Bea can’t believe her luck when handsome and well-heeled Jake spots her at a bar, a meeting that which blooms into coupledom, and soon , engagement. He is kind and thoughtful, and she should just put her ex- completely out of her mind. That relationship didn’t end well, and this is a chance for a fresh start. Bestie Joy has her doubts, though: – Bea, with her green hair and archeology degree, has never been the “blushing bride” type, and fitting in with Jake’s large and wealthy family will be challenging. As soon as Bea puts on her engagement ring, a family heirloom and allegedly a relic from an ancient culture, things start to go awry. Her hair and skin begin to deteriorate, weird visions occur, and worse, her ex- starts texting her with increasingly ominous threats. Then there’s Millie— – Jake’s ex- and her mother-in-law Lorraine’s goddaughter—who thinks she should be the bride, and wants to control every element of the wedding. The hen do, the British term for a bachelorette party, is truly cringe-worthy, complete with blow-up dolls and a stripper/bartender. Flipping back and forth between Bea and Joy’s time at university and present day, this slow burn mystery combines elements of obsession, ancient curses, psychosis and otherness.—Dodie Ownes
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