Chanel Cleeton's historical mystery is an atmospheric read!
The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton is a gripping dual-timeline mystery that unfolds at Marbrisa, a glamorous waterfront Florida estate steeped in scandal and tragedy.
In 1918, Anna's wealthy businessman husband Robert built Marbrisa for her as a 40th birthday gift. It wasn't her dream to leave New York, but Florida is starting to become a hot spot, and Robert wants to try to show off and increase his fortune there. However, tragedy occurs, and scandal isn't far behind. In 1941, Carmen moved from Cuba to Marbrisa after the death of her parents to live with her sister Carolina and brother-in-law Asher, the new owners of Marbrisa. Marbrisa sat empty for years until Asher became inexplicably drawn to it and its restoration. However, as unsettling events occur and history repeats at Marbrisa, Carmen becomes compelled to uncover the truth.
The gothic vibes, intriguing characters, period detail, and lushly opulent setting combine to create a fun blend of mystery and historical fiction. The world-building is excellent, and the book is chillingly atmospheric despite being set in sunny Miami. Marbrisa, the grand house with dark secrets, is a character in its own right. I enjoy Chanel Cleeton's books, especially her descriptive writing, vivid imagery, and strong female characters. She has a way of immersing you in the locations of her books and connecting you to her characters. Both timelines were compelling and woven together as all the hidden things came to light.
I alternated between the book and the audiobook and enjoyed both. Caroline Hewitt narrates Anna, and Frankie Corzo narrates Carmen, and they are perfectly cast. Both bring the tension, fears, and emotions of their characters and the atmosphere of Marbrisa to life. They make this audiobook a bingeable listen.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Penguin Random House Audio for the free book and audiobook!
My steep was Vanilla Lavender Black from Club Magic Hour
A malty Assam with lavender and organic vanilla, this is aromatic and delicious hot or iced.
PUBLISHER'S SYNOPSIS:
Named an Anticipated Read of 2024 by Entertainment Weekly and a Best Historical Fiction novel of 2024 by BookBub.
As death stalks a gothic mansion in Miami, the lives of two women intertwine as the past and present collide in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton’s atmospheric new novel.
With the Great War finally behind them, many Americans flock to South Florida with their sights set on making a fortune. When wealthy industrialist Robert Barnes and his wife, Anna, build Marbrisa, a glamorous estate on Biscayne Bay, they become the toast of the newly burgeoning society. Anna and Robert appear to have it all, but in a town like Miami, appearances can be deceiving, and one scandal can change everything.
Years later following the tragic death of her parents in Havana, Carmen Acosta journeys to Marbrisa, the grand home of her estranged older sister, Carolina, and her husband, Asher Wyatt. On the surface, the gilded estate looks like paradise, but Carmen quickly learns that nothing at Marbrisa is as it seems. The house has a treacherous legacy, and Carmen’s own life is soon in jeopardy . . . unless she can unravel the secrets buried beneath the mansion’s facade and stop history from repeating itself.
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