Kala by Colin Walsh was an intriguing and solid book.

This novel has an excellent plot and outstanding characterizations. Colin Walsh is
a master of storyteller, a great writer. He has raised the mystery
novel to the level of great literature.
Brilliant writing, plot, suspense and characters this was a gripping debut.
And I look forward to his next one.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Doubleday for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Kala, by Colin Walsh, is a slow burn that picks up velocity after about one third of the narrative. The story centers on Kala, a teen-aged year old girl who goes missing. The police search for her is haphazard and it appears that the people who know her best - her close knit group of friends - were barely interviewed.

Twenty years after Kala goes missing, her friends return to Kinlough, Ireland to attend a wedding. At the same time, Kala's skull is found, along with a photograph. Who would have done this and why was it left to be found?

The protagonists are very much alive. There is Mush, with a horribly scarred face, who has never left Kinlough. He helps his mom run a coffee shop while trying to hide his face from gawkers. Helen returns to Kinlough from Canada, where she is a free-lance journalist, barely making ends meet. Joe, now a famous rock star, returns to Kinlough buried in his past when he and Kala were lovers.

The three of them were once a very close-knit group and, in the present day, they try to sort out what happened to Kala. Delving into the darkness of the past does nothing but bring them trouble and more questions. They obsess over who could have wanted Kala dead, and for what reason.

The characters are all brought to life and Colin Walsh's writing is clear, esoteric, poetic and philosophical. The inner lives of Joe, Helen and Mush are brought to the surface and it becomes clear that no one can really know anyone else. We are all masking things and hiding our true selves from others as well as from ourselves.

Once I started this book, I found it difficult to put it down. I was invested in the character's lives and travelled with them as they searched for truth and meaning. Colin Walsh has this very Irish way of mixing light and darkness, allowing the two to connect and then override each other. His mastery is evident and it is difficult to believe that this is his debut novel.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an early review copy of this novel.

A. beautifully told thriller about the loss of a childhood friend and how it impacted a close group from a small village in Ireland. Helen, Joe and Mush are reunited many years after the disappearance of the ringleader of their group. Following the disappearance, the group jettisoned from one another. Joe became famous, Mush retreated into a solitary life and Helen cut all ties and is finding it difficult to reconnect.

When remains are found in the forest, the three believe it may be their lost friend. Through their 3 points of view, we learn more about Kala and what may have transpired. There are a few unclear and unfinished stories (such as Aoife and who she is) but it's a gripping novel with a satisfying conclusion. If you love tales of Ireland, friends reconnecting or just want a new literature thriller, Kala is for you!

I really liked this book! On one hand it had a very slow start, but as the plot started moving quicker, I grew to appreciate that in retrospect. It gave me more time to get to know the characters and find sympathy for particular ones. I' will try to make this as spoiler free as possible, in an easy to read bullet point-ish style.

-Once the characters fell into the mystery, it was very fast-paced, and the flashbacks were well-woven into the story. All of the flashbacks were relevant either to the current day plot or to character development.
-Not being from Ireland (or the UK at all), I didn't have a hard time with all the slang. I was able to use context clues to understand what it all meant.
-The end had me breathless with suspense! The last maybe twenty-five percent of the book. That was the most enjoyable part.

Cons:
-I'm not sure what the publisher's policy is, but if it's possible, I would definitely include a trigger warning re: violence related to animals. I was not prepared for that, and while it didn't leave me unable to finish the book, there might be people where it inhibits their ability to continue.
-I really hope there's a sequel.

A class narrative with whipsmart dialogue, a travel curio, and a thrilling mystery all in one. Really enjoyed this!

A. beautifully told thriller about the loss of a childhood friend and how it impacted a close group from a small village in Ireland. Helen, Joe and Mush are reunited many years after the disappearance of the ringleader of their group. Following the disappearance, the group jettisoned from one another. Joe became famous, Mush retreated into a solitary life and Helen cut all ties and is finding it difficult to reconnect.

When remains are found in the forest, the three believe it may be their lost friend. Through their 3 points of view, we learn more about Kala and what may have transpired. There are a few unclear and unfinished stories (such as Aoife and who she is) but it's a gripping novel with a satisfying conclusion. If you love tales of Ireland, friends reconnecting or just want a new literature thriller, Kala is for you!
#Doubleday #ColinWalsh #kala

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC.

This was gripping and suspenseful for sure! I really enjoyed the atmosphere and mystery and it was such a fun time! I also liked the characters well enough and their dynamics with each other.