Speaking of Books: Fiona Lowe - The Drowning

A body on the beach. An inheritance.

A family pulled apart.

For CC Cilento and her cousins, the Friend family beach house holds decades of cherished summer memories. But now, they've inherited the property — with an unexpected fifth share going to CC.

What seems like a gift quickly devolves into a fierce emotional power struggle. Half the family wants to keep their legacy; the others want to sell. As loyalties fray and friendships turn to animosity, a body is found on the shack's beach.

Has their explosive dispute turned deadly?

Authentically Australian, Fiona Lowe’s stories are often triggered by a secret or

a mystery, and they explore the themes of family, community and second chances.

Described as gripping, thought-provoking, heart-warming and ultimately uplifting, Lowe's books have been praised for their emotional depth.

Fiona Lowe, an award-winning author, draws on her background as a midwife, sexual health counsellor, and family support worker to craft novels about relationships.

A childhood in Papua New Guinea, without television, instilled her lifelong love of books. She is the recipient of a prestigious USA RITA award and two Australian RuBY awards.

When not writing, she's a wife, mother to two adult sons, rail trail cyclist, community volunteer, and newly addicted homecrafts entrant. Her ideal downtime involves wine, knitting, and an audiobook on the couch.