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The Trivia Night

The insanely addictive must-read domestic 2024 thriller with a shocking twist

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About this listen

 The events at a school fundraiser night get quickly out of hand, and the fallout leads to devastating results for a group of four couples...

Question: How long does it take to tear someone's life apart?
Answer: Sometimes just one night.

From the outside the parents of the kindergarten class at Darley Heights primary school seem to have it all. Living in the wealthy Sydney suburbs, it's a community where everyone knows each other - and secrets don't stay secret for long.

The big date in the calendar is the school's annual fundraising trivia night, but when the evening gets raucously out of hand, talk turns to partner-swapping. Initially scandalised, it's not long before a group of parents make a reckless one-night-only pact.

But in the harsh light of day, those involved must face the fallout of their behaviour. As they begin to navigate the shady aftermath of their wild night, the truth threatens to rip their perfect lives apart - and revenge turns fatal.

THE TRIVIA NIGHT is a gripping, domestic debut novel full of shocking reveals, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.

(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited©2022 Ali Lowe Contemporary Domestic Thrillers Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction Fiction

Critic Reviews

Unputdownable from the very first page, The Trivia Night was spookily familiar, funny, and darkly captivating. I loved it
Gossip, scandal and intrigue - this twisty tale is deliciously naughty and addictive. A great new voice in fiction.
A delicious read that takes a social event many of us have experienced - the innocuous school trivia night - and infuses it with bad decisions, illicit desire and danger. Perceptive, suspenseful and all too realistic, you will see yourself in these characters and be at once shocked and understanding of their actions.
Sex, lies and intrigue abound in this gripping and often hilarious story of suburban marriages in crisis, self discovery and school gates culture. If you've ever wondered about swinging, if you're dying to find out what a school parents' partner swap looks like, if you love a glimpse into the seemingly perfect lives of others, this is the absorbing weekend binge read for you
Sexy, funny, excruciating - a smart thriller about couples and school gate neurosis. I couldn't put this down
An addictive read about marriage, friendships, parent politics and the consequences of one unexpectedly wild night at a school fundraiser. I loved the voices of the three different women who tell the story and the secrets, lies and scandals that unfold irresistibly throughout
Light and curly rather than dark and twisty, this is a clever, witty, wonderfully observed satire on the bitchiness, rivalries and friendships that flourish when our children go to school - not in the playground, but at the school gate. I recognised so many of the characters that I could have sworn Ali Lowe had been eavesdropping on my friends and reporting the scandals at my local primary school.
A salacious yet recognisable dilemma that examines the consequences of bringing your secret desires to life . . . Exploring what actually happens when you attempt to make your fantasies a reality, this was a thoroughly entertaining, engaging read that I finished in one weekend. I loved it!
If you have to put one book on your TBR pile in the next few months, make it this one. It has it all: secrets and lies, toxic school dynamics, relationship issues and a deadly quiz night . . . Gave me major Liane Moriarty vibes
This Liane-Moriarty-esque page-turner of a read will have you gripped
If you're a fan of Liane Moriarty, Ali may be a new favoured author
This Liane-Moriarty-esque page-turner of a read will have you gripped
If you're a fan of Liane Moriarty, Ali may be a new favoured author
All stars
Most relevant
I enjoyed this book, interesting story, told from the viewpoint of multiple characters. Saucy at times and kept me wanting more!

Easy listen, great performance

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Thoroughly enjoyed this relatable yet outrageous Sydney based school-mum drama. Suspenseful and satisfying. Highly recommend.

Great fun and an easy read

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Absolutely loved loved loved this and can’t wait for more from Ali Lowe. The best!

The best!

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I’m glad I stuck with it, in the end it was an enjoyable read.
The performance was off putting, the bizarre English/Australian accent was very unpleasant, in my opinion, it would have been much better had an Australian narrated the story.
The story itself was very enjoyable and what started as a slightly confronting storyline ended up being very much a bit of a page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this author.

Almost stopped listening but I’m glad I didn’t…

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The first third of the book which looked at the relationships between that characters and the dynamics at play in school parental social hierarchies was well written and interesting. The fallout from the trivial night started off well when it explored the emotions the characters felt around their decisions but it almost became a different book once the mystery started.

From that point it became predictable, boring and unrealistic- I had to force myself to finish it.

The narration was awful! All the characters sounded like they were straight out of Porpoise Spit, I was waiting for one to exclaim “you’re terrible Murial” I don’t think the characters were written as nasally bogans but that’s how they were portrayed.

Started strong but fizzled out, awful narration

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