Rating: 3.3/5
From the accompanying blurb you could be forgiven for expecting "One of the Girls" to be a locked room style murder mystery - but it really isn't. This is far more of a suspense mystery with significant elements of women's fiction thrown into the mix.
The premise is an appealing one - if not particularly original. Six women find themselves on the fictional Greek island of Aegos - the chosen destination for the hen weekend ahead of Lexi's forthcoming wedding. Some of the group have known each other for years, while others are more recent acquaintances, but (as you might imagine) each one has secretive aspects of their personal history that will become significant as the weekend unfolds.
Events are recounted from the viewpoints of six different protagonists. So many points of view can become problematical if the author doesn't have a careful and skilled approach, as it can become confusing for the reader. I have to say that, on the whole, Lucy Clarke does a fine job of giving each character a distinct and credible voice, so it doesn't take long for the six individuals to be clearly established in the reader's mind. In addition to the accounts of these six central characters there is also an anonymous contribution, written in italics, that is interspersed at various points in the narrative.
The characterisation is impressive throughout, which is a quality I have previously identified in Lucy Clarke's writing. Against that clearly positive aspect, there were also some elements that didn't work quite as well. There are times when very little appears to be happening that contributes meaningfully to the storyline. I never felt overly frustrated by this, nor did I find myself not enjoying the reading experience - Lucy Clarke's engaging writing style ensures that doesn't happen - but I would also have to say that I didn't really have a sense of gradually developing tension either, which is to the detriment of the overall impact of the book.
It is only in the final quarter of the novel that there is a marked injection of pace into the proceedings, where a number of "big reveals" emerge. Without wanting to give too much away, I found the revelations to be great fun, but I would also have to say that they are at the "little bit difficult to swallow" end of the credibility scale.
On the whole, "One of the Girls" is another thoroughly enjoyable read from Lucy Clarke and, while I don't think it is her best or most appealing work, it is certainly worth adding to to your reading list.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle Cloud Reader.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
![One of the Girls: Escape to Greece with the hottest, gripping crime thriller for 2022 from the bestselling author of The Castaways by [Lucy Clarke]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51pFUYgrPhL._SY346_.jpg)
Follow the author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
| Amazon Price | New from | Used from |
|
Audible Audiobooks, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
£0.00
| Free with your Audible trial | |
From the Publisher
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One of the Girls | The Castaways | No Escape | Last Seen | You Let Me In | |
| Your next escape awaits: | It's a holiday you'll never forget... | Wish you were here? Think again... | No one to trust. Nowhere to hide. | Two missing boys. Is anybody watching? | I'm in your house. I'm in your head. And now I know your secret. |
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Customer reviews
Fabulous as always from Lucy! Wonderful characters & great suspense. I couldn’t put it down! Truly fabulous! 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Images in this review
