From New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand, comes a novel about the many ways family can fill our lives with love…if they don’t kill us first. *New York Times bestseller* It’s Nantucket wedding season, also known as summer-the sight of a bride racing down Main Street is as common as the sun setting at Madaket Beach. The Otis-Winbury wedding promises to be an event to remember: … Otis-Winbury wedding promises to be an event to remember: the groom’s wealthy parents have spared no expense to host a lavish ceremony at their oceanfront estate.
But it’s going to be memorable for all the wrong reasons after tragedy strikes: a body is discovered in Nantucket Harbor just hours before the ceremony-and everyone in the wedding party is suddenly a suspect. As Chief of Police Ed Kapenash interviews the bride, the groom, the groom’s famous mystery-novelist mother, and even a member of his own family, he discovers that every wedding is a minefield-and no couple is perfect. Featuring beloved characters from The Castaways, Beautiful Day, and A Summer Affair, The Perfect Couple proves once again that Elin Hilderbrand is the queen of the summer beach read.
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There’s going to be a wedding on Nantucket. There’s nothing unusual about that in the summer. But the wedding of Celeste Otis to Benji Winbury will be a lavish affair hosted by Benji’s parents at the Winbury estate. Celeste’s parents, in contrast, come from modest means. Karen, her mother, thought she had beaten breast cancer, but it has metastasized in her bones and she has been advised by her physician that she has only a few months to live.
On the morning of the wedding, the body of Merritt Monaco, the Maid of Honor, is found in Nantucket Harbor by the wedding planner. The wedding cannot proceed as planned, and Chief of Police Ed Kapenash begins the investigation into what happened the prior evening following the wedding rehearsal and dinner. Everyone is a suspect, including Celeste, Benji, and his mother, Greer, a best-selling mystery novelist. Also on the list of suspects are the groom’s father, brother, and even the Chief’s own teenage niece, Chloe, who is employed by the caterer. The best man, Shooter Uxley, is missing.
One thing becomes clear as the investigation proceeds: no couple is perfect.
The Perfect Couple is an engrossing story about a young woman swept off her feet by a charming man from a wealthy, well-connected family. Celeste is the Assistant Director of the Bronx Zoo, the only child of parents she adores. Her father, Bruce, works in the suit department at Neiman-Marcus. Karen’s medical state has gutted Celeste — and she doesn’t even know that the cancer has spread to Karen’s stomach and liver. In response to Karen’s condition, the wedding was moved up to ensure Karen’s attendance. However, since becoming engaged to Benji, Celeste has developed a troubling stutter that causes her mother to worry about whether Celeste is making the right decision.
The Winbury family, despite their wealth and power, have their own issues. Greer’s latest novel has been rejected by her publisher who demands an immediate and complete re-write. Benji’s brother, Thomas, has a troubled marriage and his father, Tag, has a long history of infidelity which Greer has chosen to overlook.
Throughout what was supposed to be the wedding day, the investigation proceeds as Chief Kapenash tries to discern why Merritt was in the water where she drowned. Details are revealed about the relationships of the suspects and what really happened at and following the rehearsal dinner. Secret motivations and overheard conversations demonstrate who might have had a motive to kill Merritt, who had her own skeletons in her closet, including an affair with her married former employer.
Hilderbrand infuses the Otis family with humanity. They are devoted to each other, despite one large secret that is revealed to Karen as the day wears on. In contrast, the scheming, entitled Winbury clan have their own secrets and reasons to want Merritt eliminated. Through it all the question of whether Celeste really loves Benji enough to marry him lingers.
Hilderbrand keeps the action moving forward, revealing titillating details that pique reader curiosity. The Perfect Couple is reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s mysteries — everyone is a suspect and when the killer is finally revealed, most readers will have guessed incorrectly. The characters are diverse and entertaining, and the story is surprisingly moving with a satisfying ending. Hilderbrand is known for her engrossing “beach reads” does not disappoint with The Perfect Couple.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader’s Copy of the book.
Loved it! Kept me guessing!
Loved it!
This was quite a whodunnit! Secrets and lies are everywhere you turn, which makes it quite interesting as the police try to figure out if foul play was involved in the death of the maid of honor. Almost every character has something to hide. I thoroughly enjoyed it and didn’t want to put it down.
I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars. I have read all of Elin Hilderbrand’s novels and this is defiantly the best. I can usually guess “who-done-it” around the middle of the book and then I get kinda blase and sit back and coast through the rest of the book. I was glued to this book, couldn’t put it down. It was very unpredictable. One thing that has me thinking. As a breast cancer survivor myself, in the acknowledgements she mentions The Breast cancer research fund and says “it’s a journey or a battle , you pick what you want to call it”.
I am glad she is doing well 4 years after her diagnosis and look forward to her next work.
First novel I have read by this author. I enjoyed it for a lite read. I thought I had it figured out only to be completely surprised by the ending. Great beach read!
I’ve never read any of her books, but after several pages, I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down. I liked her style of writing and her character development. I wanted to read more about each character and almost skipped to the pages that continued with their story. I highly recommend this book.
Runaway plot and possible runaway bride!? Great cast of characters at a wedding and Agatha Christies-like death mystery… whodunit?
This was a very good summer read. I liked the characters and storyline. I was curious about who the murderer was since so many seemed to have motive. I enjoy Elin Hilderbrand ‘s writing style. I would recommend this book.
It was a good summer light read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Super fun beach read. Very quick read keeps you thinking about the characters and anxious to see what happens next.
It was hard to understand & too many characters to keep track of.
The perfect couple by Elin Hilderbrand
Story of a couple getting married on the island. The brides parents are traveling by ferry to attend-she’s got cancer and they expereince the island with fresh eyes. I feel with the words the author has written that i can smell the air as they arrive.
Grooms parents are there also from England with their own car.
A murder occurs and everybody has to state where they were and other circumstances.
Mystery the sheriff is following as he raises teenagers.
There are a lot of people around, sometimes hard to keep it straight.
Sad that there is not one couple who’s not gone through infeideltiy, or even both of the perfect couples.
Lots of drama, enjoyed travel to other locations.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
I very much enjoyed this book. It’s the first time I read this author and plan to read more.
The story grabs your interest. A real who-dun-it. And the ending is a real twist bringing it all together. Loved it. I am now a fan of this author.
You just never know what goes on behind closed doors!
I did not like the back-and-forth moves from the past to the present and back again. I found it confusing and difficult to follow at times. Did not care for the ending. Disappointing.
I loved this book
A great beach read!
Loved this book! Did not want it to end. Hoping for a sequel…….
Great book!