What do you think?
Rate this book
The Drowning
A body on the beach. An inheritance. A family pulled apart. Bestselling Australian author Fiona Lowe returns with her most engrossing mystery to date, perfect for readers of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.
CC Cilento's best memories are of spending every summer holiday running wild in and out of the Friend family beach house with her cousins, James, Ollie, Felix and Lily. It's the next best thing to having brothers and sisters. They've continued the summer tradition into adulthood, getting together at the shack with its absolute beach frontage.
But now a bombshell has the four sibling cousins have officially inherited the property - along with an unexpected fifth share to CC. What starts out as the perfect gift, and a way of keeping the family connected forever, quickly devolves into an emotional power struggle. Half of them want to keep the legacy intact, while the others want to sell - and each side will do anything to make it happen. Soon, CC can't tell friend from foe.
When a body is found on the shack's beach, has this family dispute turned deadly?
CC Cilento's best memories are of spending every summer holiday running wild in and out of the Friend family beach house with her cousins, James, Ollie, Felix and Lily. It's the next best thing to having brothers and sisters. They've continued the summer tradition into adulthood, getting together at the shack with its absolute beach frontage.
But now a bombshell has the four sibling cousins have officially inherited the property - along with an unexpected fifth share to CC. What starts out as the perfect gift, and a way of keeping the family connected forever, quickly devolves into an emotional power struggle. Half of them want to keep the legacy intact, while the others want to sell - and each side will do anything to make it happen. Soon, CC can't tell friend from foe.
When a body is found on the shack's beach, has this family dispute turned deadly?
432 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2026
85 people are currently reading
293 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Lowe
175 books668 followersMulti published, Fiona is very excited about her 2026 release, The Drowning a novel about a family, a holiday house and a dead body. Previously published with Berkley and currently with Harper Collins Australia, (HQ Fiction) Fiona's been the recipient of a RITA and two RuBY awards. Families and communities intrigue her and she loves creating characters you could meet on the street and enjoys putting them in unique situations where morals and values can blur and she begs the reader to ask themselves, 'What would you do?'
For a free novella, sign up to Fiona's newsletter at http://www.fionalowe.com
Amazon https://bit.ly/FionaLowe
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FionaLoweAus...
Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/fionaloweau...
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com.au/fionalow...
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/fiona...
Fiona loves to hear from her readers and you can contact her at her website
For a free novella, sign up to Fiona's newsletter at http://www.fionalowe.com
Amazon https://bit.ly/FionaLowe
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FionaLoweAus...
Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/fionaloweau...
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com.au/fionalow...
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/fiona...
Fiona loves to hear from her readers and you can contact her at her website
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
Read
February 4, 2026AN UPDATE ON THE DROWNING
Dear Readers,
The process of writing a book is long and the book is printed a solid month before the release date. During the time from final proofing to release is about three months. Why am I telling you this? Because I write contemporary fiction about today's modern world and in The Drowning there is an ADHD storyline. When the book was written the information about diagnosis and prescribing in the state of Victoria was accurate. On February 3rd 2026, this changed and 150 Victorian GPs will be able to prescribe ADHD medication. Prior to this it was only psychiatrists who could diagnose and prescribe. So before you leave a review slamming me about not doing due diligence, please know when the book was written it was up-to-date. I have no control over the government changing the system ;- )
So why did I write The Drowning? People fascinate me, as do the machinations of a family. Inheriting a holiday shack on a pristine piece of beach should be a dream come true. However, take five personalities and each person's memories of summer holidays, then add in the different experiences of adulthood where hopes and dreams often clash with reality. It's a recipe for tension.
It's my observation that families no matter how close can fracture over one incident. Love and affection can easily be trumped by resentment, old grudges and financial need. In The Drowning I have explored how one family deals with the gift of a lifetime. Be careful what you wish for!
I hope you enjoy The Drowning
Cheers,
Fiona
Dear Readers,
The process of writing a book is long and the book is printed a solid month before the release date. During the time from final proofing to release is about three months. Why am I telling you this? Because I write contemporary fiction about today's modern world and in The Drowning there is an ADHD storyline. When the book was written the information about diagnosis and prescribing in the state of Victoria was accurate. On February 3rd 2026, this changed and 150 Victorian GPs will be able to prescribe ADHD medication. Prior to this it was only psychiatrists who could diagnose and prescribe. So before you leave a review slamming me about not doing due diligence, please know when the book was written it was up-to-date. I have no control over the government changing the system ;- )
So why did I write The Drowning? People fascinate me, as do the machinations of a family. Inheriting a holiday shack on a pristine piece of beach should be a dream come true. However, take five personalities and each person's memories of summer holidays, then add in the different experiences of adulthood where hopes and dreams often clash with reality. It's a recipe for tension.
It's my observation that families no matter how close can fracture over one incident. Love and affection can easily be trumped by resentment, old grudges and financial need. In The Drowning I have explored how one family deals with the gift of a lifetime. Be careful what you wish for!
I hope you enjoy The Drowning
Cheers,
Fiona
February 26, 2026
A complicated family is at the centre of this Australian mystery/drama story. Set on the Victorian coast, we meet the Friend family. As with all families, there is so much to unpack. This is no ordinary family and this is no ordinary story.
Money always changes everything, and the inheritance of the family beachfront holiday home is just the beginning. Greed, power, long hidden family secrets and more all contribute to tearing this family apart. The Drowning shows what people are willing to do for money. It is a slow burning first half, but when it ramps up boy does it get going. When a body washes up at the beach things really get nasty.
I was completely hooked on this book, gobsmacked at some of the choices this so called close family were making. They treated each other so badly, in a need to assert some power and get what they wanted. It was emotional, particularly for me on a personal level.
Fiona Lowe is a fantastic author of complex characters, making them relatable to the reader. One event sparks so much change and that is often what happens in life.
Thank you so much to HQ Insiders for the advanced copy of this book to read. It is also the March book of the month for the Thrillerfluencers Book Club. out now.
Money always changes everything, and the inheritance of the family beachfront holiday home is just the beginning. Greed, power, long hidden family secrets and more all contribute to tearing this family apart. The Drowning shows what people are willing to do for money. It is a slow burning first half, but when it ramps up boy does it get going. When a body washes up at the beach things really get nasty.
I was completely hooked on this book, gobsmacked at some of the choices this so called close family were making. They treated each other so badly, in a need to assert some power and get what they wanted. It was emotional, particularly for me on a personal level.
Fiona Lowe is a fantastic author of complex characters, making them relatable to the reader. One event sparks so much change and that is often what happens in life.
Thank you so much to HQ Insiders for the advanced copy of this book to read. It is also the March book of the month for the Thrillerfluencers Book Club. out now.
March 12, 2026
Excellent!
What an unexpected read! The title and blurb did not do this novel justice. The characters were dynamic and intriguing; keeping the plot flying along. Believable issues, typical manipulations and absolutely grounded in reality - I loved the family drama that underpinned the core concepts.
I did not see the blindsides or red herrings - very clever.
Definitely a highly recommended read.
What an unexpected read! The title and blurb did not do this novel justice. The characters were dynamic and intriguing; keeping the plot flying along. Believable issues, typical manipulations and absolutely grounded in reality - I loved the family drama that underpinned the core concepts.
I did not see the blindsides or red herrings - very clever.
Definitely a highly recommended read.
March 5, 2026
Big thanks to Harlequin for sending us a copy to read and review.
The memories, bonds made and endless summer days are golden when remembering childhood and school breaks.
These are shattered once you enter young adulthood and new priorities, directions and traits define your values.
CC and her cousins discover how life can brutally sever links to a bygone happiness.
An inheritance leaves the family beachside shack to the four cousins and CC.
On the surface it was a green light to use the place for those family gatherings and fun times.
The ugliness and greed of some was determined to derail this and create chasms between loved ones and erode sentimentality.
A washed up body changes dynamics and alliances form as the truth tries to emerge in a dangerous and tense way.
The essence of understanding social cohesion and dysfunction between cast members and strong character development is consistently delivered in all Fiona’s books.
This family saga component was then upstaged by the drowning and enmeshed twists made it feel like two genres were rolled into one.
Tension and intrigue offset a sad reality that inheritance can bring out the worst in people.
The memories, bonds made and endless summer days are golden when remembering childhood and school breaks.
These are shattered once you enter young adulthood and new priorities, directions and traits define your values.
CC and her cousins discover how life can brutally sever links to a bygone happiness.
An inheritance leaves the family beachside shack to the four cousins and CC.
On the surface it was a green light to use the place for those family gatherings and fun times.
The ugliness and greed of some was determined to derail this and create chasms between loved ones and erode sentimentality.
A washed up body changes dynamics and alliances form as the truth tries to emerge in a dangerous and tense way.
The essence of understanding social cohesion and dysfunction between cast members and strong character development is consistently delivered in all Fiona’s books.
This family saga component was then upstaged by the drowning and enmeshed twists made it feel like two genres were rolled into one.
Tension and intrigue offset a sad reality that inheritance can bring out the worst in people.
March 11, 2026
I received a copy of The Drowning from Harlequin Australia in anticipation of the release and SM book tour.
This book brought back some memories of days spent with cousins at a shack built by my great grandfather on the south coast of NSW. A mix of lazy days, busy days, and time spent with a mix of outdoor pursuits and indoor fun. Summers were never long enough.
It’s with these feelings the MC CC returns to Portland (SW Victoria, Australia) to spend time with her four cousins after the death of a family member. The death sees the cousins inherit a shack and so begins the story.
The book takes a little time to lay out the players and set the scene; it’s some way through that THE drowning actually happens. Once it does, the pace picks up considerably and the slow pulling of the threads of this family, quickly begin to unravel. It’s one of those how well do you know your family dynamics, and a sense of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer.
CC for mind is a tad chaotic which serves to form the basis of her struggle at times. This aspect is weaponised against her despite her profession as a doctor, as the story unfolds, chipping away at her confidence; making her question thoughts, feelings and relationships. This isn’t so much about the investigation though there is a police presence, but it’s everything beyond the investigation with some romance sprinkled in the mix.
My post will follow on IG on 12/3 @aplace_inthsun
This book brought back some memories of days spent with cousins at a shack built by my great grandfather on the south coast of NSW. A mix of lazy days, busy days, and time spent with a mix of outdoor pursuits and indoor fun. Summers were never long enough.
It’s with these feelings the MC CC returns to Portland (SW Victoria, Australia) to spend time with her four cousins after the death of a family member. The death sees the cousins inherit a shack and so begins the story.
The book takes a little time to lay out the players and set the scene; it’s some way through that THE drowning actually happens. Once it does, the pace picks up considerably and the slow pulling of the threads of this family, quickly begin to unravel. It’s one of those how well do you know your family dynamics, and a sense of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer.
CC for mind is a tad chaotic which serves to form the basis of her struggle at times. This aspect is weaponised against her despite her profession as a doctor, as the story unfolds, chipping away at her confidence; making her question thoughts, feelings and relationships. This isn’t so much about the investigation though there is a police presence, but it’s everything beyond the investigation with some romance sprinkled in the mix.
My post will follow on IG on 12/3 @aplace_inthsun
February 22, 2026
Review on an advanced copy received from the Publisher.
I couldn’t wait to read this book and was rewarded as I simply could not put it down! I wasn’t expecting the reveal at the end!! The complex story of family dynamics and inheritance swirls around a story of wanting to belong and a raw look at life!
I couldn’t wait to read this book and was rewarded as I simply could not put it down! I wasn’t expecting the reveal at the end!! The complex story of family dynamics and inheritance swirls around a story of wanting to belong and a raw look at life!
Read
March 3, 2026Review to come
February 7, 2026
The Drowning was my first Fiona Lowe novel — but definitely not my last
Family can be complicated, layered with all kinds of emotions. CC Cilento has always cherished the holidays spent with her cousins at the family beach house. When she suddenly learns she has inherited a share of it alongside James, Ollie, Felix, and Lily, her long-held dream of being more than just a visitor finally seems within reach.
But not all of her cousins are as thrilled, some long-buried family secrets begin to surface. Who can she trust? Is it jealousy, greed or something else altogether?
I thoroughly enjoyed my first book by Fiona Lowe. Although it takes a while to get to the event hinted at in the title, that time is well spent getting to know the characters. The family tree at the beginning of the book was helpful — though once I’d met everyone, I only needed to glance at it once more to confirm relationships.
As the tension built, I kept guessing who the victim might be. I settled on one possibility, discarded it a few pages later, and was still completely surprised when the ultimate truth was revealed — just as I was starting to suspect something and someone else.
With family tension, manipulation, a touch of romance, a cute dog, plenty of twists and turns, and heaps of drama, this book kept me engaged throughout. I also loved the coastal setting and the small-town dynamics, which added even more depth to the story.
Thank you to Harlequin and Harper Collins Australia for providing me an Advanced Reading Copy as part of their HQ Insiders programme. I really appreciate it. The book was a gift in exchange for an honest review.
Family can be complicated, layered with all kinds of emotions. CC Cilento has always cherished the holidays spent with her cousins at the family beach house. When she suddenly learns she has inherited a share of it alongside James, Ollie, Felix, and Lily, her long-held dream of being more than just a visitor finally seems within reach.
But not all of her cousins are as thrilled, some long-buried family secrets begin to surface. Who can she trust? Is it jealousy, greed or something else altogether?
I thoroughly enjoyed my first book by Fiona Lowe. Although it takes a while to get to the event hinted at in the title, that time is well spent getting to know the characters. The family tree at the beginning of the book was helpful — though once I’d met everyone, I only needed to glance at it once more to confirm relationships.
As the tension built, I kept guessing who the victim might be. I settled on one possibility, discarded it a few pages later, and was still completely surprised when the ultimate truth was revealed — just as I was starting to suspect something and someone else.
With family tension, manipulation, a touch of romance, a cute dog, plenty of twists and turns, and heaps of drama, this book kept me engaged throughout. I also loved the coastal setting and the small-town dynamics, which added even more depth to the story.
Thank you to Harlequin and Harper Collins Australia for providing me an Advanced Reading Copy as part of their HQ Insiders programme. I really appreciate it. The book was a gift in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2026
4.5⭐️
This was my first Fiona Lowe novel — though I do have her 2023 release The Money Club sitting on my shelf — and it definitely won’t be my last.
I consumed this entirely as an audiobook during a long drive, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I started it as I pulled out of my driveway and finished it literally two minutes from home on the return trip. Safe to say this one had me completely hooked.
I also love when an Australian story is narrated by an Australian narrator. It just adds another layer of authenticity to the setting and characters, and it really helped bring the coastal community of Kooramook to life.
At the centre of the story is CC Cilento and the complicated dynamics of the Friend family, whose long-standing holiday tradition at their beach shack is thrown into turmoil when an inheritance suddenly changes everything.
What begins as a nostalgic return to a place filled with childhood memories slowly unravels into something much more complicated as family tensions, old resentments and long-buried secrets start to surface.
This is a layered story that blends family drama with a steadily building mystery. The first half takes its time establishing the characters and relationships, but that groundwork really pays off once the tension ramps up and the twists begin to land. Several genuinely caught me off guard.
Engrossing, layered and full of unexpected turns, this one kept me completely invested from start to finish.
This was my first Fiona Lowe novel — though I do have her 2023 release The Money Club sitting on my shelf — and it definitely won’t be my last.
I consumed this entirely as an audiobook during a long drive, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I started it as I pulled out of my driveway and finished it literally two minutes from home on the return trip. Safe to say this one had me completely hooked.
I also love when an Australian story is narrated by an Australian narrator. It just adds another layer of authenticity to the setting and characters, and it really helped bring the coastal community of Kooramook to life.
At the centre of the story is CC Cilento and the complicated dynamics of the Friend family, whose long-standing holiday tradition at their beach shack is thrown into turmoil when an inheritance suddenly changes everything.
What begins as a nostalgic return to a place filled with childhood memories slowly unravels into something much more complicated as family tensions, old resentments and long-buried secrets start to surface.
This is a layered story that blends family drama with a steadily building mystery. The first half takes its time establishing the characters and relationships, but that groundwork really pays off once the tension ramps up and the twists begin to land. Several genuinely caught me off guard.
Engrossing, layered and full of unexpected turns, this one kept me completely invested from start to finish.
March 10, 2026
For as long as she can remember, CC has spent Summer with her cousins, the Friend family at their beloved beach shack. This beautiful tradition continues on into adulthood but things change when the siblings and CC inherit the property. Everyone is surprised at the news of CCs share of the inheritance, and what should have been a wonderful gift to celebrate becomes a nightmare which uncovers secrets and deceit.
CC is thrown into despair and the family she once loved and desperate to be a part of is ripped apart. Who is left to trust when the people she trusted the most has let her down?
Fiona’s writing is captivating and well thought out. Family issues are raised and the cracks start to show in the first part of the story, with the intensity picking up after the drowning incident. Here, Fiona leaves readers second guessing themselves and trying to figure out who the culprit is.
If you are after a multi layered family drama then this book is for you.
Thank you @benson_publicity and @harlequinaus for the copy of the book and the opportunity to take part in this amazing book tour.
CC is thrown into despair and the family she once loved and desperate to be a part of is ripped apart. Who is left to trust when the people she trusted the most has let her down?
Fiona’s writing is captivating and well thought out. Family issues are raised and the cracks start to show in the first part of the story, with the intensity picking up after the drowning incident. Here, Fiona leaves readers second guessing themselves and trying to figure out who the culprit is.
If you are after a multi layered family drama then this book is for you.
Thank you @benson_publicity and @harlequinaus for the copy of the book and the opportunity to take part in this amazing book tour.
February 25, 2026
I really wanted to like this book and was looking forward to reading it. But I must say to me it was a bit lacklustre. The story of family, secrets, lies and of course the drowning....
Having said that it took quite some time to get to the drowning (page 201 to be exact) and there really was no excitement or thrills (if you could call it that) until about page342. The story dragged on and I found CC rather annoying. Some of the language I didn't quite understand, the author tried to add differing social concerns and problems into the story but it didn't flow well, didn't work for me and I found it all rather predictable and somewhat boring.
The Drowning
Fiona Lowe
Harlequin Books
Having said that it took quite some time to get to the drowning (page 201 to be exact) and there really was no excitement or thrills (if you could call it that) until about page342. The story dragged on and I found CC rather annoying. Some of the language I didn't quite understand, the author tried to add differing social concerns and problems into the story but it didn't flow well, didn't work for me and I found it all rather predictable and somewhat boring.
The Drowning
Fiona Lowe
Harlequin Books
March 1, 2026
Adored this story of generational secrets and lies, dysfunctional family dynamics and slow burn romance. Read the last 40% in one big gulp - because I HAD to know - and it wasn't who I thought. Masterful writing, Fiona Lowe.
March 7, 2026
Different family dynamics to the usual family drama. Beach house, holiday memories, a drowning with undercurrents of manipulation, mental illness & a dash of cops and medical drama. This book has everything.
March 6, 2026
4.5 stars
March 15, 2026
CC grew up as an only child, and cherished her summers at the Friend family beach house with her four cousins. Now an adult, CC meets the Friends for a weekend away at the beach house - and discovers that she has been given a share in the inheritance of the house, alongside her four cousins. What starts as a dream come true for CC soon turns into a nightmare.
Full of twists and turns, The Drowning kept me guessing the whole way through. My theory about what happened changed constantly, and I was still questioning whether characters were good or bad until the end. I loved this book and will definitely be getting stuck into the authors back catalogue!
Thanks to @benson_publicity and @harlequinaus for the review copy and for having me on this tour.
Full of twists and turns, The Drowning kept me guessing the whole way through. My theory about what happened changed constantly, and I was still questioning whether characters were good or bad until the end. I loved this book and will definitely be getting stuck into the authors back catalogue!
Thanks to @benson_publicity and @harlequinaus for the review copy and for having me on this tour.
March 5, 2026
I’ve been waiting for two years for Fiona Lowe to release a new book. Thanks Harper Collins and HQ Insiders for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The Drowning. It wasn’t as fast paced as I expected but I enjoyed the journey and did not predict the twist.
March 8, 2026
★★★☆☆ (3.5 stars)
The Drowning by Fiona Lowe is a slow-burn Australian family drama set against a familiar and atmospheric coastal backdrop, where long-held relationships begin to fracture under the pressure of inheritance, resentment, and buried secrets.
CC Cilento has spent every summer of her life at the Friend family’s beach shack in Victoria, growing up alongside cousins James, Ollie, Felix, and Lily. Those holidays created a bond that feels closer than siblings. When the cousins unexpectedly inherit the beloved shack together—with an additional share going to CC—it initially seems like a gift that will keep their traditions alive forever. But the inheritance quickly becomes a source of tension. Some want to preserve the shack and its memories, while others see an opportunity to sell. As loyalties shift and manipulation creeps in, CC begins to question who she can trust. When a body is eventually discovered on the beach, the family conflict takes on a darker edge.
This book leans far more into family drama than mystery or thriller. In fact, the drowning itself takes a long time to occur and almost feels secondary to the interpersonal conflicts unfolding within the group. For much of the novel, the real focus is on family dynamics, power struggles, greed, and manipulation. Personally, I felt the death storyline wasn’t entirely necessary and sometimes made the book feel like two genres awkwardly combined. The family saga element was strong enough to stand on its own.
Fiona Lowe does a strong job creating complex, flawed characters, and the emotional tensions between them feel believable. That said, I struggled to actually like any of them—especially the protagonist, CC. Her intense need to belong to the Friend family, despite already having a supportive mother, sometimes made her difficult to relate to. At times she even seemed to treat her mother as more of a burden than the person who had always been there for her.
The pacing was another mixed element for me. The story is quite long, and some sections felt overly wordy without adding much to the narrative. I also suspected the manipulative force behind many of the conflicts fairly early on. However, the final quarter did pick up in pace and delivered a satisfying conclusion that pulled the threads together.
One thing I genuinely loved was the setting. As someone familiar with many of the Victorian coastal locations mentioned, it was a real pleasure to read a story grounded in places that felt recognisable and authentically Australian. Books like this remind me why I enjoy reading local stories.
While the middle section dragged at times and I briefly lost interest, the stronger second half and engaging exploration of family dynamics made it worth finishing.
Thank you to Fiona Lowe, Harlequin Australia, and NetGalley for the ARC.
The Drowning by Fiona Lowe is a slow-burn Australian family drama set against a familiar and atmospheric coastal backdrop, where long-held relationships begin to fracture under the pressure of inheritance, resentment, and buried secrets.
CC Cilento has spent every summer of her life at the Friend family’s beach shack in Victoria, growing up alongside cousins James, Ollie, Felix, and Lily. Those holidays created a bond that feels closer than siblings. When the cousins unexpectedly inherit the beloved shack together—with an additional share going to CC—it initially seems like a gift that will keep their traditions alive forever. But the inheritance quickly becomes a source of tension. Some want to preserve the shack and its memories, while others see an opportunity to sell. As loyalties shift and manipulation creeps in, CC begins to question who she can trust. When a body is eventually discovered on the beach, the family conflict takes on a darker edge.
This book leans far more into family drama than mystery or thriller. In fact, the drowning itself takes a long time to occur and almost feels secondary to the interpersonal conflicts unfolding within the group. For much of the novel, the real focus is on family dynamics, power struggles, greed, and manipulation. Personally, I felt the death storyline wasn’t entirely necessary and sometimes made the book feel like two genres awkwardly combined. The family saga element was strong enough to stand on its own.
Fiona Lowe does a strong job creating complex, flawed characters, and the emotional tensions between them feel believable. That said, I struggled to actually like any of them—especially the protagonist, CC. Her intense need to belong to the Friend family, despite already having a supportive mother, sometimes made her difficult to relate to. At times she even seemed to treat her mother as more of a burden than the person who had always been there for her.
The pacing was another mixed element for me. The story is quite long, and some sections felt overly wordy without adding much to the narrative. I also suspected the manipulative force behind many of the conflicts fairly early on. However, the final quarter did pick up in pace and delivered a satisfying conclusion that pulled the threads together.
One thing I genuinely loved was the setting. As someone familiar with many of the Victorian coastal locations mentioned, it was a real pleasure to read a story grounded in places that felt recognisable and authentically Australian. Books like this remind me why I enjoy reading local stories.
While the middle section dragged at times and I briefly lost interest, the stronger second half and engaging exploration of family dynamics made it worth finishing.
Thank you to Fiona Lowe, Harlequin Australia, and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Drowning is the twenty-seventh stand-alone novel by award-winning Australian author, Fiona Lowe. Since she was five, Cecilia Cilento (CC to everyone except her mum, Anji, when she’s in trouble) has spent the summers and Easters of her childhood with her cousins at the beach shack in coastal Kooramook. An only child, James, Ollie, Lily and Felix Friend were the siblings she never had. Even after she graduated from school, became an adult, went to Uni to train as a doctor, Ollie and Lily would invite her back for weekends and weeks.
Now, a quarter of a century since she first went, they are all back together. CC will soon be at nearby Portland Hospital for a rotation and hopes to stay in the shack. But then, a surprise! Leo Friend, recently-deceased father of the Friend siblings, has named her as a beneficiary in his will: CC owns one fifth of the shack her great-uncle Bert built, the place he specified must stay in the family, the place of such happy times. She’s just as puzzled as her cousins, but overjoyed: now she’s part of the family, won’t need to wait to be invited.
Not everyone, though, is pleased: one of the wives remarks “This is an unexpected windfall for you. A bit of dumb luck that dilutes our inheritance.” It doesn’t take long for her to realise just what a poison chalice this bequest is. Two of the Friend siblings have major plans for the shack, while the other two want to preserve it in all its dilapidated glory.
CC has the deciding vote, and soon feels the pressure from both camps. The cousins she loves are at loggerheads, there are secrets and lies, and she begins to wonder just whom she can trust. A shocking revelation hits them all like a bombshell, and things get even nastier. And then someone drowns.
In the background is Tom Greely, keyboardist and lead singer at Kooramook Pub, first tuba in the town’s brass band, and pharmacist at Portland Hospital. When CC is surrounded by family drama, this sexy man seems to be the voice of reason. But CC isn’t looking for a relationship: life is complicated enough.
Lowe has a marvellous talent for portraying a family with all the associated quirks and crises and jealousies and resentments. She easily evokes her setting with some wonderful descriptive prose; the premise is thought-provoking; her characters feel wholly believable and their dialogue, natural; there’s romance, some great twists, and a nail-biting climax. This is Fiona Lowe at her best. Highly recommended!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Hachette Australia and New Zealand.
Now, a quarter of a century since she first went, they are all back together. CC will soon be at nearby Portland Hospital for a rotation and hopes to stay in the shack. But then, a surprise! Leo Friend, recently-deceased father of the Friend siblings, has named her as a beneficiary in his will: CC owns one fifth of the shack her great-uncle Bert built, the place he specified must stay in the family, the place of such happy times. She’s just as puzzled as her cousins, but overjoyed: now she’s part of the family, won’t need to wait to be invited.
Not everyone, though, is pleased: one of the wives remarks “This is an unexpected windfall for you. A bit of dumb luck that dilutes our inheritance.” It doesn’t take long for her to realise just what a poison chalice this bequest is. Two of the Friend siblings have major plans for the shack, while the other two want to preserve it in all its dilapidated glory.
CC has the deciding vote, and soon feels the pressure from both camps. The cousins she loves are at loggerheads, there are secrets and lies, and she begins to wonder just whom she can trust. A shocking revelation hits them all like a bombshell, and things get even nastier. And then someone drowns.
In the background is Tom Greely, keyboardist and lead singer at Kooramook Pub, first tuba in the town’s brass band, and pharmacist at Portland Hospital. When CC is surrounded by family drama, this sexy man seems to be the voice of reason. But CC isn’t looking for a relationship: life is complicated enough.
Lowe has a marvellous talent for portraying a family with all the associated quirks and crises and jealousies and resentments. She easily evokes her setting with some wonderful descriptive prose; the premise is thought-provoking; her characters feel wholly believable and their dialogue, natural; there’s romance, some great twists, and a nail-biting climax. This is Fiona Lowe at her best. Highly recommended!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Hachette Australia and New Zealand.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Drowning is a book about a woman moving from an idealised idea of families to a more realistic one. There's a lot of telling rather than showing in the writing: "Thankfully, the pregnant woman didn't seem to have heard as her face didn't betray hurt or any other wounded emotions." The character development isn't particularly good. I found it hard to like or relate to the lead protagonist, CC, particularly her desperate need to fit into a family when she already had one.
The author tries desperately hard to leverage current social concerns, from worries about AI "stealing my data"; to mushroom murderess, Erin Patterson, "CC was surprised that none of the cousins seemed concerned that Lily had picked the fungi rather than purchasing them" to self-diagnosis of ADHD: "But mostly she did it so she could school her face into a neutral expression. The current trend of women self-diagnosing with ADHD based on Instagram and TikTok posts was worrying." I found it a bit heavy-handed.
The problem with ADHD and other forms of neurodiversity sat at odds with the lead character who clearly struggles to comprehend the emotions of others. For example, thinking dating apps were clearer than reading emotions of people in front of you feels quite neurodiverse: "This was why the apps were easier–ghosting always answered the question." One would think a doctor would recognise that medical misogyny means getting a diagnosis can be problematic for women. This lack of self-awareness felt at odds with her being a doctor, and to me, made her feel like an unreliable narrator. I found it hard to understand or believe the rapid jump she made between just wanting to belong to the Friends family, to deciding to contest the will.
It's clear that the author, Fiona Lowe, did research ahead of this novel, but needs to find better ways to integrate it into the storytelling than: "She knew that when someone contemplated suicide, they were at a higher risk of doing it again. That the time from thought to action could be as short as five minutes."
Not sure I believed the twist either...
With thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia (HQ) for sending me a copy to read.
The author tries desperately hard to leverage current social concerns, from worries about AI "stealing my data"; to mushroom murderess, Erin Patterson, "CC was surprised that none of the cousins seemed concerned that Lily had picked the fungi rather than purchasing them" to self-diagnosis of ADHD: "But mostly she did it so she could school her face into a neutral expression. The current trend of women self-diagnosing with ADHD based on Instagram and TikTok posts was worrying." I found it a bit heavy-handed.
The problem with ADHD and other forms of neurodiversity sat at odds with the lead character who clearly struggles to comprehend the emotions of others. For example, thinking dating apps were clearer than reading emotions of people in front of you feels quite neurodiverse: "This was why the apps were easier–ghosting always answered the question." One would think a doctor would recognise that medical misogyny means getting a diagnosis can be problematic for women. This lack of self-awareness felt at odds with her being a doctor, and to me, made her feel like an unreliable narrator. I found it hard to understand or believe the rapid jump she made between just wanting to belong to the Friends family, to deciding to contest the will.
It's clear that the author, Fiona Lowe, did research ahead of this novel, but needs to find better ways to integrate it into the storytelling than: "She knew that when someone contemplated suicide, they were at a higher risk of doing it again. That the time from thought to action could be as short as five minutes."
Not sure I believed the twist either...
With thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia (HQ) for sending me a copy to read.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What a fabulous one this is, wow I could barely put it down MS Lowe knows how to bring families to a head and she does this so well with her newest, come along and meet this family get to know the beach front house known as The Shack.
CC Cilento is a doctor, still single, she is an only child with Italian heritage she was privileged to have spent the summer and Easter holidays with her cousins James, Ollie, Lily and Felix Friend those days were some of the happiest of her life she loved the family and felt so close to them like siblings there was so much fun surfing, swimming running through the dunes, the older Friend family have since passed but still they normally spend the summer together when they can and now some with children of their own.
When CC is invited by Ollie for a special weekend at the Shack and the wills of Bert and Leo Friend are bought up and The Shack has been left to the four siblings but there is now a fifth share as CC has been included, CC is thrilled about this it makes her feel even closer to her cousins but maybe they are all not so happy about this will. James is a lawyer and executor of the wills and puts strict rules in place with how they can use The Shack and with a couple of them wanting to change things totally and some wanting to keep it as Bert Friend had built it originally for his wife Rosa and their family this of course leads to disharmony and CC is starting to wonder who she can trust.
Then a secret is revealed and this just hypes up the tension in the family tempers are flaring things are being said and CC really doesn’t know who to turn to and when a body washes up on the shore and this is going to change everything.
This is a story of family dynamics, trust, and power and is a page turner in my opinion how on earth will it all work out, what will happen to The Shack and how will CC go forward?
I do highly recommend this mystery, it had me on the edge of my seat so many twists and turns, don’t miss this one, thank you MS Lowe for another brilliant story.
My thanks to HQ Fiction for my ARC to read and review.
CC Cilento is a doctor, still single, she is an only child with Italian heritage she was privileged to have spent the summer and Easter holidays with her cousins James, Ollie, Lily and Felix Friend those days were some of the happiest of her life she loved the family and felt so close to them like siblings there was so much fun surfing, swimming running through the dunes, the older Friend family have since passed but still they normally spend the summer together when they can and now some with children of their own.
When CC is invited by Ollie for a special weekend at the Shack and the wills of Bert and Leo Friend are bought up and The Shack has been left to the four siblings but there is now a fifth share as CC has been included, CC is thrilled about this it makes her feel even closer to her cousins but maybe they are all not so happy about this will. James is a lawyer and executor of the wills and puts strict rules in place with how they can use The Shack and with a couple of them wanting to change things totally and some wanting to keep it as Bert Friend had built it originally for his wife Rosa and their family this of course leads to disharmony and CC is starting to wonder who she can trust.
Then a secret is revealed and this just hypes up the tension in the family tempers are flaring things are being said and CC really doesn’t know who to turn to and when a body washes up on the shore and this is going to change everything.
This is a story of family dynamics, trust, and power and is a page turner in my opinion how on earth will it all work out, what will happen to The Shack and how will CC go forward?
I do highly recommend this mystery, it had me on the edge of my seat so many twists and turns, don’t miss this one, thank you MS Lowe for another brilliant story.
My thanks to HQ Fiction for my ARC to read and review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Drowning is set in a small coastal town area in the South West of Australia. CC (Cecilia) is our main character and the story is told with the focus from her point of view. At present she is a registrar at a local hospital. She is an only child and has always wanted brothers and sisters to give her a full sense of family. She has partly experienced this in the wonderful summers she spent with her third cousins and their grandmother. The Friends grandmother and CC's grandmother were first cousins from Italian stock. CC is really pleased when she discovers she has been left a fifth share in the old shack now as an adult.
Yes those summer days of childhood were memorable but do they live up to that now. As we met each of the four Friends (their surname) I was not that impressed. James is a lawyer - what a cold kind of person and his wife too, Felix who has always been competitive with CC I didn't like very much. I thought Lily was flaky and then there was Ollie. CC saw him as an ally along with his wife. I really liked CC but she had her flaws too, I thought she was somewhat harsh towards Tom, the pharmacist, she befriends. However I am a big supporter of her and liked how she grew through all the events.
It turns out this family is rather dysfunctional, CC is somewhat blinded by her idea of a large family and how it might carry on the traditions of the grandparents. Of course this dysfunction doesn't just suddenly exist in the family, it goes back at least a generation - but is that any excuse for what happens.
As I read along my continuing question was - who drowns? And we did find out the whole terrible sequence. However as I read along I began to realise there just wasn't an actual drowning - there was the death of so much. And almost a loss of relationship.
I was thoroughly engaged by the plot, saddened at the way some things played out, yet satisfied with how every thing resolved. I would recommend the book to anyone who likes dysfunctional families and a slowly developing plot that twists and turns, shocks and spills.
Yes those summer days of childhood were memorable but do they live up to that now. As we met each of the four Friends (their surname) I was not that impressed. James is a lawyer - what a cold kind of person and his wife too, Felix who has always been competitive with CC I didn't like very much. I thought Lily was flaky and then there was Ollie. CC saw him as an ally along with his wife. I really liked CC but she had her flaws too, I thought she was somewhat harsh towards Tom, the pharmacist, she befriends. However I am a big supporter of her and liked how she grew through all the events.
It turns out this family is rather dysfunctional, CC is somewhat blinded by her idea of a large family and how it might carry on the traditions of the grandparents. Of course this dysfunction doesn't just suddenly exist in the family, it goes back at least a generation - but is that any excuse for what happens.
As I read along my continuing question was - who drowns? And we did find out the whole terrible sequence. However as I read along I began to realise there just wasn't an actual drowning - there was the death of so much. And almost a loss of relationship.
I was thoroughly engaged by the plot, saddened at the way some things played out, yet satisfied with how every thing resolved. I would recommend the book to anyone who likes dysfunctional families and a slowly developing plot that twists and turns, shocks and spills.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Cecilia Cilento’s favourite childhood memories are of spending summer holiday’s with her cousins at the family beach house at Kooramook with James, Ollie, Felix and Lily and they were the siblings she didn’t have.
The shack was built decades ago and is starting to show its age, however the south west coast of Victoria is very popular and close to Geelong and real estate prices for beach frontage properties and land are going up.
Leo Friend's four children inherited the property, and unexpectedly their father has left a fifth share to CC and it causes mixed reactions. Cecilia thought her relationship with her cousins was strong, two want to keep it and a pair want to sell and they don’t take CC’s situation and feelings into account.
Cecilia is employed as registrar at the Portland Hospital for three months, she had been considering staying at the shack and not living in a rental. Tom is a pharmacist at work, he’s a member of a band and plays at the pub and CC’s not sure if he’s interested in her romantically?
The family dispute starts off with a list of rules, and who can use the shack and when, it escalates and CC’s feels uncomfortable, she doesn’t know who she can trust and it only gets worse when a big secret is revealed and a body is found in a rock pool near the beach house.
I received a copy of The Drowning by Fiona Lowe from Harlequin Australia and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This narrative has more twists and turns than the Murray River, just when I thought I worked out who was stalking CC or drowned, something would happen and I would be completely wrong.
The story is about a family and dynamics with in it, different ideas and plans, money and inheritances, the unknown and lies, tension and being manipulated, and hidden danger.
I highly recommend this mild thriller and a book that will keep your interest and focus from the beginning and until you turn the last page and five stars from me.
The shack was built decades ago and is starting to show its age, however the south west coast of Victoria is very popular and close to Geelong and real estate prices for beach frontage properties and land are going up.
Leo Friend's four children inherited the property, and unexpectedly their father has left a fifth share to CC and it causes mixed reactions. Cecilia thought her relationship with her cousins was strong, two want to keep it and a pair want to sell and they don’t take CC’s situation and feelings into account.
Cecilia is employed as registrar at the Portland Hospital for three months, she had been considering staying at the shack and not living in a rental. Tom is a pharmacist at work, he’s a member of a band and plays at the pub and CC’s not sure if he’s interested in her romantically?
The family dispute starts off with a list of rules, and who can use the shack and when, it escalates and CC’s feels uncomfortable, she doesn’t know who she can trust and it only gets worse when a big secret is revealed and a body is found in a rock pool near the beach house.
I received a copy of The Drowning by Fiona Lowe from Harlequin Australia and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This narrative has more twists and turns than the Murray River, just when I thought I worked out who was stalking CC or drowned, something would happen and I would be completely wrong.
The story is about a family and dynamics with in it, different ideas and plans, money and inheritances, the unknown and lies, tension and being manipulated, and hidden danger.
I highly recommend this mild thriller and a book that will keep your interest and focus from the beginning and until you turn the last page and five stars from me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
CC Cilento has always lived on the fringe of the big Italian Friend family. An only child, raised with no father around, CC's been allowed to stay with the her cousins the Friends and their grandparents when they spend holidays at their holiday beach 'shack' in Victoria. Those times have created halcyon memories for CC, starved as she is for a larger family.
James, Ollie, Felix and Lily and of course CC have now grown, the boys have married with families of their own. Only Lily and CC remain single. The grandparents and also the Friend parents have passed. Slowly the reunions at the holiday house change as the adult cousins change from those carefree childhood times to pursuing the varied interests and the priorities they have in their own lives. Nothing stays the same forever.
Then a family bombshell about the beach shack drops that surprises everyone, and things change irrevocably. When money and property are involved people can become hostile and more proprietary, thinking only of themselves and their own needs, not of extended family.
Then yet another bombshell drops that no-one ever expected, ever, and this changes everything. CC is horrified when the two revelations begin to slowly but surely push her to the outskirts of the family she's loved so fiercely for so long. Legal action is threated, becomes real, hostilities surface, and she watches in horror as 'her' beloved family disintegrates around her.
CC's trying to juggle all this shifting sand of lies and half-truths, plus a burgeoning romantic relationship, but in the end she doesn't know what's real and what's not.
Then comes a real and present danger which blows everything apart, and CC's inability to trust anyone includes even the police. It's a cracker of a climax.
Fiona Lowe, always an eminently enjoyable author, has created a family thriller that makes for compulsive reading.
Many thanks to HQ Fiction for the Advanced Reading Copy.
James, Ollie, Felix and Lily and of course CC have now grown, the boys have married with families of their own. Only Lily and CC remain single. The grandparents and also the Friend parents have passed. Slowly the reunions at the holiday house change as the adult cousins change from those carefree childhood times to pursuing the varied interests and the priorities they have in their own lives. Nothing stays the same forever.
Then a family bombshell about the beach shack drops that surprises everyone, and things change irrevocably. When money and property are involved people can become hostile and more proprietary, thinking only of themselves and their own needs, not of extended family.
Then yet another bombshell drops that no-one ever expected, ever, and this changes everything. CC is horrified when the two revelations begin to slowly but surely push her to the outskirts of the family she's loved so fiercely for so long. Legal action is threated, becomes real, hostilities surface, and she watches in horror as 'her' beloved family disintegrates around her.
CC's trying to juggle all this shifting sand of lies and half-truths, plus a burgeoning romantic relationship, but in the end she doesn't know what's real and what's not.
Then comes a real and present danger which blows everything apart, and CC's inability to trust anyone includes even the police. It's a cracker of a climax.
Fiona Lowe, always an eminently enjoyable author, has created a family thriller that makes for compulsive reading.
Many thanks to HQ Fiction for the Advanced Reading Copy.
March 8, 2026
Oh boy!! now that was a great story!
This novel explores family and the complicated dynamics within it, peeling back layers of secrets, past hurts, and long held resentments. It shows how quickly lives can unravel once the truth begins to surface.
When Leo Friend dies, his four children expect to inherit the family beach shack at Kooramook. But his will delivers a surprise he has left a fifth share to Cecilia “CC” Cilento. The revelation sparks mixed reactions and tension among the siblings.
For CC, the shack holds some of her most treasured memories. As a child, she spent countless summer holidays there with her cousins, James, Ollie, Felix and Lily who always felt like the siblings she never had. Returning to Kooramook years later for a three-month placement as a doctor at the nearby hospital, she is invited by one of her cousins to revive their old holiday tradition as adults.
What begins as a nostalgic return soon becomes complicated when CC learns she has inherited part of the beach shack. At first it feels like a dream come true, but it quickly unravels into a dramatic family dispute. Two cousins want to keep the shack, while two are determined to sell and CC’s feelings and circumstances seem to matter very little to them. The close bond she thought she shared with her cousins suddenly feels fragile, and it becomes difficult to know who she can truly trust.
Meanwhile, Tom Greely quietly lingers in the background of it all. He’s the charismatic keyboardist and lead singer at the Kooramook Pub, first tuba in the town’s brass band, and a pharmacist at Portland Hospital. When the family drama begins to spiral, Tom often seems to be the calm voice of reason. But CC isn’t looking for a relationship, and she’s not entirely sure whether his interest in her is romantic or simply friendly because life is already complicated enough.
The story is full of twists and turns. Just when I thought I had worked out who was stalking CC or what really happened to the person who drowned another revelation would appear and prove me completely wrong.
A top read that will keep you turning the pages. Once you start, you won’t want to put it down. 📚✨
This novel explores family and the complicated dynamics within it, peeling back layers of secrets, past hurts, and long held resentments. It shows how quickly lives can unravel once the truth begins to surface.
When Leo Friend dies, his four children expect to inherit the family beach shack at Kooramook. But his will delivers a surprise he has left a fifth share to Cecilia “CC” Cilento. The revelation sparks mixed reactions and tension among the siblings.
For CC, the shack holds some of her most treasured memories. As a child, she spent countless summer holidays there with her cousins, James, Ollie, Felix and Lily who always felt like the siblings she never had. Returning to Kooramook years later for a three-month placement as a doctor at the nearby hospital, she is invited by one of her cousins to revive their old holiday tradition as adults.
What begins as a nostalgic return soon becomes complicated when CC learns she has inherited part of the beach shack. At first it feels like a dream come true, but it quickly unravels into a dramatic family dispute. Two cousins want to keep the shack, while two are determined to sell and CC’s feelings and circumstances seem to matter very little to them. The close bond she thought she shared with her cousins suddenly feels fragile, and it becomes difficult to know who she can truly trust.
Meanwhile, Tom Greely quietly lingers in the background of it all. He’s the charismatic keyboardist and lead singer at the Kooramook Pub, first tuba in the town’s brass band, and a pharmacist at Portland Hospital. When the family drama begins to spiral, Tom often seems to be the calm voice of reason. But CC isn’t looking for a relationship, and she’s not entirely sure whether his interest in her is romantic or simply friendly because life is already complicated enough.
The story is full of twists and turns. Just when I thought I had worked out who was stalking CC or what really happened to the person who drowned another revelation would appear and prove me completely wrong.
A top read that will keep you turning the pages. Once you start, you won’t want to put it down. 📚✨
March 7, 2026
A story written with pure brilliance….
This book grabbed my attention from the very first page and kept its hooks in me until the very end. A slow-burn to begin with, but as the storyline progresses, so does the tension and action.
The Drowning is the best of both worlds in the way that it starts out more like a rural romance/family drama that happens to be set at a beautiful seaside location, but then turns into a thriller/crime that has all the suspension and face-paced action, with the ability to appeal to a wide range of readers.
Fiona sets up the scenes and locations with true skill, making you feel like you are actually hearing the ocean and smelling the salt air, and don’t get me started on the shack, which gives you the warmth of complete relaxation. A feeling of coming home.
I formed strong opinions of all the characters, including CC (Cecilia), Tom and the Friends, just to have what I thought were steadfast personalities and concrete facts, tried and tested throughout the story with all the twists and turns, making not only CC second-guess what she thought was real, but it also had me second-guessing myself and what I thought I knew.
The love, caring and sense of family as well as the betrayal and lies just jump off the pages, making it very hard not to take it all personally, but then again that’s when you know it really is an incredible story.
The Drowning is an outstanding and entertaining read that had me totally captivated and invested, and I highly recommend grabbing a copy for yourself, heading to Kooramook and spending some time at the shack. You might just find your new favourite read.
Thank you Benson Publicity and Harlequin Australia for my ARC and the opportunity to take part in this amazing Bookstagram Tour.
Publication date | 24 February 2026
#thedrowning
#fionalowe
#familysecrets
#harlequinaustralia
#harpercollinsbooks
#bensonpublicity
This book grabbed my attention from the very first page and kept its hooks in me until the very end. A slow-burn to begin with, but as the storyline progresses, so does the tension and action.
The Drowning is the best of both worlds in the way that it starts out more like a rural romance/family drama that happens to be set at a beautiful seaside location, but then turns into a thriller/crime that has all the suspension and face-paced action, with the ability to appeal to a wide range of readers.
Fiona sets up the scenes and locations with true skill, making you feel like you are actually hearing the ocean and smelling the salt air, and don’t get me started on the shack, which gives you the warmth of complete relaxation. A feeling of coming home.
I formed strong opinions of all the characters, including CC (Cecilia), Tom and the Friends, just to have what I thought were steadfast personalities and concrete facts, tried and tested throughout the story with all the twists and turns, making not only CC second-guess what she thought was real, but it also had me second-guessing myself and what I thought I knew.
The love, caring and sense of family as well as the betrayal and lies just jump off the pages, making it very hard not to take it all personally, but then again that’s when you know it really is an incredible story.
The Drowning is an outstanding and entertaining read that had me totally captivated and invested, and I highly recommend grabbing a copy for yourself, heading to Kooramook and spending some time at the shack. You might just find your new favourite read.
Thank you Benson Publicity and Harlequin Australia for my ARC and the opportunity to take part in this amazing Bookstagram Tour.
Publication date | 24 February 2026
#thedrowning
#fionalowe
#familysecrets
#harlequinaustralia
#harpercollinsbooks
#bensonpublicity
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Start Date : 2nd January 2026
Finish Date : 13th January 2026
If you love a good thriller, that jumps at you and keeps you reeling throughout the story, that keeps you thinking and wondering, and you never know what is going to be thrown at you then this is the book for you! If you haven't already added this into your next read for 2026, then I recommended that you jump into it add it into your list. This book is an unstoppable, unputdownable story that you will not regret preordering and reading. You'll be just as hooked into it as I was!
I started of reading this story at bedtime which is one of the reasons why this has taken me some time to get through it while reading physical books during the day, which then changed today (13th January) and decided I wanted to not stop reading (I was up about 3am and started reading for quiet awhile I shall admit. And this is how I have finished this book tonight and onto my next fun arc read for 2026.
I was up to 41% when I realised holy shit that was a bomb shell and half that I didn't expect and that was hidden from her mother for her whole life, was I completely and utterly shocked well yes I was it was a complete change of events for this book.
With the turn of events that happen after the bombshell, I didn't expect these and I was shocked, especially when I learnt who the drowning victim was. And then you learn so much more about it afterwards and then the different bombs and events that happen have you reeling!
All in all I really did enjoy this book and it's another 5 star rating which is a honest rating from me, is there going to be another instalment? Well all I can say is that I really hope that there will be! Cause I was not ready for the book to be over.
Until then I shall wait.
Finish Date : 13th January 2026
If you love a good thriller, that jumps at you and keeps you reeling throughout the story, that keeps you thinking and wondering, and you never know what is going to be thrown at you then this is the book for you! If you haven't already added this into your next read for 2026, then I recommended that you jump into it add it into your list. This book is an unstoppable, unputdownable story that you will not regret preordering and reading. You'll be just as hooked into it as I was!
I started of reading this story at bedtime which is one of the reasons why this has taken me some time to get through it while reading physical books during the day, which then changed today (13th January) and decided I wanted to not stop reading (I was up about 3am and started reading for quiet awhile I shall admit. And this is how I have finished this book tonight and onto my next fun arc read for 2026.
I was up to 41% when I realised holy shit that was a bomb shell and half that I didn't expect and that was hidden from her mother for her whole life, was I completely and utterly shocked well yes I was it was a complete change of events for this book.
With the turn of events that happen after the bombshell, I didn't expect these and I was shocked, especially when I learnt who the drowning victim was. And then you learn so much more about it afterwards and then the different bombs and events that happen have you reeling!
All in all I really did enjoy this book and it's another 5 star rating which is a honest rating from me, is there going to be another instalment? Well all I can say is that I really hope that there will be! Cause I was not ready for the book to be over.
Until then I shall wait.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to HQ Fiction for the advance copy.
I was genuinely excited to read this one. Fiona Lowe is an author I love, so my expectations were high going in.
While this wasn’t my favourite of her novels, there were definitely elements I appreciated.
The premise is compelling. A shared inheritance. Long-standing family bonds. Tensions simmering beneath summer traditions. And then a body on the beach. The emotional power struggle between cousins over the beloved shack created a strong foundation for drama and suspicion.
However, I did find the first half quite slow and difficult to settle into. There are a lot of characters introduced early on, and I found myself needing to refer back to the family tree more than once to keep track of everyone. The complex dynamics felt a little overwhelming at the beginning, which made it harder to fully immerse myself.
That said, once I reached the halfway point, the pace lifted considerably. The tension sharpened, the emotional stakes became clearer, and I was far more invested in how it would all unfold. The second half was much stronger for me and pulled everything together in a satisfying way.
At 432 pages, it did feel a little long, and I wonder if a tighter edit might have helped the early momentum. If I hadn’t received an advance copy and been keen to give it a fair reading, I’m not sure I would have pushed through the slower opening — but I’m glad I did, because the overall story does come together well.
While not my personal favourite of Fiona Lowe’s books, it’s still a layered family drama with an intriguing mystery at its core, and I know many readers who enjoy slow-burn domestic suspense will appreciate the depth of character exploration here.
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
I was genuinely excited to read this one. Fiona Lowe is an author I love, so my expectations were high going in.
While this wasn’t my favourite of her novels, there were definitely elements I appreciated.
The premise is compelling. A shared inheritance. Long-standing family bonds. Tensions simmering beneath summer traditions. And then a body on the beach. The emotional power struggle between cousins over the beloved shack created a strong foundation for drama and suspicion.
However, I did find the first half quite slow and difficult to settle into. There are a lot of characters introduced early on, and I found myself needing to refer back to the family tree more than once to keep track of everyone. The complex dynamics felt a little overwhelming at the beginning, which made it harder to fully immerse myself.
That said, once I reached the halfway point, the pace lifted considerably. The tension sharpened, the emotional stakes became clearer, and I was far more invested in how it would all unfold. The second half was much stronger for me and pulled everything together in a satisfying way.
At 432 pages, it did feel a little long, and I wonder if a tighter edit might have helped the early momentum. If I hadn’t received an advance copy and been keen to give it a fair reading, I’m not sure I would have pushed through the slower opening — but I’m glad I did, because the overall story does come together well.
While not my personal favourite of Fiona Lowe’s books, it’s still a layered family drama with an intriguing mystery at its core, and I know many readers who enjoy slow-burn domestic suspense will appreciate the depth of character exploration here.
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
CC Cilentos favourite childhood memories are of summer holidays spent at the Friend family beach house with her cousins, James, Ollie, Lily and Felix. For CC it was the closest she got to having siblings and being part of a big family, raised by a single mum and her Nona, she cherished her time at the shack with the cuzzies. The summer tradition has continued into adulthood, and after the Friends father passes, the four siblings inherit the beach house, with an unexpected fifth share to CC. CC is excited to continue family traditions of summers at the shack. What was initially seen as the perfect gift and a way of keeping the family connected, soon devolves into an emotional power struggle, half of them want to keep the legacy intact, while the others want to sell. With each side willing to do whatever it takes to win soon CC can’t tell friend from foe and when a body is found on the shacks beach she wonders if this family dispute has turned deadly.
I enjoyed the mystery of this book. The author creates vivid imagery with her writing of the details of the landscape and coast, allowing the reader to easily picture the locations within the book. Whilst there is a mystery within this story, at its heart it is about family. The dynamics within a family unit, the way we perceive ourselves and our worth in relation to the family structure, and the secrets each family and individual buries in order to show themselves in the best light. The drowning is an entertaining read that kept me hooked - and suspicious of all the siblings, as secrets were uncovered.
Thankyou to HQ Australia for an advance copy of this book.
I enjoyed the mystery of this book. The author creates vivid imagery with her writing of the details of the landscape and coast, allowing the reader to easily picture the locations within the book. Whilst there is a mystery within this story, at its heart it is about family. The dynamics within a family unit, the way we perceive ourselves and our worth in relation to the family structure, and the secrets each family and individual buries in order to show themselves in the best light. The drowning is an entertaining read that kept me hooked - and suspicious of all the siblings, as secrets were uncovered.
Thankyou to HQ Australia for an advance copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was engaged and captivated by this mystery, thriller, family drama. CC [Cecilia Cilento] was 5 years old when she was first invited to spend her summer holidays at the beach shack, in beautiful Kooramook, with her four cousins, James, Ollie, Lily and Felix. This had changed CC’s life. Being with her cousins had broken up the loneliness of being an only child. She looked forward to going there every year.
Years later CC finds out she is to inherit one fifth of the shack along with her cousins. She is overjoyed at the prospect of owning a part of something which she loved as well as now belonging to a family life she had never had and had always wished for. This however is to be short lived when she finds out each cousin wants something different and they couldn’t agree on what to do with the shack. When a body is washed up on the shore things change and CC no longer knows who she can trust.
There were lots of unexpected twists and turns. This made me want to keep reading late into the night to find out what was going to happen next.
I liked the addition of the family tree at the front of the book. It was a good reference to look at while reading the book.
There were many themes including childhood memories, family inheritance, family disputes, secrets kept hidden, lies, deceit, jealousy, love and romance.
I highly recommend reading this wonderful, well written family drama, mystery, thriller. Thank you to HQ Insiders for allowing me to read this ARC of The Drowning. I thoroughly enjoyed this and give it five stars. Looking forward to Fiona Lowe’s next book.
Years later CC finds out she is to inherit one fifth of the shack along with her cousins. She is overjoyed at the prospect of owning a part of something which she loved as well as now belonging to a family life she had never had and had always wished for. This however is to be short lived when she finds out each cousin wants something different and they couldn’t agree on what to do with the shack. When a body is washed up on the shore things change and CC no longer knows who she can trust.
There were lots of unexpected twists and turns. This made me want to keep reading late into the night to find out what was going to happen next.
I liked the addition of the family tree at the front of the book. It was a good reference to look at while reading the book.
There were many themes including childhood memories, family inheritance, family disputes, secrets kept hidden, lies, deceit, jealousy, love and romance.
I highly recommend reading this wonderful, well written family drama, mystery, thriller. Thank you to HQ Insiders for allowing me to read this ARC of The Drowning. I thoroughly enjoyed this and give it five stars. Looking forward to Fiona Lowe’s next book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews