I’ll preface with saying this is not my typical genre. The narrator did a fantastic job portraying the frazzled dad who is thrown by everyone’s decisions and actions. Poor guy. The two big twists near the end threw me. What really turned me off from this was how obnoxious his sister was throughout the whole thing- she 1000% drank the koolaid. The ending felt.. unfinished?

Absorbing family drama and psychological suspense.

I've read a ton of mother and daughter stories, but not too many that focus on the relationship between a father and daughter. I found most of the plot to be entertaining as well as filled with some unexpected twists.

Although Frank loves his daughter, Margaret (Maggie), very much, the pair is estranged because of things that happened in the past. When he's invited, out of the blue, to come to her wedding to the wealthy heir of a huge technology magnate, Frank jumps at the chance to reconnect. When he and his sister and her foster child arrive at the Gardner family compound in New Hampshire, Frank feels immediately out of his element. Not to mention that Maggie is distant and unavailable, and he can't manage to get much private face time with his future in-laws to get to know them properly. Frank is disturbed by things he sees and hears. he can't help feeling that if he doesn't figure it out, he's going to lose his daughter forever.

I kept thinking I knew exactly where things were going but there were several surprises. Although annoyed by Frank's sister's behavior and reactions as well as being a bit freaked out by that crazy weird spider thing, I thought that Frank seemed like a basically decent guy trying hard to stay true to his values while trying desperately to demonstrate his love for his daughter. I was a bit perplexed by some of his choices and decisions but had to admire him for trying to find the answers.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator was excellent and gave all the characters distinct personalities, but he was absolutely phenomenal giving voice to the character of Frank. The audio performance added immensely to my enjoyment of this book.

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for this audiobook copy.
What an absolutely wild ride!
This is one of those books where you must pay careful attention so you will catch all of the clues.
NEVER a dull moment.
The narrator was great.
I enjoyed it immensely and will definitely recommend it to everyone.
Thanks again!

Thank you so much partner @macmillan.audio @flatiron_books the gifted audiobook. #macaudio2024

The Last One at the Wedding
by Jason Rekulak
Narrated by John Pirhalla

About the book👇🏽

Frank Szatowski hasn't seen his daughter Maggie in years, and it breaks his heart every day. So when she calls him out of the blue, to tell him that she's getting married and he's invited, Frank is overjoyed.Maggie is marrying into one of the richest families in the country, and Frank finds himself overwhelmed by the social circle she now moves in. He'll do anything to reconnect, though, and arrives at their New Hampshire estate ready to bond however he can with Maggie's in-laws.But as the wedding weekend gets underway, it becomes clear to Frank that although they have spared no expense, there's something strange about Maggie's fiance. And maybe he shouldn't be celebrating just yet...

✨ My thoughts:
A fast read/listen that holds your attention! This was one of my highly anticipated books of 2024. I finished the audiobook pretty quickly and loved the narrator, John Pirhalla. Now, I want to get my only gripe out of the way… this is not like Hidden Pictures. In fact the tone and writing feels very different to me. STILL GOOD, just not what I was envisioning is all. With that out of the way, this book is pretty good, the storyline was captivating, and truthfully, I couldn’t stop listening to the audiobook! I loved the twist and most of all… I loved the ending for everyone. I am happy that I chose this for my BOTM pick for October because I’ll be keeping it on my shelves! The Last One at the Wedding is out 10/8/24.

Happy reading 📖 ✨

I thoroughly enjoyed Jason Reckulaks newest novel. Although I do not agree with the categorization of being a thriller, the setting and variety of characters kept me hooked through the slow-burn style mystery. Although many of the characters were not entirely likable, I felt the audio narrator really brought the story of life and kept me interested. It made the story feel entirely more real. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the audio arc!

This was a really good audiobook!

Frank has been estranged from his daughter for 3 years the one day out of the blue franks daughter calls him to say she is getting married and wants him to come. Tammy Frank’s sister and Abigail, Tammy foster child drive up to a remote resort where things about the garden family start to get strange. The gardeners are know to having tons of money and making anything they want to go away. A girl went missing blaming Aiden the person who did something to her but was found with an alibi. Frank is the only one not under the spell to this family and the weirdness and will do anything as a parent to protect his daughter, but what if she is the cause to all of this?

Side note: One thing I don’t seem to understand is the reference to all the spiders. I also wouldn’t place this book as a horror but a thriller.

This was my first title from this author – after his last novel that was such great reviews, I was excited to read this – I did read the summary so it didn’t seem to be the horror and more my thriller style, whew! It was! Side note – I had the audiobook version and the narrator, John Pirhalla did an amazing job! Made me feel as if I was watching the story play out before my very eyes. This novel had all the drama of family and wedding drama that sometimes we see and sometimes we see and don’t want to admit, especially with family. 5 stars plus! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC #JasonRekulak#TheLastOneattheWedding #NetGalley

It's time for Jason Rekulak to claim his title of King of the Intelligent Thriller. This is the second book of his I've read, and it's even more of a riveting page-turner than Hidden Pictures.

The book surrounds a somewhat unreliable but loveable narrator, Frank. Frank has an adult daughter Maggie who he loves more than anything, but from whom he has been estranged for three years. Maggie suddenly contacts him to let him know she's getting married; and it turns out to be to the son of an Elon Musk-type entrepreneur of a revolutionary battery company called Capaciti. Suddenly the kind, solidly middle-class Frank is thrust into the world of the ultra rich, and the ultra obnoxious. And it turns out these people have some deadly secrets, which his dear daughter may or may not know about.

I really loved the emotional intelligence of this book and its focus on how some parents are blind to the faults of their children. I also loved the fascinating characters (Frank's sister and her revolving door of foster children, an eccentric foster child Abigail, Frank's hesitant romantic interest in the woman who cuts his hair at Supercuts) and the intricate and fast-paced plotting. There's tons of action and drama in the book, especially the last half. The final chapter requires a wee bit of suspension of disbelief but is high octane, thrilling, heart in your throat type stuff. I loved this book so much because I loved Frank, which is a real testament to the author because Frank makes some pretty stupid choices, but I still rooted for him throughout.

The audiobook narrator also did an excellent job voicing Frank and drawing me into the story.

Not only do I give this five full stars, but I absolutely can't wait for Jason Rekulak's next book. He's becoming one of my favorite contemporary suspense authors.

Pubs Oct 8!

This is my first book by this author (I have Hidden Pictures on my TBR [of course] but haven't gotten around to actually reading it yet). I liked this suspenseful story; the characters and the setting were very well-written.

One of my GR friend's reviews mentioned lice and spiders as trigger warnings and I was SO intrigued to find out what that could mean LOL. Seriously though, TW SPIDERS, SO GROSS.

This has some good twists that I didn't see coming, the characters you hope to love and trust just might not be who you think they are. This was fast paced enough to keep me turning pages in a rush but also gives a good amount of backstory sprinkled throughout. The setting for the wedding was so good and so perfect! An entire camp owned by this rich family where all the guests are secluded, they don't have their cars, they can only access places they've been granted permissions to access, cabins around a lake... all wonderfully set up and described.

The narrator was wonderful.
The ending is where I knock off a star.

An interesting thriller; quite different from this author's last book Hidden Pictures. There are no paranormal aspects, but there are some evil people that make the story entertaining. The story is told from the perspective of Frank, a single father who did everything he could for his daughter Maggie, yet despite his efforts they had a falling out. When she calls to tell him about her upcoming wedding, Frank will do just about anything for her. But he can't ignore the mysterious warnings and questionable behavior of his new extended family. I loved the family drama aspect and how the plot unfolded with a few great twists. I think fans of thrillers will enjoy this one.

This is my first Jason Rekulak book and won't be my last. I enjoyed this suspense-thriller that unwound like a slow-burn mystery with several twists. The twists keep you guessing on who did what in the past and who is involved now.
Frank Szatowski is estranged from his daughter and gets a surprising call from her inviting him to her wedding. Once Frank mets her husband-to-be he has even more questions. Wedding weekend comes up fast and the wedding part is semi-secluded at the in-law's in New Hampshire. The more Frank learns, the more questions come up and the more he wants to intervene to save his daughter... the only question is does she want to be saved? I did love that this book was only from Frank's POV so it didn't give a lot of insight on other's actions/motives until Frank learned of them.
Theming highlights: Family Drama and Secrets; Father/Daughter relationship; Wedding; Cover Ups; Manipulation

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced audio copy. I think the narrator did a great job bringing Frank's nuances to life.

Reviewed on Goodreads and can review on Amazon after publication day!

4 stars. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a fantastic job keeping me hooked and using different voices for different characters.

The Last One at the Wedding is a great traditional thriller - think the Firm by John Grisham - rather than a Whodunnit. The story kept me hooked. The story revolves around Frank, the father of the bride to be, Maggie, and the mysterious but wealthy Garner family she is marrying into. I enjoyed the dad character and the slow unravelling of all of the other characters at the wedding.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the advanced read.

I really enjoyed this book from the author! Definitely different than his last. I enjoyed the twists, which started happening about halfway through but then kept coming! That's not to say that the story is boring, because it is not! I'd definitely recommend to all mystery and thriller readers!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to @flatironbooks and @macmillanaudio for my #gifted copies! This book was published October 1! The audiobook is narrated by John Pirhalla and is fantastic on audio - the narrator also voicing for the other characters.

I am a huge fan of Hidden Pictures (hardcopy is a must for this one) and I was so excited to read this one! If you are looking for a book with similar vibes to that one, this is not it, but this is a highly compelling slow burn mystery with elements of suspense.

Frank Szatowski is shocked when his daughter, Maggie, calls him for the first time in three years. She invites him to her upcoming wedding in New Hampshire. Frank is ecstatic, and determined to finally make things right. Maggie is marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a famous tech billionaire, and Frank is desperate to connect with both of them and repair their relationship. Frank starts to believe ’s Aiden and his family are hiding secrets which become more apparent when he gets to the secluded estate where the wedding is taking place.

I loved Frank's character and his background as a UPS driver - I honestly could have read more about just his life! Frank is an excellent narrator - he's skeptical of the situation, eager to connect with his daughter and her fiance's family, forthcoming with what he knows and questions, and also makes some mistakes along the way. This story has rich people drama, complex family dynamics, a mystery about a woman that went missing, and so much more that kept me intrigued!

Recommend if you enjoy:
-Rich people behaving badly
-Father-daughter relationships
-Foster family relationships
-Unlikable casts
-Atmospheric New England camp stories
-UPS drivers!!

This was so different from Jason Rekulak's first book and yet I liked it so much. We start off meeting Frank Szatowski. He hasn't spoken to his daughter in three years when she calls one day to announce her engagement and invite him to the wedding. Frank jumps at the chance to reconnect and initiates a meeting with his daughter, Maggie, and her super rich and connected fiancé, Aiden Gardner. At dinner, he learns just how much Maggie's life has changed at that the wedding will take place at an old remote summer camp in New Hampshire owned by the Gardner family. As Frank attempts to connect with Maggie and the Gardners, things do not feel quite right to him and he wonders if the wedding should even happen at all.

First....I loved Frank. He is a career UPS driver, a devoted father, and a good man. I adored his averageness and how unapologetic he was about who he was. I loved the care he had for his daughter, even when it wasn't easy. This is a quiet domestic suspense novel that slowly unravels as more time is spent at the estate in New Hampshire. The Gardners are super suspicious, including the secluded mother of Aiden Gardner who doesn't join in any of the wedding activities. These are part rich people gone wrong and part messy family. Frank's sister and her newest foster child. Both are great additional characters in their own right. The plot keeps you.guessing as to what is really going on. I couldn't stop reading this one as I had to know how Frank managed to unravel all the mysteries of the engagement and family dynamics.

Narration was fantastic. John Pirhalla is Frank in this book and does a stellar job. I felt like Frank himself was sitting next to me telling me about this crazy, messed up story that happened to him. He handles both the female characters and the foster child really well. I loved them all for the different personalities that Pirhalla brings through.

While I wouldn't call this a thriller, I would call it a great time. It's so fun to see an author try something completely different and succeed. Rekulak is becoming a must-read author for me and should be a must-try author for you if you have not. Definitely recommend!

The Last One at the Wedding is the story of Frank Szatowski, a UPS driver and father to his estranged daughter Maggie. Following a surprise call from Maggie inviting him to her wedding, he is ecstatic and determined to reconnect. After meeting his future son-in-law, he is surprised that Aidan is the son of a tech billionaire, but there is also something off about him. Eager to get to know Aidan and his family, he soon discovers that they have secrets, including a murder, and so does his daughter Maggie…

This is a mystery/suspense novel filled with dysfunctional families. The plot, which unfolds at a tantalizing pace, keeps readers captivated and intrigued. It is sometimes funny (Abigail, Frank's sister's foster child) and full of twists. It keeps you guessing, making it an entertaining read, although the ending was somewhat abrupt.

John Pirhalla's narration is not just a reading of the story, it's an experience. His outstanding performance brings Frank to life and adds a layer of suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat, making the audiobook a must-listen for any mystery/suspense fan.

I am grateful to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advanced audio copy of The Last One at the Wedding in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Jason Rekulak, for writing another fantastic book. I can't wait to see what's next!

Maggie Frank’s estranged daughter is getting married. She calls her dad to invite him to the wedding. Frank brings along his sister and her foster child. Frank gets there and all kinds of crazy stuff ensues and Frank wonders what Maggie got herself into. I don’t want to ruin the twists but let’s say that there is more to the story of Maggie and her fiance and also there seems to be suspicious deaths while they are there. I found the story to be fun and enjoyable . I really liked the narrarator who sounded just like a UPS-er (my husband is a veteran UPS-er) . Great book and def recommend.

This is how one follows up Hidden Pictures.

Jason Rekulak has written something totally different.

Frank and his daughter have been estranged for 3 years. So long that Frank doesn’t even remember how it all started. But Maggie’s on the phone telling him the big news that she’s getting married! She welcomes her father back into her life as she embarks on a new journey with Aidan.

But Aidan isn’t the starving artist that Frank expects to find when he meets his future son in law. In fact, nothing is quite as it seems. The wedding planning is in full swing and quickly approaching. Frank hasn’t even met his soon to be son-in-laws family.

Everything begins to fall apart the weekend of the wedding. Reluctantly, Frank and his sister make the trek to the camp the wedding is to be held at with the emergency placed foster child in tow. The party kicks off and Frank starts to see clues of something more sinister at every turn.

I received a copy of the audiobook of this and I was beyond excited. I started it and didn’t want to stop listening to sleep. John Pirhalla reminds me of top 40’s when I was younger. His voice perfectly adds to the charm of Franks character. It was engaging and well cast.

Thank you to Jason Rekulak, Macmillan Audio, Flatiron Books,John Pirhalla and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this suspenseful thrilling tale of a father daughter relationship gone wrong.
I read a lot of thrillers, and this one was truly out of the box unique.
When Frank is invited to his estranged daughter’s wedding he doesn’t quite know what to think. When he meets her fiancé and his family, he questions their relationship even more. The secrets are piled high, the story is twisty, and still has moments of such human sensitivity in it.
Loved every second of this one.
Hidden Pictures has been on my TBR for a while, and after reading this, it totally makes me want to finally pick it up.
Thank you netgalley for the AAC

A bunch of toxic people walk into a wedding…

There’s bound to be a punchline somewhere!

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t it for me. The ultimate twist was on a level of cringe that my eyes could not roll hard enough. Narrated from a widowed father’s perspective, the reader expected some sort of redemption. But all we got was some strange, money-obsessed mid-life crisis mess. The rest of the characters are abhorrent. The only one that maybe deserves attention is the 10 year old foster kid envisioning a fairytale, but given a nightmare.

The audiobook read by John Pirhalla seemed fitting for the salt-of-the-earth character. He was also easily understood at faster speeds.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and author Jason Rekulak for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.