I realized pretty quickly that this book was not for me. I didn't really vibe with the writing style and found the characters grating, and the stigmatization of additcts really, really irritated me. Not for me, but maybe for others.

Reality doesn’t dovetail with what’d you’d expect from an almost-married couple. Meet the bride and groom: Carrie Reynolds is a nurse at Denver’s Memorial Hospital and Oliver Phoenix is a wealthy entrepreneur. They’re clearly under some strain. Oliver blows off Carrie when she asks to see a wedding gift that he’s just opened. He says, “Not a chance. I’m not letting you see this.” Oliver claims it’s a gag gift from one of his groomsmen and picks up the box. Their intense conversation ends abruptly.

He doesn’t wait for a reply. He walks to his right and into his office, and to my shock, he shuts the door. He never shuts the door. The card for the gift is lying on the hall table, and I pick it up and glance at the front of the envelope. It reads “Oliver Phoenix,” not “Oliver and Carrie.” That gift was for Oliver, and the writing is distinctively female.

Secrets and lies. Not a great prelude to a wedding. The next morning Oliver is gone before Carrie wakes up. At lunch, Carrie unloads on her girlfriend Lana. The conversation heats up when Lana posits that Carrie’s combo bachelor/bachelorette/Halloween party at the Stanley Hotel in two weeks’ time, will most likely deteriorate into the guys slinking off to looking at naked breasts … Carrie’s not having it.

Andrea “Andi” Castle is having “drinks with a friend, with not a murder in sight.” Andi is an FBI agent—her drinking companion is Lana, “an old friend from college.” Small world! Lana tells her friend she looks beautiful, not bad for a “badass profiler.” Reeling from her recent divorce and burnt out from six months as an ER nurse, Lana relishes the girls’ night out and wants to keep the party going. Lana begs Andi to be her plus-one at a “party in Estes Park next weekend—it’s this combo bachelor/bachelorette party.” No way, but Lana persists.

“It’s at that hotel where Stephen King wrote The Shining. It’s supposed to be haunted, which is kind of cool.”



“The last thing I need is some killer I put away coming back to haunt me at some spooky hotel. No thank you.”



“Screw the ghosts. We’ll eat, drink, and shop. It’ll be fun.”



“The bride doesn’t know me.”



“The bride is supersweet and easygoing.”

Although Lana promises to keep on asking, it turns out she doesn’t have to. Andi goes to the bathroom and while she’s washing her hands, a reporter pumps her on Spider Man (the media’s name for a high-profile case Andi just solved). The reporter’s follow-up question is about Eddie Castle, Andi’s famous Teflon-tough PI father who was “kicked off the force for use of force.” After her unpleasant encounter with the nosy reporter, Andi tells Lana, “I will go. I’m off for two more weeks. Maybe if they can’t find me, the press will move the heck on, and I can go back to work in peace.” Let the partying commence.

That said, as Andi piles into Lana’s BMW for a “murder-free weekend,” guess what’s on her mind? Foreshadowing alert: murder!

The Stanley Hotel is everything: Lana has even signed up for a haunted room. Andi is having none of that: “I need a room that has never seen a ghost. Ever. And I mean never.” Andi meets the bride-to-be, Carrie, who is “starstruck” to meet an honest-to-goodness FBI agent. Andi sluffs that off: “I’m about as exciting as a Golden Girls rerun and a peanut butter sandwich, minus the jelly.” Carrie’s not buying it: she insists that Andi stay in #217, Stephen King’s room.

Andi is OK with the atmosphere—there are “lots of hospital jokes floating around,” naturally, but then the groom’s sister, Natalie Phoenix, singles her out for some pointed questions. Andi tries to bat them away, saying that as a profiler, it’s “basically a bunch of tedious paperwork.” But Natalie persists: “What type of criminals do you profile?” Andi tries to shut down the interchange, but Natalie is on a roll: “I’m a little shocked you came to the party, Andi, or really, I should say, Agent Castle. You don’t even know the bride.” Cut to Carrie’s jumbo margarita sloshing over Andi’s blouse and she’s out of there. Back in her room, her trained mind goes over what happened: “I think Carrie knocked that drink over on purpose, but with what endgame? To get rid of me or shut up Natalie?” The evening winds on—tours with an emphasis on haunted, increasingly lit conversations with this groomsman and that friend—but at last she’s back in her room and tries to rest.

I drift into a heavy slumber that ends when pounding on my door jolts me into a sitting position. “Andi! Andi!” At Lana’s frantic voice, I throw away the covers and race toward the door, expecting a tipsy, heartbroken friend.



Caution be damned, I throw open the door to find her tear-streaked face. “We need you,” she sobs. “Oliver’s dead and Carrie is missing.”

It’s astonishing how quickly Andi switches gears from exhausted partier to FBI agent. She grabs a small purse filled with crime scene supplies—yes, it was in her vacation suitcase. When the local police arrive and learn that she’s an FBI agent, they ask for her help. It’s not as if Andi can leave: the hotel is on lockdown. Given her seniority and expertise, she ends up leading the investigation.

If you like mysteries where you really don’t know whodunnit, The Wedding Party will be right up your alley. It’s witty, surprising, and full of surprises. I hope there’s another story with Andrea “Andi” Castle at the helm.

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3⭐️
THE WEDDING PARTY
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: mystery/thriller
📖 331 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 📦 🩺🩸🚔🤫😱🗻🏨🔪🕸️🕵🏼‍♀️👻🔫

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ dual POV
◽️ who dun it
◽️ CLUE vibes
◽️ lots of suspects & revenge

🩷𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲🩷

Thank you pub that gave to me @thomasandmercer @netgalley for the #gifted copy!

THE WEDDING PARTY started out strong, with a gripping first chapter that immediately pulled me in. The plot gave off CLUE vibes, with its “whodunit” style & a setting inspired by THE SHINING’S eerie Stanley Hotel—something that resonated even more since I’ve stayed there myself. The mystery is packed with suspects, potential motives, & red herrings, making it hard to know who to trust.

The dual POV of Carrie, the bride, & Andi, the detective, added depth to the story. I enjoyed exploring Andi’s background, especially her history with a serial killer case & her complicated relationship with her father, a corrupt cop. Carrie’s past also contributed to the suspense, keeping me intrigued by her motivations.

Despite these strengths, the story ultimately fell flat for me. I didn’t connect with most of the characters, which made it hard to stay invested as the plot progressed. Some details about the characters felt unnecessary & didn’t contribute meaningfully to the resolution. By the end, the rushed conclusion left me feeling underwhelmed, as though the buildup deserved a more satisfying payoff.

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: Carrie & Oliver are madly in love & hosting their dream wedding at Colorado’s iconic Stanley Hotel. The celebration is grand, with family, friends, & endless fun. But the joy turns to horror when a murder is discovered the next morning. FBI agent Andi Castle, attending as a guest, is suddenly thrust into an investigation. With the hotel on lockdown & secrets unraveling, Andi must find the killer before they strike again.

I received "The Wedding Party" by L.R. Jones as an ARC from NetGalley, and it was an engaging read. The novel is a psychological suspense set at the legendary Stanley Hotel in Colorado, known as the inspiration for Stephen King's "The Shining". The story revolves around Carrie and Oliver, a couple deeply in love, hosting a joint bachelor/bachelorette party at the hotel. What starts as a fairy-tale celebration quickly turns into a nightmare when Oliver is found dead and Carrie is covered in his blood. FBI agent Andi Castle, who was supposed to be a plus-one for a relaxing weekend, finds herself thrust into a murder investigation. The hotel is put on lockdown, and Andi must navigate through a web of secrets and lies to uncover the truth before anyone else gets hurt. The setting of the Stanley Hotel adds a chilling atmosphere to the story, enhancing the suspense and mystery. The character development is strong, particularly with Andi Castle, whose sharp instincts and determination drive the investigation forward. The interactions between the characters are well-crafted, adding depth to the narrative. Overall, "The Wedding Party" is a thrilling read with a captivating plot and a memorable setting. I look forward to reading more from L.R. Jones in the future. #netgalley #theweddingparty

The writing didn't manage to be up to the genre standards and it made it feel like it was a bit choppy. I would have loved to see this premise take form in another way but alas it wasn't the best

The cover is cute, but the synopsis reeled me in.

When a combined bachelor and bachelorette party turns into a murder mystery, I was all in. Trying to figure out who committed the murder and why was right up my alley. And the secrets that were revealed had me side eyeing some folks.

What can you do? Who can you trust? 🤔

I enjoyed reading this story. It was a quick and easy read that captured my attention. All in all, it was a good time.

The following statement resonated with me.
🥂 "I don't assume anything about anyone ever. I want to hear the story the people and the evidence tell me."

"𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙣, 𝙣𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙬𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢."

It's a slow paced story with relatively short chapters, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. It explores themes of betrayal, hidden truths, and lies. The story is filled with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end. It revolves around a dysfunctional family with their own conflicts and secrets, and there's a murder takes place on the lavishing bachelerotte party of Carrie and Andy. Some sections felt a bit repetitive, and a few characters lacked emotional depth. Additionally, I wasn't fond of how women were depicted in the story.

"𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙡𝙪𝙧𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙨."

The Wedding Party was a thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat, never bored, wondering who-dun-it, the entire time I was reading! I flew through this book because it kept my interest and had me NEEDING to know who the killer was!

The Wedding Party follows the main couple Carrie and Oliver as they prepare for their wedding and have a joint bachelor/bachelorette party at a haunted house. During the party a murder is committed. Thankfully one of the attendees has invited their FBI profiler friend, Andi, as their plus one who is on hand to lock down the scene and start the investigation.

Throughout the book, many of the guests have means and motive to commit the murder and many secrets are revealed throughout Andi’s investigation. I really enjoyed the twists and turns of the story and it kept me hooked to the end to find out who had committed the crime and why.

The ending of the Wedding Party did feel a little rushed and could have been longer to tie up all the ends as it is all resolved within the last few chapters, otherwise I really enjoyed this book.

💍 Book Review: The Wedding Party by L.R. Jones 💍

I had such a blast reading The Wedding Party! 🎉 This story is packed with all the romantic tension, witty banter, and drama you’d expect from a rom-com set against the backdrop of a wedding celebration. L.R. Jones does a fantastic job of blending humor and heart, making this an irresistible, feel-good read. 😍💕

The chemistry between the main characters is off the charts 🔥, and I found myself laughing out loud one moment and swooning the next. Jones really nails that perfect balance between lighthearted fun and deeper emotional moments. Plus, the side characters bring their own charm and quirks, making the whole wedding crew so lovable! 👰🤵

Huge thanks to @ThomasAndMercer for granting me access to this gem! If you’re a fan of swoon-worthy romance, laugh-out-loud moments, and a healthy dose of wedding drama, this one’s for you! 💖✨

#TheWeddingParty #LRJones #ThomasAndMercer #RomComReads #BookReview #WeddingSeason #RomanticReads #Bookstagram #FeelGoodReads #SwoonWorthy

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

I think the best part of this book was the setting for the bachelors/bachelorettes party.

The Stanley Hotel is still a bucket list destination for me!

The book's premise is that Oliver and Carrie are getting married and decide to throw an eventful weekend for the whole wedding party. Lana, one of the nurses Carrie knows invites Ani Castle, an FBI who is trying not to live in the shadow of her father, a former FBI agent. The party is going well till someone ends up dead and secrets start to be revealed. Andi, who was just looking to relax over the weekend is thrown headfirst into solving the case.
Okay, the book was good. It started strong and I enjoyed the dual POV chapters and learning about all the secrets between the characters.

My only critique was that the end of the book felt slightly rushed. I understand what the author was going for; it just needed a bit more fleshing out. Otherwise, I enjoyed the book and found it to be an easy read to stop and start without losing the plot. I would recommend it if someone is looking for an easy murder mystery to read.

Loved this one! It was so fun to read about the drama surrounding a wedding party, which included a murder! This book was fun without feeling overly quirky or cozy.

The Wedding Party by L.R. Jones has all the makings of a thrilling read—a bachelor and bachelorette party at the iconic and eerie Stanley Hotel, a picture-perfect couple, and a twist of murder the morning after. The premise immediately caught my attention, and the short chapters kept the pace quick, making it easy to fly through the book.

However, despite the promising setup, the story was rather formulaic. The haunted hotel setting added some atmosphere, but the plot itself didn’t offer much that was fresh or surprising. There were moments where the narrative dragged, and while the book is definitely entertaining, it’s also the kind of thriller that’s fun in the moment but doesn’t leave a lasting impression.

A fast paced neck breaking thriller delivered in dual POV. This one was a thrill ride that you may want to embark on. I loved every edge of your seat moment and I couldn't put it down. I had to know what was going to happen! Highly recommend!

A bachelor and bachelorette party at a haunted hotel!? This sounded so fun once I read the synopsis. I loved the dual points of view. This had a lot of suspense, and it was a quick, enjoyable read.

This is my first thriller by this author and enjoyed it for the most part. I liked that it had me guessing and it seemed to flow well with the pace.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first read by this author. It’s a fast paced thriller that leaves you guessing at every turn.

Thoroughly enjoyable and look forward to reading more.

The Wedding Party is a fast paced psychological thriller centered around FBI Agent Andi Castle and the murder of Oliver. Oliver and Carrie are having a combined bachelor/bachelorette party at The Stanley, but things do not go as planned when Oliver is murdered and Carrie is the number one suspect. Andi just happens to be at the party as a plus-one. Andi seems like an unconventional agent, who could use some more training as to how to handle a crime scene and suspects. She dropped the ball to many times to be accidental. Some of the chapters seemed almost unnecessary and there was little follow up with them. Where was the murder weapon? Lots of unanswered questions, but an entertaining book nonetheless.

I want to thank Netgalley & Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this book.

A fast-paced thriller that was not very original but still super enjoyable. I liked the short chapters format that kept me wanting to read more. I'm not a big fan of detectives' POV, so that didn't work so well for me but it didn't really bother me either. There are also first-person accounts by other characters that I'm not sure were necessary, at least not presented that way, because it gave us a lot of first-person POVs and that felt unnecessarily confusing. I preferred Carrie's POV and wish there'd been more of it. The writing isn't amazing but honestly I don't expect or need great prose from my thrillers so I was ok with it. What matters to me is that the mystery in itself was interesting and I enjoyed the unpredictability of the twists. So, an entertaining, fast-paced thriller, that I may forget all about very quickly, but that I had a fun time reading nonetheless.