Absolutely love the Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis series. A quirky wedding in an off the wall venue, Sturgis and Delaware keep chipping away in a case with no real leads. With a little bit less action and slower pace than I am used to in this series, it still comes to a crashing end as they get their man.. Can’t wait for the next installment. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

This is an especially dark and twisted homicide. It occurs at a wedding reception, but the victim is not a guest of either side. It takes a while just to identify the young woman. It was a complex case that kept Milo and Alex jumping back and forth from one hypothetical to another. The one big difference I saw in this in this novel was a realization of the hardening of Alex Delaware. It's possible he hasn't changed, but the mention of his cool detachment by Milo had me looking at him differently.

This book is fantastic! I love the way Jonathan Kellerman writes. This is my first novel from him, so I look forward to reading more. This book took you on a fun journey. It's a mystery, but still has funny moments and you can definitely feel for the characters and the roles they play in the events of the book. I love the character he chose to tell the story. He could have written it from the detectives viewpoint, but instead had a secondary character be the main narrator. I feel that gives a different perspective to the reader.

Highly recommend it!

Thank you for the opportunity to review Jonathan Kellerman’s latest. I have read most of his books but as my author list grows he keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the TBR pile. I love the characters but the story telling can get tedious as itvsoneyimes serms as though every possible storyline that came to the author is included. We are privy to thought processes which are attributed to Milo or Dr Delaware or possibles which are tossed aside. I believe it could be a much more satisfying story if those were eliminated as it is filler that does not add to the story, just the page count.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read The Wedding Guest before it is released on February 5, 2019 in exchange for my honest review!

I really want to like this book, however, it became like a chore for me to read.  I think I read 2 other books during the time I was reading this one.  I would like to say that I did not care for the writing style of Kellerman, that is just my personal preference.  I did not enjoy frequent use of short sentences (or parataxis if I may use a big word).  It kept throwing off my pace of reading and I found it to be distracting.  If you don't mind it, pick up this book!

The book seemed to drag on...and on.  This is number 34 in Kellerman's Alex Delaware series.  Did I think I missed much by not reading the first 33?  No.  You are able to piece together who the characters are even with (what I found to be) a lack of background on them.  The most important part is that the characters involved in the murders (yes, more than one) are clearly described and grow throughout the story.

I felt it was a lackluster ending.  To be dragged along for so long it ended pretty nonchalantly.  I actually had to re-read one of the last chapters to understand what happened to the murderer.  Maybe it was my lack of focus and that I missed it at first.  Like I said, I was not that into this book.  If you are a fan of Kellerman I am sure you will enjoy this book.  It just was not my cup of tea.

I am going to give this book 3 stars.  If you come across it, don't stop what you have in line for your TBR list, continue on and get to this when you do.  It does have key character development and keeps you guessing on whodunit until the last quarter of the book when we know (or assume we know) who did it and that drags on until we know for sure, he was the culprit.  To each their own!  If you pick this book up let me know how you enjoyed it! 

***WILL BE POSTED AT BOOKINTHEBAG.WORDPRESS.COM ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 31st AT 5:00AM PACIFIC TIME***
***WILL BE FEATURED AT WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/MRSDMVH ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 31ST***

I must confess up front that I've read every single one of the Alex Delaware novels. I look forward to them every year. I'll also note that some of them have been better than others. This is one of the really good ones. Alex and Milo Sturgis are trying to first identify a young woman who was drugged and garroted at a wedding and then solve her murder. Harder than it might appear on the surface. Milo is one of the great detective characters- a large, proud, gay iconoclast who likes food (a lot) and is really clever. There was less food in this installment and only a single mention of Milo's husband Rick, a long suffering (I imagine) physician. We did, however, have a few interactions with Robin, Alex's significant other, who mends and makes musical instruments. Kellerman also brings parts of Los Angeles to life- great descriptions of the places Alex and Milo visit. The mystery here is twisty and the people met along the way well done. The parents of both member of the wedding party (and the bride and groom themselves) are people you can actually imagine, as is the manager of one of the clubs they visit, and the young woman's friends and family. You won't see the solution coming in this one- it's more or less out of left field- but that was ok for me- this was a satisfying read. AND, it as a good time spent in the world of Alex Delaware. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Ebook/ARC/Mystery: I have read and listened to numerous Alex Delaware books. I am biased to the audiobooks because John Rubenstein is an excellent narrator and I love the voice and sarcasm of Milo, Alex's police friend who always gets Alex involved in some kind of crazy case. I did read this one and I want to thank NetGalley for letting me have an advanced copy.

This one was so unfulfilling. I was expecting a lot of family skullduggery, but it never happened. This book hasn't come out and I don't want to spoil anything, but there were too many unanswered questions at the end. I had really high hopes about the premise of a murder at a wedding where no one claims to know the victim, but yet, she's dressed in red.

The only thing that saved it for me was that I had John Rubinstein's voice in my head while I was reading it and it was full of appearances by Milo. The ending just didn't do it for me. I wanted some sort of explanation. It was like reading an abridgement of a book and the editor took out the motive. While Alex had some insights on the killer, it was never tested.

My thanks to Random House and Netgalley.
It's been 10 years since I've read one of these books, and I'll admit that it's almost like a soap opera. Not too much has changed. I love Alex and Milo. As always, it's a good story. I tend to get wrapped up in these books, then towards the finish realize that it's just the same old, same old. Nothing wrong with that, but I do sort of wish that Mr. Kellerman, after all these years would have started a new series. Oh well! This is a book and series that I'd recommend, but I believe I'm finally done.

A solid new Alex Delaware mystery albeit thin on character development compared to other books in this series.

This was the first time I have read this author despite having seen his books on best seller lists. Apparently there are other books in this series but I had no problem following the characters as a stand alone. (It would probably have enhanced my reading experience but it's not a necessity.)

The books is extremely detailed in police/ detective interview and procedures. I usually devour a book in a day or so, but this one took a little longer. It reads slow because of the detail ( and I didn't want to miss anything) but it is quite interesting and held my attention.

No book report or discourse on plot or characters from me, the jacket cover and others have said it well. Suffice it to say it keeps you guessing right to the end and the characters are believable.
I am stingy with giving 5 stars but this book is deserving!

Many thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Good solid Alex Delaware tale, but I miss more development in Delaware and Sturgis's own lives. With the past couple of books, although the plot is great, the characterization isn't as strong as it could be. But I love alex, Robin and Blanche, so I'll keep reading ...

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I appreciate you giving it to me for my honest opinion.

At a wedding, in a private bathroom, a guest is found murdered, only she's not a guest, and nobody claims to know her. Homicide detective, Milo Sturgis, and his friend, psychologist, Dr. Alex Delaware, make their way all around the Los Angeles area to discover who she is, and who would want her dead.

Along the way, they discover other mysterious deaths that all might be related to the murderer they are trying to find. Who is it? You'll have to read and find out!

This is #34 in the Alex Delaware series. I had never read any of Mr. Kellerman's books before, and loved it so much, I went and bought #1 and #2 in the series. I'm going to read them all! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it!

The Wedding Guest is the 34th book in the Alex Delaware series, yet the first I have read. I was able to read it as a stand alone but I feel that some things flew over my head because I haven't read the others.
Without giving stuff away the story takes place at a wedding when one of the bridesmaids finds a dead girl in the bathroom. Now since she is found at a wedding venue someone must of known her weather it be the wedding party or guest or the staff of the venue but no one "seems" to know who this girl was. Bigger question is why was she at the wedding and how did she end up dead?
Jonathan Kellerman writes one complex tale with The Wedding Guest. He really stumped me on who the killer was. I love that! Nothing worse than figuring out the who done it by chapter 5. His writing style and story telling will def have me reading more from him in the future!

LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis and his friend Dr. Alex Delaware are back again working together. Delaware and Sturgis find themselves called to a wedding reception where a murder has taken place. A shocked bridesmaid has discovered the body of a young woman, who was not invited to the wedding and has been murdered. No one knows the victim. The bride and groom , as well as numerous guests, have to be questioned because the murder appears to be personal. Sturgis and Delaware have to determine who the victim is and how who killed her. As usual with Sturgis and Delaware, there are many twists and turns as well as surprises along the way, all working together to make this recent installment of Kellerman’s just as great as always.

This was my first in this series and it is an easily readable standalone. Although perhaps a little bit of background information or a touch of character development may have helped. I like the idea of a random wedding guest being murdered, and the detectives and psychologist having very little to work with at the start, but then it just turned into too much footwork on their part and not enough suspense. Well written detective novel, but it was just a little too slow-paced for me.

Thank you for this ARC! I still enjoyed trying a new series!

***3 Stars ***
Expected Publication: Feb 5, 2019

This is book #34 in the Alex Delaware series... and the first book I've read in the series. Probably not the smartest idea, however I don't think it hindered me much and read easily as a stand alone. I can say I wasn't really interested in Alex, a child psychologist who works part time as a consultant for the police, but his story wasn't a big focus of this read.
The main story is a girl is found dead in the bathroom of a wedding by one of the bridesmaids. Upon questioning, no one seems to know who this girl is and/or why she was at the wedding.
This storyline was quite complex so it made it difficult to figure out who the killer was which kept my interest. Overall it was a solid story and I would read more in this series.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Never disappointed in these books. Always wondered where the ideas come. Love the back and forth this time with Alex and Milo. All the usually suspects and each and every one has their own motives. Love his books because they are all tied in some way or another. Suspect everyone that may have a motive because the end of his books have me hungry for his next.

The Wedding Guest is a psychological thriller. This book was a slow start for me. It took me a long time to get interested in the storyline. It finally hooked me and I wanted to see how the book would finish.

I tried to read this book but couldn't finish it. I wasnt intrigued or captivated by the mystery. Maybe if I had read other books in the series by the author I would have enjoyed it more.

A very beautiful woman is found dead in the bathroom of a wedding venue. Noone from the bride or groom side appears to know who she is. Lt. Milo Sturgis invites Dr. Alex Delaware to assist him in the investigation. I found the characters in this book colorful and the story An interesting read. I give this a 4/5 star review.

#TheWeddingGuest#Netgalley