Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten Narrator: Laura Jennings
Published by MacMillan Audio on June 10, 2025
Genres: Mystery
Pages: 304
Length: 8 hours, 42 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
On a remote, craggy island nestled off the coast of Sweden, four friends—Tilly, Anna, Linnea and Evelina—meet every year. Best friends since childhood, the idea is to drink beer, dance by the water, and shake off the weight of life's expectations. The location of the island is a secret to everyone but them. One night of reckless fun and secret-sharing, and then they return to their normal lives.
Ten years later. Ever since she was a teenager, Tessa Nilsson has been consumed by the story of four friends who disappeared on their annual trip to a remote island together. As her true crime fervor turned into a wildly popular podcast, Tessa urgently covered Sweden’s most gruesome cases, but could never find the answers behind what happened to these women who disappeared, leaving a few maddening clues but no concrete answers. Now Tessa’s podcast has crashed and burned, any chance she had at uncovering the truth vanishing with it.
Anneliese is Tessa’s best friend, and before she walks down the aisle, she wants to have a bachelorette party. The Baltic Vinyasa, a sleek, sophisticated yoga retreat on a small island off the coast—one with such similar characteristics to the tragedy years ago that it raises the hair on Tessa’s neck. The idea is to drink gallons of cava, do sunrise yoga, and get in their last chance to bond with the bride. Tessa will not pass this up. It’s her last chance to find out what happened to the four women, once and for all.
And it’s someone else’s last chance to get revenge.
I enjoy a mystery thriller sometimes and this sort where a party on an island gets cut off and then the bodies start dropping is a standard. But the circumstances and characters make it all new. The Bachelorette Party is a group of women in a bridal party going to a retreat on an island. The owner and the chef are just starting up the resort with yoga and vegan food and other wellness type activities.
Tessa has just lost her job and relationship, and may be getting sued. Her older sister is on this trip also. The women are all from Sweden. Tessa has done podcasts for years and one story she has always followed was a group of four women who went on a retreat every year until they didn’t come back one year. That year was on this island and was 10 years ago. The new owner of the island is the older sister of one of the victims and she hopes to interview her.
Tessa has a bad feeling from the start. She thinks the chef looks scary. The owner Irene on the other hand is calm and competent, and it turns out is somewhat willing to discuss her sister. Then things go badly fast.
The story was interesting and relatively easy to read. There were sections for the present 2022 and the previous retreat with 4 girls in 2012, which meant a lot of characters initially. So we know their thoughts and jealousies, their fears and hopes. The original 4 were best friends over most of their lives from childhood to twenties. The new group is a bridal party which is generally younger but still from the same social class as the original group.
I liked the story and Tessa, even with all her troubles. She makes a difference, being observant and aware enough to realize more options than most people. I was on the edge and worried for them throughout, as well as the original 4 girls. We do get closure on them which I always appreciate.
Narration:
Laura Jennings is a new narrator to me, but she has narrated many audiobooks. I appreciated the emotional tones she brought to the characters. The primary voice and thoughts were Tessa. None of the voices pulled me out of the story, but they were distinct and felt comfortable.  I listened at my newer 1.75x speed.
Listen to a clip:Â HERE
| Rating Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Plot |
|
| Writing |
 |
| Characters |
|
| Narration (Audio) |
|
| Overall: | |
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- Read-along & #Giveaway:Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews @ilonaandrews.bsky.social ‪@nyliterary.bsky.social‬ @tantoraudio.bsky.social @momsreadingproblem.bsky.social‬ @AudibleStudios #Read-along #GIVEAWAY #LoveAudiobooks #JIAM @ilonaandrews @nyliterary @TantorAudio @reneeraudman @natalienaudus - June 20, 2025
- Thrifty Thursday: Audio Freebies #KateBold #StephanieKing-myers @authorterryo ‪@kelleyhazen.bsky.social‬ #MollyBlack #NinaBerault #ThriftyThursday #LoveAudiobooks #JIAM - June 19, 2025
- 🎧 Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan @Allison_Brennan #VanessaJohansson #HarlequinAudio#LoveAudiobooks #JIAM #JIAMAudiobookChallenge - June 17, 2025
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-Audio
- 25-COYER
Thanks, Anne, for a great review as I was pondering this one💜
Thanks Jonetta. I liked it better than some did. The setting and all the personal relationships and the podcast aspect were interesting to me.
I have yet to try this author, and I do love the sound of this. I enjoy mysteries where the crime from the past is dragged into the present with a new crime. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Tammy! I liked the setting too and the fact they are from Sweden.
Ever since reading ‘And Then There Were None’ by Agatha Christie, I enjoy this popular plot situation of isolated people when a murder happens. Interesting that its also a cold case, too.
yes I also enjoyed that the people are from Sweden.
I almost grabbed this up but had too much on my plate. Sounds like I missed a good mystery.
I’ve seen mixed reviews but there were things I liked.
I have a read a couple of reviews for this one. It looks good!
Thanks. I like the Swedish characters and the old mystery tied into the new one.
Island mysteries like this are hit or miss for me, depends on how well the author does the whole story. Sounds like this was a good one for you though. Great review!
Thank you Lisa. I thought it was pretty interesting.
I think I would have enjoyed this a bit more if I had gotten the audio book but I’m still not sure this author is for me. I’m glad you enjoyed this one more than me!
Thanks Katherine. I agreed with your review. I found the Swedish characters and the old mystery, along with the characters more interesting.
I DID eyeball this one….maybe I’ll go back and grab it….