Fans of gothic literature will love this book's awareness of the tropes while it maintains its emotional connections.

I have never read much gothic literature but if they come close to how amazing I thought this book was I may give them a shot. I could physically feel Thalia’s anxiety as she was hiding in under beds, in tunnels, tress and the further she got into unraveling this mystery the more submerged I was in her emotions. I honestly feel like this book was absolute perfection. Definitely a sit in on a gloomy day type of read just to set the stage as it may!

*I received a free ARC from NetGalley*

I think I finally have to accept the fact that I am just not a fan of Gothic novels. I honestly don't even know what makes a Gothic novel one specifically, but every time I read a book that is advertised as such, I just can not get into it. However, I can still appreciate the excellent writing and prose that went into the crafting of this one. Just because I could not manage to stay invested doesn't mean that my sister or best friend wouldn't love it. So I will still be recommending it to my audience.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this and leave a honest review.

Yes yes yes!!! Had my heart racing! Cannot wait to read more from this author.

Rating: 4.25 stars

The Daughters of Block Island opens with Thalia, our mc, who discovers that she has, or had, a sister named Blake. Blake, was recently murdered on Block Island where Thalia grew up and where their mother still lives. We dive into Blake's travels and time on Block Island leading up to her murder. About 25% into the story, we switch to Thalia, as she returns home to figure out what exactly happened to Blake and why her mother never told her she had a sister.

I personally enjoyed having both perspectives included. In fact, I'm not sure how invested I would have been in Blake's story if I didn't have her perspective. Another reviewer mentioned removing the prologue and I think the story could have worked so well without it. The switch in perspectives definitely would have been jarring, but at that point, you couldn't turn back. You would be compelled to find out what happened to Blake.

Speaking of Blake, I felt gripped by her story. She was struggling so much with her sobriety while dealing with some incredibly heavy feelings like abandonment and desperation. This ties in so well with the actual history of Block Island. (Yes, I was surprised to find out it was a real place too) I was devastated for Blake as the layers of circumstances around her murder were revealed.

This book was filled with so many twists and turns. So many times, I thought I knew who was the culprit, but I was wrong over and over again. The atmosphere was creepy and confusing in the best way. It truly is a Gothic novel where the house itself feels like it's a character and not just a backdrop.

If you're looking for something atmospheric and haunting and tragic, I think you might just find it in The Daughters of Block Island. This was my first time reading one of Carmen's stories and I couldn't put it down.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher. Thomas & Mercer, for an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

While the Gothic atmosphere was good, the characters could not keep me intrigued enough to continue on with this story. I wanted to love it, but it just didn't sit with me enough.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me access this book!

I was so excited to read a book set in Rhode Island! Super fun nods to different places in RI, including RI Hospital, Point Judith, (obviously block island itself), as well as the state correctional facility. As other reviewers mentioned, this could have completely excluded the second narrator whose perspective is the first 25% of the book before switching to the main character who picks up the story from there. It was interesting to have the additional perspective, but it overall didn’t add much to the story and honestly made it harder for me to get into the story. The investigation that was the focus of the remainder of the book was windy and often frustrating as many of the characters seemed completely different from one scene to the next and after the very slow beginning, it seemed all gas no brakes for the remainder of the book. (Meaning there were no slow downs or moments of exposition and trying to think through what they know. Instead, it felt like they were running from plot point to plot point without the thought expected from a main character who reported being a lawyer who spends a lot of time preparing for cases.)

Christa Carmen can write, and I'd be open to reading something else by her. This, however, was not a success for me.

I was given an electronic ARC of this book through Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I love gothic literature so I was intrigued by the beautiful cover and description of this book. But it was disappointing. I did not care for the story or prose, not enough ghosts, and unlikeable almost cartoonish characters. The setting of Block Island and the mansion were cool but not enough to save the story for me. I read the first 20% or do then jumped around to the end. If you like gothic fiction give it a chance, based on other positive reviews hopefully you’ll like it better than me.

Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I was really excited when I got this book because Block island is somewhere I’ve been and love. While I liked the concept of this book, I just couldn’t get swept away in it, despite the gothic vibes. The setting wasn’t strong enough and I wasn’t invested in the characters

I enjoyed this book, but have found it hard to compile my thoughts into a review. It's an intense story with compelling characters, with the search for answers seemed to overflow to me sometimes! Not a comfortable read, but an atmospheric one. I think I may have to revisit it again. Definitely a book for those dark, stormy winter nights.

With The Daughters of Block Island, Crista Carmen has done what many authors have tried and failed to accomplish — written a true gothic novel set in modern times.
Thalia Mills receives a letter out of the blue which reveals that she has a sister. Shortly after this she discovers that something horrible has happened to the sister she never met.
Blake Bronson, the sister in question, has travelled to Block Island to confront their mother. She is also escaping, at least for a while, her own troubled past.
The story initially follows Blake, then picks up with Thalia as the older daughter returns to the island home that she fled a decade prior. While there, each daughter must confront the insular inhabitants of the small town and attempt to unravel the web of historical and modern tragedy which has ensnared so many of the people there.
Carmen does a brilliant job of invoking classic tales while putting her own spin on the gothic tropes. There is a large, weather swept estate. The characters are conniving, each trying to protect themselves or others, and the terrible secrets which have followed the families involved for generations. Ghosts, literal labyrinthine twists, and closeted skeletons abound.
The Daughters of Block Island is a well written, immensely enjoyable thriller perfect, perfect reading for a gloomy night. The twists and turns and final reveals will keep you up until the sun rises.

Love gothic novels,it’s creepy, got a great setting! The end felt a little too long but otherwise I enjoyed

I appreciate having had an opportunity to read and review this book. The appeal of this particular book was not evident to me, and if I cannot file a generally positive review I prefer simply to advise the publisher to that effect and file no review at all.

I really enjoyed this Gothic-style suspense book! It is a little different from the typical mysteries I read, but I’m glad I dove into this one! The setting & characters are well-developed and so descriptive, and I was eager to uncover the characters’ history and twists the story took!

This book was filled with twists and turns throughout, but the biggest one for me as a Brit was learning that Block Island is actually a real place. With all the components of a traditional gothic novel, and plenty of tongue-in-cheek references to them, the story mostly follows lawyer Thalia as she returns to her birthplace island to learn more about the murder of her biological sister. However, I definitely preferred the first part of the book which focused initially on the aforementioned sister’s quest to find her birth mother. The framing of the prologue meant we already knew Blake’s death was coming, so the lead up to it felt even more chilling. What came afterwards was definitely a satisfying murder mystery, but didn’t quite live up to the high bar that had already been set for me personally.

This was a book I was shocked about!! It truly took me through the wringer and I thought I knew the ending but I didn’t. I loved it soooooo much!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The atmosphere of this book really hooked me. It was creepy and interesting and just a really great read all around.
I liked the characters and the setting. This was a great read for me.

Thalia receives a letter from a sister she never knew she had that was posted a day after she died trying to visit their Mother on Block Island. Thalia then heads to the Island to confront her mother, who she hasn’t seen in 10 years. Her sister’s death has been ruled a murder and her letter implied ghostly occurrences were happening at the B and B where she was staying. Thalia is determined to find the truth. about her sister’s parentage and her murder.
Good gothic read with a creepy hotel, dreary weather, and ghosts.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

I was fighting to get through this because the ARC was formatted oddly. But since it’s out, I’m throwing in the towel and just getting the book.