Alex's life is becoming better, and she is truly living the life. Her pals throw her a true-crime themed bachelorette party because she's getting married soon; it's ideal for someone who is obsessed with the infamous 666 killer. However, when she awakens one morning, her pals are gone. Is this a well-planned joke or an official party feature? Is the murderer from 666 back?

Although I thought this book's concept was fantastic, I didn't enjoy the writing in it. The characters didn't captivate me in the same way that I would have hoped, and I didn't love them. To me, it was just passable.

OMG!!!!!!!! This book had me questioning everyone and everything! There was so much suspense, I didn’t want to put it down. I had a couple WTF just happened moments, a couple really good twists and turns, and it was so good! I highly highly recommend this book to those who love very suspenseful thrillers. If I could give it 6 stars, I would!

In one timeline, bachelorette weekend gone awry. In another timeline an investigation into a (perhaps wrongly accused) serial killer. Together, these plots intertwine to create The Bachelorette Party.

Alex is an intern on Crimeline, determined to claw her way into better standing by investigating the 666 killer. Her two best friends decide to stay on theme by giving her a bachelorette party weekend in the house where the 666 murders occurred. Unfortunately, Alex wakes up to a pool of blood and her friends are missing.

This is a tough book for me to rate. The plot is quick-paced and engaging, but the plot is also downright ludicrous in several places. Without giving any spoilers, all I can really say is that the plot line taking place in the present (the bachelorette party weekend) descends further and further and eye rolling territory as a book goes on. However, I enjoyed the author’s writing style and read the book fairly quickly. For me, I would say that the writing is a 4 But the plot is a 2- I’ll average that out to a 3. But I will also say that I’m not discouraged from reading other books by this author. I enjoyed her writing style and look forward to trying something else that she has written!

Sandra Block's *The Bachelorette Party* is a masterful blend of suspense, psychological intrigue, and chilling thrills that will leave readers breathless. Alex, the protagonist, is living her best life with a dream job as an intern on a top investigative news program and is engaged to the seemingly perfect man. Her friends, knowing her fascination with true crime, plan a bachelorette weekend with a dark twist, setting the stage for an unforgettable experience.

The story takes off as Alex and her friends arrive at an eerie, supposedly haunted hunting lodge in the Catskill mountains—a place tied to the infamous 666 Killer. The atmospheric setting is perfectly crafted, with Block's vivid descriptions making the lodge and the impending blizzard feel palpably real. The tension ratchets up when Alex wakes to find her friends missing, blood everywhere, and herself at the center of a chilling mystery.

Block expertly weaves Alex's recent prison interview with the alleged 666 Killer into the narrative, creating a web of suspense that keeps readers guessing. The lines between past and present blur, and Alex's desperation to uncover the truth and save her friends is gripping. The story is a page-turner, with twists and turns that are both unexpected and satisfying.

The novel's climax is nothing short of spectacular. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Block throws in a final twist that is both shocking and fitting. Alex's journey from a true crime enthusiast to a woman fighting for her life and sanity is compelling and authentic, making her a protagonist readers will root for.

*The Bachelorette Party* is a must-read for fans of thrillers and true crime. Sandra Block has crafted a story that is not only engaging and suspenseful but also deeply psychological, exploring the darker sides of obsession and fear. This book is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an advanced copy to review.

2⭐️

I was going to write a more positive review but honestly I just can't. This was a three star read for most of the way through, but the ending was so horrendously stupid that I took a star away.

Our main character Alex is a true-crime reporter/intern who doesn't actually seem very good at her job. She is writing a report/segment on the 10th anniversary of the 666 killer, Eric Meyers, who insists that he's innocent. So we have one timeline of her doing a terrible job at interviews and rehashing all the information she's gathered from police and trial reports, and the second timeline of her bachelorette weekend.

Her friends decide it would be fun (these friends are the worst) to spend the night at the infamous location of the biggest 666 murder, a depressing, heatless cabin in the middle of nowhere. Alex couldn't come here for research so I don't know why they thought this would be a good idea? Truly I would've gotten right back in the car and left.

This book is also filled with these prose-like sentences, like the authoer wanted it to sound really beautiful and poetic. This is an actual quote from the book after Alex reads an autopsy report, showing how much this did not work: "They don't paint the full picture of Nicole White, who was alive before she was dead." ALIVE BEFORE SHE WAS DEAD. You don't say.

A few things that irked me while reading:
-Alex goes to visit Ryan, a witness/original suspect of the 666 murder, and essentially writes him off as the killer because he lives in a trailer and drinks beer. She hasn't even interviewed him yet, but assumes he's too dumb to pull of a murder. Only people with high IQ's kill people I guess?

-The whole entire issue with the dreams. Alex is on medication for I think stress, which is totally fine- but one of the side effects is vivid dreams that she physically acts out. Like she punched her fiancee in the face, punched a wall, and literally stabbed a pillow with a kitchen knife. Her solution? To sleep in the guest bedroom with wind chimes on the door. At this point I almost put the book down from her absolute stupidly.

-Alex is getting threatening notes at work, which she assumes in from someone connected to the 666 murders. NOPE. Turns out they're from Greg, her soon-to-be stepson who is only twelve. They somehow had his DNA on file from a trip he once took to a police station with his school?? What are the f**king chances of that actually happening. We also never even meet Greg on page, so why would we care? Once Alex finds out, we never see her confront her fiancee, and in the end she's like "don't' even worry, let's forget about it." So what was the point of having this?

-There was a moment when Alex finally got cell service but also remembered that she saw a car mentioned in an Amber Alert (my god this book is so all over the place) and instead of calling the police with this potentially vital information, she calls her fiancee first. Nice.

-[ THE ENTIRE ENDING OH MY GOD. Alex wakes up in the middle of the night at the murder cabin, and the place is a crime scene- blood everywhere, her friends are missing. She then spends hours- and the entirety of the book- running around in the cold and dark trying to find them. She finally gets back and finds Melody, the two take turns having naps because who cares about the third friend I guess, and are then attacked by someone in a mask. After Alex shoots the intruder, we find out that her friends planned the WHOLE THING, which including literally sedating her, and then her and Melody sit around trying to decide what to do. We have to sit through pages of Alex spiralling and Melody apologizing, crying over Lainey's death, only to find out they are STILL pretending and LOL JOKES Lainey is fine. I would literally never talk to either of these people again in my life.
-Also the fact that in the end, Noah is the real killer? Alex never even interviewed him so wtf? This man meticulously planned his murder and successfully got away with framing someone else, and out of the blue decides to kill Alex? Knowing her friends will be back in 20 minutes? Sure Jan. (hide spoiler)]

Thank you to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers | Scarlet for the ARC!

"The Bachelorette Party" by Sandra Block is an electrifying and suspenseful novel that takes readers on a wild ride through a night of celebration turned nightmare. The story centers on a group of women gathered for a bachelorette party in Las Vegas, where secrets unravel and tensions reach a boiling point.

Block's writing is fast-paced and engaging, perfectly capturing the high-energy atmosphere of Las Vegas while delving into the dark undercurrents of the characters' relationships. The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, allowing readers to see the intricate web of lies, jealousy, and hidden motives that lead to shocking twists and turns.

The characters are well-developed, each bringing their own baggage and secrets to the party, which adds depth and complexity to the story. As the night progresses, alliances shift and true natures are revealed, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

Overall, "The Bachelorette Party" is a gripping thriller that combines the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas with a dark, suspenseful plot. Sandra Block delivers a compelling read that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers and anyone looking for a page-turner that keeps them guessing until the very end.

I want my time back. All of it.

The reasons behind absolutely everything in this book are simply stupid. Instead of being shocking, each reveal is simply more and more irritating.

How can anyone expect a reader to accept it???

Time and again, the lack of logic hurt my brain. The MC needs to throw her entire social circle away and start over. The mystery of our killer is banal, our convicted killer is even more banal, and the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink plot is more befuddling than entertaining.

I finished the book – hence the 2 stars – but I don’t even know what I just read.

• ARC via Publisher

A bachelorette party weekend. A serial killer. What more could you need ? This is such an amazing fast paced read that will keep you on your toes. You will not one to put this down until its finished!

I loved this book! I definitely did not think it was going to go the way it went. It was a very interesting story line and really made me feel for the characters

Ohhhh man, this fast pace thriller will definitely keep you on your toes and at the edge of your seat! 👀 if you like true crime this is also up your alley since our protagonist Alex, is an intern for a news investigation program called ‘Crimeline’ and she’s working on a piece about a serial killer by the name of “the 666 killer” and she so happens to be surprised by her two best friends who book the cabin where one of the murders took place..for her bachelorette! The back and forth timelines are always my favorite because it helps build the suspense 😱 this is a whodunnit type of thriller which are always entertaining!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc

This book was so good thank you for letting me read it. I will be recommending it to all my friends and family and anyone who asks.

A quick and entertaining read! Was an exciting plot and fun to watch it play out because that is literally so scary to have a serial killer coming after you and being aware of that. I was really glad to see how it all played out!

I received an early copy of The Bachelorette Party from NetGalley! Thank you for the opportunity.

Alex is a writer who is obsessed with true crime and more specifically the 666 killer. She has become obsessed and is perusing a story by actually meeting with the man who has been sentenced for the murders, behind the back of her loved ones of course. Her two best friends whisk her away for her bachelorette party, which is ends up being where else but the original home of the 666 murders! The story follows a wild night with lots of thrills and twists.

This book went in a totally different direction than I was expecting, but I didn’t hate it. It just wasn’t as cohesive as I would have liked. I still really enjoyed reading it, and have heard amazing things about Sandra Block!

It’s a fast paced read.

I enjoyed The Bachelorette Party overall but I expected more. The friends were not likeable people and were a turn off that almost made me not finish.

Thank you Scarlet for the digital ARC!

This book started off really strong for me but completely and totally fell off the rails when it came to the big reveal.

I will post more of my thoughts hidden in spoilers on Goodreads, but since I can't do that here I will keep it short and sweet and just say the twist did not work for me at all.

Regardless, I will not hesitate to read this author again, because the rest of the book did keep me entertained.

The Bachelorette Party pub date is September 3.

Alex is living the dream, and things are getting better and better for her. She's about to get married, so her friends throw her a true-crime themed bachelorette party--perfect for someone obsessed with the notorious 666 killer. But one morning she wakes up and her friends are gone. Is this an elaborate prank or part of the party? Or is the 666 killer back?

I really loved the concept of this book but the writing fell flat for me. I didn't love the characters and they didn't pull me in as much as I would have liked. It was just okay to me.

This book…I have so many mixed feelings on. Let’s start with what I liked— I liked our main character, even though I was a bit worried about her mental sanity with her relationship. I liked the investigation of a cold case storyline. I even liked her investigative journalism (though it was not always ethical). Sadly, I think the list of things I didn’t like might be larger than what I liked. I didn’t like how I felt like the author kept throwing more twists, not because they added to the story, but just to try to shock the reader. I also hated all the supporting characters. Jay, Melody, Lainey, Greg— none of them felt like good people! And lastly, the big reveal of the bachelorette party. I was MAD reading this…like what did I just read. That storyline was such a letdown and honestly, psychotic of her friends.

I have been looking for something that was as good as the book In A Dark Dark Wood and in the same subgenre. This scratched that itch so well. Hen party horror stories are so good. I loved this.

Alex is a true-crime devotee and her friends Lainey and Melody have planned the surprise bachelorette party of her dreams, taking her to the Catskills, specifically to an alleged haunted hunting lodge where ten years ago Eric Myers, the 666 serial killer stabbed a victim and wrote on the walls in her blood. Alex recently had a chance to interview this killer in prison as part of her internship with an investigative news show (because, you know, that’s what interns do. They don’t file and do grunt work. They interview high profile killers.)

The women are hanging out, then go to bed. Then Alex wakes up to find her friends are missing and her hands are covered in blood, and so are their sleeping bags. Did the police get the right person or is the 666 killer still at large? Could Alex be responsible? Can she find her friends?

Let me tell you, this group is about the dumbest collection of people in the world. I won’t spoil anything by listing the many, many ways in which this is true, but suffice it to say that by the end you kind of hope a serial killer comes along and puts them all out of your misery. Read at your own risk.

This is the story of Alex, a crime journalist, who’s on her surprise bachelorette trip with her two friends. They are taking her to a lodge where serial killer, Eric Myers, committed his crimes and is in jail. Alex goes to sleep and wakes up with her friends missing and blood on her hands. She starts to question everything!! 🫣
I enjoyed the book but, it did take me a bit to get into it. Thank you NetGalley and Sandra Block for the opportunity to read your work before it comes out ❤️