eARC Review: A Killer Wedding by Joan O'Leary.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Fashion journalist Christine Russo is sent to cover a lavish wedding at an Irish castle, only to discover the bridegroom’s billionaire grandmother has been murdered. When the powerful family insists on keeping the death a secret until after the ceremony, Christine quietly investigates, uncovering dark secrets, hidden motives, and a tangled web of lies.

I was hooked by the premise. A closed door wedding with a murder mystery in a rich toxic family full of secrets. While I’m not usually a fan of shifting multiple POVs and found the slow start a bit off-putting, the pacing picked up around the 40–50% mark. Subtle clues are layered throughout, and in the end, a culmination of character choices and buried tensions rather than just a simple twist.

Special thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Joan O’Leary’s A Killer Wedding is a deliciously cozy mystery with sharp wit, quirky characters, and just the right amount of murder. Set against the backdrop of what should be a dreamy wedding, chaos and secrets unfold in the most entertaining ways. O'Leary has a flair for creating charming settings and suspenseful plotlines, blending humor and homicide in a perfect mix. Whether you're a longtime mystery lover or new to the genre, A Killer Wedding delivers a fun, fast-paced escape with plenty of twists. Grab a slice of cake and dive into this irresistible whodunit!

I thought this was a fun, well-executed mystery set at the lavish wedding of the grandson of a billionaire. Lots of rich people behaving badly! O’Leary did an excellent job pacing the twists & reveals along the way, which kept me guessing until the end. I look forward to future titles from this author! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Christine, working her way up as fast as possible at the magazine, Bespoke Weddings, gets the job covering the destination wedding of the year at a castle in Scotland. Not surprising though as she made her way into the good graces of the family matriarch of the groom - the one who holds the power and the purse strings. Of course the wedding weekend started with a storm and of course nothing is as it seems and of course this family has more secrets than one book should be able to hold and of course dysfunction runs supreme and of course the matriarch is the victim. But what happens with all that will keep you reading long past your bedtime.

What do you get when you mix a billion-dollar beauty empire, a lavish wedding in a Scottish castle, and a suspicious death that no one wants to talk about? A deliciously twisty mystery that’s as glamorous as it is gripping.

Joan O'Leary’s A Killer Wedding is pure escapist fun, with a razor-sharp edge. From the moment Christine lands the assignment of a lifetime—covering the wedding of the century for Bespoke magazine—you know you’re in for a wild ride. But when the iconic matriarch Gloria Beaufort turns up dead and the family insists on keeping it quiet, the glittering façade begins to crack. What follows is a fast-paced unraveling of secrets, lies, and toxic family dynamics, all set against the backdrop of a castle-turned-hotel complete with hidden passageways and old-world charm.

The Ripton family is a masterclass in dysfunction: each member more suspicious than the last, and O'Leary does a brilliant job of peeling back their layers. I loved trying to guess the culprit—spoiler-free, I’ll just say I was wrong, and I loved being wrong. The ending was a satisfying surprise, and the journey there was packed with juicy reveals and witty observations.

Christine is a smart, relatable protagonist who brings just the right amount of skepticism and heart to the story. Her outsider perspective lets us see the absurdity and danger of the ultra-rich up close, without ever losing the thread of the mystery.

I was genuinely bummed when the story ended. I would happily spend more time in this world. If you love your whodunits with a side of couture, castles, and scandal, A Killer Wedding is a must-read.

Thank you William Morrow Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of A Killer Wedding, by Joan O’Leary, from William Morrow/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.

I think the author her own self summed this book up nicely in the acknowledgements section—it is, indeed, “a cheeky, fashion-forward whodunit.”

Loved her writing style, and was not the least bit surprised to find out after finishing the book that she worked in the entertainment industry for years, most recently as a producer for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. It shows in the pacing, and in the great detail associated with the different sorts of characters.

Is this great literature? No, of course not. But it was a heck of a lot fun, and I would recommend it highly to anybody who’s in the mood for some escapism set in Ireland (I’ve got a soft spot….). Would’ve read it poolside today had it not been approximately 8,000 degrees Fahrenheit with an associated humidity of about eleventy-kajillion percent where I live. Because, you know, I like to….ummmm…breathe while I read?

PS
I do so love me a long con story, especially when I can’t figure out all the angles. It always gets me to wondering just exactly how many times in my life I’ve been played, and what all is going on “out there” even as we speak, with good people trusting that all people are good. It also gets me to wondering just exactly how clever one would have to be to pull off said long con/s, which in turn has caused me to realize just exactly how clever authors are who write about such. (What if the criminals put their superpowers to good use, hmm? What kind of world would we live in then?)

I mention this in a PS because it seems if the long con is bubbling up in the fiction zeitgeist right now. This makes the second book in a row I’ve read of this sort, and I’m sure if I really thought about it I could recall others in recent memory. Now I _just_ wonder why in the world con artists would be top of mind right now, don’t you? LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL 😂😂

DESCRIPTION
"The Riptons are American royalty—wealthy, powerful, and bound by secrets. When they gather at a grand Irish castle for the society wedding of the year, as the ceremony unfolds something far more sinister lurks beneath the glamour. From the ambitious heirs and spurned lovers to the enigmatic staff and mysterious uninvited guest, everyone harbors secrets—and some are deadly. A gripping whodunit in the vein of Agatha Christie, A Killer Wedding will keep you guessing until the final, shocking twist.” —Liv Constantine, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish

Wildly witty and wickedly fun, A Killer Wedding is an escapist mystery that proves you’ll never forget your wedding day…especially if it starts with a murder.

Christine can’t believe her luck. The iconic Gloria Beaufort, founder of the billion-dollar beauty empire Glo, has personally chosen her to cover her grandson’s wedding for Bespoke, the cult fashion magazine that every A-list bride dreams of being featured in. A career-making scoop and a free trip to a castle turned five-star hotel on the Emerald Isle? It feels too good to be true…

Because it is.

Gloria is found dead on the very first morning of the celebratory weekend, and her entire family wants to keep her death a secret and for the wedding to march on. When Gloria’s heirs issue a chilling warning to Christine to keep things quiet, she can’t help but wonder if one of them is guilty. There’s the son who’s hiding a damaging lawsuit; the resentful daughter-in-law; the grandson who’s had a few too many run-ins with the law; his ambitious wife who’s hiding more than one secret; and Gloria’s favorite grandchild, the picture-perfect groom. As Christine navigates a world where glamour masks grimy secrets and everyone she meets is a suspect, she realizes that among this glitzy elite, nothing is as it seems.

Set against the dazzling backdrop of ultimate luxury and an endless reveal of surprises, A Killer Wedding is a fast-paced, humorous mystery the pulls back the curtain on toxic family dynamics hidden beneath the surface of billionaire-level wealth.

This book was more fun than a typical mystery thriller. While reading it I was always looking forward to getting back to it. The characters were pretty streotypical but it lead to the overall plot without being annoying. I especially loved the unpredictable twists. The setting really became as important as another character. I would definitely recommend this book.

Fun thriller for those (like me) who enjoy the rich-people-behaving-badly genre. The family behind a successful beauty empire gathers for a lavish wedding at a remote castle in Ireland, and there is plenty of violence and drama. I loved to hate the characters and found it interesting how the story was told from so many different points of view. My only complaint was that the ending felt a bit abrupt, but overall I was really absorbed in this and would definitely recommend it!

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher, and the author for the early read- this one is out September 23!

3.5 ⭐️

I’m so honored to have gotten an e-arc of this debut novel! This was such a fun ride! Take the “Knives Out” movies and add in a dysfunctional billionaire wedding in a spooky castle in Ireland. The only thing I would say is a negative is the fact that there are SO many characters and side stories that it can get confusing at times. The writing was polished and witty and overall an amazing debut! I can’t wait to see what else this author has in store for us!

Christine has manipulated her way into to covering the wedding of the century to the chagrin of her boss at the wedding magazine. Glo founder, Gloria Beaufort"s grandson is getting married at a castle in Scotland. Elderly Gloria, is found dead the day before the wedding-oops. A cast of characters that could make your blood run cold!

Thanks to Net Galley and William Morrow publishing for the ARC! The Killer Wedding was a fun read with all kinds of twists and turns! I can typically sort things out in books, but didn’t with this one, which I appreciate! I recommend this book!

This was a fun read! The setting was great and the characters were interesting - I would have liked to see some of the characters get more time to build out their stories. Would love to get some spin-offs from this story.

A destination wedding for an extremely wealthy family in an Irish castle, add murder of the matriarch, hidden passages, a little romance and you have a fun mystery book. I enjoyed this book from a new author very much. The beginning was a little slow as the many characters were introduced, but once it got going I couldn’t put it down. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader of this book. I look forward to more from Joan O’Leary.

A Killer Wedding is a combination murder mystery, society wedding, and tale of a ladder-climbing fashion writer. Christine has schemed her way into covering the wedding of the decade: the grandson of beauty magnate Gloria Beaufort and his fiancée Jane in a beautiful Irish castle. The family is full of secrets, lies, and outrageous money - and that is before Gloria herself is found dead and the family pursues a coverup so the wedding can go on.

There are a lot of people and plots, but I didn’t have trouble following it and I had a good time waiting to see the underbelly of the glossy surface revealed.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc!

This is a funny and witty murder mystery and I absolutely love how it takes you right into a glamorous mysterious wedding weekend at a Scottish castle. The plot kept me guessing until the end and I highly recommend reading it!

A Killer Wedding by Joan O’Leary is a delightful blend of mystery, suspense, and a touch of humor. From the start, the premise of a wedding gone awry kept me intrigued, and the plot didn’t disappoint. O’Leary’s writing is fast-paced and filled with twists that kept me turning the pages.

The characters are well-crafted, and I especially enjoyed the dynamics between the protagonist and those around her. The suspense builds steadily, with plenty of unexpected turns and a final reveal that I didn’t see coming. The pacing is on point, making this a quick, engaging read that keeps you hooked without feeling rushed.

While the mystery was fun and the plot kept me guessing, I did feel a few elements could have been explored a bit deeper, especially the motivations behind some of the characters’ actions. But overall, it was an enjoyable, lighthearted thriller that I would recommend to fans of cozy mysteries or anyone looking for a thrilling, yet fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A cozy whodunnit with small-town charm and wedding chaos? Sign me up! A Killer Wedding delivers on the quirky characters and mysterious vibes that make these kinds of stories so fun to get lost in. While the pacing felt a bit slow in parts, the overall plot kept me intrigued, especially once the tension started building around the big day.

Joan O’Leary has a great way of weaving together family drama, community gossip, and a murder mystery without it ever feeling too heavy. It’s the kind of book that would be perfect for a rainy weekend—warm drink, blanket, and all.

Looking forward to seeing where this series heads next!

✨ ARC Review – Thank you to the publisher, author Joan O’Leary, and NetGalley for the advanced copy! ✨

Book Review: A Killer Wedding by Joan O'Leary

A Killer Wedding is a classic "locked-room" murder mystery—though in this case, it's more like a "locked castle" mystery. The story starts off a bit slow, largely because we're introduced to a lot of characters. (Side note: not all of them felt necessary—many seemed to serve mainly as red herrings.)

Once the character backgrounds are established, the story begins to pick up pace. The narrative shifts between present-day events—usually told from the perspective of the main character, Christine—and flashbacks that delve into different characters' storylines.

Around the halfway point, the plot really starts to thicken. The characters become more complex, the tension rises, and the book becomes much more engaging. I’ve always enjoyed a good locked-room mystery, and while I managed to guess a tiny sliver of the twist, there was still plenty that caught me off guard.

This is Joan O'Leary’s debut novel, and I think she’s stepping into the mystery genre with real promise. I’m looking forward to seeing what she writes next.

Thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow publishing, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

My students really like this kind of book, family drama, mystery death , wealth, a fancy wedding and an Irish setting. This is well written, a ittle overly long and a bit slow at times but good escapist reading for them. Anything to keep them reading!

I received an ARC of this book from William Morrow via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. One of my favorite aspects of the book was the haves vs. have nots. Christine shopping at sample sales. Neil the bartender making minimum wage. Contrasted with people who have enough money to literally cover an entire ceiling with roses. Christine is funny and smart, a great heroine who also reads as very realistic.

There are so many twists and backstories and conflicts, but it all ties together pretty much perfectly. I only guessed one thing but it was basically just before it was revealed, when I am pretty sure the author was ready for us to guess anyway. But as far as who is a villain and who committed the actual murder - nope - total surprises (which always makes me happy).

In addition, the descriptions of Ballymoon and its luxury (and its secrets) were delicious. I;d love to go there!

I hope this becomes a movie, as I think it would be incredibly entertaining!