Kinnara - Kevin Ansbro

Author: Kevin Ansbro

Genre: Magical Realism, Crime Thriller, Romance

Rating: 4.25 stars.

In a Nutshell: A great debut work. Genre-bending with traces of romance, friendship drama, magical realism and crime thriller. Hits most marks.

Story Synopsis:

Germany – A brutal “Mother Killer” is murdering pregnant women across the country and no one has any clues who the criminal might be. Detective Otto Netzer is investigating the case. Will he be able to nab the culprit before there’s another victim?

Phuket, Thailand – Calum Armstrong travels to Thailand as a perfect getaway after his breakup. His easy-going nature endears him to the locals, including Sawat, a seaside drink vendor who soon becomes Calum’s buddy. However, Sawat has a secret that he is embarrassed about, and once he shares it with Calum, their destiny shifts to a different track. A track with unforeseen repercussions.

Norwich, England – Best friends Hannah and Calum have secretly been in love with each other since their teen years. Now in their early twenties, they finally open up to each other. But there are certain hurdles coming their way because of Calum’s trip. Will their relationship survive the strain?

The story covers various timelines but a major chunk of it is set around 2012. It is written in the third person limited narration.

Where the book worked for me:

😍 For a debut novel, the plot is quite ambitious. There are multiple arcs and multiple timelines. I took a little time to get used to all that was happening, but once I got into the groove, the book flowed smoothly. I did wonder where Kevin was going with three such disparate tracks but after the halfway mark, you begin to see signs of a merger and soon, the portions start making sense in conjugation.

😍 Despite the complicated story structure, the casual writing style ensures that it is fast-paced. I deliberately took my time with this book but it can easily be completed within a day.

😍 I had assumed that an English author would do best justice to the Norwich timeline. To my pleasant surprise, the most heartwarming arc is the one set in Thailand. Kevin brings Thailand to life with his words. Rather than covering the typical tourist locales, he gets to the pulse of the country, covering their culture, their beliefs, their exotic landscapes, and their amiable citizens in a breath-taking manner. I admire his realistic portrayal of a place not commonly covered in Western fiction. You can easily make out his love for Thailand. I have been to the country and based on my experience, I assure you that he has nailed its representation, covering both the good and the bad in a fair way.

😍 The story also incorporates a part of Thai mythology by including among its characters, the titular ‘Kinnara’ – a legendary half-man half-bird. This arc delivers the magical realism part of the story, and fits in surprisingly well with the contemporary narrative. I loved this track.

😍 Whether heroes or villains, humans or mythical beings, most of the characters in this book make an impact. Hannah and Calum with their strong connection towards each other, their quirky families, Sawat and his verve, the Kinnara, the ‘Mother Killer’ – all are memorable though not necessarily loveable.

😍 The Hannah-Calum romance is sweet, overly sweet, like diabetes-inducing level of sweet. It still worked for me the romantic Grinch – consider that a minor miracle.

😍 Kevin’s writing is impeccable and vivid throughout (his depiction of the tsunami gave me the jitters!), but his metaphors steal the show. A backpack not coming out of an overhead locker “like a bulldog not wanting to meet the vet”; an officer stamps a passport “with a series of hard thuds that could have tenderised a steak”; a bell boy “trotting ahead like a Thai Captain Kirk” – each metaphor is so innovative in its style and so impactful on the senses!

😍 While the blurb promises that the book “explores how our actions can come back to haunt us in the most unexpected ways”, the message isn’t thrown at our face but written subtly. I was grateful for this, as I don’t like moralising sermons in fiction.

😍 An extra bonus point for writing about the ‘man flu’! 😂😂😂

Where the book could have worked better for me:

😔 While the serial killer chapters were truly creepy and gripping, I expected more from the investigation and its outcome. Granted, the book isn’t marketed as a crime thriller, but when the prologue itself begins in such a chilling way, it is but natural to desire a proper closure to the whole episode. You do get an ending to that arc but it is hurried and leaves the detailing unexplained. Moreover, it feels forced into the rest of the track. This was the most intense and yet the weakest link of the overall plot.

😔 There is way too much focus on the physical “hotness” of the characters. The physical features of most of the characters are described extensively, and most of these happen to be great lookers with smashing physiques. Heck, even the school geek grows up to be a hottie! The stress on bodily appeal could have been toned down to more realistic levels.

😔 The rushed ending had me singing the “Tell me more, tell me more” coda from the song of the same name in the movie ‘Grease’. So many questions! My mind is boggled!

A dear friend gifted me this copy of Kinnara, and I am ecstatic to finally have had a chance to read the works of an international author I have interacted with only on Goodreads and Twitter. In whatever limited interactions I have had with him, Kevin has come across as the perfect gentleman, and I am thrilled that his book is as heartening as he is. For a debut work, this book is especially stunning.

Storytelling is an art as well as a craft. And both elements are amply and beautifully visible in this book. Definitely recommended.

Disclaimer: Though Kevin is a friend on GR, he had nothing to do with my review nor my obtaining the book. This review is honest and voluntary.