The Drowning

by Fiona Lowe

CC Cilento's best memories are of spending every summer holiday running wild in and out of the Friend family beach house with her cousins, James, Ollie, Felix and Lily. It's the next best thing to having brothers and sisters. They've continued the summer tradition into adulthood, getting together at the shack with its absolute beach frontage.
But now a bombshell has the four sibling cousins have officially inherited the property - along with an unexpected fifth share to CC. What starts out as the perfect gift, and a way of keeping the family connected forever, quickly devolves into an emotional power struggle. Half of them want to keep the legacy intact, while the others want to sell - and each side will do anything to make it happen. Soon, CC can't tell friend from foe.
When a body is found on the shack's beach, has this family dispute turned deadly?

Genres: Mystery, Contemporary, Crime, Audiobook, Fiction, Australia, Mystery Thriller

431 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 24, 2026

About the author

Multi 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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Reviews

[Fiona Lowe]

AN UPDATE ON THE DROWNING
Dear Readers,
The process of writing a book is long and the book is printed a solid month before the release date. During the time from final proofing to release is about three months. Why am I telling you this? Because I write contemporary fiction about today's modern world and in The Drowning there is an ADHD storyline. When the book was written the information about diagnosis and prescribing in the state of Victoria was accurate. On February 3rd 2026, this changed and 150 Victorian GPs will be able to prescribe ADHD medication. Prior to this it was only psychiatrists who could diagnose and prescribe. So before you leave a review slamming me about not doing due diligence, please know when the book was written it was up-to-date. I have no control over the government changing the system ;- )

So why did I write The Drowning? People fascinate me, as do the machinations of a family. Inheriting a holiday shack on a pristine piece of beach should be a dream come true. However, take five personalities and each person's memories of summer holidays, then add in the different experiences of adulthood where hopes and dreams often clash with reality. It's a recipe for tension.

It's my observation that families no matter how close can fracture over one incident. Love and affection can easily be trumped by resentment, old grudges and financial need. In The Drowning I have explored how one family deals with the gift of a lifetime. Be careful what you wish for!

I hope you enjoy The Drowning

Cheers,
Fiona

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complicated family is at the centre of this Australian mystery/drama story. Set on the Victorian coast, we meet the Friend family. As with all families, there is so much to unpack. This is no ordinary family and this is no ordinary story.

Money always changes everything, and the inheritance of the family beachfront holiday home is just the beginning. Greed, power, long hidden family secrets and more all contribute to tearing this family apart. The Drowning shows what people are willing to do for money. It is a slow burning first half, but when it ramps up boy does it get going. When a body washes up at the beach things really get nasty.

I was completely hooked on this book, gobsmacked at some of the choices this so called close family were making. They treated each other so badly, in a need to assert some power and get what they wanted. It was emotional, particularly for me on a personal level.

Fiona Lowe is a fantastic author of complex characters, making them relatable to the reader. One event sparks so much change and that is often what happens in life.

Thank you so much to HQ Insiders for the advanced copy of this book to read. It is also the March book of the month for the Thrillerfluencers Book Club. out now.

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4 Stars⭐️
The Drowning by Fiona Lowe is a gripping family drama mystery that will have you hooked. There’s a body found on the beach and suspenseful family dynamics are put into play in a small town on Victoria’s southwest coast.

The Friend family are the cousins CC used to love spending summer days with at their beach shack for fun times and family gatherings. She was a single child to a single mother so she cherished the special time this gave her with the big family she didn’t have and was the highlight of each summer.

When CC unexpectedly inherits a share of the beach shack along with her four cousins, a couple of them commence legal action challenging the will and start manipulating her. During this time a set of rules around the use of the shack are put into place and CC finds she can’t stay there freely.

An explosive secret is revealed! Family inheritances are an emotional subject and can create unexpected and bitter conflict, but could it turn deadly?

Loved the suspense, a highly immersive read!

Publication Date 24 February 2026
Publisher HQ Fiction AU

I’m was thrilled to be part of The Drowning bookstagram tour hosted by Benson Publicity & Harlequin Australian. Thank you for a copy of the book and having me along.

[Natalie M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

What an unexpected read! The title and blurb did not do this novel justice. The characters were dynamic and intriguing; keeping the plot flying along. Believable issues, typical manipulations and absolutely grounded in reality - I loved the family drama that underpinned the core concepts.

I did not see the blindsides or red herrings - very clever.

Definitely a highly recommended read.

[Rina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

CC Cilento has spent every summer at the Friend family beach shack with her cousins, a tradition that’s carried into adulthood. When the four siblings inherit the property - along with an unexpected fifth share for CC - what seems like a perfect gift turns into a bitter power struggle over whether to keep or sell. And when a body is found on the beach, the family dispute may have turned deadly.

I’ve read a few of Fiona Lowe’s books, and each one explores a distinct theme - she’s so good at choosing them. This time, it’s inheritance. I loved the slowly unfolding family drama with the Friends (and what an ironic surname for the story!). The tension didn’t just sit with the siblings - it naturally extended to their spouses as well, which made everything feel even more real.

Fiona’s books aren’t popcorn thrillers, and this was no exception. She carefully built the character dynamics before letting the suspense snowball into high-stakes, high-action scenes. By the final stretch, I was on the edge of my seat because I genuinely had no idea what would happen to CC. The story packed so many layers in one go and somehow they just worked well.

This is definitely a book best enjoyed going in blind. Just immerse yourself in CC’s reflections as she tries to find her footing, the shifting sibling dynamics within the Friend family, and the murder mystery.

(Thanks to Benson Publicity and Harlequin Australia for a gifted review copy)

See my bookstagram review.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to Harlequin for sending us a copy to read and review.
The memories, bonds made and endless summer days are golden when remembering childhood and school breaks.
These are shattered once you enter young adulthood and new priorities, directions and traits define your values.
CC and her cousins discover how life can brutally sever links to a bygone happiness.
An inheritance leaves the family beachside shack to the four cousins and CC.
On the surface it was a green light to use the place for those family gatherings and fun times.
The ugliness and greed of some was determined to derail this and create chasms between loved ones and erode sentimentality.
A washed up body changes dynamics and alliances form as the truth tries to emerge in a dangerous and tense way.
The essence of understanding social cohesion and dysfunction between cast members and strong character development is consistently delivered in all Fiona’s books.
This family saga component was then upstaged by the drowning and enmeshed twists made it feel like two genres were rolled into one.
Tension and intrigue offset a sad reality that inheritance can bring out the worst in people.

[Kiirstyannee.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE DROWNING - FIONA LOWE

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Thank you @harlequinaus for Feb's Thriller BOTM!

This book is a slow burn that I would best describe as a drama thriller. It is heavy on relationship rifts and does take a while to kick off. Through each chapter you get a solid picture of the importance of this place and setting that connects these people and tests their relationships.

As the book gets further along, you are desperate to find out who is telling the truth and what is happening! While I wish the action would have started slightly sooner, I still found this pretty addictive and the last 1/4 I couldn't put down.

Family, secrets and betrayal - The Drowning is definitely a book that you pick up when you need to sink your teeth into a plot that slowly unfolds with a few shocks along the way.

#hqaus #bookrecs #bookreviewer #thedrowning #kiirstyanneereads

[aplace_inthesun) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of The Drowning from Harlequin Australia in anticipation of the release and SM book tour.

This book brought back some memories of days spent with cousins at a shack built by my great grandfather on the south coast of NSW. A mix of lazy days, busy days, and time spent with a mix of outdoor pursuits and indoor fun. Summers were never long enough.

It’s with these feelings the MC CC returns to Portland (SW Victoria, Australia) to spend time with her four cousins after the death of a family member. The death sees the cousins inherit a shack and so begins the story.

The book takes a little time to lay out the players and set the scene; it’s some way through that THE drowning actually happens. Once it does, the pace picks up considerably and the slow pulling of the threads of this family, quickly begin to unravel. It’s one of those how well do you know your family dynamics, and a sense of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer.

CC for mind is a tad chaotic which serves to form the basis of her struggle at times. This aspect is weaponised against her despite her profession as a doctor, as the story unfolds, chipping away at her confidence; making her question thoughts, feelings and relationships. This isn’t so much about the investigation though there is a police presence, but it’s everything beyond the investigation with some romance sprinkled in the mix.

My post will follow on IG on 12/3 @aplace_inthsun

[Olivia Prenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ 3.5 ✨ but closer to a 4 than a 3 y’know. Can’t wait to give my thoughts on this one at book club lol

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I found the MC annoying at times this is the first book for a while that has kept me up late to finish it.

[Emma Swan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review on an advanced copy received from the Publisher.

I couldn’t wait to read this book and was rewarded as I simply could not put it down! I wasn’t expecting the reveal at the end!! The complex story of family dynamics and inheritance swirls around a story of wanting to belong and a raw look at life!

[Bine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Drowning was my first Fiona Lowe novel — but definitely not my last

Family can be complicated, layered with all kinds of emotions. CC Cilento has always cherished the holidays spent with her cousins at the family beach house. When she suddenly learns she has inherited a share of it alongside James, Ollie, Felix, and Lily, her long-held dream of being more than just a visitor finally seems within reach.

But not all of her cousins are as thrilled, some long-buried family secrets begin to surface. Who can she trust? Is it jealousy, greed or something else altogether?

I thoroughly enjoyed my first book by Fiona Lowe. Although it takes a while to get to the event hinted at in the title, that time is well spent getting to know the characters. The family tree at the beginning of the book was helpful — though once I’d met everyone, I only needed to glance at it once more to confirm relationships.
As the tension built, I kept guessing who the victim might be. I settled on one possibility, discarded it a few pages later, and was still completely surprised when the ultimate truth was revealed — just as I was starting to suspect something and someone else.

With family tension, manipulation, a touch of romance, a cute dog, plenty of twists and turns, and heaps of drama, this book kept me engaged throughout. I also loved the coastal setting and the small-town dynamics, which added even more depth to the story.

Thank you to Harlequin and Harper Collins Australia for providing me an Advanced Reading Copy as part of their HQ Insiders programme. I really appreciate it. The book was a gift in exchange for an honest review.

[Lu thrillskillsandchills · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

This was my first Fiona Lowe novel — though I do have her 2023 release The Money Club sitting on my shelf — and it definitely won’t be my last.

I consumed this entirely as an audiobook during a long drive, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I started it as I pulled out of my driveway and finished it literally two minutes from home on the return trip. Safe to say this one had me completely hooked.

I also love when an Australian story is narrated by an Australian narrator. It just adds another layer of authenticity to the setting and characters, and it really helped bring the coastal community of Kooramook to life.

At the centre of the story is CC Cilento and the complicated dynamics of the Friend family, whose long-standing holiday tradition at their beach shack is thrown into turmoil when an inheritance suddenly changes everything.

What begins as a nostalgic return to a place filled with childhood memories slowly unravels into something much more complicated as family tensions, old resentments and long-buried secrets start to surface.

This is a layered story that blends family drama with a steadily building mystery. The first half takes its time establishing the characters and relationships, but that groundwork really pays off once the tension ramps up and the twists begin to land. Several genuinely caught me off guard.

Engrossing, layered and full of unexpected turns, this one kept me completely invested from start to finish.

[Shae Bentley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

[Belinda Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different family dynamics to the usual family drama. Beach house, holiday memories, a drowning with undercurrents of manipulation, mental illness & a dash of cops and medical drama. This book has everything.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book and was looking forward to reading it. But I must say to me it was a bit lacklustre. The story of family, secrets, lies and of course the drowning....

Having said that it took quite some time to get to the drowning (page 201 to be exact) and there really was no excitement or thrills (if you could call it that) until about page342. The story dragged on and I found CC rather annoying. Some of the language I didn't quite understand, the author tried to add differing social concerns and problems into the story but it didn't flow well, didn't work for me and I found it all rather predictable and somewhat boring.

The Drowning
Fiona Lowe
Harlequin Books

[Anabela · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when a shared inheritance tears a family apart?

The Drowning follows CC Cilento, whose childhood summers were spent at a beloved beach shack with her cousins, the Friend siblings. When the property is unexpectedly left to them all—CC included—it should have been a gift that keeps the family connected. Instead, the inheritance ignites tensions over whether to keep or sell the shack, exposing long-buried resentments. As the conflict escalates, a body is discovered on the beach… and suddenly the stakes are much higher than a family disagreement.

The character development here is superb. You get to know each character so well—they’re multilayered and complex—and you understand the family dynamics long before the big reveal happens. There’s a sense that something is simmering just below the surface the entire time, slowly building the suspense. I constantly found myself questioning everyone’s motives… Who’s lying? Who’s manipulating who?

And then—bam. When all hell breaks loose, the story becomes a high-stakes fight for survival.

You could almost split this book into two genres. The first half reads more like contemporary fiction, digging deep into relationships and family tensions, while the second half shifts gears into a brilliant psychological thriller.

It’s also incredibly immersive and atmospheric—it genuinely feels like you can smell the ocean through the pages.

What a page-turner!

I’m so grateful to @harlequinaus and @benson_publicity for having me on this book tour, but mostly for putting @fionaloweaustralianauthor on my radar. This was my first book by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last—I’ll absolutely be diving into her backlist.

[Iris · Rating 3 out of 5]

For as long as she can remember, CC has spent Summer with her cousins, the Friend family at their beloved beach shack. This beautiful tradition continues on into adulthood but things change when the siblings and CC inherit the property. Everyone is surprised at the news of CCs share of the inheritance, and what should have been a wonderful gift to celebrate becomes a nightmare which uncovers secrets and deceit.

CC is thrown into despair and the family she once loved and desperate to be a part of is ripped apart. Who is left to trust when the people she trusted the most has let her down?

Fiona’s writing is captivating and well thought out. Family issues are raised and the cracks start to show in the first part of the story, with the intensity picking up after the drowning incident. Here, Fiona leaves readers second guessing themselves and trying to figure out who the culprit is.

If you are after a multi layered family drama then this book is for you.

Thank you @benson_publicity and @harlequinaus for the copy of the book and the opportunity to take part in this amazing book tour.

[Ellen (the_plentiful_library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like family drama with a strong focus on complicated relationships and power struggles then you will love this one.

CC Cilento grew up spending summer's at her cousin's family's shack on the Victorian coast. As an only child she cherished the time spent with her cousins James, Felix, Ollie and Lily. The four cousins have recently inherited the beach shack with a surprise 5th share going to CC. Not everyone is happy at sharing their inheritance though and some want to sell the shack while others want to keep it. Legal battles and dirty tactics ensue and then a body washes up on the beach. It's clear no one in the family can be trusted, how far will they each go to get what they want?

This one was a slow burn and then it exploded and I raced to the finish! I enjoyed the exploration of the power money has over people. I always think family and money shouldn't mix and this story is exactly why 😅
I live in Geelong, My Dad lives in Portland and My Mum and Dad grew up in Hamilton, all of them are settings in the book so it was fun to see them mentioned.

[Susan Mackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adored this story of generational secrets and lies, dysfunctional family dynamics and slow burn romance. Read the last 40% in one big gulp - because I HAD to know - and it wasn't who I thought. Masterful writing, Fiona Lowe.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found that the focus on the family relationship struggles and back and forth relationships, made the whole plot quite lacklustre. Found the turn towards the end rather predictable.
Only normal person was Tom tbh.

[Delana Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Sasha Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all Fiona Lowe's books. I wasn't enjoying our main character, CC, in the beginning of this book. I did slowly come around to her. The plot moves along quickly with lots of twists and turns.

[Kimberley (yepanotherbookstagram) · Rating 4 out of 5]

CC grew up as an only child, and cherished her summers at the Friend family beach house with her four cousins. Now an adult, CC meets the Friends for a weekend away at the beach house - and discovers that she has been given a share in the inheritance of the house, alongside her four cousins. What starts as a dream come true for CC soon turns into a nightmare.

Full of twists and turns, The Drowning kept me guessing the whole way through. My theory about what happened changed constantly, and I was still questioning whether characters were good or bad until the end. I loved this book and will definitely be getting stuck into the authors back catalogue!

Thanks to @benson_publicity and @harlequinaus for the review copy and for having me on this tour.

[Joanne Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Fiona Lowe… I had actually been to an Author Speak for this book and found her talk very interesting..

[Juanita Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting for two years for Fiona Lowe to release a new book. Thanks Harper Collins and HQ Insiders for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The Drowning. It wasn’t as fast paced as I expected but I enjoyed the journey and did not predict the twist.

[Emilie (emiliesbookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Fiona Lowe book and what a wonderful introduction!

Family drama, with a side of an inheritance dispute, small town romance, and a dead body?! This dysfunctional family takes the cake!

CC has spent all her childhood summers holidaying with her cousins at their grandparents coastal shack. CC is an only child and Felix, James, Ollie and Lily are the siblings she has always dreamed of

Now adults their lives have all moved in different directions but the shack always remains. When a new will is found and CC is named as a beneficiary of the shack. The news takes everyone by surprise, and most of all CC, who is thrilled to be included and now feels even more apart of the family

But slowly the celebrations fade, and the cracks begin to show when the older siblings move to have CC pushed out

The Drowning is part drama part psychological thriller. Very quickly you feel equally part of the family, and as the siblings start to fight the drama leapt off the page and I couldn’t put it down. Really twisty and I didn’t see any of the twists coming!

Very excited to read Fiona’s previous books now too

Thank you so much Benson Publicity and Harlequin for having me on this Bookstagram tour

[Michelle (shelle_reads_books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did find this a bit of a slow burn however there was a lot to set up in terms of the family dynamic and how everyone is related. Once this was all set up the story moved much faster and things started to happen.

All of the characters are really interesting so it was good to get to know them at the beginning so that you could form an opinion about everyone’s behaviors and actions. The main character CC is a doctor and she is the cousin of the Friends family. When cc unexpectedly inherits a share of the holiday home she is belated as she now feels as a part of the family like she always wanted.

This is a twisty story that will have you guessing until the last page. Not everything is what it seems.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiona’s brand of domestic suspense is so incredibly enticing and I struggled to put this book down.

As an only child, CC Cilento spent some of the best summers of her life at the Friend family beach house with her cousins James, Ollie, Felix and Lily. With the passing of their father, the four siblings have inherited the shack with an unexpected fifth share left to CC. What CC first sees as a gift that will keep her connected to her cousins soon turns into a battle, with half of them wanting to keep the house and the others wanting to sell. It’s not long before CC becomes unsure of who she can trust and when a body is found on the beach she questions whether this family dispute has resulted in murder.

What a fantastic and complex theme for a book, that of family inheritance, something fraught with emotion and power struggles. I loved the way Fiona set up this family and their personalities so that as the reader I thought I had each of their measures, but then this constantly changed as the story progressed. I was struggling with the same conflicting thoughts as CC and I enjoyed the tension that this added.

The concept of family and belonging was at the heart of this novel with CC never quite being part of the family until each the summer when she would again spend her holidays with them. I loved that feeling of the freedom that beach holidays always bring and could empathise with CC’s longing for a family of her own when it was usually just her and her mum.

There were so many intriguing characters all with what seemed like their own agendas and puzzling out how these fitted and what people were hiding was one of my favourite parts.

The Drowning was my first read by Fiona Lowe and it will definitely not be my last.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★☆☆ (3.5 stars)

The Drowning by Fiona Lowe is a slow-burn Australian family drama set against a familiar and atmospheric coastal backdrop, where long-held relationships begin to fracture under the pressure of inheritance, resentment, and buried secrets.

CC Cilento has spent every summer of her life at the Friend family’s beach shack in Victoria, growing up alongside cousins James, Ollie, Felix, and Lily. Those holidays created a bond that feels closer than siblings. When the cousins unexpectedly inherit the beloved shack together—with an additional share going to CC—it initially seems like a gift that will keep their traditions alive forever. But the inheritance quickly becomes a source of tension. Some want to preserve the shack and its memories, while others see an opportunity to sell. As loyalties shift and manipulation creeps in, CC begins to question who she can trust. When a body is eventually discovered on the beach, the family conflict takes on a darker edge.

This book leans far more into family drama than mystery or thriller. In fact, the drowning itself takes a long time to occur and almost feels secondary to the interpersonal conflicts unfolding within the group. For much of the novel, the real focus is on family dynamics, power struggles, greed, and manipulation. Personally, I felt the death storyline wasn’t entirely necessary and sometimes made the book feel like two genres awkwardly combined. The family saga element was strong enough to stand on its own.

Fiona Lowe does a strong job creating complex, flawed characters, and the emotional tensions between them feel believable. That said, I struggled to actually like any of them—especially the protagonist, CC. Her intense need to belong to the Friend family, despite already having a supportive mother, sometimes made her difficult to relate to. At times she even seemed to treat her mother as more of a burden than the person who had always been there for her.

The pacing was another mixed element for me. The story is quite long, and some sections felt overly wordy without adding much to the narrative. I also suspected the manipulative force behind many of the conflicts fairly early on. However, the final quarter did pick up in pace and delivered a satisfying conclusion that pulled the threads together.

One thing I genuinely loved was the setting. As someone familiar with many of the Victorian coastal locations mentioned, it was a real pleasure to read a story grounded in places that felt recognisable and authentically Australian. Books like this remind me why I enjoy reading local stories.

While the middle section dragged at times and I briefly lost interest, the stronger second half and engaging exploration of family dynamics made it worth finishing.

Thank you to Fiona Lowe, Harlequin Australia, and NetGalley for the ARC.