What better title for Valentine’s Day than Beach Wedding? Although, it’s certainly not a romantic book. If you recognize Michael Ledwidge’s name, it might be because he’s one of James Patterson’s co-authors. Ledwidge takes a page from Patterson’s books for this standalone. It’s a fast-moving book with short, clipped chapters. In this case, the ending is abrupt, and somewhat surprising.
Terry Rourke hadn’t been back to Southampton in years. He’s a police sergeant in Philadelphia, with a wife, a daughter, and another child on the way. He and his large Irish-American family have bitter memories of Southhampton after their father’s death. But, Terry’s older brother, Tom, worked hard for years to change all that. He’s rented a large estate, staff and all, for five million dollars for the month of July in order to celebrate his wedding. All the family is coming, and Tom intends to shove it in the face of everyone who shunned the Rourkes after their father, the head assistant Distract Attorney of Suffolk County, lost the biggest trial of the year.
But, Terry has other plans. He’s going to follow the evidence, the evidence that went missing from the police station during Hailey Sutton’s trial for killing her husband, Noah. Even as a high school student, Terry had followed the trial, and wondered why the powerful Sutton family supported his widow. The loss of that case destroyed Sean Roarke’s career and his life.
Terry mixes pre-wedding celebrations with his plans to find new evidence that will convict Hailey Sutton. But, crooked cops and a dirty DA’s office, along with stories he never knew as a teenager, don’t lead him in the direction he had hoped. Some of the truth shocks him, and his investigation leads him into the kind of trouble that money can buy.
If you’re looking for a quick read with a cold case filled with surprises, you might want to try Michael Ledwidge’s Beach Wedding.
Beach Wedding by Michael Ledwidge. Hanover Square Press, 2022. ISBN 9781335425751 (hardcover), 336p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I read a galley for a journal review.
I think this one sounds interesting. I seem to have hit a wall with ‘domestic’ thrillers right now. Anxious protagonists and not much police presence have been annoyed beyond belief. I’ve decided to spent a few weeks catching up on some traditional mystery series and such. I’m happily immersed in a JD Robb book and have the latest (which just came out as you know) also checked out from the library. Give me a little Eve and Roarke and I’m happy! LOL
Oh, I think I gave up on reading domestic thrillers before even getting started, Kay. I’m not interested in those anxious women who sometimes make their own trouble. I agree with you. Eve and Roarke are perfect.
I’m not fond of those very short chapters, I think it’s an indication of lazy writing.
I don’t know if it’s an indication of lazy writing, Rick, or authors who know their average reader has a short attention span.
Fair enough.