The Last One at the Wedding
by Jason Rekulak
3/5 ⭐

The Last One at the Wedding is a slow-burning mystery. Frank Szatowski, a UPS driver has been estranged from his daughter for three years. Then one day, she calls him to invite him to her wedding. Frank is ecstatic and can’t wait to attend the wedding and make things right with Maggie.

Upon arriving at the wedding, Frank is struck by the lavish surroundings and extravagant estate. Maggie is marrying Aidan, the son of a tech billionaire, but he doesn't seem very friendly towards Frank. As other concerning signs emerge and a murder occurs at the estate, Frank begins to question this marriage.


The Last One at the Wedding is a completely different book compared to Rekulak’s first novel, Hidden Pictures. It has a less spooky and supernatural vibe and leans more toward being a domestic thriller. The book is well-written and includes talented descriptions of the picturesque New England setting. Despite the tension between Frank and Maggie being obvious throughout the book, I found it difficult to connect with either character. Therefore, I did not invest in the outcome. I wanted to love Frank as a devoted father, but his chivalrous choices bothered me. The ending took me by surprise, but the last line confused me.

Read if you like:
👨‍👩‍👧family secrets/ drama
💒wedding setting
🙋single POV
😨domestic thriller
🧑🏽‍🤝‍🧑🏻full cast of characters


Thank you to @Macmillan.Audio and @netgalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review. All my opinions are my own.
Publication Date: October 8, 2024

I felt that this book was ok. I was expecting more suspense after hearing so many rave reviews about Jason Rekulak’s Hidden Pictures. I predicted most of the storyline and felt it was a pretty slow moving story. I did enjoy the narrator on the audiobook. I felt like he was a good fit for the storyline.

4.5 stars! I have been itching for this release and was thrilled to be approved for the audiobook ARC! Great narration.

If you read Hidden Pictures, the suspense is the same, but this a new arena. It’s a domestic thriller unlike the paranormal allure of the previous.

It is a slow burner. It’s family drama. There’s a subplot. A father hears from his daughter after 3 years (what happened there?) & she shares she’s engaged to the son of a tech billionaire after a year of dating (say it isn’t so...) and allegedly the son was involved with a missing girl.... so many things!

It has you connecting dots. It has you saying, waaaiit a minute.....

The Last One at the Wedding (Audiobook)
Author Jason Rekulak, narrated by John Pirhalla
Publish date: 10/8/2024

A chilling wedding day indeed! Frank Szatowski's estranged daughter Maggie calls him after 3 years of not speaking to him to announce her upcoming marriage to a man named Aiden who she's known for just 6 months. Not thrilled with the short courtship, Frank is reluctant to chastise Maggie much since he doesn't think he would speak to her ever again. He was a single father when his wife unexpectedly passed away had to raise her through times when most girls needed their mom and their last interaction caused a huge rift in their relationship. Determined to finally make things right, this invitation to the wedding could be a fresh start.

When he meets his future son-in-law it's a bit strange and any time he reached out to him prior to the wedding the timing didn't work out as if he was avoiding him. Frank already feels awkward when he finds out who Maggie's future in-law is since it's the man who owns the company she works for and he is a famous tech billionaire. Maggie and Aiden live in a fancy high-end skyscraper building in Boston and have the best of everything. The wedding is being held at the family's large secluded estate in New Hampshire and Frank feels like a fish out of water. Aiden's father is sparing no expense for this wedding, and Frank feels left out. When he arrives at the estate with his sister and her state ward in tow, Frank tries to focus on Maggie, and planning her big day is difficult. She is constantly busy and things on the property are very locked down. You want for nothing and if you need anything all you need to do is ask, but to leave the property the staff gives you grief.

The famous rich family doesn't seem to be the town favorites and he hears a disturbing rumor regarding his soon-to-be son-in-law that causes concern. Being left to his own devices for a few days before the wedding, Frank uncovers oddities that steamroll into things a parent doesn't want to hear. Maggie looks and acts happy, but Frank is worried for his daughter. Getting alone time with her or Aidan, her husband-to-be is difficult. He is withdrawn and evasive and also Frank has yet to meet Aiden's mother who they say is ill. Things just aren't adding up and Frank is desperate to find out what is going on before Maggie commits to something that may not be in her best interest. Based on what happened in the past though, he fears if he pushes too hard, he could lose Maggie forever.

The narrator did well voicing the characters' personalities making it easy to know which character was speaking. The buildup in the story was slow and didn't pick up until about halfway in. Then the story started to twist and pick up speed more into the mystery and thriller aspect. There was a particular part towards the end that brought a tear to my eye and I really liked it. I will keep it spoiler-free for others to enjoy it like I did.

I thought this was interesting, but it takes a bit to get into the nitty-gritty of what a thriller usually is. So if you are patient, you will get there. Although compared to other thrillers I have read, this is tame. There is a quick moment of spice, death, and some alcohol abuse, and mentions of child welfare. If you are used to reading thrillers, the trigger warnings shouldn't affect you much.

I appreciate the opportunity to listen to this audiobook given by Netgalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.

4 ⭐️ Happy Publication Day!

Frank Szatowski and his daughter Maggie have been estranged for three years. One day, she calls him out of the blue to share big news: she’s getting married. Not only that, but her fiancé Aidan Gardner comes from a very, very wealthy family. Their wedding will be in New Hampshire at the family’s secluded, private estate. Surrounded by all this wealth and grandeur, Frank feels completely out of his league. Alls he wants to do is reconnect with Maggie, who doesn’t seem to have time for him.

Even before arriving at the estate, red flags start popping up for Frank. He is receiving anonymous notes warning him about Aidan, Maggie keeps brushing him off, and the people in town hate the Gardner family. Frank starts poking around, wanting to learn more about the family and fearing that Maggie is about to make a terrible mistake. But if he pushes too hard, he could lose her forever.

My thoughts: If you were expecting a book similar to “Hidden Pictures,” think again. This is a domestic suspense thriller with no supernatural elements. The story was layered with a lot of character dynamics to dive into. There are some side characters that really tug on your heart strings and some who are very unlikeable people. I went into this expecting the same level of twists and turns you get from “Hidden Pictures,” and this book was not that. It did have twists, but at times it felt anticlimactic; the pace wasn’t as “edge of my seat” as I thought it would be.

Overall, I liked it, but it lack that extra something. I like how well constructed this story was and how much each character brought to the story. 4 stars.

When Frank's estranged daughter, Maggie, unexpectedly invites him to her wedding, he thinks it’s a chance for reconciliation. But when he finally meets her fiancé and family, he discovers way more than he bargained for -like, way, WAY more!

This book is packed with family drama, crazy twists, and dark secrets. It's truly a unique domestic thriller.

However, I have to be honest and say that I wasn’t completely sold on it. The characters didn’t resonate with me; they weren’t particularly likeable or memorable. The one I found intriguing was Maggie, the antagonist and Frank's daughter. Seriously, what’s her story? Who hurt you, girl?

On a positive note, I really enjoyed the narration by John Pirhalla. The audio production is top-notch, capturing that thrilling vibe perfectly. Still, I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it as much in a 350+ page read.

Frank hasn't heard from his daughter Maggie in three years, so he's shocked when he gets a phone call from her, saying she's getting married. The family she's marrying into is extremely wealthy and a little "off." Maggie is too busy planning her wedding to listen to his concerns. But, the more he finds out about them, the more concerned he gets.

Thoughts 💭
Hidden Pictures is such a good book, and I'm thrilled I got an advanced copy of this one! I typically listen to books at a 2.0 speed (like the psycho I am) and found this very easy to listen to. The narrator did a wonderful job doing all the voices (some of who were women), so you could tell the difference between the characters. His voice was pleasing and easy to listen to. Macmillan Audio always does such a wonderful job with their audio books!

This story is a slow burn. Concerning things happen as the story slowly unfolds and builds the tension. Piece after piece is added to set the mood until shocking information is revealed. I honestly didn't expect the book to take that turn, although I probably should have since their were plenty of clues. The second half has a little more drama to it and interesting moral dilemmas I enjoyed diving into. I don't honestly know what I would do if I were in Frank's shoes, but I feel like his thoughts and actions were pretty genuine. This is definitely an interesting storyline that was very well done.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was so so excited to get this Arc because like a majority of people, I loved hidden pictures. I was so bored of this one tho. Might have been better for me as an ebook than audio.

"𝘏𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦. 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺?" ~𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙞𝙚

From the moment Frank answers Maggie’s phone call - his seemingly quiet life becomes upended indefinitely. They haven’t spoken in years and yet all of a sudden, here she is extending an olive branch in the form of a wedding invitation. While Frank is beside himself with joy, he is also hesitant in many ways. It was a whirlwind romance according to Maggie but there are things that don’t sit right with him. When Frank finally meets Aidan - he is perplexed. He seems nice enough but Aidan is a man of few words and incredibly distant. Maggie’s soon to be in-laws also show no desire to meet before the wedding. Each time a question is answered - another question presents itself!

Frank wants nothing more than to reconcile with his only daughter but it comes at the cost of compromising his character and going against every parental instinct he has especially when he discovers Maggie has secrets too!

❥Frank is only a couple of years older than me and while my oldest son is 3 years younger than Maggie - I completely understood his willingness to do anything to have a relationship with her. He struggles with trying not to be “𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙮 𝙥𝙤𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧” or “𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝙜𝙪𝙮” - and any parent knows how challenging this can be but when it walks like a duck…well.☠︎︎

This was a wild ride with plot twists galore! I absolutely loved this story! It’s very different from Hidden Pictures but I enjoyed it just as much! @jasonrekulak is my new auto-buy author!

Rating: 4.5 stars

The Last One at The Wedding
Jason Rekulak
In The Last One at the Wedding, we meet Frank Szatowski, a widower, an employee of UPS, the father of Maggie; he is a grouchy male desperate to make amends with his daughter. After several years of no contact, he receives a phone call from Maggie, telling him she is getting married and inviting him to the wedding at Osprey Cove, New Hampshire. Osprey Cove was formerly a summer camp. There is a lodge and several smaller cottages. The compound is surround by a forest. Of course, Frank wants to help with the cost of the wedding, but Maggie is marrying Aiden, the son of the very wealthy Errol Gardner. The Gardners insist on paying for the three day wedding extravaganza and holding it at their private estate.
Frank receives a mysterious letter and a photograph in the mail before the wedding. Frank, his sister, Tammy and her foster child, Abigail stop in town before heading to the estate. They quickly realize a lot of the citizens are not fond of the Gardners. When they arrive at the compound, they are forced to sign a 56-page NDA. Everywhere Frank turns he sees red flags telling him his daughter is making a big mistake. There is a missing girl, a murder, the mother of the groom that rarely shows her face at the wedding due to migraines, and a hoard of grandaddy long legs.
I didn’t care for any of the characters except Abigail. Frank was constantly fussing at Abigail and Tammy. I didn’t like the way Frank talked or treated Abigail. He refused to ask for any help no matter what! He came across as bullheaded and a man that was insecure. Tammy seemed to come across as a know it all. Abigail was a little girl with lice and an eating disorder. Maggie is cold. I could not figure out why she invited Frank to the wedding when she didn’t really seem to want him there. Aiden is secretive and not trustworthy. The Gardners were wealthy snobs. The staff were very protective of the Gardners.
Thank you NetGalley for providing a review copy.

Jason Rekulak's The Last One at the Wedding is perfectly twisty. Unlike his last book, Hidden Pictures, this one isn't "scary" in the traditional sense, but it's more character driven, focusing on UPS driver Frank Szatowski, who just wants to be a part of his daughter, Maggie's, life. When he's invited to her wedding after a period of estrangement, he sees it at a chance to repair the relationship. No spoilers, but it doesn't go quite the way he hoped, and I found myself listening at every available opportunity. I just had to know. After loving both Hidden Pictures and The Last One at the Wedding, Jason Rekulak has become one of my newest must-read authors.

This book is a suspenseful tale of a father trying to save his daughter from a life-altering decision. Maggie is marrying into a wealthy family, and she wants to reconnect with her father Frank after being estranged for several years. Frank is ecstatic, and determined to finally make things right. Frank arrives to find that the wedding is at a private estate. Feeling desperately out of place, Frank focuses on reconnecting with Maggie and getting to know her new family. But it’s difficult: her fiancé is withdrawn and evasive; Maggie doesn’t seem to have time for him; and he finds that the locals are disturbingly hostile to the whole family. Frank needs to know more about this family his daughter is marrying into. What I liked was the fresh perspective where the protagonist was the brides father and the stuff that happens at the secluded estate is just the beginning of the mystery behind what is really going on.

This was so much fun. I loved the dad and his sister, the little girl, all the characters were very relatable. It was quite light up until 50% ish, it build up tension slowly which I appreciated, because it wasn't super tense all the time. as I said, Dad had a lot of heart warming moments, some funny ones too. Really enjoyed this one. Recommend to anyone wanting a mystery that is not too dark or too heavy.
Also: the narrator is very good, since the story is quite linear, you won't get lost with the audiobook. I usually can't read a book solely on audio but I did with this one and I don't feel I lost anything or that my attention drifted, which is very rare to me.

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak is not the type of thriller that will have you hiding under the covers, but it's jaw-dropping enough to keep you glued to the pages.

This is an absolute treat as an audiobook, and I highly recommend listening to it! Narrated by John Pirhalla, his voice brings Frank Szatowski's character to life, capturing every bit of the emotion and tension in this gripping family drama-meets-thriller.

Frank Szatowski finally gets a call from his estranged daughter, Maggie, after three years of radio silence—what’s the occasion? Her wedding! Excited to mend their broken relationship, Frank shows up at a secluded luxury estate only to realize Maggie is marrying into some serious money.

Think tech-billionaire money.

Naturally, Frank feels like a fish out of water, but things get weirder when the groom-to-be, Aidan, turns out to be more evasive than mysterious, and the locals treat the family like they’re harboring dark secrets.

The tension builds as Frank figures out if his daughter's fiancé is shady or just socially awkward. And then—boom—a cryptic letter warns Frank not to trust Aidan because his ex-girlfriend vanished under suspicious circumstances. Is Frank's fatherly protectiveness spinning out of control, or is he onto something? The twists sneak up on you, and it’s impossible not to feel like something sinister is lurking just beneath the surface.

Pirhalla's narration adds so much to the atmosphere, making every twist feel even more intense. The pacing is perfect, and while the tension builds slowly, it keeps you wanting more right up until the end. If you’re into audiobooks that blend family drama with suspense, this is one you don’t want to miss!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest book by Jason Rekulak, perfectly narrated by John Pirhalla. I loved Rekulak’s debut book, The Impossible Fortress, and somehow missed reading Hidden Pictures (I’ll rectify that mistake soon!). All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 4.5 stars rounded up!

Frank is a UPS driver whose wife died, leaving him to raise their daughter, Maggie, mostly by himself, with the help of his sister. But an incident three years ago caused a rift between father and daughter, that no amount of trying on Frank’s part has been able to resolve. Out of the blue, Maggie contacts him to tell him that she’s getting married and she wants him at her upcoming wedding in New Hampshire. She doesn’t immediately mention that she’s marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a tech billionaire. When he arrives at the exclusive wedding at their secluded compound, with his daughter and her foster child in tow, there are lots of red flags and uncomfortable moments. But Frank is desperate to make things right with Maggie and not lose her again.

This is definitely a slow burn but gripping mystery with plenty of twists and turns. You can’t help but feel for Frank who’s trying so hard to things right again with Maggie. There are plenty of family secrets on both sides of the aisle that will leave you shocked. Full of characters that will divide easily between those you love and those you hate, I couldn’t put down this domestic suspense book. It’s atmospheric, complete with creepy crawlies, and a remote setting.

HAPPY PUB DAY!!!!!!

Big thanks to both NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC copy of Rekulak's newest work!

Unfortunately this was mediocre for me. I wanted so badly to love this, but it is almost identical to another book I recently watched the show adaptation for, so I just could not get on board with it. I knew what was coming, the characters were bland and the story just did not keep me intrigued enough.

I can appreciate the ending and how certain things turned out for certain characters, but I disliked most of the characters. I don't think I really enjoyed the relationships in this one either.

As always, the audio was done really well. I appreciated the tones and could feel some of the passion, but it wasn't enough to push me into loving this one.
Lots of people have really enjoyed it, so I would say check it out for yourself. It just unfortunately did not work out for me as much as I'd hoped.

So different from Hidden Pictures, in a very good way.
Some characters were well developed, while others had many secrets. The main character injected humor into the story.

I really enjoyed this one! The narrator kept me engaged and wanting more from beginning to end! I loved seeing the growth of Frank over time. From being in denial and blinded by the love for his daughter, to his openness to new love and seeing her true colors. This was such an enjoyable ride and cannot recommend it enough!

When I discovered that Jason Rekulak, the author of one of my last year’s five-star read “Hidden Pictures,” was releasing a new novel in October just in time for spooky season, I rushed to NetGalley to request it. I was so thrilled to be approved for the audiobook!

“The Last One at the Wedding” is narrated from Frank’s perspective, and the first half of the book delves into his fragile relationship with his estranged daughter, Maggie. After years of silence, Frank receives an unexpected call from Maggie inviting him to her wedding at a luxurious campground. Maggie is marrying Aiden, the son of a wealthy family that owns a tech company as well as the campgrounds who have unsettling ties to a woman’s disappearance. As Frank grapples with his feelings of denial regarding Maggie, he becomes determined to uncover the truth about both Aiden’s family and the missing woman.

The second half of the book is packed with revelations and plot twists, and unexpected scenarios that genuinely caught me off guard.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the intricate plot and the twists that unfolded. The story feels contemporary and realistic, with characters who resonate deeply, especially Frank. He is a father caught in a constant struggle to gain his daughter’s approval while trying to do the right thing, which adds layers to his character and shows how complicated family matters can be.

The storyline keeps you guessing for the truth till the very end!

In comparison, “Hidden Pictures” leans more toward a creepy thriller, while “The Last One at the Wedding” is a gripping murder mystery.

Audiobook Review: Narrator John Pirhalla did an exceptional job capturing Frank’s voice and personality. His smooth narration made the story feel authentic and engaging. I would rate the narration five stars.

P.S. I can’t shake the feeling that both books might be connected in some way—though it’s probably just me being delulu lol !!

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak is a heartwarming and bittersweet story about love, second chances, and the unexpected twists of life. Set during a chaotic wedding weekend, the novel follows a cast of flawed yet endearing characters as they navigate unresolved feelings, hidden desires, and life-altering decisions. Rekulak’s sharp, witty writing brings humor and warmth to the story, while also capturing the emotional weight of pivotal moments. The blend of lighthearted banter and poignant reflection makes for an engaging read that balances both fun and depth. The Last One at the Wedding is a charming exploration of love’s unpredictability and the power of human connection.