oooo are we all ok because im not! this book was superb. on every level this book was just brilliant.
i was taken in and shook up the whole way through. i was left guessing and wondering and chomping at the bit to know more.
the characters involved were so flawed. why were they even there under so many hidden agendas? did they even actually like eachother?
oh of course we then have a murder and its juuuuust happens to be the groom. oh and dont forget the newly made wife is also now missing. errrrrm come on tell me you are not already gripped and wanting to know more. because i know i was. and as i found out the truths and things were revealed both from the characters past and present i was reeled in and loving it more and more right until the end.

A group of uni housemates are invited to one of their old roommate’s wedding. The wedding is on a secluded island in Scotland, and the gang decide to stay for a week, to enable them to all catch up with each other.

When the groom is found dead, the bride, Asha, is nowhere to be found. Where is Asha? Who has murdered her husband?

With the group wishing they hadn’t decided to stay on the island with no way of getting off it, they have to keep alert.

I enjoyed this dark and twisted thriller. This is a tale of secrets and many lies. A tense read that kept me guessing from the very start.

I had no idea who the killer was, I kept changing my mind throughout.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved that this book took place on a small Scottish island. It really helped set the mood for the isolated thriller. I did feel parts of the book were predictable, I still thought everything leading up was entertaining. I would recommend to anyone who likes fast paced and locked in thrillers.

2.5 ⭐️

I am a huge thriller fan but this book did not do it for me. A group of friends attend a wedding on an isolated island but all of the friends actually dislike the bride who is supposedly their close friend. All the characters were unlikeable, and the plot in my opinion was not that good. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre for ARC.

I’ve read a few recent claustrophobic psychological thrillers set on remote islands, and The Wedding Party was an enjoyable addition to the genre.

Asha and Gordon are marrying on a beautiful and remote Scottish island, and Asha’s university friends come to celebrate the nuptials. But the true nature of the university “friendship” between Asha, Diane, Sarah, Ethan and Pete is slowly revealed through alternating timelines as the wedding week progresses. Judging from this tale, the old adage to keep your friends close and your enemies closer requires a serious rethink.

An enjoyable, twisty tale of thwarted marital bliss.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy - all thoughts are my own.

The Wedding Party by Lorna Dounaeva is a dark, slow burn thriller with so much drama. Everyone is keeping secrets and lying about themselves.

Asha and Gordon are getting married on a lovely remote Island. Asha invites all her housemates from years ago. After the wedding, the friends find Gordon dead on the beach.but Asha is nowhere to be found. Did Asha kill her husband, and if not, who did. Fearing their own lives are in danger, they band together to look for Asha and find a way off the Island.

I really liked the premise of this story. It was twisty and suspenseful. The characters were all quite unlikeable. Arrogance and narcissism flowed through each of them, making them all good candidates to be the killer. While the ending didn't tie up all the loose ends, it was very fitting. The short chapters made for a fast read. Told mostly in the present, there were some blurbs from the past giving the reader a good backstory on each character. I really enjoyed this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy

I mean, just why on earth would any of the guests even go to the wedding? Asha was so unlikeable, as were the guests and I was cringing for most of the book. I did guess teh killer and guess thed twist about the killer's husbands and Asha as well.

This is a brilliantly dark psychological thriller that comes packed with twists. I loved the remote setting of the book and the odd characters. Unlike other books of this genre, I didn’t guess the villain and it took me by surprise.

Lorna Dounaeva’s The wedding party is a tense, unsettling psychological thriller that keeps you hooked from the very beginning.It was a psychological thriller full of secrets lies and many twists and turns. I devoured it in a few hours as I needed to know how it was going to end. I love thrillers told from different perspectives as I think it builds up the tension. Overall a fantastic well written thriller which I can’t wait to recommend to everyone. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this great book.

Four friends reunite for their friend’s wedding at a remote island. A fun week away quickly turns into a nightmare for survival….

Old secrets
Hidden truths
Isolated island
“Locked room” mystery

Get ready to feel very unsettled and on edge. This book had such a sinister vibe throughout and I really didn’t know if any of the characters were trustworthy or reliable. I was questioning everything and just waiting for the secrets to come spilling out. Things quickly escalate after the wedding and they’re desperately fighting to survive as they’re trapped on a desolate island. Will any of them make it out alive?
There are some surprising revelations at the end, but it felt quite abrupt to me.

Thank you very much Bookouture and NetGalley for an early copy of The Wedding Party. This cover is BRILLIANT, really captures your eye. I love Lorna Dounaeva’s books, they are gripping. This one did not disappoint but there were pretty gruesome scenes which turned my stomach. I honestly had no idea who the culprit was and I was shocked!!!!! The twists were very good so made the ending very suspenseful. Great plot, the relationships between the characters were complex and overall fast reading. Thanks again.

This book had so many twists and turns I lost count. Possibly some elements did not seem possible and a bit confused, but an interesting psychological thriller.

Seductive and twisted. Highly recommended! Readers, find some quiet alone time to settle in with this one because you won't stop reading until you've turned the final page. Highly recommended to fans of mysteries, suspense and thrillers.

The plot and story line had so much going for it but it just fell flat for me. It was very fast paced, chapters were short, and I wanted to find out what happened. But the ending was so disappointing, there was so many questions unanswered, and it felt rushed.

Name :- The Wedding Party
Author :- Lorna Dounaeva
Genre:- Psychological Thriller
Lorna Dounaeva delivers a masterfully crafted psychological thriller with The Wedding Party, a tense, atmospheric, and suspense-filled novel that keeps you guessing until the final page. With secrets lurking beneath the surface of a seemingly joyous occasion, this story is perfect for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware. Set on a remote Scottish island, The Wedding Party follows multiple characters—each hiding dark secrets that could shatter lives.The Bridesmaid, Sarah, is haunted by a chilling connection to the groom. She knows something that could destroy the bride’s happiness forever. The Friend, Diane, is filled with resentment and suspicion, convinced that her so-called friends played a role in the downfall of her marriage. The Groomsman is willing to do anything to protect his past. But when he meets the groom, a horrifying realization threatens to upend everything. The celebration takes a deadly turn when one of the newlyweds is found dead. With a killer among them, the guests are forced to confront the truth before someone else becomes the next victim.
Likes and Dislikes :-
1 Multi-Perspective Narrative: The shifting viewpoints add layers of intrigue, slowly unraveling the tangled web of lies.
2 Atmospheric Setting: The eerie, isolated island enhances the suspense, making the characters feel trapped—both physically and emotionally.
3 Unpredictable Twists: Just when you think you have it figured out, Dounaeva throws in another shocking revelation.
Dislikes:-
None.
Overall:- The Wedding Party is a gripping, slow-burn psychological thriller that keeps you hooked with its chilling secrets, tension-filled relationships, and unexpected twists. Lorna Dounaeva crafts a dark and twisted whodunit that will leave readers guessing until the very end.
My Rating:- 5/5.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the chance to read the digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

A group of old housemates have arrived on a secluded island to watch their “friend” get married. Shortly after the ceremony, the groom is murdered and the bride is running for her life. Now she’s missing and the bodies are piling up. Everyone has secrets and any one of them could be the killer.

I really enjoyed this thriller. While it was predictable and the ending rushed, it will still an entertaining and fun read.

What a group of 'friends!
This is a gripping thriller that keeps readers on edge from start to finish, the plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, making it impossible to predict what will happen next.
The writing is both engaging and suspenseful, with well-developed characters that add depth to the narrative.
The pacing of the novel is perfect, with just the right amount of tension to keep readers hooked without feeling overwhelmed.
The setting is vividly described, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall reading experience.
Highly recommended!

The Wedding Party is the story of Asha, Diane, Sarah, Pete and Ethan, five 30-somethings that were housemates during their university years. Asha is getting married on a remote Orkney island and has invited her old friends to the wedding. Access to the island is by a weekly ferry service, the group choose to stay on the island for the entire week. The only other people remaining on the island after the wedding ceremony are the newlyweds and a caretaker couple.

As the story unfolds we learn that each of the characters has dark secrets, and their reactions to unfolding events vary from frightened and fearful to aggressive and openly hostile. When the body of the first victim is discovered, it is clear that the perpetrator is one of the wedding party.

This is a well written and intriguing book describing betrayals and deception, it contains multiple twists. Chapters switch between current events and incidents at various intervals prior to the wedding. The changes in timeline are well defined and serve to provide an enlightening insight into previous events and also interesting backstories. The island environment provides a moody atmosphere that adds to the tension and mystery of the story.

Lorna Dounaeva has described each character authentically, and has skilfully portrayed the impact of events on each of the characters in the narrative. I was fully immersed in the story and I would recommend the book to readers who enjoy a whodunit with a gripping plot.

The groom’s grip is icy cold as he shakes my hand. “I have so wanted to meet you.” I look up into his steely eyes and a chill runs down my spine. I know this man, but no one can ever know why…. Great read! Fantastic chilling thriller! It had great suspense, murder, mystery, intriguing, juicy dark secrets, and a few crazy twists and turns! The story was interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

This is a dark thriller about why people sometimes drift apart from friendships and sometimes it’s best to leave them in the past. We meet a group of university friends who are getting together to celebrate their friends wedding but after all the celebration and merriment the groom lies dead. Could a friend have done this and what long buried resentment is being held onto from all of the friends. As danger lurks the group of friends struggle to hide secrets and lies between each other and maybe none of them were really friends after all. A great page turner!!