Book Review: Nantucket Nights

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Nantucket Nights     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Elin Hilderbrand
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Dunne, Jun 2002, $23.95, 233 pp.

Every Labor Day weekend for the past two decades the three fortyish women drop everything to spend time together at Nantucket. Kayla Montero has four children and believes her wealthy husband probably has mistresses wherever he globally travels on business. Rich from investments Antoinette Riley enjoys her current "crazy sex" fling, but her daughter Lindsey, given up for adoption as a baby, has found her and wants to meet her. Though married and a successful lawyer Valerie Gluckstern, is having an affair that she plans to reveal to the others at the swim tonight.

Antoinette swims out to sea, but never returns. The Police and Coast Guard conduct a search, but fail to find her. The next day Kayla informs Lindsey that her biological mother vanished at sea. With the disappearance a dark secret that ties the trio even more deeply together begins to reveal deceptions leaving no one remaining the same.

Though the behavior of the lead trio sometimes borders on the absurd and surreal, NANTUCKET NIGHTS is an enjoyable soap opera. The story line moves forward rather quickly with some elements of a thriller to propel the plot ahead. However, the enjoyment with Elin Hilderbrand’s "Beach Club" read is the constant changing of feelings between love, hate, and pity that the readers will have towards the three middle aged women until the "final secret" completes the ties.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner