Point of View

The Hotel Nantucket is told through third-person limited narration. Its focus often shifts between the main characters, such as Lizbet, Grace, Edie, and Chad. This mode of narration is useful given the plethora of secrets each staff member keeps. It also helps the reader keep track of the novel’s large cast and reveals the complex and three-dimensional nature of each character.

Chapters labelled “The Cobblestone Telegraph” go beyond the scope of the novel’s main plot to chronicle the rumors circulating Nantucket. These chapters are told through an unknown narrator who uses the pronouns “us” and “we” to convey their role as an active participant in the island’s community. Generally, switches between perspectives often occur mid-chapter and are indicated through a blank space between paragraphs. Hilderbrand makes the most of Grace’s omniscience, using her perspective to gradually uncover some of the staff...