Publication Date: September 23, 2025
Wildly witty and wickedly fun, A Killer Wedding is an escapist mystery that proves you’ll never forget your wedding day…especially if it starts with a murder.
Christine can’t believe her luck. The iconic Gloria Beaufort, founder of the billion-dollar beauty empire Glo, has personally chosen her to cover her grandson’s wedding for Bespoke, the cult fashion magazine that every A-list bride dreams of being featured in. A career-making scoop and a free trip to a castle turned five-star hotel on the Emerald Isle? It feels too good to be true…
Because it is.
Gloria is found dead on the very first morning of the celebratory weekend, and her entire family wants to keep her death a secret and for the wedding to march on. When Gloria’s heirs issue a chilling warning to Christine to keep things quiet, she can’t help but wonder if one of them is guilty. There’s the son who’s hiding a damaging lawsuit; the resentful daughter-in-law; the grandson who’s had a few too many run-ins with the law; his ambitious wife who’s hiding more than one secret; and Gloria’s favorite grandchild, the picture-perfect groom. As Christine navigates a world where glamour masks grimy secrets and everyone she meets is a suspect, she realizes that among this glitzy elite, nothing is as it seems.
Set against the dazzling backdrop of ultimate luxury and an endless reveal of surprises, A Killer Wedding is a fast-paced, humorous mystery the pulls back the curtain on toxic family dynamics hidden beneath the surface of billionaire-level wealth.
Escape to Ireland for a destination wedding where the heir to the world’s most iconic beauty empire is set to be married.
That’s the story Christine Russo is planning to write about in a huge spread for Bespoke Weddings. However, an unexpected event shakes up everything.
Author Joan O’Leary serves up a fascinating mystery in A Killer Wedding. The illustrious Ripton family, led by matriarch Gloria Beaufort, oozes money. With the stage set for her grandson’s epic wedding, Gloria serves as the maestro.
Dark humor is woven deftly into a well-developed storyline featuring complex characters. Christine’s character plays a pivotal role as she gets caught up in a web of secrets.
A Killer Wedding delivers a whodunit with a delightfully satisfying twist.
Joan O’Leary was a producer at The Tonight Show and studied English and Creative Writing at the University of San Diego. She’s recently taken an NYC sabbatical and currently lives in Abu Dhabi with her husband—who yes, she did marry in an Irish castle, but the similarities end there.
