While I didn’t love this one quite as much as the first, I do enjoy the framework of this series. In the first book, the footnotes and asides added to the story and helped build suspense in my opinion. In this one, it felt like a lot of them were thrown in just because this is now a gimmick the author has committed to. Still, I do recommend this book for anyone who likes comedic whodunnits and I will definitely continue with this series.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for an early electronic arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Let me encourage you to pick up book one, Every Time I go on Vacation, Someone Dies before reading book 2. It will introduce you to all of the repeat characters, creating an atmosphere of fun watching how and why they all get together again.

Book 2 in The Vacation Mysteries Series shows some growth of characters and certainly some of the same bad behaviors. There is even a cameo of a past character that is a fun pop up. This time the group is headed to Catalina Island for the wedding of Eleanor's best friend. This had great appeal to me as I lived on the island decades ago. So much remains the same. I can visualize the Wrigley House.

As the weekend wedding celebration gets under way, you got it, bodies start to show up. Then a hurricane threatens the island and wedding. Add in Eleanor is now with her more recently ex while yet another ex is in the wedding party as well. There are exes everywhere.

A fun romp that continues to entertain and I look forward to where the next Vacation Mysteries Series takes me.

This was a fun, cozy and entertaining read. I read it in a few sessions and thought it was a great addition to "The Vacation Mysteries" series.

If you mashed together a Romcom and Mystery Thriller I think this book would be the result. I'm definitely a fan of how this author is able to grab a hold of my attention and keep it throughout the course of her stories. I love the footnotes.

Eleanor's character is an absolute joy to read, she's fun, witty, a bit chaotic and quirky.

Don't let the fact that I am labeling this as a cozy mystery fool you, there are twists that I didn't see coming. This one will keep you on your toes.

I'll continue to recommend this series and can't wait to see what new adventures are in-store for Eleanor in the future.

Thank you Catherine Mack, Net Galley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: May 13, 2025
“No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding” is the second novel in the Vacation Series collection of books by Catherine Mack.
Best selling author Eleanor Dash is attending the impromptu wedding of her best friend, Emma, to Hollywood heartthrob Fred Winters. The only guests in attendance are those who played some role, on-screen or behind the scenes, in the film adaptation of Eleanor’s novel, and as they settle in for a weekend of celebration on Catalina Island, the rest of the island shuts down because of an impending storm. But murder seems to follow Eleanor everywhere she goes and this wedding is no different as once again, Eleanor inserts herself into the investigation to try and solve the mystery before someone she loves becomes the next target.
“Wedding” is well-written, cozy, locked-room (sort of) mystery, where eccentric and brilliant author, Eleanor, is once again forced to become the crime investigator she only writes about in her books. The novel is suspenseful and creative and Eleanor is as deliriously funny as she was in the first installment, “Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies”.
I highly recommend that you read “Vacation” by Catherine Mack, before reading this one. It isn’t necessary, as the plots of both novels are different, but it provides background and character development that you won’t want to miss out on.
Catherine Mack is a pseudonym for author Catherine McKenzie and, as many of you may know, I have been following this author for many years. In fact, she was one of the first authors I was invited to review for, so she has a special place in my literary heart. As Catherine Mack, she takes on an entirely new genre of books, and they’re just as entertaining and addictive as McKenzie’s domestic suspense novels.
Eleanor is a quirky delight and I love that Mack has brought her back for another adventure. Her relationship with ex, Connor, is still complicated, but I was happy to see her on-again with her boyfriend, Oliver. There are a great number of players in this novel, such as screenwriters, authors, directors, etc., but many of them were in the previous story, so it isn’t a challenge to keep pace. The ending was surprising and unexpected and the final pages hinted at yet another installment, and I can’t wait.

This series is so much fun! I just love the humor, the banter and the twisty murders that I can never figure out. The characters are fabulous as well! Oliver is swoon worthy, and I need more of him! Hopefully he has a bigger role next time. In this book they are trapped on an island, during a hurricane no less, for a wedding while a murderer wreaks havoc. Eleanor tries to solve the case. In the most ridiculous way possible, of course. The plot is complicated, in a good way, so I didn't guess any of the twists! I think I liked this book even more than the first, but both are delightful, and I can't wait to read the third one! The epilogue sets it up nicely and leaves you wishing you could read it immediately! I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys lighthearted humorous mysteries. 4.5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Mystery author Eleanor is supppsed to be blissfully attending her best friend's wedding weekend - not figuring out who is attempting to kill the happy couple and guests. To make matters worse, a storm is incoming and they're stuck on an island. As the weekend progresses, the threats begin. This is a fast-paced novel with strong dialogue that kept me guessing who the perpetrator was until the very end.

No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding is the book equivalent of getting tipsy at a fancy wedding—glamorous, chaotic, and utterly entertaining. The vibes? Think Knives Out meets The White Lotus.

My bad-I didn't realize that this book was a sequel until I had already started reading (and maybe I would have been more familiar with the cast of characters if I had) but I had no problem reading this as a stand-alone. I devoured this book in two sittings, and will DEFINITELY be going back to the first one now. The humor is sharp, the banter is top-tier, and the footnotes—truly just amazing. I want to be friends with this author. Eleanor’s chaotic inner monologue had me grinning at my kindle in public like a madwoman, and the chapter titles? Applause all around.

The mystery itself was twisty enough to keep me guessing, though the sheer number of characters had me wishing for a murder board to plot them all. Overall, this was a solid, hilarious read. I had so much fun, even when things got a little messy—and honestly, isn’t that what a good wedding (or cozy murder mystery) is all about?

Do yourself a favor, read this book. Pack it in your beach tote, pour yourself a drink, and enjoy the drama.

I loved this book. At first, I wasn’t completely into it, but it didn’t take long before I was completely hooked. The writing was smart and funny, and the characters felt so real that I could picture myself right there with them. The footnotes added so much personality and made the story even more entertaining.

What really stood out was how effortlessly the book blended humor with a well thought out storyline. It kept me engaged the entire time, and I was sad when it ended, I just wanted more! This was such a fun and refreshing read, and I would definitely recommend it.

Book Review
No One Was Supposed to Die at this Wedding by Catherine Mack (aka Catherine Mackintosh)

Vacation Mystery Series #2

What Its Got
✅Murder
✅Forced proximity
✅Hurricanes
✅Catalina Island excursions
✅Actors
✅Filmmakers
✅Screenwriters
✅Ex - lovers
✅Secrets
✅Drama

Characters/Suspects
Eleanor Dash- witty, sarcastic, writer
Connor- El’s ex lover, became entangled with Eleanor in Italy, private detective- esque
Harper Dash- El’s sister and PA
Oliver- El’s current boyfirend, also a writer
Fred- groom, actor, Knew El in high school
Emma- Bride, El’s BFF since high-school, actress
Simone- director
David- screenwriter
Allison- also emmeshed in Italy shenanigans
Shawna- movie PA
Mr/Mrs Winters- Fred’s parents

Thoughts
📕While I didn’t love the footnotes in the first of this series I am now a fan- Eleanor’s inner dialogue is hysterical- I could hear her voice in my head
📕The banter and humour are amazing, the back and forth dialogue reminded me of a tennis match
📕The ridiculousness, the sheer audacity of Eleanor, the petty drama- all perfectly played out like a daytime mystery Soap Opera
📕 I was entranced by the “dumpster fire” of a wedding - I mean everything that can go wrong does, bodies pile up and yet, we STILL have a wedding and the twists just keep coming
📕The Chapter titles- read em…. They’re just FUN!

Overall
Perfect read to pack in your beach tote on your next vacay… just dont mind the bodies

Thanks to @netgalley, the @stmartinspress and the author for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own
Publishes May 13

No One Was Supposed to Die at this Wedding is the 2nd book in the fun The Vacation Mysteries series. This book was a roller coaster of a cozy mystery with humor, secrets, resentment, and a Hollywood wedding. Eleanor Dash is a mystery writer and her best friend Emma Wood is getting married. Emma and her finance Fred are both well known actors in Hollywood. The wedding is on Catalina Island and there is a hurricane headed their way. Eleanor’s boyfriend Oliver and her sister Harper are at the wedding along with several people from the first book-Connor, Allison, and the inspector from Italy. (It is better to read book 1 first) Of course there are a lot of new people too. This book has the footnotes which add insight and a little humor. There are some “accidents” and one of the staff at the resort ends up dead. The story really picks up the pace from there. Two more people die. There are quite a few suspects and secrets. It got a little complicated and I had to read the finale twice to figure it out. (I read a ton of cozies and rarely need to reread). The ending was great and there were some surprises! This was a very enjoyable cozy mystery but I liked book 1 a little bit more.
#NoOneWasSupposedToDieAtThisWedding
#TheVactionMysteries #MinotaurBooks #StMartinsPress #CatherineMack

Thank you NetGalley for this E-Arc.

This book was entertaining and I definitely wasn’t able to predict the ending. It took some getting used to with the different writing style but I was hooked into the storyline!

This book was an interesting sequel to the first, but I found this one a little bit slow in places and harder to get into. Most of the same major players were present, with a few new folks added in. We pick up in this story a few days earlier than where the last one left off to set context leading up to the wedding and murder(s). I can say I wasn't expecting the outcome of this one and was trying to solve it with each new clue, but it didn't hook me as much as the first book. I also found the lingering triangle around Eleanor and Oliver and Connor a little much- I thought most of it had been resolved in the first book. Still looking forward to the third book when it comes out and what adventures might be coming next.

Thanks to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for access to this ARC.

Cute story, a mystery without being a thriller. If romantic mystery is the goal, I wish it was a little more romantic. It almost held pulled thin by trying to be all of the things (mystery, comedy, romance) that it just does all three medium well. I enjoyed the story, was just wanting a little more.

A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books) and NetGalley for early access to “No One was Supposed to Die at this Wedding” by Catherine Mack. Looking for a cozy mystery with nods to the queen Agatha Christie? Looking for a bit of Hollywood drama in the midst of a metaphorical and real storm? Looking for a narrator/main character who is cheeky as all hell and loves to break the fourth wall? Here’s your next read! A delightful second in the Vacation Mysteries series, this book is an absolute masterclass of how to use different writing techniques to tell a story. It was so much fun all the way through, and I honestly might have liked it better than the first! You bet no matter what comes next, I’ll be giggling while feverishly reading it!

If you enjoyed the first book, you’re probably going to enjoy this one. It’s more of the same, which is just what I was looking for and pleased to get. I can’t wait for the next one!

The Good:
• The voice—I love the distinct, millennial, valley girl dialect. The humor works for me, the asides and footnotes work for me, and even our MC’s incredibly judgmental personality work for me.
• It’s fun. This is a book that, like the writing style, knows what it is and what it’s trying to do. It’s pulpy. It’s self-referential and self-deprecating. It’s fast-paced and straightforward (the storytelling, not the mystery). It’s got a solid theme and it commits.
• The twists were so twisty! I loved the mystery and how it kept ratcheting up!

The Bad:
• Too many characters. Some are returning characters, sure, but everyone has such generic white-people names (even if the character is not white) that it’s legitimately hard to keep them all in order, keep their relationships in order, and keep their actions straight. By mid-book, I’d made myself a cheat sheet so I could remember things like David vs Tyler and that Simone and Shawna existed.

The Ugly:
• This desperately needed a chapter after the reveal. As a reader, I needed to see the resolution, not just hear about it in the epilogue in a breezy past-tense.
• Conner. He’s back and I still hate him (and Eleanor when she’s in the same room as him, which is every time he’s on page because it’s her POV).

I tried so hard to get into this book, it wasn’t so much the writing because don’t get me wrong the writing was good the story just couldn’t catch my attention and my mind kept wandering making it hard to connect to any of the characters or to the storyline.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the arc

In this sequel to Every Time I Go on Vacation Somebody Dies, mystery author Eleanor Dash is excited to attend the wedding of her very best friend, Emma, on Catalina Island where mystery and hurricanes ensue.
“Someone is going to die at the wedding” is not the note one wants to receive. And with Eleanor’s track record, she takes it quite seriously, especially after the killer strikes! A quick read filled with wedding drama, silly antics, humor, sarcasm and mystery! The trademark footnotes return for additional breaking the fourth wall humor.
The evacuated island, the Hollywood cast of characters and the impending storm made for an exciting setting. While enjoyable, this one didn’t pack the same punch as the first book.
Available May 13, this would make for a great vacation read!

Absolutely adore this series & the 2nd book did not disappoint! It was one of those books that are so engrossing that you can’t stop reading it.

I love the glamorous setting & these characters, especially Eleanor. She is funny & awkward & witty & frazzled. I know we are talking about murder here but I do enjoy the lighthearted nature of the book and I will need about 10 more of these books

Attending a best friend’s wedding should be easy, but for Eleanor Dash, bestselling author of the Vacation Mysteries series, murder always seems to be an uninvited guest. When Emma Wood—Eleanor’s childhood best friend and star of the movie adaptation of her first book—marries her co-star Fred Winters, the celebration on Catalina Island takes a dark turn. A chilling note warns, “Someone is going to die at the wedding.” With a storm rolling in and no way off the island, Eleanor must solve the mystery before the killer strikes.

This sequel delivers the same sharp wit and humor that made the first book a hit. Eleanor’s sarcastic narration, which frequently breaks the fourth wall, makes her an engaging and hilarious protagonist. The blend of playful banter, mystery, and fast-paced action keeps the story moving, and the immersive setting adds to the tension. The mix of Hollywood drama, murder, and an isolated location creates the perfect storm for intrigue.

The mystery itself is well-crafted, with enough twists to keep readers guessing. Just when you think you’ve figured out who did it, the story takes another turn. The dynamic cast, including familiar faces from the first book, adds to the fun. Even if you haven’t read the first book, this one stands well on its own—though reading in order adds extra depth to the characters’ relationships.

While entertaining, some elements didn’t fully land. Connor Smith, Eleanor’s ex and the inspiration for her leading man, is insufferable, making certain parts frustrating. The footnotes, while sometimes amusing, often feel unnecessary.

Overall, No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding is a fun, fast-paced read filled with humor, mystery, and just enough drama. If you enjoy witty, self-aware protagonists and a touch of Hollywood glamour mixed with murder, this series is worth picking up.

Such a fun second book in this series! I love the humor (the footnotes!) in this murder mystery and how it’s a little bit of a book within in a book. I love the characters, especially Eleanor and how she works to solve the mystery with her friends. Such a fun take on the mystery genre with it being so funny and unserious, even with serious murders. Looking forward to the next installment!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Minotaur for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!