I requested this because I was always a big fan of Kellerman once upon a time...but this just didn't reel me in like they used to. I guess nostalgia isn't everything.

Kellerman follows a formula that works with the team of Alex Delaware and his detective friend Milo. They get a case, go through the investigative motions and solve it. A young woman is found dead at a wedding reception and no one knows who she is. There are hints of sexual exploitation, and international intrigue. I like how Robin, Alex's significant other, makes an appearance with helpful clues. Kind of a left field turn as the case creeps on. Not Kellerman's best but everything is tied up nicely.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

He has become one of my favorite authors. This book had many layers that you had to dig through. I love that I never got lost or had to go back to reread to find my place.

A very enjoyable whodunnit. As usual I love the relationship between Alex and Milo and the cameos of Moe, Sean and Alicia, characters that you warm to.

Looking forward to his next one.

I have read all of Jonathan Kellerman's novels. He does a great job of telling a compelling story and making this book hard to put down. I've always liked how he develops his characters, creates an interesting and intriguing story, and keeps the reader guessing.

LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis is a fine homicide detective, but when he needs to get into the mind of a killer, he leans on the expertise of his best friend, the brilliant psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware. While Sturgis has a knack for piecing together the details of a crime, Delaware can decipher the darkest intents driving the most vicious of perpetrators. And there’s no better place for the doctor’s analytical skills to shine than a rowdy hall full of young men and women intoxicated on life and lust . . . and suddenly faced with the specter of death.

Summoned to a run-down former strip joint, Delaware and Sturgis find themselves crashing a wild Saints and Sinners–themed wedding reception. But they’re not the only uninvited guests. A horrified bridesmaid has discovered the body of a young woman, dressed to impress in pricey haute couture and accessorized with a grisly red slash around her neck. What’s missing is any means of identification, or a single partygoer who recognizes the victim. The baffled bride is convinced the stranger snuck in to sabotage her big day—and the groom is sure it’s all a dreadful mistake. But Delaware and Sturgis have a hundred guests to question, and a sneaking suspicion that the motive for murder is personal. Now they must separate the sinners from the saints, the true from the false, and the secrets from those keeping them. The party’s over—and the hunt for whoever killed it is on.

As always, I love reading about how Milo & Alex solve crimes. Their interaction is great. I look forward to reading the next

Kellerman is one of my favorite authors and I love everything he writes! The Delaware series is also one of my favorites, as well as my mom’s. While this wasn’t a favorite of mine in the series, I still enjoyed it!

This was quite a slow read for me. I started this one not knowing there were sooooooo many books in the series. I normally enjoy police procedural books. But this one was devastatingly slow for me. I just wasn't that invest and it took a long time to actually finish the book.

2.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for allowing me to read and review.

Brearley (they call her Baby) and Garrett are getting married. They throw their wedding at a former strip club and call it the "Saints and Sinners" party. Turns out that one of the attendees is murdered and no one at the wedding seems to know her. The family members become suspects as Milo and Dr. Delaware try to figure out who is hiding what. The wedding guest was killed with a guitar string and a heady dose of heroin (which seems to be many popular "mystery/suspense" authors new thing) and Spanx seems to become a character of its own. Not one of my favorite Kellerman books, but it wasn't bad either. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Kellerman does a great job of weaving a compelling tail and making his book hard to put down. I've always liked how he develops his characters, creates an interesting and intriguing story, and keeps you in suspense.

Bears Rapfogel and Garrett Burdict are getting married Jonathan Kellerman invites us to attend in the novel The Wedding Guest. It will be an unconventional wedding to say the least. Held in a former strip club, guests are asked to dress “hot” for this Saints and Sinners ceremony. But venues and theme are not the most unconventional aspect of this wedding. Finding the body of a young woman, clad in designer attire in a ladies room ranks number one on the unconventional scale here. But there is more. No one at the wedding knows her. Why was she there? Who killed her?
LAPD Milo Sturgis is assigned the case. We can be assured that he seek the assistance of longtime friend and LAPD consultant Alex Delaware. Finding the identity of the victim proves to be very difficult. There is plenty of work that must be done before the killer can be found.
This story is overloaded with characters. At times it is difficult to remember them and what role they play in the story. In this overloaded cast, few are developed, few are likable. Slowly, we plod to the reveal of the murderer. Sadly we are handed an unconvincing motive. All in all an unfulfilling read. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. #NetGalley #TheWeddingGuest.

This was only my second foray into Jonathan Kellerman, after reading Breakdown a few years ago. That book was a bit of a disappointment, too slow and meandering at times, but with enough ... oomph? to the writing to make me try again with The Wedding Guest. Here, we once again follow Los Angeles homicide detective Milo Sturgis, along with his long-term best buddy/Watson, psychologist Alex Delaware, as the pair show up at a wedding reception gone bad. As if not bad enough that the reception was held at a low-end, overhauled former strip club, upstairs in the bathroom one of the unluckier bridesmaids has discovered the body of a beautiful young girl, dressed to the nines in red haute couture that extends to the dark red gash across her throat. No ID, no witnesses, and with a hundred wedding guests (plus staff) downstairs who swear they've never seen the girl before, Sturgis - the muscle - and Delaware - the intuition - glean right off, from questioning the bride and groom and their families, that something isn't quite right. It's there, with the very dysfunctional families, they start the laborious, sometimes seemingly fruitless task of not only identifying their mystery wedding guest ... but also, in Alex's mind, the kind of murderer who would have taken the time to kill in such a brutal way. I learned with Breakdown that an Alex Delaware novel can be a slow burn; like a modern-day Holmes and Watson (although without nearly as many brilliant deductions from Sturgis, and Watson being the insightful one), Milo and Alex go very much from point A to point B, questioning suspects and working leads, each new contact hopefully sending them further along the trail of the murderer as new clues, motives and suspects are revealed. But whereas I got impatient with Breakdown's slow-moving caravan of action, the secrets of The Wedding Guest, as meticulously as they evolved, felt like comfort food for the detective soul. The friendship between Sturgie and Delaware is deep-rooted, their banter real as they continuously lobby suggestions and theories around like tennis balls, and while it's Alex's genius that generally carries the day, his friendship with Milo Sturgis - the least stereotypical gay cop you're ever likely to meet - keeps the pages turning as much as any action sequence.Every time I had to put this book down, when I picked it up again I felt like I was getting back to old friends, following along with them on the hunt for a killer, and if that's how the other 32 Delaware novels I haven't read yet are, I am in for a treat. 4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

I have always enjoyed Jonathan Kellerman. This is not one of his better books.
It started out very unbelievable and extremely strange writing. It then turned into a regular
mystery but none of the characters were especially likeable and I only finished it because I
was given an advance copy by Netgalley to review.

Dr. Alex Delaware, a very successful psychologist, is called by his friend, LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis, for help with his current case. Sturgis is trying to get into the mind of a killer and he knows that someone like Alex is just the man to help him.

Can Alex use those very skills to analyze deductively why some can be very dark killers, having the worst minds ever? What brings Sturgis to Alex is the fact that the body of a young woman has been discovered by a bridesmaid at a wedding. The wedding has already brought attention. It is a Saints and Sinners themed wedding. So, Sturgis and Alex are forced to crash it, and try as they might, they must interview at least a hundred guests.

This series has been going on for decades, yet this is my first foray. The story did perfectly well as a standalone. I understood enough about Alex and what drives him to help solve crimes, so I was able to fully appreciate and enjoy this story. The Wedding Guest was an engaging read that I was riveted to and I found the conclusion to be thrilling. I hope to be able to read more in this bestselling series.

Many thanks to Ballantine Books and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Ive read other previous Jonathan Kellerman books. This one didn't disappoint. He always writes a great thriller.
Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

This book is classic Jonathan Kellerman, with characters who are well known to most readers and whose personalities are well fleshed out.

The plot, however, is not as strong as some of the (many) other Alex Delaware novels I've read, and is it my imagination, or are the characters getting more and more snarky as they age?

It's still an entertaining read, but for the Jonathan Kellerman fan, you'll be able to spot the differences between this one and his earlier works.

I had never read an Alex Delaware novel before. Since this is a very lengthy series no character development really exists in this story. That being said the book read quickly and was enjoyable. Since the series is so large I am not sure that I would go back and read the previous books but I will read some of them going forward.

I found The Wedding Guest a slow read. It wasnt because Jonathan Kellerman's detecting duo arent interesting characters, it was because I just dont think the novel lived up to the premise. The action/suspense was rather unexciting. The secondary characters seemed a little two dimensional, and uninteresting. I just wasnt invested in the solution, conclusion or any other outcome. I guess this one just wasnt for me, and I think Ill take a break from the series.
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

I absolutely loved this book, it was an amazing thriller mystery book that kept you guessing to see what happens next. When you think you have figured it out nope, the author throws you another curve ball. He explains the characters so well that you fall in love with each and everyone of them. I was sad when the book ended, like I wanted more. I have already recommended this book to so many. If you love a great mystery this book is for you!!!

I loved this book. I found the characters were very realistic and interesting. I will definitely check out more novels by this author.

Story starts at the beginning of a wedding reception, a body is found in the upstairs bathroom causing the entire wedding party being angry that the wedding is ruined rather than upset for the dead person. This book was interesting but didn’t feel as suspenseful as I was hoping for. But regardless was a pleasant story and would still recommend to others to read!