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The Accident
A terrible crash... but the facts don't add up.
Worlds converge and two women's lives are torn apart when a devastating accident uncovers a shocking web of lies. A gripping and thought-provoking new mystery from bestselling Australian author Fiona Lowe. Perfect for readers who enjoy Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.
Freya thought she could relax when Ryan's best mate Jamie got engaged to her best friend Hannah. Two couples, four friends - what could be better than that? But a day before the wedding Freya's torn between keeping the peace or blowing it up.
Hannah's perfect wedding is hours away and she's daydreaming of a honeymoon in Tahiti and starting the family she longs for when she hears the first-responder sirens. Is it a grass fire? Worse? And why aren't Ryan or Jamie answering their phones?
When a car veers off the road with devastating consequences, the small wheatbelt town of Garringarup is left reeling, but no one's world is more shattered than Hannah and Freya's. As disturbing details surrounding the accident emerge and questions pile up, ugly secrets rise to the surface.
Mystery, lies and scandal - it's soon obvious nothing is as it seems in this small town...
The gripping and thought-provoking new mystery from bestselling Australian author Fiona Lowe.
Worlds converge and two women's lives are torn apart when a devastating accident uncovers a shocking web of lies. A gripping and thought-provoking new mystery from bestselling Australian author Fiona Lowe. Perfect for readers who enjoy Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.
Freya thought she could relax when Ryan's best mate Jamie got engaged to her best friend Hannah. Two couples, four friends - what could be better than that? But a day before the wedding Freya's torn between keeping the peace or blowing it up.
Hannah's perfect wedding is hours away and she's daydreaming of a honeymoon in Tahiti and starting the family she longs for when she hears the first-responder sirens. Is it a grass fire? Worse? And why aren't Ryan or Jamie answering their phones?
When a car veers off the road with devastating consequences, the small wheatbelt town of Garringarup is left reeling, but no one's world is more shattered than Hannah and Freya's. As disturbing details surrounding the accident emerge and questions pile up, ugly secrets rise to the surface.
Mystery, lies and scandal - it's soon obvious nothing is as it seems in this small town...
The gripping and thought-provoking new mystery from bestselling Australian author Fiona Lowe.
480 pages, Paperback
First published March 6, 2024
217 people are currently reading
1439 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Lowe
173 books651 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?'
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
March 6, 2024
Freya and her partner Ryan live in Garringarup, a small country town in the wheatbelt of Western Australia. Ryan’s best friend Jamie has recently popped the question to his girlfriend Hannah and she and Freya are good friends.
Hannah is getting ready on her wedding day with the help of Freya, dreaming about honeymooning in Tahiti with Jamie and being newlyweds. When she hears the fire siren going, everyone assures her everything will be fine, it’s probably a grass fire and she has nothing to worry about. Ryan is a paramedic and a first responder and Hannah is worried when both he and Jamie aren’t answering their phones. A fatal car accident has devastating consequences for the four friends, one of them passes away and eventually they discover nothing is how it seems.
In a small country town your reputation, status and family’s pedigree is everything and his parents don’t want anyone thinking otherwise. Friction and tension is sizzling and Freya and Hannah friendships tested.
Slowly the secrets, lies and misconceptions about the deceased person come to light, he’s was one hell of an actor and a chameleon and he’s not the great person everyone thinks he was and he has been living a life full of shocking deceit and it will create a big scandal if it's revealed and will people believe the person who knows the truth?
I received a digital copy of The Accident by Fiona Lowe from Harlequin Australia and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Ms. Lowe certainly knows how to weave an engrossing and absorbing story, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and I was completely hooked from the start. A narrative full of mystery and suspense, and it has more twists and turns than a country road, I certainly didn’t see what he'd hidden and way out of sight.
When you live in a small country town, everyone knows everyone else’s business or want's to find out what's going on and people don't have a filter with the questions they ask. It raises relevant points about women not speaking up, being too trustworthy and not being aware of finances and if their partner has a will. Couples should discuss if they want to have children, who’s going to be the main caregiver and how they will raise them.
Five stars from me, another great book by Fiona Lowe and included in the story are other life and societies issues and it makes you think about what you would do if you found yourself in the same situation.
Hannah is getting ready on her wedding day with the help of Freya, dreaming about honeymooning in Tahiti with Jamie and being newlyweds. When she hears the fire siren going, everyone assures her everything will be fine, it’s probably a grass fire and she has nothing to worry about. Ryan is a paramedic and a first responder and Hannah is worried when both he and Jamie aren’t answering their phones. A fatal car accident has devastating consequences for the four friends, one of them passes away and eventually they discover nothing is how it seems.
In a small country town your reputation, status and family’s pedigree is everything and his parents don’t want anyone thinking otherwise. Friction and tension is sizzling and Freya and Hannah friendships tested.
Slowly the secrets, lies and misconceptions about the deceased person come to light, he’s was one hell of an actor and a chameleon and he’s not the great person everyone thinks he was and he has been living a life full of shocking deceit and it will create a big scandal if it's revealed and will people believe the person who knows the truth?
I received a digital copy of The Accident by Fiona Lowe from Harlequin Australia and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Ms. Lowe certainly knows how to weave an engrossing and absorbing story, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and I was completely hooked from the start. A narrative full of mystery and suspense, and it has more twists and turns than a country road, I certainly didn’t see what he'd hidden and way out of sight.
When you live in a small country town, everyone knows everyone else’s business or want's to find out what's going on and people don't have a filter with the questions they ask. It raises relevant points about women not speaking up, being too trustworthy and not being aware of finances and if their partner has a will. Couples should discuss if they want to have children, who’s going to be the main caregiver and how they will raise them.
Five stars from me, another great book by Fiona Lowe and included in the story are other life and societies issues and it makes you think about what you would do if you found yourself in the same situation.
May 2, 2024
This has been rated highly therefore it looks like I am clearly an outlier. I really enjoyed a previous title by the author Home Fires so I felt strongly disappointed in this one. Strongly disliking the audio narration, I’m afraid this was a miss for me.
There are strong themes here, addiction, women’s right to have a child, infidelity, and the extreme end of this. Two addictions across two families seemed unlikely to me, and one of them ended up unresolved which was disappointing.
The small town feel and their attitude to a woman who decided to remain childless was filled with tension and angst, and I so enjoyed this character giving it to an older gentleman with antiquated views in a supermarket when he referred to tampons in a shopping trolley. This was clever dialogue.
Some smaller things grated, such as continual usage of the food prepared with the catureie board being used time and again, and the serving of scones too numerous to count, leading to my feelings of cliche. Small issues, but for me, noticeable. I also find it hard to deal with younger characters using dialogue and terms of speech which would come from an older voice or generation, my sensitivities definitely pick up on this nuance.
Whilst the issue of remaining to be childless is a great one for discussion, the obsession the town seemed to have missed the mark for me, turning it more into a soap opera feel as opposed to a thriller.
A noticeably different standard to the previous book I mentioned, but as I enjoyed that one I will still see what comes next. I believe many others will like this more given the high ratings.
I listened to this via the BorrowBox platform and my public library.
There are strong themes here, addiction, women’s right to have a child, infidelity, and the extreme end of this. Two addictions across two families seemed unlikely to me, and one of them ended up unresolved which was disappointing.
The small town feel and their attitude to a woman who decided to remain childless was filled with tension and angst, and I so enjoyed this character giving it to an older gentleman with antiquated views in a supermarket when he referred to tampons in a shopping trolley. This was clever dialogue.
Some smaller things grated, such as continual usage of the food prepared with the catureie board being used time and again, and the serving of scones too numerous to count, leading to my feelings of cliche. Small issues, but for me, noticeable. I also find it hard to deal with younger characters using dialogue and terms of speech which would come from an older voice or generation, my sensitivities definitely pick up on this nuance.
Whilst the issue of remaining to be childless is a great one for discussion, the obsession the town seemed to have missed the mark for me, turning it more into a soap opera feel as opposed to a thriller.
A noticeably different standard to the previous book I mentioned, but as I enjoyed that one I will still see what comes next. I believe many others will like this more given the high ratings.
I listened to this via the BorrowBox platform and my public library.
March 10, 2024
Here we have a close examination of just how difficult it really may be to put your complete trust and belief in someone, even someone you’ve fallen in love with. There may be signs, there may be little glimmers of disquiet, or you may just have to wait for one almighty, life-changing accident to find out the truth about the person you plan to live the rest of your life with.
The Accident starts with the devastating death of a man on the night before his wedding day. Jamie was driving back to the town of Garringarup when the car he was driving crashed into a tree. Hannah, waiting at home for his arrival is understandably broken-hearted. The life they had planned together has been taken away in one unbelievable moment.
It takes some time but Hannah slowly begins to put her life back together with the help of her good friends Freya and Ryan along with Jamie’s parents and others in the town.
At the back of her mind, though, there are some strange anomalies surrounding the accident scene that just don’t make sense. Following these random threads, it becomes more and more apparent that there was a great deal that Hannah wasn’t aware of and the person she thought she was marrying may not have been quite the perfect man she thought he was.
Small town life has its own set of rules and friendships can be made and broken in an instant. Knowing who you can depend on and finding out who may have other motives can be hard fought and while it may not necessarily prove dangerous, it could very well affect outlooks that have shaped lives.
The Accident is a completely absorbing story that drags you in deeper the further you read. Facts and suppositions are slowly dragged out into the open to create an increasingly compelling story and the growth and development of the main characters, Freya and Hannah, is shaped by numerous curve-balls thrown their way.
The suffering caused by addiction not only affects the person who finds themselves caught up in its thrall. Friends and family are also affected and their lives changed by it too. And there are all different types of addiction playing its part in various characters in The Accident. Big city or small town, the dangers are the same and the devastation just as total.
This is a strong family drama that deals with some of life’s most difficult moments with a deep underlying mystery at its heart. It’s necessary to forgive a slow start so that you can enjoy a far more moving middle and latter portion which I found quite rewarding. The character development is strong, making it possible to get a deep understanding about what’s important to the main characters and their motivations for some of the more controversial decisions they make.
My thanks to HQ Fiction via NetGalley for the digital ARC that was provided to me enabling me to read, enjoy and review this book.
The Accident starts with the devastating death of a man on the night before his wedding day. Jamie was driving back to the town of Garringarup when the car he was driving crashed into a tree. Hannah, waiting at home for his arrival is understandably broken-hearted. The life they had planned together has been taken away in one unbelievable moment.
It takes some time but Hannah slowly begins to put her life back together with the help of her good friends Freya and Ryan along with Jamie’s parents and others in the town.
At the back of her mind, though, there are some strange anomalies surrounding the accident scene that just don’t make sense. Following these random threads, it becomes more and more apparent that there was a great deal that Hannah wasn’t aware of and the person she thought she was marrying may not have been quite the perfect man she thought he was.
Small town life has its own set of rules and friendships can be made and broken in an instant. Knowing who you can depend on and finding out who may have other motives can be hard fought and while it may not necessarily prove dangerous, it could very well affect outlooks that have shaped lives.
The Accident is a completely absorbing story that drags you in deeper the further you read. Facts and suppositions are slowly dragged out into the open to create an increasingly compelling story and the growth and development of the main characters, Freya and Hannah, is shaped by numerous curve-balls thrown their way.
The suffering caused by addiction not only affects the person who finds themselves caught up in its thrall. Friends and family are also affected and their lives changed by it too. And there are all different types of addiction playing its part in various characters in The Accident. Big city or small town, the dangers are the same and the devastation just as total.
This is a strong family drama that deals with some of life’s most difficult moments with a deep underlying mystery at its heart. It’s necessary to forgive a slow start so that you can enjoy a far more moving middle and latter portion which I found quite rewarding. The character development is strong, making it possible to get a deep understanding about what’s important to the main characters and their motivations for some of the more controversial decisions they make.
My thanks to HQ Fiction via NetGalley for the digital ARC that was provided to me enabling me to read, enjoy and review this book.
March 1, 2024
I expected more of a thriller/mystery by the cover instead it’s a domestic drama about having babies or not having babies, weddings, relationships, friendships, families and it’s repetitive and full of dialogue nobody would ever say and it goes on for 480 pages! It was fairly obvious that Jamie was a sleazebag and Hannah was just so naive, why did it take her so long to ask any questions? Chick lit is so not my genre.
March 7, 2024
WOW what a compelling story this one is, I could barely put it down once I picked it up, Fiona Lowe, you have given your readers a story that is, thought- provoking, filled with secrets and fabulous characters, two woman, best friends Freya and Hannah have their lives turned upside down when there is a deadly accident in the small country town of Garringarup, come along and share their story.
Freya and Ryan have been living happily together for ten years, and loving life, Ryan is a paramedic and Freya owns the gift store, Just Because in town and it is doing really well.
Hannah and Jamie are busy planning their wedding and thinking about their honeymoon in Tahiti, Hannah dearly wants to start a family soon as they have been very happy together for over a year now, life is looking good.
The day before the wedding and they are busy decorating the marquee and keeping little flower girls happy, when close by the police, ambulance and fire brigade sirens wail, and Jamie and Ryan are not answering their phones.
When the local police officer arrives, the news is not good there has been a car accident, and Jamie is gone, this starts a chain of devastating consequences and a push by Jamie’s family to acquire Jamie’s sperm so as Hannah can have the child she dearly wants and that there is a grandchild for his family.
Jamie’s death pulls Freya and Hannah apart as well as puts pressure on Freya and Ryan’s relationship, and when Hannah starts to uncover devastating secrets about Jamie her world just about shatters.
Freya is under so much pressure with her decision about having a baby and with what is going on with her family her life is also shattering.
Fiona Lowe has taken on some tough issues that have added tension throughout the story, there is lots of friction add to that it is in a small town and the locals add their opinions to what is going on, some twists and lots of different emotions run through the words in this story. This is one that I highly recommend I never miss a Fiona Lowe story they always pull me in and keep me turning the pages, don’t miss this one.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
Freya and Ryan have been living happily together for ten years, and loving life, Ryan is a paramedic and Freya owns the gift store, Just Because in town and it is doing really well.
Hannah and Jamie are busy planning their wedding and thinking about their honeymoon in Tahiti, Hannah dearly wants to start a family soon as they have been very happy together for over a year now, life is looking good.
The day before the wedding and they are busy decorating the marquee and keeping little flower girls happy, when close by the police, ambulance and fire brigade sirens wail, and Jamie and Ryan are not answering their phones.
When the local police officer arrives, the news is not good there has been a car accident, and Jamie is gone, this starts a chain of devastating consequences and a push by Jamie’s family to acquire Jamie’s sperm so as Hannah can have the child she dearly wants and that there is a grandchild for his family.
Jamie’s death pulls Freya and Hannah apart as well as puts pressure on Freya and Ryan’s relationship, and when Hannah starts to uncover devastating secrets about Jamie her world just about shatters.
Freya is under so much pressure with her decision about having a baby and with what is going on with her family her life is also shattering.
Fiona Lowe has taken on some tough issues that have added tension throughout the story, there is lots of friction add to that it is in a small town and the locals add their opinions to what is going on, some twists and lots of different emotions run through the words in this story. This is one that I highly recommend I never miss a Fiona Lowe story they always pull me in and keep me turning the pages, don’t miss this one.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
April 2, 2024
**Thank you to Harlequin Australia for sending me a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review; published 6 March 2024*
**2.5 stars**
I want to be very clear that I have LOVED books from this author before, hence my disappointment that I couldn't get into this one much. The topics in the storyline were interesting but it just wasn't reading right for me; it felt overly dramatic and exaggerated at times, like a soap opera feel. The book goes heavily into society's view of women who choose not to have children, which apparently in this town not one person can understand or cope with such a decision. It also delves into the consequences on everyone involved when a person's secrets are revealed after their death, which obviously can very quite messy. Overall I found this an okay read, I would recommend the author's earlier novels over this one.
**2.5 stars**
I want to be very clear that I have LOVED books from this author before, hence my disappointment that I couldn't get into this one much. The topics in the storyline were interesting but it just wasn't reading right for me; it felt overly dramatic and exaggerated at times, like a soap opera feel. The book goes heavily into society's view of women who choose not to have children, which apparently in this town not one person can understand or cope with such a decision. It also delves into the consequences on everyone involved when a person's secrets are revealed after their death, which obviously can very quite messy. Overall I found this an okay read, I would recommend the author's earlier novels over this one.
March 8, 2024
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Trying my best at a spoiler free review here as it's best to go into this story with a limited idea of what unfolds.
I was pulled into the story right from the prologue. The Accident opens with a tragic car accident but the reader is left in the dark as to who is in the accident and the details.
What ensues is a heart-wrenching and thought-provoking story rich in female-centric and emotive issues such as; posthumous IVF, women's choice to have, or not to have children, the many ways childless women are judged and child neglect.
Freya & Ryan and Hannah & Jamie are the best of friends however when one of them dies those left behind start questioning their own lives and each other. Lies and secrets surface and all their lives are irrevocably changed.
The Accident is a page-turning and thought-provoking story. Fiona Lowe thrusts her characters into moral dilemmas. The plot had me on a roller-coaster of emotions, tears, anger, a what would I do moment and delight.
The Accident is a taut and absorbing mystery that is sure to be a huge hit with Fiona Lowe's fans and also with readers who enjoy Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.
Trying my best at a spoiler free review here as it's best to go into this story with a limited idea of what unfolds.
I was pulled into the story right from the prologue. The Accident opens with a tragic car accident but the reader is left in the dark as to who is in the accident and the details.
What ensues is a heart-wrenching and thought-provoking story rich in female-centric and emotive issues such as; posthumous IVF, women's choice to have, or not to have children, the many ways childless women are judged and child neglect.
Freya & Ryan and Hannah & Jamie are the best of friends however when one of them dies those left behind start questioning their own lives and each other. Lies and secrets surface and all their lives are irrevocably changed.
The Accident is a page-turning and thought-provoking story. Fiona Lowe thrusts her characters into moral dilemmas. The plot had me on a roller-coaster of emotions, tears, anger, a what would I do moment and delight.
The Accident is a taut and absorbing mystery that is sure to be a huge hit with Fiona Lowe's fans and also with readers who enjoy Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.
Read
February 1, 2024Dear Readers,
At its heart, my March 2024 novel, The Accident, is the impact on two women’s lives when a car slams into a tree. Of course they are changed irrevocably by grief and trauma, and they start questioning everything they ever believed about each other and those they love. But that's only the start.
In the 2020s, do women really have a choice to become mothers? Societal expectations are huge, as are the politics of the day, which is very pro women having children. Women who choose to be childfree are accused of being selfish, unnatural, uncaring and even witches. Former Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, was accused of all these things. Ironically, these child-free women are often caring for other members of their extended family. Women without children are subject to the rule ‘you don’t have kids so you can’t have an opinion about anything to do with them,’ which is ridiculous as they have siblings and nieces and nephews.
What I find fascinating is the reaction of women with children to the ones who are choosing to be childfree. These mothers often feel offended, as if their own decision to have a child was somehow wrong. Or they are convinced the woman will change her mind.
And what of the women who struggle to conceive? The automatic response to this problem is the suggestion of IVF, but reproductive technology is not an easy road from the costs to the many ethical dilemmas that women/couples are forced to grapple with that other parents never need to consider. The current ‘brave new world’ version of IVF is post-humous sperm retrieval, which on the surface seems a wonderful thing, but it comes with so many complications and the more people who are involved in a decision, the more fraught it can become.
Like all my novels, at its heart, The Accident is about flawed characters facing real world dilemmas and trying their hardest to live their best lives. I hope you join Hannah and Freya, Ryan and Jamie as they muddle through trying to make sense of this messy, modern life we live.
Best wishes,
Fiona
At its heart, my March 2024 novel, The Accident, is the impact on two women’s lives when a car slams into a tree. Of course they are changed irrevocably by grief and trauma, and they start questioning everything they ever believed about each other and those they love. But that's only the start.
In the 2020s, do women really have a choice to become mothers? Societal expectations are huge, as are the politics of the day, which is very pro women having children. Women who choose to be childfree are accused of being selfish, unnatural, uncaring and even witches. Former Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, was accused of all these things. Ironically, these child-free women are often caring for other members of their extended family. Women without children are subject to the rule ‘you don’t have kids so you can’t have an opinion about anything to do with them,’ which is ridiculous as they have siblings and nieces and nephews.
What I find fascinating is the reaction of women with children to the ones who are choosing to be childfree. These mothers often feel offended, as if their own decision to have a child was somehow wrong. Or they are convinced the woman will change her mind.
And what of the women who struggle to conceive? The automatic response to this problem is the suggestion of IVF, but reproductive technology is not an easy road from the costs to the many ethical dilemmas that women/couples are forced to grapple with that other parents never need to consider. The current ‘brave new world’ version of IVF is post-humous sperm retrieval, which on the surface seems a wonderful thing, but it comes with so many complications and the more people who are involved in a decision, the more fraught it can become.
Like all my novels, at its heart, The Accident is about flawed characters facing real world dilemmas and trying their hardest to live their best lives. I hope you join Hannah and Freya, Ryan and Jamie as they muddle through trying to make sense of this messy, modern life we live.
Best wishes,
Fiona
December 19, 2024
The Accident is the twentieth stand-alone novel by award-winning Australian author, Fiona Lowe. As Hannah Simmons and her best friend Freya Quayle attend to the final details for Hannah’s wedding to Jamie McMaster, they have no idea that the gum tree that falls onto the marquee will be the least of their problems. In true country fashion, the WA town of Garringarup pulls together to overcome this hiccough, and Freya is relieved the wedding will go ahead, if not for the same reasons as everyone else.
Then sirens split the air and Freya’s partner, paramedic Ryan Gillet is off to attend the scene of a car accident. Hauling his best friend’s body from a crumpled red Porsche is the hardest thing he’s ever had to do. Amidst overwhelming grief, a cancelled wedding becomes preparation for a funeral, but not before a rush to implement a radical idea Jamie’s mother comes up with.
Hannah tries to escape the reality of her loss by spending time with her brother in Singapore, away from Garringarup and everything that reminds her of Jamie. When Freya goes to the scene to lay flowers, she is puzzled that Jamie was driving a brand new red Porsche, and wonders why he was even on that road if he was returning from Perth.
Hannah returns and is, too, perplexed by both the location and the car; later, a few more details about his death add to her confusion, and the tight control that Jamie’s parents are exerting over his estate is also a concern. Helping out in Freya’s gift and homewares business is both a distraction and a source of income, and appreciated when Freya suddenly has her own tragedy to handle.
But things are about to be revealed that will cleave strong friendships and couples who thought nothing could split them…
In this emotional and intriguing tale, Lowe touches on several topics not often discussed: silent miscarriage, assisted posthumous reproduction, sex-positive communities, the expectation placed on women to reproduce, and a fiancee’s legal position regards her late partner’s estate. Some more commonly encountered themes also feature: alcoholism, grief in its many iterations, infidelity, lies, secrets and betrayals. Another winner from Fiona Lowe.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harlequin Australia HQ Fiction.
Then sirens split the air and Freya’s partner, paramedic Ryan Gillet is off to attend the scene of a car accident. Hauling his best friend’s body from a crumpled red Porsche is the hardest thing he’s ever had to do. Amidst overwhelming grief, a cancelled wedding becomes preparation for a funeral, but not before a rush to implement a radical idea Jamie’s mother comes up with.
Hannah tries to escape the reality of her loss by spending time with her brother in Singapore, away from Garringarup and everything that reminds her of Jamie. When Freya goes to the scene to lay flowers, she is puzzled that Jamie was driving a brand new red Porsche, and wonders why he was even on that road if he was returning from Perth.
Hannah returns and is, too, perplexed by both the location and the car; later, a few more details about his death add to her confusion, and the tight control that Jamie’s parents are exerting over his estate is also a concern. Helping out in Freya’s gift and homewares business is both a distraction and a source of income, and appreciated when Freya suddenly has her own tragedy to handle.
But things are about to be revealed that will cleave strong friendships and couples who thought nothing could split them…
In this emotional and intriguing tale, Lowe touches on several topics not often discussed: silent miscarriage, assisted posthumous reproduction, sex-positive communities, the expectation placed on women to reproduce, and a fiancee’s legal position regards her late partner’s estate. Some more commonly encountered themes also feature: alcoholism, grief in its many iterations, infidelity, lies, secrets and betrayals. Another winner from Fiona Lowe.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harlequin Australia HQ Fiction.
March 11, 2024
Thank you Harlequin for sending us a copy to read and review.
When the reader opens the newest book by leading Aussie author Fiona Lowe and reads the first chapter, it sets the scene and the tone of the story.
Prepare to be wowed and knocked out by The Accident.
A powerful and intriguing tale about two women’s lives colliding when a traumatic event happens.
Asking the thought provoking question….. do you really know a person completely?
Two couples.
Four best friends.
An accident that changes everything.
Secrets, lies, deceit, scandal and unanswered questions is the first stop on the list.
Will the truth be revealed……..
The plot revolves around an unfortunate accident and the set of lies and deception it leaves behind.
Fiona is the queen of writing about flawed characters in real life scenarios and facing quandaries.
She goes deep into their mindsets and subconscious and they glow and shine from the pages, there’s no situation left unturned.
A family and friends incandescent saga that will light up your life.
Fiona is a benevolent and gifted storyteller giving her readers impressive, refreshing, provocative and fascinating books.
When the reader opens the newest book by leading Aussie author Fiona Lowe and reads the first chapter, it sets the scene and the tone of the story.
Prepare to be wowed and knocked out by The Accident.
A powerful and intriguing tale about two women’s lives colliding when a traumatic event happens.
Asking the thought provoking question….. do you really know a person completely?
Two couples.
Four best friends.
An accident that changes everything.
Secrets, lies, deceit, scandal and unanswered questions is the first stop on the list.
Will the truth be revealed……..
The plot revolves around an unfortunate accident and the set of lies and deception it leaves behind.
Fiona is the queen of writing about flawed characters in real life scenarios and facing quandaries.
She goes deep into their mindsets and subconscious and they glow and shine from the pages, there’s no situation left unturned.
A family and friends incandescent saga that will light up your life.
Fiona is a benevolent and gifted storyteller giving her readers impressive, refreshing, provocative and fascinating books.
March 10, 2024
So much to think about. I love Fiona Lowe novels. I don’t want to give away anything so I’m not talking themes or issues raised, but there are some trigger warnings that may be needed. I loved being in the small Western Australian country town, I loved being in Freya’s small business! This is a novel about secrets and lies, families and friends..it’s real people facing difficult choices and I am completely there for that!
March 29, 2024
At the heart of it, Fiona Lowe's latest offering is about real people making real decisions. Big issues are explored in The Accident, where lies are exposed, scandals are unearthed, and friendships will be tested.
Turns out that reputation and privilege don't mean squat, even in a small country town like Garringarup. When the golden boy in town dies heroically in a car accident, the whole community is rocked, but no one's worlds are more shattered than Hannah's and Freya's.
Hannah was just hours away from marrying Jamie and jetting off to Tahiti for their honeymoon. When she was anticipating their future together, burying her husband to be so soon wasn't on the cards. Luckily, she can rely on the support of Jamie's family and their best friends, Ryan and Freya, to navigate this uncharted territory. Nothing could possibly get in Hannah's way to honour her late fiance, or can it? As the dust settles and things become a new normal, disturbing details surrounding the accident emerge. Nothing quite sits right, and Hannah slowly starts to realise that the man she was about to marry wasn't the same man everyone worshipped, including her.
Meanwhile, Freya's opinion of Jamie has never been positive. Being the partner of Ryan, Jamie's best mate, she's witnessed first hand of the lengths Jamie could go to so he could keep up the chameleon act. Still, when Jamie and Hannah's engagement is announced, she feels free to finally relax. Freya will do anything in her power to protect her best friend so she'll never learn about her fiance's indescrepancies. But what happens when you don't have a choice but to express those concealed concerns? The entire town turns on you, that's what. Poor Freya. She's been placed in a precarious situation, demands for her time and coming from every angle, AND there's building pressure in her relationship with Ryan. I honestly couldn't stop worrying about her, wondering at what stage she'd finally crack. That's way too much for anyone to take on at once, and her mental health must've been taking a hit.
The Accident was a compelling and addictive character driven drama. Being only the second novel I've read of Fiona's, it's inspired me to reach out and discover more of her works. It's easy to see why she's such an acclaimed and beloved Australian author.
4.75 🌟
Turns out that reputation and privilege don't mean squat, even in a small country town like Garringarup. When the golden boy in town dies heroically in a car accident, the whole community is rocked, but no one's worlds are more shattered than Hannah's and Freya's.
Hannah was just hours away from marrying Jamie and jetting off to Tahiti for their honeymoon. When she was anticipating their future together, burying her husband to be so soon wasn't on the cards. Luckily, she can rely on the support of Jamie's family and their best friends, Ryan and Freya, to navigate this uncharted territory. Nothing could possibly get in Hannah's way to honour her late fiance, or can it? As the dust settles and things become a new normal, disturbing details surrounding the accident emerge. Nothing quite sits right, and Hannah slowly starts to realise that the man she was about to marry wasn't the same man everyone worshipped, including her.
Meanwhile, Freya's opinion of Jamie has never been positive. Being the partner of Ryan, Jamie's best mate, she's witnessed first hand of the lengths Jamie could go to so he could keep up the chameleon act. Still, when Jamie and Hannah's engagement is announced, she feels free to finally relax. Freya will do anything in her power to protect her best friend so she'll never learn about her fiance's indescrepancies. But what happens when you don't have a choice but to express those concealed concerns? The entire town turns on you, that's what. Poor Freya. She's been placed in a precarious situation, demands for her time and coming from every angle, AND there's building pressure in her relationship with Ryan. I honestly couldn't stop worrying about her, wondering at what stage she'd finally crack. That's way too much for anyone to take on at once, and her mental health must've been taking a hit.
The Accident was a compelling and addictive character driven drama. Being only the second novel I've read of Fiona's, it's inspired me to reach out and discover more of her works. It's easy to see why she's such an acclaimed and beloved Australian author.
4.75 🌟
July 15, 2025
Why did it take me so long to read this.
March 8, 2024
2.75 stars
This book was easy to read and had enough mystery to keep me interested. But it kind of dragged, and I got tired of being kept in the dark. You have to read through 300 pages of drama to get the answers to the questions posed in the first few chapters. And I simply did not enjoy said drama. The characters acted very strangely and none of their interactions felt realistic. The discussions about pregnancy and children felt exaggerated, but then I’ve never been in either of the situations Hannah and Freya were in so I’m not really one to comment.
The book was entertaining and I was invested enough to finish it, but at the end of the day it was not really my cup of tea.
Thank you to HarperCollins for sending me an advance copy of this book.
This book was easy to read and had enough mystery to keep me interested. But it kind of dragged, and I got tired of being kept in the dark. You have to read through 300 pages of drama to get the answers to the questions posed in the first few chapters. And I simply did not enjoy said drama. The characters acted very strangely and none of their interactions felt realistic. The discussions about pregnancy and children felt exaggerated, but then I’ve never been in either of the situations Hannah and Freya were in so I’m not really one to comment.
The book was entertaining and I was invested enough to finish it, but at the end of the day it was not really my cup of tea.
Thank you to HarperCollins for sending me an advance copy of this book.
July 7, 2024
It was good but it was not excellent. The story started well and the tension developed nicely, but I found the reveal a little far-fetched. It took ages to come, it was too dramatic and the characters reactions to it didn’t feel super realistic.
The ending was nice.
I liked the shop and what the shop bought to the storyline and the small town.
I loved the character of Mac (and his sister Georgie).
Worth a read at some stage - but not a rush to the top of the pile book.
Actual rating - between 3 and 3.5 stars
The ending was nice.
I liked the shop and what the shop bought to the storyline and the small town.
I loved the character of Mac (and his sister Georgie).
Worth a read at some stage - but not a rush to the top of the pile book.
Actual rating - between 3 and 3.5 stars
January 7, 2026
I'm not really sure why or how this book landed on my TBR, it is so far out of my normal reading preferences that I feel I'm not the correct person to be giving it a review.
I'm not going to lie, a lot of the characters REALLY annoyed me, they were selfish, whiny, manipulative, narcissistic, passive pushovers who needed to grow a backbone and in some cases borderline abusive. I also hated the ending, it was completely open with next to nothing having been resolved, I think the only thing I enjoyed about this book was the small town feels...
I'm not going to lie, a lot of the characters REALLY annoyed me, they were selfish, whiny, manipulative, narcissistic, passive pushovers who needed to grow a backbone and in some cases borderline abusive. I also hated the ending, it was completely open with next to nothing having been resolved, I think the only thing I enjoyed about this book was the small town feels...
February 19, 2024
This one took me by surprise. The first bit was kind of a drag, a bit boring. But we get up to the wedding and it just spiralled into a good read from there. Some twists I never saw coming and some things I did. It was definitely an interesting read and I’m so thankful to Harper Collins that I got this arc. Thank you.
March 31, 2024
One of the best books of 2024 that I have read. After reading this book I wonder if there a laws about a certain topic here in New Zealand.
Most of this book is about friendship, family, IVF and falling in love all over again.
Most of this book is about friendship, family, IVF and falling in love all over again.
September 25, 2024
3/5
* okay I really wanted to enjoy this book but it’s a 50/50 for me. Hannah’s character was so insufferable and naive to reality. Her rose coloured glasses just made it all so painful to endure her POV.
* Freya thankfully was the redeeming character though I wish she’d had more confidence to stand her ground against her sister.
* There were lots of elements to the storyline and I think it wrapped up fine but this book didn’t hook me as anticipated.
* okay I really wanted to enjoy this book but it’s a 50/50 for me. Hannah’s character was so insufferable and naive to reality. Her rose coloured glasses just made it all so painful to endure her POV.
* Freya thankfully was the redeeming character though I wish she’d had more confidence to stand her ground against her sister.
* There were lots of elements to the storyline and I think it wrapped up fine but this book didn’t hook me as anticipated.
July 25, 2024
This was another great, thought provoking read by Fiona and one that had me totally invested in from the 1st page.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and can highly recommend it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and can highly recommend it.
August 10, 2024
She thought their life was perfect. She was wrong
December 5, 2025
This book is based on a bad accident in a small town, where everyone knows each other's business.
You will feel many emotions as you read this book about loss, survival, and secrets.
It was a great gripping mystery that once solved hurts a lot of townspeople.
I really enjoyed.
You will feel many emotions as you read this book about loss, survival, and secrets.
It was a great gripping mystery that once solved hurts a lot of townspeople.
I really enjoyed.
June 17, 2024
a great australian story, good building of tension. nice small town vibe
April 14, 2024
This a story of the friendship of two women, Freya and Hannah who live is a small country town in Western Australia. Freya and her partner Ryan have lived together for years. Hannah is from Perth and she and Ryan’s best friend Jamie have had a whirlwind romance and, as the story opens, are about to marry.
Freya is helping Hannah get ready for the garden wedding at Jamie’s parents property when disaster strikes - Jamie is killed in a car accident and Hannah’s world comes to an end. Her grief overwhelms her and Jamie’s mum and dad step in to guide her through it, they have a plan to keep Jamie alive by having Hannah carry his child by IVF. To this end there are all sorts of legal hoops to jump through and Hannah, with the financial help of his parents, fixates on getting the permissions in order. There is a fly in the ointment though. Freya refuses to sign a statutory declaration agreeing that Jamie had told her he wanted a baby - because she said he didn’t ever say to her that he wanted children, and she wasn’t going to lie.
Traumatised by what she sees as a betrayal, Hannah shuns Freya, and being a small community some of the towns people stop shopping at Freya’s small shop in support. Opinions are divided over the IVF, and Hannah feels no guilt for how her friend is effected, as she is totally consumed by her grief and obsession on getting pregnant. But gradually Hannah realises that maybe she didn’t know Jamie as well as she thought as slowly secrets, lies and family cover ups about him are revealed. At first she refuses to believe what she is told but eventually starts to follow up on the accusations and finds out that just maybe he wasn’t the great person she thought he was and that he had been appallingly deceitful. And now she needs friends to get out of the mess she is in.
The characters of Freya and Hannah are well described. I certainly liked Freya much better, Hannah I just wanted to shake and tell her to take a grip. Author, Fiona Lowe’s superpower is writing about flawed characters and explaining what makes them tick. The story was page turning and I was hooked from page one, reading it from beginning to end in one sitting. There are a few issues covered as the story unfolds and is certainly thought provoking. A huge 5 stars from me, I really recommend this book.
With thanks to Netgalley and HQ Fiction for my copy to review
Freya is helping Hannah get ready for the garden wedding at Jamie’s parents property when disaster strikes - Jamie is killed in a car accident and Hannah’s world comes to an end. Her grief overwhelms her and Jamie’s mum and dad step in to guide her through it, they have a plan to keep Jamie alive by having Hannah carry his child by IVF. To this end there are all sorts of legal hoops to jump through and Hannah, with the financial help of his parents, fixates on getting the permissions in order. There is a fly in the ointment though. Freya refuses to sign a statutory declaration agreeing that Jamie had told her he wanted a baby - because she said he didn’t ever say to her that he wanted children, and she wasn’t going to lie.
Traumatised by what she sees as a betrayal, Hannah shuns Freya, and being a small community some of the towns people stop shopping at Freya’s small shop in support. Opinions are divided over the IVF, and Hannah feels no guilt for how her friend is effected, as she is totally consumed by her grief and obsession on getting pregnant. But gradually Hannah realises that maybe she didn’t know Jamie as well as she thought as slowly secrets, lies and family cover ups about him are revealed. At first she refuses to believe what she is told but eventually starts to follow up on the accusations and finds out that just maybe he wasn’t the great person she thought he was and that he had been appallingly deceitful. And now she needs friends to get out of the mess she is in.
The characters of Freya and Hannah are well described. I certainly liked Freya much better, Hannah I just wanted to shake and tell her to take a grip. Author, Fiona Lowe’s superpower is writing about flawed characters and explaining what makes them tick. The story was page turning and I was hooked from page one, reading it from beginning to end in one sitting. There are a few issues covered as the story unfolds and is certainly thought provoking. A huge 5 stars from me, I really recommend this book.
With thanks to Netgalley and HQ Fiction for my copy to review
January 27, 2024
This was my first time reading Fiona Lowe and while it wasn't the type of book I'd normally pick up, I have been trying to broaden my horizons on what I read.
'The Accident' explores the fallout of a car accident and how it affects various members of a small, country community and, pretty soon, secrets start to eke out putting our main characters, Hannah and Freya, at odds and casting doubt over the squeaky clean image of the deceased.
The author does a good job of sowing the seeds of something being not quite right although I didn't quite see just how far it was going to go - on the one hand, I thought it asked for a little too much suspension of disbelief; on the other hand, I thought it was quite a clever take on a fairly archetypal plot twist.
She also does a great job of illustrating the small town mentality where everyone knows everyone's business, and feels qualified to comment, especially around the subject of kids / no kids which was explored quite well.
I liked and empathised with Freya a lot more than I did with Hannah who seemed both incapable, and unwilling, to step back and see the wood from the trees. I couldn't warm to her in the same way; I know we're watching a woman dealing with grief and struggling desperately with it but her decision-making and logic at certain points just didn't ring true, even for someone who was grieving.
One other thing that bugged me, and I don't think this is particularly spoilery - when Freya goes to lay flowers at the crash site and the car is still there, unguarded - this would never happen. The road would be closed following a fatal accident and it would be highly unlikely to reopen while the vehicle was still on the scene.
Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
'The Accident' explores the fallout of a car accident and how it affects various members of a small, country community and, pretty soon, secrets start to eke out putting our main characters, Hannah and Freya, at odds and casting doubt over the squeaky clean image of the deceased.
The author does a good job of sowing the seeds of something being not quite right although I didn't quite see just how far it was going to go - on the one hand, I thought it asked for a little too much suspension of disbelief; on the other hand, I thought it was quite a clever take on a fairly archetypal plot twist.
She also does a great job of illustrating the small town mentality where everyone knows everyone's business, and feels qualified to comment, especially around the subject of kids / no kids which was explored quite well.
I liked and empathised with Freya a lot more than I did with Hannah who seemed both incapable, and unwilling, to step back and see the wood from the trees. I couldn't warm to her in the same way; I know we're watching a woman dealing with grief and struggling desperately with it but her decision-making and logic at certain points just didn't ring true, even for someone who was grieving.
One other thing that bugged me, and I don't think this is particularly spoilery - when Freya goes to lay flowers at the crash site and the car is still there, unguarded - this would never happen. The road would be closed following a fatal accident and it would be highly unlikely to reopen while the vehicle was still on the scene.
Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
June 5, 2024
I had high hopes for this book due to the rating, but it was boring. Mind numbingly boring. The story went nowhere, the plot was thin and a bit dumb. The "bombshell" wasn't that jaw-dropping. I've honestly been more excited to watch paint dry. Also, does Australia not have other trees? Just Gum trees? She mentions gums numerous times throughout the book, but that's the only damn tree mentioned.
January 29, 2025
This started out great but by 100 pages in I’d worked out the ending and nothing really happened in the whole middle half of the book? Like it could’ve been a book that was 200 pages long rather than 400! Literally the entire plot is on the back of the book in the blurb….
January 25, 2025
The Accident
Hours away from the wedding of her dreams, to a man she adores, Hannah in preparing her wedding venue with her best friend Freya. When they hear the sirens, they hardly acknowledge the sound thinking they are rushing to a bushfire. Both friends are stunned when an old gum tree falls on to the outdoor setting for the wedding.
The shocks keep coming when they discover the sirens were not running to a fire but to a shocking car accident. The vehicle has veered to avoid two cyclists, one is a child, and the car smashes into a tree.
A shocking accident and even more so, the facts of the accident don't add up.
This stunning story by Fiona Lowe has it all. Lies, secrets and scandal. Other interesting topics in this story is the choice by some women who decide not to have children; women who will do whatever it takes to have a child; the abuse and degrading of women using violence and control; the abuse of substances. There is an interesting look at friendships and the value of truth between friends and how that can come between them.
A stunning, interesting and beautifully researched story by loved Australian author Fiona Lowe. This story covers a lot of subjects and Fiona Lowe has the gift of keeping the whole story in the front of the reader's mind while reading through what is a huge story with characters so very believable.
Hours away from the wedding of her dreams, to a man she adores, Hannah in preparing her wedding venue with her best friend Freya. When they hear the sirens, they hardly acknowledge the sound thinking they are rushing to a bushfire. Both friends are stunned when an old gum tree falls on to the outdoor setting for the wedding.
The shocks keep coming when they discover the sirens were not running to a fire but to a shocking car accident. The vehicle has veered to avoid two cyclists, one is a child, and the car smashes into a tree.
A shocking accident and even more so, the facts of the accident don't add up.
This stunning story by Fiona Lowe has it all. Lies, secrets and scandal. Other interesting topics in this story is the choice by some women who decide not to have children; women who will do whatever it takes to have a child; the abuse and degrading of women using violence and control; the abuse of substances. There is an interesting look at friendships and the value of truth between friends and how that can come between them.
A stunning, interesting and beautifully researched story by loved Australian author Fiona Lowe. This story covers a lot of subjects and Fiona Lowe has the gift of keeping the whole story in the front of the reader's mind while reading through what is a huge story with characters so very believable.
March 7, 2024
The Accident makes for compelling reading from the very first page. Set in the Western Australian wheat belt, this story is at times harrowing. It is also a cracking good read that kept me turning the pages late into the night. The two main characters, Hannah and Freya, each face massively conflicting emotions and relationship challenges as they negotiate their own personal feelings about having a baby. Hannah, having lost her fiancé Jamie on the eve of their wedding, is desperate to harvest his sperm and have his child by IVF, something that is actively promoted by his grieving parents. Freya, on the other hand, has never wanted a child but is conflicted because her partner, Ryan, does want his own child, a desire that is brought to a head with the death of Jamie, who was his best friend. With dark secrets being slowly revealed as the story unfolds and the emotional toil that Hannah’s wishes have on her friendship with Freya, there is more than enough to keep readers guessing. I always love Fiona Lowe’s books and this one is certainly one that I’ll happily read again.
March 29, 2024
The Accident is the second Fiona Lowe book that I have read and I found it very readable and engaging. I decided to start reading this novel prior to attending an author book discussion with members of one of my book clubs.
It was very interesting to hear Fiona speak about her motivation and purpose for writing this latest publication and to hear her read a section at the start of Chapter three which was originally going to be the start of the novel until her writing team persuaded her to add in two earlier chapters
Lowe wanted to explore the tensions facing women who opt to be child free as opposed to child bearers as well as the issue as to whether we ever really know others or only what they choose to reveal to us. She explored the struggles facing women in maintaining friendships and trust in varying situations.
Her own personal challenges with IVF underpinned the quest for the protagonist Hannah to try and access her dead husband’s spark and have his child to keep part of him alive long after ‘the accident’ occurred.
As a novel, it proved to be easily digestible but definitely thought-provoking at the same time.
It was very interesting to hear Fiona speak about her motivation and purpose for writing this latest publication and to hear her read a section at the start of Chapter three which was originally going to be the start of the novel until her writing team persuaded her to add in two earlier chapters
Lowe wanted to explore the tensions facing women who opt to be child free as opposed to child bearers as well as the issue as to whether we ever really know others or only what they choose to reveal to us. She explored the struggles facing women in maintaining friendships and trust in varying situations.
Her own personal challenges with IVF underpinned the quest for the protagonist Hannah to try and access her dead husband’s spark and have his child to keep part of him alive long after ‘the accident’ occurred.
As a novel, it proved to be easily digestible but definitely thought-provoking at the same time.
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