The Wedding Guest

An Alex Delaware Novel

By: Jonathan Kellerman

Narrated by: John Rubinstein

Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times Best Seller

Psychologist Alex Delaware and detective Milo Sturgis unravel a shocking crime at a raucous wedding reception in this gripping psychological thriller from the best-selling master of suspense.

“Jonathan Kellerman’s psychology skills and dark imagination are a potent literary mix.” (Los Angeles Times) 

LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis is a fine homicide detective, but when he needs to get into the mind of a killer, he leans on the expertise of his best friend, the brilliant psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware. While Sturgis has a knack for piecing together the details of a crime, Delaware can decipher the darkest intents driving the most vicious of perpetrators. And there’s no better place for the doctor’s analytical skills to shine than a rowdy hall full of young men and women intoxicated on life and lust...and suddenly faced with the specter of death. 

Summoned to a run-down former strip joint, Delaware and Sturgis find themselves crashing a wild Saints and Sinners-themed wedding reception. But they’re not the only uninvited guests. A horrified bridesmaid has discovered the body of a young woman, dressed to impress in pricey haute couture and accessorized with a grisly red slash around her neck. What’s missing is any means of identification, or a single partygoer who recognizes the victim. The baffled bride is convinced the stranger snuck in to sabotage her big day - and the groom is sure it’s all a dreadful mistake. But Delaware and Sturgis have a hundred guests to question, and a sneaking suspicion that the motive for murder is personal. Now they must separate the sinners from the saints, the true from the false, and the secrets from those keeping them. The party’s over - and the hunt for whoever killed it is on. 

“As usual, [Delaware and Sturgis] form a formidable team. Also as usual, the characters here are varied and described with gritty clarity, and the puzzle facing the duo involves a delightful mix of L.A. culture, this time from its dive bars to its much more serious side.” (Booklist)

©2019 Jonathan Kellerman (P)2019 Random House Audio

don't believe the negative reviews

I've read or listened to every book in this series. I almost didn't listen to this one because I found some VERY negative reviews. To me...structurally this book is very similar to all the previous books.
One of the complaints I read was that the story was not easy to follow. I enjoyed the old characters and was able to follow the story and understand what was going on. This series always has lots of characters to follow....so you have to actually pay attention to who is who.
Another complaint was about the narrator not being clear when speaking as different characters. Come on! he's the same narrator for I think the entire series...if not the entire series than an awful lot of it. And he's actually good at it.
And, the story itself got bashed. As did the author. I felt like the story was good. I didn't know who the killer was til near the end and I was guessing and curious the whole time.
I really like these stories and I mean no disrespect to Johnathan Kellerman....but they aren't rocket science. If you pay attention they are easy enough to follow. The characters feel like old friends and the interactions are always interesting.
Definitely read this book if you are a fan of alex deleware and milo sturgis. If you don't "know" them yet....maybe start at the beginning.

The Wedding Guest

I was so disappointed with this book. I felt I had wasted my money. To many characters that were not related until the end. I just could not get into it. I love Jonathen Kellerman and I am anxious to see how other readers felt about it.

Preposterous Plot

I am a fan of the series, will purchase the next book as the narrator is fabulous as always. However, the way the clues came together was a bit too farfetched for me. Still, it was nice to spend a few hours with old friends.

What happened? His last recent books were good.

I've read Kellerman's books for years. The early ones were good. His middle period slumped. At about the middle of his books there would be about 50 pages of tedium that did nothing to advance the story. I gave him a try again a few years ago and was pleasantly surprised to find that either he or his editor had learned to delete the 50 pages of tedium.

Then came "The Wedding Guest." He has managed to spread the 50 pages of tedium throughout the book, such that I kept yelling internally "please stop and get to the point." I want to say "virtually every subsidiary character," but "virtually" would be inaccurate. Every single character that Alex or Milo questions puts up pointless resistance, fills the interview with irrelevant information, questions why the interview is being conducted, asks whether Milo has a warrant, and generally obstructs the flow of the story. I suppose some witnesses behave that way. But not every witness who has nothing to hide.

Then there's the problem of the plot. It did not make the slightest bit of sense. I won't bother to explain, since Kellerman didn't either.

Bad

Desperate writer with too many adjectives. Bad performance. Will be garrantied to put you to sleep.

Disappointing

Unnecessarily verbose dialog between characters. Characters infantile dialog made me speed forward MANY MANY times.

Another hit by Kellerman

One thing that J Kellerman always does right is he always has an amazing story that you hate to put down and he always has the absolute best narrator John Rubinstein read his story. Together they are an incomparable team.

great

love John Rubinstein's voice! when listening he makes everything come to life. thanks Kat53! heh

horrible reading voice

I literally can't listen to the readers voice. It is horrible because of this want to return this choice.

Don' t waste your time.

One of the worst books I've ever listened too. I kept listening for it to get better & it never did. What a waste of my money!