Review: Bringing Back Kay-Kay by Dev Kothari

Set in contemporary India, Bringing Back Kay-Kay is both a superbly gripping mystery and a deeply moving and hopeful testament to the strength of sibling bonds in the most desperate of times.  Heart-warming, heart-breaking and utterly brilliant from start to finish.

Lena has been enjoying some welcome attention from her parents whilst her much-favoured older brother, Kay-Kay, has been away at summer camp in Goa; she even wishes that he would stay away for longer.  But when her parents arrive back from the train station with the news that her beloved brother is missing, she is devastated.  The local police think he’s just another runaway, but Lena is convinced that they are wrong.  Unable to bear her parents’ pain and the idea of living without Kay-Kay, Lena sets out to investigate her brother’s disappearance … and to bring him home.

So begins a dual journey of discovery as Lena painstakingly and determinedly pieces together clues leading up to Kay-Kay’s disappearance, as she retraces his steps across India, and as she gains insight from speaking to those who know him.  But this is also a journey which reveals a side to her brother which he has kept hidden from his family:  secret hopes and dreams and a fear of not living up to the weight of expectations.  Can Lena discover the truth behind her brother’s disappearance?  Will she be able to bring Kay-Kay back, or will she too late to save the brother she needs?

Without you, Kay-Kay, there’s no sun, no warmth, no light. I will find you – my brother, my friend. I will find you and bring you back.

This story is written from Lena’s viewpoint, with direct address to her brother, which I found incredibly emotive as it gives such a painfully beautiful insight into their relationship, especially as she faces her own truths and discovers her brother’s secrets.   The deep, unbreakable bond between the siblings sings from the pages of this story, and makes Lena’s journey to find Kay-Kay absolutely gripping and, at times, almost unbearably tense.  Lena’s pain at the loss of her brother is palpable, but she shows such incredible strength in finding the courage to keep going and never give up hope even when those around her do.

I absolutely loved the poetry that is included within the story which I must admit brought tears – so incredibly powerful and heartfelt.  I also really liked the setting in contemporary India and enjoyed learning more about this vibrant country from the train journeys to the culture and food and drink. 

An evocative, emotional and exhilarating mystery with family and sibling bonds firmly at its heart.

Thank you to Lorraine Keating and Walker Books for providing me with an early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.