Cate Quinn is so great at delivering a twisty book that the reader cannot put down. Her latest, The Bridesmaid moves quickly and sucks the reader in right from the start. Somewhat predictable, but still a very enjoyable suspenseful book.

Thank you to net galley for the arc in exchange of an honest review.

This was a fun murder mystery with an engaging protagonist that I hope headlines her own series. Holly was quirky and interesting, and the changes in pov kept the pace going. I'd definitely be interested in a followup in this series.

This was a thrilling read. Loved the mystery, the suspense, and the characters!!!
I need to read more from this author-she really knows how to spin a story.

Why are the bridesmaids being killed off? Who is next and who is behind it? A definite page-turner with twists all along the way. While I did guess who was behind it, I still enjoyed the story and ending.

The story suffered from too many points of view for its pace, leaving the characters underdeveloped and lacking depth. There were repeated questions about whether the police handled the case properly, which felt tiring—especially in today's context, where such doubt no longer carries the same narrative weight. The repeated tough-guy dialogue grew monotonous, and there was an underlying assumption that the police would fulfill their duties, which made the skepticism feel outdated. Of all the characters, only the detective investigating the wealthy and a murder received any real detail. Overall, the plot felt shallow and failed to hold my interest.

Pub date 11/04/25

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

The Bridesmaid is a classic who done it but with the rich and famous! Adrianna Kensington is having the wedding of the year as everyone adores and obsesses over her rich family affairs. But when one of the bridesmaids (maid of honor) is murdered and left in one of her wedding gowns, the family must be investigated. Holly is put on the case as she is known for her detail and expertise in forensic science and has solved a lot of murders. Holly gets an exclusive invite onto the island of Elisium where the wedding is taking place. She only has so much time to figure out what is going on with this family and solve the murder before she’s required to leave. This book reminded me of the lifestyle of the Kardashian’s mixed with murder deceit. This is a quick read and great for pre wedding jitters. ;)

A murder just days before a wedding. The entire bridal party have secrets. A intriguing who done it among the rich and famous.

The Bridesmaid by Cate Quinn is a book that has it all - mystery, murder, kidnapping, and a wedding to say the least. The plot and characters are well developed and I enjoyed the interaction between the forensic lawyer/sleuth and Fitzwilliam, the officer assigned to the murder case. It was fascinating how Holly Stone tries to unravel the mystery using forensic evidence and tools that she carries in her tote bag. The book contains some graphic description of murder and there is also some "F" bombs. Once you get past that, the book will keep you turning pages to the end. I receive an advance copy of this book from Netgalley.com and I always review every book that I read. I recommend this one if you like suspense and trying to guess whodunit. Enjoy.

The Bridesmaid by Cate Quinn is a twisty, slow-burn thriller centered on the wealthy and carefully curated Kensington family. Three years after Adrianna, the golden daughter, was kidnapped, the family has turned the tragedy into something of a brand—using social media to stay relevant and control the narrative.

But when a bridesmaid is found dead just before a high-profile wedding, everything starts to unravel. Secrets come to light, and it’s clear the Kensingtons have been hiding much more than just grief.

There’s a lot to like here—Quinn does a great job building suspense and capturing the pressure of living in the public eye. The way the family manipulates their image for social media feels very realistic (and pretty disturbing). The characters are layered, and you can feel the tension growing as the story unfolds.

That said, the ending didn’t quite land for me. After all the buildup, it felt rushed and didn’t hit as hard as I was expecting. I was hoping for something more impactful or surprising, but it just kind of fizzled out.

Still, it’s a solid read if you enjoy domestic thrillers with a psychological edge and a bit of commentary on fame and family dysfunction.

Thank you NetGalley for this e-arc!

I do not watch Love Island but this is what I think Love Island would be like in a fictional, mystery-based narrative. I am always down for a good "stuck on an island with some crazy character backstories" type of story.

I do think this was well-written and well-constructed. I just felt like things were rushed near the end which felt like a bit of a whiplash.

4/5⭐️

This book absolutely hooked me—I couldn’t put it down and ended up reading way past bedtime just to see what would happen next. The short, punchy chapters made it incredibly easy to fly through, and I loved how manageable it felt to read in quick bursts or long stretches. Long chapters often feel daunting to me, so the format was a huge win.

The story kept me guessing the entire time. I was convinced I knew who the killer was… and then I changed my mind twice… but I still didn’t fully figure it out until the very end! Kate Quinn did such a great job weaving in twists and suspense without making anything feel forced.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, cleverly plotted mystery with a format that makes it hard to stop reading, this is it. Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed the concept of “The Bridesmaid.”

It was a slow burn mystery, with numerous POVs to throw you off. I did guess some of the twists, but I was thrown off at the end. I really enjoyed Holly as a character and the short chapters made this one a really quick and enjoyable read.

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

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is the first book of hers that I've read, but it certainly won't be the last! As soon as saw that each chapter was from a different person's perspective, I KNEW that we would be getting to know all the characters well, so I would have a chance of figuring out who actually did it. The characters were all well-developed and the main characters were likable enough that it made me hope that this will be the start of a series. I was totally wrapped up in the story from beginning to end, and absolutely shocked by the ending, which rarely happens to me. And not only that, but I am still thinking about it. I have always considered influencers to be narcissists who just want everyone to adore them, but I had no idea how much effort went into how they present themselves and what they show to the world. Although I can't imagine living such a fake life, it gives me a new respect for what influencers have to go through to maintain their image and their business. I highly recommend this book.

An interesting read, of course there's always got to be a NLOG main character, but the story was fairly well-written. I liked getting different POVs from several of the characters. I did suspect one of the bigger aspects of the mystery. It's not a bad read for a casual mystery lover.

Holyyyyyyy— this book was AMAZING. I adore Cate Quinn and I adored this book. Holly is such an incredible character with an insane mind, literally this girl is INSANE. Adrianna ruffled my feathers but Quinn made it easier to see her point of view, she really shines when it comes to seeing every side of the story!

From the moment I started reading I was intrigued. The main character is so likeable and the mystery begins immediately which is always a plus for me. The story was fast paced but was still a rich story with multiple plot twists.

This was a 5 star thriller for me - loved the premise of a social media influencer with a dark past getting married even though her bridesmaid was brutally murdered. Quinn's writing gets better with each new book and she has become an auto-read author for me.

The famous nightclub family, the Kensingtons, are hosting a lavish wedding for Adrianna and Mark. When one of the celebrity bridesmaids is murdered in the weeks leading up to the wedding, Holly Stone gets involved. Holly is not your average forensic attorney, and she adds some spunk to the story as she tries to figure out who is responsible for the murder. The story centers around a wealthy family that was difficult to root for, honestly. I found myself wondering if Mark and Adrianna were actually in love or if the relationship was a publicity stunt. The action kept me on the edge of my seat, but I am not sure how I feel about the ending. I will have to ponder that a while longer.

This, unfortunately, did not work for me. The pacing is extremely fast, I felt like I didn't even get to settle in. Our main character was fine, but pretty much everyone else is horrible. Why did we have 3 different POVs and why was one for Petra?

For part of the setting being on a foreign island, I couldn't imagine anything about how it looked or the layout. Very lacking in descriptions and setting.

This just did not work for me, but I'd still like to look into Cate Quinn's other work.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I find that I really enjoy Cate Quinn’s writing! This doesn’t release until November but I was able to score an early copy from NetGalley. So glad I read this! I did figure out a main part of the story pretty early on but it didn’t ruin it for me. Reading about PR and how things get twisted just for headlines or images/branding is so foreign to me. Great book