#SheReviews The Day The Lies Began

I have been following Brisbane author, Kylie Kaden since she first came to launch her debut novel Losing Kate at Ashgrove Library. Her story of being one of the few writers to have been found in the slush pile and being given a contract was so inspiring for the members of our writing group. Kylie was the first person I ever interviewed for SheSociety after the launch of her second book Missing You. At the time she was busy working on her third novel.

 On the 19 August, Kylie Kaden’s third novel, The Day the Lies Began was finally released.This story is a departure for Kylie as she’s delved into the world of domestic noir for this latest release (think along the lines of Liane Moriarty’s work). SheSociety were lucky enough to be gifted a copy of this book from Pantera Press and the story kept me enthralled on my recent trip to the idyllic Maldives. Domestic noir is the genre I most like to read. The characters could be you or I. In this story Kylie Kaden paints a picture of life in a small town with a big shadow. 

Kylie studied psychology and it shows in this novel. You delve into the minds of two couples, journalist, wife and mother Abbi and her confident doctor husband, Will. They are parents to a young girl, Eadie. Their friends are local policeman, Blake and his on again, off again love Hannah. Hannah is a relief teacher at Eadie’s school. Blake and Hannah have reunited after she returns from several years in America. Abbi, Blake and Hannah have been friends for years. Will is the fascinating newcomer to the group. He and Abbi’s solid relationship seems impenetrable until the day of the annual Moon Festival when something goes horribly wrong. The story follows each character, with flashbacks of the incident told in their own words and asks the question, “How far would you go for someone you love? “. The story kept me guessing until the end. Who wouldn’t love a story with a glamorous, dark haired relief teacher as one of the main characters? 

Kylie recently spoke at Mitchelton Library ( her local) and told us the beach setting was important to her.  She explained that the sea was, “ a metaphor with the calm of the water’s shiny, flat surface but there is still stuff going on underneath.” 

Beach settings are a feature of all her novels. In this story the fictional town of Point Lago was deliberately used to give the sense of an isolated beach community where everyone thinks they know their neighbours and all their secrets. Ultimately it asks “ How well do we know anyone? “ Even our own  partners can surprise us with their actions. This story delves into the minds of each character and is not an action thriller. It develops the characters slowly and keeps you on the edge of your seat as you try to put the pieces of the puzzle together. 

When the truth washes into their beachside community, so do the judgements : victim or vigilante, who will forgive, who will betray? Not all the relationships survive. Nor do all the residents. 

Kylie says, “You have to be patient with this book. My books always start with conflict and from there I figure out how this would develop in the world. I see my outlines as scenes and in my books the role of hero and villain are murky.” 

Kylie’s morally complicated characters reveal that we all have the ability to act in morally ambiguous ways depending on the circumstances. I really enjoyed all the twists and turns and could see this book making a great Netflix series. 

Kylie is busy working on book four which I can reveal is another crime in the ‘ burbs story. This time it’s set in a gated community in an affluent area. Relationships are at the heart of this new novel. In her spare time Kylie is reading Good Girl, Bad Girl by Michael Robotham and enjoying trips to the beach with her own family. 

If  you’ve have enjoyed the work of Liane Moriarty, Jane Harper and Paula Hawkins you will enjoy this local author’s mesmerising domestic noir, The Day The Lies Began. It reminds us that sometimes doing wrong can feel completely right.