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- Title: Troubles in Paradise
- Author: Elin Hilderbrand
- Narrator: Erin Bennett
- Length: 11:37:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 06/10/2020
- Publisher: Hachette Book Group USA
- Genre: Fiction & Literature, Contemporary Women, Family Life
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
The moment Erin Bennett’s warm narration of “Troubles in Paradise” first reached my ears, I was transported back to that rickety beachside bar in Antigua where I first discovered the magic of Caribbean storytelling. There’s something about island tales – the way they blend sun-soaked romance with undercurrents of danger – that Elin Hilderbrand captures perfectly in this final installment of her Paradise trilogy, and Bennett’s narration wraps around the prose like a tropical breeze.
As someone who’s spent years documenting the interplay between place and personal transformation, I was immediately drawn to how Hilderbrand uses St. John as more than just a backdrop. The island becomes a character itself – its lush hills and turquoise waters reflecting the Steele family’s emotional journey. Listening to Bennett describe the villa where Irene Steele grapples with her husband’s double life, I could practically smell the salt air and feel the humidity clinging to my skin, just like during my own stays in similar villas across the Caribbean.
Bennett’s vocal performance is masterful in its subtlety. She doesn’t just read the story – she embodies each character with distinct cadences that reminded me of those magical evenings in Oaxaca where stories came alive through voice alone. Her Irene carries the weight of betrayal with a dignified restraint, while the sons’ voices crack with youthful confusion that takes me back to my own early travels when the world seemed both vast and bewildering.
The novel’s central mystery – was Russ Steele’s helicopter crash truly an accident? – unfolds with the slow, tantalizing pace of a Caribbean sunset. Hilderbrand weaves together multiple perspectives with the skill of a seasoned travel writer (which, as one myself, I particularly appreciate). Each revelation lands with emotional precision, enhanced by Bennett’s impeccable timing. There’s a particular scene where Irene learns a shocking truth about her husband’s business dealings – Bennett delivers the lines with such controlled devastation that I had to pause my listening during a hike through the Andes, so powerful was the emotional resonance.
What makes this audiobook special is how it captures the dichotomy of paradise – the beautiful surface hiding complex depths. Hilderbrand’s depiction of expat life rings true to my experiences in island communities, where everyone has a story they’re running from or toward. Bennett’s narration highlights these nuances beautifully, especially in her handling of the local characters who observe the Steeles’ drama with knowing eyes.
The production quality is excellent, with crisp audio that maintains clarity even during the storm sequences (which Bennett delivers with appropriate intensity). At just under 12 hours, the pacing feels perfect – neither rushed nor sluggish, much like the island rhythm it portrays.
If I had one critique, it’s that some of the financial intrigue plotlines occasionally feel overly convoluted compared to the stronger emotional throughlines. However, Bennett’s engaging performance keeps even these sections compelling.
For listeners who enjoyed “The Identicals” or “Golden Girl”, this offers a similarly rich exploration of family dynamics, though with more suspense than Hilderbrand’s typical fare. It also makes an interesting companion to Caribbean-set mysteries like “Death in Paradise”, though with deeper psychological insight.
As the story builds to its satisfying conclusion, with all secrets revealed and the Steeles finding their new normal, I found myself reflecting on how we all carry our own versions of paradise – and the troubles that come with them. The audiobook’s greatest achievement is making that universal truth feel both profoundly personal and expansively beautiful.
With a suitcase full of stories and a heart full of islands,
Marcus Rivera
