Genre - Contemporary Fiction, Mystery

Is November the wrong time to listen to a summer Nantucket novel - Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand? I’m going to say no time is the wrong time. Police chief Ed Kapanash is ready to retire. He is even having a little celebration when he hears that there has been a catastrophic fire at the Richardson’s multimillion dollar home and that their personal concierge Coco is missing. Since Coco is his daughter Casey’s friend, he feels obligated to oversee the investigation. Through flashbacks we learn about the arrival of the exotic Richardsons on Nantucket - their glittering parties and their colorful impact on many of the residents who live there.

The people that Hilderbrand creates are part of what I most love about her work. The glittering Richardsons reminded me just a bit of Jay Gatsby. They turn up out of nowhere and buy the biggest gaudiest home. They create spectacular themed parties and the invites to them become coveted among the Nantucket crew. The ladies vie for her attention. Relationships - long time friendships are in danger of fracturing. Leslie Richardson has a knack for pitting them against one another. Police chief Ed weaves in and out in the before of the fire and in the after. He is not sure about retirement, so perhaps he welcomes the swan song - one more mystery to solve. The timeline expertly builds suspense and contributes to the mystery. I always love seeing Hilderbrand’s depiction of Nantucket, even though I can’t wait to see what she does next. She captures the spirit of the place again here (as I imagine it must be anyway). Beach trips and summer celebrations abound. And something about the insular spirit of an island contributes to the relationships.

Elin Hilderbrand’s Swan Song is more than just a fun, beach read. For me, it worked quite nicely in November - a good time to remember to be grateful, embrace friendship and family, and do the things you love. And boy howdy, the end will get you, no spoilers! If, like me, you missed the novel this summer, find some time to read it now; you won’t regret it.