One of the Best Beach Book Novelists, Elin Hilderbrand Masters Her 1st Mystery THE PERFECT COUPLE

Elin Hilderbrand (b Amer 1950) has a long, successful career cranking out summer romance reads, a.k.a. beach books for their guilty pleasure without a lot of strain on the brain.  Perhaps, The PERFECT COUPLE stands out from the pack because it's her 1st mystery novel and the plot twists more complex.  The other ingredients that pour into her cocktail of summer thirst quenchers are mired in the sands of Nantucket, NYC hottest spots and lots of love connections that come unraveled like a flimsy stopper knot not moored solidly to the dock.  The romance in this novel heats up but not necessarily from the start except for dalliances you know will not go the distance.  Celeste is the blonde ingenue new to the NYC "it" scene but is taken under the wing by Merritt (like the freeway) an "influencer" on the internet.  Merritt's posts earn her a lot of followers and with that, lots of posh perks.  Celeste is an only child of parents who were high school sweethearts.  Lovin' may give a thrill, but lovin' don't pay the bills.  Celeste's humble background renders her like a doe in the headlights in the bright city lights.  Her guileless wiles pave the way to win Ben Winbury's heart.  The Winbury family originally from London are wealthy aristocrats with homes in London, NYC and Nantucket.  Ben's parents are Greer, a successful mystery writer and Tag, a financial wiz and womanizer.  Ben has a brother Thomas married to Abby.  They're expecting their first child.  Ben's best friend is the handsome adonis who adores Ben but lusts for Celeste.  Lest you get notions whose won Celeste's heart despite her being engaged and hours away from marrying Ben, SPOILER ALERT - it's Shooter.  Shoot!  Don't worry that's not the tantalizing twists.  Merritt, the maid of honor to Celeste is found floating face down along the shore by her on the morning of Celeste's & Ben's wedding.  How will this mystery become uncovered?  For whom will true love be discovered?  Hilderbrand's shrewd writing and topsy turvy timelines keep the novel clipping at a swift pace.  Here's a clueless insight - the novel reads like a screenplay for a chick flick.  Here's my check list for casting:  Celeste, Emma Stone, Ben (real life ex-boyfriend, Andrew Garfield), Greer, Robin Wright, Tag, Armie Hammer, Merritt, Kiley Jenner (it's a mystery if she can act) and Schooner, Ansel Elgort.  Hilderbrand even winks at the notion of making this into a film. "The film montage starts once more:  Here are Celeste and Shooter riding the current down the beach again and again whooping like rodeo cowboys."  Hilderbrand's far from subtle  hyperbole are not encrypted.  But she's scripted a swift mystery romance that's like to prove more than satisfactory.  After all, "Anyone would be able to plot a murder."  But, "Nothing as it turns out can take the place of love."  The PERFECT COUPLE is a guilty pleasure to treasure on the beach.