Quiz The Last One at the Wedding Jason Rekulak

The Last One at the Wedding: Full-Book Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Last One at the Wedding?

This 20-question quiz covers the entire novel, from Frank Szatowski’s troubled reunion with his daughter Maggie to the shocking revelations at Osprey Cove. Questions are grouped into plot, character motivation, theme/symbol, and synthesis. Each short-answer or multiple-choice item is based on the book’s events and details. After you finish, check the answer key for brief explanations.

Plot and Sequence Questions (8 Questions)

  1. What does Frank find hidden under the toilet lid in Aidan’s penthouse?
    a) A burner phone
    b) A black plastic pouch containing a hard object
    c) A bag of cash
    d) A set of keys

  2. How does Frank learn that Aidan’s alibi for the weekend Dawn Taggart disappeared involves Maggie?
    Short answer: ______

  3. Where does Frank first encounter Brody Taggart, who accuses Aidan of murder?
    a) At Osprey Cove’s front gate
    b) In Hopps Ferry, near a missing-person flyer
    c) At the rehearsal dinner
    d) On the lake during the canoe trip

  4. What object does Aidan give to Abigail that later becomes a key piece of evidence?
    a) A stuffed animal
    b) A hand-drawn map of Lake Wyndham with a red X
    c) A photograph of himself
    d) A vintage etiquette book

  5. After the wedding weekend, Frank returns to his UPS job but suffers a crash. What causes the accident?
    a) A severe heatwave and a hallucination of Aidan and Dawn changing a tire
    b) A deer running into the road
    c) Falling asleep at the wheel
    d) A mechanical failure in the truck

  6. Who is revealed to have actually killed Dawn Taggart?
    a) Hugo
    b) Errol Gardner
    c) Catherine Gardner
    d) Aidan Gardner

  7. How does Frank escape from the Beacon Tower penthouse after stealing the hard drive?
    a) He jumps from a window into the river
    b) He pulls a fire alarm and blends into the evacuating crowd
    c) He fights Hugo and runs out the front door
    d) He hides in a delivery truck

  8. What does Frank discover when he listens to the audio recordings from the hard drive?
    Short answer: ______

Character Motivation Questions (5 Questions)

  1. Why does Maggie initially refuse to tell Frank the identity of Aidan’s father?
    a) She doesn’t know him
    b) She says it’s “complicated” and avoids the subject
    c) She is ashamed of Aidan’s father being in prison
    d) She wants to surprise Frank at the wedding

  2. Why does Frank agree to stay quiet after Aidan’s death and give a false police statement?
    a) He is bribed with a large sum of money
    b) He fears for his own safety and wants to protect Maggie
    c) He believes Errol’s story is the truth
    d) He is threatened with losing his UPS pension

  3. What motivates Errol Gardner to insist that the wedding continue after Gwendolyn’s body is found?
    a) He believes the wedding will distract from the tragedy
    b) He wants to maintain control and avoid scrutiny
    c) He is genuinely confident that Aidan is innocent
    d) He fears the guests will demand refunds

  4. Why does Maggie agree to a marriage of convenience with Aidan?
    a) She is deeply in love with him
    b) She wants financial gain from a prenuptial settlement
    c) She is pregnant
    d) She feels sorry for Aidan

  5. Why does Tammy refuse to help Frank expose the Gardners after he tells her about Dawn’s murder?
    a) She is afraid of going to jail
    b) She does not want to lose her Capaciti stock shares
    c) She believes Frank is lying
    d) She is secretly working for Errol

Theme and Symbol Questions (4 Questions)

  1. The unfinished coffee table and carpentry project in Frank’s house most directly symbolize:
    a) His desire to build a new life
    b) His stalled life and inability to move forward after Colleen’s death
    c) His need for a new hobby
    d) The broken relationship between Maggie and Colleen

  2. The “daddy longlegs” nest in the closet of Frank’s cottage symbolizes:
    a) The hidden danger lurking beneath the wedding’s surface
    b) The fragility of the wedding decorations
    c) Abigail’s love of insects
    d) The Gardners’ wealth and control

  3. Which of the following best represents the theme of class divide in the novel?
    a) The contrast between Frank’s UPS uniform and the Gardners’ designer clothes
    b) The difference in lobster preparation between Maine and Pennsylvania
    c) The size of the swimming pool at Osprey Lodge
    d) The color of the wedding invitations

  4. The “Globe” outdoor theater where the wedding rehearsal takes place is described as “a sacred space” and “a secret sanctuary.” This setting underscores which theme?
    a) The performance of family harmony
    b) The importance of nature in weddings
    c) The fragility of outdoor events
    d) The bride’s love of theater

Synthesis Questions (3 Questions)

  1. In what way does Frank’s past decision to lie for Maggie about the Oliver Dingham arson investigation parallel his choices at Osprey Cove?
    Short answer: ______

  2. How does the missing-person photograph of Aidan and Dawn Taggart serve as a turning point in the novel?
    a) It proves Aidan is a murderer
    b) It forces Frank to distrust his own daughter
    c) It leads Frank to visit Linda Taggart and uncover the cover-up
    d) It is used by Errol to blackmail Frank

  3. Why does the author include the subplot of Abigail Grimm (the foster child) in the story? Explain one way it affects Frank’s character development.
    Short answer: ______

Answer Key

Plot and Sequence Answers

  1. b) A black plastic pouch containing a hard object – Frank finds the pouch taped under the toilet lid in Aidan’s master bathroom; it contains a hard object he assumes is cash (Ch. 6).

  2. Aidan was with Maggie in her Boston apartment the weekend Dawn disappeared – Maggie confirms this in Ch. 20, revealing she is his alibi.

  3. b) In Hopps Ferry, near a missing-person flyer – Brody Taggart confronts Frank and Tammy at a gas station or diner while they are on the road to the wedding (Ch. 14).

  4. b) A hand-drawn map of Lake Wyndham with a red X – Aidan gives Abigail the map, which later shows a 52-meter-deep crater where Dawn’s body may be (Ch. 45).

  5. a) A severe heatwave and a hallucination of Aidan and Dawn changing a tire – Exhausted and heat-stricken, Frank hallucinates the scene and loses control of his truck (Ch. 43).

  6. c) Catherine Gardner – Catherine admits she hit Dawn with a fuel cell, causing Dawn to fall down the stairs to her death. Aidan and Errol covered it up (Ch. 33).

  7. b) He pulls a fire alarm and blends into the evacuating crowd – Frank uses the diversion of the dropped duck platter and the fire alarm to escape (Ch. 47).

  8. The recordings reveal that Errol and Gerry were forcing Aidan into the marriage and that Aidan resisted. Also, they show Errol arranging for Hugo to pressure Aidan. (Ch. 48)

Character Motivation Answers

  1. b) She says it’s “complicated” and avoids the subject – In Ch. 3, Maggie insists the situation is complicated and will explain later, but she hangs up before Frank can press.

  2. b) He fears for his own safety and wants to protect Maggie – Frank plays along because he knows Errol and Hugo are dangerous, and he wants to get Maggie away from them (Ch. 40–41).

  3. b) He wants to maintain control and avoid scrutiny – Errol insists the schedule continue to keep up appearances and prevent guests from asking questions (Ch. 28).

  4. b) She wants financial gain from a prenuptial settlement – Maggie admits the marriage is a business arrangement; she has recorded conversations as leverage and stands to get a large payout (Ch. 37).

  5. b) She does not want to lose her Capaciti stock shares – Tammy tells Frank she will not risk her gift of 1,000 shares for justice (Ch. 35).

Theme and Symbol Answers

  1. b) His stalled life and inability to move forward after Colleen’s death – The project’s incompleteness mirrors Frank’s emotional stagnation and the estrangement from Maggie (Ch. 1).

  2. a) The hidden danger lurking beneath the wedding’s surface – The spiders in the closet foreshadow the dark secrets and threats within the Gardner family (Ch. 17).

  3. a) The contrast between Frank’s UPS uniform and the Gardners’ designer clothes – Frank’s working‑class pride and discomfort among the ultra‑rich is a central tension (Ch. 5, 13, etc.).

  4. a) The performance of family harmony – The theater setting highlights how everyone is acting out roles, hiding the truth beneath a beautiful surface (Ch. 31 evidence).

Synthesis Answers

  1. Frank lied to protect Maggie after the arson death, creating a three‑year estrangement. At Osprey Cove, he again faces a moral choice: cover up a crime to protect Maggie or pursue the truth. He initially cooperates but ultimately chooses to expose the Gardners, breaking the cycle of complicity. (Ch. 36, 37, 40)

  2. c) It leads Frank to visit Linda Taggart and uncover the cover-up – The photograph, though a fake, motivates Frank to drive to Brody’s trailer, where Linda reveals the pregnancy and the timeline that get Frank closer to the truth (Ch. 10, 29).

  3. Abigail’s presence forces Frank to become a caregiver again, softening his cynicism. By the end, he has chosen to raise her, showing his capacity for love and redemption despite his failures with Maggie. (Ch. 44, 49)

Want to explore more? Check out our book overview, questions and answers, or the ending explained.