Rating: 3.0
Review:

The first book in this series, "Every time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies" was so much fun. I really enjoyed the author breaking the forth wall and talking directly to me as the reader. I was very comedic and a decent mystery. As this second book started, I was enjoying the same snarky voice of the main character Eleanor. I love the audiobook narrator and was happy she was back on this one. Sadly, the majority of the characters are the one from the first book and find themselves in a basically the same situation. It spends a fair amount of time referencing the first book. The who done it aspect was muddled which made me to lose interest and by the end I was over it.

There was a last minute twist at the end that people could appreciate but be warned that if you read a lot of books like this, you will likely figure it out.

I do like Catherine Mack's writing so I am hoping to see her try something different in future books and will happily read them.

Thank you to Net Galley and the Publisher for the listen to the audiobook.

Blurb:

Attending your best friend’s wedding should be a piece of (wedding) cake, but not for Eleanor Dash, bestselling author of the Vacation Mysteries series. Because murder seems to follow her every time she goes on vacation and is definitely her uninvited plus-one to the special occasion.

Emma Wood, Eleanor’s best friend since childhood, is starring in the movie adaptation of When in Rome, Eleanor’s first novel. Emma is also marrying Fred Winters, a major movie star and Emma’s co-star, who just happens to be playing Connor Smith, Eleanor’s ex and leading man of the series.

Filming wraps and they invite the whole cast and crew to their wedding at nearby Catalina Island. There may be a storm headed their way―because of course there is―but nothing will stop their nuptials . . . that is until Emma receives a note that says “Someone is going to die at the wedding.”

Eleanor is a professional at this point, and she’ll do everything she can to uncover the murderer so true love can prevail . . . before it’s too late for her and the rest of the storm-trapped wedding party.

Eleanor Dash just wanted to be a supportive best friend at a wedding. Instead someone ends up dead because of course they do. Murder follows this woman like it is her emotional support animal.

There are movie stars. There is an awkward ex. There is a storm rolling in. Everyone is stuck on an island and the vibes are giving reality TV meets murder mystery. It took a minute to get going but once it did I was locked in and loving the chaos.

Eleanor stays nosy and dramatic in the best way. I want her to have a normal vacation one day but also absolutely not because these disasters are way too fun to read.

No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding
By Catherine Mack
Narrated b Elizabeth Evans

Published May 13,2025

Once I started listening to this book I couldn’t stop. I had to know what happened and who did it! I love fun mysteries especially ones that feel like a murder mystery party. Eleanor Dash is back at it again. Her bestie Emma is getting married on Catalina Island but literally NOTHING goes as planned. Eleanor is a super sleuth. A storm traps everyone on the island, threats from a mystery person are happening and Emma’s picture perfect wedding to her movie star fiancé is now a crime scene. Family drama, an ex and a killer who was surely not invited to the wedding. Eleanor is funny and determined to get to the bottom of what’s happening and I was here for it.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Released earlier this week, Noone Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding is the second book in the Eleanor Dash series. In this book, best-selling author, Eleanor Dash, takes on a new murder mystery investigation at her best friend’s wedding on Catalina Island.

Emma Wood, Eleanor’s best friend since childhood, is starring in the movie adaptation of When in Rome, Eleanor’s first novel. Emma is also marrying Fred Winters, a major movie star and Emma’s co-star, who just happens to be playing Connor Smith, Eleanor’s ex and leading man of the series.

When filming wraps, they invite the whole cast and crew to their wedding at nearby Catalina Island. Even though a storm is headed their way, they're determined nothing will stop their nuptials . . . that is until Emma receives a note that says “Someone is going to die at the wedding.”

Feeling like a professional, Eleanor will do everything she can to uncover the murderer so true love can prevail, before it’s too late for her and the rest of the storm-trapped wedding party.

This book was a delightfully fun, fast-paced read that I couldn't stop listening to. It brings all the energy and entertainment from the first book with a new story that keeps the reader guessing until the near end. There is a whole host of viable suspects to analyze and figure out, which is something I enjoyed about the first book too.

I do think I prefer to read the physical version of these books over audio because so much is going on and physical copies demand my attention and concentration easier, but I loved listening to this one and it allowed me to read the book faster since my schedule didn't allow for an experience with physical copy until the weekend.

Overall, I recommend this book in whatever your preferred format is. If you haven't read the first one, I recommend reading it first. They stand alone but I think the reader gets more from book two by having read the first book.

𝑵𝑶 𝑶𝑵𝑬 𝑾𝑨𝑺 𝑺𝑼𝑷𝑷𝑶𝑺𝑬𝑫 𝑻𝑶 𝑫𝑰𝑬 𝑨𝑻 𝑻𝑯𝑰𝑺 𝑾𝑬𝑫𝑫𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝒃𝒚 𝑪𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒄𝒌 is another installment of Eleanor Dash and her Vacation Mysteries!

Every once in a while I enjoy a light, fluffy, fun read that doesn't ask too much of me except to settle in and enjoy the antics. This is one of those reads.

Eleanor is out at Catalina Island for her best friend's wedding and wouldn't you know, bad things begin to happen. And a storm that traps them all there. And bodies add up. In all of this somewhat formulaic plot, there is a plethora of banter, 4th-wall-breaking footnotes, and a bit of a twisty reveal (though I weirdly guessed it early on).

I did enjoy listening to Elizabeth Evans narrate this @macmillan.audio offering via @netgalley. I did, however, feel like something was lacking. I think I was so surprised and delighted by the first installment of this series that I hoped to feel the same way again. This is an almost impossible feat as so much can affect my feelings of a book, so it could be any number of things like my mood.

It was fun. It was light. It was a bit more predictable than I hoped. I will still be looking for the next adventure of Ms. Dash!

Okay this book has me cackling the whole way through. I mean I know it’s murder and solving the crime and all but the cast is truly a delight.

And then add in the theatrics that comes with having (or losing) too much money.

Um and I just really love Oliver. Would love a scene or two from his perspective just to get a glimpse in to his mind about how he views these people and of course Eleanor.

One thing is for sure I will be back visiting Eleanor to find out about the bullet in the head very soon.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for an ALC.

This was fun! Light. Ridiculous. Fun. I think this is a perfect summer read by the pool.

“Murder, like life is about choices it's never an accident. It's right there in the definition, an intentional act, because you have to want it for it to happen, you have to be ambitious, and sometimes stopping yourself from doing it takes more effort, but it's not inevitable, it never is."

Bestselling author Elenore Dash is back, and where Elenore goes, trouble and mystery are sure to follow. In this book her and Oliver are headed to Catalina Island to attend her best friend Emma's wedding. Unfortunately this is the case once they arrive. Unlucky events start occurring including poison, murder, and attempted. Elenore must find out who is behind the sinister series of events and what or who they are after before it's too late. Anyone could be a suspect, she will have to be careful who she trusts so that she is not the next victim.

I was so excited to read this book, I had been looking forward to it. This book is great for anyone who likes movies like Knives Out and Glass Onion. I love how well the author pulled off breaking the fourth wall, it really makes you feel like you are in the story and trying to solve the mystery alongside the rest of the characters. Also I think this could be read as a standalone. The author does a great job filling in any gaps you might have missed in the first book, but I highly recommend the first book as well.


"It feels safer to run than to stop. Life is like that sometimes, you run away from danger, but that doesn't mean there aren't monsters up ahead."

"I don't think it's supposed to be easy, I think it's supposed to be work, good work."

"We're sitting in the dark with a murderer. We all know how this is going to go; the lights will come back on and one of us will be dead."


I greatly enjoyed the audiobook and the narrator. Her voice was perfect for this book. I love how expressive and upbeat her voice sounded, really helps get you into the story. The narrator made it clear when she was speaking to you vs telling the story, which kept things from getting confusing. I would 100% listen to anything she narrates.

No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding is the second book in Catherine Mack’s Vacation Mystery series. Mystery writer Eleanor Dash has spent time on the set of the making of a movie based on her novel When in Rome. Her best friend from childhood, Emma Wood, is playing the role based on Eleanor, while Fred Winters is playing the role of Connor Smith. Emma has had a crush on Fred since her teenage years and now they have truly fallen in love and are set to be married on Catalina Island. In attendance will be only the cast and support staff as well as Eleanor and her sister Harper, Connor Smith, Oliver Forrest, the screenwriter David, producer Tyler, and Fred’s parents who are last minute shows.

However, uninvited guest Pacific hurricane Isabel is tracking toward the island and the locals are evacuating. But not the wedding party, because after all it is all planned. When on the wedding schedule there is an entry for murder at midnight, while Emma seems to panic, Eleanor goes into investigation mode with Oliver by her side.

As the story unfolds and the wedding takes place the bodies begin stacking up and the varied hypotheses mount until the culprits are caught. Like Ms. Mack’s first novel in the series, Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies, the storytelling is multifaceted. Human emotions are examined, motives are disclosed, and alibis are shredded until the solution is found and the culprits contained. The story is told with heart and humor, with well drawn characters and a wonderfully twisty plotI very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

This is 2nd book in the Vacation Mysteries series and was quite amusing.
I had a blast with Eleanor Dash and her newest wacky adventure at Emma and Fred’s wedding venue.
Her book is currently in the process of being adapted into a movie and her best friend, who is an actress, is set to marry her famous co-star. Fred is playing the part of Connor (the con man), who happens to be Eleanor's ex-boyfriend and is also in attendance.
Now she and Oliver, her current boyfriend, are on the case to try and stop a murder after Emma receives threats that someone is going to die at her wedding.
Wow, I didn’t see that ending coming - impressive!
The narrator’s storytelling was extremely entertaining with the humor and foul language. I’m glad I requested the audiobook.
(Crazy Cathy has returned!!)
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to listen to this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It's been 3 months since Italy and now Eleanor Dash finds herself back in California where the movie of her book When in Rome is wrapping up production. Coincidentally, the lead character is being played by Elle's best friend from childhood Emma. Emma and lead actor, Fred Winter, have happily found love during filming and, now that filming is complete the entire cast and crew are joining them on Catalina Island for a not-so-secret wedding. Everything seems rather idyllic until Emma receives a note saying someone is going to die at the wedding. Not on Eleanor Dash's watch. Elle will do everything in her power to make sure this wedding goes off without a hitch including throwing herself back into the investigation. Hey, at least this time she's not the target... at least she thinks she's not the target.

I loved that we get the same narrator for this book as in the first book. I like when series continue with the same narrators because I think it helps to bring a familiarity and cohesiveness as the series continues. I think it works especially well with the footnotes, how they feel like they're being spoken like an aside in a play or something. I think the narration heightens the often over-the-top emotions that seem to run through this book / series as we barrel towards the end.

I think I was better able to handle this book after reading the first one and kind of understanding what I was getting into. Hello footnotes! Because of that I feel like I enjoyed this book more. Also, the first book took place in Italy, all over the place, so I also think the paired down locale in this book - being on an island and all with limited room to move - helped corral the ensuing chaos a bit.

I liked and appreciated how this second book continued the story from the first book and how Catherine Mack decided to place all the returning characters in a plausible way. Looking at you Tucci! Mainly, it's that I like that these characters are becoming familiar and I'm starting to recognize all their quirks and dynamics with one another.

The twists with the mystery were also done well. The outcome wasn't immediately apparent, but I also wasn't super surprised in how things turned out. I think by the time we got to the end we had already exhausted every other scenario so how things ended up just made sense.

Like the first book, the epilogue leads us perfectly into Eleanor's the next murder mystery infused vacation and I'm here for it.

I inhaled this book! I absolutely love the blend of mystery and humor, and the setting was perfect! I applaud Catherine’s ability to maintain the humor and style of book one while also telling a fresh story with a new mystery. I absolutely love the use of footnotes and chapter headings. It’s a clever way to insert humor into a mystery, and I think Catherine is hilarious.

This is such a fun series! I can't wait to see where the story goes in book three, and I thought this one did a great job continuing to develop the characters and relationships from book one. This was a thoroughly enjoyable story, and I highly recommend it on audio! Elizabeth Evans absolutely nails the narration for this series, and I loved how she brought out the humor in this book. She did a great job with the footnotes and I loved that I still got to hear them but it didn't take me out of the story.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy! All thoughts are my own.

We’ve gotten another absolutely hilarious and fun mystery from Catherine Mack and I for one, am extremely grateful! I couldn’t think of a better way to kickstart my spring reading!

What I’ve loved most about this series so far is that I am equally invested in the mystery and trying to figure out whodunnit but I’m also just so INVESTED in the drama surrounding this (frankly) messy group of characters. I loved that the gang was back for book two and that their web of interconnected relationships continued to cause some trouble…

I had the opportunity to read an e-ARC and listen to an ALC of this book and thoroughly enjoyed both formats. However, I have to give credit where it is due because Elizabeth Evans is truly the perfect narrator, she brought the cleverness and cheekiness of Eleanor to life which made for such a fun reading experience!

If you’re a lover of light and cozy mysteries with a sprinkling of romance you absolutely need to pick up these books - you will have a great time!!

We’re back with Eleanor Dash in this second installment of the Vacation Mysteries series and this time she is at her best friend, Emma’s wedding in Italy. Emma is starring in the movie adaptation of Eleanor’s When in Rome book and is marrying her co-star. But just like the last time Eleanor was in Italy, a dead body shows up and Eleanor goes into sleuth mode. With a storm coming and no help available, the wedding party are all suspects.

This was a cute cozy mystery but I started by listening to it and I think it would have been better to get my bearings by reading the first few chapters because I was a bit confused. This is a light palate cleansing novel which was cute but not overly engrossing; that being said I did care to figure the mysteries out and didn’t always succeed. However, I did like it enough to read the next one (if there is one).

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC to review

4.5⭐

This series has been a lot of fun to read so far. There's a lot of charm and wit to the writing and the characters that make the book really entertaining. It's really the perfect blend of humor, mystery and chaos. I did enjoy the mystery I wasn't able to figure out who the killer actually was till the end. I loved the fact that everyone was stranded on an island it had that classic who done it element.

My favorite element of these books is the narration, I love when a book breaks the fourth wall. When it's done right it can be really funny and it succeeds very well in this. The audiobook narrator did a very good job with the book, they made me laugh when I was meant to and also brought me to the edge of my seat when I needed to be.

Great sequel, very fast paced! A must read if you loved Every time I go on Vacation, Someone Dies.

Thank you to NetGalley and @MinotaurBooks for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding is book two in The Vacation Mysteries series, and wow—it does not waste time heating things up. What’s supposed to be a glamorous movie production (based on the protagonist’s first book) turns into yet another murder scene... because of course it does. This crew cannot go anywhere without someone winding up dead, and honestly? I’m here for it.

The story is delightfully meta—there’s a book within a book within a film within a murder mystery, and it somehow works without getting confusing. Catherine Mack does a great job keeping readers grounded, even as the plot layers get twistier. There’s a strong Agatha Christie energy running through this one: quirky suspects, clever clues, a sleuth who's in way over her head but keeps going anyway.

What I especially enjoyed in this second installment is how the characters feel more fleshed out. They’re still eccentric, still funny, but there’s more heart and nuance this time around. The relationships get messy in all the right ways—blurred lines, secrets, and just enough emotional weight to make the drama hit harder.

Also, shoutout to the audiobook narration—it kept the pacing tight and the tone pitch-perfect, especially with such a large cast of characters.

Honestly? I liked this one even more than the first. The stakes are higher, the humor sharper, and the mystery more satisfying. If you're into slightly chaotic, highly entertaining whodunits with a literary twist, this is one to add to your TBR (or playlist). 4.25 Stars!

"No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding" by Catherine Mack is a delightful and witty follow-up in the Vacation Mysteries series, and I had the pleasure of reading an ARC. This time, bestselling author Eleanor Dash finds herself attending her best friend Emma's wedding on Catalina Island, which, naturally for Eleanor, becomes the backdrop for a perplexing murder mystery.

Mack has a knack for creating a lighthearted yet engaging tone, and Eleanor's blend of authorial observation and amateur sleuthing is as charming as ever. The added meta-layer of Emma starring in the movie adaptation of Eleanor's own book, with Eleanor's ex playing the lead, injects a fun and slightly chaotic energy into the proceedings. The glamorous setting of a celebrity wedding on a picturesque island, coupled with the looming threat of a storm, creates a wonderfully atmospheric and slightly claustrophobic environment.

The arrival of the ominous note predicting a death adds an immediate layer of suspense, and Eleanor's professional approach to uncovering the potential killer is entertaining. The cast of characters, from movie stars and crew to wedding guests, offers a satisfying pool of suspects, each with their own secrets and potential motives. Mack keeps the plot moving at a brisk pace, with plenty of witty banter and Eleanor's insightful observations adding to the enjoyment.

While the mystery itself might not be the most complex, it's cleverly plotted and provides ample opportunity for Eleanor to exercise her deductive skills. "No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding" is a fun and engaging read, perfect for those who enjoy a cozy mystery with a touch of Hollywood glamour and a protagonist who can't seem to catch a break from stumbling upon crime, even at a wedding.

★★★★☆

⭐ 5 Stars | Laugh-Out-Loud Mystery | Perfect Audiobook for a Chaotic Week! ⭐

If you loved the first book in this series, prepare yourself—this sequel somehow manages to be even more delightful. Eleanor is exactly the kind of messy, snarky heroine I adore. She’s not a flawless detective; she’s just determined, a little chaotic, and absolutely committed to figuring out who’s behind the threats—even if it means accidentally turning the wedding into her personal crime scene.
The mystery itself kept me on my toes. I love when I can’t guess the ending, and this one had me guessing right up until the big reveal. Plus, the cast of side characters is gold—full of suspects with big personalities and even bigger secrets.

This book is perfect if you want:
- A fast, fun cozy mystery with a modern twist.
- A quirky, lovable main character who’s not afraid to stir up some drama.
-Laugh-out-loud moments balanced with a clever whodunit plot.
Also, can we talk about the audiobook narration? Absolutely fantastic! It brought Eleanor’s snarky humor to life, and I swear it made the packing and unpacking fly by.

Why I LOVED the audiobook:
The audiobook version of No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding is honestly the BEST way to experience this story!
The narrator does a fantastic job bringing Eleanor’s snarky, witty personality to life, and the real-time delivery of her famous footnotes as hilarious asides made me feel like I was right there inside her head. It adds so much charm and humor to the story, and I found myself laughing out loud constantly!

I love this series. I did enjoy the first book a little more but I’m going to consider rereading this on the beach this summer. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc. This book was cute, but I did not read the first book in the series. Overall, I enjoyed it, and I thought the narrator did a really good job. I would definitely read more books by this author in the future. It was a good mystery and if you like the Finley Donovan series, you will enjoy this book.