The Wedding Guest is a continuation of the Alex Delaware series of books. In this book, Alex is helpating Milo Sturgis to unravel the murder of a young woman whose body is found in the bathroom a wedding reception. The identity of the victim is one of the big unknowns in this story. It takes quite awhile for the investigation to actually figure out who the victim is and even longer to figure out a motive. To be honest, when the case was solved I was left feeling a bit disappointed. The culprit really didn't have a motive other than that he was a psycho and the wedding really had very little to do with the actual crime. I took a pretty uneducated guess at "who dunnit" during the book and later realized that I was correct. I think that this book had the potential to be so much better than it was.

In a former strip club, during a wedding party, a young woman's body is found sitting on the toilet. And so the story starts.....
Jonathan Kellerman is well known for his Alex Delaware books for a reason. They are GOOD. The characters are familiar, you think you know them and how they will react. But that's not the case. With his policeman partner, Milo, Alex follows the clues and trails left behind until all becomes clear. This unusual murder scene adds a twist to the crime that gives few clues to the murderer. Alex Delaware books, including this newest adventure, take the reader into the dark side of LA giving them a look at a side you don't see from the road. The trip to the end is not your typical police procedural, it's an engrossing step into the minds of killers as only Alex can see them. Readers will be happy they invested the time to read The Wedding Guest.

This is the 34th Alex Delaware book (amazing)! In my opinion, the last few haven't been as good as some of the earlier books but I think this one was a big improvement.

Alex and Milo are still out there solving crimes, this time at a very interesting wedding venue (former strip club) where the theme was "Saints and Sinners". A beautiful girl is found dead in the bathroom but she doesn't seem to have any relationship to the wedding party. As the investigation gets underway, they have trouble identifying the victim and their search leads them in unexpected directions.

As always, the writing is great. I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Alex and Milo go through their expected motions in this somewhat tired episode. There is a garish murder that mixes erotic and disgusting cues; which parallels Alex's cloistered Shangri-La of a household from which he descends to witness a world that is seedy, dirty and mean. While these juxtapositions are used to brilliant effect in the best entries of this series, in this one they seem stale.

Milo is operating with minimal plausibility as an isolated detective lieutenant in the Los Angeles Police Department, with dozens of subordinates and support staff at the beginning of the crime, immediately reduced to zero without explanation, forcing him to rely on semi-official requests. There is far too much padding about traffic and food. The recurring support characters are mostly absent, except for Robin who adds nothing interesting this time. The minor characters, who usually add significant interest and sometimes are major additions to the books, are mostly unexceptional. The best of the lot is a pair of show models, if they had been toned down a bit and given a little more play, they could have improved things.

Alex Delaware books are seldom great mystery plots in a play-by-the-rules-puzzle sense. Their strength is in psychological solutions that are scientifically sound, surprising, dramatic and satisfying. This is a weaker than usual solution relying on extreme coincidences, solved by unsupported guesswork. The killers' psychology is credible, but does not seem anywhere near pathologic enough to lead to the kinds of exotic ritualized sex murders they commit. Anyway it fails to be surprising, dramatic or satisfying.

The best reason to read this book is Kellerman's writing skill, which makes his mediocre efforts better than most writers' best efforts. But only consider this one if you've read all the good ones.

An unprecedented 34th in the series, The Wedding Guest brings in psychologist Alex Delaware to the scene of a shocking murder at a wedding reception. LAPD lieutenant Milo Sturgis avails himself of the insight that Delaware brings to the chaotic scene of a celebration that has suddenly turned graphically horrifying. No one has a clue who the victim is as she was not a guest of either side.

Delaware and Sturgis work the case, Sturgis firing off theories and ideas, and Delaware functioning as a consultant prodding the niggles in his theories. In this particular case, they run smack-dab into a wall just trying to identify the victim. The men have a comfortable relationship with each other acknowledging the intelligence in the other and they begin working the case logically.

The author provides his philosophies and analogies and spices the scenes with biting bits of humor and thought-provoking analysis of the human condition. The prose flows with wit and wisdom. "...not saying high-level psychopaths can't rise to the top. Look at politics."

The hook has drawn you in immediately in this well-plotted device and as the red herrings are introduced, disseminated, or added to the list, it's easy to get lost in the minutia. The duo works the system, interspersed with bits regarding their personal lives, the negotiation of the LA freeway system, and the surrounding topography that creates the southern California mystique.

The dialogue is intelligent, plausible. The characters and persons of interest are engaging and easy to glimpse in the mind's eye. The scenes are laid out smooth enough to smell the foliage or the smog from the traffic on the congested roadways.

The artfully crafted narrative pulls in the loose ends in a conclusion you wouldn't have guessed in an explosive but mostly satisfying climax (depending on how you like justice meted). I was allowed this ebook download by the publisher and NetGalley and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review. Recommended to all who enjoy a mystery, suspense thriller and fans of the author.

The Wedding Guest is everything I have come to expect from Alex Delaware. The story line is tense and well written. Every detail unfolds smoothly at a good pace. There are many twists and turns to keep you reading until the end. The hero of the story is intelligent, flawed, engaging and likeable. I enjoyed this book. Jonathan Kellerman does not disappoint in this novel. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

A young woman is found dead in a remote restroom at a downtown L.A. wedding reception. She has been both injected with a knockout drug and choked with a wire. No one in the wedding party claims to know the victim so Detective Milo Sturgis and psychologist Alex Delaware must dig deep into each family and into the owners of the building, a former strip club, to find even the scent of a clue. The sleuths must rely on their vast experience and intuition just to identify the body. Then their suppositions lead them down many blind allies. Only their tenacity moves them forward.

This is a very typical Jonathan Kellerman creation. Number 34 in the series, character development is glossed over. But the following of educated, almost implausible hunches and suspenseful pacing, for which Kellerman is a master, keeps you engaged to the end.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance look

I found this to be a good mystery/thriller but jumping in mid series left a few holes in the story for me. While it would have been easier if I had read a few of the prior books it wasn't impossible to keep up with the story and characters. I wasn't a huge fan of the author's writing style but the storyline was intriguing. During a huge Hollywood type wedding a young woman is found dead in the restroom. None of the guest or wedding party seem to know her nor did any of them see anything suspicious. Seems like Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis will have to solve this one without much to go on.

A decent read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

"The Wedding Guest" by Jonathan Kellerman, Ballantine Books, 389 pages, Feb. 5, 2019.

Psychologist Alex Delaware is called by his friend LAPD Homicide Lt. Milo Sturgis to a rundown former strip joint where a wedding reception is being held.

A bridesmaid goes to the restroom beside the bride's preparation room and finds the body of a young woman who has been strangled.

The wedding theme is Saints and Sinners. The woman is dressed like she was a guest, but has no identification on her and everyone at the reception claims to not know who she is.

The bride is a spoiled diva who is convinced the murder occurred just to ruin her day. Her parents have an agency that places personal assistants with celebrities. The groom doesn't seem to be up to the bride's standards. His parents have a large animal veterinary clinic.

This is the 34th installment in the long-running series. While the story is good, the ending is disjointed. I was left wondering about the killer being brought in so late in the story. Regardless, it is always good to reconnect with Delaware and Sturgis.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Milo is called into investigate the death of a young woman, she was found dead in a restroom at a wedding reception by one of the bridesmaids. Milo calls in Alex for his help hoping that he might see something no one else does. While questioning the guests no one recognizes the young woman, so what was she doing there and why was she murdered? No identification was found on her which makes Milo and Alex's job much harder. How can you find a killer if you don't even know who the victim is? The two delve further into the background of the guests in hopes of making a connection with the victim. When they finally come up with an identity for the victim they are able to start making those connections. Follow along as they question suspects, come across new clues, and hunt for a killer. Kellerman knows how to write an exciting read that will keep you on edge throughout. He weaves an intricate web throughout his work that always makes it hard for you to put the book down. I always look forward to each new book and wonder what type of killer will grace the pages. I don't always figure out who the killer is but it's always fun trying.

This book has an amazing plot but not my favorite style of writing. I felt like I could've been connected more to the words but I didn't feel super involved.

There is a wedding that is "Saints and Sinners" themed but when a bridesmaid goes to the bathroom, she finds the body of a young woman. None of the guests say that they know who the woman is but these detective aren't buying it. You follow the detectives on their investigation as to how this woman is connected to everyone and everything; as well as trying to figure out why this happened.

I think I've just been reading more of the contemporary thrillers and this one just didn't seem up to par.

I admit, I am a huge Alex Delaware fan. I have read every book — this is number 34! — and loved them all. So if you are like me and wait impatiently for the next installment, you are in for a treat. The gangs all here (Alex, Milo, Robin) and they’re doing pretty well. As always the story is taught and spare. The writing sings. Just try reading a suspense book from a novice writer and you’ll notice the difference right away. The plot is inventive and intriguing. Can’t wait for the next book in the series! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

A rainy day and a new Jonathan Kellerman book. Perfect!! I settled in and read it pretty much straight through. I can always count on Kellerman's books to be engaging and interesting with a whodunnit that's hard to guess and a warm and inviting secondary story about characters we've come to know in past books.

As usual, this well-written book gives us vivid characters, well-described settings, and a narrative that keeps the reader intrigued from beginning to end.

Looking forward to the next book!

The Wedding Guest by Jonathan Kellerman continues the legacy of Alex Delaware, the psychologist working with LAPD. The book is written in true Kellerman style, but I found this one to be slightly confusing. More than once, I found my self flipping back and forth to determine who was who. As a successful writer, Kellerman shouldn't still be having those concerns. A little editing would have helped immensely.

The book is about a wedding "crasher" who is discovered in the ladies room dead. Let the games begin. While the character of Alex Delaware is a recurring character in many of Kellerman's books, this book can and will stand alone. You don't need to reed the other, what 30?, to understand the character. Called in to work along side the LAPD, Dr. Alex Delaware, assists with the psychological profiling and understanding the why of the murders.

You won't confuse this with literary fiction, but consume it as I did, in a single reading on a rainy Sunday. It's fun, and you will want to stay up late until you find out whodunit. I totally enjoyed the book, even though there were slow points in the book.

Thanks to #TheWeddingGuest #NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. 4 Star read!

If you love psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware’s escapades into crime solving, Jonathan Kellerman's 34th in the series, The Wedding Guest (Ballantine Books 2019) is in your sweet spot. Alex is called in by LAPD long-time friend, Detective Milo Sturgis, to help when a beautiful girl winds up dead at a wedding. No one knows her, nor did they invite her, though she’s dressed to kill (pun intended) for the wedding party called Saints and Sinner. Alex does what he usually does--logically pull threads--which inevitably reveals the secrets he hopes will unravel the murder. Adding its own interest to the story is Alex's enigmatic girlfriend with the unusual job of repairing expensive stringed instrument and his ever-beloved dog Blanche who keeps everyone centered.  Spicing up the story are some of my favorite millennial words--bespoke, woke, and pop-up kitchen (yeah, that's not a typo).

I’ve been an avid reader of this series for a decade. There have been a few missteps though I won't name names but with this one, Kellerman is back doing what he does best, focusing on the characteristics that make Alex Delaware a great leading man. He’s clever, smart, witty, and filled with those psychologic insights into the comments and actions of those involved and lead to answers.

"Her eyes made another sweep to the left. The fingers on her outthrust hip drummed. She saw me looking. Smiled and nodded, as if we were sharing a secret. I raised my eyebrows. She did the same. Shall we dance?"
xx
"Tall woman in her forties wearing a clingy black rayon robe over something beige and lacy. Red nose, bloodshot eyes, white-blond hair bunched up atop her head."
xx
"Calabasas, spilling into the Santa Monica Mountains on the western edge of the San Fernando Valley, used to be a low-key pocket of rustic, horsey serenity. That’s been altered by an influx of retired athletes and celebrities who’ve achieved fame for merely existing, along with the metastatic palaces they erect and businesses that cater to self-love and shallow notoriety."
With a less talented writing pen, this could be dreary but Kellerman makes it fascinating.

And since I’m currently exhausted by geopolitics, this was a wonderful change into good old fashioned reliable police work.

--to be reviewed on my blog, WordDreams 4/5/19

The Wedding Guest by Jonathan Kellerman was the newest in the mysteries with Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis. This is the 34th book in the series and at this point you think you know how Alex and Milo’s relationship goes. This book did touch more on Milo’s background and included more with Alex’s partner Robin. While Milo investigated the murder with the backup of Alex, the book seemed similar to the others. However, I felt there was a subtle difference in the reader did not know who the murdered victim was for a long time, which hampered the investigation.

The bride and the groom were at their reception when someone found a dead body in the bathroom. The problem is, she was not an invited guest and no one knew her. The characters in both families were interesting. The characters - and some were really characters - drove the investigation with Milo and Alex slowly stripping back the mystery.

It was an interesting read. I liked how the mystery unfolded. I liked how we found out more about the Milo’s past. I liked (when I finally found out) the killer’s uncovering. THe Wedding Guest by Jonathan Kellerman was a good read.

Again, Jonathan kellerman does not disappoint. The Wedding Guest is a suspense-filled mystery that keeps the reader guessing until the last page.

Bridezilla and Corpse Couture

This is one of the few series that I have followed all the way from the beginning. This is the 34th book in the series and it started with WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS back in 1985 - 34 years ago and 34 books.

I have appreciated author Kellerman's consistency in this L.A. world he's created with L.A. Police Lieutenant Milo Sturgis and consulting psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware. I like the friendship between the two unlikely men. I like Robin, Alex's partner, and their French Bulldog Blanche.

In this installment, an unidentified woman is savagely murdered in the restroom at a skanky (my opinion) wedding reception that is taking place in a former strip joint.

Milo and Alex are called in to investigate and this leads them from a country vet to a philanderer to a University - from low income shovels to penthouses. I enjoyed the mystery and, as always, I enjoyed the characters.

I highly recommend this next in a long line of psychological thrillers from Kellerman.

I received this book from Random House through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

In the middle of a wedding that takes place in an unusual venue, a former strip club, a young woman is found murdered. The bride and groom do not know who she is, nor do any of the guests.

In their familiar pattern, detective Milo Sturgis and psychologist Alex Delaware chase down leads and red herrings in what becomes a more and more complex case.

I am a fan of Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series and always look forward to the next one (can this really be #34)?. This one did not disappoint.

These novels tend to be formulaic, but I enjoy them. Alex and Milo chase down leads, generate and discuss different theories, interview persons of interest, enjoy a few good meals. Kellerman’s descriptions are particularly picturesque and entertaining and he always seems to put a fresh spin on cases.

A bridesmaid hurries to find a restroom and with shock finds a dead woman.
I was given this book from Netgalley for an honest review
A wedding that was suppose to be awesome - all about the bride and groom becomes scary as a woman dressed up is found murdered in a restroom, why?: who would do this? and why at the wedding?