222 | The Perfect Couple Showrunner on How To Craft a Murder Mystery (ft. Jenna Lamia)

Set in 1988 in South Carolina, the novel follows Abby Rivers and her best friend Gretchen Lang as they navigate high school. After a night involving LSD and a mysterious incident, Gretchen begins to act strangely, leading Abby to suspect demonic possession. The story delves into themes of teenage friendship, the challenges of growing up, and the horrors of demonic possession, all set against the backdrop of 1980s culture. Despite its horror elements, the book is also a heartfelt exploration of the power of friendship and the struggles of adolescence[2][4][5].

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand is set in Nantucket during the peak of wedding season. The story revolves around the Otis-Winbury wedding, which is disrupted by the discovery of the maid of honor's body in Nantucket Harbor just hours before the ceremony. Chief of Police Ed Kapenash leads the investigation, interviewing the bride, groom, and other members of the wedding party, revealing a web of secrets and complex relationships. The novel flashes back to multiple timelines, exposing affairs, family dynamics, and the intricate connections between the characters. Despite the tragic event, the book maintains a breezy tone characteristic of Hilderbrand's beach reads, while also delivering a clever whodunit[2][3][4].