The “ killer plot” of this book seems to be swirling in the atmosphere right now. The place has changed, and the names, but the “ wedding gone wrong” seems soooooooo familiar that I struggled a bit with this light novel.

It would be a very satisfactory airplane read, but just was not clever enough to really entertain me. OR, perhaps I am a generation too old. The language and tone were very “ twenty-something” and I just didnt feel it was polished enough to be anything other than a pitch for a mini-series.

I appreciated the opportunity to read in advance of publication,but would not recommend .

A Killer Wedding is such a fun, fast-paced mystery with a great mix of glitz, secrets, and suspense! Christine thinks she’s landed the assignment of a lifetime, covering a high-profile wedding at a dreamy Irish castle But, things take a dark turn when the glamorous matriarch of the family is found dead. Suddenly, everyone’s acting shady, and Christine is caught in the middle of a murder mystery full of family secrets, cover-ups, and lots of drama. I couldn’t put it down! Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy!

This new suspense book by Joan O'Leary centers on a wealthy and fairly rotten family, and their lavish, celebrity wedding in Ireland. The cover matter sets the reader up for how the story will unfold. I did enjoy reading this book, it's perfect for vacation when you just want to read something fun that moves quickly. There aren't a ton of people to root for, but I think readers will be satisfied with the ending.

“A Killer Wedding” is a thrilling, witty, captivating mystery that I could not put down! I did not expect the ending, it had me fooled till the end. If you love a fun mystery with shocking revelations & twist and turns, you’ll love this book!

When the grandson of the founder of Glo is about to get married, a destination wedding is on the horizon. Gloria Beaufort has specifically requested Christine from Bespoke magazine to cover this super lavish event. This, she is sure will make her career skyrocket. Christine should have known nothing is that easy.
When Gloria is found dead, the family decides to hush it up until after the wedding. If it was a natural death, that decision would’ve been, well odd. However, Gloria was murdered, so chalk that decision up to a super wealthy family embracing the show must go on. Or maybe one of them has something to hide.
This is not what Christine signed up for. Most of the story is told from her POV (and about a dozen others). She was not my favorite character; however, the opulence of the setting combined with my little gray cells trying to figure out whodunnit kept me flipping pages. The rich behaving very badly, a journalist who grew up a lot during this exclusive event, and so many twists and turns that kept me changing my mind about what was really going on. Oh and my final guess, wrong. An enjoyable morning treadmill read.
My favorite character was Lyle and, in my mind, at least, she lived happily ever after.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the eARC.
This is a delicious read, full.of nasty, rich people and a magazine reporter who believes she's finally made all her dreams come true, until they haven't ...
I.loved it: the setting, the atmosphere and especially, the cast of characters.
Figuring out the whodunit was impossible, which I also enjoyed.

September 23rd, 2025
Glamorous chaos with a body count.

A Killer Wedding is what happens when The Devil Wears Prada crashes into Knives Out at a luxury Irish castle. It’s got murder, billionaires behaving badly, and enough family secrets to fill a season of reality TV. The setup is juicy: a high-profile wedding, a dead matriarch, and a magazine reporter caught in the middle of a cover-up that’s more fashion-forward than legally sound.

Joan O’Leary’s debut is fast-paced and full of snark, but also stuffed to the brim with subplots. At times, it felt like every guest had a motive, a scandal, and a monologue. The mystery is fun, but the sheer number of twists and flashbacks made it hard to stay grounded. I kept waiting for the story to pick a lane—satire, suspense, or soap opera—but it gleefully swerved between all three.

Still, it’s entertaining and stylish, and Christine Russo is a likable lead with just enough grit to keep things moving. If you love your whodunits with couture, cocktails, and a side of family dysfunction, this one delivers—just don’t expect it to be airtight.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC!

I did zoom through this in a very good way. It’s one of those books you can’t wait to find out what in the world is going on!
The whole time I was reading, I kept picturing the story being made into a Netflix movie or limited series. It has all the right pieces there, just waiting to be expanded upon for us to binge watch!
Do go into this with your mind open to a wild, unbelievable plot. That’s what makes it so much fun. I would love to see this developed into a deeper, detailed, character driven script with that beautiful Irish castle as a backdrop! Imagine the sets for the wedding being brought to life! I’m sold.
Congratulations to Joan O’Leary for a job well done! I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

A Glamorous Whodunit with a Wicked Sparkle

A Killer Wedding delivers on its promise of a "wildly witty and wickedly fun" escapist mystery. Set against the opulent backdrop of an Irish castle wedding, this novel plunges you into the gilded world of the Ripton family, an American dynasty teeming with secrets and simmering resentments. From the moment Gloria Beaufort, the family matriarch, is found dead, the tension is palpable, and the suspects are plentiful.

The premise is instantly engaging: a journalist, Christine, is tasked with covering a high-profile wedding only to find herself embroiled in a murder investigation that the family desperately wants to keep under wraps. This setup provides a perfect lens through which to explore the "toxic family dynamics hidden beneath the surface of billionaire-level wealth." Each character, from the ambitious heirs to the enigmatic staff, harbors their own set of secrets, making everyone a potential culprit.

While the "Agatha Christie in the vein of..." comparison is a high bar, A Killer Wedding certainly captures the spirit of a classic whodunit with its fast-paced narrative and endless parade of surprises. The author does an excellent job of doling out clues and red herrings, keeping you guessing until the very end. The humor sprinkled throughout the narrative adds a delightful touch, preventing the darker elements from becoming too heavy. My only minor critique would be that, at times, the sheer volume of secrets and suspects could be a little overwhelming, but the plot is so engaging that you quickly reorient yourself.

Ultimately, A Killer Wedding is a gripping and entertaining read that lives up to its dazzling premise. If you're looking for a mystery that combines high-society drama, clever plotting, and a satisfying, shocking twist, this one's for you.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of A Killer Wedding.

The premise sounded promising though not original; another tale of a wealthy family behaving badly with deep, dark secrets to hide.

First, what I did like:

The castle setting, the hidden underground tunnels and the legend behind the castle.

Gloria Beaufort grew on me even though she appears mostly in flashbacks. This turned out to be a more girl power narrative than I expected, minus all the loser men in the family.

What I didn't like:

Christine. Most of the narrative is from her point of view and she's neither interesting or compelling.

I don't agree with Gloria; Christine is not resourceful, smart and she didn't make an impression on me.

There are lots of POVs, most of them unnecessary and read as filler. Do I really care what happened to Sebi, the photographer? Nope.

I realize most of the flashbacks was to demonstrate how wily and knowledgeable the matriarch is; she knows and sees all and readers need to keep that in mind.

I guessed most of the twists though I didn't expect one.

The narrative was hard to suspend disbelief for, but with this type of plot you need to go with the flow.

Everyone has something to hide and no one can be trusted, including Jane.

I was indifferent to Jane; her devious behavior didn't make her more interesting to me, just another person with something to hide.

The only thing I did like was the end and how Gloria recruited Jane and Christine, in a small part, as part of her plan.

A thrilling ( yet somehow adorable) murder mystery full of plot twists, red herrings and stunning character development. Beware.

A Killer Wedding by Jane O’Leary, when Christina Russo was asked to represent Bespoke Magazine at her son’s wedding in Ireland, by Gloria Buford herself. everyone from Christina‘s boss to glorious family are suspicious. The only one who seems OK with it is the wedding planner Elliott. when it comes to weddings Christina loves all of it and is definitely looking forward to the star studded event not to mention the five star treatment at Ballymoon Castle. built in the 11th century and the backdrop for this weekend‘s opulent event. she thinks she’s going to have a front row seat to all that the best in life has to offer but instead she’s gotten a ticket not just to watch the meltdown of a family but to plot a cover-up and ultimately solve a murder and all at her own peril. it seems everyone invited to this event and those not invited have something to hide but there’s someone out there causing others to think it’s Christina who’s the one with secrets and the suspects are plenty everyone from the bride, the father-in-law the cookie mother-in-law the brother-in-law and the list goes on and on there was lots of things I liked about this book but the main thing I truly enjoyed when the book was over was the culprit because OMG I did not see that coming but then again had I really thought about it I may have. to make matters worse it rains the whole weekend. This was such a great book and the tension does not stop until it’s over and when it was over I was left reeling like OMG… WTF! I am really trying to convey the greatness of this thriller and I think I am failing so just know there is a lot I left out like the bartender Danny who is the only one Christina trust… Well on and off she does I didn’t mention the priest suspicious bride Jane in so much more this book is really good and if you love the thrillers isolated locations you will definitely enjoy this book about a rich family’s meltdown the murder of its matriarch and the mystery they tried to hide. #NetGalley,#HarperCollins, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #JaneO’Leary, #AKillerWedding,

Three and one-half stars

Review of Uncorrected E-Proof

When Gloria Beaufort insists on Christine Russo to cover her grandson’s wedding for “Bespoke” magazine, her boss, editor-in-chief Sandra Yoon, is not pleased. But she has no choice; after all, it would be more than foolish to disregard the wishes of the matriarch of the billion-dollar empire known as Glo.

And so, Christine finds herself in an Irish castle-turned-hotel, immersed in family drama, snobbery, tensions, and egos. But she’s manipulated things to get here, and she’s determined to handle it with style.

And then Gloria turns up dead.

=========

Strong, yet flawed characters and an exquisite setting [with hidden tunnels!] set the scene for this tale of the ultimate society wedding . . . one filled with backstabbing, lies, secrets, and family bickering, all working together to create an intriguing mystery. Told from several different points of view, the unfolding story is filed with tension and unanswered questions.

Plot twists and turns keep readers guessing as the story heads toward a denouement readers simply won’t see coming. A great mystery in a creepy castle . . . can readers identify the culprit before the big reveal?

The use of a particularly distasteful expletive seems a bit out of place in the telling of this tale and is likely to offend many readers and lowers the rating for this book.

I received a free copy of this eBook from William Morrow and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#AKillerWedding #NetGalley

A celebrity family worth billions rents an Irish castle to host a glitzy wedding for the grandson of the family matriarch, a wedding which promises to be the celebration of the century. Christine Russo, of the magazine, Bespoke Weddings is chosen to report and write about all the glam and glitz. But when the family matriarch ends up dead on the day before the wedding Christine’s glamour job suddenly turns into anything but. The family decides to hide the death and proceed with the wedding as planned in order to avoid any bad press that might ruin their empire. Told in several different points of view and different time periods, readers are taken on a rollercoaster ride filled with clues and red herrings that had me totally guessing incorrectly no matter how much I convinced myself I had it all figured out. The writer did, however, disrespect her readers by the use of the F-Word in places. For this reason, and the fact the story started slowly it deserves only 3 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Killer Wedding is a total treat—witty, twisty, and as full of secrets as a bouquet toss gone wrong. Joan O’Leary delivers a cozy mystery with just the right balance of charm, suspense, and sharply drawn characters. I went in expecting murder and mayhem, and ended up loving the sly humor and emotional undercurrents just as much.

The setup is irresistible: a picture-perfect wedding derailed by a shocking murder, and a reluctant amateur sleuth who finds herself tangled in the investigation while trying to keep the big day from completely falling apart. It’s got all the cozy mystery must-haves—small-town gossip, quirky suspects, and plenty of red herrings—but with a fresh, modern voice that keeps it feeling fun and fast-paced.

What I loved most was how O’Leary uses the wedding setting to heighten the tension. Behind the smiles and champagne is a growing sense of unease, and I was constantly second-guessing everyone from the groom to the caterer. The twists are clever, the pacing is snappy, and the reveal? So satisfying.

If you love cozy mysteries with a little bite, a lot of heart, and the kind of setting that turns celebration into suspicion, A Killer Wedding should be at the top of your TBR. I had an absolute blast.

Well, this smartly layered murder mystery is a wickedly fun escape—set in an opulent Irish castle complete with secret passageways, family skeletons, and a wedding week soaked in scandal and suspicion. The story centers around the obscenely rich, wildly dysfunctional Ripton family as they gather to celebrate the marriage of Graham Ripton, a charming doctor, to Jane Murphy—a sweet, plain, small-town schoolteacher with her own quiet shadows. What should be a fairy tale event quickly unravels into something far darker.

Enter Christine Russo, our sharp, scrappy, and unapologetically ambitious protagonist. Just promoted to senior editor at Bespoke Weddings magazine (without the help of nepotism or generational wealth), Christine is the kind of character you root for instantly. When she’s chosen by none other than Gloria Beaufort—the legendary matriarch of a billion-dollar beauty empire—to exclusively cover her grandson’s wedding, Christine can hardly believe her luck. Or rather, her hustle—it wasn’t luck that got her here; it was a carefully calculated risk behind her boss’s back.

But as soon as she steps foot in the castle-turned-five-star-hotel, Christine is pulled into a pressure cooker of snobbery, tension, and perfectly curated chaos. Between navigating the icy Ripton clan, dodging the moods of the impossibly neurotic wedding planner Elliot, and trying not to step on centuries of inherited egos, she already has her hands full. Then Gloria Beaufort turns up dead, and things take a chilling turn.

The worst part? No one wants to call the police. Not with the Ripton family’s brand teetering under the weight of lawsuits and bad press. So they pretend nothing happened, even as secrets bubble to the surface and Christine starts receiving anonymous notes that hint at everyone's dirty laundry.

The suspects? Practically the whole guest list. Jane, the blushing bride—could she be more calculating than she lets on? Her brother-in-law Ben is bursting with rage and suspicion. His wife Lyle seems like she’s hiding something... or someone. Gloria’s disgraced son Trey is a walking scandal, and his wife Clementine appears to be unraveling. Even Father Kenneth, with his overly cozy ties to the family, gives off unsettling vibes. And Elliot, the wedding planner from hell? Christine saw him arguing with Gloria the night before she died.

Christine could pack up, file the story, and head back to the States. But someone—or something—is pulling her deeper into the mystery. And maybe it’s more than just professional curiosity. Maybe it’s the feeling that Gloria saw something in her—gave her a once-in-a-lifetime chance—and that the best way to repay her is to bring justice to light. Even if it means risking her career. Or her life.

Overall: While the multiple POVs and timelines slow the pace slightly in places, the execution is sharp, the suspense is addictive, and the finale ties it all together in a truly satisfying way. It’s clever, glamorous, and full of jaw-dropping family drama—a perfect blend of Knives Out energy and glossy high-society secrets. I devoured it and happily give it a strong four stars.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this deliciously twisty mystery with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. I had a blast!

It has been a long time since I've read a mystery so convoluted and peopled by truly flawed characters as A killer Wedding.

Told from multiple points of view, it was impossible to identify the killer/killers responsible for the chaotic chain of events.
I
I highly recommend this book to readers who have gotten used to identifying "who dunnit'" in the first few chapters

I admit it took me a while to get into this novel as there are so many characters whose relationships to others are multi-faceted. But once I got the hang of it, I flew through it! Christine has been invited to the wedding of the century--inside an Irish castle--when matriarch, Gloria is suddenly found dead! Lots of quirky characters, hidden tunnels, family squabbles...what's not to like!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of A Killer Wedding by Joan O’Leary due to be published September 23, 2025.

Christine is reviewing the wedding of a lifetime for the magazine she works for – Bespoke. The wedding is not what she thought, though. Will she even survive?

This one is chock full of so many secrets and lies it is hard to keep up with who is playing whom against each other! Rich people, undercover detectives, lots of family backstabbing and murders – what’s not to love! Looking forward to reading more books from this author!


#NetGalley #JoanOLeary #AKillerWedding #WilliamMorrow

An action packed, locked room mystery, who done it, that keeps you guessing until the end. This was one wild ride as the Beaufort family is filthy rich as Gloria Beaufort founded a beauty line Glo. The Beaufort family gave off Sucession vibes as each family member has secrets and wants to keep living their comfortable life. Christine Russo is so happy to be picked by Gloria to write about the wedding of the season. Now she gets to stay in a castle in Ireland and live the life of luxury.

Christine may have gotten more than she bargained for when Gloria dies suspiciously. The family wants to keep this fact hidden and let the wedding go on. A toxic family with so much to loose as the tensions build to the reveal who was the master mind behind it all.

This book hooks you in and keeps you engaged until the last page. It is one debut novel that you don't want to miss and can't wait to see what this author writes next.