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The Private Island
New Year's Eve, Loloma Island, Fiji. At one of the most exclusive island resorts in the Pacific ocean, the champagne is poured, the fireworks are ready, and the countdown to new year is just beginning. It's set to be a night that no one will forget.
Especially when a body washes up on the shore...
But it's impossible to find answers when everyone here has a motive.
The billionaire's daughter, glamorous, untouchable, hungry for her inheritance.
The start-up founder, out of money, and out of time.
The young dive instructor, in way over his head and struggling to stay afloat.
The husband, blinded by desire, in all the wrong ways.
And the lover, hidden in the shadows, where no one can see them....
One person's holiday of a lifetime is about to be the last they'll ever have.
Make sure you don't miss the latest scandal. Everyone is obsessed with Ali Lowe...
Especially when a body washes up on the shore...
But it's impossible to find answers when everyone here has a motive.
The billionaire's daughter, glamorous, untouchable, hungry for her inheritance.
The start-up founder, out of money, and out of time.
The young dive instructor, in way over his head and struggling to stay afloat.
The husband, blinded by desire, in all the wrong ways.
And the lover, hidden in the shadows, where no one can see them....
One person's holiday of a lifetime is about to be the last they'll ever have.
Make sure you don't miss the latest scandal. Everyone is obsessed with Ali Lowe...
357 pages, Paperback
Published July 31, 2025
137 people are currently reading
1566 people want to read
About the author
Ali Lowe
6 books313 followersAli Lowe is the author of bestselling novels The Trivia Night, The Running Club, The School Run and The Private Island. Ali is a journalist by profession: she was Features Editor at OK! in London and has written widely for magazines, websites and newspapers. She has dual Australian and British citizenship and lives in Sydney with her family. Follow Ali on Instagram @ali_lowe_author
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
April 3, 2025
I loved it - this was a little bit of Death in Paradise and The White Lotus all rolled into one amazingly engaging thriller. I wish I was reading it while lying in my bikini on a beach somewhere. 4 solid stars from me! 🌴🌊👙
April 4, 2025
Twists all through this one as Ali Lowe takes us on a trip for New Year celebrations on the beautiful Loloma Island in Fiji, two couples, two single woman and the staff who work on the island are all caught up in this mystery, guests who seem to be connected in some way but how and why are they all here, come along and try to work out what is really going on.
What happens when one goes missing and a body washes up?
Husband and wife Benedict and Luella are extremely wealthy and Luella flaunts it really well she is the daughter of a billionaire and is not that nice, Benedict bows to her but is friendly to everyone.
Kitty and Fergus have used everything they have to get to this island for one reason but will they get what they want?
Thomasina was invited to come but is the reason she was invited the real reason?
Sofi, a French doctor why is she really here?
Sailasa the water sports worker and dive instructor who is way out of his depth at the moment, will he dig himself deeper?
Una the person who cleans the rooms and sees everything and is also Sailasa’s aunty will she work out what is going one before there are any more bodies?
The tension runs through the pages in this one, and the characters good and bad are wonderful, there is revenge, greed and so much more, MS Lowe had me thinking throughout and what a twist at the end and of course the setting is awesome who doesn’t love Fiji.
This is one that I would highly recommend to any lover of a good mystery/thriller.
What happens when one goes missing and a body washes up?
Husband and wife Benedict and Luella are extremely wealthy and Luella flaunts it really well she is the daughter of a billionaire and is not that nice, Benedict bows to her but is friendly to everyone.
Kitty and Fergus have used everything they have to get to this island for one reason but will they get what they want?
Thomasina was invited to come but is the reason she was invited the real reason?
Sofi, a French doctor why is she really here?
Sailasa the water sports worker and dive instructor who is way out of his depth at the moment, will he dig himself deeper?
Una the person who cleans the rooms and sees everything and is also Sailasa’s aunty will she work out what is going one before there are any more bodies?
The tension runs through the pages in this one, and the characters good and bad are wonderful, there is revenge, greed and so much more, MS Lowe had me thinking throughout and what a twist at the end and of course the setting is awesome who doesn’t love Fiji.
This is one that I would highly recommend to any lover of a good mystery/thriller.
May 7, 2025
Who doesn’t love a thriller set in luxurious environment ? I sure did, and there were interesting characters accompanying me. The thrill was real and I needed to know what would happen next.
April 20, 2025
*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...
🏝The Private Island is the latest and fourth novel from Australian author Ali Lowe. A story of travel, escapism, wealth, greed, luxury, jeopardy and death, this is a dark and glamorous story that I found virtually impossible to put down.
🏝I consider myself a big fan of Ali Lowe’s writing, having thoroughly enjoyed all three of this author’s previous novels. I was excited to delve into Lowe’s latest treat The Private Island and as I suspected it did not disappoint. Lowe’s narrative delivers the ideal blend of intrigue, tension, exclusivity and glamour, all set against the picture-perfect tropical backdrop of a private island off Fiji. This is a unique and well rendered setting which I’ve never encountered in fiction before. Lowe ramps up the exotic and isolated feel of this novel thanks to her moody backdrop choice.
🏝At the heart of this story is the mystery surrounding a body washing up on the shore of the private island and it was a scenario that drew me in from the first page. Lowe skilfully creates an air of deep speculation, with each featured character entangled in their own secrets, motivations and suspicions. Thanks to some very clever plotting, no one is innocent, making this a perplexing tale. Most of the characters are deliciously unlikable (Luella in particular stands out) but their flaws add further interest to this engrossing mystery.
🏝The Private Island does a good job of pulling apart themes of excess and personal wealth, complete with its seductive ability, its corruption and the way it manipulates relationships. Lowe exposes the dark undercurrents of money and possessions, which adds depth to the story’s high-stakes drama and mystery. The final fifty pages had me staying up way past my usual bedtime in an effort to find out the outcome of the murder mystery.
Before I close this review I must mention the "cocktail of the day" feature. I thought it was a great touch and thematically on point, providing a neat little prelude to each act of the unfolding mystery.
The Private Island is suspenseful, seductive and satisfyingly sharp. Ali Lowe’s new novel offers readers a fantastic escape and it receives a strong ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫4.5 star rating from me.
🏝The Private Island is the latest and fourth novel from Australian author Ali Lowe. A story of travel, escapism, wealth, greed, luxury, jeopardy and death, this is a dark and glamorous story that I found virtually impossible to put down.
🏝I consider myself a big fan of Ali Lowe’s writing, having thoroughly enjoyed all three of this author’s previous novels. I was excited to delve into Lowe’s latest treat The Private Island and as I suspected it did not disappoint. Lowe’s narrative delivers the ideal blend of intrigue, tension, exclusivity and glamour, all set against the picture-perfect tropical backdrop of a private island off Fiji. This is a unique and well rendered setting which I’ve never encountered in fiction before. Lowe ramps up the exotic and isolated feel of this novel thanks to her moody backdrop choice.
🏝At the heart of this story is the mystery surrounding a body washing up on the shore of the private island and it was a scenario that drew me in from the first page. Lowe skilfully creates an air of deep speculation, with each featured character entangled in their own secrets, motivations and suspicions. Thanks to some very clever plotting, no one is innocent, making this a perplexing tale. Most of the characters are deliciously unlikable (Luella in particular stands out) but their flaws add further interest to this engrossing mystery.
🏝The Private Island does a good job of pulling apart themes of excess and personal wealth, complete with its seductive ability, its corruption and the way it manipulates relationships. Lowe exposes the dark undercurrents of money and possessions, which adds depth to the story’s high-stakes drama and mystery. The final fifty pages had me staying up way past my usual bedtime in an effort to find out the outcome of the murder mystery.
Before I close this review I must mention the "cocktail of the day" feature. I thought it was a great touch and thematically on point, providing a neat little prelude to each act of the unfolding mystery.
The Private Island is suspenseful, seductive and satisfyingly sharp. Ali Lowe’s new novel offers readers a fantastic escape and it receives a strong ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫4.5 star rating from me.
January 27, 2025
Fiji is one of my favourite places to go on holiday. The island is beautiful with its beaches and resorts and the and the Fijian people are some of the nicest that I have ever met. They are so friendly and helpful and love a chat. My husband and I were there last January and this book took me right back to our resort. The toad racing, the bars, the snorkelling, what is not to love about an island paradise.
Ali Lowe has captured Fiji time perfectly. I was so engrossed in this story and I could picture it all vividly from my visits. I loved the character of Una so much, she is what I think of when I think of Fiji. This is one island I would not want to visit though! I didn’t want to spoil the story at all, but this island is dangerous! Or the people there are I should say, Luella was truly awful, absolutely horrible. You will have strong feelings about her.
This will be the perfect beach read, slop on that sunscreen and get comfortable because you won’t want to put it down. Just fabulous! And that cover is gorgeous ❤️
Thank you so much to Hachette Books Australia for my advanced copy on NetGalley to read. Out February 25th.
Ali Lowe has captured Fiji time perfectly. I was so engrossed in this story and I could picture it all vividly from my visits. I loved the character of Una so much, she is what I think of when I think of Fiji. This is one island I would not want to visit though! I didn’t want to spoil the story at all, but this island is dangerous! Or the people there are I should say, Luella was truly awful, absolutely horrible. You will have strong feelings about her.
This will be the perfect beach read, slop on that sunscreen and get comfortable because you won’t want to put it down. Just fabulous! And that cover is gorgeous ❤️
Thank you so much to Hachette Books Australia for my advanced copy on NetGalley to read. Out February 25th.
December 3, 2025
I've enjoyed all of this author's books so was looking forward to starting this one but I have to admit it didn't quite hit the spot for me. I liked it well enough and the concept was intriguing. However I didn't really form an attachment to the characters and with the constant switch between character point-of-views it was hard to be invested in any of them in particular. I found one of the main characters so extremely unlikeable that it felt a bit unrealistic. I did appreciate all of the twists and turns that meant the big reveals were not predictable and it was a fairly engaging read.
My overall opinion of this novel being average puts me in the minority of readers as reviews are generally quite high so perhaps I simply wasn't in the right mood for it at the time.
My overall opinion of this novel being average puts me in the minority of readers as reviews are generally quite high so perhaps I simply wasn't in the right mood for it at the time.
February 9, 2025
Big thanks to Ali and Hachette for sending us a copy to read and review.
I’ve made it no secret that I adore Ali Lowe’s writing, storytelling, and plot twists.
And as I continue to rave and shout from the rooftops how much I love her books, her latest, about to hit the shelves, The Private Island is another to add to her growing list of magnificent reads.
Prepare for a night you will never forget…
On an extravagant island at an exclusive resort, guests gather for a week to remember.
The rich and mighty celebrate New Year’s Eve, and before dawn, a body will wash up on the beach, dead.
Who is lying and who is keeping secrets?
Everyone is a suspect…
Greed, obsession, corruption, money, jealousy, revenge, and murder are all at the top of the menu…
An addictive, devious, and sharp book that I relished in and one that I will rave about until I lose my voice.
With characters you will love to hate, an exotic location, a mystery to unravel, twists to make you gasp, the holiday from hell, the nods to Agatha Christie, and a storyline to delight in.
Ali is just as fabulous in real life as her captivating page-turners.
I did google luxury resorts in Fiji during my reading experience, now I’m eager to travel there.
Get ready to forget life and be transported abroad to a glamorous destination for the wealthy and influential for a gripping reading adventure.
I’ve made it no secret that I adore Ali Lowe’s writing, storytelling, and plot twists.
And as I continue to rave and shout from the rooftops how much I love her books, her latest, about to hit the shelves, The Private Island is another to add to her growing list of magnificent reads.
Prepare for a night you will never forget…
On an extravagant island at an exclusive resort, guests gather for a week to remember.
The rich and mighty celebrate New Year’s Eve, and before dawn, a body will wash up on the beach, dead.
Who is lying and who is keeping secrets?
Everyone is a suspect…
Greed, obsession, corruption, money, jealousy, revenge, and murder are all at the top of the menu…
An addictive, devious, and sharp book that I relished in and one that I will rave about until I lose my voice.
With characters you will love to hate, an exotic location, a mystery to unravel, twists to make you gasp, the holiday from hell, the nods to Agatha Christie, and a storyline to delight in.
Ali is just as fabulous in real life as her captivating page-turners.
I did google luxury resorts in Fiji during my reading experience, now I’m eager to travel there.
Get ready to forget life and be transported abroad to a glamorous destination for the wealthy and influential for a gripping reading adventure.
February 3, 2025
What a location for a thriller! What a love letter to Fiji ‘the sound of the sea..sway of the green palms..the Fijian people with their humour, warmth and perpetually sunny outlook..’
I so did not pick the culprit, I was too busy soaking up the six star luxury and enjoying the cocktails!!!!
I so did not pick the culprit, I was too busy soaking up the six star luxury and enjoying the cocktails!!!!
November 7, 2025
The Private Island was Global Girls Online Book Club book of the month for September 2025.
I thought I had read previous books by Ali Lowe but apparently, after looking through Goodreads, I haven't read any of her books. So now I have a wonderful backlist to explore and she also has a new thriller coming out in March 2026.
Ali Lowe really pulled me into a twisty mystery with The Private Island. The resort lifestyle was perfectly rendered however for these holidaymakers it wasn't the idyllic break they were expecting.
The Private Island is a compelling mystery that exposes the complexity of greed and the need for closure via revenge. I was constantly surprised as the connections between the characters were slowly disclosed throughout the story. Cliff hanger chapter endings keep the pages turning. There is never a dull moment in The Private Island.
I also loved the addition of a cocktail recipe at the start of each chapter because what's an island holiday without cocktails!
The Private Island is a twisty tale of love, betrayal, family and secrets powered by money.
I thought I had read previous books by Ali Lowe but apparently, after looking through Goodreads, I haven't read any of her books. So now I have a wonderful backlist to explore and she also has a new thriller coming out in March 2026.
Ali Lowe really pulled me into a twisty mystery with The Private Island. The resort lifestyle was perfectly rendered however for these holidaymakers it wasn't the idyllic break they were expecting.
The Private Island is a compelling mystery that exposes the complexity of greed and the need for closure via revenge. I was constantly surprised as the connections between the characters were slowly disclosed throughout the story. Cliff hanger chapter endings keep the pages turning. There is never a dull moment in The Private Island.
I also loved the addition of a cocktail recipe at the start of each chapter because what's an island holiday without cocktails!
The Private Island is a twisty tale of love, betrayal, family and secrets powered by money.
March 8, 2025
Ali Lowe certainly knows how to write an engaging and well thought out thriller.
The Private Island has a cast of very different characters - some are very affable and well meaning and some are the most despicable, vile, self centred and narcissistic people I think I have encountered in a book.
Set on the fictitious Fijian island of Loloma in a six star resort, the story starts with a body found floating in the ocean. The victim and who found them are not revealed.
The story is split into three parts and has many POV, but is not difficult to follow at all as the characters are all very distinct. The interwoven stories show the backgrounds, needs, desires, wants and moral compass, if any, of all the major players and I was not sure who the culprit might be.
In true Ali Lowe style, the finale was an absolute feast of reveal after reveal and the epilogue was a nice touch.
The Private Island has a cast of very different characters - some are very affable and well meaning and some are the most despicable, vile, self centred and narcissistic people I think I have encountered in a book.
Set on the fictitious Fijian island of Loloma in a six star resort, the story starts with a body found floating in the ocean. The victim and who found them are not revealed.
The story is split into three parts and has many POV, but is not difficult to follow at all as the characters are all very distinct. The interwoven stories show the backgrounds, needs, desires, wants and moral compass, if any, of all the major players and I was not sure who the culprit might be.
In true Ali Lowe style, the finale was an absolute feast of reveal after reveal and the epilogue was a nice touch.
March 8, 2025
I really wanted to love this book but it fell a little bit flat for me unfortunately. This is my first by the author and I have a few of her other books on my TBR so now unsure whether to try some others.
What I did really like was the Fiji setting. I used to work on and off in Fiji when I lived in NZ and loved reading a book that celebrated the Fijian language and culture so well (even in the context of a 6 star tourist resort). The way the author describes and sets the scene is great.
However, I just didn’t get into the story or characters. Most of the characters were horrible people and I didn’t gel with any of them, which is not always a bad thing with thrillers but I also felt the character development wasn’t quite up to scratch either to feel fully invested. My favourite characters were Una and Sailasa two of the Fijians who work at the resort and these two characters kept me going despite the other horrible ones.
I wanted to see how it all played out and there was a bit of suspense and I didn’t guess the major twists. However, they didn’t shock me either.
Overall, if you enjoy a destination thriller with a lot of mysterious drama then you will probably enjoy this one. Especially if you have been to / love Fiji. This book has great reviews already so might just be my opinion but this one was an average for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What I did really like was the Fiji setting. I used to work on and off in Fiji when I lived in NZ and loved reading a book that celebrated the Fijian language and culture so well (even in the context of a 6 star tourist resort). The way the author describes and sets the scene is great.
However, I just didn’t get into the story or characters. Most of the characters were horrible people and I didn’t gel with any of them, which is not always a bad thing with thrillers but I also felt the character development wasn’t quite up to scratch either to feel fully invested. My favourite characters were Una and Sailasa two of the Fijians who work at the resort and these two characters kept me going despite the other horrible ones.
I wanted to see how it all played out and there was a bit of suspense and I didn’t guess the major twists. However, they didn’t shock me either.
Overall, if you enjoy a destination thriller with a lot of mysterious drama then you will probably enjoy this one. Especially if you have been to / love Fiji. This book has great reviews already so might just be my opinion but this one was an average for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2025
4.5 star
The Private Island starts off with a dead body appearing on the beach. Is it bad that as soon as we met one of the main characters I hoped it was going to be them that died in the prologue? 🙈😂 Sorry not sorry, such an insufferable character haha. I couldn’t put this one down, as with all of Ali’s books, you’re gripped to the pages and needing to know what happens next. A dual POV allowed us to see what was happening around the island from multiple people’s perspectives which I found enjoying. And as always, a little plot twist thrown into the epilogue, just to get your eyes bulging and making you say WHAT!? just as the book ends – I always love that part.
The Private Island starts off with a dead body appearing on the beach. Is it bad that as soon as we met one of the main characters I hoped it was going to be them that died in the prologue? 🙈😂 Sorry not sorry, such an insufferable character haha. I couldn’t put this one down, as with all of Ali’s books, you’re gripped to the pages and needing to know what happens next. A dual POV allowed us to see what was happening around the island from multiple people’s perspectives which I found enjoying. And as always, a little plot twist thrown into the epilogue, just to get your eyes bulging and making you say WHAT!? just as the book ends – I always love that part.
March 24, 2025
She's done it again.💯
Kept me focused & thrillingly distracted during a time of grief in my life.🩵
Well written & that ending 💥 🌪️🫣🧐
Kept me focused & thrillingly distracted during a time of grief in my life.🩵
Well written & that ending 💥 🌪️🫣🧐
September 3, 2025
More 4 1/2 🌟 Definitely a genre for me and found this story intriguing. An enjoyable read.
May 27, 2025
Another amazing book written by the incredible Ali Lowe. I have loved all of Ali Lowe's novels. The storyline was fantastic. I loved reading the views of each of the complex characters rather than the same narrator. I actually worked out most of the connections and twists before the big reveal. However, this book still kept me guessing. More importantly, I can't wait to make all the cocktails 🍸🍹
March 16, 2025
4.5 stars.
New Year's Eve, Loloma Island, Fiji. At one of the most exclusive island resorts in the Pacific ocean, it’s set to be a night that no one will forget, especially when a body washes up on the shore. Who are the victim and the villain? A billionaire’s daughter, an out-of-money start-up founder, a young dive instructor, the spouse, or the lover?
This was such a perfect holiday read. The island setting, the suspense, the unlikable characters and the twists were all perfectly interwoven to create this page turner which I devoured super quickly.
First of all, the description of Loloma made me want to book the next flight there immediately. The resort’s hospitality service was top notch (and realistic), and brought me into holiday vibe straight away. Then, we got the perfect mix of characters - both Kitty and Luella intrigued me from the start for different reasons.
I’d highly recommend jumping in blind for maximum experience! I don’t always remember the details of the popcorn thrillers I’ve read, but I know I’ll remember this one for a long time, because of its rich plot, character motivations and dialogues. The twists were layered and unpredictable, and I had fun!
(Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Australia for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
New Year's Eve, Loloma Island, Fiji. At one of the most exclusive island resorts in the Pacific ocean, it’s set to be a night that no one will forget, especially when a body washes up on the shore. Who are the victim and the villain? A billionaire’s daughter, an out-of-money start-up founder, a young dive instructor, the spouse, or the lover?
This was such a perfect holiday read. The island setting, the suspense, the unlikable characters and the twists were all perfectly interwoven to create this page turner which I devoured super quickly.
First of all, the description of Loloma made me want to book the next flight there immediately. The resort’s hospitality service was top notch (and realistic), and brought me into holiday vibe straight away. Then, we got the perfect mix of characters - both Kitty and Luella intrigued me from the start for different reasons.
I’d highly recommend jumping in blind for maximum experience! I don’t always remember the details of the popcorn thrillers I’ve read, but I know I’ll remember this one for a long time, because of its rich plot, character motivations and dialogues. The twists were layered and unpredictable, and I had fun!
(Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Australia for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
March 30, 2025
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibes: White Lotus, Cocktail Chaos, Island Drama
- - -
Ok it’s official - I’m yet to meet an Ali Lowe book I haven’t loved but I think The Private Island might just be her best yet.
This book not only separated timelines by cocktail recipes but it served up major White Lotus vibes for its own signature thriller mix with a secluded island resort, a murder in paradise and plot twists coming at you faster than a happy hour special.
The setting in Fiji was stunning and the completely immersive storytelling made me feel like I was beachside watching all the drama unfold. I adored the extra little Fijian fun facts scattered throughout the book and the cast of characters, both the wealthy tourists and the local island staff, were perfectly depicted to create a real twisty thriller.
I could not put this book down and the whole time I kept thinking ‘please let this have just as incredible of an ending that I don’t guess early’ (small wish I know 😅) and it delivered in spades. The multi layered ending tied this story together totoka (Fijian for beautiful).
If you love your thrillers fast paced, packed with tension and best enjoyed with a cocktail, do yourself a favour and grab this one immediately.
Vibes: White Lotus, Cocktail Chaos, Island Drama
- - -
Ok it’s official - I’m yet to meet an Ali Lowe book I haven’t loved but I think The Private Island might just be her best yet.
This book not only separated timelines by cocktail recipes but it served up major White Lotus vibes for its own signature thriller mix with a secluded island resort, a murder in paradise and plot twists coming at you faster than a happy hour special.
The setting in Fiji was stunning and the completely immersive storytelling made me feel like I was beachside watching all the drama unfold. I adored the extra little Fijian fun facts scattered throughout the book and the cast of characters, both the wealthy tourists and the local island staff, were perfectly depicted to create a real twisty thriller.
I could not put this book down and the whole time I kept thinking ‘please let this have just as incredible of an ending that I don’t guess early’ (small wish I know 😅) and it delivered in spades. The multi layered ending tied this story together totoka (Fijian for beautiful).
If you love your thrillers fast paced, packed with tension and best enjoyed with a cocktail, do yourself a favour and grab this one immediately.
September 7, 2025
3.5! Fast paced and loved the twists and turns, but I felt the ending was quite chaotic with a little too much happening with each of the characters
March 21, 2025
Loved it! If you're looking for a twisty, multi-layered mystery set in paradise with a clever upstairs/downstairs perspective of resort life, this one is for you! I couldn't put it down and had me guessing till the end. My only criticism is that now I desperately want to go to Fiji!! 😎🏝️🍹❤️
April 28, 2025
Another fantastic read
I loved the island setting, the different POVs and the unexpected twists
I was going back and forth on a couple of suspects. Loved that ending
I loved the island setting, the different POVs and the unexpected twists
I was going back and forth on a couple of suspects. Loved that ending
April 13, 2025
A select group of six guests travel to Loloma Island, Fiji, on Friday the 29th of December. They have travelled to this exclusive resort in the Pacific Ocean to be amongst the first to see in the New Year. The guests include two married couples Luella St John-Gray, her husband Benedict; Kitty and Fergus Miller, and unusually for this resort, two single women: Dr Sofie Barthélemy, and Thomasina Delana. They will be well looked after by the resort’s staff, including Una Simpson and her nephew Sailasa.
But, as the cover of the book reveals, this holiday of a lifetime is going to be someone’s last … Who? And why?
And so it is that I found one of the guests, capable of offending almost everyone instantly, particularly easy to dislike. Another guest, a start-up founder anxious to raise funds, and hoping for an opportunity to do so, is desperate. I found myself focussing on these two, until one of them died. And then the other goes missing, and a body washes up on the shore... murder, or misadventure?
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, trying to separate red herrings from real clues and finding myself caught deciding between multiple possibilities. If only I had Una Simpson’s powers of observation, and determination!
Ms Lowe very cleverly adds layers and twists to this story. One of the staff has a money problem: could he be involved? And what about the connections between three or four of the guests? It seems that almost everyone we meet at the resort has a motive. The story unfolds over a week, with a clever final chapter (including a twist I had not considered) set four months later.
Yes, I thought the ending was perfect. A terrific crime thriller.
This is Ms Lowe’s fourth novel, and I’ve added the other three to my reading list.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
But, as the cover of the book reveals, this holiday of a lifetime is going to be someone’s last … Who? And why?
And so it is that I found one of the guests, capable of offending almost everyone instantly, particularly easy to dislike. Another guest, a start-up founder anxious to raise funds, and hoping for an opportunity to do so, is desperate. I found myself focussing on these two, until one of them died. And then the other goes missing, and a body washes up on the shore... murder, or misadventure?
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, trying to separate red herrings from real clues and finding myself caught deciding between multiple possibilities. If only I had Una Simpson’s powers of observation, and determination!
Ms Lowe very cleverly adds layers and twists to this story. One of the staff has a money problem: could he be involved? And what about the connections between three or four of the guests? It seems that almost everyone we meet at the resort has a motive. The story unfolds over a week, with a clever final chapter (including a twist I had not considered) set four months later.
Yes, I thought the ending was perfect. A terrific crime thriller.
This is Ms Lowe’s fourth novel, and I’ve added the other three to my reading list.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
February 14, 2025
One of my guiltiest reading pleasures is the ritzy, glitzy vacation thriller genre. I love seeing the twisted, corrupt and ever so glamourous lives of the characters who, after arriving in isolated, paradise settings end up getting their comeuppance in a series of fun and inventive ways.
The Private Island by Ali Lowe ticks every one of those boxes and was a really fun read (highly reminiscent of elements of one of my favourite films of all time - the 1982 Peter Ustinov adaptation of Evil Under The Sun). There is no subtlety on offer, the key characters you hope will end up victims do and they do feel like exaggerations of the worst tropes found in this style of books but it does make the victim reveals all that much sweeter when it happens!
Pick this up ready for your poolside holiday read and I'm sure you won't be disappointed!
Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this digital review copy of "The Private Island" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
The Private Island by Ali Lowe ticks every one of those boxes and was a really fun read (highly reminiscent of elements of one of my favourite films of all time - the 1982 Peter Ustinov adaptation of Evil Under The Sun). There is no subtlety on offer, the key characters you hope will end up victims do and they do feel like exaggerations of the worst tropes found in this style of books but it does make the victim reveals all that much sweeter when it happens!
Pick this up ready for your poolside holiday read and I'm sure you won't be disappointed!
Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this digital review copy of "The Private Island" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
February 2, 2025
I love holidaying in Fiji, so when I heard Ali’s new book was set there I couldn’t wait to read it!
The start of the book is quite mysterious and I wasn’t quite sure where this was heading. There were lots of visitors on the island, there was also a lot of spite, hatred, secrets and nasty personalities.
Half way through the book, things started to heat up and I was not expecting this story to unfold! Whoa!! Excellent diversions and twists, that ending was pretty remarkable too! Didn’t expect that one!!
This book didn’t really have many likeable characters, only one, the lovely Una, our hardworking, lovely, Fijian house keeper on the island. She was definitely my favourite!
If you’re looking for a mystery filled with twists, this one is for you!
Thank you @hachette and @netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
The start of the book is quite mysterious and I wasn’t quite sure where this was heading. There were lots of visitors on the island, there was also a lot of spite, hatred, secrets and nasty personalities.
Half way through the book, things started to heat up and I was not expecting this story to unfold! Whoa!! Excellent diversions and twists, that ending was pretty remarkable too! Didn’t expect that one!!
This book didn’t really have many likeable characters, only one, the lovely Una, our hardworking, lovely, Fijian house keeper on the island. She was definitely my favourite!
If you’re looking for a mystery filled with twists, this one is for you!
Thank you @hachette and @netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2025
loved it, another great who dunnit twisty turvy fun easy read by Ali Lowe
February 9, 2025
Loloma is a 6 star resort and we follow the staff as they prepare for their guests to arrive. Nothing is too much trouble and they will even rake the sand for you.
As the guests arrive it is impossible to not feel an element of disgust at how some of them were going to be experiencing all of this luxury with their awful personalities.
Una the maid was a complete joy to read and I found myself devoted to her getting a happy ending.
The who, when, how and why of the murder mystery are written skillfully, and while some of this book has a few typical tropes nothing is as you expect and this is a fun, original read.
I really enjoyed this and will look out for others by the author. I would recommend to anyone who is interested in the premise but wants a different take on paradise. This would be a PERFECT beach read.
I received this eARC in return for an honest review, which this is. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.
As the guests arrive it is impossible to not feel an element of disgust at how some of them were going to be experiencing all of this luxury with their awful personalities.
Una the maid was a complete joy to read and I found myself devoted to her getting a happy ending.
The who, when, how and why of the murder mystery are written skillfully, and while some of this book has a few typical tropes nothing is as you expect and this is a fun, original read.
I really enjoyed this and will look out for others by the author. I would recommend to anyone who is interested in the premise but wants a different take on paradise. This would be a PERFECT beach read.
I received this eARC in return for an honest review, which this is. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.
April 2, 2025
Awesome.
It’s New Year’s Eve at an exclusive Pacific island resort—where wealth, ambition, and secrets collide. As the guests prepare to ring in the new year with champagne and fireworks, the festivities take a dark turn when a body washes up on the shore.
With no easy way to escape, the investigation turns inward, and everyone is a suspect:
✔ The billionaire’s daughter, eager for her inheritance.
✔ The desperate start-up founder, running out of money and luck.
✔ The dive instructor, drowning in secrets.
✔ The husband, blinded by temptation.
✔ The hidden lover, lurking in the shadows.
As the tension rises and loyalties crumble, one question looms over the luxurious paradise: Who will make it out alive?
Overall, The Island is a suspenseful, page-turning thriller that fans of The Guest List by Lucy Foley and Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty will devour. With its juicy secrets and high-stakes drama, this book is a must-read for lovers of tropical whodunits.
It’s New Year’s Eve at an exclusive Pacific island resort—where wealth, ambition, and secrets collide. As the guests prepare to ring in the new year with champagne and fireworks, the festivities take a dark turn when a body washes up on the shore.
With no easy way to escape, the investigation turns inward, and everyone is a suspect:
✔ The billionaire’s daughter, eager for her inheritance.
✔ The desperate start-up founder, running out of money and luck.
✔ The dive instructor, drowning in secrets.
✔ The husband, blinded by temptation.
✔ The hidden lover, lurking in the shadows.
As the tension rises and loyalties crumble, one question looms over the luxurious paradise: Who will make it out alive?
Overall, The Island is a suspenseful, page-turning thriller that fans of The Guest List by Lucy Foley and Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty will devour. With its juicy secrets and high-stakes drama, this book is a must-read for lovers of tropical whodunits.
February 20, 2025
The Private Island by Ali Lowe.
"Even the most beautiful things, she thinks, can be deadly".
Welcome to paradise - Loloma Island, Fiji. A tranquil place but when a body is found washed up on the shore everyone is a suspect and no-one is safe. Everyone has a secret to hide.
The Private Island is the perfect summer holiday read. The location was a chef's kiss. I really enjoyed the different points of view between the characters. Ali definitely gave us some unlikeable characters (one standing out more than others) and of course some likeable characters too (Una).
I loved the cocktail of the day recipes throughout the book and saved them for a later date. They sound delicious. Just when you think you have all the answers you get taken for another wild ride.
Thank you Hachette Books Australia and Netgalley for gifting me a copy of this book for my honest book review.
"Even the most beautiful things, she thinks, can be deadly".
Welcome to paradise - Loloma Island, Fiji. A tranquil place but when a body is found washed up on the shore everyone is a suspect and no-one is safe. Everyone has a secret to hide.
The Private Island is the perfect summer holiday read. The location was a chef's kiss. I really enjoyed the different points of view between the characters. Ali definitely gave us some unlikeable characters (one standing out more than others) and of course some likeable characters too (Una).
I loved the cocktail of the day recipes throughout the book and saved them for a later date. They sound delicious. Just when you think you have all the answers you get taken for another wild ride.
Thank you Hachette Books Australia and Netgalley for gifting me a copy of this book for my honest book review.
February 18, 2025
This book took me back to a wonderful family holiday we spent on a small Fijian island about 18 years ago. It described life on the island perfectly - I felt like I was back there, with the fragrance of the frangipanis, the waves crashing on the sand and the warm and friendly Fijian people. This island may have been a tad more extravagant than ours, but along with that came an abundance of mystery and mayhem!
From the minute the guests arrive, tensions are high, culminating in a catastrophic New Years Eve. The drama doesn’t just involve the visitors, though. The staff have plenty going on, too! There are wonderful characters to both love and despise, many suspects to keep you guessing, lots of twists and turns, and a very clever ending!
I loved this latest book of Ali’s! It’s an extremely addictive page turner and would make a great holiday read!
4.8 ⭐️'s
From the minute the guests arrive, tensions are high, culminating in a catastrophic New Years Eve. The drama doesn’t just involve the visitors, though. The staff have plenty going on, too! There are wonderful characters to both love and despise, many suspects to keep you guessing, lots of twists and turns, and a very clever ending!
I loved this latest book of Ali’s! It’s an extremely addictive page turner and would make a great holiday read!
4.8 ⭐️'s
March 6, 2025
Well bula Fijian White Lotus.
Opening scene a body is discovered washed up on the beach.
Then we meet our staff and guests at the elusive ‘Loloma Resort and Spa’ ready for another week of heavenly holiday adventures.
It’s a mixed bag- welcoming Una, dowdy Kitty, ruddy Fergus and downright evil Luella (rhymes with Cruella).
Loloma is a slice of tropical paradise but for this week it is masquerading as an island of death.
As the New Year’s Eve celebrations kick off, one has to wonder who will still be alive in the morning.
Diving, deaths and diamonds, oh my.
I had no idea what was going on but I really enjoyed this one from start to finish.
And was left with no confusion- everything was so neatly tidied up in part two.
This was my fave Lowe book so far- the writing is confident, acerbic, humerus - her literary niche is firmly established.
Wananavu!
Opening scene a body is discovered washed up on the beach.
Then we meet our staff and guests at the elusive ‘Loloma Resort and Spa’ ready for another week of heavenly holiday adventures.
It’s a mixed bag- welcoming Una, dowdy Kitty, ruddy Fergus and downright evil Luella (rhymes with Cruella).
Loloma is a slice of tropical paradise but for this week it is masquerading as an island of death.
As the New Year’s Eve celebrations kick off, one has to wonder who will still be alive in the morning.
Diving, deaths and diamonds, oh my.
I had no idea what was going on but I really enjoyed this one from start to finish.
And was left with no confusion- everything was so neatly tidied up in part two.
This was my fave Lowe book so far- the writing is confident, acerbic, humerus - her literary niche is firmly established.
Wananavu!
March 16, 2025
Somebody else commented here that this “vacation thriller” genre is a guilty pleasure, and I concur. I found this book an easy, entertaining read, and also reasonably compelling. I got through it in a few days and enjoyed the time.
However, the characterisation either felt very vague or completely over the top. Characters like Fergus and Luella felt like caricatures more than people and it made them hard to relate to. Other characters, like Filipe and Kitty, felt quite one-dimensional.
The plot was enjoyable but towards the end it veered towards the completely ridiculous. By the time Benedict fell off the cliff it was all a bit much. Did it need so many twists, turns, layers and backstories? I don’t think so, and it made it feel all very unbelievable.
Probably a 2.5 for me.
However, the characterisation either felt very vague or completely over the top. Characters like Fergus and Luella felt like caricatures more than people and it made them hard to relate to. Other characters, like Filipe and Kitty, felt quite one-dimensional.
The plot was enjoyable but towards the end it veered towards the completely ridiculous. By the time Benedict fell off the cliff it was all a bit much. Did it need so many twists, turns, layers and backstories? I don’t think so, and it made it feel all very unbelievable.
Probably a 2.5 for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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