murder

Lots of twists and turns with an unlikeable rich family and nice regular people. ( )

I absolutely LOVED "The Perfect Couple" by Elin Hilderbrand. The novel had me intrigued from the first page to the last. The murder mystery also had me guessing until the end of the story. Ms. Hilderbrand has a talent for developing her characters, plot and setting in such a way that it keeps the reader wanting more.
This is the first, but certainly not the last Elin Hilderbrand novel that I will read. I'm looking forward to reading, "The Identicals" next! ( )

The Perfect Couple is an engrossing and entertaining mystery. Celeste was swept off her feet by the charming Benji who comes 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’s decision to marry Benji has been motivated more by a desire to be secure than the dream of being loved and happy. Karen is torn — about to marry the wealthy Benji, her daughter is in a “situation any other young woman would kill to find herself in. Celeste and Benji don’t have to be a perfect couple. Really, there is no such thing.” But is the Winbury family money worth a lifetime of settling?

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. Their father, Tag, has a long history of infidelity which Greer has chosen to overlook.

Throughout what was supposed to be Celeste and Benji’s wedding day, Chief Kapanesh’s investigation focuses on how Merritt came to be in the water where she drowned with a cut on her foot, bruise on her wrist, and a barbiturate in her bloodstream. As he interviews those gathered for the nuptials, details are revealed about the relationships of the suspects. Information comes to light about what happened during and, more critically, after the rehearsal dinner.

Hilderbrand imbues the eclectic cast of characters with secret motivations for their conduct. Overheard conversations and Merritt’s visible distress that night demonstrate who may have had a motive to kill Merritt. The deceased had a not-so-innocent past herself, including an affair with her married former employer.

Into the Otis family, Hilderbrand infuses the humanity and compassion that set the book apart. Bruce and Karen are devoted to each other, despite one large secret that Karen discovers as the day wears on. Karen conceals her intent to deal with her cancer in the way she deems most loving and best for her beloved husband and daughter. She “hasn’t talked to Bruce about life after she’s gone because he refuses to acknowledge the inevitable — which, she supposes, is better than him accepting it too readily.”

In contrast, the scheming, entitled Winbury clan have their own secrets and, as to a couple of them, reasons to want Merritt eliminated.

Through it all the question of whether Celeste really loves Benji enough to marry him lingers. She struggles with her guilt about her true feelings, convinced that if she doesn’t marry Benji, her actions will bring about her mother’s demise. It’s a question to which Shooter, who has achieved success solely through his own charm, intelligence, and perseverance, would very much like the answer.

Hilderbrand keeps the action moving forward, revealing titillating details that pique reader curiosity. In The Perfect Couple, as noted, nearly every character is a suspect but when the killer is finally revealed, most readers will have guessed incorrectly. The characters are diverse and entertaining, and the story, especially concerning Karen and Bruce, is surprisingly moving. Hilderbrand provides readers with the satisfying ending they have come to expect from her.

Hilderbrand is known for her engrossing “beach reads” and The Perfect Couple, her twenty-first novel, is the first mystery she has penned, although it certainly bears the hallmarks for which she is known and characters from some of her prior novels, including The Castaways, Beautiful Day, and A Summer Affair. The Perfect Couple does not disappoint. It is a perfect beach mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book. ( )

Whew! This was one twisty, turvy murder mystery/beach read where I swear I did not have the slightest idea whodunit until we got to the last page. Bravo, Elin Hildebrand! The theme here is relationships and secrets, and boy do these relationships have a ton! It was like every soap opera you’ve ever watched on steroids, while on the beach, wrapped up in a not the least bit gory murder mystery (for those like me who are easily grossed out) that is well-paced and keeps the twists and turns coming. Quick read. Very much enjoyed this one.

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
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