A Killer Wedding by debut author, Joan O’Leary that I’m going to share with you in this book review is a wickedly witty and wildly… The post Book Review: A Killer Wedding by Joan O’Leary Is a Fun Whodunit Mystery appeared first on Beauty Cooks Kisses.
A Killer Wedding by debut author, Joan O’Leary that I’m going to share with you in this book review is a wickedly witty and wildly fun whodunit mystery. This novel delivers on its promise of glamour, crime, and a whole lot of lethal secrets. Now let me tell you why this book kept me so entertained.
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The story centers on Christine, a journalist for the elite fashion magazine Bespoke. She’s been granted a career-defining scoop: covering the billionaire-level wedding of the Beaufort family, founders of the global beauty empire, Glo, at a lavish castle in the Emerald Isle. It’s an endless parade of luxury and high-society opulence until the founding matriarch, the iconic Gloria Beaufort, is found dead.
Instead of calling the police, Gloria’s calculating and cutthroat heirs immediately close ranks, determined to cover up the death until the wedding is complete. Bound by ironclad NDAs and chilling threats, Christine and the entire staff are forced to maintain a glittering façade of perfection. This forced compliance plunges our protagonist into a spectacular double-bind: continue reporting the dream wedding for her career, or risk everything to uncover a deadly secret.
Christine, however, uses her journalistic access as a quiet weapon. While providing dazzling coverage for Bespoke, she begins a clandestine investigation into the Beaufort clan. O’Leary’s keen sense and excellent pacing shine as Christine navigates the toxic family dynamics concealed by their extreme wealth. With every guest, from the lawsuit-hiding son to the suspiciously perfect groom, becoming a suspect, Christine is forced to peel back layers of couture and glamour. The deeper she digs, the more tangled the lies become—and the sooner she realizes that exposing the killer will put her own life directly on the line.
Toxic Family, Deadly Legacy
What makes this mystery so incredibly satisfying isn’t just the thrill of the investigation, but the way O’Leary uses the lavish castle backdrop to explore some seriously juicy themes. The story is a brilliant takedown of the ultra-rich, showing how their extreme privilege completely warps their morality—they literally think they can cover up a murder to protect their brand. The entire Beaufort family is a case study in toxic dynamics, where the love of money has totally overshadowed any real love for each other. It’s all about appearance versus reality—the diamond-encrusted exterior that is hiding pure, selfish rot. It makes you realize that sometimes, the glittering people with the biggest secrets are the easiest targets for a good thriller.
My Final Thoughts
With its wit, breakneck pacing, and biting satire, A Killer Wedding by Joan O’Leary that I introduced you to through this book review is the perfect addictive mystery in my opinion. This author has crafted a charming debut that wonderfully skewers the secrets of the mega-rich. If you’re ready for high fashion, high stakes, and high-octane suspense, put this book at the very top of your must-read list. You’ll race to the final page to find out who made this wedding truly a killer read! Check this escapist mystery out.
Thanks to HarperCollins for this #gifted book for this review.
The post Book Review: A Killer Wedding by Joan O’Leary Is a Fun Whodunit Mystery appeared first on Beauty Cooks Kisses.
