The Good Bride is a contemporary mystery and thriller about a family hosting an extravagant wedding in a town still recovering from a hurricane.

Ruth and Teo decide to hold their wedding in the Florida Panhandle city of Blue Compass. The small fishing town has managed to keep out big hotels and developers, but as they rebuild after a devastating hurricane, the wolves are circling. At first, the wedding plans seem to be going smoothly, but when the bride’s expensive necklace goes missing and her sister receives threatening messages on Instagram, it becomes clear that someone has it in for the family.

The story is told from the points of view of Ruth, Teo, wedding planner Karla, and police chief Marcus. Although the mystery (and its conclusion) wasn’t particularly exciting for me, I enjoyed the depiction of a town trying to rebuild while fighting back against low insurance payouts and encroaching high-rise hotels. I especially appreciated Marcus’s perspective, as he tries to solve a crime amidst messy family drama. Readers with complicated family dynamics—especially involving fathers and daughters—will likely connect with Ruth’s relationships with her parents and sisters. However, I do wish Ruth herself had been a more fleshed-out and dynamic character.

Overall, this is a mystery and family drama that readers who prefer less gritty stories without gore may enjoy.