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stephbookshine's review against another edition
3.0
*I received a free ARC of this book, with thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
A group of ex-boyband members with dark secrets in their past reunite for the wedding of one of them, but the old tensions simmer and eventually implode into murder, betrayal and all sorts of skeletons falling out of old closets.
As far as murder mysteries go, this was a perfectly okay one but it didn’t really blow me away, mainly because I didn’t feel any sort of connection – emotional or otherwise – to any of the characters, and the end reveal felt extremely far-fetched… I have no idea how the murderer intended to pull the whole thing off successfully!
It was an easy and entertaining read though, and I did enjoy the way the flashbacks to their music industry past of the Nineties were slipped into the modern day narrative to create an additional level of mystery.
I’d be likely to recommend this to someone looking for a quick, unrealistic murder mystery thriller with a touch of Nineties nostalgia.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2022/11/14/catch-up-quickies-31/
A group of ex-boyband members with dark secrets in their past reunite for the wedding of one of them, but the old tensions simmer and eventually implode into murder, betrayal and all sorts of skeletons falling out of old closets.
As far as murder mysteries go, this was a perfectly okay one but it didn’t really blow me away, mainly because I didn’t feel any sort of connection – emotional or otherwise – to any of the characters, and the end reveal felt extremely far-fetched… I have no idea how the murderer intended to pull the whole thing off successfully!
It was an easy and entertaining read though, and I did enjoy the way the flashbacks to their music industry past of the Nineties were slipped into the modern day narrative to create an additional level of mystery.
I’d be likely to recommend this to someone looking for a quick, unrealistic murder mystery thriller with a touch of Nineties nostalgia.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2022/11/14/catch-up-quickies-31/
whatfern_reads's review
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
shopeing's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Harper Collins for the ARC of this book!
When you think of a wedding, you would normally think about joy and laughter and tears (happy tears), but this is the complete opposite. If you had any doubt in your mind about the trust you have in your partner, would you accompany them to a wedding near the woods for someone they no longer talk or associate with anymore? Who can you really trust?
They say two can keep a secret if one of them is dead, but what if multiple people know the secret? What would you do to keep that secret and what would you be prepared to do if said secret got out? That’s the overall journey of what our protagonist is trying to uncover.
This story goes back and forth between storylines and timelines so that you can attempt to get the full picture of what happened. I was left with many questions I had hoped would be flushed out to get the full picture of each character, but enjoyed the dual timeframes as well. Some characteristics of the band members seemed to be stereotypical and could have been a little more dynamic.
Without giving away the big reveal, you’re left with one major question: would destroying someone else to bolster your reputation be worth it?
When you think of a wedding, you would normally think about joy and laughter and tears (happy tears), but this is the complete opposite. If you had any doubt in your mind about the trust you have in your partner, would you accompany them to a wedding near the woods for someone they no longer talk or associate with anymore? Who can you really trust?
They say two can keep a secret if one of them is dead, but what if multiple people know the secret? What would you do to keep that secret and what would you be prepared to do if said secret got out? That’s the overall journey of what our protagonist is trying to uncover.
This story goes back and forth between storylines and timelines so that you can attempt to get the full picture of what happened. I was left with many questions I had hoped would be flushed out to get the full picture of each character, but enjoyed the dual timeframes as well. Some characteristics of the band members seemed to be stereotypical and could have been a little more dynamic.
Without giving away the big reveal, you’re left with one major question: would destroying someone else to bolster your reputation be worth it?
lbsalas's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
traceyroberts's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.0
The Wedding Murders is a fast-paced, whodunit and whydunit. Its the why that is more the question.
The story is told across two timelines. Libby tells the present and Matthew fills us in on the back story from the 90's. I quite enjoy being drip fed the story in this way and trying to work out the twists.
I did find the characters a little annoying, especially Libby. As she is a journalist I expected her to be nosey and jump to conclusions but I didn't enjoy reading about her long winded and sometimes ridiculous thought processes.
Despite Libby's character, I read the book very quickly as I couldn't put it down and needed to read more of the back story.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.
The story is told across two timelines. Libby tells the present and Matthew fills us in on the back story from the 90's. I quite enjoy being drip fed the story in this way and trying to work out the twists.
I did find the characters a little annoying, especially Libby. As she is a journalist I expected her to be nosey and jump to conclusions but I didn't enjoy reading about her long winded and sometimes ridiculous thought processes.
Despite Libby's character, I read the book very quickly as I couldn't put it down and needed to read more of the back story.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.
liseyp's review
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you to the author, publishers One More Chapter and NetGalley UK for access to this as an advance reader’s ebook. This is an honest and voluntary review.
A fast-paced short thriller set against the background of 90s pop star success and excess.
Libby is a trainee journalist looking for her first permanent role on the local newspaper. After becoming a mum a lot earlier than planned she’s building a career and future for 7-year-old Patrick. She’s met Matthew, a former member of a band who found a few years of international fame in the 1990s, and after 18 months together she’s planning to move in with him with marriage on the cards.
First there’s a weekend away at the exclusive wedding of Matthew’s former bandmate turned TV presenter, Daniel. It’s the first time all of the surviving members of the band will have been back together since they broke up. A time for fond memories and relaxation, or for ghosts from the past to emerge?
This is a well-paced easy-to-read thriller. It runs a fine line between being grounded in reality and pushing the boundaries enough to deliver tension. The ending delivers well and it’s a good choice if you’re looking if something quick and enjoyable to read.
mrsrjg's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This book was a major disappointment. I was enticed in by the title and the synopsis but the actual content didn't measure up.
None of the characters were likeable, even Libby who I think we were supposed to be rooting for was just so dull that I just couldn't take it.
I have no issues with dual timelines in books but in this book I felt it just didn't work. The POV of Matthew in the past was boring and when I turned a page and found we were back then I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes; I also felt the excerpts from Simon's book was unnecessary. For a book being titled The Wedding Murders we spent very little time in that timeline which was disappointing; although the last 60 pages or so picked up in pace and plot by that time it was too late and I just couldn't have cared less what happened.
*Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and Sarah Linley for the copy of this book. All views are my own.*
None of the characters were likeable, even Libby who I think we were supposed to be rooting for was just so dull that I just couldn't take it.
I have no issues with dual timelines in books but in this book I felt it just didn't work. The POV of Matthew in the past was boring and when I turned a page and found we were back then I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes; I also felt the excerpts from Simon's book was unnecessary. For a book being titled The Wedding Murders we spent very little time in that timeline which was disappointing; although the last 60 pages or so picked up in pace and plot by that time it was too late and I just couldn't have cared less what happened.
*Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and Sarah Linley for the copy of this book. All views are my own.*
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