Look. I adored the first book. I wanted to frame it, marry it, and maybe send it to Catalina Island for a honeymoon. But this sequel? This was like RSVPing “Yes” to a glamorous destination wedding and showing up to find the open bar is a cash-only lemonade stand and someone just died in the broom closet.

Eleanor Dash, our sarcastic mystery author-turned-vacation-sleuth, is back—this time at her best friend’s wedding, which is held on a storm-ravaged island because apparently nobody in this series has ever watched a horror movie. We’ve got Hollywood drama, romantic exes, vague death threats, and a murder that feels less "Agatha Christie twisty" and more "Scooby-Doo if the gang had Instagram followers."

Where the first book sparkled with wit, heart, and plot that snapped like a beachy thriller, this one… kind of wandered around the resort in flip-flops trying to remember where it left its mystery. I mean, sure, I love Eleanor and her trademark sass, but even she seemed a little tired. Like, “I’ve solved six murders this year and forgot to pack Advil” tired.

And can we talk about the murders? Because wow, they sure did technically happen. It just didn’t feel like the emotional gut-punch or tightly paced chaos I signed up for. The stakes felt weirdly low for a wedding where folks literally die. I needed drama, not a vaguely ominous game of Clue: Celebrity Edition.

Still, the writing’s clever, the banter is fun, and if you’re already on the Eleanor Dash train, you’ll enjoy the ride—even if this one feels more like a scenic detour than a thrill ride. Here’s hoping book three brings the heat, the mystery, and fewer destination events with a body count.

Book 2 of The Vacation Mysteries opens with Eleanor on the movie set for the adaptation of her first novel, When In Rome. Her best friend, Emma, is playing Cecilia (aka “Eleanor”) and Emma’s new fiancé, Fred, is playing Connor. The rest of the story takes place during Emma and Fred’s wedding weekend on Catalina Island.

There is, of course, many things afoot as Eleanor cannot go on vacation without someone dying. Catherine Mack seemed to have as much fun writing the sequel book as I did reading it. The cast of characters were so much more entertaining to me because I know them now and I understand their senses of humor and relationship dynamics. The side characters were great because they all have some sort of history with Eleanor (ily Inspector Tucci).

Any fan of cozy mysteries will enjoy this series <3

Thank you to SMP and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

The @learfield_ book club got me into this series when they picked book one last year. I really enjoyed reading book one, and therefore, I jumped on the chance to read and review book two!

Once again, Eleanor, is a hilarious, quirky and unorganized main character and very self-centered. Yet, I love her! Overall, the book is funny and witty, and no one in it should be taken too seriously which makes this so enjoyable!

I have been in a cozy mystery mood, and this book fits the bill. In fact, the writing makes you feel like you are an active participant in solving the murders. Yes, spoiler there is more than one. I love trying to figure out how people fit together before the end is revealed.

Several characters are back from book one, and most are not lovable so it made for several good suspects. Be sure to read book one in this series before starting this one. Also, there are a lot of characters. Highly recommend a cheat sheet to keep them all straight.

Additionally, I like a secluded setting with a weather event. I thought that part could have been further developed and explored for me.

Lastly, the footnotes are not my fav, but if you do the audio, they are incorporated into the narration seamlessly.

This is a laugh out loud mystery, and I challenge you to figure it out before the end. I know I didn’t!

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress, @minotaur_books and @macmillan.audio for the eARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC! I love when mysteries are also comedic, and this one was exactly the right mix. Eleanor’s witty remarks and footnotes kept the story lighthearted and engaging.
While the story worked fine as a standalone, I think I would suggest reading the previous book in the series first just to get more context and backstory. I feel like it was still easy enough to follow having jumped into the series with this book. I’m eager to go back and read the first book, and I’m excited for the next one to come out too!

Catherine Mack is back with the second book in the vacation mysteries series. Our intrepid writer, Eleanor Dash is off to her best friend Emma’s wedding on Catalina island, just after filming wrapped on When In Rome, (the movie based on Eleanor’s book). The bride is worried though, she’s received threats and is worried something will happen at the wedding. Will Eleanor look into it. Of course she will!
There are a lot of names to keep straight, but, if you read the first book you’ll know quite a few of the characters. I found it easy to make sense of.
The mystery itself didn’t really impress me until the end. Really enjoyed how it all came together. Before that it felt like they were just throwing gum at the wall to see what sticks.
This could have used a little more zaniness for me. It was funny, but not laugh out loud funny. I did enjoy the footnotes.
I’m giving this 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
I really love this author and look forward to her next book.
If you love funny, cozy mysteries with quirky characters, this book is for you!
I received this from St Martins Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Catherine Mack's NO ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE AT THIS WEDDING was that light yet somehow thoughtful and thought-provoking story that is locked-room murder mystery for the incredible Eleanor Dash. I love spending time with her and try as I might, I never knew what was coming next, only that I wanted to keep reading about a destination wedding on an island about to be hit by a hurricane with complicated, wonderful characters being their most twisted, loving, and fascinating selves. Fun, funny, unpredictable romp! I never did see the end coming and for that I applaud Mack for a truly wonderful story brilliantly told. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

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.