Thank you Netgalley for this book!
Andi (FBI detective) attends a wedding party and someone gets murdered. What I thought would be a fast paced exciting thriller quickly went into a slow paced journey…
Some parts were not properly explained like where was the murder weapon eventually. The ending is slightly underwhelming and it was slightly repetitive.
But this has really interesting premise and a quick fun read!

This thriller fell flat and left me pretty underwhelmed.

FBI agent Andi Castle ends up attending a joint bachelor / bachelorette party, and well, there’s a murder.

There’s a lot of repetition in the writing - including everyone being enamoured with Andi being an FBI agent and so many mentions of her father (and his questionable law enforcement tactics). I didn’t find there to be enough differentiation between Andi and Carrie’s chapters.

The plot includes too many characters, but we don’t go deeper than surface level with most of them. Some of them just felt like caricatures of what you thought their personality might be based on their job and status, and others we didn’t get to know at all.

I kept reading despite all of this because the chapters were snappy and I wanted to know what happened. The conclusion felt very rushed and the ending unsatisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you love to follow along with FBI agents to solve a case this a book for you! A slow thriller that keeps you guessing right along with the agent on who the killer is. Agent Castle was hoping for a weekend away from murder but it ended up finding her.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the early release ARC.

I CANNOT put this book down! It is that good. The dual perspectives that L.R. presents makes the book way more suspenseful and a mind blow. For a bride-to-be and her fiancé, secrets and lies make this a killer celebration in this psychological suspense.

Carrie and Oliver. A couple completely in love and the hosts of a wedding to remember at Colorado’s legendary Stanley Hotel. This is Carrie’s fairy tale come true. Her fiancé, Oliver, is Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome; successful; and utterly devoted to her. Now family and friends have gathered to celebrate. It’s sure to be a wild night as the drinks flow freely and the fun begins.

But the morning after is murder.

FBI agent Andi Castle was just supposed to be a plus-one. This should have been a calming weekend getaway from what she does best: catch killers. Instead, Andi’s on the hunt again. The hotel is on lockdown. Secrets are being unearthed. And no one is above Andi’s suspicions. But which secrets are worth killing for? Andi’s forced to find the answers fast…before someone else dies.

The first half of The Wedding Party was a slow start, around 45% in I was completely enthralled. The story really kicked off once everyone arrived for the bachelor/bachelorette parties. By this point it is 100% whodunit and why. Andi is the epitome of a badass FBI profiler. She had killer wit and definitely knew her stuff. This book had me flip flopping between Carrie being the killer and not being the killer. I really could not get a grip on who it could have been. It had me flipping the pages to figure out who killed Oliver. I will say it does feel a bit lengthy/drug out when it comes to all the interviews, and the back and forth with suspects. I really enjoyed Andi and her dad Eddie’s relationship. Now the ending, I was shocked at this particular friend’s involvement, and then who the true killer actually turned out to be. It felt like the ending was a little rushed. Everything came together and was solved per say but I’m left feeling incomplete like I need just a little bit more. I would like to know where the knife is, how the whole murder went down from the killer’s perspective. Other than that, it was an exciting suspenseful thriller!

Oh my lord! I can’t believe the road this book chose.
L.R. Jones did a fabulous job and created a masterpiece. The author made a person that is afraid of thrillers actually be obsessed with them. That is all I’m gonna say.
If you add this to your tbr because of this amazing cover just like i did then wait no more and pick this up asap!

This was not what I was expecting at all.
It was repetitive and quite slow, boring at times, and filled with inconsistencies.
Some characters felt completely flat, some dialogue completely forced and I just had enough of the number of times it was mentioned Andi was an FBI profiler, and don’t get me started on her or someone else talking about her father, it was like every other page and for no reason!
I thought maybe it was the author trying to draw a parallel between Andi and her father, and Carrie and hers, and how maybe daughters are like their fathers after all. But I'm not convinced. Furthermore, the portrayal of mental health and how “the bad guys” were basically just inferred as deranged made me quite uncomfortable.
And since we’re talking about portrayal, geez, the way women were described was just awful. From the first few pages, we see people call women bimbos; a conversation between daughter and father about how she had “gained weight” and her thinking she had to get on a scale because of it; a comment about “not fighting like a girl”, etc.
I expected more, this was quite underwhelming, I really wanted to like it, but it just wasn’t for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The setting for this mystery couldn’t be any better. Carrie and Oliver are getting married at the Stanley Hotel in Colorado, the same hotel that inspired Stephen King to write The Shining. And it turns out that the hotel is just as unlucky for the happy couple as it was for the Torrance family. The day after the wedding, somebody’s dead and FBI agent Andi Castle in is on the hunt for the killer. This book has got my vote for the best setting for a mystery this year.

Thank you NetGalley and L.R. Jones for giving me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

When Carrie and Oliver decided to throw a joint bachelor / bachelorette party a couple of months before their wedding, they didn't know that a famous FBI agent would be among their guests.

When agent Adrea Castle agreed to go with a friend of hers to a bachelorette party, she didn't know that someone from that very same party would end up dead. Now she is determined to find the killer.

When you know you know. I was halfway through the prologue and I could confidently say that I would love this book. I liked many things about it, but the writing was in my opinion very good. The story was fast paced, I was never tempted to skip a chapter, on the contrary, I was actively trying to find a clue in every paragraph. I also loved how somehow, L.J Jones did a REAL dual POV with two characters that spoke and behaved differently, I didn't need a title to say that it was Carrie's or Andi's chapter, one can easily tell (I know it seems obvious that a dual pov works that way but ... have you read a romance novel lately ? Lol. anyway ....). I liked that the bachelor/ette party had taken place in a "real" place (and what a place it was !), I was totally immersed in the story. And since we're on the subject of realistic storytelling, I kind of loved how sometimes Andi's investigation was slowed down by third parties :) So as frustrating as it might have been to me as a reader, it's how I imagine it happens in real life too.

Now, there are some negative aspects to this book too :
- The end seemed a bit rushed ? Not as elaborate as the beginning.
- I get that Andi's relationship with her dad was an important part of that character, but I found the many, many (and I mean MANY) references to him and the jibes at her superfluous and often not very realistic (I mean that people wouldn't speak that way in real life).
- No spoilers, but I feel like some things haven't been fully explained ? And others (minor ones) seem to have happened but we forgot about them ?

All in all, it was a book that I enjoyed reading and that I would recommend.

I’m DNF’ing this book at 31% and skipping to the end because this is some of the worst writing I’ve ever read. This reads like the author watched five episodes of The X-Files and The Silence of the Lambs twice thinks she knows how FBI agents act. Absolutely absurd.

• Describing women as “bimbos” in the first few pages of the book. Women talking about how fat they are and need to lose weight. A divorced character saying how she’s “a desperate chick who needs someone to tell me I’m beautiful.” Why are you writing women in this way?!

• Character dialogue is so cringe and unrealistic. An ER nurse describing a patient’s mother’s pain in almost poetic prose. “Her pain just bled right from her heart and soul to ours…” PLEASE. Characters having long winded conversations jumping from topic to topic. It’s awful.

• Characters talking about men that “write like girls.” Be serious.

• One female character says of another female character “She says she’s gay, but I don’t believe her.”

• This FBI agent caught a serial killer literally called The Spider Man. You can’t name a serial killer after a superhero character, PICK A DIFFERENT NAME.

• Giving a character the last name Castle because then her father is compared to Frank Castle/The Punisher. BE SERIOUS. This is so lazy.

• Andi being recruited out of college to the FBI? It doesn’t work like that!

• Every five sentences it’s mentioned that Andi is an FBI agent. It’s all anyone talks about.

• Inconsistent writing where characters are saying “father” one sentence and “pops” the next. Then Andi saying “Like my daddy before me…” Who talks like that?

• Andi, this supposed amazing FBI agent, downloading a confidential file on her laptop over a hotel’s public WiFi. Come on.

• Constantly mentioned how Andi (in case you forgot, Andi is an FBI agent) deals with “monsters.” “She thinks a ghost touched her, and that is so not in my wheelhouse. Call the Ghostbusters, not the FBI, for this kind of playdate. We do monsters, not ghosts.” Literally the most cringe writing I’ve ever read. She’s also just openly talking about her job with total strangers.

• Literally lets a character into an active crime scene despite previously ordering EMTs and cops to not let her know or see anything.

• Skipped to the end and turns out Andi is just like her father/pops/daddy! Turns out the killer was the obvious one all along and they’re apprehended in one short chapter!

• Andi calls her dad and he answers the phone with “Daughter, why are you calling me so early?” And then the next sentence calls her “Sugar Bear.” I can’t.

The writing, dialogue, characters, it’s awful.

"The Wedding Party" is a suspenseful and gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from the first page to the last.

The story revolves around Carrie and Oliver, a couple deeply in love, celebrating their upcoming wedding at the iconic Stanley Hotel in Colorado. What begins as a fairy tale weekend ends when a murder occurs the morning after the celebration. FBI Special Agent Andrea “Andi” Castle, invited to the joint bachelor/bachelorette party by a friend, finds herself drawn into a new case, and the hotel is put on lockdown.

What L.R Jones does really well is the shifting POVs and her descriptions of both characters and settings. I was enthralled from the beginning with the prologue and trying to figure out how it was connected. The plot has many great twists and turns - it was like Agatha Christie, Riley Sager, and Lisa Jewell had a baby.

Andi Castle was a great protagonist, reminding me of my favorite Criminal Minds profilers and I liked her dad, too although he could be left out and it wouldn’t change the story (but it was excellent writing).

I loved the subtle hint to Stephen King stories - the Stanley Hotel, the bride’s name being Carrie. Brilliant little touches.

It was a rollercoaster book that I couldn’t put down - even while trying to watch an exciting weekend of College Football. So if you like psychological thrillers, this is a must read.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher, Thomas & Mercer, for the ARC and the opportunity to read a great book!

A few twists and red herrings along the way made for a compelling read. I kept feeling convinced I knew the answers only to have a new clue shake my confidence. Agent Castle was a good protagonist, though at times lacking some depth.

Woah! This book took me on a wild ride, and I loved every minute of it!

Carrie and her fiancé, Oliver, hold a joint bachelor/bachelorette party at the Stanley Hotel in Colorado. (Yes, it’s THE Stanley Hotel that inspired Stephen King to write The Shining!) But, as everyone is celebrating, a murder occurs. Fortunately, there is an FBI agent in attendance. She was the “plus one” of one of the guests and quickly begins her investigation.

This is a very fast read – believe me – you will want to keep reading to figure out what happened. I loved the setting in the Stanley Hotel, (and I loved that the FBI agent was staying in room 217 – the Stephen King room!) Ghosts don’t play a role in this story, but I did enjoy how the author incorporated details about the hotel.
This is very fast-paced until about the mid-point. Then, the pace slows down. It seemed like too much time was spent dwelling on a witness that couldn’t be questioned and I would have rather the investigation continued instead of dwelling on that point. The pace picks up again towards the end and moves at a lightning pace until its conclusion. The ending seemed abrupt, but it served its purpose.

I recommend this book to mystery lovers. There are elements of psychological suspense/thrillers, but the primary focus of the book is on the FBI agent’s investigation. I rated this 4.5 stars and it is one of my favorites of the year. Anyone looking for a fun mystery that is a quick read will enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

Great set up!
Carrie and Oliver are hosting a lavish wedding in Colorado's Stanley Hotel. Carrie is a nurse and has invited work friends and a plus one includes FBI agent Andi Castle. When a member of the wedding party dies suddenly, Andi is forced to step in and work.

I loved this book for the most part but thought Andi's father and the repetitive mentions of him to be superfluous. I never really connected with him as anything more than a caricature. The story though, kept me engaged and interested right up to the end. Who doesn't love a wedding? Even a murderous one!
#Thomas&Mercer #Netgalley #Theweddingparty #lrjones

"The Wedding Party" by L. R. Jones promises to be a thrilling and suspenseful ride into the heart of a wedding celebration turned deadly. This psychological suspense novel sets the stage for a tantalizing mystery that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

The story revolves around Carrie and Oliver, a seemingly perfect couple preparing for their dream wedding at the iconic Stanley Hotel in Colorado. However, beneath the facade of love and celebration, secrets and lies lurk, setting the stage for a night that takes a shocking and murderous turn.

The introduction of FBI agent Andi Castle, who finds herself inadvertently caught up in the chaos of the wedding and its aftermath, adds a layer of intrigue to the narrative. Her unexpected role as an investigator, driven by her instincts to solve crimes, introduces a strong and determined protagonist.

The novel's premise of a murder mystery unfolding in the midst of a celebratory event is inherently gripping. The Stanley Hotel, with its rich history and eerie reputation, serves as a compelling backdrop for the story. The locked-down setting and the sense of confinement and isolation add to the tension, making it a perfect setting for a psychological thriller.

As secrets are uncovered, and the body count rises, readers will undoubtedly find themselves engrossed in the race against time to identify the killer among the wedding guests. The story promises to keep readers guessing, with a web of lies and hidden motives that will keep them eagerly turning the pages.

In summary, "The Wedding Party" appears to be a captivating and suspenseful novel that combines the excitement of a celebration with the chilling thrill of a murder mystery. Fans of psychological suspense and tightly woven mysteries are likely to find this book an engaging and exhilarating read.

Great book!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! This book had a bit of everything! It had great suspense, intrigue, action, murder, serial killers, a fantastic who done it that I did not see, and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was so very interesting and had me glued to my Kindle! The characters were awesome! I absolutely loved the father!! I'm definitely going to look into if he has any books! What a character! I highly recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

As an avid mystery lover I think this was quite enjoyable.
The story is about a couple, Carrie and Oliver, who plan a joint bachelor/bachelorette trip to Stanley Hotel (the hotel that inspired The Shining) and an FBI agent, Andi Castle is invited as a plus one, everything seems to be going smoothly when a murder happens and sets off the mystery.
The beginning of the book was a great hook, it quickly became difficult to put down. The two POVs of the agent and Carrie, the bride-to-be, was refreshing and made the mystery more compelling.
This book is definitely more plot driven than character driven, the mystery kept me engaged despite not connecting with the characters as much as I had hoped, but it is more a personal preference than anything. Te ending did fall a bit short for me, especially because the killer was a bit obvious but nonetheless it was still satisfying and an enjoyable read!

"The Wedding Party" is a suspenseful and gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from the first page to the last.

The story revolves around Carrie and Oliver, a couple deeply in love, celebrating their wedding at the iconic Stanley Hotel in Colorado. What begins as a fairy tale wedding takes a dark turn when a murder occurs the morning after the celebration. FBI agent Andi Castle, who was meant to be a guest, finds herself drawn into a new case, and the hotel is put on lockdown.

Phillips masterfully creates a tense and claustrophobic atmosphere as secrets are unearthed, suspicions run rampant, and no one is above suspicion. The plot is filled with twists and turns, making it impossible to predict who the culprit might be.

Andi Castle is a compelling protagonist, and her determination to uncover the truth adds depth to the narrative. The author skillfully combines elements of suspense, mystery, and psychological tension to keep readers guessing until the very end.

"The Wedding Party" is a roller-coaster ride of suspense and intrigue that explores the dark secrets and lies hidden behind the facade of a picture-perfect celebration.The author delivers a gripping story that will leave readers eager to unravel the mystery alongside the tenacious Andi Castle. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with a twist, this book is a must-read.