A Bridesmaid’s Guide to the Things People Hide: An Emelia Walsh Cozy Mystery

by Abigail Scott

The Hartwell family has billions in the bank, a stunning New Hampshire estate, and a tragic legacy that's claimed every family member before age fifty. While Emmy is no stranger to wedding-day chaos, the Hartwell Estate is on another level, with a guest list that includes—senators, governors, and helicopter arrivals,people who offer diamonds to apologize for messing up your hair,the world’s most competitive wedding party,and a bride who’s one second away from fleeing.Her cover? Author. Her real job? Quietly using her skills as a professional bridesmaid to make sure the bride gets her happy ending. Emmy thinks she’s got things under control…until a string of alarming incidents turn the weekend upside down.

Emmy finds herself working alongside John Sutton again—now a Detective Sergeant but just as infuriating and magnetic as ever—when he reappears in the most unexpected way possible. This time, her butterflies have become caffeinated bees.

And through it all, she needs to figure out why this man, nicknamed “The Fairytale” by her friends, despises weddings so much.

With her sharp eye for detail and a knack for unlocking secrets (literally—she can pick any lock), Emmy must read the room the way she always does—watching what people reach for, what they hide, and what they’re willing to lose—to uncover a culprit in a world where everything looks perfect from the driveway.

✨ Why Readers Love
💎 A glamorous, high-stakes setting—where wealth hides the darkest secrets.
🔍 Emmy’s return—witty, warm, and utterly human as she unravels another mystery.
❤️ A detective that doesn't just give butterflies, he gives caffeinated bees.
🕵️♀️ Perfect for lovers of Agatha Raisin, Hannah Swensen, and cozy tales with a touch of romance.

Genres: Mystery

233 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2025

Reviews

[Christi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I jumped into A Bridesmaid’s Guide to the Things People Hide as soon as I finished A Bridesmaid’s Guide to Murder, the first book in the series, and it picks up pretty soon after the first book ended. You by no means have to read the first book in the series as this is a perfect standalone, but I do think that when you do read it in succession, it adds to the nuances between Abigail and John.

I definitely didn’t feel as endeared to this novel as much as I did the first one. Maybe I shouldn’t have read them in succession, but the first novel had so much promise I couldn’t help myself. To be fair, I am a mood reader, and I read this novel while dealing with a very painful illness, which could’ve added to my reading experience. I will say, I did enjoy the off-color banter in this family as it eerily reminded me of my own family antics, which was oddly comforting, and the high-brow family squabbles and snark were entertaining. There was also one particularly intense moment near the end that pulled me in hard, but other than that, I never really connected with the characters or overall storyline.

Still, there is a charm to this series as a whole, and I did enjoy my reading time as this is an entertaining story. Being newer to cozy mysteries, this series is near the top of my list, and I can’t wait to read the third installment to see where this series takes us next.

[Daphne Wahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in the series. I was surprised at the “bad” person. My favorite part is the video chat which was priceless. Eagerly looking forward to book 3 which I hope will be out soon.

[Elizabeth Leleux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent follow up to the first book

I enjoyed reading books 1 and 2. Great characters and engaging plot lines. This series is really interesting. I look forward to reading more books in this series.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way it's written and I'm so excited for the next book!

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

I liked this one more than the first one! Another who done it mystery novel that was a fun quick read.

[Julie McReynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read

I really enjoyed this book. I sped through it in 2 days. I am really looking forward to the next book.

[Becky Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5. I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and different enough from the first book in the series that I remained interested. I loved seeing our repeat characters while getting to meet so many more.

[Kiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is another thriller. i think this author does a super great job at not being super obvious at who the killer is. and lordieeeee did this one make my heart pump