Swan Song

A cozy mystery set on Nantucket.

This is the 27th, and final, novel in Erin Hildebrand’s “Nantucket” series. It’s a superb beach read.

The summer that police chief Ed Kapernash is due to retire, the social life of Nantucket is disrupted by the arrival of a wealthy couple, the Richardson. After a series of raucous parties. their 22-million-dollar home burns to the ground, and their personal assistant disappears.

First on the list of positives about “Swan Song” is setting. Erin Hildebrand makes Nantucket come alive. When the novel is finished, the reader feels that they know Nantucket physically and socially. The primary characters are well defined and interesting. The plot is compelling. Fun.

Swan Song brings back mention of the many characters and locales you’ve known and fell in love with in Elin Hilderbrand’s Nantucket books. So sad to hear this is the last of her books because I always look forward to a new release. This book did not disappoint. Storyline was interesting. Loved the present intertwined with the flashbacks of story. You really root for these characters. Of course I am sad not to know for sure what happens to the Chief. I will form my own conclusion, which I feel was her intention. Thank you Ms. Hilderbrand for many years of summer reading enjoyment. I’ll be looking forward to your book recommendations in the future.

It’s the start of the summer and the arrival of the elite, cultured, seductive Richardsons – husband and wife Bull and Leslee – has Nantucket locals in an excited frenzy.

Everybody who is anybody is dying to be invited to one of the extravagant, exclusive parties at their newly-purchased, twenty-two-million-dollar, seaside mansion – 888 Pocomo Road – but only a select few will be deemed worthy to glide its halls.

Fast forward to August and the Richardsons are persona non grata. What happened?

Then on the evening of August 22nd a double tragedy strikes the Richardsons. While partying out to sea aboard their yacht (with some non-locals) they receive a call from the Fire Chief to say their house is ablaze. And when their boat docks, they are one person short – a young woman is missing presumed to have gone overboard. Did she fall? Did she purposefully jump? Or was she pushed? It’s time for the Richardsons to face the music.

Swan Song was an indulgence. I relished all the juicy interpersonal melodrama, scandalous behaviour, betrayals, sweet romances, emotional highs and lows, side of mystery, and immense wealth and privilege. It was hard for me not to daydream over what it would be like to be one of these characters living the dream in a lap of luxury on Nantucket (lobster rolls, yes please). The descriptions of 888 Pocomo Road and everything within its walls (clothes, food, etc) were hilariously insane – fascinating yes, but such an over-the-top waste of money. There were a good mix of spoilt unlikeable characters coupled with more down-to-earth ones to keep me happy and entertained.

It’s the fourth in a series but can be enjoyed by itself. I’ve only read #3 The Perfect Couple (5 stars), meaning some of the characters were familiar to me, but most were new to Swan Song and specific to this story. And any that were regulars were introduced with all the relevant information from the previous instalments.

I’m sorry to report that after thirty fictional books set on Nantucket, Elin Hilderbrand is retiring so sadly Swan Song is her last release. I wish her the best, and luckily for me I still have a lot of her backlist to read including the first two in this series.

I devoured the audiobook, and Laurence Bouvard was sensational. I see she has also narrated some of this author’s previous books which makes me so happy. Elin Hilderbrand read the final chapter which left me misty-eyed.

A poignant and touching send off!

The last Nantucket novel? How can this be? It’s a fantastic finish to the many summers of magic provided by Elin Hilderbrand. A couple who shakes up life of the Nantucket natives are the center of an intriguing plot that pulls together the best characters and reminds me of my reading history. Just like her Nantucket novels career, I didn’t want this one to end. It’s fabulous, funny, tragic, and has all the feels in between. Elin has evolved with each novel and is such an outstanding novelist. Her books = happiness for me.

I am beyond sad that this is Elin Hilderbrand's last book. I have read every single one of her books Some of them many times. My book club just chose one of them to read. I had all ready read it but decided to read it again She draws you right into the story and develops the most interesting characters. At the end of a book I always wanted more. Enjoy your retirement Elin I will miss you. As a native Iowan I was so pleased that you attended The Iowa Writer's Workshop.

Webster definition of swan song - noun : a final appearance or final act or pronouncement. The perfect title for the last Nantucket book by the Queen of Nantucket! Beginning in 2000, Ms. Hildebrand has penned 31 books and now she leaves Nantucket behind to focus on other writing and podcast projects.

This story begins at the party of retiring police chief Ed Kapernesh. You will be reunited with a few characters of the past and will meet new arrivals to Nantucket for this last summer of over-the-top parties, meals at our favorite island eateries and drives down Polpis Road. Romance and mystery awaits you as you dive into this final act.

SWAN SONG how do I review thee? To start, rumors that one had to read Elins prior books before this one. Nope. I have read all her publications and reading them first is not a requirement. There is no exact connection to them. The storyline and approach to the current day to last week or a month ago was interesting, it didn’t sway the story by much. There were many characters, some unnecessary, more like she needed to fill a void versus having an existing character take on the “role” . The ending was rushed and strange and to me, untied. WHY? Is it a good beach read ? yes Is it her best or SWAN SONG ? ‘eh