Torched

by Kimberley Starr

Embargo 28th April 2020

An explosive, haunting and utterly compelling crime novel about mothers and sons and the ties that bind them.

A small Yarra Valley town has been devastated by a bushfire, and Reefton Primary School Principal Phoebe Warton can’t sleep. She’s the single mother of Caleb who is accused of starting the fire – on purpose. Twelve people are dead, students from her school among them; only a monster would cause such carnage. But where was her son that day? No one knows but Caleb, and he’s not talking.

Against mounting community rage, Phoebe sets out to clear her son. But every avenue leads back to Caleb. Why did he vanish from his Country Fire Authority shift? Who else was at the abandoned goldmine that day? Why is Caleb refusing to speak?

Phoebe will be forced to confront the nature of guilt and redemption, and decide what boundaries she is willing to cross to save the son she loves.

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller, Crime

401 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 2020

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eighteen-year-old Caleb Wharton was a rebellious teenager, currently going through a goth stage. His mother, Phoebe was the principal at the local primary school. When Phoebe’s good friend Jack Laskin suggested Caleb join the CFA (Country Fire Authority) as the discipline might help him, no one had any idea of the repercussions to that idea.

Brunton in the Yarra Valley was home to Phoebe and Caleb; it was where Caleb’s friends were, his girlfriend Penelope. It was also in the direct path of the bushfire that was raging through the community on the day many lives changed. Injuries and death, narrow escapes and miracles – but as investigations began, the fire was declared arson. They needed to find the culprit and when all fingers pointed toward Caleb, Phoebe knew there was no way he was an arsonist. He was an artist; his sketches were beautiful. But Phoebe was desperate to save her son and once again Caleb wasn’t speaking to her…

Torched is the debut novel by Aussie author Kimberley Starr and is set in Victoria in the Yarra Valley. We’ve just been through a horrific summer where much of Australia burned, so this novel is topical. The emotions of the families are heartbreaking – the trauma of those who experience (any) bushfire is likely to remain for years. I guess it’s human nature to want to blame someone for terrible events and in Torched, Caleb had it all thrown at him. A great debut which I recommend.

With thanks to Pantera Press for my uncorrected proof ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a tension filled page turner! More soon

My View:
The publishing date for this read was changed a few times due to COVID- 19 issues of restrictions and the coincidental major bush fires in Australia- how difficult it must have been to be planning to release a book whose central character is a fatal bush fires and then an actual fire ravishes huge parts of Eastern Australia, devastating for the author and for the areas affected by the fires.

And so, I read this book, was fascinated, loved the tension packed pages, loved the family story and if you have ever wondered how it felt to actually be in the mist of a bush fires – well this read is so believable, so visual…I was “there”, smelling the fire, heat burning my nostrils... And then everything halted. The release was postponed and the book languished on my desk, pretty soon covered in various notes, other books to review…

This book is fabulous! It is on my list of “best reads of 2020” and I hope it will soon be on yours

[Brooke - Brooke's Reading Life]

Read approx 30 pages and unfortunately just couldn't get into it so stopped reading.

[Tracey Allen at Carpe Librum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Victoria's Yarra Valley, Torched by Australian author Kimberley Starr is essentially about the relationship between Phoebe and her son Caleb. Phoebe is the Principal at the local Primary School in Brunton and her son Caleb is accused of starting a bushfire that raged through the district, burning everything in its path. Many people lost their lives, properties and livestock were destroyed, yet Caleb won't talk about what happened.

The locals in Brunton blame Caleb for their losses and Phoebe and Caleb's lives subsequently fall apart. As the court date draws closer, Phoebe is desperate to learn the truth.

I found myself a little annoyed with Caleb's character as he insisted on withdrawing into his artistic gothic persona and providing only vague responses to the allegations made against him. Phoebe is an equally flawed character and I thought way too much time was spent on her warring thoughts about her son and her insomnia.

The climax builds as the reader swings back and forth on whether Caleb is guilty or not until the final denouement. In contrast to most readers, I found the most exciting and compelling part of the book were the scenes that took place during the bushfire. The scenes featuring Phoebe were absolutely gripping and completely captured the horrors of an immensely powerful Australian bushfire. I felt the heat and Phoebe's fear, and I'd even go so far as to say it was as good as the bushfire scene in Scrublands by Chris Hammer.

Unfortunately, this level of writing isn't maintained throughout the novel. After the fire has been extinguished and the investigation begins, I was less moved by the rest of Phoebe and Caleb's story.

Overall, Torched is a good Australian mystery with a topical subject at its heart and a solid character study of a troubled mother son relationship.

* Copy courtesy of Pantera Press *

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

**2.5-3 stars**
I enjoyed SOME of this book, but there were tedious moments and a few plot holes.

First, what I enjoyed:
-The description of the bushfires, I think this was really well written
The poetry, beautiful imagery and symbolism
-The premise, I think it is a fresh idea and something I haven't encountered before
- The very small glimpse we got a the country town and country school
- Caleb's description of art and his POV, I much preferred hearing from Caleb than Phoebe

Next, what I did not enjoy:
- The constant links to Rome, I understand the metaphor, I just don't think it worked and it was to overt-
- Phoebe. I think she was a really unlikeable and ruthless character. Did not enjoy her perspective at all. Also, her 'little problem' what was the point of that ? It made me dislike her even more
- Jack , him not coming forward with what happened is despicable. It was disgusting and he should have been punished
- The dysfunctional family trope

Finally, some problems...
- This book was set in 2020, we know because of the comments made about the PM's family holiday to Hawaii (did not enjoy this political aspect..), yet Phoebe claims that Caleb as a child had might terrors after watching the planes fly into the Twin Towers. 9/11 happened in 2001, 19 years before the story is set. Caleb is supposed to be 18 years old. How could he have been watching 9/11 on the news when he hadn't even been conceived? I guess he could have seen it in follow up interviews or docos later, but then why include it in the novel?

[Amra Pajalic · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the surface the novel is about a Phoebe attempting to prove her son Caleb's innocence after he is accused of being an arsonists, but it is so much more than that. It is about a mother and son bond, about the stories we tell ourselves about who we are, about the choices we make and who we could be, and who end up being.

The beginning of the novel describing the bushfire burning through the town of Brunton was so visceral and poignant, all the more so as I reflect on the bush fires we just had. The impact on the community was so heartbreaking.

This is a beautifully written novel about a community impacted by fire, and a mother and son bond.

[Cel Jel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fire travels through a country town and surrounds. One of the local CFA members has left during the afternoon. When a culprit is looked for, the lad is accused and then charged with arson. His mother does not think he did commit arson, although she is not absolutely sure. She decides to do her best to clear him, and in the process her life changes. Who can she trust, who does she hurt, how can she support her son. What is it like for the parents at the two teacher school that she is Principal at.
Kimberley has written a very interesting story, with well structured characters. She has held a mirror up to the tendency for society to look for culprits, and to turn on the person prior to the evaluation of the charges, to accept the charge says the person committed the crime.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what a story, so many feelings, so many issues with the many characters of this book. A mother’s love for her son, she does everything to get to the truth but she ends up losing him and others in the end. Such a struggle. Great read. Highly recommend.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yikes. What a killer premise, but not executed as well as it could have been. The writing is scattered: characters are in one place and then suddenly they’re somewhere else with no mention of how they got there; thoughts are disjointed; every second sentence is inconsequential; the same things are repeated over and over. Incredibly powerful subject matter, and many interesting questions raised about love, lies and guilt, but unfortunately for me it didn’t reach its full potential. The plot’s got more holes than my first attempt at knitting, two regretful stars.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Torched is a story of family, reputation and relationships before it is a story of fire.
🔥 🔥 🔥
A bushfire has devastated the town of Brunton, people have died, everything lost, the indiscriminate fingers of the flames touching some and not others. The community is angry, was it arson? Was it lightening strike? Was it inevitable due to lack of action on climate change? Phoebe is Caleb’s mother, Caleb has been accused of starting the fire, Phoebe is guilty for not being a good enough mother- what mother raises a murderer?
🌞🌞🌞
Nostalgia plays a big part in this novel. In particular, nostalgia for the little boy lost. The ghost of boy Caleb haunts the memories of Phoebe as she tries to connect with current Caleb- a man she feels immensely guilty for not understanding. Each paragraph is divided by a Roman goddess, a nod to Phoebe’s past life as an art historian in Rome.
🏟🏟🏟
The first half was galvanising- the fear and chaos of being stuck in a fire ripping through a town had my heart racing. However I lost interest after the half way point. There were a few factors- conversations being cut off before a question could be asked, what felt like unnecessary secrecy and a dreamlike quality to some paragraphs and not others. Were all these annoyances the writing style or merely plot propellers? I’m not sure
📚📚📚
I was also frustrated at times by the lack of communication between Caleb and Phoebe. Although I tried to remember that they are two very traumatised individuals- both from the fire and from an event prior to the book, so perhaps this was the authors nod to how trauma can affect communication. Both from a giving and receiving end.
🔥🔥🔥
I’d love to hear from others who read this book, perhaps it just wasn’t my jam- and that is no fault of the authors’. I remain unsure.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

A worthwhile, but frustratingly inconsistent read. I thought the subjective depictions of bushfire effect and the generational divide description believable, but there was so much that was quite simply all over the place.
Perhaps it was meant to represent the stressed, insomniac nature of Phoebe's situation, but the repetition, lack of narrative flow and one-dimensional characterisation diminished the impact considerably.
The "reveal" was underwhelming for a courtroom drama too!
Finally, why the constant references to AFL? Everyone in that part of the world would call it football or footy!

[Sarah Rayner · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t finish this one! Started ok! Then the book just jumped around but went know where! Repeated sentences confused me and made me think I was losing it! I rarely don’t finish a book but couldn’t waste any more time on it!

[Jackie McMillan · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars)
Having read A Constant Hum recently and been a bit dissatisfied, I was pleased to find Torched really encapsulates what it's like to be caught in an Australian bushfire: "Survivors dug through the ashes of their homes, archeologists seeking their own history, a connection to their own past, museum pieces proving their lives had been real."

While written in response to the 2009 Black Saturday fires, it's impossible not to connect this book to its publishing climate, where the country is still reeling from one of the worst bushfire seasons on record. While Torched is primarily about the relationship between a mother (Phoebe) and her son (Caleb) under extreme stress, first from fire, and then from Caleb being accused of being the firebug responsible for the deadly blaze, it's also an evocative story about what it's like to live in the bush with the imminent threat of fire.

Torched also makes some good social commentary on why Governments might like blaming arsonists, because it deflects anger about climate change: "On television, in newspapers and online, the narrative became one about a firebug who had to be caught." There are some blatant digs at Australia's current Prime M[o]nster, Scott Morrison, the man who nipped off to Hawaii for a family holiday while our country was burning: "Ministerial briefings are confidential conversations... Perhaps you should check with the Prime Minister once he returns from his family holiday." You'll also find Morrison's favourite get-out-of-gaol-free card - it's a state issue: "The PM has made it clear he'll help where he can but this is a state government issue. 'Fire isn't stopping at the borders,' someone muttered." And of course, the fire chiefs warn the PM in the novel months before the blaze, just like our real fire chiefs warned Scott Morrison: "CFA chiefs have said they warned the government months ago that this would be a devastating season. Do you have a list of measures the government put in place as a result of these warnings?"

Torched also is about how truth is constructed in our criminal justice system: "In court, what can be proven is the truth." It's also about how we carry trauma and shame, and feelings that we deserve poor outcomes that happen to us: "Caleb needed to feel guilt. It was like pressing a scar. No. More like fingering an open wound. The agony was ecstatic."

Perhaps where it fell down for me was, despite the evocative writing, it felt a bit like tourism in a fire area, rather than a believable story of people who actually lived through a bushfire.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Australia. A land that is ravaged by fire most summers. Phoebe and her son Caleb are living in a Victorian town called Brunton. Phoebe is principal at the local school. It's summer and it's on fire.

The novel is narrated in the first half by Phoebe and the second half by her and Caleb.

The story starts by vividly describing living through a fire that arrives too quick to the town to evacuate. The heat and chaos the residents live through, and the devastation of those that don't.

There is mystery surrounding how the fire started. The local fire captain, Jack Laskin and Phoebe's boyfriend investigates and reports his findings. Caleb, a newcomer to Brunton, becomes the towns prime suspect by no other reason than "he is bad news".

Herewith the drama begins. Phoebe is determined to prove her sons innocence, even though she wasn't with him on the day of the fire.
She moves heaven and earth to prove he is not responsible, even going as far as wrecking her own life.

The question begs throughout the majority of the novel... but.. did he do it? He keeps saying he is guilty and deserves punishment, but guilty of what?

** I found the narration by Phoebe to be confusing, she appears to have anxiety and so the writing jumps all over the place.. mixing memories into present day in a way I found irritating.
I also found the background story of her past with Marco a waste of time. It didnt add depth to her story, even at the end of the novel where he offers her a job which she turns down.. but allowed an interesting beginning to each chapter, which she could have still done with any of that storyline.

I found myself wishing I could have edited it to smooth out the bits I didn't like. But I did like storyline, just not the way it was written.

[Nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fell in love with the writing of Torched quite quickly. I’ve thankfully never experienced a bushfire, but I feel like the writing of this book transported me right to the middle of a bushfire. The way Starr describes the wind, the noises like howling and shrieking, the feeling, the unbearable heat - of course I know fires are scary, but this made me feel absolutely terrified for anyone that has had to go through this. The earlier parts of the book described what it was like to be in that fire and the direct aftermath, and having Australia just go through some of the most devastating fires in our entire history, I think it’s great that this will bring awareness to the bushfire crises that some country towns have experienced.

However I found it difficult to relate to the two main characters. I found Caleb frustrating because of his refusal to talk about anything. I also couldn’t relate to Phoebe, with her secret being a strange quirk to the plot that I don’t think was really necessary.

The ending was a little anti-climactic. “The accident” that was alluded to throughout the whole book was pretty much what I thought it would be, and when we finally found out why Caleb needed to go back to his house on the day of the fire, that was also as I expected with no big twists or surprises.

Overall, while I didn’t love the ending nor some of the characters, I’m glad I read this book because of the central theme of bushfires which I think is so important to Australian fiction, because the effects of bushfires on our entire country are massive. Starr did a fantastic job in bringing awareness to the bushfires in a sensitive way.

[Deb Bodinnar · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and topical story line with the dreadful bush fires that have hit Australia in the past year. Focusing on a teenage lad, Caleb, who was blamed for starting the fire that caused deaths and destruction of a small town, the main reason for suspecting this young man (in my opinion) was the fact he was different! He wore black clothing, makeup and had long black hair... yes... he was Goth. So of course he stood out in a small town, people like that must be weird, untrustworthy,evil, out to destroy all good. I shake my head at this even as I am writing. Some teenagers go through these phases, I know mine did and so did quite a few of their friends (biased opinion here), but those kids were some of the loveliest that I met. Progressing through the book I found myself thinking I had worked out who was the "real arsonist", but it wasn't who I thought. Although I did enjoy reading this novel, I didn't really understand where the Marco connection with Phoebe fitted in with scheme of things. Maybe I missed something there! Phoebe, Caleb's very protective Mum (aren't we all?) seems to overstep her sons boundaries continuously but I think he ended up appreciating her. The narrative of the fire scenes made me wonder if the Author has actually been involved in a bush fire situation herself, as the descriptive nature made you feel like you were in there living and breathing the whole experience.

[lyny · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is set in the awful bushfires in the Yarra Valley last summer, and is told mainly by Phoebe, the local primary school principal who has moved back to Brunton after she and her husband split up; but with some sections from the point of view of her son, Caleb, who lives with her and who is to be tried for starting the fire in their area, and who harbours enormous guilt about the accidental injury he caused to a young neighbour’s son two years ago, with the son now unable to walk. The writing is good, and the book is full of the perspectives and kinds of incidents and characters that were reported on in the bushfires. However for me it lacked suspense. In the opening section we are told that Phoebe and Caleb are at home waiting for the trial to begin, and the next 4/5 of the book is about the bushfire threats and anxieties on the night in question. [spoilers follow] It was clear to me from the beginning that Caleb would be found not guilty, and that his guilt was about something else; and the eventual revelations of Phoebe’s own minor thefts, and her betrayal of her boyfriend Jack, the CFA captain to help her son (thinking it was his mother suffering from dementia who had done it), and the finding that in fact was natural causes rather than pyromania that had started it were all too little for me to find this an interesting plot.

[Trish G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was turning the pages as quickly as tongues of flames engulfed the parched Australian landscape of the Yarra valley. So vivid is Starr’s descriptive quality of fire, smoke, haze & heat that I felt a part of the physical catastrophe that unfolded in the small town of Brunton. Single mum Phoebe Warton can’t sleep & is haunted by the fact that her son Caleb was last seen near the site that the fire started. Phoebe turned to teaching after training as an archeologist. Like her past profession, the book digs to unearth layers of emotions, of lost loves, betrayals, relationships, family ties & the lengths a mother will go to to protect her child.
Caleb will not defend himself as the accused of the fire which killed 12 people & destroyed so many homes. Why?
Each chapter begins with a small note of history from a god or goddess of Ancient Rome. These link beautifully to both the current story & to Phoebe’s past.
This is an intimate story about the relationship between a parent & a child.
It also provokes the reader to think about climate change….actions taken or ignored.
Are bush fires a natural disaster or are they the result of mankind’s selfishness in the grand scheme of custodians of Mother Earth?
So many layers to sift through in a book so eloquently written.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book has been unfairly judged by many people here, who perhaps don't understand, or have ever been close to the events it describes.
Living in and around a bushfire is horrendous and this book captures much of the tension and emotion. The descriptions of the menacing weather and ferocity of the fire felt very real and touched a raw nerve for me.
I thought the psychology of a mother going to great lengths to convince herself of her child's innocence felt very real. The characters that make up the community are also authentic, as are their actions and feelings. People like Caleb, the "perpetrator" in this book, do commit acts like this book described. They are a true menace of bushfire prone areas and their unknown presence strikes fear into people who live around them.
I thought it was a very good book. Let people who have known and experienced the horror of a bushfire be the true judge of this story and not those who like to project their distant attitudes and opinions upon things they will never understand.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had an ARC of this one from work late last year as it sounded like my type of thing! My 2020 reading has not been off to a great start and unfortunately this took me some time to read. It was perhaps not the best time to attempt reading a novel with this topic, as the east coast of Australian burned through one of it's worst fire emergencies. I think that was the main reason I couldn't get stuck into it.
Being a eastern suburbs Melbourne girl, the setting was relatable, but I couldn't quite decide what area of the Yarra Valley this was set. Thankfully, so far this year, the Dandenong Ranges & Yarra Valley have remained untouched by the fires that have so greatly devastated so much of Australia.
Worth a read.

[Emily Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so beautifully written and the depiction of small town life in the urban fringe was very real to me. Phoebe is a devoted mother to son Caleb. The tension of this relationship was fascinating. Phoebe stifles Caleb but does she act any different to other mums? Difference is her son is accused of lighting a bushfire than kills people and injures many others as well as destroying so much property. What will she do to save her son? There’s a lot to this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Kimberley Starr’s writing is superb.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoebe’s son Caleb is a goth living in a small country town in Victoria, Australia. His parents separated a few years back and both have other partners. A massive bushfire consumes the town and arson is insinuated. The story follows the fire and investigation afterwards. Caleb is a suspect and both Mother and Son are shunned and targeted - “murderer” they say. Well written with lots of details about the fire, this story was inspired by the 2009 Black Saturday fires in the Yarra Valley. The ending wasn’t a surprise but the revelation was nicely done.

[Ilovebooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Picked up this book brand new from the op shop and instantly found out how it got there. I'm going to try to write a professional review but I've lost far too many braincells to understand why this author was compelled to create this sin against literature. Too long, terribly written no real conflict or character development. Its all over the place and this book screams wanna be author thinking they created an emotional rollercoaster ending up as pain bumper car. By far the worst book ive ever read!

[Goodreader123 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Recently got out of jail. Brang this book in, were allowed to bring one. This book was so repetitive and useless, not to mention boring. After reading this book multiple times in the boring days of my cell to make time to go faster this just made my life slower.

Gave this book to my mother after. Read thousands of books in her life. Ended up in the bin the next day. She just wished she could have that time back.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an evocative representation of the effects of a bushfire on a community. The search for a scapegoat, the feeling of being an outsider, how people react, the media and the pervasiveness of guilt all are covered in this book. While I could not condone some of Pheobe's actions, I could understand them. Well worth the read to get a feeling for communities devastated by bushfires.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is about a mother whose son is accused of being a arsonist who lights a fire which destroys a town and kills many people. The author describes the fire well. The story then follows the emotions, psychological damage of the mother and son and other town's residents well. I expected to follow the evidence that the mother finds to clear her son. Instead most of it were the emotions felt.

[Chunkymonkey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got bored after the first chapter of this book the story is drawn out and boring. Also you can tell the author has never actually experienced a bushfire or had a child for that matter. They have a unrealistic view on reality. please don't buy this book its trying so hard to be heartwarming and interesting but the plot has no real substance making it impossible to get through this terrible book.

[Fiona Lansdown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very topical and sometimes a bit too close to home to read this book about bushfires while in a town that has just survived a major bushfire... But this story is less about fires and more about the relationships between mothers and sons, and what mums will do to protect their kids.

[Elisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put this book down. Yes it was frustrating at times and I had a strong feeling about where the story was heading also I have an intense fear of bush fire but after all that it was still really enjoyable.

[Corinne Johnston · Rating 2 out of 5]

I find the writing style tedious and could not finish this novel. It was quite evocative of the fires we've experienced for months and months on the east coast of Australia but too many characters acted like they were tourists in town, not people who actually do prepare for bushfires.