Collision (Kelvin Templeton, Wilkinson Publishing)

Kevin Templeton’s debut novel, Collision, transports readers to Melbourne during the 1970s and 1980s and into the world of 20-year-old Joshua Shamrock, whose life revolves around football, sex and booze. Raised in a foster family after the death of his mother, he has never known his biological father. Aussie Rules football is his passion, his identity, and the one thing he feels defines him. But footy during this time is a brutal game, and his career is cut short by an injury. With his dream destroyed, Joshua spirals as he loses the only purpose he has ever known. As the years pass, he withdraws further into himself, until the departure of his partner, Justine, and the arrival of a persistent journalist force him to confront his past. At this crossroads, Joshua must decide whether to face his shame and vulnerability or risk losing everything. Templeton writes with authority as a former AFL player whose career was shaped by the physical demands and culture of the game. He captures the rawness of a period in which toughness was demanded on and off the field. The novel explores themes of resilience, fear, masculinity and healing while evoking nostalgia for the era. Collision is a thought-provoking story with an ending that lingers and suggests some truths are as painful as they are necessary to confront. It will appeal to readers who enjoy Mark Brandi’s writing and Brendan Cowell’s Plum. 

Books+Publishing reviewer: Nikki Taylor is an avid reader and reviewer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Friday Unlocked reviews Reviews