I’m honestly not sure what to say about this raucous disastrous attempt
at filmmaking and personal relationships that would make any sense at all !
Obviously, the event that sets the whole story is the note discovered;
‘Someone is going to die at the wedding,” which sets into motion all
kinds of problems that involve a group of film makers, writers and
actors. These are people whose lives are intermingled in messiness
and they each have their own agendas and reasons for the things
that will take place and will *guess what* lead to and explain the
murder at the wedding venue!
The story is fast moving and complicated, right up until the
epilogue, but it’s also fun to become a part of the chaos for
a bit.

This is a series and I suggest reading it in order because while
the Author,does a good job with hints, it’s really more enjoyable
when you have a frame of reference.

My thanks to St Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books,
via NetGalley for the download copy of the book
for review purposes

Book number two in the Vacation Mysteries series about an author and her entourage and the straight up chaos that seems to follow her. The pace of this book was too fast for me. Things happened so quickly that I had trouble keeping up with the characters and who did what and where. I suppose that might have been the point, but the first book in the series didn't feel like that to me. The characters stayed true to self, which I expect from this seasoned author. The descriptions of place were ok but since it felt like we flew through the story, some of that kind of got lost. I live in dullsville Ohio, so if we are going to an island, I wanna go to an island!
I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Catherine's books. I look forward to the next in the series.

pretty ridiculous and funny mystery with some interesting fun themes. would recommend. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

“No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding” is a delightful sequel in Catherine Mack’s Vacation Mysteries series, following the adventures of bestselling author Eleanor Dash. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Catalina Island, this cozy vacation mystery masterfully intertwines humor and suspense, keeping readers guessing in this engaging whodunit.

Fans of the first installment, “Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies,” will appreciate the familiar faces and the seamless continuation of Eleanor’s escapades. However, newcomers can easily enjoy this book as a standalone novel. Mack’s engaging writing style ensures that readers are both entertained and challenged, as the intricate plot unfolds with precision and flair.

In summary, “No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding” is a thoroughly enjoyable cozy mystery that combines a charming setting, relatable characters, and a compelling whodunit plot. It’s a must-read for fans of the genre and anyone seeking a lighthearted yet suspenseful escape.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC read.

This murder mystery has it all: love, laughter, affairs, betrayal, snark, and Agatha Christie references. I didn’t even read about the “about the book” before I requested this arc from NetGalley. I saw the title, saw the author’s name and recalled how much I loved her first novel in the series, I downloaded it so fast you wouldn’t even believe it! The second installment in the series sees our intrepid heroine enjoying the shooting of her first book-turned-movie. Unfortunately there Connor is again. But at least Oliver is there with her this time! Catherine’s footnotes are fun, and the reader gets a look inside tons of author methods as well as film production and screenwriting realities as well. Such a fun and addictive novel that I stayed up well past my bedtime to finish it in a single evening!

I absolutely love this series. Catherine Mack hits it out of the park again with No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding.

From the very first pages, I was hooked. I absolutely love Mack’s use of dialogue. Not only does it make her characters feel both real and modern, it adds to the quick pacing this story needs. The setting was also fantastic. I love modern murder mysteries that feel like a classic locked room mystery, and this absolutely delivers as we are stuck in a resort on Catalina Island while a hurricane rages outside. The impending storm adds to the suspense nicely! Mack also peppers in plenty of twists and turns. Each time I thought I had figured out whodunit, something new emerged, leaving me constantly guessing.

I would definitely recommend reading the first book in the series, Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies, as it is heavily referenced here. But that was also a complete delight, so it’s well worth the read.

Overall, I am 100% here for the Vacation Mystery series and cannot wait to see which vacation Catherine Mack takes us on next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!

I loveddd being back in this world! The book had me hooked as much as the first one did & it kept me guessing until the very end. I love how her writing makes you question every character and doubt everyone. The footnotes are also a fun addition and make the book so interesting! Can’t wait to read the next book in this series!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!!!

It was so much fun being back with Eleanor Dash and her entourage. These books are so fun, which is somewhat weird to say since a lot of people are being murdered.

This one was especially fun because I was so smug. I had it all figured out within the first few chapters. But obviously, I definitely didn’t.

Also, I know the footnotes in these series are contentious. You love them or hate them. But I love them. I continue to think they are a great way to highlight Eleanor’s personality even more.

This is the second book in the series and I do highly recommend reading the first one before going into this one. There are a lot of references to the first book and a lot of little quips that won’t make sense if you’re not familiar with Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies.

I definitely recommend this book if you love cozy mysteries and funny narrators.

This book releases on 13 May 2025. A big thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and the author, Catherine Mack, for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding is the second Catherine Mack book in the Vacation Mysteries series. I hardly know where to start. There are a lot of characters--so many that writing them down will be helpful. At the end of the book, I was struggling to place all those people into their jobs. It was tough. Readers learn there will be a murder early in the book. And like many cozy mysteries, the murder(s) occupies the characters in an attempt to solve the case. Obviously the title is in error. Clearly guests were suppose to die. The questions are who and why?

One of the things I liked the most about No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding is the concept that writing is a performance. Just like a play or film, acting is happening, even when it is the character in a novel. The question with this mystery is when is the acting happening? I am not a fan of footnotes, and I suspect I am not alone. I solved the footnote problem by ignoring them. The narrator in No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding breaks character and addresses the reader. I am not a fan of that technique, whether it is a novel, a TV drama, or a film, unless the character is Bridget Jones.

The ending twist of No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding is well done and makes up for some of my objections. I did like Mack's first novel in this series, Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies, better than this second novel, but other readers may feel differently. We do not all enjoy the same things. But I certainly will remember that writing is acting. I had not thought of that before, but I liked that point quite a bit.
4 stars

Second installment of the quirky, witty "Vacation Mysteries" series by Catherine Mack. Jam packed with humor, intrigue and calamity. Eleanor Dash is back but this time she is in California, going to Catalina Island for the wedding of her childhood friend who portrayed her in the film adaptation of her book "When in Rome." Amist an uncharacteristic storm there are plenty of sarcastic footnotes, breaking of the fourth wall, humor, murder, crazy characters and twists. Catherine Mack's writing style is quite original which gives this series its charm.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest and personal review.

I love this series! Eleanor’s first novel is being made into a movie. Her best friend Emma is starring with Fred Winters. Emma had a huge crush on him when she was younger and now they’ve started a relationship. Turns out they are getting last weekend of the shoot. While on Catalina Island in the middle of a hurricane a body is found. Of course, Eleanor ,it’s solve the murder. This one has so many twists and turns I was shocked at the ending.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book. I really enjoyed it. Highly recommend reading the first one to get to know the characters and events that are referenced from it. The characters are fun, the inner thoughts and endless footnotes are a bit much at times but really add to the storyline. I'm excited to see what happens with Eleanor in the future.

📖 Book Review 📖 What is the most eventful wedding you have ever attended? Hopefully a real life murder mystery is not your answer but for Eleanor Dash, could it be anything but this?!? As she wraps up filming for the film adaption of her hit movie, she also gets to celebrate her best friend’s/star of the movie’s nuptials on Catalina island. But nothing is ever boring when it comes to Eleanor’s life and she draws the reader in, continually breaking through the fourth wall (is it possible to break beyond?) in this delightful novel and I am here for it! No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding is the perfect addition to this comically cozy murder series!

This time it took me a bit to get into the rhythm of this book. I love when the author speaks directly to the reader, but for some reason, the beginning was a bit too much for me. But once I settled into the pacing I really enjoyed the book. Lots of twists and turns with our favorite characters all assembled together again. Fun series. Stick with it if you have the same experience as me...it's worth it. 3.5

I always have a good time with Catherine Mack books. If you like cozy murder mystery with lots of humor I think you would like this. It picks off the first book with Eleanor the murder mystery writer who goes to her best friend wedding and finds a dead body and doing what she does best to solve the murder. It's a fun ride,

Unfortunately this just wasn’t for me. It didn’t really flesh out thriller or romance. I found a lot of nothing was happening. Also wasn’t a fan of the character constantly talking to the reader in the middle of dialogue. It continually pulled me out of the moment.

I'm obsessed with Catherine Mack. I practically devoured the first book, it reminds me a lot of Finlay Donovan. In reality, the vibe was already the same from the first book, a lot of humour, a bit of mystery, and beautiful scenarios, and above all a very original plot. If you love Finlay Donovan, and you are looking for something similar, Catherin Mack is for you! Thanks to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to preview this book.

I enjoyed this one more than the first one, it was a bit more clever and a bit less full of pop culture references. I know lots of reviews will be full of comments about the footnotes. Here’s the thing: the author is already writing directly to the audience so the footnotes are completely irrelevant and basically just an extra sentence in a different place on the page. I think the footnotes would be really successful if they actually broke the fourth wall, but Eleanor is already addressing the reader. It’s not a “Fleabag” or “Miranda” aside to add an extra layer of information for the readers knowledge only. It’s the same! If you took every footnote and put it on the page where it’s annotated absolutely nothing would change. That’s the problem with the footnotes and why so many find them unnecessary. The relationship between Eleanor and Connor was so boring for all the angst & anxiety Eleanor felt about it. I swear they talk to each other like 4 times, but Eleanor and Oliver are so greatly affected by it - it was strange- Connor really was out here doing nothing.

The first one in this series was so much fun, this one did not disappoint. The characters are so much fun and have so much charm. It's funny, it brings the thrills and mystery, it is just a fun ride.

An amazing follow up to ETIGOVSD (I, like the author, am a swiftie and acronyms are our language). I absolutely loved NOWSTDATW!!!! Eleanor Dash is such a real and relatable character. She is the perfect narrator, an ideal main character, one that makes me feel like I’m experiencing the plot firsthand because she is the type of character that makes you go “literally me.”
The plot itself was super fun. I love how it is a perfect continuation of the first book and brings back familiar characters and introduces new ones. I especially enjoy how fun the writing is and the humor on every page while simultaneously being a really well thought out mystery. None of the twists were predictable and I was genuinely shocked by the ending. It zigged and zagged in all the right ways. This book and the series as a whole has it all, comedy, mystery, romance, and murder,
And I just love that the footnotes are back. I think they add so much to the story and are such a unique way to engage readers further.
Overall a 10/10 book, highly recommend, 5 stars!