The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
Publication Date: October 8th 2024 by Macmillan Audio
Pages: 352
Audio Book Length: 11hrs 14min
Narrator: John Pirhalla
Source: Publisher
Rating: ★★★½
My
Thoughts:
From the surface it seems like Frank’s daughter, Maggie, is
marrying into a fairytale. Her fiancé, Aiden Gardner, is the son of a famous billionaire,
and she says she’s in love, but as the date grows closer Frank the more things unsettle
him. Frank finds out something troubling about Aiden’s recent dating past. Maggie brushes things off. Things get stranger
when Frank gets to Osprey Cove, a sprawling forest estate with cabins and a
private lake. The luxuries are astounding, and the security raises questions. Not
even his sister Tammy and her foster daughter, Abigail, who’ve tagged along, can
put him at ease.
Told in first person from Frank’s perspective, you feel a
growing unease as Maggie’s nuptials draw close, but at every turn there’s a
convenient explanation. Maggie doesn’t seem keen to make time for her father. I
was not thrilled with a lot of the characters.
The Last One at the Wedding was entertaining and held
my attention, but it was an odd mystery. Reactions didn’t make sense to me. There’s
a surprise twist that turned everything around. The story makes you question: what would you
do to protect your child? It seems Frank would do a lot.
I listened to an audio copy, and I thought John Pirhalla
captured Frank’s everyday guy, protective dad persona wonderfully, but he did a
great job with all the characters male and female and a variety of accents. He definitely
enhanced my enjoyment of the story!
3.5 Stars
Book Description:
From the bestselling author of Hidden Pictures
comes a breathtaking work of suspense about a father trying to save his
daughter from a life-altering decision that will put everything he
loves on the line.
Frank Szatowski is shocked when his daughter, Maggie, calls him for the first time in three years. He was convinced that their estrangement would become permanent. He’s even more surprised when she invites him to her upcoming wedding in New Hampshire. Frank is ecstatic, and determined to finally make things right.
He arrives to find that the wedding is at a private estate—very secluded, very luxurious, very much out of his league. It seems that Maggie failed to mention that she’s marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a famous tech billionaire. Feeling desperately out of place, Frank focuses on reconnecting with Maggie and getting to know her new family. But it’s difficult: Aidan is withdrawn and evasive; Maggie doesn’t seem to have time for him; and he finds that the locals are disturbingly hostile to the Gardners. Frank needs to know more about this family his daughter is marrying into, but if he pushes too hard, he could lose Maggie forever.
An edge-of-your-seat thriller that delves deep into the heart of one family, The Last One at the Wedding is a work of brilliant suspense from a true modern master.
Frank Szatowski is shocked when his daughter, Maggie, calls him for the first time in three years. He was convinced that their estrangement would become permanent. He’s even more surprised when she invites him to her upcoming wedding in New Hampshire. Frank is ecstatic, and determined to finally make things right.
He arrives to find that the wedding is at a private estate—very secluded, very luxurious, very much out of his league. It seems that Maggie failed to mention that she’s marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a famous tech billionaire. Feeling desperately out of place, Frank focuses on reconnecting with Maggie and getting to know her new family. But it’s difficult: Aidan is withdrawn and evasive; Maggie doesn’t seem to have time for him; and he finds that the locals are disturbingly hostile to the Gardners. Frank needs to know more about this family his daughter is marrying into, but if he pushes too hard, he could lose Maggie forever.
An edge-of-your-seat thriller that delves deep into the heart of one family, The Last One at the Wedding is a work of brilliant suspense from a true modern master.
I like that unease and quiet kind of tension in a book, but I'm not sure I would end up liking this one. I think I'd rather read his first novel.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd love Hidden Pictures! This was different but still good.
DeleteGood for Frank. I would do a lot to save my kid too. This sounds good.
ReplyDeleteSame here, Mary, but you'd have to consider what kind of child, too.
DeleteI was quite mixed on this one as well. I was completely wrapped up in the mystery, but it just didn't come together for me. I see you're reading the new Osman book, another of my recent reads, so it seems like we are going to continue reading the same books for the foreseeable future lol.
ReplyDeleteYes, Ethan! We are on similar wonderful reading paths!
DeleteMy request for this book is pending. Hope I get it as several bloggers seem to like it. Nice review.
ReplyDeleteInteresting and a bit creepy.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
I just finished Ethan's review, and though the book seems to have let you both down in the end, at least it seems like it was entertaining and not a total waste of time.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found "The Last One at the Wedding" entertaining! I haven't started my audiobook journey yet but I'm so tempted especially when I have to do chores or go out but want to keep reading.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about the "surprise twist" you mentioned. Did it change your perception of the story? I'm intrigued and might have to give it a try. I don't know.
I just read another review of this and while I enjoyed Hidden Pictures, I don't think this one is for me.
ReplyDeleteLove the cover. I haven't read anything by him before. Sorry to hear it was just a 3.5
ReplyDelete