In order for your heart not to break completely you need to call upon your inner Buddhist and allow the concepts of karma and reincarnation to soothe through the harrowing events that engulf Ky and her family.
Whilst on the surface this book may present as a murder mystery it’s much more than a Whodunit. To a degree that aspect is secondary to the main thrust which deals with grief, family and friendship but also the plight of Vietnamese refugees relocating to Australia.
The dynamics of the family situation are dealt very realistically here Ky’s parents remain resolutely Vietnamese and seem to resist any absorption into Australian society and culture to the extent that they don’t even learn to speak English. There’s always a sense of confrontation between Ky and her parents but the older, more mature Ky can begin to see the motivation of her mother and father.
The nub of the story revolves around the untimely murder of Ky’s younger brother, Denny, who has seemed to be a fine, upstanding, young student until the fateful night when he is violently murdered. Returning home to Cabramatta from Sydney for the funeral Ky propels herself into her own investigation using her journalist background. She seeks to discover the answers that the police have failed to find.
Seeking the truth is one thing, where you find it is another. Grief invariably produces a sense of guilt and blame and this novel sees Ky examine her past and her present to determine whether she could have changed the course of events.
The story is not just told from Ky‘s perspective. We travel back to the past to see Ky’s friendship with Minnie and the list of witnesses Ky has extracted from the cooperative police officer offers not just some salient points in the investigation but some fascinating characters. The characterisations are well honed and believable. The interaction between the key players is poignant at times, The dialogue honest and relevant.
It’s not an easy read and at times it was depressing. I was actually moved to tears towards the end of the book when the adult Ky and Minnie were talking. Considering this is a debut novel it’s quite impressive in its concept and execution. The writing is crisp and perceptive, the narrative well paced.
My thanks to HQ stories for a copy and a place upon the blog tour.
Tracey Lien was born and raised in southwestern Sydney, Australia. She earned her MFA at the University of Kansas and was previously a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. All That's Left Unsaid is her first novel.
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