After the Smoke Clears by Kylie Kaden

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


‘After the Smoke Clears’ is tale about the attraction of opposites, of finding goodness in those we love, of the tight-guarded secrets of small towns, of crime and redemption, of overcoming a difficult past. The narrative follows the travails of two lovers, Lotti (a teacher) and Augie (a mechanic), in alternating chapters that span two timelines that are twenty years apart.
Be warned: not all the characters are likeable, though thankfully some are. Otto, a six-year-old with a hearing disability, is wiser than most of the adults. Some are tough-talking diamonds-in-the-rough, hardened by life or circumstance, but beneath the surface they shine. Others are rotten to the core.
There is a lot packed into this dark and gritty but compelling story. What makes this novel stand out is the confident touch of a skilled author. Kylie Kayden is surely the queen of domestic noir.



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