A different kind of book, one that seeps into the cracks of a seemingly idyllic family gathering, where the lines between truth and deception blur. The story have you captivated by the suspenseful unraveling of secrets and lies that threatens to upend a family's fragile relationships, full of tension and mystery as an isolated wedding party leaves you on the edge of your seat with the the eerie atmosphere.

Thank you to NetGalley and little brown book group for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a review

I was excited to dive into this since hidden pictures is phenomenal! However this book isn’t horror but mystery/thriller.

The pros for the last one at the wedding are definitely the shorter chapters and also parts. I find this layout the best in terms of reading experience. The plot was good however I thought a lot more could have been done with this book. There are many twists within but all were predictable. It was a slow burn which is fine for some people but I personally rather be sucked in from the start. The ending seemed rushed as it was very abrupt and I feel like it could have been better with even an extra page.

Overall, the last one at the wedding is a good read. And again, thank you for the ARC!

Every parent's an unreliable narrator. We think we know our kids better than anyone. But none of us can see them objectively.

Frank Szatowski receives a sudden call from his estranged daughter Maggie, after three years of silence. He is shocked when he learns that she is getting married in less than three months to Aidan Gardner, son of a tech billionaire, and he is invited to the wedding. Frank is absolutely ecstatic of these news and is overjoyed to be included. But when he arrives to New Hampshire to bond with the in-laws, Frank feels like fish out of water among all the socialites. As the wedding date inches closer, strange things start happening. And there's a nagging feeling that not everything is as it seems...

It's no secret that Hidden Pictures was one of my favourite horror/paranormal reads from last year, and so I was very much anticipating Jason Rekulak's newest release! The Last One at the Wedding is certainly a different flavour so I would not go in expecting the same as his other work.

It's a character driven, fast paced mystery thriller with a shocking twist at the end. I liked the foreshadowing of something sinister happening and it certainly had this dark, unpredictable feel to it. The story was gripping and engrossing - I could not wait to see what other secrets will be uncovered so it's no wonder I demolished this in one sitting!

I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone. Everywhere I look, there's all kinds of crazy stuff, but people keep saying it's totally normal. I can't tell left from right anymore.

The characters are an interesting blend of good-natured, naive, but also unhinged, psychotic and flawed from the beginning. Frank is your typical dad, who has a simple life, steady job and enjoys a cold beer at the end of a hard day and he has pride in this honest life. His reflections on past mistakes and motivation to do better turned him into a fairly well-developed character, despite his hot-and-cold, grumpy exterior. The Gardners were a complete polar opposite from Frank - rich socialites, coming from generational and new wealth, who never had to struggle a day in their lives. This contrast has provided an interesting dynamic between all characters and it felt at times that Frank was quite invisible to these people and easily manipulated due to his status. It was fascinating to watch Frank unpack the family secrets and I really enjoyed following this breadcrumb trail with him.

The big focus of the book is self-preservation and self-interest. It explores just how much are you willing to turn a blind eye to wrongdoings of the people you love but also how far you will go out of self-interest. It also has big undertones of different social and economic concerns. Frank's relationship with all characters was mostly tense and he is an imperfect character, however I feel like this added a layer of realism and humanness to it.

My only issue with the story was that the ending felt quite convoluted and rushed. There were some plot points that clearly took place off screen which threw off the flow and the impact of the ending and I wish we spent more time getting to know and connecting with other key players.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for providing me with a copy in exchange for a review!

This thriller delivers a solid, if familiar, experience with plenty of misdirection leading up to its twist. While the story keeps readers engaged, the rushed ending and an unnecessary time jump leave much to be desired, glossing over key resolutions. The first half is bogged down by too many references to modern culture, from specific celebrities to 5 separate mentions of TikTok, which already feels dated and detracts from the overall narrative. That said, the second half—minus the final chapter—offers a gripping read for thriller enthusiasts, who will appreciate the uncertainty surrounding the true villain.

3.5 ☆ I recently read and loved hidden pictures by jason rekulak so went into this one thinking they would be similar but they weren’t and this is obviously my fault. this one was much more of a slow burn, suspenseful mystery thriller. it still had a gripping and interesting storyline with plenty of family secrets and plot twists. although I did prefer hidden pictures, this was still an enjoyable read and I would recommend to anyone looking for a new and page turning thriller. thank you NetGalley for the arc.

Firstly, thank you to Net Galley for accepting me for this arc.

Jason Rekulak is one of my auto buy authors so I was so excited to receive this proof to read. I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. If you want a book full of twists, this is the perfect one for you.

My biggest concern throughout is I related to Frank, the grumpy and impatient UPS driver, far too much. I was actually getting annoyed FOR him reading this book because I could understand the annoyance and the short temper. I would have been the exact same way so I’m team Frank all the way.

But * wee spoiler * seeing his relationship with Abigail blossom was so beautiful to read and it left me with that satisfying ‘everything turned out ok’ ending. Even though I was so adamant Rekulak was going to kill Frank, Abigail or Tammy off. I was literally reading the acknowledgements and still felt on edge so credit to him for his brilliant writing. I can’t wait for this book to come out, I’ll be recommending it to everyone.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC. The writing is good but the story was hard to care about, mainly because I didn't connect with any of the characters, which was frustrating. I didn't have anyone to root for. I will try his other book next as that sounds more appealing to me.

Jason Rekulak’s previous book HIDDEN PICTURES was one of my favourite books from 2022 and I was so excited to see that he has a new book out in October 2024.

Those who have read the spooky and twisted Hidden Pictures need to be warned that the new book is nothing like the first, however it’s still completely addictive and it’s similar to watching a horrific car crash occur.

The Last One At The Wedding is set in New Hampshire. Frank Szatowski is the main character. He’s a hard working and dedicated employee of UPS and has been one of their top drivers for over 26 years. He’s also a widower and has one daughter, Maggie, who he has been estranged from for the past 3 years. He lives a quiet and simple life alone, but has a close bond with his sister.

When he receives a phone call out of the blue from Maggie inviting him to her upcoming wedding, he’s absolutely thrilled to be able to mend those bridges with his beloved daughter and meet her fiance, Aidan Gardner, who happens to be the son of a tech billionaire and Maggie’s boss.

You can read from the blurb above, that once Frank, his sister and her foster daughter arrive at this secluded, luxury estate for the “wedding of the century” things start to unravel and the reasons behind Frank and Maggie’s estrangement are slowly and uncomfortably revealed.

If you enjoy stories of dysfunctional families then you will LOVE this book. It features some absolutely despicable characters and some of the scenes are jaw-droppingly shocking. As much as your sympathy lies with Frank trying to re-establish his relationship with his only child, you might want to yell at him to leave the wedding party NOW and run as far as you can to escape this toxic situation.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this twisted and uncomfortable story and look forward to reading more from Jason.

My thanks as ever to the publisher and Netgalley for my advanced copy.

The books begins with Maggie calling her Dad Frank who she hasn't spoken to in 3 years and inviting her to her wedding but when he has dinner with her and her fiancé Aiden he gets the impression something isn't quite right. Next he receives a photo in the post of a woman Dawn who disappeared and as he heads to the wedding for the weekend he resolves to find out what happened. Maggie is marrying in to a family with a lot of money but also one with lies and secrets. I liked Frank as a character and narrator although his relationship with his daughter was not nice to read as she treated him badly and I really felt for him. This was a good mystery thriller with a focus on family relationships. I will be recommending

Frank hasn’t heard from his daughter Maggie since so many years. When one day, she calls her father and invites him in her wedding, it gives him hope. Maggie tells him to investigate about someone from the past but when Frank gets to the bottom of the mystery, horrifying secrets unveils and the buried truth comes on the surface. When he share his concerns with Maggie, he witness something suspicious in her behaviour. Is Maggie harbouring secrets from her father? The more he gets himself involved in the mystery, the more twisted it becomes.

I love the author’s writing. The characters were mysterious and definitely not what they were appearing to be. I really liked the plot twists. Author has shared the bond of a father and daughter so well. As well as taken us in the lives of wealthy people. The ending was heartbreaking. I felt deeply for some characters. This was an unputdownable and suspenseful thriller.

Many Thanks to the publisher for giving me early access to this book. Thanks to the author as well for writing such an amazing book.

This is the latest book from the superb storyteller Jason Rekulak and oh boy it’s a real addictive read that kept me gripped and a must read for all suspense thriller readers.
The book has quite a slow burn of a beginning setting up the story and characters just perfectly to what is to come and I just couldn’t put it down.
It’s got some brilliant characters, not all likeable which is for me always a bonus as I always seem to enjoy a read more with dislikable characters for some reason but I have to say I particularly liked Frank a lot and also little Abigail and her incessant scratching !
Still being in a bit of a reading slump this was the kind of book I really needed it was so addictive, well written and just a great read and one I found myself thinking about when I wasn’t able to have time to read and that for me is the sign of a sure fire hit.
So no hesitation about giving this a massive 5 star read and one that I would highly recommend, many thanks to the author Jason Rekulak.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group, Sphere for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you pick this up expecting another Hidden Pictures you will be sorely disappointed. The Last One at the Wedding is very different and very hard to put down. This was another binge read for me, I was so wrapped up in the story. I have seen many reviews saying this is a slow burning mystery, but for me it was a fast paced thriller, full of such unlikeable characters.

That is except for our main character Frank and his sister, Tammy and her foster child Abigail. Frank is a UPS driver who has worked as a driver for 26 years without an accident l he lives a quiet and simple life. He has been estranged from his daughter Maggie for the past 3 years, for reasons that will become clear as the story continues. Out of the blue, he gets a call from Maggie, inviting him to her New Hampshire wedding.

Now you know things won’t go to plan, and Frank soon starts to feel that there is something not right with her fiancée and his family. Things just don’t add up, but all Franks wants is to repair his relationship with Maggie.

My goodness, this sucked me in! a remote wedding, with lots of strangers and a man who wants to spend time with his daughter, Get ready to ignore what is happening around you and get lost in this book.

Thanks so much to Little, Brown Group UK for my advanced copy of this book to read. Get this one on your TBR, published on October 8th.

Absolute masterpiece. Suspense after suspense. Nice plot twist that I didn’t see coming. Thanks to the author, publishers and Netgallery for this ARC!

I found it hard to put this book down. Even though the build-up is slow, I whizzed through this book. I enjoyed the plot of the story and how it was told from only one POV. It held my attention throughout, and there were some unexpected twists along the way. Most of the chatacters were unlikeable, but then they were meant to be. The main protagonist, Frank, really grated on me at times. He was overbearing and irritating, but it fit in with his character. I did love Tammy and Abigail. They were the only bearable characters in this story.
Now I come to the ending, what a let down that was for me. It was so underwhelming compared to the rest of the book. I was disappointed with the way it panned out.
Overall, it is a mix of mystery and family drama. That for the majority, I did really enjoy reading it. I'd definitely recommend this book. You may feel differently about the ending than I did, and it's still a worthwhile read.


When Frank Szatowski receives an unexpected call from his estranged daughter Maggie inviting him to her wedding. He is delighted that she has reconnected with him. After meeting up with her and her fiancé Aiden, Frank takes a dislike to him and has a sinking feeling about the man and his family she is about to marry into.

Thank you, Little Brown Book Group Uk for my ARC.

My opinions are my own.

Hidden Pictures was a great book. This is not. There was a lot that was not resolved or that seemed pointless and unrelated/unnecessary to the plot. I found the story jumbled and the resolution just didn’t make sense. I pushed through to the end but didn’t enjoy this book. If you’re looking for another book to the same standard of Hidden Pictures you’re going to be. disappointed.

Frank hasn't heard from his daughter Maggie for 3 years. When she phones out of the blue to say she wants him at her wedding, he's over the moon. Once at the wedding venue, he starts feeling that something is very, very wrong. And he soon realises things really aren't what they seem.

I felt this was a bit of a slow burn. Most of the beginning of the book was Frank talking about his job, his life, his daughter, etc. Things don't really pick up until he gets to the wedding venue, and things start getting a little weird. Between the groom who seems depressed, the mother of the groom that no one ever sees, and the mysterious red-head who hints that Frank should run and never look back, it is apparent that there is something strange going on.
The storytelling was brilliant, and there was just so much happening that you just never knew what was going to happen next. I certainly wasn't expecting the wedding day to go the way it did.

I absolutely loved this book. Jason Rekulak is fast becoming one of my favourite Authors.
This was not the book I expected as I thought there would be a horror element but it didn’t disappoint. It was a fast paced thriller that constantly left me questioning what may come next.

Frank and his daughter Maggie have been estranged for 3 years. Out of the blue Maggie calls to tell him she’s getting married and he’s invited. Frank is over the moon, hoping this will heal their relationship. The wedding is set on a beautiful secluded island owned by the Garner family. Maggie's future husband Aiden happens to be the son of a tech billionaire!

As Frank tries to bond with his daughter and get to know his new Inlaws he starts to uncover some family secrets and in the process risks loosing everything.

The main character Frank is really likeable and I loved the way his character evolved.

A brilliant read full of suspense and intrigue. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron publishing for the ARC. As someone who loved Hidden Pictures I was extremely grateful to be given the chance to read and give an honest review on this book.

I was a big fan of Hidden Pictures by Rekulak and was hoping for more of the same insidious suspense from The Last One At The Wedding, unfortunately this was not the case.

The novel is from the singular perspective of father Frank reconnecting with his estranged daughter. I really sympathised with Frank, his kind hearted nature and constant drive to do right by his daughter tugged on my heart- which made Maggie all the more unbearable with her self absorbed behaviour.

I cringed through most of the book, all of the characters are unlikeable and narcissistic, so much that it became difficult to believe. I can't bear to think that nobody in a party of hundreds would blink an eye at a death, that all would happily continue to have fun moments after a body has been removed as if it never happened.

Last One At The Wedding paints Frank and his sister as the only decent human beings, every other character has mega money and thus are terrible people, or will do as they're told just for the promise of money.

The plot was over simplified, the entire basis being rich people bad, poor people good and parents being wilfully blind to their children. The monologues were repetitive and the main players were stereotyped.

The ending was wrapped neat and cutesy and I was just underwhelmed by the entire book. Not badly written but not interesting or clever.

I was excited to read this one after enjoying Hidden Pictures by the same author but I’m sad to say that it definitely didn’t live up to its predecessor.

Our narrator, Frank, hasn’t spoken to his daughter in three years. So he’s delighted to receive a call from her asking if he would walk her down the aisle on her upcoming wedding day. Happy as he is to hear from her, he’s a little concerned, though, when he finds out she’s marrying a wealthy tech heir who she’s only known for a matter of months. Still, he casts his doubts aside and attends a lavish wedding weekend at the grooms family lakeside estate. What unfolds should be a weekend of wedding bells and bliss, but Frank gets more than he bargained as several chilling mysteries come to light.

This has a lot of what I normally enjoy about thrillers - first person POV, short chapters, a lakeside setting - but this was too slow for me and I didn’t enjoy the plot as I felt it was too predictable. All in all, there was just something about the storyline that I didn’t connect with. This might be for you, but it wasn’t for me.

Thank you to @netgalley and @LittleBrownBookGroup_UK for allowing me to read this early in exchange for my thoughts!

This was an amazing thriller read! I loved Hidden Pictures so was excited to read this and it didn’t disappoint. It follows Frank who had a falling out with his daughter several years ago. She contacts him out of the blue - she’s getting married. He meets the groom and he’s not quite what he expected. There are certain red flags which only pique more at the wedding. Who is his son-in-law really?
Go in this blind, the less you know the better. The last half picks up pace and really packs a punch.