Mysterious, intriguing, and atmospheric!

No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding is a cosy, amusing tale that takes us back into the life of writer Eleanor Dash as while taking a break from the set of the movie adaptation of her book to attend the wedding of her best friend on Catalina Island, somehow annoyingly finds herself once again in the company of a murderer.

The writing is descriptive and light. The characters are sharp, creative, and quirky. And the plot is a well-paced, witty whodunit full of misdirection, clues, suspects, red herrings, solid deduction, and drama.

Overall, No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding is a fun, twisty, easy read by Mack that’s refreshing and highly entertaining.

Weird story of murder on Catalina Island where there's supposed to be a wedding, but a terrible storm is headed for the island.

After the wrap of filming the movie based on Eleanor’s first book, she and her sister/assistant Harper travel to Catalina Island for her best friend’s wedding. A storm is heading for the island, but Emma and Fred carry on with their plans – until Emma receives a note that “someone is going to die at the wedding.” When the inevitable happens – more than once – Eleanor won’t stop until she discovers who among them is a killer.

This is the second book in this series; I liked the first book but didn’t love it, and am even more ambivalent about this installment. I liked some of the characters, but there were so many of them, it was hard to keep track of everyone and how they were all connected. As in the first book, Eleanor often directly addresses the reader, which took me out of the story nearly every time. And the footnotes were even more of a distraction this time than in the first book.

Even before the first murder occurred, I was tired of the writing style. I didn’t really care who committed the murders or why, and found it a chore to pick the book up again to continue reading. Since I wasn’t invested in the story, I didn’t try to figure out who the culprit was, so the reveal was a bit of a surprise, but not enough to make me want to continue with this series when/if it continues.

After having so much fun reading book one in this series last year, I was very excited to read this. It did not disappoint!

Eleanor Dash is a bestselling mystery writer with a life that imitates her art. She keeps ending up in murder investigations every time she goes on vacation.

Witty and wry, Eleanor is delightful and makes me laugh. She frequently breaks the fourth wall to give insights and clues, encouraging the reader to sleuth along with her and solve the mystery. Several quirky characters round out the cast, many returning from book one, and some get in on the investigation. They are decidedly amateur detectives, impulsive, and have some pretty complicated interpersonal histories, leading to funny dialogue, missteps, and shenanigans. A bit of Hollywood glam also makes its way into this installment as the action opens on the movie set for the adaptation of one of Eleanor's books, and the bride and groom are well-known actors. I love that the book doesn't take itself too seriously and embraces some over-the-top antics. The vibe is lighthearted, but the mystery is intriguing and takes twists and turns.

Elizabeth Evans does a fantastic job narrating the audiobook! She nails Eleanor's humor and is very conversational when breaking the fourth wall, making it feel like she's genuinely drawing you into the story. She also brings all the side characters to life and does a great job with their accents, including Italian, British, and American. The breaking of the fourth wall includes footnotes, but they are seamlessly done with the audiobook. This is such an escapist and entertaining listen!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the gifted book and audiobook!

Just like book one of this series, Eleanor Dash’s comical banter was hilarious and wildly entertaining. I switched back and forth between book and audio for this one and while both are great, I highly recommend the audio - the narrator brings an extra level of fun to this books. This is a series I will definitely continue to read.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for this book.

Fast, fun, and funny — this second in the series is a must read for fans who love when an author breaks the fourth wall. I’m one of them!

This time, author Eleanor Dash and her sister, Harper, are involved on set during the filming of her previous blockbuster, When In Rome. Her best friend, Emma, has the lead role, and the two sisters couldn’t be more excited because Emma is going to marry her costar,Fred Winter, after the wrap. They’ll all go to Catalina Island for an intimate ceremony with some close friends, including Eleanor’s new main man, Oliver Forrest. There are a couple of problems right off, however. First of all, Hurricane Isabella is going to make landfall in Southern California that weekend and secondly, on the hand pressed wedding schedule, the last line says, “A midnight murder will be served.” Now that’s some kind of invitation for amateur sleuth Eleanor who obviously has some skills since this kind of thing is her writing forte. Except the guests get a lot more than they bargained for.

At times hilarious and laugh out loud funny, this is also an expertly plotted murder mystery with lots of red herrings and a group of possible suspects along with the requisite storm locking them all on the island. I have really enjoyed both of these books and can’t wait for another. I love the writing style, the main characters, and especially Eleanor who is self-deprecatingly wry and clever as she tries to figure out the whodunit. This has the feel of an atmospheric cozy. Some irritating things but I just glossed over.

I was lucky to receive both the audio book and the e-book ARC provided by the publisher so I could read along while listening. The narrator is Elizabeth Evans and she does an excellent job of voicing all the characters and giving them different accents and such to provide dramatic effect. It was a good production and it definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

What a fun whodunit! I did not read Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies, so I did not know Eleanor. The format is fun because Eleanor is the narrator of the story and she talks to us--she calls it breaking down the fourth wall--author style! This book is such a cozy mystery with so many red herrings and dead end leads. I didn't feel like I really got to know any characters very well beyond Eleanor, but it didn't detract too much from the story. I knew enough to cast doubts on basically everyone.
Thank you to #Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review

The second book in Canadian mystery writer Catherine Mack's Vacation mystery series sees bestselling author Eleanor Dash playing a cameo role on the filmset adaptation of one of her books and attending the destination wedding of one of her friends. When threatening notes appear, Dash is determined to figure out who is behind the death threats as the bodies start to pile up. This was a great second chance romance full of suspense and fun breaking the fourth wall moments. It was also good on audio narrated by Elizabeth Evans and perfect for fans of the Miranda Ferguson series by Ian Ferguson. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

The first book in this series, Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies, was a 5-star read for me last year, so I definitely had high expectations for this sequel... and it did NOT disappoint!!
I loved coming back to Eleanor and seeing what she and Harper have been up to since we last saw them in Italy, and Eleanor is getting a movie made from her first book, When in Rome, and of course every issue a reader has when a movie is made from a book Eleanor is having with this movie. Changing dialogue and different scenes altogether are just the beginning, but at least she gets to work with her best friend and star of the movie Emily. Its her wedding to co-star Fred we are going to and where the current body will be found. On an Island. During a storm. And the wedding must go on..

The setting is great, the mystery is so well plotted and with plenty of twists and turns I had no idea where the story was going to go, or who the killer was going to turn out to be until it was revealed! This has quickly become one of my favorite series, and I can't wait to see whats going to happen in the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance reader copy of No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding by Catherine Mack.

I was really looking forward to this one, especially after enjoying Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. The setup had potential, but I never fully connected with the story or characters. The pacing felt uneven, and while there were a few suspenseful moments, it just didn’t grab me like the first book did. Overall, it was an okay read but a bit of a letdown compared to Mack’s debut. 2.5 ⭐️

Eleanor Dash, bestselling author of the Vacation Mysteries series, is attending the filming of the movie adaptation of her first novel, When In Rome. Eleanor's best childhood friend Emma Wood is starring in the movie, and once the filming wraps, the cast heads to nearby Catalina Island for Emma's wedding to Fred Winters, Emma’s co-star. The wedding seems to be doomed from the start. First a hurricane is bearing down on the island, then Emma receives a note that says “Someone is going to die at the wedding.”. As accidents keep happening, and the body count begins to rise, it sems someone is intent on making sure the wedding does not go as planned.

I love this series. Eleanor is so much fun, and there are so many twists and turns that by the end I think I have suspected everyone in the book. The way the story ended set it up for book three, so I am excited for another Eleanor Dash book to look forward to. If you love a good mytery with a lot of humor, then you will love this.

I absolutely adored the first book in this cozy mystery series when I read it last year, and I was really excited to dive into the sequel. Now that I’ve finished it, I can honestly say—I liked it, but I didn’t love it.

The whole gang is back, tackling another quirky murder mystery, and the author’s signature style is still present: playful narration, eccentric characters, and plenty of fourth-wall-breaking humor. There were definitely some fun and silly moments, but overall, this one didn’t land as well for me. The footnotes weren't as enjoyable, I didn’t find myself laughing as much, and—unfortunately—I just wasn’t as invested in the characters or the mystery. Some parts even dragged a little.

That said, I’d still recommend it as a light, goofy mystery—perfect for a lazy afternoon or poolside reading. Just temper expectations if, like me, you loved book one.

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Publishers for an advance digital copy.

The Vacation Mysteries Series by Catherine Mack is my new must read when traveling. I read her first book, EVERY TIME I GO ON VACATION SOMEONE DIES while beachside in Mexico last year and loved it. Fast forward to 2025 and I’m AGAIN in Mexico reading her newest release. Catherine, I’ll make a deal with you. You keep writing sharp, hilarious mysteries and I’ll keep reading them in Mexico. We good?

NO ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE AT THIS WEDDING is exactly the kind of tongue in cheek, witty mystery I crave. Funny, whip smart, super twisty and full of distinct, unforgettable characters; this book is pure entertainment. Mack’s use of footnotes to break the Fourth Wall works so well - more so in the audio version, if you can believe it. It adds a level of cheekiness to the story while foreshadowing things to come.

Back are our friend, mystery writer Eleanor Dash, and her troupe of relatives, friends, lovers, and stalkers. Her best seller is being made into a film and the co-stars are staging a wedding. At least that’s the plan until threatening messages start arriving and bodies start dropping. Ms. Dash once again turns amateur detective and it’s pure folly.

I highly recommended this entertaining novel. I laughed out loud and smiled through the entire book. (And got ridiculously excited at the end! IYKYK)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press (Minotaur Books) for the advance copies. All opinions are my own.

Eleanor is back - this time to celebrate her best friend Emma who is getting married! But in true Eleanor style, this wedding will not go off without everything, and I mean everything, that can do wrong, going wrong.

Once again we find ourselves with a colorful cast of characters - but we've met a few of them before while we were on vacation with Eleanor and the crew in Italy. Emma is getting married - to her co-star, as they film the movie adaption of Eleanor's book When In Rome, which became popular after she almost dies on a book tour (if you haven't read book 1 in this series, stop and go do that before your proceed). As a reader, I immediately found myself right back in the swing of things with Eleanor, and I truly dread the day this series ends because I adore the particular brand of chaos she brings.

Set on an island in a hurricane, Eleanor must solve a series of murders and might have been murders, while trying to get a wedding off without a hitch. I promise you tenured mystery readers, you won't even guess where this book is heading - and that's what makes it so much fun. If you love a mystery that also makes you laugh out loud, you're going to love this series. And the way it ends, well, I am eager for book 3.

I really enjoyed Catherine Mack's last book and was looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me and I really struggled to get into it.

2 out of 5 Stars!

Eleanor Dash is the bestselling author of the Vacation Mysteries Series. Even though she is a mystery writer, she hates how murder seems to follow her around everywhere. Especially when murder follows her best friend from childhood, Emma Wood’s wedding. Emma is currently starring in When in Rome, which is Eleanor’s first novel. Emma is marrying her co-star Fred Winters, who is playing Connor Smith. Once filming wraps up, the whole cast and crew go to Catalina Island for the nuptials. There might be a storm heading their way, but nothing will stop this marriage. Until Emma receives a note saying, “Someone is going to die at the wedding.” It is up to Eleanor to uncover the murder, so true love can prevail, and before it is too late.

“No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding” by Catherine Mack is the second book in The Vacation Mysteries series. The first in the series, “Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies”, caught my eye with the clever title and gorgeous cover. But beyond that, the first book in the series was just okay. Truthfully, I was really hopeful the second book was going to grab my attention more, but unfortunately, it fell flat.

Overall, I thought this book was slow with not a lot of action and more accusations being thrown around between the main characters. I felt like they were talking more about everyone’s motives, without doing the actual detective work. After a while, it got confusing keeping up with everyone’s stories and theories. The characters, other than Eleanor/Harper/Connor/Oliver, seemed to blend together without powerful backstories. There were so many characters that looked like one another and acted the same, it was hard to keep track. Which, maybe, was the point the author was trying to make, but I just didn’t care for it. I think there are ways to properly confuse the reader to keep them on their toes, but I just didn’t think it worked out in this book.

I felt like the ending was obvious and confusing at the same time. I had my suspicions throughout the book, and they were correct. I do really like Eleanor, and reading her internal thoughts. I think she is such a fun main character and has lots of potential. Harper, her sister, is an amazing addition to the story. I love their relationship and how they always have each other's back while figuring out the mystery.

I think I have come to the conclusion that I am just not a huge fan of Catherine Mack’s writing style. While reading, I tend to get lost more in her books with all the dialogue that is happening. There are a lot of back and forth conversations, with it being unclear who exactly is talking. I will admit though, I do love the footnotes in each chapter. They are often hilarious! I really want to love this series, with the funny twist it brings to the mystery genre, but I can’t say I see myself reading the next book in this series.

Pick up “No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding” by Catherine Mack on May 13th, 2025!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, Catherine Mack, and Netgalley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

📚 E-ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

No One Was Supposed To Die At This Wedding
By Catherine Mack
Publication Date: May 13, 2025
Publisher: St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for this #gifted e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

If you love a cozy, laugh-out-loud whodunnit mystery, you are going to want to add No One Was Supposed To Die At This Wedding to your TBR list right now! This was a quick read with witty dialogue and sarcastic humor throughout that made for an incredibly entertaining book.

This is book two in the Eleanor Dash series about a female best-selling author who finds herself consistently playing the role of amateur sleuth in real-life, just as the female main character does in each of her Vacation Mystery books. This time, Eleanor is maid-of-honor for her best friend Emma's wedding on Catalina Island, and it becomes very clear that someone does not want this wedding to go forward. There's creepy threatening notes being sent to the bride, an impending hurricane headed straight for the island, and a plethora of devious Hollywood-types who'd do seemingly anything to get their big break in the industry. Can Eleanor figure out what's going on before this gets worse?

The secluded island with an incoming hurricane creates a fantastic locked-door setting for this whodunnit in which everyone is a suspect. You know the trope. There were twists I didn't see coming, and a couple twists I guessed right away. This whodunnit is almost campy in the best way. While it's a second book in the series and it was great to see the return of all my favorite characters from the first book, you could read this one as a standalone if you wanted to. However, the humor (and the use of footnotes) is so clever, you'll want to read every book in the series anyway, so you might as well start with the first book.

If you're a fan of locked room tropes, whodunnit vibes, and humorous writing in your mysteries, the Eleanor Dash series is definitely one you don't want to miss. Book #2 comes out Tuesday, May 13th!

#NoOneWasSupposedToDieAtThisWedding #CatherineMack #StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks #gifted #ARC #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #bookreviews #bookrecs #mysteries #whodunnitmystery #booklover #bookaddict

ARC REVIEW: No One was Supposed to Die at this Wedding by Catherine Mack ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur books for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is a second installment in Mack’s series The Vacation Mysteries following mystery author/amateur sleuth Eleanor Dash. I was honestly confused at whether this is being marketed as a direct sequel or an interconnected standalone. There were so many references to the first book, that I probably wouldn’t recommend you pick this one up without reading the first book, Every Time I go on Vacation Someone Dies. I think it would make this book much more enjoyable to read. Our protagonist Eleanor Dash, frequently addresses the reader directly which is something I don’t prefer in my reading. The author also uses footnotes from Eleanor throughout the story, to add a bit of comedy, and this worked well with the humor and tone of the story.

No one was supposed to die at this wedding will be published May 13th 2025

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Note: This is a sequel and there surprisingly aren't as many spoilers throughout the book as I thought there would be. You should read the first one to avoid some confusion, but I don't think it takes away from the story if you read this one first.

Second note: I personally would not recommend this on Audiobook. There are a ton of characters and only having one audiobook narrator will add to the confusion of the book (this was my exact experience with book 1, and it would have been the same for book 2.) I am grateful I was able to read this as an ebook.

The good:
- I love the quirky voice and breaking the 4th wall our FMC does. I don't think this is a plus for everyone, but I feel like this is almost a "sarcastic" mystery vibe. Not so much cozy, but not a scary mystery either.
- Every twist landed for me personally, I enjoyed seeing the clues that were planted beforehand and seeing how everything wrapped up.
- I liked the concept of how this book 2 came about after reading book 1. I was not sure how the concept would land but I feel like it worked in the sequel world.
- Each character does have a distinct voice and you can typically know who's talking without it explicitly being said, but...

The loss of a star:
- ...because of the number of characters and subplot of romance, I think the story's pacing gets clunky as you read the book. Some parts feel like you're at stoplight and others you are flying 80 mph down the interstate, which can be a bit jarring.

Overall, if you're looking for a new type of mystery book, this is a great one to try! (Well, start with book 1 then decide if you want to read book 2 if you want the full effect.)

No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding by Catherine Mack is the second book in the Vacation Mysteries Series. This book picks up with a making of the movie of Eleanor Dash's bestseller When in Rome. Her best friend plays her in the movie and she falls in love with her costar surprising the cast and crew with a destination wedding on the famous Catalina Island. I found this book to be funny and engaging. I enjoyed it and found myself longing for more.