I enjoyed this book enough, but it wasn't entirely for me. It was a little more law enforcement-ish than I was expecting.

FBI agent Andi is a guest at a joint bachelor/bachelorette party when all of a sudden the groom is dead, and the bride, Carrie, is missing.

I really enjoyed Andi's point of view, but at some points questioned the decisions she was making.

The pace was a little slow and repetitive for my taste, but it didn't deter me. The big twist came on pretty fast, so I felt there could have been a more consistency in the pacing.

Overall, I think fans of procedurals will enjoy this one.

In "The Wedding Party" author L. R. Jones, spins a tale of romance and betrayal that takes a dark turn in the most unexpected of settings: a wedding celebration. Set against the backdrop of Colorado's iconic Stanley Hotel, the story follows bride-to-be Carrie and her fiancé Oliver as they prepare for their dream wedding. However, when the festivities turn deadly, FBI agent Andi Castle finds herself thrust into a web of secrets and lies, where no one is who they seem.

What begins as a joyous occasion quickly descends into chaos as Andi discovers that beneath the veneer of love and happiness lies a sinister underbelly of deception. As the investigation unfolds, tensions rise, and the true nature of the guests' relationships comes to light. With the hotel on lockdown and suspicion cast on everyone present, Andi must race against time to uncover the truth before another life is lost.

"The Wedding Party" is a gripping psychological suspense novel that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Jones masterfully weaves together a complex narrative filled with twists and turns, ensuring that the reader is kept guessing until the very end. The characters are well-developed and multifaceted, each harboring their own secrets and motivations that add depth to the story.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its atmospheric setting. The Stanley Hotel serves as the perfect backdrop for the unfolding drama, its grandeur and history adding an extra layer of intrigue to the narrative. From the opulent ballrooms to the shadowy corridors, the hotel comes to life on the page, immersing readers in its haunting beauty.

Overall, "The Wedding Party" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and suspenseful mysteries. With its compelling plot, engaging characters, and atmospheric setting, it is sure to keep readers hooked until the very end. THE author has crafted a novel that is as captivating as it is chilling, making it a standout addition to the genre.

A fantastic read that hooked me from the start and didn't let me go until the end. I was engaged all the way through and uncomfortable from having my bum perched on the edge of my seat constantly, but I didn't care.

This mystery was an absolute rollercoaster, jam-packed with twists that had me on the edge of my seat until the final reveal. Through the dual lenses of Andi, a dynamic FBI agent, and Carrie, the bride-to-be, the story unfolds in a captivating dance of intrigue. Andi, in particular, stole the show for me—a character so richly drawn and multifaceted, she could easily headline her own series. There's a depth to her that begs for more exploration.

The narrative is peppered with the kind of dark humor that's right up my alley, keeping the tempo brisk and buoyant, even as the plot thickens. I found myself constantly flip-flopping between suspects, the author expertly leading me through a maze of red herrings and hidden truths. The abundance of potential culprits, each shrouded in their own mysteries, made for a deliciously complex puzzle.

When the curtain finally lifted on the truth, the payoff was immensely gratifying. If you're hunting for a mystery that's as fun as it is fiendishly plotted, look no further—this one's a gem.

Sooo, when I first picked up The Wedding Party, I had hoped to fall head over heels for this book...but alas, all I could muster was a passing acquaintance with its contents in the end. The plot…friends and family gather at a resort to celebrate the impending nuptials of bride-to-be Carrie and her fiancé Oliver at the Stanley Hotel in good ole Colorado. While there, murrrrrder takes place and FBI agent Andi Castle is thrust into the center to investigate. Fairly simple right? WRONG! As Andi investigates and uncovers the truth, secrets and lies start to unravel faster than my spanx after a three course meal. Amidst the controlled chaos, the author spins a tale of intrigue, pulling me in despite myself. Sure, there were eye-rolling moments and plenty of "I knew it!" revelations. But overall, the story failed to grip me and ignite my excitement.

While The Wedding Party offers a moderately enjoyable storyline, it falters due to the author's penchant for verbosity and repetitive tendencies, dimming its shine. This book had all the makings of an epic celebration, yet somehow it missed the mark for me this time around. Is it an entertaining read? Yes. Would I read this author again? Absolutely. Is this my cup of tea? Kinda. Just would’ve preferred a different flavor.

The Wedding Party
By: L.R. Jones
Publish Date: February 13, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and the author L. R. Jones, for the advanced copy of The Wedding Party.

Who doesn't love a good wedding....and some drama to spice it up?!

Carrie, an ER nurse, is preparing for her wedding to the man she loves, Oliver. But, things take a dark, twisted turn when he is...... murdered. Lana, who is one of Carrie's friends invites FBI agent Castle as her plus-one. Perfect, she's right on the case as Olivier is found stabbed multiple times. Carrie is found with his blood on her body, naked, with a cut on her stomach. With so many family, friends, and outsiders ...who did it?!

I love the relationship between Agent Castle and her father. Castle seems like the perfect character to be on the case and not only solve it but find out all the dirty deets. I enjoyed the twist at the end where I thought I solved the case but I was actually surprised.

If you are looking for a mystery to solve with some interesting characters...pick this one up! You will love it!

This is an easy to read murder thriller, done in short chapters, with Andi, the FBI agent, and Carrie the bride-to-be as our narrators. I really enjoy a dual point of view in a mystery setting and feel like I get a more conclusive experience. The Stanley Hotel, used in Stephen King's The Shining, is the perfect backdrop for this book and gave a delightfully creepy vibe perfect for a novel of suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the eARC.

The synopsis to this one had me very excited. And, I love a good dual POV which was a great set up. I really enjoyed that we were getting two very different perspectives. I will say the ending was just kind of....meh for me. Just landed a little flat.

I was initially really interested in this book based off the synopsis however as the story went on, it took turns I didn't really enjoy.

The Wedding Party is told in two POVs, Carrie (the bride to be whose fiance turns up dead) and Andi (an FBI agent who was supposed to only be a plus one to the wedding)

I was excited because I thought how interesting to see someone be forced into investigating when they intended to just be a guest, I hoped it would give Poirot vibes. Unfortunately you spend more time learning about Andi's father and his questionable choices during his law enforcement career. I do enjoy when you get a peek behind the character to feel more invested however, I felt like it was too much, especially when it focused on people in Andi's life rather than herself.

Of course with Carrie, you could tell things were off when everything describing her seemed perfect. If we've learned from other thrillers, they never are, however it felt so obvious that it couldn't be ignored.

The conclusion also felt a bit rushed and like we just needed to get to it already after spending all this time learning about the character's histories. It was enjoyable but I would not say it would be nearing the top of my favorite thriller lists anytime soon.

“The Wedding Party” by L.R. Jones is a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing.

Told from dual POVs, the brilliant FBI agent, Andrea Castle, and a bride to be, Carrie, the story is jam packed with details.

Agent Castle attempts to escape media attention by attending a bachelorette party as her friend’s plus-one. Her plan for relaxation is immediately interrupted when the groom to be turns up murdered.

It’s a race to find the killer amongst the wedding party but with rich people, lawyers, and potential mental issues, will Castle discover who the guilty party is?

The Wedding Party follows two POVs, Carrie: the bride-to-be whose fiance turns up dead the morning after their joint bachelor/bachelorette party; and Andi: the FBI agent who was invited to the weekend getaway by a friend of the bride-to-be. Andi becomes the lead on the case and you are taken along in the journey to find the true killer.

While this sounded like an interesting premise, the story just fell flat for me. When it came to Andi, I felt like there was too much time spent talking about her father and his questionable law enforcement tactics of the past. We get it, she is her fathers daughter, but not her father. Also, I found the word play between Castle (Andi's last name) and her boss/lover Aiden King felt forced. I didn't hate her character, but I felt like the character development was a little shallow. It seemed like this could be the first book in a series that would follow along Andi's career and other cases. And if that is the case, I would hope that we can learn more about her and hear less about her dad.

When it came to Carrie, I felt like it quickly became obvious that she wasn't who you thought she was going to be. There was so much attention drawn to the fact that everyone around her said how nice she was, you could tell that things would turn out to be the complete opposite. The other part that really bothered me was the repeated use of the word belly. Carrie is supposed to be an ER nurse and she, along with other nurses, medical professionals and law enforcement officers keep using the word as well. That felt very unrealistic to me. I associate the word belly with children, so as an adult, the only reason you would say belly is if you are talking to a child.

The ending felt a bit rushed to me, as if the writer had a set number of pages she was aiming for and had to quickly wrap things up before she ran out of pages. While the story wasn't terrible, I probably wouldn't recommend it to someone looking for a good thriller/mystery.

Carrie and Oliver are celebrating their upcoming wedding with a type of joint bachelor/bachelorette party for a weekend at a haunted hotel. One of Carrie's best friends, Lana, asks her friend Andi to tag along as her plus one, and finally Andi agrees. Agent Andi Castle could really use a fun weekend getaway, after recently closing a particularly difficult case and dealing with ongoing issues with her partner. The escape that Andi hoped for is quickly turned into a work trip when someone from the wedding party is found brutally murdered. As the first law enforcement officer on scene, Andi quickly dives into cracking the case and finding out who among their group is a killer.

This is the first book I've read by L.R. Jones, and I was asked by her team to read this book in exchange for my honest review. I enjoyed this book! Carrie and Andi were both really interesting main characters and I enjoyed the dual points of view. Without giving too much away, I can say that I didn't find either of them particularly likable characters, but I enjoyed getting to know them and having my views of them change throughout the storyline. I was entertained by Andi's relationship with her dad, who is infamous in the law enforcement community. Her dad, Frankie Castle, a rouge ex-cop (I’m imagining Detective Elliot Stabler from Law & Order, seasons ago before he started following the rules) was an interesting character and added an extra layer to the book. Lastly, from the first page, I was excited that there was a dog in this story! But was selfishly saddened that the dog only had a brief cameo.

Once it was mentioned in the book, I was hopeful that there would be more involvement of the haunted hotel in this story. For a few chapters, I expected a paranormal turn (since the haunted rooms in the hotel were mentioned), but the story evolved well without this aspect. Another thing that I noticed was how many references there were to things that had happened in the past (Andi's job, situations with Andi's dad, etc.) that it made me question whether this was the second book in a series. After double checking, I found out that it is a standalone novel, and while the background information was entertaining, I didn't find that it added to the story and could have done with less of it because it confused me overall.

Don't read this if you're only interested in it for the setting. Yes, part of this story takes place at The Stanley Hotel. However, you'll get more history and atmosphere by reading the hotel's actual website than you will from this book.

The missed opportunity with the setting is my biggest disappointment, but there are others. Every criticism everyone else has given about this book - same. I almost DNF'd after reading the word 'bimbo' twice in the first few pages. The entire book perpetuates a lot of unhelpful stereotypes, especially about women. The writing feels lazy and unrealistic.

And yet, I kept reading. I don't feel good about being entertained by this, but I was. I wanted to know what the deal was with those weird boxes. Objectively not the best written book, and had some problematic content, but the mystery hooked me enough to finish.

Firstly, I would like to praise the cover of this book, which is very beautiful and made me want to read it. Secondly, I really liked the author's writing, I was trapped in the story to find out who the killer was, but my guess was correct and, for me, the ending was not surprising, but disappointing. The book has a lot of potential, but the ending didn't live up to expectations.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Told from perspectives of Carrie & Andi, I was left with my guesses of who the bad guy was with these two voices on different sides.

I was guessing who the murderer was, who had the most secrets. I was on the edge of my seat right until the very end & the heartbreaking conclusion. I finished it in 2 days. I couldn’t stop reading!

Thank you, LR Jones, Thomas and Mercer, netgalley & Kate Rock for my copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the author L. R. Jones, publishers Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of THE WEDDING PARTY. All views are mine.

"𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤”— 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑠 𝑎 𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑎—“ 𝑔𝑢𝑦𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟. 𝐵𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑒, 𝑖𝑡’𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑜. 𝐼 𝑠𝑎𝑤 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝐵𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑛, 𝑡𝑜𝑜. 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝐺𝑜𝑑 𝐼’𝑚 𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘 ℎ𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟. 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛’𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑇𝑒𝑥-𝑀𝑒𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟." Loc.249

Jones's THE WEDDING PARTY is a book about a wedding guest staying in one of the most iconic hotels in the American west– who also happens to be a badass female criminal profiler and investigator, who, it turns out, is the most capable person for the job when an irreplaceable member of the wedding party turns up murdered. Jones punctuates the tension with hilarious banter and subtle humor, like the dynamic between the two investigators. This one wasn't quite my style, but I recommend it for fans of popcorn thrillers and Olivia Worley.

“𝐴𝑚 𝐼 𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑦𝑜𝑢?”

𝐼 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑠𝑎𝑦 𝑛𝑜, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 ... “𝐼𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑏𝑒ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒.”

𝐻𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑠. “𝐵𝑒ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑚𝑦 𝑚𝑖𝑑𝑑𝑙𝑒 𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑒. 𝑆𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠. 𝐴𝑙𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑖𝑡’𝑠 𝑚𝑦 𝑎𝑙𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑚𝑖𝑑𝑑𝑙𝑒 𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑒. 𝐴𝑠 𝑎 𝑏𝑜𝑛𝑢𝑠, 𝐼’𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑙. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑒𝑟. 𝐷𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑦, 𝐼’𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑖𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛. 𝐼’𝑚 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝐻𝑢𝑐𝑘𝑙𝑒𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑦.” Loc.3002

<i>This book for me is definitely a case of Booksta Made Me Do It! It gets good reviews over there, but mixed on Goodreads. I don't think Booksta had it right on this one! Jones's writing and story management are both subpar. This book is a popcorn thriller. Unfortunately, I'd probably get more out of it if I put butter on it and ate it lol.</i>

<b>Three (or less) things I loved:</b>

1. I just can't believe this takes place at The Stanley lol. I used to give the ghost tours there!

2. Love the "I'm Your Huckleberry" t-shirt, which becomes an identifying character trait for Brody. This is one of the better points of character development in the book.

<b>Three (or more) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.</b>

1. The prose is rough. Sentences are choppy, word choices are odd, narrative voice is inconsistent.

2. For an inspector, she displays a shocking lack of understanding of human nature. The fmc isn't the only problematic character. The women in this are not great.

3. That is not how "bait and switch" works. The only thing worse than using an unnecessary idiom is using one in error.

4. It doesn't matter who's talking to whom, the dialogue is unbelievable, unnatural.

5. Wow, this book just stigmatized the hell out of recovering addicts.

6. The "my daddy killed someone while I was on the phone, but look at me, I'm fine!" thing is unspeakably wrong.

7. These characters are obsessed with weight and appearance but not in any kind of self-aware way that could be said to heighten this literature.

8. This plot is convoluted. I have no clear idea of what I just read. Worse than that though, I wasn't invested enough at any point to do the work to figure out what I was reading.

Rating: 👕👕 / 5 great t-shirts
Recommend? No.
Finished: Feb 22 '24
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🍿 thrillers
👰‍♂️ weddings gone wrong
🧌 the patriarchy
🍕 so much food

"The Wedding Party" by L.R. Jones is a captivating and heartwarming story that explores the complexities of relationships, love, and family dynamics. The author skillfully weaves together the lives of various characters, each with their own struggles and triumphs, creating a rich tapestry of emotions and experiences. The book is filled with twists and turns that keep the reader engaged until the very end. Overall, "The Wedding Party" is a delightful read that will leave you rooting for the characters and feeling a sense of warmth and hope.

Carrie and Oliver, a seemingly perfect couple, throw a joint bachelor/bachelorette party at the haunted Stanley Hotel in Colorado. The morning after the party, the groom-to-be is found murdered but luckily FBI agent Andi Castle is among the guests.
The prologue captured my attention. The short chapters left me wanting more and the many twists kept me guessing what happened. I liked that the book had two POVs of two characters, which added to the suspense. However, the end felt rushed, and we didn’t really understand what exactly happened. I also thought the recurring mentions of Andi’s father were unnecessary.

Special thank you to NetGalley, L. R. Jones and
Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of this psychological suspense thriller.

Very much enjoyed the story and characters - did not entirely see how all of the puzzle pieces would fit together in the end, but it was a good twist. Would recommend this book to others.

When I spotted this one, I thought - why not? It's a plot I see a lot but the cover is so fun and I've read from this author previously so I thought I'd give it a try. Sadly, this one just wasn't for me.

I was drawn in at first. I liked the package and the wondering what was going on. But from there the plot lost me. I felt the different POV jumbled. I hated that one wasn't labeled because I struggled to tell them apart - except when we were being reminded Andi was an FBI agent. Once we got to the daddy part of the story, I was just done. The conversations didn't feel real, I didn't like the characters and I just never became invested.

I wish I'd liked it more. If you do like mysteries with an FBI agent as one of the POV, you may still like this one. It just didn't work for me.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.