Becca Reviews: The Castaways by Lucy Clarke

This novel is written from the parallel points of views of two sisters. As well as the chapters changing between characters, they also change between time. So we have Lori Now, Lori Then, and Erin Now, and Erin Then. It is done effectively and remains gripping where it can often be confusing when authors choose this style of narration.

The first thing to note is that the book hooks are very misleading.

'A SECRET BEACH.

A HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME.

WISH YOU WERE HERE?

THINK AGAIN…'

No, none of them wish they were there at all. They're not where they are meant to be, that's the point of a plane crash.

'It should be like any other holiday.

Beautiful beaches.

Golden sunsets.

Nothing for miles.

You’ll never want to leave.

Until you can’t…'

Again, the intended holidays never began, they crashed, and they do want to leave.

So once you've moved past these and your thinking that the book is going to be some conspiracy theory with people desperate to escape their holiday island we get to the true plot. Lori and Erin are sisters who plan a getaway holiday to a Fijian island, they are both escaping home pressures including a passionless job and a broken-down relationship. Within the first couple of chapters, we learn they fight before their final leg of the journey and only Lori ends up on the flight as Erin is still stewing over their argument.

The plane crashes and it's whereabouts and condition are unknown. Authorities find nothing and the passengers are presumed dead. Erin has spent two years researching the crash and half mourning her sister. As Erin is really beginning to lose hope someone unexpectedly shows up and throws a spanner in the works!

The chapters are short and the writing is fast paced which overall makes for a quick and easy ready, great for a holiday read---ironically! Many mysterious are opened up for us rather than just the obvious, where's the plane and passengers, and they all neatly fit together, gradually revealing more and more clues. The reveals felt natural on the whole, no clue or piece of evidence is shoehorned---or Jonathan

Creek-ed---in! There was some debate amongst my book club as to whether the finding of a certain clue was perhaps a little too convenient but I didn't think it was.

The middle chunk of the story was a little repetitive but I suppose, given the nature of the situation, that is accurate. If there had been a new drama or huge event in every chapter then it would have felt entirely unrealistic.

The characters were believable on the whole and fairly 3D considering some didn't receive much air-time, they were still reasonably fleshed out. Felix's character arc was interesting and logical. Daniel is written for us as someone we love to hate. The sisters both have admirable character arcs and are different enough characters to keep their relationship and the plot alive.

I did NOT predict the climax or the ending of the story. I was a little surprised by Clarke's choice of rounding the story off and tying the loose ends together. I think perhaps she wanted it to end this way to provide a somewhat happy ending but it's not overly neat or realistic, as shown by the fact the character in question has to justify and explain their actions. This feels like Clarke is justifying her writing also. However, nothing wrong with an ending that isn't all doom and gloom!

If you want something to read on a holiday or weekend away in front of a fire then this is a great option!

Read: 29/09/2024

Published: 18/03/2021

ISBN: 9780008334123

Price: £8.99 (GBP)