Detective Steve Carella must identify a potential assassin hidden among the wedding guests of his sister before the ceremony concludes in tragedy. Carella and his colleagues from the 87th Precinct operate under a strict temporal constraint, navigating the social complexities of a wedding to isolate a killer. The narrative follows the police as they vet various suspects, each possessing distinct motives ranging from inheritance to personal vendettas. The story utilizes a third-person perspective to track both the mounting tension of the event and the methodical investigative process of the precinct team.

Readers frequently highlight the balance between the personal stakes of the Carella family and the professional rigor of the 87th Precinct detectives. Discussion often centers on the author's ability to maintain suspense within a confined setting like a wedding venue. Critics often point to the sharp, efficient prose that characterizes the series and keeps the narrative momentum high. The work is recognized for its effective use of multiple suspects to create a classic whodunit atmosphere that remains grounded in realistic police work. Readers appreciate the consistency of the character development across the long-running series.