I loved this story. Catherine Mack never disappoints when it comes to her vacation mystery series.

Many of the characters are from the previous novel, with a few new added for the new mystery. The main character, Eleanor, is as good as ever. She’s still her witty writer self through the whole story, and I loved it.

I can’t say I saw any of the twists and turns coming. It is the kind of story that keeps you on your toes the whole time. I loved every minute. This is definitely the perfect summer read for any mystery fan.

Eleanor Dash is back, and this time she’s in the midst of her best friend's wedding celebrations, only to find herself having to play detective again. In No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding, Catherine Mack strikes the perfect balance between mystery and sass. The book offers a fresh, modern take on the classic cozy whodunnit, complete with a locked-room mystery feel that kept me hooked. These are the same quirky but lovable characters from the first book and while I thought this could be read as a standalone, the back story and information provided in the first book made this all the more enjoyable. Mack excels in pacing, and I found myself eagerly turning pages right up until the final twist. And the twists, twist. Just when you think you're narrowing it down, something else happens. Overall a fun ride.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing the early copy.

If you’re looking for an entertaining book to kick off the summer reading season, this is a great pick. A murder mystery written with quirky characters and witty dialogue. What more can a reader ask for?

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for this ARC.

No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding by Catherine Mack was a cute summer cozy mystery. 💒

I love the cover and I love her use of footnotes. I would definitely recommend reading the first book in the Vacation Mysteries series to really understand the characters and who is who, although it’s not necessary to understand this book. I liked the back and forth on guessing the whodunit and the chapter titles were fun.

This is definitely a good book to throw in your bag on the way to the beach!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This one did not grab me as quickly as the first book. Though I did enjoy the twists and turns, the movie actor characters were not my favorite and at times I found them quite annoying- tho I also think that was the point. A great poolside book!

No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding: A Novel is book #2 in The Vacation Mysteries series by Catherine Mack.

This was a fun read! Having people trapped on the island due to the incoming hurricane was a nice twist. I liked the characters and the red herrings led me down the wrong path until the end. I plan to keep read the first book while waiting for the next one.

It was so fun to go on another adventure with Eleanor Dash! The footnotes were fun. The narrator breaking the fourth wall to speak to the reader was great. The characters were amazing both the returning ones & the new ones. The story started off on a movie set then moved to celebrating a wedding. Shenanigans ensued & as usual, Eleanor gets up to all sorts of trouble. I smiled & laughed so much in this book. I never had the mystery figured out & was surprised by the ending. I loved the nods to Agatha Christie again & will likely try one of her books because of it. I really hope there will be more books in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a copy of this book.

thiss book is perfect for those who love a cozy mysteries,, this book is totally worth checking out!! It doesn’t take itself too seriously and very satire, and that’s what makes it so entertaining. The story itself moves fast, the characters are funny, and the mystery kept me guessing the whole time. this book could be read as a standalone too! a very much bingeable series

2-1/2 stars, rounded up to 3

I've enjoyed all of Catherine McKenzie's books, so when she started this series under the name of Catherine Mack, I was excited to read them. But, I was quite disappointed in book #1. Nevertheless, when this 2nd book came up on Netgalley, I decided to give the series another try. Nope. Still not for me. I don't like any of the characters and really don't care what happens to them. Eleanor in particular is annoying as all get out. Her stream of consciousness writing style, along with the mostly unnecessary footnotes, keeps pulling me out of the actual story, such that it is.

I don't know how many more books are planned for this series, but I won't be reading any more of them.

When mystery author Eleanor Dash heads to her best friend’s star-studded wedding on Catalina Island, murder crashes the party—again. With a storm rolling in and a chilling note warning that someone will die, Eleanor must unmask the killer before the vows turn into a final farewell.

I was thrilled to dive into the second installment of The Vacation Mysteries series, and it absolutely delivered. Eleanor’s signature snark and razor-sharp wit are back in full force, and I was completely hooked from page one. The plot is packed with twists, and Catherine Mack masterfully keeps you guessing with clever red herrings and a cast of suspicious—but distinct—characters that are easy to keep straight.

Mack’s inventive storytelling shines through Eleanor’s direct commentary to the reader, witty footnotes, and laugh-out-loud observations that give the mystery a fresh, entertaining edge. The moody, storm-swept setting of Catalina Island is the perfect backdrop for a wedding weekend turned deadly, and I felt completely transported. I loved the return of familiar faces from book one, especially Oliver, whose presence added tension and heart. Despite thinking I had it all figured out, the ending took me completely by surprise—which, for me, makes this a standout whodunnit and a total must-read. Book three can’t come soon enough!

Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a fun read. It was witty, mysterious, and I must say, very creative. The characters were quirky and some were really a hoot! It was a very funny and enjoyable whodunnit. The writing by Catherine Mack was spot-on! This is the second book in the series but can be read as a stand alone. Why I haven't read the first one is beyond me. Now I must move it up the TBR pile. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

I totally loved the first book in this series, Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies, so I knew when I settled in to read this one that I was going to have an entertaining time. And boy did I! I think I spent the entire time with a smile on my face, if not LOL, because of the crazy antics of Eleanor and her friends.

It's supposed to a beautiful wedding getaway on a remote island but then a storm threatens to ruin the ceremony. But no, wait—a death threat and then a dead body does that. As things go from bad to worse, the direness of the situation and the bumbling of the people involved kept me amused even as I wanted the mystery to be solved and no one else to be hurt.

This is a hilarious series and I love everything about it. I can't wait for more! No pressure, Catherine, but well, maybe there kind of is, a little. I highly recommend No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding as well as the first book in this series.

No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding is the 2nd in The Vacation Mysteries by Catherine Mack. This time we follow Eleanor to her best friend’s wedding after filming of the movie based on her first book! I have to be honest, this story didn’t grab me in the way the Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies did. I enjoyed the banter and there was still mystery and suspense, but I just wasn’t hooked. I read the first after publication in physical form and the “footnotes” were at the bottom of each page. That helped them flow really well with the overall story. In the eARC, they’re at the end of each chapter (not sure if that’s how the electronic copies always are even after publication) or if that was specific to the advanced copy, but it caused them to have less impact on the story overall. Usually by the time I got to the end of the chapter I couldn’t always remember what they were referencing. If you enjoyed the first, you should definitely check this one out!

I read the previous book in the series and found it really enjoyable. So when I saw the second one, I had to read it. Being stuck on Catalina Island during a storm would be frightening, being stuck on Catalina Island during a storm with a murderer? Beyond frightening.

I love the dialogue, the characters, and the mystery in each and every one of these books. The author does such an excellent job in building her characters and bringing them to life. This is on my must read list for my mysteries.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and I loved this one even more! Eleanor Dash is the main character and she is of course trying to solve various murders throughout the book. Eleanor is fun and quirky and it’s great we get to know all her innermost thoughts throughout the story. The setting is Catalina Island and the characters are there for a wedding. Of course a major storm happens to add to the atmosphere and it cuts them off from the mainland.. Eleanor’s best friend Emma is the bride and in the lead up to and after the wedding murders and chaos ensue. It was great there are so many characters back from the first book. They are definitely an enterating bunch. So who is the intended target to be murdered and will it be prevented? Who is behind the murders? You have to read the book for the answers. Definitely add this one to the TBR and be prepared to be immersed in the story!!

Book one of this series was an absolute delight, and book two was such a fun follow-up.

One of Eleanor Dash's books is finally being made into a movie starring her best friend Emma. The cast and crew take a weekend off during shooting to celebrate the wedding of Emma and her co-star Fred, but things immediately go wrong on Catalina Island, with bodies and clues piling up.

This series has such a distinct, witty tone to it, and I loved seeing all of the wild characters in action again. The mystery was absolutely full of twists and red herrings, and I definitely did not predict the ending!

Mack packs in the witty retorts and plenty of fourth wall breaking, all delivered in a semi-snarky tone on the audio by narrator Elizabeth Evans. Evans narrates multiple characters and footnotes with ease, making this such an entertaining listen. Her various character voices are distinct, super helpful in the scenes where all the characters are involved in the action.

Thank you to Minotaur for the gifted copy and Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook!

In this sharp and stylish mystery, Eleanor Dash—a famous mystery novelist known for her quick wit and observational skills—is invited to the wedding of her childhood best friend, Emma Wood, on the idyllic Catalina Island. The luxurious destination wedding promises beauty, romance, and celebration… until things go terribly wrong.

During the reception, Eleanor stumbles upon the dead body of a guest, stabbed with a cake knife. A mysterious note warned that someone would die at the wedding...and now someone has. Trapped on the island by a storm with limited access to the outside world, Eleanor feels compelled to use her storytelling instincts and sleuthing talents to find the killer before they strike again.

As Eleanor investigates, the story is peppered with her hilarious, snarky inner monologue and clever footnotes that provide commentary on the writing life, Hollywood adaptations of her books, and even the rules of mystery fiction. The plot twists and red herrings keep readers on their toes, while the glamorous yet claustrophobic island setting adds an extra layer of tension.

No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding is a smart, laugh-out-loud mystery that delivers both charm and chills. It’s great for fans of character-driven mysteries with a touch of Hollywood satire and plenty of heart. A satisfying read whether you're new to the series or already love Eleanor Dash.

4.0

I remember seeing “Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies” on the end cap of the library and it’s bold, interesting cover. I downloaded the audiobook and I do remember enjoying it. That’s about us much as I could tell you. That’s not a comment on the book, but rather on my ADHD brain and the number of books I read (but mostly my brain). It’s also worth noting that it was not long before or after listening to “The Guncle Abroad”, another book I liked and—although I couldn’t tell you all of the similarities—both take place in Italy. Both main characters are also minor celebrities and have wedding and murder plots.

[P.S Wait. After listening to the first book again, one has a wedding and one has a muder plot. No bonus points for guessing which is which.]

There are many mentions of the previous book, though, I can’t believe I’m saying this, you could perceivably read this without reading the first. After starting it, I did go back and check out the audio version of book one and I am enjoying it without remembering fully what happens to spoil the ending.

Although this new book takes place on Catalina Island, which I hear is lovely, it is no comparison to Italy. The added disappointment is that the weather is treacherous and because a hurricane is on its way, the island is also mostly deserted. I guess that plays into the plot in a sort of “And Then There Were None” feel, but is no match for the piazzas and pizzas of Italy.

I am a fan of Eleanor/El’s fourth-wall narrations, though not as much for the footnotes. Nothing against them personally. They didn’t seem to be present in the first book’s audiobook and I can never remember a reference by the time I get to the notes. Perhaps they were worked into the narrative for the audio fomat, but going back-and-forth within the text this time—even with links to and from the information—was a hassle.

This series is obviously jumping on the recent "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone" bandwagon with both the title and the metafiction POV. I do like both thouh, particularly the narration. Ernest Cunningham as a self-published how-to-write-a-mystery ebook writer (without ever having written a mystery himself) is absolutely priceless, but his books are darker and not nearly as cozy as El’s series.

El is entertaining and the plot is complex enough, but maybe not wih the grip of the first novel. There must be a reason most of the series El wrote takes place in Italy. Connor is in this book too, though not as much of a central figure, and the rest are a mix or old and new characters, none of which are especially compelling on their own. It’s more of an ensemble cast.

This was an interesting, vivid read, though I probably would have enjoyed it more if I hadn’t just listened to the first book again. I always wonder, too, if switching from a well-done audiobooks series to the book format doesn’t factor negatively into my impressions. Still, the chaos that is El’s mind with lots of my brand of sarcasm could even be enough to carry the milktoast equivalent of settings.

Thank you to Catherine Mack, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book for my unbiased review.

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A murder mystery book that will takeaway your whole weekend! ❤️

I love this one a whole lot more than the first one so it kind of started like the first one where a murder happened where it shouldn’t. Our protagonist took interest and started profiling guests and their interests. This book is so funny and witty! I thoroughly enjoyed it!!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. 🫶🏻

Eleanor Dash is back as a wedding guest and amateur sleuth! Murder seems to follow Eleanor, best selling author of a Vacation Mystery series and she’s off to Catalina Island for her best friends wedding.

This was a fun follow up to book 1, Everytime I go on Vacation Someone Dies. I’m excited to see where the rest of the Vacation Mysteries series takes us!

If you like snark and banter you will enjoy this action packed murder mystery. This isn’t your typical straight forward mystery read - there’s a lot going on, drama and witty words between the characters that keep you entertained while trying to figure out who dun it!

Thank you to author, Catherine Mack, Publisher Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I am leaving my review voluntarily.