The Last One at the Wedding

A Novel

By: Jason Rekulak

Narrated by: John Pirhalla

Long-listed, Amazon.com Best Books of the Year, 2024

Long-listed, Barnes and Noble Best New Books of the Year, 2024

"Pirhalla’s excellent narration highlights Frank’s insecurities, which are contrasted with the confidence of Aidan and his family. Pirhalla’s strong characterizations are carefully crafted. Listeners will enjoy having their perceptions change with each twist of the plot, and Pirhalla’s spot-on timing will also help keep them engaged."—AudioFile

From the bestselling author of Hidden Pictures comes a breathtaking work of suspense about a father trying to save his daughter from a life-altering decision that will put everything he loves on the line.

Frank Szatowski is shocked when his daughter, Maggie, calls him for the first time in three years. He was convinced that their estrangement would become permanent. He’s even more surprised when she invites him to her upcoming wedding in New Hampshire. Frank is ecstatic, and determined to finally make things right.

He arrives to find that the wedding is at a private estate—very secluded, very luxurious, very much out of his league. It seems that Maggie failed to mention that she’s marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a famous tech billionaire. Feeling desperately out of place, Frank focuses on reconnecting with Maggie and getting to know her new family. But it’s difficult: Aidan is withdrawn and evasive; Maggie doesn’t seem to have time for him; and he finds that the locals are disturbingly hostile to the Gardners. Frank needs to know more about this family his daughter is marrying into, but if he pushes too hard, he could lose Maggie forever.

An edge-of-your-seat thriller that delves deep into the heart of one family, The Last One at the Wedding is a work of brilliant suspense from a true modern master.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

©2024 Jason Rekulak (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Jason Rekulak is one of my favorite writers, a gifted storyteller and wonderful stylist. The Last One at the Wedding is a marvelous blend of mystery, family drama, class tension, horror, humor, and heart. A relentless, thoughtful thriller that always keeps you guessing and lingers long after the last page is read."—Michael Koryta, New York Times bestselling author of An Honest Man

“Part conspiracy thriller, part family drama, The Last One at the Wedding kept my heart racing and my mind reeling from its first page to its devastating conclusion.”—Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of Middle of the Night

"Tense and atmospheric with characters that draw you immediately in and keep a tight hold, The Last One at the Wedding is every father's worst nightmare. Jason Rekulak knows how to keep readers glued to the page; I couldn't put this one down!"—Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of She's Not Sorry

I wanted to punch the dad

This dad was such a narcissist I wanted to punch in the face the whole story! Ok story but the dad was so irritating!!

Families are complicated

TBH, I struggled getting through this book even though I throughly enjoyed his book Hidden Pictures very much!

This book, it’s predictable and yet, not.
I think you should judge for yourself.
What does the last sentence of the book really mean??? Use a credit and see if you figure it out.
After finishing it, I listened to the author’s interview of the debut launch of this book and it helped fill in some things in between the lines.

I have enjoyed other narrators more but I did finish the book and will still look for more books by Jason Rekulak.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

But for the ending

I loved Hidden Pictures & this one was almost just as good- great twists, interesting characters… but then the ending. Like what?? Definitely was not a satisfying wrap up

WOW

oh man, the story. as a parent myself, understanding of the lengths you'd go for your children. the twists though, holy crap !!! he has done it again!

I would have definitely given many more ⭐️ if *IMPORTANT INFORMATION WASN’T LEFT OUT 😢

My experience with this Book was actually going fantastic …UNTIL..the near end. When we are starting to learn the details of what Actually Happened!! The exact details are about to be revealed and he actually says almost those exact words too! 😂 Since I can’t remember it word for word I will say it was something like: ‘ I will tell you exactly what happened.” YET, instead of anything at all being described..the next words you hear is, “ 7 months later.” WAIT…WHAT JUST HAPPENED TO ALL THE DETAILS OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE STORY?!?! NOTHING WAS EXPLAINED AT ALL?!?! 😢😔😩😤The book was so good and totally worth a 5 star ⭐️ until that moment and the Pure Disappointment Ruined Everything!!! The final minutes did nothing to make up for it. Sorry. And his daughter being in a very minimal prison for only a few years like Martha Steward it said..but the explanation/reason why they gave her the sentencing they chose to put her in prison..I didn’t understand either. I assume because it would have been explained in whatever was not read & was missing from this book also?😫 Extremely Disappointing!!! This was really an awesome read…BUT VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION IN IT, IS NOT INCLUDED 😟
**ADD BACK IN WHAT IS MISSING … and this book will receive RAVE 5 ⭐️ reviews all the time!!!! I would give 5 stars ⭐️ if I could hear the places I missed 💛💚🧡❤️

The twist and the story telling

I really enjoyed the story. Kept me on my toes.
I also enjoyed the preference.

The narrator

This was a fantastic book but the narrator made it 1 million times better!!!
I felt like I was experiencing everything with him. It was so good!

Great story Ending anticlimactic

Loved the narrator (sounds like Michael Douglas) great story but the ending was flat. Almost felt like someone else wrote the end.

Great read

Loved everything about this book. I highly recommend it. Kept you on your toes. The voice reading was soothing as well

Will keep your attention

I liked the narration and the different twists in the story. Easy listen and quick read. Overall good.