Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Annabelle Archer #6

Night of the Living Wed

Rate this book
**Agatha Award-winning Series!**
Wedding planner Annabelle Archer is ecstatic about her wedding-free weekend getaway . . . until she realizes she’s booked a hotel room next to an unfriendly ghost.

A vacation is just what Annabelle and her team need after a busy wedding season, and a weekend at a mountain resort promises plenty of R & R. That is, until they discover the hotel is haunted and the ghosts might not be so friendly. Reports of the poltergeists have made reservations plummet, and the hotel staff is in danger of losing their jobs. Can Annabelle and crew discover the truth behind the ghost rumors and save the resort?

Night of the Living Wed, a novella, is the sixth book in the Annabelle Archer cozy mystery series. If you like charming characters, fast-paced comedy, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the wild world of weddings, then you’ll love the latest installment in Laura Durham’s Agatha award-winning wedding planner mystery series.

Buy Night of the Living Wed to read Annabelle’s next adventure today!


Interview with the Author

Q - So, what makes the Annabelle Archer series special?

A - The Annabelle Archer wedding planner mysteries are based on my 20 plus years of planning society weddings in Washington, DC. That means I’ve seen tons of crazy things happen, and I’ve worked with lots of colorful characters. I bring that light-hearted sense of fun and zany characters into the novels. A lot of the humorous details I include in my books actually happened at my weddings! And since the books are about weddings, there is plenty of food, décor, and behind the scenes details.

The Annabelle Archer books are fast-paced cozy mysteries featuring a female protagonist with a little romance and comedy thrown in. You'll find the series focuses on the murder mystery and amateur sleuth genre overall, with a jewelry heist caper and ghost story in the mix to keep things interesting. Plus, Richard acquired a Yorkie in Review To A Kill, so the latest books are also for fans of animal or dog mysteries.

I’m working on an Annabelle cookbook to share the recipes for all the culinary treats mentioned in the books. Richard is a caterer, after all, and he loves food and cooking! So, in a way these books are also culinary mysteries. And soon the series will take Annabelle and her team overseas!

Q – In what order should I read the books?

A – You won’t be lost if you read the books in this cozy mystery series out of order but if you do want to read them in order, I'd suggest the following sequence:

- Better Off Wed
- For Better Or Hearse
- Dead Ringer—A Novella
- Review To A Kill
- Death on the Aisle
- Night of the Living Wed—A Novella

Q - So, why should readers give these books a try?

A - Because the Annabelle Archer cozy mystery series is fun, light, and the perfect escape or beach reading. Better Off Wed has hit number one in the Kindle store and the series has hit the top ten bestsellers list on Kindle for Cozy Mysteries, Amateur Sleuths, and Women Sleuths. Plus, the first book in the series won the Agatha Award for the Best First Novel.

Thanks for reading!

Praise for the Annabelle Archer Series:
"A delightfully witty blend of murder and matrimony"- Donna Andrews, author of "Gone Gull" and "How the Finch Stole Christmas"

"Cozy mystery lovers should briskly march up their bookstore aisles to grab a copy of Better Off Wed.

118 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2017

173 people are currently reading
545 people want to read

About the author

Laura Durham

30 books268 followers
I'm a writer and reformed wedding planner who loves quiet mornings, great books, paddle boarding, and blackberry cobbler.

I write humorous cozy mysteries about a wedding planner because I like books that make me laugh and because, after planning weddings for twenty years, I have a long list of people to kill.

To try my first novel for free, go to http://www.freebook.lauradurham.com

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
268 (55%)
4 stars
145 (29%)
3 stars
63 (12%)
2 stars
9 (1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
Profile Image for Kevin.
804 reviews20 followers
October 14, 2018
Can't give this series enough praise! I enjoy all the characters, but Kate's malaprops always have me laughing out loud. Highly recommended!!!
1,383 reviews19 followers
November 15, 2021
It is fun to visit with this group of friends and coworkers in a vacation environment. I did miss having a wedding but the ghost was a cute substitution.
Profile Image for Yvonne.
308 reviews5 followers
May 8, 2021
Really good book!
Profile Image for Jerri Cachero.
653 reviews48 followers
February 24, 2018
Wedding planners, ghosts and a luxury vacation!

Another fun mystery! I loved the fast paced action and humour in the book! The ending was wonderful!

Richard and Fern, Buster and Mack and Hermes were hilarious ! A great Halloween read!
Profile Image for Georgiann Hennelly.
1,960 reviews26 followers
October 25, 2017
A Beautifully written novella. The Wedding Belles, Annabelle, Kate and their associates take a break from Weddings and go on a mini vacation to a Resort which appears to be a Haunted Hotel. An entertaining fun read. I received an arc in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend to all mystery lovers.
Profile Image for Vera mallard.
459 reviews12 followers
October 25, 2017
STORY-LINE NIGHT OF THE LIVING WED BY LAURA DURHAM:

Annabelle and her crew received a gift stay at a luxurious resort. Ready for a relaxing vacation after a summer of weddings, they are ready to relax and rejuvenate. Beautiful with luxury galore, the only draw back: it seems haunted; and some of the ghosts are not so nice. Determined to discover the cause of the moans, groans, gun shots, and many nightly activities, Annabelle takes on another mystery.

With the resort manager and staff worried the resort will close due to deceased reservations, and an on-line blog exploiting the ghostly activity, Annabelle thinks someone's trying to close the resort. Come along with Annabelle and the gang as they investigate the ghostly happenings. My mystery book review of Night Of The Living Wed follows.

CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, DEVELOPMENT:

Laura Durham filled Night Of The Living Wed with ghosts, mystery, suspense, snarky repartee, humor, and fun galore. With a cast of wonderfully funny characters, I laughed out loud as they investigated the activity. It's hard for me to pick my favorite character; Annabelle's team's filled with people who are from all walks of life. Including the dog was a wonderful stroke, what a pampered cutie. Every good mystery must have an antagonist; Durham gave us two in this funny tale of mystery and ghosts. The web blogger who's exploiting the ghostly visitations on the internet and Brianna, rival wedding planner; you will love to hate Brianna. How did she and the blogger happen to be at the same resort as Annabelle?

Including two very large leather and chain garbed male florist, who are Christians, was a stroke of genius. I laughed until tears ran as I pictured them in pajamas covered in wedding rings. Along with the feminine Fern who's more feminine than most women, the droll Richard, and the ready for anything Kate, this crew's hilarious. I love a well-written mystery which includes humor; this book fits the bill. Who is the person instigating the ghostly happenings; is it an employee, the owner, the blogger, the wedding planning rival, or someone else? Then again, it may all be real! The only way to find out is to read Night Of The Living Wed.

MY OPINION:

I found Night Of The Living Wed funny, entertaining, and a joy to read. As well as, characters which are well-developed, prose skillfully written, hilarious comedy, and entertaining intrigue. The pace is just fast enough to keep the reader wondering what is really going on at the resort. As well as, revealing all the answers in a timely manner, Durham's scenes transition smoothly without starts and stops. Her descriptions of the resort and ghostly visitations are so vivid, I could see the resort and activity in my mind's eye. In Night Of The Living Wed, I found Durham's writing clear and easy to follow. I would not hesitate to buy this book for myself or a friend.

NIGHT OF THE LIVING WED RECOMMENDATION: STARS 4

FINALLY, PLEASE NOTE:

Additionally, I received this book from the author and chose to voluntarily review the book with an honest mystery suspense book review. Lastly, book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion. Consequently, all book reviews on-line and on my blog, are my opinions. In addition, no one influences my mystery, suspense, book reviews.
Profile Image for Claire Matturro.
Author 14 books80 followers
October 25, 2017
I received an ARC of this novella, and was immediately captivated by the characters, the setting, the story line, and the writing. Laura Durham just gets better and better, and I would definitely recommend this book.

As other reviewers have noted, Night of the Living Dead has Annabelle, plus her regular crew of Kate, Richard (and Hermes the dog), and Fern all off on a vacation at a haunted resort in the country. That they vacation together shows the nature of their friendships quite well. They are joined by the Christian biker florists, two characters who appear briefly in other books and who deserve the extra attention and time they receive in Night of the Living Wed. Look for the Christian bikers to figure in the plot in a decisive, clever way.

Several things set this book a part from the others in the Annabelle series, but I don't want to be a plot spoiler so I won't explain further. Okay, a tiny hint: there's no wedding! However, Richard does inquire about any possible "ghost brides." But the absence of a wedding is not the only break from Durham's previous plot patterns, so expect something a little bit different, but in a very good way.

As with all of Durham's books, there's a lighthearted flare and wry humor. Though usually it's Kate, Richard, or Fern who create the most humor, this time Annabelle herself account for one of the funny scenes, as when she attempts to break into a haunted hotel room with her own room key card. Again, I'm not going to explain further, but it's a clever and witty scene. And wait till you read about the matching wedding-themed pajamas!

The writing is crisp, the pacing fast, the characters as fun as always, and the humor is subtle and sweet and consistent. Durham describes the resort and the food so well she had me hankering for a vacation. And crab cakes (and I'm a vegetarian).

And, yes: A message! Returning to a theme Durham raised once before in a book, she makes an excellent point when a person with a blog but no journalistic skills or ethics creates a dire situation for the resort with false reporting: "Just what we need more of--amateur journalists ruining reputations and spreading rumors." The whole story supports that sentence in a wonderful example of "show don't tell."


Profile Image for Penelope.
1,468 reviews15 followers
February 18, 2023
NIGHT OF THE LIVING WED is bk 6 in Laura Durham’s Annabelle Archer Mystery Series.

MY RATING GUIDE: 3 Stars. Slow to start but otherwise okay; an easy and fairly quick time-filler.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I liked it a lot; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).

Society recognized DC wedding planner Annabelle, her assistant Kate, posh hairstylist Fern, top-caterer Richard and popular wedding floral design team Butch and Mack are together at a historic hotel-spa managed by a friend of Annabelle’s outside DC. Annabelle’s group is celebrating a shared weekend totally free from weddings with their visit paid in full by a “Happily Married” client. Within hours of arriving, Annabelle and her friends discover that someone (another guest or a hotel employee) is apparently spreading undesired rumors of a poltergeist at the old hotel.

Comments ~
1) I thought NOTLW was slow to start but once it got going I became interested in the mystery.
2) Annabelle’s nosy neighbor wasn’t in this book, yay!
3) NOTLW is bk 6 in a Cozy Mystery series featuring Annabelle Archer wedding planner and her very unique colleagues and friends.
4) NOTLW could be read as a standalone novel but other books in the series present better details about the characters and more complex mysteries. IMO, this was more of a relaxed “between” title.

READER CAUTION ~ This is suitable for YA readers and readers who prefer Clean fiction.
PROFANITY - None.
VIOLENCE - PG. This is a mystery but not dark or graphic.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
Profile Image for Vivian.
769 reviews13 followers
October 13, 2017
Anabelle and company finally catch a break between weddings and travel to a resort for a mini-vacation together. But of course they can't just have a quiet relaxing weekend - it appears they have checked into a haunted hotel! I am a visual reader and the author has a wonderful way of providing vivid descriptions that enhance my reading experience. I did miss the wedding antics usually found in the author's full length novels as well as Anabelle's love interest Reese, but this novella was definitely an entertaining and fun escapade - a quick, well-paced read that I totally enjoyed and would recommend to other cozy mystery fans. '

Note: I did receive a ARC of the book, but would have purchased it anyway as I have been a fan of the series from the beginning. My review is my honest opinion and totally voluntary.
Profile Image for Laura Durham.
Author 30 books268 followers
October 13, 2017
I had so much fun writing this novella. I took the setting from an actual trip I took to the Omni Bedford Springs with my real-life wedding planning team a few years ago. And, like in the book, ghosts and hunting for ghosts played a big part in our weekend. The resort is so beautiful and the setting so idyllic (while being packed with cool history), I thought it would be a fun place to have Annabelle and her crew visit. Since there are many tales about ghosts at Bedford, I also thought that having the mystery centered around ghosts would be a fun thing (and timely since the book would be releasing around Halloween). I also enjoyed poking fun at the old Scooby Doo cartoons so see if you catch those references. I hope everyone has as much fun reading this light, fun mystery as I did writing it!
Profile Image for Lucy-Bookworm.
767 reviews16 followers
February 5, 2022
It's Halloween and Annabelle & her colleagues finally have a weekend without a wedding. They have been gifted a stay at a luxury resort where they hope to relax with good food & spa treatments.
Upon arrival they meet with an old friend & discover that the hotel seems haunted and it is having a significant impact on the reservations – of course Annabelle & the usual “gang” investigate the ghostly happenings.
A blogger is writing negative reviews - Is there a ghost? Or is somebody behind the “hauntings “?

As with the other books in the Annabelle Archer series, the food & surroundings are well described and this is a fun, well-paced read with a nice diversion from the wedding theme!
Profile Image for Lisa G. Hudson.
698 reviews61 followers
October 17, 2017
DELIGHTFUL!

Wonderful cleverly written novella starring the fabulous Wedding Belles crew (meaning Annabelle, Kate & their associates who work with them on every wedding) we’ve grown to love! Great mystery that will keep your attention from start to finish with lots of action & fun along the way. Excellent entertainment!
Profile Image for Greta Mlodik.
14 reviews
July 21, 2018
Good food, good friends and ghosts?

The Annabelle Archer crew is together again to determine weather or not ghosts truly exist. While trying to discover the truth their nemesis Brianna shows up with a blog writer in tow. Can they find the truth or will the ghosts be the cause of it's closing?
Profile Image for carolintallahassee .
227 reviews38 followers
October 23, 2018
Good Read!

Annabelle; and her gang of quirky characters go to a resort spa for downtime from bridezillas, only to run into Ghost! Cute story, sweet reads, still extremely disappointed by the lack of romance between Annabelle, and Reese! Please get them together, or I will consider my money ill spent.
I recommend for now.
Carolintallahassee
1,408 reviews4 followers
November 27, 2018
Annabelle and her wedding crew finally have a weekend off from weddings. As a gift from a bride, they're off to a weekend at a resort. The resort has been given a bad rep due to disruptive ghosts. Will Annabelle take the week off to relax or will she and the crew find the ghosts?

Fun quick read!
230 reviews
November 23, 2021
Mystery ghosts and good fun

A gentle mystery story set in a spa hotel is an intriguing plot device. When you find it the main characters are in the wedding planning business the pub in the title makes sense.
This delightful and read able story has a large chunk of humour which makes it flow like liquid chocolate.
Profile Image for Andrea Johnson.
44 reviews1 follower
May 6, 2018
I love these stories

Another fine adventure for Annabelle and her friends. No dead bodies this time, just a couple of ghosts and, apparently, a poltergeist. But Annabelle and her crew get everything sorted by the end of their luxury spa weekend.
Profile Image for Barbara.
19.2k reviews8 followers
November 5, 2018
Book six in the Annabelle Archer Wedding Planner Mystery series and I want to read more in this series. Mystery, suspense, drama, danger, a villain, and ghosts, I enjoyed reading this book. I received a copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
13 reviews
May 14, 2019
Imagine a girls' weekend with your best friends -- that's what this book feels like. Annabelle and her wedding crew spend the weekend away -- and I wish I could join them! The characters are so well developed and familiar at this point in the series -- they really do feel like friends!
Profile Image for Deanna.
237 reviews
September 10, 2019
Wonderful Halloweenish story.

The gang gets a free get-a-way to a luxury spa and finds out it is supposedly haunted.
I love Fern & Kate's enthusiasm for the ghost hunting and Richard's "oh no, I know this will lead to trouble".
Profile Image for Jana Gundy.
1,919 reviews17 followers
December 12, 2020
Hilarious!

Annabelle and her team are so much more than wedding planners, caterers, stylists and florists. They are a group of funny loyal friends that solve murders and get into all kinds of scrapes and shenanigans that will have you laughing the whole time!
Profile Image for Tara Woolard (Ehrbar).
114 reviews9 followers
February 1, 2021
Great little Halloween style tale

This was such a great little Halloween style story. I like how it had ghosts or did it? Guess you'll have to reas it to find out. On to the next book in the series. I am so addicted to her books!
2 reviews
August 7, 2021
Annabelle Archer Mysteries

These are great books, loving everything about them. Laura Durham writes exceptionally well. So lighthearted and great fun, loving all the characters. Anna from Australia
4,497 reviews24 followers
November 16, 2021
It was a fun and entertaining read and I enjoyed the change of scenery as much as the characters in the book did. Can't wait to read the next one. I received this book 📚, as a FREE copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.
16 reviews
December 12, 2021
Annabelle Archer's Night of the Living Dead

I love Annabelle Archers books. They are a fun & light hearted read. Her characters are a mixed bag of uniqueness who somehow always manage to solve a case.
Profile Image for Maritsa Daumer.
268 reviews14 followers
September 4, 2023
Really enjoyed this one,I haven't read the series and realized this is like book 7 😅 but it's funny, mysterious and fun reminded me of a Scooby-Doo episode 😄 it's a quick read 📚 and wouldn't mind reading more of the series the characters are funny especially Kate and fern
Profile Image for Geraldine R. Gaugler.
210 reviews1 follower
March 7, 2024
Very entertaining

This was a fun read, and a nice change of pace from the previous books. I knew Anna, the girl at the pool, was an actual ghost right away. The only problem I saw was that they solved the mystery too fast. I was really enjoying the story, and it ended to soon.
Profile Image for Kelly Shand.
7 reviews7 followers
November 26, 2017
A little disappointed it wasn't a wedding book, but it was fun to see the gang on a vacation setting. Enjoyable, fun, and an easy read.
12 reviews
February 18, 2018
Ghost mystery

Another great Annabelle archer mystery. This one did not involve an actual wedding but the entire wedding team was there to solve the mystery.
132 reviews
May 29, 2018
Wonderful!

As always Durham pulls through with a exciting short story! No wedding, but the team pulls thru on an exciting adventure. Must read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.