ONE OF THE GIRLS

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.