Banjawarn by Josh Kemp

Publisher's Synopsis

Garreth Hoyle is a true crime writer whose destructive love affair with hallucinogenic drugs has sent him searching for ghosts in the unforgiving mallee desert of Western Australia. Heading north through Kalgoorlie, he attempts to score off old friends from his shearing days on Banjawarn Station. His journey takes an unexpected detour when he discovers an abandoned ten-year-old girl and decides to return her to her estranged father in Leonora, instead of alerting authorities. Together they begin the road trip from hell through the scorched heart of the state’s northern goldfields.

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Love, friendship and hope are often found in the strangest places, but forgiveness is never simple, and the past lies buried just beneath the blood red topsoil. The only question is whether Hoyle should uncover it, or run as fast as his legs can take him.

Banjawarn is an unsettling debut from Josh Kemp. Echoing Cormac McCarthy’s haunting border trilogy and narrative vernacular that recalls the sparse lyricism of Randolph Stow and Tim Winton, this is a darkly funny novel that earns its place amongst the stable of Australian gothic literature.

My Review of Banjawarn by Josh Kemp

The debut novel by author Josh Kemp, Banjawarn is a disturbingly brilliant example of Australian Gothic literature (or, if you like Outback noir) that presents at its grittiest and, at times, most depressing. 

The story’s main protagonist is Garreth Hoyle, a one-time true crime author who earned his fortune from a book that cashed in on his experiences on the Banjawarn sheep station. In so doing, he estranged himself from his friends Kerryn, Clay, Turk and Stella, by revealing secrets and talking about past tragedies that should never have been disclosed.

These days, Hoyle has deteriorated to becoming a wandering junkie, spending his time roaming around the Western Australia Goldfields trying to dodge the Covid lockdown. His drug of choice is PCP, shooting up whenever he gets the opportunity to ride the wave of euphoria out in the lonely majesty of the surrounding countryside.

He makes his way to Kalgoorlie and looks up Kerryn, herself now an ice addict. Together they look to score, visiting a drug house that’s as dingy, dirty and disgusting as befits its purpose.

It’s here that he meets 10 year old Luna who has been locked in the house toilet while her carer, Jordy, has gotten himself high, but not before warning her not to open the door to any strange man. In a manner that becomes clear is typical Hoyle, he decides that he must save Luna from the situation and deliver her to her father where, in his mind, she will be safe.

Although his actions may amount to kidnapping in the eyes of some, he and Luna embark on a trip to Leonora. Hoyle believes he can take care of Luna and is responsible enough to protect her. But the man’s a drug addict so he repeatedly lets her down, finding himself slave to his addiction.

Luna is a fascinating character. Although only 10 years old, she has lived and survived through some of the most harrowing ordeals. She constantly clings to her one-eyed teddy bear, Gary, and uses him as her shield against the world. She also proves far more resilient than she first appears.

Through their numerous encounters with less than savory characters and other shared experiences, they become closer and more dependent on each other. Indeed, tension is built throughout by this shared dependence. When they’re not within sight of each other, something that happens frequently, the desire to make the reconnection is all-consuming.

There is a strong use of remembered experiences muttered through the narrative. This not only serves to put the action and thoughts of the present into context but also gradually reveals the horrors that have been experienced to get here.

Naturally, when dealing with hallucinogenic drugs we are also taken on some very weird trips courtesy of Hoyle.

Their journey inevitably continues to Banjawarn where the full gothic horror of the story plays out. Hoyle has crossed paths or reunited with each of the 4 other friends from the past. After a long and arduous journey, the explosion of violence that takes place is jarring. Even more so for the respective roles that Hoyle and Luna play.

Banjawarn is a tension-filled story that builds relentlessly. It sits as a brutal commentary on the hopelessness of drug addiction and the effects it has on all members of society. It is recommended for readers who are prepared to be challenged with the confronting nature of some of the worst traits of modern humanity.

At the time of writing Banjawarn was the winner of the 2021 Dorothy Hewett Award for an Unpublished Manuscript and was shortlisted for the 2022 Ned Kelly Award for Best First Crime Novel.