousins, who are about the same age as Kala when she went missing. It seems like more than a coincidence. Could there finally be answers this time around?
This debut novel starts slowly as the author immerses us into the characters, and then reaches a crescendo as pieces of the puzzle begin to come together and truths are finally revealed. Colin Walsh successfully integrates a literary Irish tale and a pulse-beating thriller to appeal to both reader audiences and concludes with an ending that I did not foresee. Thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for enabling me to be an early reader in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars.
Fifteen years afterwards, her friends Aoife, Helen, Aiden, Mush, and one-time boyfriend Joe meet up for a wedding: Helen’s father to Mush’s aunt. Life has changed dramatically for some of them: Joe is a rock star, Helen is a Canadian journalist, and Mush works in his mother’s “caf�, keeping a low profile be because of a deforming facial injury. Aiden is dead. Some of this, we suspect, is the direct result of what happened years ago to Kala, a troubled girl who lives with her Mammy and has no knowledge of her parentage.
The reunion triggers two events: the discovery, after all these years, of Kala’s bones. and the disappearance of Mush’s two highly spirited twin cousins, who are about the same age as Kala when she went missing. It seems like more than a coincidence. Could there finally be answers this time around?
This debut novel starts slowly as the author immerses us into the characters, and then reaches a crescendo as pieces of the puzzle begin to come together and truths are finally revealed. Colin Walsh successfully integrates a literary Irish tale and a pulse-beating thriller to appeal to both reader audiences and concludes with an ending that I did not foresee. Thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for enabling me to be an early reader in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars.
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