The Groom Must Die

by Paula Johnston

Every wedding has drama… but this one has a body count.

With only days until the couple walks down the aisle of their luxury villa in Greece, everything should be perfect. The location is sun-drenched and picturesque, the champagne is flowing and Olivia is about to marry wealthy Greig – someone who can give her the life she's carefully planned.

But at this wedding, more than one guest has murder on their mind.

Rowan, Olivia's fiercely loyal best friend, knows exactly what kind of man Greig really is. She's watched him humiliate Olivia for years and is determined to stop the wedding – no matter what it takes. But Rowan isn't the only one keeping secrets.

Best man Andy has been hiding a devastating truth about what really happened six months earlier. Obsessed with a woman he shouldn't love, Andy begins to unravel under the pressure. And as tensions rise beneath the Mediterranean sun, everyone's loyalties are pushed to the brink.

But the question isn't whether they'll make it down the aisle… it's who will make it home?

The Groom Must Die is a deliciously dark domestic thriller about friendship, betrayal and revenge.

Genres: Mystery

287 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 16, 2026

Reviews

[Jessica Huntley]

A hugely enjoyable thriller about best friends and how far they will go for each other. I must admit, there were a lot of funny moments, mixed with genuine terrifying and heart pounding moments.

Not one of the characters was likeable in this book (except for Rebecca). Even Rowan and Olivia were often hard to relate to and like. But I don't think they were supposed to be. I struggled at times to understand why they were even friends.

The men were truly awful and I kept turning the pages, wondering what would happen next. It was a wild ride!

I won't spoil it but I finished this book with a satisfied smirk 😏 😜

Hugely entertaining. Heart-pounding and funny. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC copy.

[Ney oh the thrill of it FN]

Instant hit!

This was an instant hit for me! The title and the cover screamed must read immediately!

We meet Rowan, whose best friend Olivia is due to marry Greig. It turns out Rowan despises Greig with a passion. She decides she needs to stop the wedding and murder comes to mind...because why not?

What ensues is a comical story about the lengths people will go to in order to stop their friends from making big mistakes.

I was so invested in this story, especially as more was revealed about the characters. Greig has a seriously dark side and I was actively rooting for his downfall. Rowan is determined and all set to fix the situation at all costs. Olivia is determined to prove she can handle the situation, but at what cost does that come?

This books was fast paced and filled with tension. I binged it over 2 sittings and the end had my heart in my mouth!

If you love stories that will keep you on edge turning pages furiously, stories about ride or die friends, where murder seems like the only choice, this is the book for you!

Thank you to Paula Johnston, Bloodhound books and Insta book tours for the complimentary copy and a space on this tour! This review is being left voluntarily and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm)]

4.5 stars!

This story is wild and twisted, leaving you to wonder: will there be a happily ever after? To find out, you’ll need to dive in!

With just days until Olivia's wedding to wealthy Greig in a stunning Greek villa, not everything is perfect. Rowan, Olivia's devoted best friend, is determined to stop the wedding, knowing Greig's true nature. Meanwhile, best man Andy harbors a secret from his past that could threaten everything...

Set against an unconventional timeline, the narrative offers multiple perspectives from Rowan, Greig, Olivia, Rebecca, and Andy. Don’t worry; it’s easy to keep track of each character, as their distinct personalities will keep you engaged. You’ll connect with Olivia right away, but warming up to Rowan may take a little time. I love the way these complete opposites become best friends; it reflects real life beautifully. My best friend, for instance, is someone others often overlook, but we click in a way that’s hard to explain. Friendship dynamics can be complicated, and sometimes opposites really do make the best of friends. As for Greig and Andy, I’ll leave them for you to explore. I didn’t care for their manipulative ways at all! And then there’s Rebecca, whose entrance sends the story spiraling in unexpected directions, like a string of beads unraveling.

The narrative brings in dark humor, serious moments, and a few unsettling twists that could mirror real life. It feels as if someone is recounting their own life story, and that’s what kept me glued to the pages. The writing is clever and well-crafted; the vivid scenes made me feel as if I were right there watching those tough moments unfold. I almost dialed 911 until I remembered they were in Greece! Ha!

The ending, with its unpredictable twists, left me in awe! Talk about a surprising resolution! I honestly can't imagine any other conclusion that would have worked for me. Some characters definitely got what they deserved, while others caught me off guard at the last moment. Rebecca was certainly not what I expected. She put the “fun” in “funeral" and added a twist to "unexpected"!

This entertaining dark read is perfect for anyone who enjoys tales of destination weddings gone awry, can appreciate toxic friendships that somehow function, or relishes revenge. It's morbid yet so good, but you won't know until you add it to your TBR. With its glamorous setting and mounting tension, you won’t catch a break until the very end. So, grab a strong drink, because opening this book is just the beginning of a wildly eventful wedding ride! It’s the perfect vacation read for this summer!

Thank you, Bloodhound Books, for the gifted DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Christina]

I read this in one sitting. Once again Paula Johnston had me in a choke hold with this thriller! I was obsessed with her first self published book The Lies She Told, if you haven't read it don't worry it's finally being published next year, and this one possibly surpassed it.

Paula is an absolute master of writing about the obsessive and darker side of relationships with some humour for good measure. This one takes us on a journey of female friendship, the kind of friendship you would literally go to jail for as well as so beautifully touching on important issues women face in society.

Paula never leaves you waiting, she always opens up her stories with a soccer punch that has you gripped right from the get go. Her twists and turns I think I see coming but then she spins me one eighty and catches me out. Every. Damn. Time.

If you're looking for something gripping, fast paced, page turning and will keep your eyes open to read as much as possible this is it! Perfect poolside read or if you're on a bit of a reading slump this is sure to get you out of it.

This book ends with THE END but the actual end is still to come 👀

[Sian Powell]

Thank you for the opportunity to Read and review this book.

This is the first book ive read by this author.

This had a really good plot to the book but the ending was disappointing and the plot seem to unravel.

Rowan and Olivia are best friends and go to Greece to celebrate the wedding of Olivia and Greig. Greig and Rowan don't see eye to eye and Rowan forms a plan to get her best friend back.

This is a good book with some good ideas

[Tracey Jordan]

For the most part, this was a funny, witty book and I really liked the premise. I equally loved the girls and loathed the guys; this author really knows how to build characters to have this effect on the reader! I thought the story had true potential but unfortunately the ending was a bit of a let down, hence the three star review. Maybe we could have a sequel?

[Joanna McDowall]

I really loved this book throughout but felt the ending just knocked it down a stat for me. It felt very rushed unfortunately. The whole time I couldn’t put it down, was on the edge of my seat, and I loved the references to places I knew. I couldn’t predict what was gonna happen until the last 50 pages and then it felt both predictable and rushed. Overall still a great novel.

[Roxy Johnson]

Any book that uses the word labubu cant be rated higher than two stars unfortunately.

The ending was also terrible, it didnt make sense they should have gotten away with it. Rebecca teaming up with the MIL was stupid.

Two stars because until the last 10 pages it wasn’t completely awful.

[Sonja]

I really enjoyed the story, but it's a shame about the ending, it seems unfinished and rushed

[Clare Thompson]

You definitely don't want to go to this weekend but reading about it is a lot of fun!

[Joo]

I did not like any of the characters in this story and wondered why any of them were best friends or getting married to each other, but as the tensions got higher and higher I got more an more into the story.
I got through it in the best part of a day as I really really wanted the groom to die.

[Chloe]

This was a fun, thrilling ride from start to finish. The Groom Must Die is my second book by this author and she definitely knows how to hook you in so you just want to binge read the lot in one sitting.

The story unfolds through the imminent run up to Olivia and Greig's big and fabulous Greek wedding day, or if the bride's best friend Rowan has anything to do with it; the groom's funeral. She sees exactly what kind of man her friend is set on marrying and is willing to go to any length in order to stop it going ahead. Told through a variation of 5 POV.

It was the plot (and cover) that immediately caught my attention. It gave off major John Tucker Must Die vibes and I absolutely love that movie, so my expectations were high. I really enjoyed the witty and engaging writing style, and the mulptile POV worked better than expected, but I did find it more pantomime villanesque than I would have liked. The character's are all incredibly flawed, obnoxious and I just hated them all, except Rebecca. Rowan and Olivia were very hard to relate to and I found the ending utterly satisfying for this reason. It just wasn't a dynamic I found believable and I am convinced this had to be intentional. Although if you categorised all their role's into a movie clichè or similar, they actually played them perfectly. I think I just wanted a bit more grit in parts as I was slightly underwhelmed when everything played out exactly how I expected it to.

Overall, it as a decent read if your in the mood for something light, fun and easy. However, I am starting to think humorous thrillers are something I gel that well with personally, not because there is anything wrong with the book.

[Ginge]

I flew through this one! I was hooked from the start. It's written so well to combine the humour with the dark themes involved. And it was 100% what I needed to read on a relaxing Friday night!

This took me on a journey! Every single person involved had me screaming!
Greig (haha, rot in hell) was the worst! And of course man-hater Shannon was out in full swing for this sack of shit. He more than got what he deserved.
Andy...I was rooting for you, we were all rooting for you, but you were just as bad, if not worse than your pal! Greig was arrogant in his persuits of assaulting women, abusing people, and being generally the worst, but Andy had that martyr/saviour complex about him that icked me out!

Rowan, Olivia...so much precious time and energy could have been saved if you two let go of your beliefs and talked to each other...but then again, the book would have been short AF if that did happen, and where's the fun in that?

Rebecca, bit shady at the end but do you know what? She was absolutely, well within her right to do what she did! I'd probably do the same. Olivia and Rowan tried to sweep everything under the rug and lock her out. If only they'd let her in on their plan, they could have all been living it large on stinky Greigs fortunes.
Prepare to hear about this for a while!! I'm obsessed!!

[Helen Tsiolis]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Groom Must Die by Paula Johnston is hands down the best book I’ve read all year… and that’s saying something because I’ve read a lot of books this year!

This book is honestly deeply traumatising (in the best way 😂), but Paula somehow manages to throw in her Scottish sarcasm at exactly the right moments, leaving you laughing when you absolutely shouldn’t be.

Not a single character is particularly likeable, but somehow you’re completely on the girls’ side from start to finish. Paula has a way of making you question everyone while still keeping you desperate to know what happens next.

And that ending… I actually need the next book right now! It’s left me wanting so much more, and I genuinely cannot wait to see what Paula writes next.

If you’re looking for a book that will keep you hooked, emotionally wreck you, and still make you laugh, I couldn’t recommend this one enough.

Also, I probably should’ve thought twice about reading The Groom Must Die while away for my friend’s wedding… 😂 I’m now slightly terrified it’s going to pan out the same way!


Would also like to add as I see a lot of reviews aren’t happy with the ending THIS ENDING IS A CLIFF HANGER! Paula has confirmed with readers that there will be a second book! I cannot wait!

[Jacqueline Moxon]

The title really says it all. This is not an uplifting book, but it’s compelling reading. I wish I could say that it is satisfying, with good being rewarded and evil punished. Perhaps it is, to a certain extent. I am showing my age. I don’t like the heavy drinking, stag and hen party culture, so was turned off all the characters before I even started. None of the main characters is particularly likeable, and whilst I appreciate the loyalty of best best friends, there does seem to be something rather disturbing and unhealthy about the lengths these characters will go to for each other. So, Olivia is due to marry Greig, but does she love him or is she after his money? And Rowan dislikes Greig and wants to stop her best friend, Olivia, from making a terrible mistake. Meanwhile, Andy, Greig’s friend, is covering for him whilst secretly harbouring feelings for Olivia. Convoluted, particularly when you bring an event from six months previously into the mix. So, intriguing, gripping but rather unpleasant. I still read it from cover to cover. Oh dear!

[AWM ✨]

The Perfect Summer Page-Turner: A Brilliant Blend of Humour and Mystery

I was lucky enough to be an early reader of The Green Must Die, and what a treat it was!

This is the perfect summer read - funny, fast-paced, and completely addictive. I sat down intending to read a few chapters and ended up finishing it in one sitting because I simply couldn’t put it down.

Paula’s wit shines throughout, and I loved all the relatable references. The humour lands perfectly, while the story strikes the ideal balance between light-hearted moments and unexpected twists that keep you guessing. The setting is so vividly described that I could picture myself there, making the whole story feel even more immersive.

Every chapter left me wanting “just one more,” and before I knew it, I’d reached the final page. If you’re looking for a book that’s full of charm, laughs, intrigue, and a gripping mystery, The Green Must Die deserves a place in your beach bag this summer.

A brilliant read from beginning to end - I can’t recommend it highly enough!

[Jillian Cole]

Wow, wow, wow.
This fantastic book from Paula Johnston was absolutely fantastic from start to finish.
It was absolutely full of twists & turns and I was completely gripped.
The characters were all amazing and I’m so glad that the evil Greig got the end he deserved. I hope that Olivia & Rowan can carry on fighting because it would be a desperate shame if with the assistance of another unplanned grandchild & with the help of True Crime Pod Cast wannabes Greig’s equally evil mother might still be able to cause absolute misery.
Thank you also to Lexi & the Bloodhound team for giving me an early copy of this most excellent read.

[Charlotte Stevenson]

Looking for your perfect holiday thriller. This is IT! A sizzling, scandalous, rip roaring twisted tale that I guarantee you won’t be able to put down.

Rowan is a fabulous character. Flawed and totally relatable with some absolutely cracking one liners. And the rest of the cast, all fantastically written, line up beautifully behind her. The multiple POVs worked brilliantly, with the writer somehow having a sixth sense about who I wanted to hear from next. The ending was pure class.

A glamorous setting, lies, secrets and murder. What more could you want in a thriller?

Paula Johnston is an author to watch!

[Karen Corrie]

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of this book, and I could not put it down – an absolute roller coaster of a story.  I was totally hooked and needed to know what was going to happen next and how it was going to end.  I hope there is a sequel and more.  I felt like I was there in Greece with them and right in the middle of the drama. The characters and plot were well developed.  Fan of psychological thrillers will love this.  I can’t wait till other people read this so I can talk to them about this. I will be reading all this author’s books.

[June]

I couldn't quite warm to this book but couldn't put my finger on why, but I'm sure others will feel quite different.
It has all the makings of a good book. A good well written storyline and plot and I was compelled and intrigued, to find out what happened. There's revelations, twists and an unexpected end one.
The characters I couldn't relate too and found them obnoxious. This could be the reason I couldn't quite warm to the book.
My thanks to Bloodhound books for the advanced copy. This is my honest and unbiased review of this book.

[Sarah]

Absolute shite. It had me at the start so I’ll Give 1.5 stars.

What was the neeeed to drag it out for a second book? I don’t get why they handled Rebecca like that AT ALL so I don’t like anyone in this book and I don’t need a sequel where Rebecca realises his family are horrible and befriends Olivia and rowan.

This book read like it was made in hope of a Netflix movie and dragged out like a money grab. I was genuinely excited to find a feminist murder mystery the way this was hyped up and it was an absolute waste of time energy for me and the author

[Katlady]

Thanks to bloodhound books for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The minute a read “destination thriller” i jumped on to rqst the arc. A wedding location in Greece people with some very nasty characters. Loved the friendship between Rowan and Olivia and omg Greig😡. This book pulls you in immediately and doesnt let go until the last page. I highly recommend for fans of the genre of thriller

[Audrey]

What a fantastic thriller this is! Olivia is having her dream wedding in Greece at a gorgeous villa (I could picture it in my head as the authors description of the villa and area was perfect). Olivia and her best friend, Rowan, have a very close bond and Rowan is trying her best to stop Olivia from marrying Greig. He is a nasty piece of work, I hated him from the start.

Its a great story with twists and turns along the way and what an ending!!!! Amazing.

[K]

Rowan and Olivia are best friends, Rowan is going through a divorce whereas Olivia is about to get marries with Rowan as Matron of honour. Rowan doesn’t like Grieg, Olivia’s fiancé, even less after she sees him with another woman in Aberdeen.
Olivia and Rowan fall out on the eve of the wedding, so it goes ahead, but then everything changes.
A good read, but the ending leaves plenty of loose ends.
My thanks to the publishers for the arc.

[Amy]

(3.5⭐️) Funny and deliciously dark this book was a page turner. I’d sit down to read for half an hour and put it down reluctantly over an hour later.
Short chapters from multiple POVs, characters you love to hate (sorry Greig but you were absolutely vile!) and the destination wedding of most girls dreams, all wrapped in a tale of deceit, loathing and plans of murder.
Then that ending???? What!!! Paula how could you leave us on a cliffhanger like that?! I need to know what happened!

[Davinia Hinde]

This book is a really great fun read that would be perfect for a summer holiday. Full of dark humour, it's set at a great pace and will have you guessing all the way through.

I actually loved the characters, not sure what that says about me but I especially loved the friendship between Olivia and Rowan and the deep loyalty to each other.

It has some great twists and turns especially at the end.

Definitely recommended

[Yvette Salmon]

Wow what a twisted good thriller I really enjoyed it. When I saw the cover I thought it would be an easy read but I was wrong a good thriller with you trying to guess what will the outcome be. Don’t get me wrong there is funny bits in the story but also terrifying bits.
A book with good characters and story line. Well worth a read.

[Lynn Mccarthy]

Thank you for letting me read this advanced copy i really ejoyed it.
The ending was great.
Set in Greece it follows 2 friends one is getting married.
The book is dark with humor and twists.
I Loved it.

[Anita Skinner]

This was a fantastic read. From start to finish I was completely captivated. Loved Olivia & Rowans characters & the strength of their friendship.
Written & flowed really well. This was a story that kept giving in every chapter making you want to know what would happen next.

[CeeCee]

A really addictive summer thriller, I managed to devour in one sitting.
Olivia and Rowan are best friends who do anything for each other. However, Olivia is very soon to marry Greig, a cocky, rich, self-assured bad boy. And Rowan hates his guts!
The wedding party travel to an idyllic villa in Greece for the ceremony, unaware that Rowan had previously discovered a secret about the groom. And she can't possibly allow her best friend to go ahead with the wedding.
The story pans out with lots of little twists and turns, enough to keep the reader hooked.
I enjoyed it immensely, although I have to admit that not one of the characters had any redeeming qualities. They were all equally unlikeable in their own ways.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC.