Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review an eARC audiobook for Jason Rekulak's latest book.

After reading "Hidden Pictures", I had somewhat high expectations for Rekulak's latest release, however I had a hard time finishing this book. With an unlikable MMC, it make it hard for me to get into this book. This book was slightly disappointing and did not reach to me as much as Hidden Pictures did.

Frank Szatowski and his daughter Maggie haven’t spoken in 3 years. Then out of the blue, Maggie calls to tell him she is engaged to a guy named Aidan Gardner and would really like it if he would attend the wedding. Not really knowing what to expect, Frank makes the journey to New Hampshire and is shocked and a bit overwhelmed by what he finds. His daughter is engaged to the son of a famous billionaire and the wedding is being held on the private estate. As the days get closer to the ceremony, Frank meets Aidan’s family, friends and staff at the residence. He picks up on a strange vibe, noticing a coldness between Maggie and her fiancé. As he tries to navigate the weekend and mend his relationship with his daughter, he feels there is something not quite right about this family. Rumors are circulating ,including the disappearance of a local young woman who was last seen with Aiden. Not wanting to ruin things further with his daughter, yet still feeling the need to find out exactly what is going on, Frank tries to beat the clock and unearth the secrets that have been well hidden by the Gardners. This book dragged a little bit for me, but there was a great twist in the end!

Wow what a story - I was expecting a bigger plot twist at the end due to the previous book by this author. It was also not as thrilling as his previous work. Think he should stick to horror.

Frank Szatowski is overjoyed when his daughter, Maggie, contacts him for the first time in 3 years. Maggie is recently engaged and wants her father to meet her fiancé. There is just one thing – her fiancé is Aidan Gardner, the son of a billionaire. Frank is more than a bit intimidated - her daughter's new clothes, the penthouse apartment, and now a lavish wedding being planned on their estate in New Hampshire. Then he receives a letter with a photo, insinuated that Aidan was the cause of a girl missing near the estate. Not wanting to alienate Maggie again, Frank tries to enjoy his time at the wedding. But it seems like there's more going on than meets the eye and Frank is desperate to save Maggie from her new family.

I have heard some bad reviews for this book but I don't know why. While it is quite different than Hidden Pictures it was definitely a whirlwind of a thriller. As soon as I thought I knew what was going on, the author would pivot in the complete other direction. I really enjoyed this, and don't know why I put off reading it.

A solid 4 star read.

Jason Rekulak has written some of my favorite books. This one was different but still very enjoyable. Will be looking for his next book!

An unexpected mystery and thriller from Jason Rekulak. Well written and keeps the reader interested. Enjoyed this one even more than Hidden Pictures!

For some reason I struggled with this read. Couldn't connect with the material. Whether it be from the mindset I was in while listening or the narrator who reads it … I am not certain.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it did not disappoint. I loved Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak so I knew I need to get the ARC of this book. I’m so glad I did. Highly, highly recommend.

Such a great book! Thrilling, suspenseful and very surprisingly SHOCKING! That TWIST left me reeling, like WHAT???

It was a little slow to get into, but once I did, WOW!

I received an advanced reader copy of Jason Rekulak's The Last One at the Wedding (thank you NetGalley and Flatiron books!). I had read his previous book, Hidden Pictures, and thought he did a good job of creating tension and suspense early on in a book. I listened to his latest book via audiobook, and the narrator made the story believable and engaging. This book not only involved a great deal of suspense like Hidden Pictures, but also had some fairly comical moments in it, especially for a parent of a teen like myself.

The book centers around a male narrator who is the father of a young woman who may or may not have been involved in a murder. Initially, the father makes a compelling argument for why his daughter wouldn't ever commit a crime, or be involved in something as terrible as murder. But as he tells the story of her upbringing, and his role as a single dad, it becomes clear that his daughter is not perfect by any means. The tension builds in the book, with a finale that is shocking and worth every turn of the page.

I had high hopes for this going in but it was not my favorite. The beginning and middle were good and held my interest but there was a major shift in the plot that made it implausible and not that interesting anymore. I finished the book out, but by the end I really didn’t care anymore. A positive was the heartfelt descriptions of a father/daughter relationship, which I could somewhat relate to. The narrator of the audiobook also did an outstanding job portraying all of the characters, especially the father. The rest was just eh.

I have loved Jason Rekulak and this book was a slow burn with a worth-it twist at the end. I always love a mysterious thriller set at a wedding and this one did not disappoint!

Good story with great potential.

I never quite connected with the cast of characters, nor did I find any of them likeable. Maybe, that feeling is why I didn't love the book.

I found the "reveal" quite predictable and the power the family had as extremely over the top, even for the rich.

I just don't think this thriller was for me.

THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING is a binge-able walk down the aisle with secrets, twists, turns, and a potential for a growing body count. Rekulak taps into the complicated dynamics of Frank Szatowski’s family to deliver a wonderfully macabre wedding experience.

From the beginning, you know something is going to happen at this wedding. However, the carefully crafted reveals and well-timed deaths send the reader down the rabbit hole of questioning everyone involved in this extravagant event. The event becomes a breeding ground for duplicity and secrets. And it is Frank who starts to search for the answers for the sake of his daughter, or at least that is what he tells himself.

In a story like this, investing in the characters makes a difference. I instantly felt for Frank. His desire to connect with his daughter propels the entire narrative and sets the stage for many of the scenes at this wedding. It is this thread of emotion that grounds this suspenseful tale.

Having read and loved HIDDEN PICTURES, I knew this book would be at the top of my to-read list. And once I started it, there was no going back. This one-sitting read will pull you in and not let you go until the very end. Rekulak just proved to this reader that he has a gift with murder, deceit, and layered emotions. I, for one, cannot wait to see what we get next.

Audiobook Note: Though I completely enjoyed this audiobook’s listening experience, I predominantly read rather than listen to Rekulak’s latest. As a narrator, John Pirhalla kept the story moving at a good pace and his inflections, as well as diction, were on point for the main character of Frank.

"The Last One at the Wedding" is a suspenseful mystery full of secrets and lies. I liked most of it, but it was definitely a slow burn, especially in the beginning. There was a lot of family drama, and I think I had been expecting more of a psychological thriller. I did enjoy the twists, which were very unexpected. Most of the characters were quite unlikeable, but they did provide a few laughs. I listened to the audiobook narrated by John Pirhalla. It was a quick read, and I binged it in just a few sittings. Pirhalla did a great job and made the story more engaging. His pacing built a lot of suspense and had me coming back for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This is about a father trying to save his daughter from a life-altering decision that will put everything he loves on the line. It’s an intense thriller that’s well-written & kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. It’s my first read from Jason Rekulak & made me a fan. I’ll definitely be reading more by him!

John Pirhalla narrated so wonderfully that I fell into the perfect voice for Frank.

Thank you, Jason Rekulak, Macmillan Audio & netgalley for my audiobook! All opinions are my own.

Honestly the best mystery book I read this year. I love the premise, I love the perspective, and in general I thought it was written so well. I would recommend this book to anyone who is starting to get into mystery thrillers. I think it’s a great book for the genre. I truly couldn’t see most of it coming and outwardly reacted more than once. A great read for sure.

Jason Rekulak is one of my favorite authors, having loved Hidden Pictures as much as I did I had the highest hopes for this book being my most anticipated on the year. Quick read, loved the storytelling but underwhelmed my no major twists.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC, and the opportunity to read a thriller by one of my favorite authors.

The Last One at the Wedding by the author of Hidden Pictures is a gripping, suspense-filled story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Frank Szatowski’s unexpected reunion with his estranged daughter, Maggie, at her lavish wedding sets the stage for an intense, atmospheric thriller. The secluded location, Maggie’s high-profile fiancé, and the strange tension surrounding the event all create a sense of unease and mystery that escalates throughout the book.

The plot dives deep into Frank's emotional turmoil as he tries to repair his fractured relationship with Maggie while unraveling the disturbing secrets surrounding her new family. The tension between his desire to reconnect and the dark, evasive behavior of those around him adds an extra layer of complexity. As Frank digs deeper, the stakes rise, and the line between saving his daughter and losing her forever becomes razor-thin.

If you enjoy suspenseful, character-driven thrillers that explore family dynamics and dark secrets, this one will pull you in from the first page. It’s a fast-paced, heart-pounding read that doesn’t let up.

[TW/CW: Language, drinking, toxic family relationships, cheating, death of spouse, misogyny, sexism, drug use]</b>

<b><big>*****SPOILERS*****</b></big>
<b>About the book:</b>
Frank Szatowski is shocked when his daughter, Maggie, calls him for the first time in three years. He was convinced that their estrangement would become permanent. He’s even more surprised when she invites him to her upcoming wedding in New Hampshire. Frank is ecstatic, and determined to finally make things right.

He arrives to find that the wedding is at a private estate—very secluded, very luxurious, very much out of his league. It seems that Maggie failed to mention that she’s marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a famous tech billionaire. Feeling desperately out of place, Frank focuses on reconnecting with Maggie and getting to know her new family. But it’s difficult: Aidan is withdrawn and evasive; Maggie doesn’t seem to have time for him; and he finds that the locals are disturbingly hostile to the Gardners. Frank needs to know more about this family his daughter is marrying into, but if he pushes too hard, he could lose Maggie forever.
<b>Release Date:</b> October 8th, 2024
<b>Genre:</b> Thriller
<b>Pages:</b> 352
<b>Rating:</b> ⭐

<b>What I Liked:</b>
1. Liked the idea of the plot
2. Cover of book

<b>What I Didn't Like:</b>
1. Author writes with too much political views that takes away from the story
2. All the UPS stuff - hilarious

<b>Overall Thoughts:</b>
<b><u>{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}</u></b>

What year are we living in that a man who drives for UPS and a woman working at Michael's were able to pay off a house, gave no debt, and have paid off vehicles. Ummm okay!

I can't stand Frank I'm going to be honest he has this like perfect life and everything just worked out perfectly for him. He was able to pay off his house have nice things able to give away $8,000, able to pay for all of Maggie's College. It's all just so perfect. It's absolutely frustrating. He even took her to Disney World.

Who the hell is Frank?? He's mad that Maggie didn't tell him that she had already go her period because he bought a special period book for her

Ah and tammy standing in the hill for Aiden saying he didn't murder Dawn is stupid. She's never even met this guy! She fosters children so she of all people should be able to see all the bad the world holds and know anyone is capable of hurting people.

What is Franks obsession with saying that everyone was his age or around there?? Everytime he meets someone he says the same line.

Weird that they would need to know who's family and who isn't. What does it matter when it comes to their cars in the middle of no where?

I am so hating Tammy. She brings along a foster child to a wedding with Frank who hasn't seen his daughter in 3 years and now because of the spiders she wants him to switch rooms with a child to give into what she wants. Tammy of course can't switch rooms because she is deathly scared of bugs but expects Frank to sleep on a bunk bed in a kids room. Don't worry Frank gives in and moves his stuff after Tammy says it's Franks fault for not switching rooms.

The author is really getting on my nerves he keeps putting in these little undecided comments. Frank is talking about UPS now hiring women more because of the me too movement and everything. The author paints it like women are just using this so they can get jobs.

Now the author gives a character named John "Speedy" Gonzalez. Are you kidding me?.... A cartoon mouse that gives Mexican stereotypes just because John's last name is Gonzalez.

Oh my God oh my God oh my God I am so over Tammy she is so effing annoying. He wants to go have a canoe ride with his daughter whom he hasn't seen in 3 years or spent much time with but she insists on him bringing Abigail with him. I am so annoyed at how privileged Tammy thinks she is to Frank's time. Why is he responsible for this Abigail person it's not his foster kid!

<s>Chapter 5 and I am wondering if it's a red herring that Maggie is the one that actually killed Dawn and Gwen. After Frank's conversation with Vicky she says;
<i><b>"It’s fine, Frank. I’ll tell you something I learned from hard experience: Every parent’s an unreliable narrator. We think we know our kids better than anyone. But none of us can see them objectively."</b></i>
Maybe Maggie killed the women and Aiden is covering for her.</s>

Okay so Aiden and Catherine are the ones that caused the death of Dawn when she was at the camp. Maggie was sleeping with ethol and for some reason she's blackmailing everyone into a fake marriage to get money and half assets. Frank makes a comment about going to the police and telling them everything but Maggie says he has no proof, but she didn't have proof either to blackmail them. Doesn't make sense.

This whole Ups thing is so ridiculous. And now the ceo of Ups showing up is hilarious.

Love that Frank was the only one to check Aiden's art studio. No one including Maggie thought to tell someone he might be there, but only Frank gets the idea to go there first.

Now Aiden has ended his life. Seriously...

Tammy dropping off Abigail despite Frank saying 5i not drop her off to him.

Frank is such a boomer

Abigail ends up having the map that Aiden Left Behind for Frank so Frank finds it valuable to give it to Maggie like some kind of Olive Branch. I am so annoyed. He ends up showing up at her apartment where Aiden's dad and everyone else is there and they burn the map that shows where Dawn is buried. He tells Maggie that he let her down the first time and he this was him making it up to her now. How did he let her down? She conspired with a man to burn down his business and all he did was tell the truth that's not letting her down that's being a good parent and not enabling your child. So now he's over here helping her and the family cover up a murder just so she can stay in this family and get money from them. What's even worse is that he was in a terrible accident and she didn't even come to see him.

Lovely now the family wants to maybe kill Abigail because she might know something.

<b>Final Thoughts:</b>
Get ready to read a book that makes you roll your eyes so much you'll get a headache.

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<b>Thanks to Netgalley and Flatiron for the ebook & thanks to Macmillan Audio for the audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.