Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review,

Wow, what a fabulous book, brilliant from start to end. Well-written, great plot, setting, and characters. I cannot recommend it enough.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher HarperCollins UK for the electronic copy.

This is just such an absorbing read. Wonderfully atmospheric and emotional, well-written with good dialogue, the story completely held my attention.

Two sisters, Lori and Erin are heading to Fiji on a spur-of-the-moment holiday. They have an argument on the eve of their departure to one of the smaller islands and Lori is the only sister who boards the small aeroplane, and she doesn't come back.
Two years later Erin still ponders over the newspaper cuttings of the story of Lori's missing plane which paper the walls of Lori's old bedroom, until, one day..................................................

What actually happened is told from "Then" from Lori's point of view and "Now" from Erin's. To say more would risk spoilers - you really need to read it. Beautifully written and well-plotted.

Lori and Erin are sisters who are there way to Fiji for a dream holiday,but they argue and only Lori makes the flight which crashes on a remote island,Erin is devastated and spends the next two years wondering just what happened to her sister.The story is told In alternate chapters back and forth from Lori and Erin as we find out what happened on the island to Lori.It is a good thriller which is well written and with a good ending on top,the book never blew me away but i would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre.A good four star read.

I chose this book because I read in another review that it was like the series 'Lost' but in book form. I was in the mood for some twists, turns and moody island relationships and The Castaways by Lucy Clarke certainly delivered.

Two sisters are due to take a flight together. Only one of them gets on and disastrously, the plane crashes on a secluded island, with few survivors. The author explores the way this event affects the two sisters lives beautifully and one of my favourite things about the book was the truthful 'angry love' between them; I've seen so many sisters display this, including my own daughters! I felt like I liked and understood both of them and how much they needed each other.

The pace continued to build throughout the book (short chapters, one of my favourite things!) and I really struggled to put it down at the end. Between the tropical setting, sincere characters and exploration of relationships under intense duress, it makes an amazing book and would also make an incredible movie.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

Sisters Erin and Lori plan the holiday of a lifetime but things don’t go according to plan. What occurs is a nightmare for one of them and the other is left to pick up the pieces. I can’t say much more for fear of spoilers. I will say that this was an excellent read that will have you totally gripped. The book was well written and the descriptions of what was happening were very real and I could really visualise what was occurring. My only quibble was a few things that happened just seemed to contrived. That however didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this suspenseful read

This is the first book I have read by this author, it had me hooked from the anxiety inducing beginning and I will definitely be checking out more books by Lucy Clarke.

The story is told from two different points of view of sisters, Lori and Erin, and from the past to the present day. It is a suspenseful intriguing read with secrets and lies, some unlikeable characters and a remote location in the South Pacific.

I would not recommend this to nervous flyers, but to everyone else - go for it, you won't regret it!

Two years ago, sisters Lori and Erin were heading for the holiday of a lifetime in an exclusive Fijian resort, when an argument the night before the final flight to the resort led to Erin not turning up at the airport. Lori chose to go alone, on a plane with only a handful of passengers – a plane that disappeared without trace.
Erin has been obsessed with finding out what happened to her sister’s flight ever since – there had been no contact, no messages, no hint of anything, until a man appears in Fiji, a man who holds the secret of what happened. Somehow, someway, the pilot of the plane has reappeared – but what happened to the remainder of the flight? Is there any possibility that there are other survivors?
So, that’s two books in a row with people being abandoned on an island, but there’s a world of difference between this and Body On The Island.
This is, structurally, a fairly typical modern thriller – sorry, Amazon, that’s “the most gripping, twisty crime thriller”. A dual narrative – Lori in the past on the island that the plane crashes on and Erin in the present investigating where the pilot came from – one in the first person, one in the third (what is it with that narrative structure, it seems to be everywhere these days?). The stories dovetail to the conclusion, with parallel beats in the plot as discoveries in the present occur with the relevant events in the past.
It’s a really well-written tale, with the stories of both women having depth to them – both characters feel real and as the stories unwind, I found myself invested in what happened to them. But – and I know that authors have little say in how Amazon markets their titles – but “the most gripping, twisty crime thriller” is considerably overstating things. Yes, there’s some crime involved, but it’s not really a whodunit (or if it is, it’s a very obvious one) and I can’t help feeling that the ending was rather inevitable rather than particularly surprising.
All in all, it’s a good book that I enjoyed, but I think fans of the classic mystery genre should look elsewhere. If you like modern personal thrillers though, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy this.

The best parts of the book take place right at the beginning. What follows is a slow paced story were nothing much happens.

Erin and Lori are sisters. They lost their parents early in their life and all they have is each other. They have a strong but also complicated bond. When Lori’s husband left her for someone else she books a holiday for her and Erin to Fiji as a tread. When they arrive there they have a massive fall-out on their first evening. The next day they are supposed to fly to another small Island but Erin fails to how up. Lori gets on the small plane on her own with only seven other people on board plus a pilot and an attendant. But the plane never reaches the Island and nobody knows what happened. Erin is devastated and still trying to find out what went wrong on that flight. Then suddenly after two years the pilot turns up alive. He lived under a different name hidden in remote place on Fiji. Erin takes the next flight and is adamant to find finally out what happened to her sister.

The story is told in two timelines. In the present we see Erin going to Fiji and trying to speak to the pilot. In the past there is Lori and we see what happened on that flight and afterwards. The beginning of the book is intriguing but soon the story slows down and nothing much is happening in both timelines. I found Erin to be a weird character. She is devastated by the loss of Lori but she is blind to the fact that the family members of the other passengers are going through the same suffering. She is secretive and hides important information even to the police. I found that highly irritating. She behaves quite irresponsible throughout the book. I will not say too much because of possible spoilers. I also could not connect to Lori’s story. It was also very slow and repetitive. The ending is almost as I expected but quite weird.

I expected the book to be something else. I expected it to be more of Erin looking into what happened. I did not expect that Lori and what she went through also would be a huge part of the book. I found the book to be an ok read but I did not over-enjoy it very much. It was too slow, a bit boring and quite unrealistic. I settle for 3 stars because it was a fast and easy read.

This is a glorious and engrossing thriller. It is intriguing in its exploration of the effects of an unexplained plane crash on both passengers and their close family. Sisters, both challenged to survive the effects of the crash, infertility, frustrating relationships within the background of finding one another again.
The narrative is superb and the characters all create interest. As the story gathers pace it is difficult to put the book down. The outcome of the thriller is refreshing and convincing.
What a joy it is to read Lucy Clarke's novel. She says that writing the novel was tough. You'd never know it., the way it seamlessly tells both sides of the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Harper Collins UK for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

When i requested this one i had no clue what it was about but the cover gave me The Island by CL Taylor (which was another Netgalley arc) and Lord of the Flies vibes. I really adore survival stories and find myself straying towards them more and more. After the first few chapters i realised this was a story about a plane crash that left the remaining surviving passengers stranded on an island off the coast of Fiji.

The story follows the story of sisters Lori and Erin who were meant to be going on a luxery holiday to Fiji to escape their lives in London. Lori has just split from her husband after he admitted to having an affair and Erin is living from paycheque to paycheque doing a job that doesnt make her happy. The sisters are planning on taking the holiday to reconnect but when the night before the flight they have a huge argument only Lori makes the flight.

The story is told is past tense Lori during and the aftermath of the plane crash and present day (2 years later) Erin who has never given up on knowing what happened to sister and her search for answers. At the very beginning of the story the planes pilot Mike Brass turns up in Fiji very much alive with only one problem, hes not talking. Erin immediatley realises there is more to the story and flies out to Fiji to get her answers.

Meanwhile in Lori's chapters we get to know the other survivors, Mike, Daniel, Felix and 4 month old Sonny. It has a very Lord of the Flies feel in that you dont know who you can trust and as rations dwindle the group become more and more tense. I was constantly wary of Daniel and Felix and less so but sometimes of Mike too and the fear of what might come of the baby was terrifying!

For me the thing i really enjoyed about this was that the chapters felt like very different stories but they merged so beautifully. Lucy Clarke is an excellent writer and definitely one to watch. Just when i would find myself favouring one timeline over the other the author would draw me back in with a little twist or mini cliffhanger and i was constantly left wanting to know more. I enjoyed both sisters and they were so realistically done, they felt so real to me and that really amped up my enjoyment levels. This book is 100% worth a read, i wont say too much more as i dont want to ruin the mystery/thriller elements of it but pick it up and read it.

The Castaways by @lucyclarke_author
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Wow! I’ve been a fan of Lucy Clarke for a while now so when this book popped up on NetGalley I was keen to read it.
Lori books a trio of a lifetime to Fiji for herself and sister Erin. A chance to escape and getaway. But a fight on the evening before their connection flight meant Lori travelled alone. The plane disappears without a trace: no records, no crash site, no bodies, no answers. Erin is left wondering what has happened to her sister and best friend.
The book alternates between ‘then’ and ‘now’, telling the story from Lori and Erin’s perspective. The story is written seamlessly providing twists and turns throughout. You really must add this one to your to be read list.
Out now!
Thank you to NetGalley, @harperfictionpr and of course Lucy Clarke for this ARC.

This book does have a really surprising ending, but I found myself more interested in the"Now" section than Lori's story on the island. If you enjoy both threads then I am sure this is a eally satisfying read.

Wow, what a fantastic read. I was hooked from the very first page. I stayed up far too late at night as I couldn't put it down..

Lori books a holiday for herself and her sister, Erin to Fiji for a break, but the night before they are due to fly, they end up falling out and Lori ends up on the plane alone, wondering what's happened to Erin.

The plane disappears without trace leaving poor Erin wondering what's happened to her sister and the plane. Now as a reporter she tries to find out the truth.

The book alternates between Lori and Erin, the past and the present, from each sister's point of view and wow, it took on a life of its own. I had no idea where the story was going, and could never have guessed it, but loved every minute of this castaway adventure.

I'm not going to give anything further away as it really would ruin the book and all I can say is read it for yourself.

I'll definitely be looking up to see what else Lucy Clarke has written, and if they are anything near as good as this book, I'm in for a treat. A thoroughly great and entertaining read with lots of unexpected twists and turns.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for my copy and the opportunity to read and review this fantastic book.

I was offered an advance review copy of The Castaways and having enjoyed Lucy Clarke’s last book ‘You Let Me In‘, I kindly accepted the offer – so here’s the blurb:

“A SECRET BEACH.
A HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME.
WISH YOU WERE HERE?

THINK AGAIN…
It should be like any other holiday.
Beautiful beaches.
Golden sunsets.
Nothing for miles.
You’ll never want to leave.
Until you can’t…
Gripping, twisty and full of sun-soaked atmosphere, THE CASTAWAYS will whisk you far away to the island – and never let you go.“

The book is based around the story of Erin and Lori who are sisters. They are supposed to be going on holiday together in Fiji – but after doing the International flight they have an overnight stay before an internal island hop flight. During this evening they have a row and consequently only Lori makes the flight the next morning. Then the flight disappears.

The book is told from Erin’s point of view now – 2 years later after she’s spent the intervening time trying to find out about her sister’s disappearance, and then from Lori’s point of view back 2 years ago.

Having sisters myself I really enjoyed how the relationship between them was written. That they could annoy each other and bicker and argue – but at the end of the day their sisterly bond was so strong. As well as the bond between sisters it also looks at friendships / infertility / infidelity / survivor guilt / stranger dynamics – but all in an entertaining way.

The backdrop of Fiji is beautiful – but also quite suffocating. I’ve never been to Fiji – but the jungle descriptions really reminded me of St Lucia or the Seychelles – hot, sweaty, dense, full of strange noises and animals – but then next to beautiful sandy beaches. In particular the descriptions of the dusk outings of bats was really reminiscent of our time in the Seychelles – they were scary, even with a G&T in hand. I wouldn’t have wanted to sleep outside in any of these tropical countries, and was far happier in my air conditioned hotel room!!

I don’t want to give too much of the storyline away – we all know I HATE reviews that contain spoilers – but it’s safe to say it twists and turns brilliantly and kept me intrigued and wanting to read more. In particular the pace builds up to the last few chapters and you flip and flop (and flip flops are worn lots!) between whether it’s going to be a happy or sad ending. It was brilliant – and I loved the actual ending because it wasn’t what I expected – but again, no spoilers.

I would say it’s a perfect holiday read – but I’m not sure I’d want to read it when I was about to go on a plane?!?

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for my ARC. It’s out electronically already, and in hard back later this month, if this has whetted your appetite!

After a rough breakup a tropical holiday with your sister, who is also your best friend, is just what you need, right? However, almost from the very start of the trip things go wrong, leaving both sisters, Erin and Lori, deeply regretting the last words they said to one another. The story unfolds from each sister's perspective, from two different timelines. As the story evolves, the twists get sharper, the pace more frantic, and you will find yourself turning the pages faster and faster. You will be as desperate as the sisters to find out what happens next.

A great read, that will have you thinking that a tropical paradise may not be all it seems!

*I received this book from NetGalley for review but all opinions are my own.

A SECRET BEACH.
A HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME.
WISH YOU WERE HERE?

THINK AGAIN…

This is the story of Erin and Lori, two sisters who adore each other, then tragedy strikes and Erin is left fighting for the truth and won't give up until she gets it...

That is all I will say about the story itself, because there is very little synopsis and I don't want to spoil it for future readers. The Castaways is told across two timelines and from two perspectives; THEN by Lori and NOW by Erin. It is an intriguing and very descriptive tale of love, loss and survival that enveloped me completely from the start, when real life got in the way I was itching to get back to it, desperate to know what happened next and loving Lori and Erin more and more at every turn of the page, the bond they had was unbreakable, I also fell in love with Felix but didn't take to any of the other characters. It's the first I've read by this author but I'm sure it won't be the last.

I'd like to thank HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for the approval and will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon.

Having read and enjoyed an earlier book by Lucy Clarke, 'Last Seen', in 2017, I was keen to read this. I was also drawn by the location, Fiji, which I was fortunate to visit a few years ago.

With regard to this novel, I found myself drawn in to the story by the author's use of short alternating chapters written in the voice of either Lori or Erin. They are the two sisters around which the narrative revolves. Lucy Clarke also uses the 'then and now technique, on this occasion the time frame is a mere two years. However as the plot unfolds we learn that this is a very disturbing couple of years for them both.

Nobody has seen anything.....or have they?
Who can you trust?
Who has something to hide?

Once again it is the way that the author crafts her characters that helps to make this such an enjoyable book. This is enhanced by the descriptions of the geographical locations in Fiji. I won't go into detail about the storyline for fear of spoiling the story. Suffice to say that the novel creates a feeling of tension and suspense right to the final page,

Slowly the truth unfolds.
More twists and turns than the maze at Hampton Court, with a plethora of red herrings along the way. Eventually leading to an interesting ending.

I give my thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for a copy in exchange for this review.

The Castaways is a twisty, palpably tense and richly atmospheric thriller set against an exotic and tropical backdrop. I thoroughly enjoyed the intense writing, drama and excellent character development. Lucy Clarke is a writer to watch.

I really enjoyed this book. 2 years ago Lori and Erin went on a holiday to Fiji. Having arrived on the main island, they have a blazing row and Erin doesn't continue to the remote island the next day. The plane that Lori is on disappears without trace. Erin has spent the time since desperately trying to find out what happened to her sister. Now the pilot of the plane has been discovered living on the main island. This is a real page turner, told from the view point of both sisters. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

I loved this book! It was mysterious, atmospheric and it genuinely transports you to the castaway island. This story is told from a dual perspective and I enjoyed both sides equally, which is unusual. This book is fast paced and I couldn't put it down - I would 100% recommend this breathtaking book!