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Modern Midwife Mysteries #1
Murder at the Wedding
Birth, death, mayhem, and murder…..
Maeve O’Reilly Kensington loves her job as a nurse-midwife at Creighton Memorial Hospital in the quintessential New England seaside town of Langford. Nothing could bring her more pleasure than helping women usher new life into the world... except possibly having a child of her own with her husband, Will. In the meantime, she's happy to celebrate the families of those she treats, and content to support her husband in his newly formed catering business.
However when Creighton Memorial's Chief Obstetrician suddenly drops dead at his daughter’s extravagant wedding reception, catered by Will, Maeve's two worlds collide in the worst possible way. Suddenly murder is on the menu, and Maeve is desperate to help her husband and find out who killed the doctor.
With the help of her wealthy, acerbic sister Meg and quick-witted Boston Irish mother, Maeve sets out to solve a murder and clear her husband's name. Can she stay one step ahead of the killer? Or will they strike again... this time closer to home?
Maeve O’Reilly Kensington loves her job as a nurse-midwife at Creighton Memorial Hospital in the quintessential New England seaside town of Langford. Nothing could bring her more pleasure than helping women usher new life into the world... except possibly having a child of her own with her husband, Will. In the meantime, she's happy to celebrate the families of those she treats, and content to support her husband in his newly formed catering business.
However when Creighton Memorial's Chief Obstetrician suddenly drops dead at his daughter’s extravagant wedding reception, catered by Will, Maeve's two worlds collide in the worst possible way. Suddenly murder is on the menu, and Maeve is desperate to help her husband and find out who killed the doctor.
With the help of her wealthy, acerbic sister Meg and quick-witted Boston Irish mother, Maeve sets out to solve a murder and clear her husband's name. Can she stay one step ahead of the killer? Or will they strike again... this time closer to home?
249 pages, Paperback
Published June 10, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
September 29, 2025
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
MURDER AT THE WEDDING (Modern Midwife Mysteries Book #1) by Christine Knapp is an exciting and intricately plotted start to a new cozy mystery series featuring a nurse-midwife who becomes involved in a murder investigation with her family and friends. This new to me author pulled me into the story, and I was so involved with the clues, crimes, and the entire cast of characters that I read this book completely in one sitting.
Maeve O’Reilly Kensington is a midwife at a New England hospital. She loves her work, her husband, and her family. The head of her OB department’s daughter is getting married, and her husband’s new catering company is handling the reception. Suddenly, the father of the bride collapses and dies after giving his toast to the newlyweds. It was not natural causes.
Maeve is determined to help her husband prove his company or employees were not responsible, and she also wants to find out who killed the doctor. Her police detective brother tells her to stay out of the investigation, but Maeve and her sister Meg are determined to get to the truth. Can she discover the killer before the killer decides she knows too much?
This is a wonderful read with fully developed characters and a perfectly paced cozy mystery plot. Maeve and her family are realistically written with the foibles of any large loving family. Maeve’s family is contrasted well by her rich and snobby in-laws and their family who wish Will would enter the family investment company rather than be a caterer. Maeve’s profession as a midwife is intertwined throughout the story with many different situations she encounters, both emotionally difficult and easy, and all are described with medical details. This is just one of those stories you begin to read, and you become immediately immersed in the characters and plot. I love it when that happens.
I highly recommend this new cozy mystery and cannot wait for the next in the Modern Midwife Mysteries series!
MURDER AT THE WEDDING (Modern Midwife Mysteries Book #1) by Christine Knapp is an exciting and intricately plotted start to a new cozy mystery series featuring a nurse-midwife who becomes involved in a murder investigation with her family and friends. This new to me author pulled me into the story, and I was so involved with the clues, crimes, and the entire cast of characters that I read this book completely in one sitting.
Maeve O’Reilly Kensington is a midwife at a New England hospital. She loves her work, her husband, and her family. The head of her OB department’s daughter is getting married, and her husband’s new catering company is handling the reception. Suddenly, the father of the bride collapses and dies after giving his toast to the newlyweds. It was not natural causes.
Maeve is determined to help her husband prove his company or employees were not responsible, and she also wants to find out who killed the doctor. Her police detective brother tells her to stay out of the investigation, but Maeve and her sister Meg are determined to get to the truth. Can she discover the killer before the killer decides she knows too much?
This is a wonderful read with fully developed characters and a perfectly paced cozy mystery plot. Maeve and her family are realistically written with the foibles of any large loving family. Maeve’s family is contrasted well by her rich and snobby in-laws and their family who wish Will would enter the family investment company rather than be a caterer. Maeve’s profession as a midwife is intertwined throughout the story with many different situations she encounters, both emotionally difficult and easy, and all are described with medical details. This is just one of those stories you begin to read, and you become immediately immersed in the characters and plot. I love it when that happens.
I highly recommend this new cozy mystery and cannot wait for the next in the Modern Midwife Mysteries series!
July 7, 2022
Murder at the Wedding Earns 5/5 Fluted Glasses…Clever & Entertaining Gem!
Maeve O’Reilly Kensington is a nurse-midwife at Creighton Hospital, married with a loving, supportive family contrasted by a antagonistic set of in-laws. Her husband chose to open a bakery and catering business, A Thyme for All Season, rather than entering the family’s investment firm, and is anxiously excited about catering the season’s biggest event. No kids, yet, but there’s a rescue dachshund named Fenway…of course, she’s a Red Sox fan.
The “Event” is the wedding of the daughter of Dr. Whitaker head of the OB/GYN department at Creighton Hospital, Maeve’s superior, and he has spared no expense to make the whole affair pink and perfect, but, when he rises to make his father of the bride toast, it all goes wrong; he sips his champagne, wheezes uncontrollably, and crashes to the floor. Even with a room full of hospital department heads spouting various medical instruction, it is ineffective…he’s dead. Maeve’s first thought is, if the food is the culprit, her husband’s livelihood and freedom are at risk. Ok…priorities!
Christine Knapp has debuted with a hit! The mystery is cleverly complex, but easy to follow, with several suspects and motives including Maeve’s husband’s catering crew. The drama follows a traditional cozy formula, my favorite, with an early discovery of the crime making the investigation the main focus, rich with a diverse cast of characters, filled with juicy secrets and a perilous ending, and a theme that provides interesting details. There’s family issues all around, hospital drama from all angles, and challenges to the role of midwifery to explore. Maeve has a close realistic connection to the police with her brother the police chief, but it isn’t a given that he’ll be forthcoming. Yet, the finger pointing toward Will is a great motivator for Maeve to get involved. It’s definitely a family affair with her sister, mother, and reluctant brother, but not without some scary danger.
Christine Knapp’s writing style is very engaging with a bit of humor thrown in due to Maeve’s cookie and knitting mishaps. The descriptive language and banter does well to illustrate the different personalities, some good and some obnoxious, slowly revealing a delightful drama and insights into modern midwifery. Each chapter begins with an informative tidbit about pregnancy, and is filled with the interactions and drama between midwife and mother, father, and a surrogate, sans any political stance. Easy to-follow recipes are included for a final treat: Will's Pasta Shrimp Salad, Will's American Chop Suey, Nora's Pot Roast, Mary Margaret Callahan O'Reilly's Date Nut Bread, and Maeve's Triple Fudge Cake.
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Gemma Halliday Publishing. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
Maeve O’Reilly Kensington is a nurse-midwife at Creighton Hospital, married with a loving, supportive family contrasted by a antagonistic set of in-laws. Her husband chose to open a bakery and catering business, A Thyme for All Season, rather than entering the family’s investment firm, and is anxiously excited about catering the season’s biggest event. No kids, yet, but there’s a rescue dachshund named Fenway…of course, she’s a Red Sox fan.
The “Event” is the wedding of the daughter of Dr. Whitaker head of the OB/GYN department at Creighton Hospital, Maeve’s superior, and he has spared no expense to make the whole affair pink and perfect, but, when he rises to make his father of the bride toast, it all goes wrong; he sips his champagne, wheezes uncontrollably, and crashes to the floor. Even with a room full of hospital department heads spouting various medical instruction, it is ineffective…he’s dead. Maeve’s first thought is, if the food is the culprit, her husband’s livelihood and freedom are at risk. Ok…priorities!
Christine Knapp has debuted with a hit! The mystery is cleverly complex, but easy to follow, with several suspects and motives including Maeve’s husband’s catering crew. The drama follows a traditional cozy formula, my favorite, with an early discovery of the crime making the investigation the main focus, rich with a diverse cast of characters, filled with juicy secrets and a perilous ending, and a theme that provides interesting details. There’s family issues all around, hospital drama from all angles, and challenges to the role of midwifery to explore. Maeve has a close realistic connection to the police with her brother the police chief, but it isn’t a given that he’ll be forthcoming. Yet, the finger pointing toward Will is a great motivator for Maeve to get involved. It’s definitely a family affair with her sister, mother, and reluctant brother, but not without some scary danger.
Christine Knapp’s writing style is very engaging with a bit of humor thrown in due to Maeve’s cookie and knitting mishaps. The descriptive language and banter does well to illustrate the different personalities, some good and some obnoxious, slowly revealing a delightful drama and insights into modern midwifery. Each chapter begins with an informative tidbit about pregnancy, and is filled with the interactions and drama between midwife and mother, father, and a surrogate, sans any political stance. Easy to-follow recipes are included for a final treat: Will's Pasta Shrimp Salad, Will's American Chop Suey, Nora's Pot Roast, Mary Margaret Callahan O'Reilly's Date Nut Bread, and Maeve's Triple Fudge Cake.
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Gemma Halliday Publishing. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
June 6, 2022
A midwife who has fertility issues...looks like it's time to seek help. A husband who is a chef and runs a successful catering service caterers the wedding of the daughter of Head of Obstetrics. Only the Head of Obstetrics drops dead at the wedding...looks like it's time to investigate. The acting Head of Obstetrics is eliminating the very successful Midwife department...looks like it's time to be vocal. With so much on her plate, Maeve (rhymes with cave) still has time to be a dotting daughter, a good sister, and a supportive wife. Never planning to wear the "hat" of a PI, Maeve and sister Meg take on the murder and a skew of additional mysteries that follow.
Terrific characters-both pleasant and villainous-make this a delightful book. I loved the family scenes-both warm and tepid, but especially the sister and mother. They were funny and effective as they helped Maeve with her snooping. The by-story of the hospital and the various patients was interesting, informative, but not graphic or repulsive for anyone who is sensitive.
This well written story had a little something for everyone, and was a riveting story. I look forward to reading more in this series!
Terrific characters-both pleasant and villainous-make this a delightful book. I loved the family scenes-both warm and tepid, but especially the sister and mother. They were funny and effective as they helped Maeve with her snooping. The by-story of the hospital and the various patients was interesting, informative, but not graphic or repulsive for anyone who is sensitive.
This well written story had a little something for everyone, and was a riveting story. I look forward to reading more in this series!
Read
June 27, 2022I encourage anyone who has experienced baby loss/traumatic birth/infertility to tread carefully with this book and be aware that there are entire scenes/chapters featuring these topics.
I'm DNFing this book at 26%/Chapter 11 and leaving it without a rating. This book would benefit from a trigger warning stating that it deals, on the page and at length, with intense discussions and depictions of pregnancy-related trauma. Chapter 11 focuses on Maeve tending to a couple who lose their baby at 36 weeks in a situation nearly identical to what I experienced with my first child. I knew this book was about a midwife, but I expected to read about her solving a mystery, not extensively dealing with patients experiencing baby loss. In addition to this scene, a patient in a previous chapter sees Maeve to confirm a miscarriage and make plans for dealing with it. Nothing in either of these sequences seem to have any bearing on the main mystery plot. While I appreciate that we're seeing the sleuth at work and that this ties in with her fertility struggles, there are several other scenes that do the same thing. At the very least, a warning could've prepared me.
As for the story itself, I found anything not related to pregnancy to be mostly fine. It does have a few pet peeves of mine (characters constantly saying each other's names in dialogue, characters relaying exposition in dialogue, an excess of characters described and given back stories when they appear only once in the book and never again) but I was overall intrigued by the mystery and curious to see how Maeve solves it. If you're looking for a dramatic mystery and won't be triggered by pregnancy trauma, this might be a book for you.
I'm DNFing this book at 26%/Chapter 11 and leaving it without a rating. This book would benefit from a trigger warning stating that it deals, on the page and at length, with intense discussions and depictions of pregnancy-related trauma. Chapter 11 focuses on Maeve tending to a couple who lose their baby at 36 weeks in a situation nearly identical to what I experienced with my first child. I knew this book was about a midwife, but I expected to read about her solving a mystery, not extensively dealing with patients experiencing baby loss. In addition to this scene, a patient in a previous chapter sees Maeve to confirm a miscarriage and make plans for dealing with it. Nothing in either of these sequences seem to have any bearing on the main mystery plot. While I appreciate that we're seeing the sleuth at work and that this ties in with her fertility struggles, there are several other scenes that do the same thing. At the very least, a warning could've prepared me.
As for the story itself, I found anything not related to pregnancy to be mostly fine. It does have a few pet peeves of mine (characters constantly saying each other's names in dialogue, characters relaying exposition in dialogue, an excess of characters described and given back stories when they appear only once in the book and never again) but I was overall intrigued by the mystery and curious to see how Maeve solves it. If you're looking for a dramatic mystery and won't be triggered by pregnancy trauma, this might be a book for you.
May 13, 2022
Maeve O'Reilly Kensington is a dedicated midwife at Creighton Memorial Hospital in a Massachusetts town where she cares for prenatal and post-partum patients. Her husband Will caters the wedding of the century for the only daughter of Creighton's chief of obstetrics, Dr. Harrison Whitaker. During a champagne toast at the wedding, Dr. Whitaker suffers from fatal anaphylactic shock, which has been determined to be a homicide. Maeve not only endures the stress of Will being a suspect, but without Dr. Whitaker's mentoring, the midwife program at Creighton lacks support and ultimately may cease.
With her and Will's livelihoods and dreams of midwifery and catering possibly dissolving, Maeve has set her mind to find the murderer. With the help of her Irish siblings and mother, they bond together to find the truth.
I enjoyed this story immensely and I was unable to put the book down. It is filled with excerpts of pregnancy and birth, including realistic stories of Maeve's patients - some joyful and some very sad. The details are not overwhelming but bring familiarity for those who have been pregnant or have sought to become pregnant. I love the closeness of Maeve's family and her soul mate husband. I am anxiously waiting for the next book.
I received an ARC from the publisher for purposes of an unbiased review.
With her and Will's livelihoods and dreams of midwifery and catering possibly dissolving, Maeve has set her mind to find the murderer. With the help of her Irish siblings and mother, they bond together to find the truth.
I enjoyed this story immensely and I was unable to put the book down. It is filled with excerpts of pregnancy and birth, including realistic stories of Maeve's patients - some joyful and some very sad. The details are not overwhelming but bring familiarity for those who have been pregnant or have sought to become pregnant. I love the closeness of Maeve's family and her soul mate husband. I am anxiously waiting for the next book.
I received an ARC from the publisher for purposes of an unbiased review.
May 1, 2022
A midwife who has fertility issues...looks like it's time to seek help. A husband who is a chef and runs a successful catering service caterers the wedding of the daughter of Head of Obstetrics. Only the Head of Obstetrics drops dead at the wedding...looks like it's time to investigate. The acting Head of Obstetrics is eliminating the very successful Midwife department...looks like it's time to be vocal. With so much on her plate, Maeve (rhymes with cave) still has time to be a dotting daughter, a good sister, and a supportive wife. Never planning to wear the "hat" of a PI, Maeve and sister Meg take on the murder and a skew of additional mysteries that follow.
Terrific characters-both pleasant and villainous-make this a delightful book. I loved the family scenes-both warm and tepid, but especially the sister and mother. They were funny and effective as they helped Maeve with her snooping. The by-story of the hospital and the various patients was interesting, informative, but not graphic or repulsive for anyone who is sensitive.
This well written story had a little something for everyone, and was a riveting story. I look forward to reading more in this series!
Terrific characters-both pleasant and villainous-make this a delightful book. I loved the family scenes-both warm and tepid, but especially the sister and mother. They were funny and effective as they helped Maeve with her snooping. The by-story of the hospital and the various patients was interesting, informative, but not graphic or repulsive for anyone who is sensitive.
This well written story had a little something for everyone, and was a riveting story. I look forward to reading more in this series!
June 22, 2022
Received a copy from the publisher.
This is a great new series about a mystery solving mid-wife. Can't wait for the next book in the series.
This is a great new series about a mystery solving mid-wife. Can't wait for the next book in the series.
July 10, 2022
Main character Maeve O'Reilly Kensington has her hands full and then some in Murder at the Wedding by Christine Knapp. Murder at the Wedding is the first book in Knapp's Modern Midwife Mystery series and it is so full of great people and interesting storylines that you will breeze through reading it.
In Murder at the Wedding, as the title suggests Maeve is attending the wedding of the daughter of the Chief Obstetrician at the hospital that Maeve works as a midwife. Not only are there a lot of important people attending this wedding but Maeve's husband, Will, is catering the event. Sadly the wedding doesn't go as planned for anyone, except maybe the killer, when Dr. Whitaker drops dead after giving a toast. This unfortunately adds a lot of stress to Maeve as her husband is losing scheduled events after word gets out that he catered the event where someone died and there are a lot of changes happening at the hospital that affect Maeve, her co-workers and her midwife department.
Even though Maeve's brother Patrick is a police officer Maeve and her sister Meg decide to do some investigating of their own......even though Maeve has other things she should be worried about and focusing on....like working on getting pregnant or starting fertility measures.....
The sisters are drawn in more when Will doesn't receive payment for the wedding and someone else in the Whitaker family is attacked and things start escalating at the hospital and Maeve's department. The two sisters cannot sit by and allow things to continue without trying to solve the murder.
Readers will fall in love with this series immediately !! You cannot help by love Maeve and her family, her job and the department and Will and even his stuffy family. You will love the dynamics and the structure of the hospital and the families and the relationships among everyone are great as well. There is nowhere else you would rather be then hanging with Maeve. Also at the beginning of every chapter Knapp provides a little tidbit of information regarding pregnancy and midwife procedures that you may go away learning something as well.
I highly encourage and suggest you grab your copy of Murder at the Wedding and getting lost for a while.
In Murder at the Wedding, as the title suggests Maeve is attending the wedding of the daughter of the Chief Obstetrician at the hospital that Maeve works as a midwife. Not only are there a lot of important people attending this wedding but Maeve's husband, Will, is catering the event. Sadly the wedding doesn't go as planned for anyone, except maybe the killer, when Dr. Whitaker drops dead after giving a toast. This unfortunately adds a lot of stress to Maeve as her husband is losing scheduled events after word gets out that he catered the event where someone died and there are a lot of changes happening at the hospital that affect Maeve, her co-workers and her midwife department.
Even though Maeve's brother Patrick is a police officer Maeve and her sister Meg decide to do some investigating of their own......even though Maeve has other things she should be worried about and focusing on....like working on getting pregnant or starting fertility measures.....
The sisters are drawn in more when Will doesn't receive payment for the wedding and someone else in the Whitaker family is attacked and things start escalating at the hospital and Maeve's department. The two sisters cannot sit by and allow things to continue without trying to solve the murder.
Readers will fall in love with this series immediately !! You cannot help by love Maeve and her family, her job and the department and Will and even his stuffy family. You will love the dynamics and the structure of the hospital and the families and the relationships among everyone are great as well. There is nowhere else you would rather be then hanging with Maeve. Also at the beginning of every chapter Knapp provides a little tidbit of information regarding pregnancy and midwife procedures that you may go away learning something as well.
I highly encourage and suggest you grab your copy of Murder at the Wedding and getting lost for a while.
April 16, 2023
A great cozy mystery
I enjoyed this whodunit. I loved the midwives and the whole cast of characters. Could have lived without all the descriptions of what everyone wore...but all In all a great cozy mystery. I will definitely read more from this author.
I enjoyed this whodunit. I loved the midwives and the whole cast of characters. Could have lived without all the descriptions of what everyone wore...but all In all a great cozy mystery. I will definitely read more from this author.
June 20, 2022
Murder at the Wedding is a very intriguing mystery! In this well written book, Maeve. a midwife with fertility issues, is married to Will, who catered the event where Creighton Memorial’s (Maeve's workplace) Chief Obstetrician drops dead. Is Will's food to blame? Maeve, her mother and sister done their P.I. hats to solve this delightful mystery, set in New England. The family dynamics, the hospital politics and more kept me reading far into the night. I am so looking forward to the next book!
June 19, 2022
Tremendously fun read! Great debut novel from an author that I'm excited to read more from. Main and side characters are compelling and relatable, and the pacing and plot are excellent. Can't wait for the sequel!
June 7, 2022
This was so good. I loved the storyline. The characters are great. I hope there are many more books to come in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
June 21, 2022
This is such a fun mystery to read. The author draws you in right from the start. I loved reading about Maeve and her relationships with the other characters. Can’t wait for the next book.
June 21, 2022
New series, & new to me author. Really enjoyed this book. The main character had an original occupation and a daschund that were are awesome. I can’t wait to read more by this author!
July 2, 2022
loved this book
I couldn’t put this book down. It was a great summer beach read. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
I couldn’t put this book down. It was a great summer beach read. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
August 4, 2026
Pouring rain drove me from home to the library and to their "Summer Hot Reads" section. This mystery, so simply named, was made far more interesting because of the midwifery story thread. The author is a midwife, and she accurately reflected the prejudices of many, professionals included, and the enthusiasm and gratitude of families who have embraced this practice. The professionalism and empathy of nurses embedded in the plot (except for one!) and the details of their patients' stories is a reminder of what is important in this world...even amidst a murder or two gone awry.
June 21, 2022
A strong first novel for a series that I truly hope will have many similar entries to come. The story is well-paced and leads into an ending that is both suspenseful and satisfying. Along the way, we get to follow characters that have their own distinctive voices and traits--by turns funny and sly, and always entertaining. Even the incidental observations of a certain kind of small New England town are drawn with a knowing sense of humor.
The midwife at the heart of the story is the true gem, though. To begin with, she is an actual modern nurse midwife. Her clinical encounters are realistic not because they are described in off-putting detail (they're not) but rather because of the respect she has for her profession and the concern and compassion she has for her patients.
But there is still room for humor in her work (the first chapter should not be missed for its master-of-the-universe meets the reality-of-the-delivery-room opening). And her very real personal issues with infertility give another level of reality to her character.
There is a lot of very entertaining substance to this book. And I also wouldn't be surprised if it inspires a number of readers to enter the profession of nurse-midwifery.
The midwife at the heart of the story is the true gem, though. To begin with, she is an actual modern nurse midwife. Her clinical encounters are realistic not because they are described in off-putting detail (they're not) but rather because of the respect she has for her profession and the concern and compassion she has for her patients.
But there is still room for humor in her work (the first chapter should not be missed for its master-of-the-universe meets the reality-of-the-delivery-room opening). And her very real personal issues with infertility give another level of reality to her character.
There is a lot of very entertaining substance to this book. And I also wouldn't be surprised if it inspires a number of readers to enter the profession of nurse-midwifery.
July 8, 2022
This is one of my favorite new mystery series! Maeve is a nurse midwife in New England. Her husband owns a catering company. Will is catering the wedding of the chief obstetrician’s daughter, which all of Maeve’s coworkers are attending. As he is giving the toast to his daughter, the chief obstetrician falls over dead. This has many repercussions. The hospital management goes through many changes, Will is suspected in the murder, and Maeve is determined to find out the killer. When the new bride is attacked, it sends things in another direction. Maeve has the help of her sister and mother, both who are interesting characters. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series!
August 24, 2022
Quick read. Includes pregnancy and midwife terminology and tons of clothing descriptions.
December 18, 2022
I'm sold!
What a fun book! I learned a lot and really enjoyed the characters. The plot moved along at a good pace and I liked the writing style. I'll be reading more of this series!
What a fun book! I learned a lot and really enjoyed the characters. The plot moved along at a good pace and I liked the writing style. I'll be reading more of this series!
December 27, 2022
Excellent! My Mom gave this to me to read on vacation. I could not put it down. Looking forward to the next book!
September 20, 2025
MURDER AT THE WEDDING by Christine Knapp
The First Modern Midwife Mystery
Maeve O’Reilly Kensington enjoys her work as a nurse-midwife at Creighton Memorial Hospital. She's also proud of her husband, Will, who defied his wealthy parents' career wishes and followed his own passion becoming a chef and caterer. There's a lot riding on his latest gig-a high profile wedding. The father of the bride is Dr. Whitaker, Creighton's chief of obstetrics. A rave review could bring a host of wealthy clients while a poor one could ruin him. Fortunately, the reception is running smoothly. That is until Dr. Whitaker gives his toast. One sip and he collapses. An allergic reaction? But to what? A heart attack? Or murder? As the doctor is taken away via ambulance the police, led by Maeve's brother Patrick, take over. Despite having every confidence in her brother, Maeve and her sister, Meg, aren't about to leave anything to chance with Will's career on the line. Will their investigation lead them to a killer?
I really like Maeve, her family, and Will. Will's family, not so much, although that is kind of the point. What surprised me was the wealth. Even as Maeve and Will are struggling a bit, they have an amazing house that was gifted them, Will's family is like landed gentry and even Maeve's sister Meg is rich! I appreciate the family dinners, especially those without Will's parents, and witnessing the love is special.
I can also appreciate the intimate look at modern midwifery, from the facts that start each chapter to the hospital dynamics. That being said, I have no interest in the stark clinical details of pregnancy or infertility issues, so I wasn't as thrilled with those bits, but I feel that people who are truly interested would love these aspects. What I did love was the mystery itself and how Maeve and Meg quietly got involved. Their mom is my favorite character and I was grinning when they got her involved in the investigation. The scene wherein Maeve faces the killer is absolutely chilling. It certainly had my heart racing!
In a delightful debut MURDER AT THE WEDDING showcases modern midwifery while presenting a loving family and an engaging mystery.
The First Modern Midwife Mystery
Maeve O’Reilly Kensington enjoys her work as a nurse-midwife at Creighton Memorial Hospital. She's also proud of her husband, Will, who defied his wealthy parents' career wishes and followed his own passion becoming a chef and caterer. There's a lot riding on his latest gig-a high profile wedding. The father of the bride is Dr. Whitaker, Creighton's chief of obstetrics. A rave review could bring a host of wealthy clients while a poor one could ruin him. Fortunately, the reception is running smoothly. That is until Dr. Whitaker gives his toast. One sip and he collapses. An allergic reaction? But to what? A heart attack? Or murder? As the doctor is taken away via ambulance the police, led by Maeve's brother Patrick, take over. Despite having every confidence in her brother, Maeve and her sister, Meg, aren't about to leave anything to chance with Will's career on the line. Will their investigation lead them to a killer?
I really like Maeve, her family, and Will. Will's family, not so much, although that is kind of the point. What surprised me was the wealth. Even as Maeve and Will are struggling a bit, they have an amazing house that was gifted them, Will's family is like landed gentry and even Maeve's sister Meg is rich! I appreciate the family dinners, especially those without Will's parents, and witnessing the love is special.
I can also appreciate the intimate look at modern midwifery, from the facts that start each chapter to the hospital dynamics. That being said, I have no interest in the stark clinical details of pregnancy or infertility issues, so I wasn't as thrilled with those bits, but I feel that people who are truly interested would love these aspects. What I did love was the mystery itself and how Maeve and Meg quietly got involved. Their mom is my favorite character and I was grinning when they got her involved in the investigation. The scene wherein Maeve faces the killer is absolutely chilling. It certainly had my heart racing!
In a delightful debut MURDER AT THE WEDDING showcases modern midwifery while presenting a loving family and an engaging mystery.
October 13, 2023
4.5 stars
Murder at the Wedding is the first book in the Modern Midwife Mysteries series by Christine Knapp. This fast-paced cosy mystery is a great book to escape from the drudgery of normal life for a while. I enjoyed the added element of the midwives thrown in with the mystery.
Christine’s easy writing style is engaging and dabbed throughout with a bit of humour. The easy banter, a touch of wit and descriptive narrative makes it enjoyable and the story flow nicely.
It is a cleverly put together plot with ebbs and flows of complexities that keep the story moving forward. Add in a whole cast of quirky, unique and sometimes obnoxious characters is there any wonder there is mystery, murder, mishaps, mayhem and life and death, just to name a few, get ready for the fun to begin.
With drama, fear, angst, ‘those’ kind of in-laws, a husband’s freedom and catering business on the line, a dachshund, suspects, agenda’s, motives and danger Maeve is desperate, so along with her barbed tongued sister and quick-witted mother, she sets out to find a murderer. Much to the chagrin of her reluctant police chief brother.
Christine gives the reader an added bonus of easy to-follow recipes. Bon Appétit.
If you love a good whodunit Murder at the Wedding is a must.
Murder at the Wedding is the first book in the Modern Midwife Mysteries series by Christine Knapp. This fast-paced cosy mystery is a great book to escape from the drudgery of normal life for a while. I enjoyed the added element of the midwives thrown in with the mystery.
Christine’s easy writing style is engaging and dabbed throughout with a bit of humour. The easy banter, a touch of wit and descriptive narrative makes it enjoyable and the story flow nicely.
It is a cleverly put together plot with ebbs and flows of complexities that keep the story moving forward. Add in a whole cast of quirky, unique and sometimes obnoxious characters is there any wonder there is mystery, murder, mishaps, mayhem and life and death, just to name a few, get ready for the fun to begin.
With drama, fear, angst, ‘those’ kind of in-laws, a husband’s freedom and catering business on the line, a dachshund, suspects, agenda’s, motives and danger Maeve is desperate, so along with her barbed tongued sister and quick-witted mother, she sets out to find a murderer. Much to the chagrin of her reluctant police chief brother.
Christine gives the reader an added bonus of easy to-follow recipes. Bon Appétit.
If you love a good whodunit Murder at the Wedding is a must.
May 13, 2023
Murder at the Wedding
What are the midwives going to do if the hospital gets rid of them. Poisons and mystery, strange happenings. Loved it
What are the midwives going to do if the hospital gets rid of them. Poisons and mystery, strange happenings. Loved it
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May 2, 2025Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
Modern Midwife Mysteries
Miniseries
Modern Midwife Mysteries
June 20, 2022
I loved this book and highly recommend it to all! The mix of the New England backdrop, Maeve's life as a nurse-midwife, her close-knit Boston Irish family and the murder that hit too close to home, all made for a thrilling read that I could not put down. I cannot wait for more books to come from this author!
September 29, 2025
The first thing I noticed about Murder at the Wedding by Christine Knapp was how much I enjoyed the author’s writing voice. There’s a laid-back nature to the pacing but it also keeps you reading quickly and doesn’t lag, a balance that’s not always easy to achieve. I also immediately liked Maeve, a nurse-midwife at a local hospital. She’s warm, intuitive, and whip-smart (except maybe when it comes to baking lol), and she genuinely cares about her patients and her colleagues as well as her family. Her relationship with her sister Meg was a lot of fun to read, with great banter and easy camaraderie, and when they added their mom to the mix it became even more so. In fact, there’s one ‘undercover’ scene with all three of them that had me giggling out loud and was a delight to picture in my mind’s eye as it unfolded. Maeve’s marriage to chef Will is mutually supportive, loving, and affectionate – something that becomes all the more important as certain plot points disrupt life for one or the other (or both). I’m not even normally a fan of novels where the main character is already married (with a handful of notable exceptions), but I could be persuaded to become one if they were all as uplifting to read about as Will and Maeve.
The mystery in Murder at the Wedding takes place at a big society wedding that Maeve’s husband Will is catering. The bride also happens to be the daughter of the Chief Obstetrician at Maeve’s hospital, so Maeve is in attendance… only to watch in horror as Dr. Whittaker collapses and dies of what appears to be an allergic reaction. Suddenly Will’s promising catering business is in jeopardy, and so is Maeve’s job too – thanks to the new acting chief’s despisal of the midwifery program. Because the stakes are high for Maeve and Will, it makes perfect sense for her and her sister Meg to snoop around and try to figure out who killed Dr. Whittaker. I would do the same thing! I enjoyed the various layers that they uncover, and though I thought had it all figured out (and did put the pieces together a little before Maeve) I was still caught off guard by how the big reveal transpires. I do wish however that the info they gleaned was less from off-the-page research/conversations and more on in-person snooping (like the scene with their mom that had me giggling). A lot of time in this story is spent in scenes related either to Maeve’s midwife responsibilities, her infertility struggles, or family dynamics. And while I did appreciate the insight they gave us into Maeve’s character and midwifery (and wouldn’t want them eliminated altogether), I tend to prefer my mysteries to spend more time on showing the investigating rather than telling us about them.
Bottom Line: Murder, midwifery & a society wedding gone wrong… Christine Knapp’s Murder at the Wedding offers readers a mystery with heart, humor, and a heroine you’ll want as your friend. Maeve shines as a heroine—smart, genuine, and surrounded by relationships that feel authentic and heartening, whether with her husband, her sister, or her work community. She’s also very easy to root for in all areas of her life – from her midwifery career to her fertility struggles and even figuring out whodunit. While I wished for more on-the-page sleuthing, this is still an engaging read for mystery lovers who want puzzles to solve and characters they would spend time with long after the case is closed. If you love amateur sleuths, women’s fiction, and Call the Midwife, this may be a series you’ll want to check out (though please do check out my content note below).
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
Content you may want to be aware of: features pregnancy loss and infertility, several same sex couples as tertiary characters
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
The mystery in Murder at the Wedding takes place at a big society wedding that Maeve’s husband Will is catering. The bride also happens to be the daughter of the Chief Obstetrician at Maeve’s hospital, so Maeve is in attendance… only to watch in horror as Dr. Whittaker collapses and dies of what appears to be an allergic reaction. Suddenly Will’s promising catering business is in jeopardy, and so is Maeve’s job too – thanks to the new acting chief’s despisal of the midwifery program. Because the stakes are high for Maeve and Will, it makes perfect sense for her and her sister Meg to snoop around and try to figure out who killed Dr. Whittaker. I would do the same thing! I enjoyed the various layers that they uncover, and though I thought had it all figured out (and did put the pieces together a little before Maeve) I was still caught off guard by how the big reveal transpires. I do wish however that the info they gleaned was less from off-the-page research/conversations and more on in-person snooping (like the scene with their mom that had me giggling). A lot of time in this story is spent in scenes related either to Maeve’s midwife responsibilities, her infertility struggles, or family dynamics. And while I did appreciate the insight they gave us into Maeve’s character and midwifery (and wouldn’t want them eliminated altogether), I tend to prefer my mysteries to spend more time on showing the investigating rather than telling us about them.
Bottom Line: Murder, midwifery & a society wedding gone wrong… Christine Knapp’s Murder at the Wedding offers readers a mystery with heart, humor, and a heroine you’ll want as your friend. Maeve shines as a heroine—smart, genuine, and surrounded by relationships that feel authentic and heartening, whether with her husband, her sister, or her work community. She’s also very easy to root for in all areas of her life – from her midwifery career to her fertility struggles and even figuring out whodunit. While I wished for more on-the-page sleuthing, this is still an engaging read for mystery lovers who want puzzles to solve and characters they would spend time with long after the case is closed. If you love amateur sleuths, women’s fiction, and Call the Midwife, this may be a series you’ll want to check out (though please do check out my content note below).
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
Content you may want to be aware of: features pregnancy loss and infertility, several same sex couples as tertiary characters
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
October 2, 2025
4.5 STARS. AUDIOBOOK/EBOOK REVIEW. In MURDER AT THE WEDDING, author Christine Knapp captures the readers’ attention early on and holds us spellbound by creating rich, realistic scenes in which we can immerse ourselves. And how refreshing it is to have a cozy mystery that features a married main character.
Other than the obvious, I didn’t know exactly what to expect from a series called Modern Midwife Mysteries. Each chapter of MURDER AT THE WEDDING started with a factoid about midwifery or a pregnancy-related topic before going into the story. This is an interesting device to incorporate and a great way to inform readers about the midwifery angle. Author Christine Knapp doesn’t hold back on using proper terminology and situations, which may be uncomfortable for some readers. Additionally, some heavy topics are addressed with the main character, midwife Maeve Kensington, as well as her patients, and this could trigger some readers.
Fortunately, the heavier bits of MURDER AT THE WEDDING are balanced with lighter and humorous ones – not to mention the intensely suspenseful parts that keep us on the edge of our seats. It’s an odd mélange of sub-plot ingredients that together create quite an appealing mystery meal. We see midwifery up close and personal, but care to peek into the lifestyles of the rich or the lives and struggles of a caterer? How about the triumphs and heartaches of pregnancy? Or the secrets of the seemingly upstanding? Knapp’s got us covered.
MURDER AT THE WEDDING has a huge cast of characters, which is always hard for me to manage. Perhaps some will show up in future books? I certainly hope so, especially the main character’s mom, Mary Margaret Callahan O’Reilly, who is a show-stealing hoot of a gal every time she appears. I suspected who was the killer and wasn’t wrong; however, coming up with the motive, and watching the mystery (and that character) unravel was delightful, and those chapters showcase some of Knapp’s blissfully well-edited and best writing.
I mostly read this with my ears, but I floated between both the audiobook and the eBook, and I’m glad I did the latter, or I would have missed out! At the end of both formats, readers get a Sneak Peek of book two in the series, Murder on the Widow’s Walk, but at the end of the print book, there are five recipes (that are mentioned in the story) and a chance to get a free bonus eBook. Score!
ABOUT THE NARRATION: Narrator Erin deWard is terrific, though her pace was a bit too slow for me, so I listened at 1.25x speed. Whether a character is male or female, haughty or humble, deWard’s performance is on point. She voices each person so that they sound unique, and as mentioned already, she takes the character of Maeve’s Irish mom to the next level. Until I listened to MURDER AT THE WEDDING, I didn’t realize that ‘midwifery’ had two acceptable pronunciations, so thanks to deWard for the lesson, too. The second and third books in this series are also available as audiobooks and deWard returns as narrator. I’d listen again without hesitation.
After all the nail biting and nerve-wracking action in MURDER AT THE WEDDING, I appreciated the sweet, heartwarming ending that leaves readers hopeful and hankering for the next installment. There are so many characters and threads, future installments in the series can take any number of enticing directions to entertain us. I can’t wait to return to Maeve’s world again, and binge-readers, rejoice! There are already four more books in this series. Stay tuned.
This full review and more special features on Hall Ways Blog,
“Certified nurse midwives are registered nurses who have completed a graduate-level midwifery program and have passed a national certification exam.” – chapter two introduction
Other than the obvious, I didn’t know exactly what to expect from a series called Modern Midwife Mysteries. Each chapter of MURDER AT THE WEDDING started with a factoid about midwifery or a pregnancy-related topic before going into the story. This is an interesting device to incorporate and a great way to inform readers about the midwifery angle. Author Christine Knapp doesn’t hold back on using proper terminology and situations, which may be uncomfortable for some readers. Additionally, some heavy topics are addressed with the main character, midwife Maeve Kensington, as well as her patients, and this could trigger some readers.
Fortunately, the heavier bits of MURDER AT THE WEDDING are balanced with lighter and humorous ones – not to mention the intensely suspenseful parts that keep us on the edge of our seats. It’s an odd mélange of sub-plot ingredients that together create quite an appealing mystery meal. We see midwifery up close and personal, but care to peek into the lifestyles of the rich or the lives and struggles of a caterer? How about the triumphs and heartaches of pregnancy? Or the secrets of the seemingly upstanding? Knapp’s got us covered.
MURDER AT THE WEDDING has a huge cast of characters, which is always hard for me to manage. Perhaps some will show up in future books? I certainly hope so, especially the main character’s mom, Mary Margaret Callahan O’Reilly, who is a show-stealing hoot of a gal every time she appears. I suspected who was the killer and wasn’t wrong; however, coming up with the motive, and watching the mystery (and that character) unravel was delightful, and those chapters showcase some of Knapp’s blissfully well-edited and best writing.
I mostly read this with my ears, but I floated between both the audiobook and the eBook, and I’m glad I did the latter, or I would have missed out! At the end of both formats, readers get a Sneak Peek of book two in the series, Murder on the Widow’s Walk, but at the end of the print book, there are five recipes (that are mentioned in the story) and a chance to get a free bonus eBook. Score!
ABOUT THE NARRATION: Narrator Erin deWard is terrific, though her pace was a bit too slow for me, so I listened at 1.25x speed. Whether a character is male or female, haughty or humble, deWard’s performance is on point. She voices each person so that they sound unique, and as mentioned already, she takes the character of Maeve’s Irish mom to the next level. Until I listened to MURDER AT THE WEDDING, I didn’t realize that ‘midwifery’ had two acceptable pronunciations, so thanks to deWard for the lesson, too. The second and third books in this series are also available as audiobooks and deWard returns as narrator. I’d listen again without hesitation.
After all the nail biting and nerve-wracking action in MURDER AT THE WEDDING, I appreciated the sweet, heartwarming ending that leaves readers hopeful and hankering for the next installment. There are so many characters and threads, future installments in the series can take any number of enticing directions to entertain us. I can’t wait to return to Maeve’s world again, and binge-readers, rejoice! There are already four more books in this series. Stay tuned.
This full review and more special features on Hall Ways Blog,
October 6, 2023
4.5 Stars
Murder At the Wedding is the first book in the Modern Midwife Mysteries series by Christine Knapp. This is the first book that I have read by this author, so I really didn’t know what to expect from one of her books- but I do love a good cozy mystery, so I took a chance, grabbed myself a copy, and dove right in.
What I discovered between the covers is a fun and entertaining cozy mystery with an intriguing storyline, tension, dramatic developments, family dynamics, murder, crime and investigation, a midwife ‘detective’, hospital politics, emotion, and interesting characters.
I loved Maeve and her somewhat snarky and sarcastic inner dialogue, and witty banter. She really was the star of the show here and really helped to bring the whole story to life. I would love to see this book/series made into a television series, as Meave would be very entertaining on screen. I loved that the author gave her a bit of an original ‘occupation’, and she wasn’t the ‘typical’ writer, chef, bookstore owner, or wedding planner (etc) that we see so much of in cozy mysteries. I also liked the showing of the pregnancy info, ‘hospital’ workings, snippets of hospital procedure, hospital/workplace politics, and midwife work practices- as this added an extra element of interest to the story. Although saying that, there were a few tense, and/or emotional moments- and I will mention that there are some possible triggers included in the storyline, so consider this before diving in. The author has included sensitive topics in the day-to-day dealings of a midwife, and ‘real-life’ issues- but I think she did so in a mindful and considerate way (topics such as fertility issues, and loss of a baby).
Maeve, and the supporting cast of characters are all really well-developed individuals, with their own unique personalities, quirks, and flaws. Ms. Knapp has an eye for detail and her story is wonderfully descriptive, setting the scenes beautifully- painting pictures with her words, and giving everything a ‘visual’ quality.
I enjoyed the mystery and the ‘whodunnit’ aspect’ and the complex storyline, and other clever touches Ms. Knapp wove into her story- it made for an engrossing read.
I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Ms. Knapps work in the future- as well as continuing with this series.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Christine Knapp!
Murder At the Wedding is the first book in the Modern Midwife Mysteries series by Christine Knapp. This is the first book that I have read by this author, so I really didn’t know what to expect from one of her books- but I do love a good cozy mystery, so I took a chance, grabbed myself a copy, and dove right in.
What I discovered between the covers is a fun and entertaining cozy mystery with an intriguing storyline, tension, dramatic developments, family dynamics, murder, crime and investigation, a midwife ‘detective’, hospital politics, emotion, and interesting characters.
I loved Maeve and her somewhat snarky and sarcastic inner dialogue, and witty banter. She really was the star of the show here and really helped to bring the whole story to life. I would love to see this book/series made into a television series, as Meave would be very entertaining on screen. I loved that the author gave her a bit of an original ‘occupation’, and she wasn’t the ‘typical’ writer, chef, bookstore owner, or wedding planner (etc) that we see so much of in cozy mysteries. I also liked the showing of the pregnancy info, ‘hospital’ workings, snippets of hospital procedure, hospital/workplace politics, and midwife work practices- as this added an extra element of interest to the story. Although saying that, there were a few tense, and/or emotional moments- and I will mention that there are some possible triggers included in the storyline, so consider this before diving in. The author has included sensitive topics in the day-to-day dealings of a midwife, and ‘real-life’ issues- but I think she did so in a mindful and considerate way (topics such as fertility issues, and loss of a baby).
Maeve, and the supporting cast of characters are all really well-developed individuals, with their own unique personalities, quirks, and flaws. Ms. Knapp has an eye for detail and her story is wonderfully descriptive, setting the scenes beautifully- painting pictures with her words, and giving everything a ‘visual’ quality.
I enjoyed the mystery and the ‘whodunnit’ aspect’ and the complex storyline, and other clever touches Ms. Knapp wove into her story- it made for an engrossing read.
I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Ms. Knapps work in the future- as well as continuing with this series.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Christine Knapp!
October 4, 2025
Clever, twisty, and complex mystery featuring a midwife amateur sleuth.
Murder at the Wedding is the fantastic debut novel in author Christine Knapp’s Modern Midwife Mystery series, and is a clever and complex tale of long-kept secrets and hidden desires. When the Chief of Obstetrics at Creighton Memorial, the hospital where midwife Maeve Kensington practices, succumbs to an apparent allergic reaction to something he’s ingested, she’s compelled to investigate. Not only is a friend suspected of causing the man’s death, but Maeve’s husband, Will, was the caterer for the reception.
Maeve is a warm and caring woman who excels in her work, but she also struggles with challenges in her personal life. She and Will want to start a family of their own, but have been unable to conceive yet. Will’s family is difficult and emotionally distant, disapproving of both his choice of career (not taking up the mantle of the family business) and Maeve, whose family comes from a different social circle, as his wife. Maeve’s family, especially her mother, are fun characters with a lot going on themselves. Still, they are a lovely and loving couple who support and make time for each other, despite their private setbacks and long, often inconvenient working hours.From its attention-grabbing opening scenes to its terrifying eleventh-hour reveal, I found myself on the edge of my seat and holding my breath! Maeve O’Reilly Kensington is the main character, and it is through her narrative that the story is told. She is intelligent and informed, and her internal dialogue is often laced with humor; she brings a relatable presence to the story. The murder occurs early in the action, and Maeve is compelled to intervene soon after, both to clear Will’s name and help their friend Kevin. There are numerous characters introduced, and more than one possible suspect to consider. However, keen-eyed armchair detectives may pick up on indications in the story that point to the actual killer even before the exceedingly exciting reveal.
I recommend MURDER AT THE WEDDING for readers of mysteries and domestic thrillers.I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.
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