A gripping and thought-provoking new mystery from bestselling Australian author Fiona Lowe. Perfect for readers who enjoy Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.
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.
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 worlds are more shattered than Hannah’s 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…
Fiona Lowe is one of this country’s most prolific and masterful storytellers, crossing genres with ease. She’s known for her family dramas such as Just an Ordinary Family and A Home Like Ours that depict family, friendship, secrets and betrayals is small towns. Lowe also writes mysteries, exploring similar themes but with chilling premises. The Accident is her best yet, an emotional rollercoaster that explores themes around grief, friendship, secret lives and ethical questions around conception.
Freya and Ryan, Hannah and Jamie are two couples and best friends. With Hannah and Jamie’s wedding on the horizon, life for the foursome appears to be set. But then an accident blows everything apart, and the secrets that emerge afterwards are devastating.
Hannah is particularly compelling. She’s finally moving forward after some tragic events shaped her recent life and feels hopeful now for the future – a future with Jamie. Without giving away any spoilers, her journey is at the centre here, and you’ll feel torn as she comes face to face with some shocking truths. There is one chapter with Freya that raises some ethical questions, and Lowe handles this deftly. Her creative choices with Freya will have you thinking about this book for days. In fact, this really is where Lowe excels – she writes about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. And she does it with finesse.
The Accident is a gripping read, and an excellent choice for book clubs. Add wine and let the discussions begin.
Fiona Lowe will be appearing on our Wednesday night Facebook Live, on March 13 at 8pm AEDT. Click here for more information.
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