The Second Wife

by Ali Lowe

The Fairchild family have it all. At least that's what anyone watching the family of billionaires board the opulent Titan Pacifica would think.

But as Sydney Harbour Bridge starts to disappear in the rear-view window of the luxury liner, so too does any pretence that this is a happy family.

Unbeknownst to his children, CEO and patriarch Irving had planned to use the cruise to reveal his long-awaited succession plans. As glasses clink and elaborate dinners are served to the most notorious of Sydney's elite, it will soon become all too clear that family loyalty can only take you so far.

And although six embark on the journey of a lifetime, not all of the group will make it back to dry land again . . .

Dripping with scandal, secrets, grandeur and greed, THE SECOND WIFE is an unputdownable thriller, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 12, 2026

About the author

Ali 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

Reviews

[Lu thrillskillsandchills · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a clever, addictive read. The Second Wife unfolds as a journey in every sense of the word — emotionally and psychologically at first, and then quite literally as the story plays out aboard the fictional Titan Pacific cruise through the South Pacific. What begins as something glamorous and opulent slowly reveals a far more menacing undercurrent once the Fairchild family boards.

Told through multiple POVs and layered with transcripts from the podcast The Deadliest Cruise of All Time, this story completely pulled me in. The podcast elements were such a clever narrative choice, adding depth and tension while constantly making you question what really happened. Everyone feels like a suspect, and family loyalty can only stretch so far when power, greed and long-buried secrets are involved.

The twists genuinely caught me off guard. More than once I thought I had a handle on where this was heading — and each time, I was wrong. It’s one of those books that keeps you guessing whodunnit right up until the end, and the final outcome completely floored me.

This is the second Ali Lowe book I’ve read recently, and it’s easily my favourite of the two. The writing is sharp, the pacing is spot on, and the structure works beautifully to build tension. Tense, twisty, and incredibly well done — an absolute thrill to read.

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nine days . Six family members. Two deaths.

When one of your favourite authors publishes a new book.. you just drop everything and open the kindle. And you just know you'll have to cancel all plans and just devour it.

The Fairchild family are one of those families you wouldn't like to meet. They are on board the Titan Pacifica to celebrate Irving's 70th birthday. The Titan Pacifica is a luxury cruise liner with a deck specially made for the privileged.

Family loyalty can only go so far.. especially when Irving has some bombshells planned. Everyone is a suspect.

I had to pick my jaw off the ground right before getting my daughter out of bed and I just couldn't wait to get back to my Kindle. I did not see that shock twist coming. And Ali, you knocked this book out of the ball park.

I absolutely loved the transcripts from the podcast - The Deadliest Cruise of All Time. It flowed perfectly throughout the book. This is one book I recommend going in to blind because it was perfection.

Thank you Hachette Australia and Netgalley for gifting me a copy of the book for my honest book review.

[Ilana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super rich 70-yo with a colicky temperament. A greedy sister. A brother former playboy and ex-addict, with secret illegitime children. A revengeful second wife. A resentful daughter who was never allowed to enjoy the right of having a father. Also, a missing pair of black Loboutin that may be used as a weapon of crime. All those people and circumstances are brought together on a fancy cruise from the shores of Sydney as far as Nouvelle Calédonie. And then, there are the crimes: first the rich Irving, shortly after his daughter. So many people who wants them dead, but who is the culprit though?

The Second Wife by Australian bestseller crime author and journalist Ali Lowe starts slowly, but with a beginning that predicts a lot of suspense. And as a cruise is the perfect ´locked room´-like environment for crime(s), the author is hard at work to prove it.

The grains of doubt regarding the actions of the characters and their truth intentions are spread through the various perspectives shared by the characters themselves, but also grandly introduced in the fragments of a dedicated podcast whose transcripts are based on interviews with the main characters involved.

Nothing though prepared me for the truth about the main architect of the plan, and as I am writing this review I cannot stop from raising my eyebrows in surprise. Because, to be honest, I didn´t expect it.

The throughout description of the cruise organisation and the everyday details, including the social stratifications, are crucial in understanding the plot. Also, the emotional status of the characters is equally relevant for understanding their motivation and further acts. My favorite so far is Celia´s, the ambitious wife of the ex-addict and playboy Ridley, unique in its own way: ´That´s how angry she was - so angry the moon annoyed her´.

The Second Wife is a book to read when you can dedicate few hours in a row to it. I started it thinking that it will be my companion for a week at least, but ended up spending most of my time deeply focused in the investigation. Was really worth it, especially because I equally had the chance to discover a new good Australian writer.

The book will be published next June by Hodder and Stoughton.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Farah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Fairchild family patriarch takes key family members on a luxury cruise to celebrate his 70th birthday and discuss his plans for future management of their resources, there is little to give away the competitiveness, insecurity, dislike and jealousy that seethes beneath the surface of the interactions between this privileged few.

But from illegitimate children to untrustworthy staff members, from issues of addiction to obsession, the family dynamics here are influenced by any number of secrets being protected by various individuals.

Whatever the lingering tensions though, nobody expects things to go as far as they do on this supposed holiday. But when it comes to power and money, all bets are off...

This is an entertaining and twisty thriller that has something of a slow burn feel to it in parts. Overall, it's well worth your time.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Emily Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Hatchette Australia and New Zealand for an advanced electronic copy of Ali Lowe’s new book to be released in 2026.
This was an addictive story that I sailed through (pun intended! The Fairchild’s are a wealthy family onboard the Titan Pacifica, a luxury cruise ship destined for nine days in the Pacific.
With their presence comes drama, which is seamlessly woven through the story and exposed in jaw dropping moments and unravelling twists.
I love a location thriller that transports you into the story and this one has all the crucial elements - unlikeable and unreliable characters, multiple points of view, a podcast, mystery and intrigue.