My first book by Chanel Cleeton, and it was a solid historical mystery. It was atmospheric and immersive with how descriptive the writing is. We get dual POV and past/present timelines. The whodunit murder kept me reading until the very end, and while I did guess the person right, there was a plot twist I didn't see coming. •*
This book would be a good choice if you are in the mood for historical fiction with a slow-burn whodunit murder mystery and feminist undertones.

3.5 stars

In her latest work, Chanel Cleeton tackles the gothic theme by centering her dual timeline story around Marbrisa, a glamorous mansion built in Miami, Florida right after the Great War. The over-the-top mansion is a gift that Robert Barnes surprises his wife with for her birthday, but during the inaugural party to celebrate the estate’s completion, tragedy strikes and their lives are changed forever. More than 20 years later, Carmen Acosta has no place to go after the tragic death of her parents in an accident, so she moves into the Marbrisa, the mansion that is currently home to her sister Carolina and her rich husband Asher Wyatt. Prior to her arrival though, strange things were already happening at the mansion but things escalate soon after, to the point where Carmen’s life is in danger. Is Marbrisa cursed and haunted like people believe it is? Or are the strange events the result of something more sinister?

Overall, Cleeton’s latest foray into Gothic fiction was entertaining, but I enjoyed her previous works more. While the writing was good (as expected), the plot was way too predictable, to the point that I already had everything figured out less than halfway through the story, which of course took the “suspense” out of things (not to mention some loose ends never got explained, which created a few plot holes here and there). The other issue I had was the narrative structure: the story was told in a dual timeline structure, with each time timeline narrated from the first person perspective of its respective protagonist— Anna in 1918 and Carmen in 1941. The two protagonists couldn’t have been more different in terms of age, race, life experiences, circumstances, etc., yet at times, I found it difficult to tell the two narrative voices apart and had to go back to check the chapter heading to remind myself which timeline I was reading. This got a bit tiring after awhile, though it wasn’t to the extent where it prevented me from moving through the story at a decent pace.

As I mentioned earlier, I did enjoy this one, but I have to admit that I was a little bummed that the story this time around had no connection to the Perez family (though I shouldn’t have been surprised, since this book and her Cleeton’s previous one were both standalone). With that said, there was an indirect link to one of Cleeton’s previous novels — a “blink and you’ll miss it” reference that I totally missed and only found out about after reading the Author’s Note.

Even though I didn’t take to this one as much as I thought I would, Cleeton continues to be one of those “go-to” authors for me whose works I will continue to read regardless (though I do hope she writes another book with a Perez family connection at some point).

Received ARC from Berkeley via NetGalley.

Review will be posted on 5/9/24

Anna Barnes' husband has built her a palatial mansion, Marbrisa, outside Miami and it's intended to rival all the new post-WWII development that is going on in Florida. It's opulent and a sight to behold. Anna isn't that excited about it though. She feels Florida is too hot, has scary insects, and an annoying social circle. Nonetheless, they threw a party when the house was done being built and it was a disaster as a woman ended up dead. As time goes by, Anna knows her husband is keeping secrets. Fast forward many years later and Carmen visits her sister's family at Marbrisa. Once she arrives at the estate, she notices her sister is acting strangely, the mansion is downright creepy, there's a detective that keeps popping up, and a spooky garden maze. This isn't what she expected and as time goes by she wonders what secrets lurk in this estate and wonders what her sister is keeping from her. Chanel Cleeton weaves these two storylines together beautifully in The House on Biscayne Bay with the estate as a major part of the story. If you enjoy some Gothic suspense, look no further!

At first, I must admit I had no idea how Cleeton was going to bring these two women's stories together, but slowly she did and quite well. Both women, despite their different backgrounds and time periods, they have a lot in common and both want to uncover the truth surrounding Marbrisa and their families. I really enjoyed how Cleeton merged the two stories. I also really loved the Gothic suspense elements as well as her depiction of Old World Florida- very atmospheric! The incorporation of a murder mystery only added to my enjoyment as it kept me flipping the pages. The House on Biscayne Bay is another hit from Chanel Cleeton and for fans of historical beach reads, this novel would be a great addition to your beach bag this summer.

Oh Chanel Cleeton. I love her books so much. Historical Fiction has a big part of my heart, and this one was a great change of pace for me. It wasn't nearly as heavy on the heart as most HF books. There was a murder mystery aspect to this one that I didn't know was coming (I go into books blind), and I loved it. If you enjoy dual time frames, then this is your jam right here. I loved how it all came together in the end...I guessed most of it and was happy with the outcome.

This story is told from dual POVs in a dual timeline, though they’re both historical timelines (the first in the late 1910s to early 1920s, the second in the 1930s I believe). The author did a good job at creating parallels between the timelines to make the book feel a bit more cohesive and to add to some of the mystery (is the house haunted? Is it cursed?) Probably the strongest aspect of this work was how well the author brought the setting and the house to life.

The pacing of this one was quite slow, though it picked up a little towards the end. The ending wasn’t my favorite and the twist felt a little silly/forced, but it did wrap everything up neatly. The characters were weak. There was very little insight into the characters’ feelings or motivations, and this added to their lack of development and depth. With the minimal plot and weak characters, this relatively short book felt quite long.

If you’re interested in historical fiction and slower mysteries, then you may like this one. My thanks to NetGalley and Berkely Publishing Group for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

3.5 stars
Dual times-lines, the author brings us from 1918 to 1940s Miami set on a beautiful (gothic) estate with a mystery unfolding. I felt transported in the era and it was interesting to see old world Miami, but I had a hard time keeping up with the story. I love Chanel Cleetons writing style - if you’ve read her previously you’ll love this also! I kinda of expected more romance (I always need a touch of romance let’s not kid ourselves), so don’t let yourself get caught up waiting for that. The house was definitely a character of its own, as most gothic stories go I feel ✨

It’s so Enjoyable to see historical fiction outside of the typical “war” setting, and I think Chanel
Is great with always bringing us new stories.

Cleeton’s dual-period mystery intermixes tropical heat and gothic chills in a satisfying way as two women, decades apart, face up to shocking truths. The glamour factor is high as Anna Barnes and Carmen Acosta each arrive at Marbrisa, a palatial Miami showpiece, but despite its ornate furnishings and beautifully manicured grounds, neither finds their new home comfortable at all.

Just after the Great War, Anna’s longtime husband, Robert, a wealthy businessman, whisks her from New York to Florida and presents her with Marbrisa as a birthday gift. Anna is a shy woman with subdued tastes; the architect notes her dismay and tries adapting it to her preferences, but just when she’s getting accustomed to her new residence, a young woman attending the Barneses’ glitzy evening gala is discovered drowned. In 1941, eighteen-year-old Carmen moves from Cuba after her parents’ deaths to live with her older sister Carolina and brother-in-law Asher Wyatt, Marbrisa’s new owners. Carolina, to whom Carmen was never close, seems unnaturally guarded and may be having an affair. With nowhere else to go, and Asher overseeing her inheritance, Carmen doesn’t know who to trust.

How well do we really know the people we love? This important question guides the novel’s suspense. To Anna, Robert has always been a devoted partner, but does he have secrets? Who is causing disturbances at Marbrisa in the ´40s, and how do they relate to the reasons why the house was abandoned and believed cursed? The action moves fast, and Cleeton proves a daring writer as the plot twists unexpectedly. Alongside deadly alligators, shrieking peacocks, and fierce winds whipping off the bay, the uneasy atmosphere suits the historical backdrop, with rich northerners swooping in on undeveloped Florida land, and locals eyeing the rich interlopers with curious envy and resentment. The ending is perfect, too.

Published in the Historical Novels Review, May 2024

I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

I've been a Chanel Cleeton fan since her first book. I've also turned my mom into a fan, but admittedly, I haven't picked up her last few books. My library doesn't have them all. They have none on audio, and despite my best intentions, the past couple remain unread. So when I had the opportunity to join the #bekleywritesstrongwomen #berkleybuddyreads, I jumped at it to hold myself accountable.

What I loved was all the classic Chanel Cleeton aspects. She is so amazing and bringing a place to life. In this book, it was kind of about the setting (early Miami) but moreso about bringing this gothic mansion to life. She is also an author who gets me fully invested in both timelines in multi-timeline novels. Often, one falls flat, and in this book, I may have had a favorite, but I was invested in both.

This book had more of a gothic vibe with the mystery than her earlier books. I was a little nervous, but it ended up working for me, and I'm excited to see which direction she takes her next novel.

Beautiful, haunting, and as atmospheric as the cover promises, The House of Biscayne Bay is another stunning historical release from Chanel Cleeton. In the gorgeous, untouched land of Miami is Biscayne Bay and wealthy businessman Robert Barnes has etched out a piece of land with an architect to build for his wife the most beautiful, grand estate, Marbrisa. Anna Barnes instantly feels a sense of foreboding, but ever the dutiful wife keeps mum as the architect delivers her the gardens of her dreams. Years later Carmen Acosta arrives to Marbrisa where her sister and husband now live. She has arrived to start over after the loss of her parents, but nothing prepared her for the scream of the peacocks and the haunting history within the walls of the grand estate.

I absolutely love Chanel Cleeton, she somehow brings both the characters and their settings to life. Marbrisa is a character in its own right, the walls alive with secrets as Anna and later Carmen pass through them. Anna is such a classic, wealthy, time period accurate wife. Her wealth is with her husband, the decisions held by him, her happiness hinged on his own. It is only through Marbrisa that she discovers herself, the truth, and the will to fight for her needs again. Carmen, on the other hand, is the independent individual that Anna was not. She is at Marbrisa to gain that independence even further, but it is through the mystery of the home and its past that she truly discovers who she really is as well. The House on Biscayne Bay is as much a tale of self discovery as it is of love, loss, and the mistrials of fortune.

I read/listened to The House on Biscayne Bay in just one day! I think the narrators did a wonderful job doing Anna and Carmen's voices. I love how both women had Marbrisa in common and how it all came together. It was a very engaging read and the mystery was great. The ending was just what I was hoping for too!

Chanel Cleeton has always been a must read for me ever since I read Next Year in Havana!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 2 April 2024

Quick and Dirty
-dual timeline/POV historical fiction
-South Florida setting
-gothic vibes
-great on audio

What Worked
Chanel Cleeton’s Perez sisters series is a personal favorite of mine, so I went into this book hoping she would have that same old magic. Her last book, The Cuban Heiress, was good, but it lacked the tense drama of her previous books. Luckily, The House on Biscayne Bay oozed glitz, glam, and hints of drama from every nook and cranny. I loved the gothic vibes (reminiscent of Hester Fox) that Cleeton conjured, making the house a focal point of the story and giving readers the hint of paranormal that kept me engaged. And as with all her books I’ve read, the audio was stellar! I was completely engrossed in the story and Frankie Corzo’s interpretation of Carmen’s story. I love that Cleeton’s Cuban FMCs are always narrated by Corzo, which makes the listening experience feel simultaneously familiar and excitingly new.

What Didn’t Work
Much like The Cuban Heiress, this book felt rushed. At only 336 pages, it’s a relatively short read; but there were missed opportunities IMO. I wanted more of Carmen’s back story and much more of her internal experience while at the house. I also felt the pivotal plot points were somehow less dramatic than they could/should have been, leaving me wanting more overall. The ending was tidy but left a lot to be desired. I wanted WAY more of an explanation behind the big reveal. Was it a good escape? Absolutely! Is it her best? Sadly no.

Read This If
Anyone who enjoys a quick romp in early 20th-century Florida with jewels, gowns, and eerie paintings will appreciate this quick read/listen!

An interesting premise - I appreciated how the mystery unfolded from two different points of view. I also loved how the setting came to life through all the amazing details. The pacing was slower than I would have liked, and I found myself preferring one POV far above the other.

Marbrisa is a stately and glamourous estate that the wealthy industrialist Robert Barnes has designed and has let build. His wife is Anna Barnes, and together, they are the new socialite couple of Miami after the Great War. On the outside they appear to have the perfect glamour life, but slowly on, mysterious things happen including a woman that mysteriously drowns, that break their perfect marriage..

Many years later, Carmen Acosta moves to Marbrisa, the house of her estranged and older Caroline and her husband Asher. Also here, mysterious things (and spooky sounds) happen and Carmen truly doesn't know what to think of it all, and doesn't feel really welcome at Marbrisa. And then her sister is found dead, the third woman who mysteriously died at Marbrisa, and she goes to the bottom to find out what is going on in this mysterious house, and soon finds her own life in danger...

The House on Biscayne Bay is a book that gives you cringy goosebumps! This is truly one of the best mystery books I have read in while. The story is truly spooky, and you truly have to read to the final parts to figure out what kind of scary secrets are going on at the stately Marbrisa house. The storyline is truly scary at some points, the creepy sounds that come from other floors and in between walls truly added to this! The characters are all great, especially Anna and Carmen, the two main characters of the story. Both live in different time periods at Marbrisa. The only point of critique I have about this is that it isn't exactly clear in which years the lifes of the two main characters are set in. But further on, this is a very well written mystery with one of the best storylines and cast of characters, and I recommend it if you are in for a read in which you don't know what happens next, let it surprise you!!

I loved the ominous vibe I felt from the very beginning! I had so many questions about the characters, what happened to them, and how everything was related. Chanel makes great use of the alternating timelines, and I loved the house as a focus point in the stories.

I didn’t feel as connected to the characters as I would’ve liked (so the emotional impact from events didn’t hit very hard) but I was intrigued by the story and couldn’t put it down once I got to the end!

It didn’t feel quite like horror, but I think that’s because I found the ending to be a bit predictable. I also had some lingering questions about a few characters that I would’ve enjoyed reading about.

Overall I really enjoyed her writing and look forward to reading more of her books!

I always enjoy Chanel Cleeton's novels. The family drama, the time periods, the Cuban and Cuban-American history. The House on Biscayne Bay adds a new twist of also being a murder mystery. I think it'll make a great summer read. Out now.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the electronic advanced copy.

I absolutely love Chanel Cleeton. The House on Biscayne Bay she brings her signature style to Miami in the early 1900s. Told in dual timelines, with murder and mystery, this was an entertaining, gripping and fascinating story. I was completely transported to the era.
After the Great War in 1918, businessmen and the rich moved to South Florida, and it was here along Biscayne Bay that wealthy industrialist Robert Barnes built Marbrisa, a glamorous estate for his wife Anna. The tale shares their rise and fall from the talk of the town to tragedy. We learn their tale before we meet the present owners, Carolina, and her husband, Asher Wyatt.
In 1941, after the tragic death of her parents in Havana, Carmen Acosta journeys to Marbrisa to live with her estranged sister Carolina and husband, Asher, who is in charge of her inheritance. From the start there is a sense of foreboding and it only intensifies as we learn about the home’s tragic past and the unhappiness that lies within.

This was my first book by Chanel Cleeton and I found myself unable to put it down. After the end of WWI, wealthy industrialist Robert Barnes builds his wife, Anna, a glamorous estate on Biscayne Bay, It would seem that it's a dream but it's anything but for her. The dual timeline is of the subsequent owners of the home and the mysterious death of the woman of the house. I found it a strong read throughout, then a little weak at the end but that didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story.

Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for my advanced copy. This one is out now!

Chanel Cleeton is an auto-buy author for me and I am a huge fan of her historical fiction novels. I was excited to see that her new book, The House on Biscayne Bay, sounded different than her prior stories. It definitely was! The gothic themes and house as a character gave huge Rebecca vibes, which is one of my favorite books. I thought the atmosphere Cleeton created in Marbrisa was captivating and embodied the very idea of gothic literature. The ending felt a little rushed and I did figure out the big twists prior to the reveal. I love this new style of writing for Cleeton and look forward to what comes next!

The House on Biscayne Bay is a historical novel set at Marbrisa, a sprawilng and mysterious estate in Florida. It is told in two timelines. In 1918, Robert and Anna Barnes build the house. Later, in 1941, Carmen Acosta travels to Marbrisa to stay with her sister and brother-in-law ... and ends up trying to solve the mystery of the house.

I wanted to read this novel because I have enjoyed Chanel Cleeton's fiction before. I love historical fiction, and liked the idea of the South Florida setting.

This was a fast moving read. I like the way the author sets a Gothic scene with this mysterious house. This book is wonderfully atmospheric and the Gothic setting is suitably eerie. The story is told in two timelines, and both feature well-delineated characters. The historical details in this book are also very well done.

I recommend The House on Biscayne Bay for fans of historical fiction - and especially for anyone who enjoys a Gothic setting.