From the best-selling author of One of Us and The Day the Lies Began comes an emotional and gripping story of a man running from his past and the woman who wants his future.
Lotti’s family offered her a neat life of privilege and power, until she turned away from her father’s plans – and toward what she really wanted. Now happy as a primary school teacher, Lotti may have even found the right man, a single dad, not the kind of guy who will fit in with her family, but who nonetheless feels like home.
But Lotti isn’t the only one running from her past. August’s strong silent demeanour may be part of his attraction, but as they get closer, his inability to talk about his past begins to interfere with their future.
When August receives a cryptic text message that prompts an immediate departure, Lotti and Augie’s six-year-old son Otto follow him to his small hometown where decades of lies begin to unravel. When details of a shocking crime emerge, Lotti will have to decide if she trusts the man August has become more than she fears the man he once was.
Kylie Kaden’s previous two novels were page-turners that delivered pitch-perfect plotting, twists and turns, and layers of friendship built over time in tight-knit community settings. With this, After the Smoke Clears, Kaden absolutely establishes herself as a leading author in the Australian crime genre.
Protagonist Lotti and her boyfriend August are well-drawn, multilayered characters with the best chemistry I’ve seen in a thriller for some time. Lotti is a teacher, and August is the father of her favourite pupil, Otto. You really want things to work out for this pair, but can Augie be trusted? Reading this, it was a case of ‘trust him’ followed by ‘dump him and run’ multiple times throughout, which kept me tearing through the pages. Ultimately though, as the reader you’re incredibly drawn to the silent, complex mechanic.
August is from the small town of Eldham in central Queensland. Lotti doesn’t know anything about his past, or Otto’s mother. When he receives a mysterious call and asks her to mind Otto while he returns ‘home’, Lotti instead follows him to Eldham, where Augie’s secrets and past begin to emerge. But adding to this, Lotti has her own past that she’s trying to hide.
Kaden is known for her inclusive character choices and in her acknowledgements writes she’s ‘passionate about ensuring fiction reflects reality in all its fabulous diversity’. In this one, Otto is hearing impaired. His character, and his relationship with both August and Lotti, is a highlight.
After the Smoke Clears is a perfectly paced read that’s layered with complex themes, including institutionalised abuse, but it’s ultimately a compelling read about resilience. I adored but also feared for Lotti and August through every twist and turn, hoping beyond hope they would be okay. I was that invested in this highly recommended read.
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