What Happens in Paradise

What Happens in Paradise (2019) is a contemporary mystery novel by American author Elin Hilderbrand. It is the second installment in the three-part Paradise series, which was a New York Times bestseller. Hilderbrand is an author known for her popular fiction, often set in idyllic vacation destinations like Nantucket, and she spends her winters writing on St. John, the setting for this trilogy. The novel follows Irene Steele and her sons as they relocate to the Caribbean and continue to unravel the truth behind the secret life and mysterious death of Irene’s husband, Russ Steele, only to become entangled in a world of crime and deception. The book explores themes of The Tension Between Objective Fact and Emotional Reality, The Challenges of Choosing to Love Again After Heartbreak, and Everyday Rituals as Catalysts for Human Connection.

This guide refers to the 2024 Back Bay Books paperback reissue edition.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of death, substance use, illness, and sexual content.

Plot Summary

Irene Steele, recently widowed, is back in her Iowa City home after learning of her husband Russ’s death in a helicopter crash and discovering the existence of his secret life on St. John in the US Virgin Islands with his mistress, Rosie, who was also killed in the crash, and their 12-year-old daughter, Maia. Irene is plagued by a recurring dream of Russ on a St. John beach, warning her of a “destructive” (5) storm and referencing a rooster and two hens, which she interprets as Russ, herself, and Rosie. A week after her return, FBI Agent Colette Vasco calls to inform her that the crash was likely caused by an explosive device and that Russ’s boss, Todd Croft, is under investigation.

Irene has told no one in Iowa about Russ’s death except her sons, Baker and Cash. She finally informs their family attorney, Ed Sorley, who reveals that Russ recently updated his will, making Irene the executor and the sole beneficiary of a new life insurance policy valued at $3 million. Russ told Ed, “Irene is the only person I trust to do the right thing” (14). Irene’s own investigation into their finances reveals that Russ’s last two deposits were made in cash, and Ed discovers that their Iowa home was purchased with a cashier’s check from a bank called SGMT in the Cayman Islands.

In St. John, Ayers (Rosie’s best friend) has reunited with her ex-boyfriend, Mick, in the wake of her discovery that Baker and Cash (Irene’s sons) hid the fact that they are Russ’s sons. Ayers agrees to help Huck sort through Rosie’s belongings and discovers a collection of hidden journals in Rosie’s room that provide insight into her secret relationship with Russ, whom she identifies only as “R.” Ayers secretly takes the journals to read in private. She and Huck also find $125,000 in cash hidden in one of Rosie’s dresser drawers.

Meanwhile, Irene’s sons each independently decide to relocate to St. John on a more permanent basis. In Iowa, Cash, whose outdoor supply business in Colorado has failed, feels aimless. He receives a text from Ayers about a job opening for a first mate on the charter boat, Treasure Island, where she works. He decides to move to St. John and live in his father’s villa, a plan his mother supports financially. In Houston, Baker’s wife, Anna, and her partner, Louisa, announce they are moving to Cleveland for new jobs. They invite Baker and Baker and Anna’s son, Floyd, to come with them. Baker declines, but decides that since he’s now free from his life in Houston, he will plan a two-week exploratory trip to St. John with Floyd, intending to pursue a relationship with Ayers.

Huck reports the cash he and Ayers found in Rosie’s room to Agent Vasco. The first mate on Huck’s boat, Adam, quits, leaving him in need of a replacement. Inspired by a conversation with a charter client about second chances, Huck impulsively calls Irene in Iowa and offers her the job as his first mate, which she accepts. A flashback from Rosie’s journal reveals the beginning of her affair with Russ in February 2006. While working as a waitress at Caneel Bay, she was accosted by her volatile ex-boyfriend, Oscar. Russ, a polite, middle-aged guest visiting the island with Todd Croft, intervened and defended her. The next day, Rosie sought him out, and they connected over his unhappy marriage and new job offer, beginning a passionate weekend affair.

Back in Iowa, Irene quits her job as an editor, confiding the full story of Russ’s death and double life to her new boss, Mavis Key. Soon after, FBI agents arrive at her home with a search warrant related to white-collar crime. Agent Beckett confirms that agents are simultaneously searching the St. John villa. After the FBI leaves, Irene discovers a hidden compartment in the library containing a bundle of romantic postcards signed “M.L.” (for Mona Lisa, a nickname Russ had for Rosie). Resolved, she confirms with Huck that she is coming to St. John to take the job.

The Steele family begins to converge on St. John. Cash arrives at the villa to find that the FBI has searched it, and the villa is now under surveillance. He goes hiking with Ayers and Maia, and is disappointed to learn that Ayers is still interested in Baker despite being back together with Mick. Later, Cash is shocked when Baker and Floyd also arrive at the villa. Irene calls Cash, learns Baker is there, and reveals that she, too, is on her way. That night, Baker finds Ayers in town and tells her he is moving to St. John for her. The investigation intensifies when Huck learns from a local source that the villa’s property managers, Paulette and Douglas Vickers, have fled the island just before the FBI arrived at their office.

Another flashback from Rosie’s journal details the years following her affair with Russ when she discovered she was pregnant with his child. Her attempt to contact him through Todd Croft resulted in a $10,000 cash payment, which Rosie viewed as a bribe to keep quiet. Her mother, LeeAnn, read her diary, discovered the truth about Russ, and forbade Rosie from ever seeing him again, threatening to call his wife. Russ returned to St. John months later, but Rosie, fearing her mother’s threat, refused to see him. He began sending her monthly packages of cash. Their daughter, Maia, was born, and Rosie listed the father as “Unknown” on the birth certificate. Years later, after LeeAnn died of heart failure, Rosie saw Russ’s yacht, Bluebeard, and went to their old hotel room at Caneel Bay, where she found him waiting. They reunited after an eight-year separation and entered into a long-term affair.

Back in the present, Irene arrives in St. John and is picked up by Huck, who tells her about the $125,000 in cash he and Ayers found in Rosie’s room. Irene excels as Huck’s first mate, and they develop a close working relationship that blossoms into a deep friendship and burgeoning romance. After an emotionally taxing charter with a family whose son has cancer, Huck takes Irene on a surprise date to the St. Thomas Yacht Club, where they share their first kiss. Ayers’s life becomes more complicated when she sees Mick on the ferry with his former fling, Brigid, and breaks up with him via text. That night, she calls Baker to her apartment, confesses her feelings for him, and they sleep together. Baker leaves for Houston the next day for his son’s school benefit auction, but promises to return and move permanently to St. John.

While Baker is away, Cash is tasked with getting a drunk charter guest, Maxwell, home safely. He discovers that Maxwell is visiting her friend, Tilda, a waitress from La Tapa. Tilda and Cash leave Maxwell to sleep and go on a date. At the school auction in Houston, Baker anonymously donates a week’s stay at the St. John villa, raising a significant sum for the school. He tells his friends he is moving.

Mick surprises Ayers by renting a beautiful cottage for them and convinces her to delay their breakup and go out on a boat for a “last hurrah.” At a party with friends in Christmas Cove, Mick publicly proposes. Feeling pressured by their friends, Ayers accepts. Cash witnesses the proposal and sends a photo to Baker in Houston. Baker calls Ayers, who explains her decision by comparing Mick’s infidelity to a “hiccup” (297) that many relationships survive, including her own parents’ marriage.

The next day, Maia goes hiking with Cash, Tilda, and her crush, Shane. She lies to Cash, telling him Huck has a late charter, so that he will let her stay with her friends. When Cash discovers the lie and cannot find Maia, he panics and calls Irene, who informs Huck. Huck is furious with Cash, which creates a rift between him and Irene. After a panicked search, Huck finally receives a call from Mick, who has spotted Maia on the beach with her friends. Maia tells Huck they were comforting a friend whose parents are divorcing. She also says that she saw Mick kissing Brigid on the beach earlier that evening. Huck goes to the villa to apologize to Cash and Irene. Irene tells Huck she has feelings for him but needs more time before starting a relationship.

A final flashback from Rosie’s journal reveals that her affair with Russ continued. He purchased the villa and let Maia decorate a room for herself. Eventually, Russ and Rosie confessed to Maia that Russ is her father. Russ revealed to Rosie that his work for Ascension involved money laundering, but that he planned to leave it behind. Later, Todd Croft visited La Tapa and implicitly threatened Rosie to ensure Russ stayed with the company. Rosie gave Russ an ultimatum to propose by New Year’s Day 2019, or she would leave him. Russ agreed to quit Ascension and planned a celebratory trip to Anegada on New Year’s Day, with Todd’s partner flying them by helicopter.

In the present, Ayers texts Baker that Mick cheated on her and she’s giving the ring back. Baker prepares for his early morning flight to St. John. At the villa, as Huck is leaving after his conversation with Irene, four FBI vehicles arrive. Agent Vasco informs Irene that Todd Croft has been arrested for a fraud and money-laundering scheme totaling $3.5 billion and has named Russ as a co-conspirator. The FBI seizes the St. John villa and Irene’s restored Victorian home in Iowa City, as both were purchased with illegal funds. Irene is told to pack one suitcase and vacate the property immediately. As she stands in shock, Huck runs back up the stairs to her side.