On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed.

But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast.

And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?

378 pages, Paperback

First published February 20, 2020

Literary awards: Ned Kelly Award Nominee for International Crime Fiction (2021), CWA Gold Dagger Nominee (2020), Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery & Thriller (2020), Book of the Month Book of the Year Award Nominee (2020)

Original title: The Guest List

Setting: Ireland (, 2019)

Characters: Will Slater, Julia Keegan

This edition

Format: 378 pages, Paperback

Published: March 5, 2020 by HARPERCOLLINS

ISBN: 9780008403775 (ISBN10: 0008403775)

Language: English