The Castaways

This perceptive psychological thriller from bestseller Clarke (The Surf House) explores the aftermath of a brutal fight between British sisters Erin and Lori the night before they plan to leave for a holiday in Fiji. Hurt and angry after the sisterly row, Erin declines to join Lori on the plane at the last minute, only to be plunged into a pit of survivor’s guilt when the aircraft disappears mid-flight. All the passengers, including Lori, are declared dead, but two years later, the plane’s pilot emerges from hiding, igniting Erin’s hope that her sister might still be alive. The pilot claims he’s the sole survivor, but a determined Erin heads off to Fiji to search for Lori anyway. Clarke braids together Erin’s present-day search with the harrowing details of what actually happened to Lori two years earlier; unfortunately, this dual structure diminishes the story’s suspense, with new developments in each plotline spoiling major moments in the other one. Still, readers more interested in Clarke’s sharp take on dysfunctional sibling dynamics than the element of surprise will find enough to enjoy. Agent: Grainne Fox, UTA. (Jan.)