Catherine Mack’s second installment in the Vacation Mysteries series brings readers back into the chaotic, footnote-filled world of Eleanor Dash, a bestselling mystery author who can’t seem to take a vacation without stumbling over dead bodies. In “No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding,” Mack delivers a witty, meta-fictional romp through Hollywood egos, romantic entanglements, and murder plots that twist and turn until the very end.
If you enjoyed Eleanor’s sardonic narration and penchant for trouble in “Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies,” you’ll find much to love in this sequel. However, the second outing suffers slightly from middle-book syndrome with some pacing issues and a few too many red herrings that might leave readers feeling a bit seasick—much like Eleanor herself on that ferry to Catalina Island.
The Plot: Murder Takes a Hollywood Turn
Eleanor’s best friend Emma Wood is marrying her co-star Fred Winter after a whirlwind romance on the set of “When in Rome”—the movie adaptation of Eleanor’s first novel. The entire cast and crew descend on Catalina Island for the wedding festivities, including Eleanor’s ex-boyfriend Connor Smith (the real-life inspiration for her fictional detective), her current boyfriend Oliver, and her sister Harper.
What should be a joyous occasion quickly devolves into chaos when Emma receives an ominous note: “Someone is going to die at the wedding.” Soon enough, bodies start dropping—first José the electrician, then Ken the stand-in, and finally Shawna, the director’s assistant who was secretly dating Harper. With a hurricane bearing down on the island and no way to escape, Eleanor must solve the murders before someone else gets killed.
What Works: Meta-Mystery at Its Finest
Mack’s greatest strength lies in her meta-fictional approach to the mystery genre. Eleanor constantly addresses the reader directly, points out tropes as they occur, and even acknowledges when she’s being dramatic:
“You didn’t think we were going to be at a wedding on an island without a storm, did you? Okay, good. Because this is that kind of book.”
This self-awareness creates a deliciously layered reading experience that both celebrates and subverts mystery conventions. The footnotes (oh, those wonderful footnotes!) provide additional commentary, explanations, and humor that enhance the story without interrupting its flow.
Another highlight is the complex relationship between Eleanor and her sister Harper. Their dynamic feels authentic—they bicker, support each other, and occasionally keep secrets, all while navigating the complicated emotions that come with being raised by an older sibling after parental loss.
Whodunit: A Cast of Hollywood Suspects
The murder mystery itself is satisfyingly complex, with multiple motives, red herrings, and interconnected plots that keep readers guessing until the final revelation. Mack populates her story with delightfully ridiculous characters:
- Simone Banerjee, the temperamental director who has hated Eleanor since high school
- Fred Winter, the charming but possibly broke movie star
- Tyler Houston, the producer with a grudge and financial stake
- Inspector Tucci, an actor playing a detective who thinks he’s a real detective
- Crazy Cathy, Eleanor’s stalker who crashes the wedding
The cast of “No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding” feels appropriately outsized for a Hollywood setting while maintaining enough dimension to keep us invested in their fates. The novel also cleverly explores the artifice of Hollywood relationships and how the lines between performance and reality blur when actors are involved.
What Falls Flat: Pacing and Prologue Problems
The novel’s beginning feels somewhat disjointed, with a prologue that reveals a murder will happen but then takes quite some time to circle back to that point. The middle section occasionally drags with repetitive discussions about who might be responsible, and some readers might find Eleanor’s internal monologues a bit meandering at times.
Additionally, the novel introduces numerous potential suspects and motives, some of which don’t pay off satisfactorily. This abundance of characters sometimes dilutes the emotional impact of the eventual revelations.
Writing Style: Conversational and Clever
Mack writes with an engaging, conversational style that makes readers feel like they’re listening to a slightly chaotic friend recount a wild weekend. Eleanor’s first-person narration is peppered with asides, pop culture references, and self-deprecating humor.
This informal approach makes the novel a breezy read despite its murder-heavy plot. The dialogue crackles with wit, particularly when Eleanor banters with Connor or trades barbs with Simone.
Character Development: Eleanor’s Journey
While “No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding” serves up an entertaining mystery, it also advances Eleanor’s personal journey. Her relationship with Oliver is tested by Connor’s presence, and she’s forced to confront some uncomfortable truths about her best friend Emma.
The emotional core of the story lies in these relationships and how Eleanor navigates them while staying true to herself. By the end, we see real growth in her character, setting up intriguing possibilities for future installments.
Highlights and Lowlights
What Shines:
- The meta-fictional approach to mystery tropes
- The footnotes that add humor and context
- Eleanor’s authentic relationship with her sister Harper
- The witty dialogue and banter
- The satisfyingly complex murder plot with multiple layers
What Stumbles:
- Some pacing issues, especially in the middle sections
- Too many characters competing for attention
- A few plot threads that don’t fully pay off
- Occasional repetitiveness in Eleanor’s internal monologues
For Fans of…
This series will appeal to readers who enjoy:
- Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series
- Tana French’s wit combined with Lisa Lutz’s irreverence
- Meta mysteries like “The Word is Murder” by Anthony Horowitz
- Stories that blur the line between fiction and reality
Final Verdict: A Wedding Worth Attending
Despite its flaws, “No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding” delivers an entertaining mystery with enough twists, humor, and meta-commentary to satisfy genre fans. Catherine Mack has established a unique voice in the mystery landscape with her Vacation Mysteries series, and Eleanor Dash is a protagonist worth following to whatever murder-prone destination she visits next.
The novel ends with a tantalizing epilogue that sets up the next book in the series, suggesting that Eleanor’s vacation troubles are far from over. Based on the title teaser—”This Weekend Isn’t Going to End Well for Anyone”—we can expect more bodies, more banter, and more of Eleanor’s delightfully self-aware sleuthing in the Bahamas.
For those new to the series, start with “Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies” to fully appreciate the character dynamics and running jokes. For returning readers, this sequel builds on what made the first book enjoyable while expanding Eleanor’s world in intriguing ways.
A worthy follow-up that maintains the charm of the original while raising the stakes. Like a good wedding, it has its awkward moments and occasional lulls, but ultimately delivers a celebration worth attending—even if someone does end up dead in a broom closet.
Catherine Mack is the pseudonym for bestselling author Catherine McKenzie, whose books have sold nearly 2 million copies worldwide. The Vacation Mysteries series has been optioned by Fox TV for development into a television series.