This is the second book in the Vacation Mystery series and made for a super fun read!

I like how the story breaks the fourth wall making me feel like I’m involved in the plot and adventures.

I enjoyed following up with characters from book one while meeting new people also; I feel the universe of this series growing bit by bit which again, makes me feel like I have a front row seat to the action as it’s happening.

The only thing that drove me nuts was Eleanor (and others) believing she has some sleuthing skills due to being a writer yet she points the finger at literally everyone, lol! It seems she merely uses process of elimination when finding “whodunit” and is constantly putting pieces together that just don’t fit.

But this was a quick, fun, and I’d say cozy, mystery that I enjoyed reading then listening to. While I LOVE the ease of having so many books on my e-reader, I still find that I’m more engrossed and engaged when I listen to books. When I have the opportunity to listen to an amazing voice actress or actor, narrating the story it’s just so so magical to me!

Thank you NetGalley, Catherine Mack, St.Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to the book, ahead of the May 13, 2025 proposed release date, in exchange for an honest review! It was a delight!

I knew from the title someone wasn’t making it to the honeymoon, but I did not expect to laugh, cringe, spiral, and fully fall for a snarky, murder-obsessed writer in a cocktail dress while she unraveled both a crime and her love life in front of a room full of actors. “No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding” is messy, meta, and downright unhinged — in the best possible way. Like, if Eleanor Dash is on the guest list, just go ahead and RSVP “Regretfully cannot attend (for safety reasons).”

To be fair, I didn’t read the first book ("Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies") and now I feel like I missed the origin story of a woman who runs on chaos and passive-aggressive footnotes. But it didn’t matter — I jumped in, got swept up in the storm (literal and emotional), and now I’m retroactively obsessed with everything Eleanor’s ever done, said, or internally judged.

The setup is chef’s kiss disaster energy with a full Agatha Christie flourish. Eleanor’s best friend Emma is marrying her movie-star fiancé on Catalina Island. The cast and crew of the film adaptation of Eleanor’s first book are the only guests. A hurricane is approaching, the island has been mostly evacuated and the ferries have been cut off. And then a murder makes it onto the printed itinerary. It’s giving “A Murder Is Announced,” if Miss Marple herself wrote popular mystery series (instead of her life just serving as one) and was part of an extremely chaotic group chat. In most books, that warning would be a dramatic flourish. In this book? It’s a scheduling heads-up.

Eleanor — novelist, reluctant sleuth, human emotional grenade — does what she does best: immediately gets involved. She’s not methodical. She’s not trained. But she’s highly observant, mostly correct, and powered entirely by curiosity, anxiety, and spite. Her narration is full of fourth-wall breaks, razor-sharp footnotes, and emotional detours that feel less like exposition and more like listening to your funniest friend spiral mid-voice memo. She doesn’t investigate so much as she accidentally unravels the plot.

The mystery is twisty enough to keep you guessing, but let’s be honest: we’re here for Eleanor. Her ex (Connor) is at the wedding, her current boyfriend (Oliver) is trying very hard to be emotionally available, and Eleanor is trying not to explode from unresolved tension, murder stress, and the overwhelming pressure of her first book being turned into a movie with her best friend in the lead role. She is barely holding it together and still somehow seeing through everyone else’s lies like a human lie detector with anxiety issues and a flair for the dramatic.

And the structure? Delicious. We’ve got movie-within-a-book layers, chapter titles that slap, and footnotes that are basically bonus jokes. The whole thing feels like a cozy mystery got locked in a hotel bar with a bottle of Prosecco and no emotional support. Do I think it’s perfect? Nope. But that’s not the point. The point is that it’s clever, fast, wildly entertaining, and deeply unbothered by whether or not it’s “realistic.”

So no, it’s not perfect — but it’s clever, chaotic, and wildly fun. The kind of book that knows exactly what it is and leans all the way into it, stilettos first. I’m giving it a very solid 4 stars and gently suggesting someone put Eleanor on a watchlist for future destination events and vacations. She is a walking disaster magnet, and I say that with love. And fear. And admiration. Honestly, she’s the kind of plus-one you invite if you're ready for a corpse and a character arc.

I listened to this on audio, and it was peak basement-cleanout content. I’m elbow-deep in old extension cords, and the narrator is delivering snark, panic, and murder vibes like it’s her full-time job. I wouldn't hesitate to declutter to this chaos again.

Whodunity Award: Best Use of Footnotes as Weapons of Emotional and Investigative Warfare

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audiobook.

I really enjoy the narrator of this book. Their voice helps set the tone for this lighthearted, fun mystery. She kept my attention and really contributed to my overall opinion of the novel.

Audiobook Review: No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding by Catherine Mack
Narrated by Elizabeth Evans

I received this audiobook from NetGalley, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to discover new authors and share my thoughts.

This was my first book by Catherine Mack, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I didn’t realize until after I started that it’s actually the second book in a series, but I didn’t feel lost at all. While there were a few moments that seemed to reference the first book, nothing felt too critical to the plot, so I was able to follow along without needing to backtrack.

The story follows a destination wedding at a private island off the coast of Maine, where a glamorous couple is about to say “I do”… until a body turns up. Chaos, secrets, and over-the-top wedding drama unfold quickly, but instead of being dark and heavy, the book leans more toward comedic suspense. In fact, I found myself laughing out loud more than once. It’s witty, clever, and full of quirky characters that make the mystery feel lighthearted and fun.

Elizabeth Evans, the narrator, did a great job throughout. She maintained consistent voices for different characters, and her inflections made the humor and tension come through clearly. Her performance really brought the story to life and kept me engaged the entire time.

Overall, No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding felt more like a comedy of errors wrapped in a mystery, rather than a traditional thriller—and I really liked that. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from Catherine Mack!

Thank you again to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook.

I never win at guess who was the murderer. It was funny, entertaining and fun trying to solve a murder mystery while attending a wedding in an island. Jealous Oliver is my favorite Oliver. Every character has a purpose and they fulfilled it to perfection. The Connor and Oliver rivalry is a favorite mostly because Connor has no boundaries.

This was a good “who done it” book, full of funny banter and great characters! I loved Eleanor and Oliver but never was a big fan of Connor through the entire book. The murder mystery aspects of the book was great and probably my favorite aspect of the entire book! I can’t give it a full 5 stars as some of the story just got lost at parts, which is very upsetting because I did love all the other aspects of the book. The narrators did a fantastic job and the fluctuation in their voices and emotions really kept me engaged. I would definitely listen to future books in this series!! Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ability to listen and review this book!

I loved the first one in this series for its originality, humor, and well-crafted mystery; this one is just as good, if not a little better! The series on the whole is a lot of fun and the characters are just as entertaining. The mystery itself left me guessing until the very end; I had no idea how this was going to play out. The writing, particularly the banter between Eleanor and the other characters as well as her inner monologues were witty and humorous. The ending is perfectly set up for the third, which I cannot wait to read.

Okay, this book was fun, but it was a bit too much chaos. There is definitely mayhem, and reading book 1 is a must. 2 love triangles, debts to be paid, past love affairs, murders and Hollywood glam in the middle of a wedding. I liked it but was confused at times.

#NoOneWasSupposedtoDieatThisWedding #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley & MacMillian Audio for the ALC!
No one Was supposed to Die at This Wedding is book 2 in a series of cozy mystery novel. It will be released on May 13th.
Narration: Elizabeth Evans (Amazing deep voice!)
Speed: 2X
My opinion: This one didn’t quite work for me as an audiobook—there are footnotes, scene numbers, and character names being read aloud, which really pulled me out of the story at times. That said, it’s a solid story with a unique narrative voice that speaks directly to the reader, which helped keep me engaged. I’d definitely recommend starting with book 1 first (I didn’t!), as I think it would’ve made things clearer and more enjoyable!

Catherine Mack hit it out of the park with her follow up. No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding was a five star listen!

Honestly, I had a really hard time enjoying this story because the narrator was not engaging at all. At 1x the speed it was excruciating to listen to. Speeding it up to 1.5x the speed gave the narrator a little emotion and I was able to concentrate a little better.

🎧 LOVED Elizabeth Evans' narration

This was the first Catherine Mack book I've read, and for a mystery-comedy it was pretty good if you like books that are tongue-in-cheek and that break the 4th wall. I was only able to figure out 1/2 of the 'who done it' aspect, which is always fun. The main issue I had was that it seemed like the author was trying to promote her other books while reading this book (just odd feelings about that and it took me out of the story), plus she took a few dig at social media and publishers because their books never took off via that method (again, took me out of the story and didn't make me want to read more of the books because of how awkward it was-- like subtle digs are okay but the repetition was a bit much).

Just like Book 1, this was a blast! I highly recommend the audiobook — it’s a fantastic way to experience the story. I’m absolutely continuing with the next book in the series!

Special thanks to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Catherine Mack for the advanced copy of No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding. This is the second book in The Vacation Series. I enjoyed the first and found the second just as entertaining. I absolutely adore Catherine Mack’s writing style; her books are witty, clever, and full of charm. I'm eager to see where this series goes next!

The book was narrated by Elizabeth Evans, the performance was spot-on.

Publication date-May 13 2025
#NoOneWasSupposedtoDieatThisWedding #NetGalley

Celebrities and hurricanes and murders, oh my!

Eleanor Dash should be riding high: filming just wrapped on a movie adaptation of her novel and she’s heading to Santa Catalina Island for the wedding of the film’s two biggest stars—one of whom just happens to be her best friend.

But there’s a hurricane stirring up the waves and winds, and that’s not the only thing that’s brewing. Can’t Eleanor leave home without a murder or three occurring? Is that too much to ask?

With twists and turns, the return of many characters from book one as well as some new additions thrown into the mix, a touch of romance, and the wit and humor abundant in the first book, No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding is another entertaining ride.

It’s not quite a locked room mystery, but it gets pretty close with that hurricane approaching the island. And the dropping of the fourth wall is just as fun in this book as it is in Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies.

I recommend this series to fans of Elle Cosimano and Benjamin Stevenson.

The narration by Elizabeth Evans is an absolute blast. I like how she incorporates the footnotes into the storytelling—as if they’re asides written just for the audience, pulling the readers even more into the story. With distinct voices for each character, it’s easy to keep track of who’s speaking when, and she captures the sarcasm and humor well.

4.5⭐️

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own.

💒 No One my Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding - Catherine Mack

4 ⭐️ - Welcome back to the world of hilarious, whimsical murder mysteries. I was so happy to be back in Eleanor Dash’s chaotic author/detective life. This one is just as bantery, funny, and mysterious as the first book!

Attending your best friends wedding should be an easy task, but not for Eleanor Dash. Murder seems to follow her wherever she goes. Emma Wood, Eleanor’s childhood best friend, is staring in the movie adaptation for Eleanor’s book and she is also marrying her co-star Fred Winters, a major movie star. After filming, the whole cast and crew is invited to their wedding on Catalina Island, except a hurricane is heading their way and a cryptic note saying someone will die at the wedding have arrived. What could possibly go wrong?

It’s so weird to say that a murder mystery book is fun; but this series is! It gives me the same feeling as when I read Finlay Donovan. I am invested in the murder mystery as well as the characters and their banter and connection, the storylines, and the fun they also have. This one is a classic wedding on an island, bad storm, Agatha Christie vibe. It was fun, ridiculous, and mysterious at the same time. You don’t necessarily need to read the first book to read this one BUT I highly recommend that you do. There’s a lot of characters and their backstories, connections, and storylines will make more sense if you read book 1 first. I love this series and I can’t wait to continue reading it!

Thank you to Catherine Mack, Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the early audio and ARC! This one hits shelves on 5/13!

While I liked the first book in this series more, this one was still really fun.
In this one, Eleanor travels to Catalina Island for her best friend Emma's wedding to movie star Fred Winters. Eleanor's book When in Rome has just finished filming with Emma and Fred both starring in it. Before the wedding, Emma starts getting notes that someone is going to die at the wedding. Eleanor will do everything in her power to have her friend's wedding go off without a hitch.
Eleanor is a great main character. Her inner monologue is so funny (and still includes footnotes), but she's also smart. We get some characters from the first book like Oliver (Eleanor's now boyfriend) and Connor (the man who Eleanor's book series stars). We also get some new characters like Simone who is co-producing the movie. It was nice to have the familiar along with the new ones so it wasn't too confusing even with the amount of characters in the book.
This book takes place on an island and there is a storm coming, so it is kind of a locked room mystery since the ferries aren't running and no one can get off the island. Locked room mysteries are always fun because you know the killer has to be one of the characters we've already been introduced to and probably have gotten to know well. There were several good suspects with good motives.
The audiobook narrator was the same as the first one. I really enjoy her narration style for this series. She delivers the footnotes perfectly and really makes you feel involved in the story. She does an amazing job!
I am thoroughly invested in this series and I can't wait for the next one!

I love Catherine Mack's ability to tell a story! Not only are you reading about what is happening, you're getting personal narration from the main character. She gave the name for this skill in the book, but I've forgotten. These stories are always an entertaining ride...except for the dead people. But, they still read like a great cozy and there are so many twists and turns and absurdities that it is highly entertaining. I can't wait for the next title!

Once again Catherine Mack has written a light (if you can call a book where 3 people are murdered light) murder mystery that is a great break from reading dark thrillers. And, once again it is Eleanor’s very funny stream of consciousness dialogue that makes the book (actually audio) work for me. This time there are again plenty of red herrings, plenty of suspects and a surprise at the end, and as a bonus this time you learn all about screen writing and movie rights and movie production.

I just love this series! This installment had the cast at a remote location, a wedding, murder, mystery, and so many laugh out loud moments. This definitely falls in the cozy mystery category, which isn't always my favorite but the added comedic relief and the lead character, Eleanor make it so enjoyable. This did keep me guessing. I can't wait for the next one! I loved the narration of this story.