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4.0 

The Private Island

By Ali Lowe
The Private Island by Ali Lowe digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

Ali Lowe has been a journalist for 20 years. She has written for bridal magazines, parenting titles, websites and newspapers in London and then Australia, after she moved to Sydney fourteen years ago on a trip that was meant to last a year. She was Features Editor at OK! in London, where she memorably stalked celebrities in Elton John's garden at his annual White Tie and Tiara ball.

Ali lives on the northern beaches of Sydney with her husband and three young children.

5 Reviews

4.0
“Ali Lowe certainly knows how to write an engaging and well thought out thriller. The Private Island has a cast of very different characters - some are very affable and well meaning and some are the most despicable, vile, self centred and narcissistic people I think I have encountered in a book. Set on the fictitious Fijian island of Loloma in a six star resort, the story starts with a body found floating in the ocean. The victim and who found them are not revealed. The story is split into three parts and has many POV, but is not difficult to follow at all as the characters are all very distinct. The interwoven stories show the backgrounds, needs, desires, wants and moral compass, if any, of all the major players and I was not sure who the culprit might be. In true Ali Lowe style, the finale was an absolute feast of reveal after reveal and the epilogue was a nice touch.”
“I hadn’t read anything by Ali Lowe before diving into this latest release, but just a few chapters in, it was clear why she’s considered one of Australia’s top thriller/mystery authors. The Private Island is exactly what it sounds like a an exclusive six-star resort in Fiji, where the ultra-wealthy escape for a holiday they’ll never forget. For this group of guests, though, paradise quickly turns into something far more sinister. Told through multiple POVs, the story follows both holidaymakers and hotel staff as New Year’s shifts from a dream getaway to a nightmare. I’m not one for spoilers, so I won’t share much more, but let’s just say things take a serious turn when a body washes up on shore one morning. Like any great thriller, I had no idea where things were headed - who was guilty, who was innocent, and who was simply caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Every character had a backstory that kept me wondering two things: how nice would it be to be in Fiji right now? And more importantly, what on Earth is going on, and can we trust anyone?! With twists and turns every few chapters - even right up until the final pages - I couldn’t put it down. I was so hooked I devoured it in a day, and the ending? It does not disappoint! Huge thanks to Ali, Hachette, and NetGalley for the early digital copy. To say I loved it would be the understatement of the year!”
“Loloma is a 6 star resort and we follow the staff as they prepare for their guests to arrive. Nothing is too much trouble and they will even rake the sand for you. As the guests arrive it is impossible to not feel an element of disgust at how some of them were going to be experiencing all of this luxury with their awful personalities. Una the maid was a complete joy to read and I found myself devoted to her getting a happy ending. The who, when, how and why of the murder mystery are written skillfully, and while some of this book has a few typical tropes nothing is as you expect and this is a fun, original read. I really enjoyed this and will look out for others by the author. I would recommend to anyone who is interested in the premise but wants a different take on paradise. This would be a PERFECT beach read. I received this eARC in return for an honest review, which this is. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.”

About Ali Lowe

Ali Lowe is the author of three bestselling novels: The Trivia Night, The Running Club and The School Run, which was a WHSmith Book of the Month. Her fourth book, The Private Island, is out in 2025.

Ali is a journalist by profession: she was Features Editor at OK! in London and has written for bridal magazines, parenting titles, websites and newspapers. She has dual Australian and British citizenship and lives on Sydney's northern beaches with her husband and three children.

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