One of the Girls

April 15, 2022
An idyllic Greek island is the unlikely setting for the destination bachelorette party from hell. Six women, 30-something London professionals, gather on the fictional island of Aegos for a long weekend's "hen do." Bella, self-appointed maid of honor to bride-to-be Lexi, her childhood best friend, organizes the bacchanal held at the villa owned by the aunt of Bella's girlfriend, Fen. We know from the beginning that on the last day of the party, someone will die, but as to who, the only clue is "her red wrap" protruding from a body bag. Pay close attention to the walled terrace of the villa, which abuts a cliff overlooking a rocky shore. The conceit behind this prenuptial puzzle is that each guest harbors a secret. Lexi is 11 weeks pregnant, putting a damper on Bella's planned drinking games. Robyn, a soon-to-be-divorced single mother, may be gay. Fen's last visit to the villa was traumatic due to a humiliating encounter with a local waiter. But the secrets which threaten the very underpinnings of this so-called happy event are withheld until the end. As plot momentum flags, the challenge becomes to occupy the women's time during the four days leading up to the big reveals. Eleanor, the groom's sister, is grieving the recent loss of her own fiance, Sam. But how exactly did Sam die? Why did Bella leave nursing for jewelry sales? What did Bella and Fen quarrel about at the airport? Then there is Ana, also a single mother. A yoga student of Lexi's, how does she fit into the bride's inner circle? And Lexi, aside from her past as a star rock-and-roll dancer, is a cipher. Time passes distractingly enough, what with the blue Aegean, Mediterranean fare, energizing hikes, brutal hangovers, and petty squabbles, most sparked by Bella's disappointment at the party's overall lack of mojo. Unfortunately, the novel suffers from the same malaise. Treads a tortuous path between rising action and frustrating misdirection.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 2, 2022
A trip abroad for six 30-something British women leads to tragedy, in this decent if flawed psychological thriller from Clarke (The Blue). Professional dancer-turned-yoga instructor Lexi Lowe is getting married to Ed Tollock in a month, so her close friend and maid of honor, Bella Rossi, throws a bachelorette weekend on the Greek Island of Aegos. Bella’s girlfriend, Fen, has an aunt who allows the women to use her secluded villa on the island while she’s away. Ed’s quirky sister, Eleanor, accompanies them, as do a childhood friend of Lexi and Bella’s, Robyn Davies, and Lexi’s yoga student turned friend, Ana. Alternating chapters explore the innermost thoughts of the women, each of whom has juicy secrets involving the others in the group. Gradually, jealousy and resentment surface, and someone ends up taking a fatal tumble. The plot, which takes several colorful if farfetched twists, builds to a rushed conclusion followed by an epilogue that wraps up things a tad too neatly. Clarke keeps the pages turning, but this character-driven story focuses more on the relationships among the women than the whodunit aspects. Liane Moriarty fans may want to check this one out. Agent: Gráinne Fox, Fletcher & Co.

June 1, 2022
Lexi, a former dancer and newbie yoga instructor, is finally ready to settle down and get married. What better way to celebrate her upcoming nuptials with her fianc�, Ed, than with a fabulous bachelorette party on a gorgeous Greek island? When Fen offers her aunt's vacant Greek villa, the trip is booked for Lexi and five of her friends. They will spend the weekend frolicking in a picturesque setting. What could go wrong? Unfortunately, everyone is hiding secrets that threaten to upend the perfect celebration. How well does Lexi really know Ed? In this variant on the locked-room mystery, all the characters become suspects after someone is murdered. Told by alternating narrators, the twisting, suspenseful, and fast-paced thriller keeps the reader guessing until the very end. Grab a mimosa and join the party, as Clarke (A Single Breath, 2014) explores the complicated dynamics of female relationships while tackling difficult issues such as sexual assault, racial inequalities, domestic abuse, and bullying. Suggest One of the Girls to readers of Lucy Foley, Ruth Ware, and Shari LaPena.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.