The Private Island is set on the fictitious Fijian island of Loloma in a six star resort and the story begins with a body found floating in the ocean.

With a cast of very different characters - those you love and those you love to hate! Also it appears that everyone 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 …

If a murder mystery thriller with incredible twists set on the gorgeous Fiji is to your liking then Ali’s latest book is for you.

Thanks NetGalley for my advance proof.
I so enjoyed reading this book set in Fiji, whilst in Fiji.
Fantastically written. Kept me guessing right till the end. So much murder in a a beautiful place.

3.5 ⭐️ ‘s
I really enjoyed this. It was a little slow but the writing was excellent and the twist kept coming. I predicted some and was surprised by others.
Loved the Fiji island setting and loved to hate some of the characters. Luella was just awful and I loved her. Overall, a good read.

I really enjoyed The Private Island and my first Ali Lowe book! There was a lot of twists and turns set in stunning Fiji. I could almost picture myself sitting there on the beach, with a cocktail in hand and a good book. The story is told in multiple POV's which you'll all know can be quite hit or miss. This one was executed perfectly and had me on the edge of my seat. The characters were well defined and portrayed in a way where you'll either love or hate them. I loved Una, she was by far my fave character. And that epilogue had me shook, did not see that coming at all!

If you love Big Little Lies or White Lotus, this book is definitely one you should pick up.

Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Australia for sending this one my way.

Synopsis:

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.

WOW. What an absolutely fantastic thriller.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Private Island was beautifully atmospheric. I almost felt like I was there in Fiji. Ali described it so well.
It was full of suspense, mystery, secrets, drama, and betrayal. Pretty much everything I love in a good thriller.

Ali is an exceptionally talented author. Her writing style is addictive. I was drawn in immediately, and I couldn't put it down.

This novel gave me serious White Lotus vibes, from the beautiful island resort setting to the various messed-up guests and the mystery of the murder itself. I loved that I didn't know who had been murdered or how, and then it was slowly revealed further into the story.

The characters were all interesting, charismatic, and complex. Some of them were lovable, some I just loved to hate, but each of them made the story the captivating and compelling read that it was.

Ali is fast becoming a favourite author of mine. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Especially for fans of Sally Hepworth, Pip Drysdale, Clare Mackintosh, and Ruth Ware.

I very highly recommend.

5 well deserved stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Hachette Australia & New Zealand, and Ali Lowe for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the setting and the fact that it was a destination suspense thriller. I felt the book started off quite slowly, but it definitely picked up by the 60% mark, and I enjoyed the ending. If you enjoy destination suspense thrillers, you will enjoy this one!

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 star

I really enjoyed this book! It’s my first book from Ali Lowe that I’ve read and it definitely won’t be my last. I started and finished this today so you could say I was hooked! Loved it!!

There was so much happening but I loved it, I did get a little confused here and there because of the amount of characters and trying to keep up with all the names but overall loved it and it truly felt like I was reading a season of White Lotus (one of my favourite tv shows)

Welcome to Loloma Island Resort, a six star resort at Fiji.
The book begins with some guests arriving at the resort for their New Year celebration at the island.
Sadly, the supposedly holiday island turned into murderous island. From the incidental diving nightmare, unexpected sudden death, and a body washed up on the shore.
Ali Lowe created amazing plot and story line which will make you suspecting almost every guests and also the resort staff.
It's definitely a crazy twisty thriller that I could highly recommend for your best read of 2025. And, the epilogue just made a perfection for this book.

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!

Not for a moment would this reviewer wish to suggest that this is a time in history when the murder of an obnoxious rich person, on a luxury island, busily engaged in being obnoxious and threatening to all and sundry is an enjoyable idea, but it did come across, in this novel, as particularly pleasing. In a not as uncomfortable as as you'd think way.

THE PRIVATE ISLAND by Ali Lowe is a take on a locked room scenario, combined with some filthy rich unpleasant people and some not so filthy rich, but guests as well people, who all come together with a lot of motives to want somebody dead. As the blurb describes the main players:

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....

This list doesn't include a deeply put upon wife, an estranged and angry sister, and a quietly determined and clear-eyed Head of Housekeeping and Aunt.

It all comes together in a very engaging combination of characters, and idyllic setting. A tropical island preparing to see in the new year with a masked party, champagne, fireworks and a few more deaths than the staff are quite used to dealing with. Whilst one death seems natural, the second, on the other hand, is quite obviously anything but. The problem is that there are more than enough suspects, almost too many of them really.

THE PRIVATE ISLAND very quickly became very compulsive reading. Got to love an author with the skill to write deeply unpleasant people with this much joie de vivre. The author's that is - the characters demonstrated just how money does not make you happy, or human for that matter. The standout "investigator" in the bunch is definitely housekeeper Una although the put upon wife Kitty, eventually emerges from her internal conflict to become both an ally, and a lot more that's particularly unexpected.

The setting serves as a great exclusive locked room resort, but there's also connections between some of the characters and the place which help to bring the staff and the client's together when required, and all the while, there's trouble brewing, and murderous intent that includes the distinct possibility that there's more sympathy for the main suspect than there ever could be for the victim.

Right from the very start THE PRIVATE ISLAND was engaging, entertaining, and an excellent whodunnit. The why always seemed pretty obvious, the only mystery there seemed to be why it took so long for somebody to kill a person that obnoxious, but the lovely twist in the tail was that second to final reveal. It was so... base, so nasty, so apt. And then there's an ultimate reveal.

Destination thrillers are always a blast to read. I love feeling like I'm in a different setting and after reading them, I always itch to travel. Ali Lowe's The Private Island is set in Fiji. When a body washes ashore at an exclusive resort, there are so many suspects who could be responsible.

This was such an entertaining book which kept me flipping the pages so fast. I just had to know who did it! Told through multiple POVs and with twists aplenty, I found myself fully savouring this book. And with a cover like that, now I think I need to visit Fiji!

The Private Island is an exhilarating destination thriller laced with opulence, greed, jealousy and deception, making it the ideal read to wrap up your summer reading.

Fiji has always held a special place in my heart, and this book instantly whisked me back to its enchanting shores. Set during the lead-up to New Year's at an isolated lux six-star island resort, Ali Lowe skillfully weaves together multiple perspectives, capturing the essence of Fiji while expertly building an atmosphere filled with tension and suspense.

I loved the dynamic cast—characters I genuinely rooted for alongside those I couldn’t stand. It really kept my judgment on the edge! 🤣 It's truly refreshing to see Fijians portrayed as key characters in this narrative. I've always found resort staff to be incredibly kind and genuine, and this authenticity shines brightly in their perspective chapters.

The third act was a whirlwind, shattering everything I thought I understood with a series of shocking revelations.

I also love that the published copy includes a Map of the Island (because we love a map!) and the resort’s 'cocktail of the day' featured each day really elevated the island vibes to the next level for me. I can't wait to try every single one of them—let the fun begin!

Thank you to the team at @hachetteaus and @Netgalley for providing me with an eARC for review. I'll be grabbing a physical copy this weekend to add to my Ali collection, and also get it signed at the upcoming Criminal Minds Panel hosted by Dymocks.

Suuuch a twisty book!

Ali Lowe really does know how to write a twisty psychological thriller that throws you off the scent and this is another great one!

It was a really interesting setting, different to her last few books. Moving away from the family life, to the glitz and glam of a 6 star holiday. Where everything that could go wrong seemed to go wrong.

While I had little inklings along the way of who was doing everything when it all came together I was shocked. There were a few different story lines, but they all came together quite nicely at the end in what was an ending I didn’t quite expect. There was one character and storyline that I felt a little unnecessary but overall it was a great book!

I hadn’t read anything by Ali Lowe before diving into this latest release, but just a few chapters in, it was clear why she’s considered one of Australia’s top thriller/mystery authors.

The Private Island is exactly what it sounds like a an exclusive six-star resort in Fiji, where the ultra-wealthy escape for a holiday they’ll never forget. For this group of guests, though, paradise quickly turns into something far more sinister.

Told through multiple POVs, the story follows both holidaymakers and hotel staff as New Year’s shifts from a dream getaway to a nightmare. I’m not one for spoilers, so I won’t share much more, but let’s just say things take a serious turn when a body washes up on shore one morning.

Like any great thriller, I had no idea where things were headed - who was guilty, who was innocent, and who was simply caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Every character had a backstory that kept me wondering two things: how nice would it be to be in Fiji right now? And more importantly, what on Earth is going on, and can we trust anyone?!

With twists and turns every few chapters - even right up until the final pages - I couldn’t put it down. I was so hooked I devoured it in a day, and the ending? It does not disappoint!

Huge thanks to Ali, Hachette, and NetGalley for the early digital copy. To say I loved it would be the understatement of the year!

“Even the most beautiful things, she thinks, can be deadly”

Even though this was a murder mystery, it made me want to go back to Fiji. I've been to an island close to where this was set (although definitely wasn't a 6 star resort). It's a lovely place.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I finished it pretty fast, however i wish there was a bit more characterisation. Some of the personalities weren't strong enough, that they did fade into the background a bit and made them not memorable.

Overall i do recommend though! it's a fun read.

Thank you NetGalley and to Hachette Australia & New Zealand for the ARC.

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.

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!

Ali Lowe is back with another fantastic, mysterious, twisty thriller set in the gorgeous Fijian islands

It’s the lead up to New Year’s Eve and the guests are arriving at the luxury Loloma Resort & Spa. The hotel staff are prepared for the busy few days to come. Una has been a loyal and model employee, always striving for perfection in her job. And also looking after her grown nephew Sailasa who too works at Loloma. He is a hard worker but hiding something from his Aunt

As the guests arrive, we meet two couples who are ready for a relaxing getaway. Before Benedict and his billionaire wife Luella step foot off the boat, they already have the staff intimidated and on edge, knowing this couple will expect a perfect stay. Meanwhile, Fergus and his wife Kitty are far more relaxed and friendly, but soon Fergus recognises his old colleague Benedict, is it a coincidence they are here at the same date?

In between cocktails, sun and exciting water adventures the island is in full party swing! But when a body washes up on the shore the celebrations are halted, is there a murderer on the island?

This fabulous twisty thriller, is filled with lies, revenge and many suspicious characters
The tropical backdrop is the ideal location, plus the storytelling through multiple POVs had me guessing right up until the very end

Thank you so much @netgalley @hachetteaus for my early review copy

A fantastic gripping story of whodunnit!

It was an absolute pleasure to dive into this book with lots of suspense and twists.

A really great read that I couldn’t put it down and I highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher Hachette Australia & New Zealand for the ARC.

Ali Lowe delivers another highly entertaining, addictive read with The Private Island, the perfect beach thriller.

Set in a luxurious six-star resort on a remote Fijian island, the story unfolds against the backdrop of a glamorous New Year’s Eve celebration. The cast—both privileged guests and hotel staff—includes some truly awful characters you’ll love to hate, others you’ll root for, and plenty hiding secrets. When a body washes ashore, everyone becomes a suspect.

I was hooked from the start and couldn’t wait to dive back in each time I had to put it down. Just when I thought I had things figured out, Ali masterfully threw in twists that made me second-guess everything.

This will be a hit with readers who love an engaging drama mixed with a juicy whodunnit. The tropical setting gave me all the White Lotus vibes, and honestly, this would make a fantastic screen adaptation.

Thank you to @netgalley and @hatchette for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!