MoMoBookDiary

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The Book

The groom’s grip is icy cold as he shakes my hand. “I have so wanted to meet you.” I look up into his steely eyes and a chill runs down my spine. I know this man, but no one can ever know why…

THE BRIDESMAID: Toasting the newlyweds on a remote Scottish island, Sarah watches her friends anxiously. As the groom affectionately touches his new wife’s stomach, she shudders to think what will happen if the secret comes out…

THE FRIEND: With her marriage over, the last place Diane wants to be is at a wedding. But she’s sure her so-called ‘friends’ are the reason her husband wanted to leave in the first place. It’s time for the truth to come out. Whatever the cost.

THE GROOMSMAN: I’d do anything for the bride, even if it means agreeing to be a groomsman before I’ve even met her soon-to-be husband. But when we finally meet, my heart starts pounding – we know each other, and I will do absolutely anything to keep where we met a secret…

But before the honeymoon begins, one of the newlyweds is found dead.

One of us is guilty.

One of us is a killer.

But who is it?

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The Book Tour

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My Review

I didn’t expect The Wedding Party to hit quite so hard — but from the moment I started, I was completely hooked. I went in knowing only that it was set on a remote Scottish island, which immediately intrigued me. Then I realised the fictional setting was part of the Orkney Islands — a place incredibly close to my heart. I lived there for a time, and even now, years later, it still feels like a part of me. So yes, I went into this one with high hopes and a deeply personal connection.

There were a few moments early on when the geographical details felt off — little things that stood out because I know the Orkney Islands well. But honestly? Once the story grabbed me, those details faded into the background.

Lorna Dounaeva’s writing is magnetic. Her pacing, character reveals, and simmering tension are so well done that I lost all track of time. I meant to read a few chapters before bed — instead, I devoured the entire book in one sleepless night. When I finally looked up, the sky outside was already light.

This is a story that plays with suspicion and secrets in all the best ways. The multiple perspectives are used so cleverly — each one peeling back another layer, revealing tensions, betrayals, and the kind of buried truths that make you question everything. The emotional weight builds with every page, and just when you think you’ve worked it out, something new knocks you off balance.

I loved the shifting perspectives and the way each character’s internal battles slowly unfolded. There’s a dark, addictive tension running through every scene, heightened by the isolation of the island and the tangled relationships within the wedding party. You can feel the pressure building with every page.

And when the twists come? They’re sharp, surprising, and perfectly timed. This is one of those thrillers that pulls you so deeply into its world that you forget everything else around you.

Despite my initial gripes with the geography, this book absolutely delivered on suspense, drama, and character-driven intrigue. It’s deliciously messy, full of secrets, and impossible to step away from. If you enjoy twisty psychological thrillers with emotionally messy characters and jaw-dropping revelations, this one’s for you.

Sincere thanks to Sarah Hardy, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing the digital advanced reader copy of this novel and having me on this Virtual Book Tour.

All views expressed are my own. This review, or parts of it, may also be shared on my social media channels and various book platforms. Links are accurate at the time of publication.

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