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The Castaways

By: Lucy Clarke
Narrated by: Jess Nesling, Helen Phillips
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Publisher's Summary

A Waterstones Thriller of the Month selection and the Sunday Times best seller

A secret beach.

A holiday of a lifetime.

Wish you were here?

Think again....

You wake on a beautiful, remote island.

Sparkling blue seas, golden sunsets, barely a footprint in the sand.

Yet this is no ordinary escape. 

Next to the wreck of a plane, a stranger paces. Another sharpens a knife, scoring a list of the dead onto a palm tree. Others watch from the shadows of a campfire—all with untold stories and closely guarded secrets....

This is no ordinary holiday. 

This is no ordinary island. 

This is no ordinary book for the beach. 

Gripping, twisty and full of sun-soaked atmosphere, The Castaways will whisk you far away to the island—and never let you go. 

©2021 Lucy Clarke (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic Reviews

"Beautifully-written, we’re tipping it as one of 2021’s best reads." (Marie Claire)

"Totally addictive, clever and atmospheric. It’s a rare thriller that melts your heart as well as it keeps you turning the pages, but Lucy Clarke has pulled it off." (Erin Kelly)

"Tense, unnerving and emotional." (C. L. Taylor)

What listeners say about The Castaways

Average Customer Ratings
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Its Great

It's been years since I've read a book as I there is just too much happening to be able to dedicate time to reading, however after getting Audible and being able to listen while driving to and from work I've for the first time on my life finished a book from start to finish and that was The Castaways.
I came across this book at a book shop while waiting to board a plane to Canberra in 2020 and I remember it striked something in me as I've always liked the lost an an island scenario like the TV series LOST.
I'm glad I finally got to download it. it's great ! the story is intriguing making you sit in the driveway after arriving home from work listening that extra 10 minutes just to find out what happens.
I highly recommend this book.
The performance was also great !

Thankyou Audible and Lucy Clarke !

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great read

A great read filled with twist and turns - some you see coming some you don’t.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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I ALMOST MISSED OUT ON BRILLIANCE

I always read a few reviews before Purchasing a new book. This had a couple of negative reviews and I thought I’d be disappointed but ended up getting “CASTAWAYS” thinking I’ll give it a try. WOW… So glad I did. Once the story was up and running I couldn’t put it down. Each chapter pulled me deeper into the story.All I can say without giving away spoilers is You must listen to “CASTAWAYS” I was so surprised at how good this book was.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

accent warning!

Australian accent by narrator was abysmal. Otherwise, an enjoyable holiday listen with pleasing twists and turns.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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x

It took a few chapters to get into the book. Then really a good story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

too many words for too little action

an interesting if unlikely story that didn't really make a lot of sense for me

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant

I thought about this book all the time when I wasn’t listening wondering what would happen next. Made the long drives to work an escape - love the book , would be a great TV series . Great performance. Suspense all through the story

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Underwhelming with weird characters(some spoilers)

Had high hopes for this given its good reviews. However what I found was a book full of unlikeable, odd characters and a dull, predictable, very linear storyline. The sisters are weirdly obsessed with each other, even though there is a lot of resentment between them. Erin has a picture of Lori as her phone's lockscreen,which is odd/unrealistic and was only a thing to help the plot move forward. At one point a sister states that the other is "everything"to her, again a very weird view of the sisterly relationship. Sounds like the author is idealising the idea of this relationship. These two need therapy to get lives of their own.

Cliched Lori has no other goals or ambitions in life other than motherhood which is handily made reality when she pseudo adopts sonny as his mother conveniently died in the crash. Lori and Erin both have the personalities of a wet blanket. Lori often turns to the men in the group to ask them life questions as if she isn't an adult also and they are going to somehow be able to provide her some fatherly guidance.

Both sisters randomly keep secrets/facts back from the people they are talking to for seemingly no reason which is frustrating and serves no purpose.

Tried to push through to the end but I'm giving up.

Also, Erin's narrator needs major work on her Australian accent.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

the castaways was a great idea

unfortunately though it started off well it got stupider and stupider as it went along. instead of the characters evolving, they devolved into total idiots

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.