Dive into Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand — the final novel of the retired “Queen of the Beach Reads.” It’s a five-star read that offers so much satisfying content for her fans, from Nantucket parties to a mystery and repeat characters. You’ll learn about the plot, characters, pros, cons, what to read beforehand, and more. Let’s take a literary escape to Nantucket!
Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand: A Book Review (Without Spoilers)
Read this book in The Literary Lifestyle’s Summer Reading Challenge For Adults.
Quick Plot Synopsis
- New Book Release Date: June 11, 2024
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
In Swan Song, the beloved Nantucket Police Chief Ed Kapenash is set to retire at summer’s end when he decides to become involved in one last investigation: a catastrophic house fire that occurs at the same time the owners’ personal concierge goes missing off their boat.
Prior to the fire, the glamorous Australian couple Bull and Leslee Richardson were the new buyers of the famed $20 million “Triple Eight” home on Pocomo Road, Nantucket. They brought along with them to the island a personal concierge, Colleen Coyle (“Coco”), whom they met by chance.
Immediately, the Richardsons become the talk of the town. They host lavish parties at the property and befriend locals as they seek to become members of The Field and Oar Club.
Tensions rise all summer among the large cast of characters until the Richardsons’ home goes up in flames, and Coco mysteriously disappears while on board the Richardsons’ boat for their vow renewal.
Ed can’t help but become involved in an investigation one last time, especially since Coco had befriended their family.
Is Coco a victim or a suspect?
If you’re reading it for book club, check out these Swan Song Book Club Questions.
The Pros and Cons of Elin Hilderbrand’s Last Book
My Rating: 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars for a perfect final chapter (literally and figuratively).
Yes, it’s worth reading! Swan Song is one of the best Elin Hilderbrand books.
Pros:
Fans are in for a treat with the latest (and final) Elin Hilderbrand book release: the aptly titled Swan Song. First, the title and book cover perfectly sum up her career as “Queen of the Beach Reads.”
Second, I always find stories that begin with a house burned to the ground immensely propulsive, and this one certainly did not disappoint.
Now, onto the details. Elin Hilderbrand blended everything her readers crave into one final narrative: characters we know and love, Nantucket references, pop culture references, summer scenes, drama, romance, mystery, and “rich people problems.”
In addition, she incorporated the most extravagant parties I’ve ever read about. The pink and white party’s food, drinks, decor, music, style, and antics blew me away as a reader. I couldn’t get enough of the details!
The final chapter was exquisite. I’m tearing up just thinking about the last few sentences!
Cons:
The loose ends of the mystery tied up a little too quickly and neatly for me.
Guide to the Swan Song Characters
Swan Song has a pretty large cast of characters, especially since Hilderbrand included so many characters readers know and love from her previous books in this, her last book.
Below are quick descriptions of the most major characters to keep track of:
- Ed Kapenash: Nantucket’s retiring chief of police
- Andrea: his wife (both are part of “The Castaways” friends group)
- Kacy: his daughter
- Dr. Isla Quintanilla: Kacy’s secret lover who is engaged to Dr. Rondo
- Eric: his son
- Avalon: Eric’s girlfriend
- Chloe and Finn: his adopted children, the biological children of Greg and (Andrea’s cousin) Tess MacAvoy, who drowned in a sailing accident
- Bull and Leslee Richardson: the rich Australian couple that comes to town
- Colleen (Coco) Coyle: the Richardsons’ new personal concierge on the island
- Lamont Oakley: captain of the Richardsons’ boat and Coco’s love interest
- Glynnie: his ailing mother
- Javier and Esteban Valladares: local teen brothers who help him on the boat
- Addison and Phoebe Wheeler: Andrea’s best friends, who are part of “The Castaways” friends group. Addison is the Richardsons’ real estate agent. Phoebe is on the membership committee at The Field and Oar Club.
- Jeffrey and Delilah Drake: Andrea’s best friends, who are part of “The Castaways” friends group. They own a farm. Delilah is on the Nantucket Food, Fuel, and Rental Assistance board.
- Blond Sharon: the local gossip, an aspiring writer
- Walker: her ex-husband, who left her for his young physical therapist, Bailey
- Romeo: her love interest, who works for the Steamship Authority
- Eddie Pancik (“Fast Eddie”): “Nantucket real estate royalty and Sharon’s male counterpart in the gossip department.”
- Grace: his wife
- Dr. Andy McMann: local dentist
- Rachel: his wife
- Zara Washington: the incoming chief of police
What to Read Before Swan Song: The Nantucket Novels
Swan Song (2024) is the fourth book in Elin Hilderbrand’s Nantucket series, which also includes:
- A Summer Affair (2008)
- The Castaways (2009)
- The Perfect Couple (2018)
Reading Order: Read Swan Song as the fourth novel in the Nantucket series or as a standalone novel (with some spoilers).
If you don’t have time to read all four novels in the Nantucket series but still want to familiarize yourself with the major characters before you read Swan Song, then I recommend reading The Castaways. That particular book follows the story of a group of Nantucket friends who are all very central to Swan Song.
Being Elin Hilderbrand’s final novel, she also refers to many more of her previous characters and plots from many more of her books in Swan Song. That being said, she does well at making them more like “Easter eggs” to be spotted by fans than spoilers of those novels.
In conclusion, you really can’t go wrong in any order in which you choose to read Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand.
Reading Tip: Elin Hilderbrand narrates the final chapter of the audiobook.
About Elin Hilderbrand
about
A Pennsylvania native, Elin Hilderbrand, is a Nantucket-based American author known for her bestselling beach read novels, novellas, and short stories. Her captivating novels blend romance, high-class drama, and picturesque Nantucket settings.
Elin Hilderbrand graduated from Johns Hopkins University and pursued her graduate studies at the famed University of Iowa’s Writers’ Workshop.
She debuted with The Beach Club in 2000 and has since published over 25 novels, amidst personal challenges, including a battle with breast cancer.
Elin Hilderbrand announced plans to retire in 2024 after the release of her last book, Swan Song. However, she signed a deal to co-write two books with her daughter, Shelby Cunningham, to be published in 2024 and 2025.
Related Elin Hilderbrand Posts
- Review of The Perfect Couple (Book 3 of 4 in the Nantucket Series)
- Elin Hilderbrand’s Series of Books
- Authors Similar to Elin Hilderbrand
remember, it’s a good day to read a book. – jules
