The Castaways by Lucy Clarke ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lori and Erin set off on what should be a dream holiday to Fiji, but when the small plane crashes on its way to the remote island with only one of the sisters on board the other makes it her mission to find out what happened to her sister and the rest of the passengers.

Is hard to say too much without giving away spoilers but this is a brilliant page turner (in fact I stayed up way past my bedtime reading it!) and will leave you guessing right to the last page. Would definitely recommend to any thriller lovers out there.

Enjoyed reading this with @marie so that we could share our thoughts and theories, and thanks so much to @netgalley and @harpercollinsukfor a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review

Sisters Lori and Erin are inseparable, until they have a huge fight in Figi, the night before they are due to fly to the remote island, Limaji. Lori gets on the plane, Erin doesn't. Then, the plane disappears.

The story switches between Erin, two years later, still desperately searching for her sister, and Lori, in the weeks after the plane crashes on a deserted island, fighting for survival.

An easy, albeit, predictable read.

Thank you #NetGalley and Harper Collins for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Told over dual timelines with dual points of view The Castaway tells the story of one sister stranded on a desert island and another sister years in the future investigating the incident that caused her sisters death.
Overall I really enjoyed the premise of the book. Both settings and both Voices were brilliantly fleshed out and the story kept me engaged from page one.
However I did find it very predictable and samey. I would have really liked the story to do something different than the usual missing on a desert island tropes.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have loved this authors previous books, and this one was no exception. It was fast and full of twists and turns and I didn’t want to put it down. The only criticism I would have is that it was a similar plot to some of her previous books, but because I enjoyed them that wasn’t an issue for me. I would definitely recommend this book.

I’ve just started to rewatch “Lost” as one of those victims of the virgin/sky fight who never got past season 2...so I was really into this storyline!

It’s an excellent plot, it’s light reading, perfect to pick up for a beach read or if you just want something a bit light.

The characters are excellent- though we only get the full backstory on the main character,, the other characters are covered a bit, but we don’t need to know about them if that makes sense?

The story flits between Lori (on the island), and Erin her sister who is at home desperate to find out what happened. I really felt for both of them, especially Erin...

Overall this is a great read! Thoroughly enjoyable!

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy

Many thanks to #netgalley and #harpercollinsuk for gifting me with this copy in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved it!
This isn't your typical whodunnit murder-themed thriller, but it's just as gripping! I literally flew through the last 10 chapters! The characters are so tangible and the mystery is engrossing.

Lori and Erin, two sisters, decide to book a holiday to the Fiji Islands. But the night before their domestic flight takes off, they have a furious argument that ends with Lori leaving for Fiji alone.
When the flight and all its passengers disappear, Erin feels guilty and desperate to find out what happened.

Fast forward two years and Erin, who is a journalist, is still looking for her sister.
The story takes place in two timelines, the first in the past, where we follow Lori on the plane, and the second in the present, where we follow Erin's investigation.

I really enjoyed the dual timeline and the way the author managed to keep me on my toes by giving me little tidbits of clues with each chapter. Although it was exciting to see how Erin was getting closer and closer to the truth, it was excruciating to have to wait for Lori's chapters and the revelations that emerged!

I highly recommend it if you love reading rollercoaster thrillers with "𝘓𝘖𝘚𝘛" vibes.

What a brilliant book! In the end, I was sitting with my mouth hanging open like a fish on dry land! ( fortunately not an island!)The story kept me captivated from the beginning to the end. Lucy Clarke is definitely going onto my list of must-read authors.

Lori's biggest dream is to be a mother but it is not happening. Then her whole life falls apart when her husband informs her he is leaving her for a friend of hers and the cherry on the cake....said friend is pregnant. On the spur of the moment, she books an island holiday for her and her sister. What can go wrong......*cue melodramatic music 🎶*

What we have next is 1 sister getting on the plane and 1 going back home.
The plane with 2 crew and 7 passengers crashing on a deserted island and 1 sister left feeling guilty and trying to find out what happened to her sister because 2 years on there is still no clue of what happened to the plane and its passengers. And then she sees a news headline......
..." 'Dead' pilot spotted alive in Fiji"

What really happened? Why did the plane go down and what happened to the survivors of the crash? Will the sisters be reunited or will the story end in tragedy?

I can so see this as a movie!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Lori Holme boards a plane from mainland Fiji to the remote island of Limaji in the Fijian archipelago. Her sister Erin was meant to be on the flight but didn't take it. Lori had argued with Erin the night before at dinner and Erin had stormed off. The plane, flight FJ209, never reached its destination with the pilot and all passengers presumed dead. Journalist Erin is determined to leave no stone unturned as she seeks to unearth the truth surrounding what caused flight FJ209 to disappear, a task undertaken over the course of two years and beyond.

The Castaways is an outstanding crime thriller that ticks all the boxes in terms of atmosphere, characterisation and unexpected surprises. As the reader hears from Erin in the present day, details emerge of the sisters' close relationship, illustrating their personalities, inner strengths and providing a clear picture of both women’s characters. Prior to the plane crash, Lori and Erin have already survived so much, including the loss of both parents. A novel jam-packed with raw emotion and heartbreaking in places, love intermingles with despair, loss, fear and hope. The plot is multifaceted, suspenseful and gripping and I had no idea how the story would conclude. The Castaways is escapism at its best.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from HarperCollins via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

I just loved this book. Best book I've read for ages. I just couldn't put it down and it was so good I didn't want it to end!
It was so realistic, gripping and scary in places, emotional in others. The ordeal on the island was well portrayed. The story kept me interested through out. I thoroughly recommend this book!

This was a sandwich and a half. The first 25% and the final 25% were both atmospheric and full of tension. Unfortunately I felt that the filling was dull. It was a cycle of Erin roaming around wishing she could see her sister and Lori having weird encounters on the island with her fellow survivors. It was repetitive and lacked tension for both narrative voices. I grew bored.

Yet the start and end were 4 star for me, I was racing through both of those sections as quick as my thumbs could tap to the next page.

I just wish the whole book had upheld that level of tension.

Lori and Erin have always been close, their sisterly bond the only consistent thing in either of their lives. And here they are, about to head off on the holiday of a lifetime to a remote Fijian island. However the night before their flight, they are torn apart by a vicious argument, and Lori boards her flight alone. But the plane never lands, and two years later Erin is still desperately searching for the truth of what really happened to her sister...


This is a tricky one to review, especially without giving away any spoilers. There’s a lot of tension initially as you wait to find out what happened on the day of the crash, with the truth slowly being revealed in chapters alternating between the POV of Lori on the day of the crash, and Erin now, two years later. However as the book develops, some of that tension is lost, and at times it becomes more of a family drama than a thriller. That is in no way a criticism, as to me I felt it only made it a better book by giving such insight into the two women’s relationship, but if you are after a full blown thriller this may not be the book for you. Although it definitely returns to being more of an all out thriller towards the end! But all in all, I found it to be a very unique and enjoyable read based on a great concept.



Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to be provided with an advance reading copy of this book by NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.

This book is a breath of fresh air. If you only read one book on your holiday, then make it this one! I was hooked from the first chapter. I liked the alternate chapters of the two sisters points of view and of Erin’s current life and how she has never given up on finding out what happened to her sister. This is a very well written but accessible book with engaging characters with whom you get involved very quickly. A well deserved five stars

A clever and gripping thriller.

Lori and Erin are sisters who have always had each others backs. But on a holiday to Fiji they argue. Next day one heads off in a small plane to their next destination, the other doesn't. The plane never makes it destination, disappearing into the unknown. Now several years on it seems there could be a chance to find out. But will the truth be too hard to bear?

Oh my giddy aunt this stressed me out! The plane crash left me reaching for a G&T (any excuse). It reminded me of the crash from Lost, very scary. I've read less frightening horrors. But then the aftermath. Oh lawd! Because of the title it's not majorly spoilerish to say there's two stories here. One of searching, the other of survival. I had to stay up late into the night to find out what happened. Unfortunately for him indoors there he was kept awake by gasps of "oh no" and some tears as well. To say what provoked these would be spoilerish though. But I will say it was an emotional read!

My favourite book of the year so far.

The book follows two sisters, Lori and Erin who are so close but battling their own demons and now one of them is searching for the other.

This is a very dark and chilling thriller but what makes it more disturbing is that it is set against the backdrop of a beautiful remote island, where the blue sparkling sea meets the hot golden sands. It looks so idyllic, but the inhabitants are survivors of a plane crash, just waiting to be rescued.

As time goes on and secrets begin to emerge the story takes on a much more twisted and sinister tone. I was never quite sure whose story to believe and I also very much feared that no one would get off the island alive.

Lucy Clark has very cleverly mapped out her story. She left nothing to chance and there was no way I could have foreseen the ending which left me covered in goosebumps! Superb!

Two sisters plan a trip to a Fijian island. However, for some reason one of them doesn’t make the flight. The plane disappears without a trace during said flight.
After the pilot turns up alive many years later, the surviving sister sets about trying to solve the mystery of what happened that day and whether or not anyone else survived.
This was a very good book and I liked the way it switched from modern day to what happened immediately following the crash. The story kept me interested all the way through the book with clever twists along the way, especially at the end. I will certainly look for more books written by Lucy Clarke.

Fascinating story about he problems occurring when stranded on an island with title chance of rescue. Definitely recommended to those readers who enjoy reading this type of book.

A very well written story, I really liked the interwoven timelines and character stories. Quite a few twists and turns too which kept this book interesting.

Thanks for letting me review this book

This is the first novel I've read by Lucy Clarke and it won't be the last one. This was such a surprising, unique thriller. In a world where genuinely new plots are a rare find - this counts as one of them. Sisters Erin and Lori are on a holiday of a lifetime in Fiji. Over diner one evening they row and Erin storms off. She doesn't return home and the following morning Lori ends up catching a flight to a remote Fijian island without her. En route the flight crashes. The narrative is a simple one: we learn what happened to Lori and the other survivors (I don't think this is a spoiler given the title of the book!) and this is interwoven with Erin two years later who has discovered that the pilot of the plane has been found. Erin has questions for him and, thnkas to her job as a writer, gets to fly to Fiji to try and talk to him. What happened to The Castaways and why were their lives so interwoven? This is a powerful, thought provoking read. I highly recommend.

Sisters Lori and Erin travel to Fiji on a dream holiday, but after an argument, Erin storms off, leaving Erin to catch the small island hopper plane alone. When the plane disappears without trace, Erin is left with the guilt and despair of life without her sister. Then, two years later, the pilot is found living under an assumed name, and the questions begin again. Can Erin discover the truth about flight FJ209?

The Castaways is an interesting story, flitting between Lori’s experiences ‘then’ and Erin’s ‘now’. It soon becomes clear that Lori survived the crash and that there’s far more to it than a simple plane crash and so it proves as the book progresses. At times, I found it difficult to keep up with all that was happening, especially to the survivors, but overall it’s a good read. The ending especially makes a change from the predictable finishes of many novels.

It is quite hard to formulate a review for this book without giving too much away. Essentially Lori and Erin, two sisters are are going on holiday to Fiji together. Lori has just split up from her husband, leaving her childless – her biggest desire in life is to be a mother. Her ex has sired a child with the new woman in his life to add insult to injury. The two sisters support each other through thick and thin, particularly after the death of their father in their later teen years.

At heart they have a good relationship but when they arrive in Nadi airport in Fiji, the evening before their transfer flight to LImaji, they have quite an argument. Erin storms off and the next day Lori boards the tiny plane to their final destination alone. The plane crashes.

Two years later and Erin is of course still in shock that she survived and she is still as desperate as ever to find out what happened to the plane and the passengers. No wreckage was found, no trace at all. In the intervening couple of years, Erin has been busy collecting all the pieces of information she can, from all possible sources, and Lori’s room is now like a police investigation room, a shrine to her sister and the missing passengers. Erin is a journalist and after a pivotal discovery she is sent back to Fiji to see if she can collect any further information.

Lucy Clarke is great at keeping the tension flowing – with masterful twists and turns she guides her reader through the different threads of the story. I was certainly really keen to find out how the narrative would end. Having said that I felt the storyline had too many incidences, used to drive the story forward, that felt really implausible. As an example, a book and some clothes (spattered with blood, which would have attracted insects to gnaw and nibble at the drop of a hat) are discovered 2 years after the crash, on a tropical island where humidity is high (as a random sample of the humidity levels today, there is 94% humidity in Fiji, compared to, say, London at 66%). Articles containing cellulose do not do well in high humidity, so it is so very unlikely that the book and clothes (which both contain cellulose) would have survived in the extreme temperatures/humidity. The discovery of a mobile, after two years, that just needed a quick recharge to offer up some clues, really stretches credibility. There were other aspects which compounded the distortion of reality which I won’t mention here as they would be spoilers.

Having said that, I worked on suspending my disbelief, and got on and enjoyed listening to this novel as an audiobook, I did find it quite addictive. And whatever your thoughts, the novel will certainly transport you to an exotic location if you are stuck in the Northern hemisphere and yearning to read about a tropical island that is hot and dripping in dark and luscious foliage.