Chapter 23: Nantucket – The Perfect Couple Summary and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Chapter 23 follows the ripple effect of Merritt’s murder across Nantucket as the island buzzes with unverified rumors. At the restaurant Cru, a group of New York women—including Sage Kennedy—hear from their server that a maid of honor was found dead. Sage recognizes Merritt from Instagram and recalls their time working together at Brightstreet, where Merritt had an affair with the married owner Travis Darling. Sage saw Cordelia Darling, Travis’s wife, launch a vicious campaign to destroy Merritt’s career and reputation, even contacting Merritt’s parents. Sage now wonders if Cordelia could have come to Nantucket to kill Merritt, though she dismisses the idea as too cinematic.

At the Greydon House, Heather Clymer spreads the news she heard at a thrift shop. Laney and Casper Morris, vacationing from New York, connect the story to the wedding of Benjamin Winbury—Benji is the ex-boyfriend of Laney’s friend Jules. Laney has been spying on the wedding for Jules and recently texted a photo of Shooter Uxley with a blonde woman (later identified as Celeste). The couple decides to skip the Whaling Museum and go to the beach instead.

Back at the Winbury estate, Benji, his father Tag, and brother Thomas are sequestered in Tag’s study, waiting to be questioned by police. Benji is in a state of shock, grappling with conflicting emotions: grief for Merritt, anger that his wedding day has been ruined, and a deeper sadness that he may have lost Celeste. He recalls visiting Celeste at the hospital, where she said Merritt’s death was her fault. Benji lashed out, blaming Merritt and accusing her of trying to ruin the wedding. Celeste rebuked him, suggesting that someone in his family made a grave mistake. She then asked him to leave and said she wanted to speak to the police alone.

Reverend Derby visits the study, offering comfort, but Benji is not receptive. Greer arrives, well-dressed, and reports that she has been interviewed by state police, who seemed to have it in for her. She mentions that the chief asked about Featherleigh’s inn. Tag admits that Featherleigh was the last person to see Merritt. Greer then presses Tag about a two-person kayak that was found overturned on the beach with only one oar. Tag initially denies taking anyone out, but under pressure he finally confesses: he took Merritt out in the kayak.

Key Events

Sage Kennedy hears the news at Cru and connects Merritt’s Instagram to the murder, recalling Cordelia Darling’s past revenge against Merritt.
Laney and Casper Morris learn of the death and decide to abandon their museum plans for the beach.
Benji remains in his father’s study with Tag and Thomas, struggling to process the cancellation of the wedding.
Benji recounts his tense visit with Celeste in the hospital, where she implied a family member was responsible.
Reverend Derby arrives but fails to provide the spiritual comfort Benji needs.
Greer Winbury reveals that the police have interviewed her and are asking about Featherleigh.
Tag reluctantly admits that he took Merritt out in the kayak, the last known interaction before her death.

Character Development

Benjamin Winbury: Benji’s emotional turmoil deepens. He is not only grieving but also feeling resentment toward Merritt and fear that he has lost Celeste. His confrontation with Celeste reveals a possessive side (“She was supposed to be his”) and a willingness to deflect blame. His relationship with his family is tested when he hears his father’s confession.
Tag Winbury: Previously depicted as the patrician patriarch, Tag now emerges as a secretive figure. His admission about the kayak suggests he may have been the last person with Merritt, casting suspicion on him and straining the family’s “normal” facade.
Greer Winbury: Greer maintains composure, putting on lipstick despite the crisis. She takes charge by delivering information to the family and questioning Tag directly, showing her practical and perhaps manipulative side.
Sage Kennedy: Though a minor character, Sage’s backstory reinforces Merritt’s past and introduces a plausible suspect (Cordelia) while also highlighting the lingering impact of Merritt’s affair.
Celeste Otis (offstage): Through Benji’s memory, Celeste appears devastated yet resolute. Her accusation that a Winbury family member made a mistake shifts the narrative focus from Merritt to the family.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Rumors and Gossip: The chapter opens with “nobody knows what happened, everything and anything becomes a possibility.” The spread of the murder story across Nantucket—through waiters, thrift shops, and hotel lobbies—shows how quickly speculation fills a vacuum of facts.
Secrecy and Family Image: The Winburys are described as a “happy, normal family, without secrets or drama,” yet Tag’s kayak confession shatters that image. The study, a masculine sanctuary filled with antiques, becomes a bunker where uncomfortable truths emerge.
Class and Privilege: The casual way the wealthy characters process tragedy—skipping the museum, ordering scotch, maintaining appearances—underscores their insulated world. Greer’s insistence on wearing lipstick for the police exemplifies the performative aspect of upper-class life.
Blame and Responsibility: Benji initially blames Merritt for sabotaging the wedding; Celeste refuses to accept that narrative and instead points to a family member. The kayak revelation suggests that the question of responsibility is far more complex.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 23 is the first chapter after Merritt’s body is discovered, and it shifts the novel’s focus from the wedding preparation to the investigation. It introduces multiple new perspectives (Sage, Laney, Casper) that deepen the mystery by revealing Merritt’s past and the network of people who might have wanted her dead. The chapter also delivers a major plot twist: Tag Winbury admits to taking Merritt out in the kayak, making him the last person to see her alive. This confession transforms the Winbury family from victims of circumstance to potential suspects. Benji’s estrangement from Celeste sets the stage for a fractured relationship that will likely drive the remainder of the story.

Study Questions and Answers

What does Sage Kennedy recall about Merritt’s past, and why does she suspect Cordelia Darling?
Sage remembers working with Merritt at Brightstreet, where Merritt had an affair with the owner Travis Darling. When Cordelia discovered the affair, she waged a vengeful campaign, bad-mouthing Merritt to clients and even contacting Merritt’s parents. The intensity of Cordelia’s vitriol makes Sage wonder if she might have traveled to Nantucket to kill Merritt, disguising herself as catering staff.
Why does Celeste ask Benji to leave the hospital, and what does she imply about his family?
After Benji suggests that Merritt might have committed suicide to ruin the wedding, Celeste becomes upset. She tells Benji he cannot imagine that someone in his own house made a “very, very grave mistake.” Her words imply that a member of the Winbury family is responsible for Merritt’s death, and she wants to speak to the police alone, without Benji present.
What is Tag Winbury’s confession at the end of the chapter, and why is it significant?
Under Greer’s questioning, Tag admits that he took Merritt out in the two-person kayak that was later found overturned on the beach. This confession is significant because it places Tag with Merritt shortly before her death, making him a prime suspect and shattering the family’s claim of being normal and without secrets.