This is my favorite Chanel Cleeton book since Next year in Havana! I loved that it was a historical fiction with mystery. I enjoyed the dual timelines and perspectives of Anna and Carmen and the reveal of how the two stories were connected. There was a major twist at the end that I didn’t see coming that made me enjoy the book even more. If you’re looking for a fast and entertaining read try this one out.

In 1918, Anna’s husband, Robert, surprises her for her birthday by having a mansion built in Miami. During their first party at Marbrisa a woman drowns in the bay. Anna is not happy in the grand house and this death plagues the rest of their lives.
In 1941, Carmen comes to Marbrisa to live with her sister, Carolina, and her husband, Asher, after the deaths of her parents in Havana. She is soon drawn into the mystery of dead animals on the property and then the death of another woman. She becomes scared she could be next and starts to look into how the past and the present are intertwined.

This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed her writing. I love a mix up of historical fiction and mystery. The house was a character of its own with a gothic vibe throughout. I enjoyed the characters and the dual timelines and how they were connected.

Thanks to @netgalley @berkleypub and @letstalkbookspromo for an arc for review. Available now!

I’m going to start this review off by saying that I think the marketing for this story is skewed. I’ve seen this book on a lot of horror lists and while it has elements of the potential for a cursed/haunted estate, this is really historical fiction at the end of the day.

That being said…this is really good historical fiction!!

I don’t read too much in the historical fiction genre these days, but this book captivated me and pulled me in within the first few pages thanks to the murder mystery elements and setting. I fell in love with both of our narrators, Anna and Carmen. Each of their stories was intriguing on its own, but trying to find out how they would ultimately overlap in the end was a fun combined journey! There are a handful of secondary characters we get to meet that also add to the layers and mystery of the story.

I loved the idea of a cursed house in the sense that things do not go well for several people either living or working at Marbrisa. While not a curse in the haunted house styling, it does make the reader very weary and suspicious, which really kept me coming back for more with this story. By alternating the narratives with cliffhangers at the end of chapters, I couldn’t help but fly through this book.

If you’re looking to get swept away to the past for a tale of intrigue and mystery, this is definitely for you!

History, mystery & intrigue
If you like mystery, a little history, and a lot of intrigue you will love this book. Set in Miami in the 1920s, we first see the mansion on Biscayne Bay through the eyes of Anna, the wife of the builder. Anna and her husband, Robert, already live on Park Avenue in NYC and summer in Newport but Robert builds this house to surprise on Anna on her 40th birthday. Unfortunately the surprise is on him because she hates it (the house is too grandiose, Miami is too hot). However, resigned to living there, Anna works with the architect to design the grounds so that they complement the house and are appealing to her. Anna and Robert throw a huge party and someone falls in the bay and drowns - which is the start of the intrigue.

Fast forward 10 years and the house now belongs to a different family, and the house is said to be cursed, haunted and full of secrets. We meet Carmen who moves to the house to live with her sister and brother-in-law. It is up to Carmen to sort out the mystery and secrets as she, herself, is in danger.

Cleeton is a skilled author. She keeps the pace going at a good clip, provides luscious descriptions of people and places, and throws in a few spectacular shifts that you do not see coming. I loved this book!

I love gothic novels where the house is the location and a character and the impetus of the plot. (I’m a real estate agent with a deep appreciation for historic preservation, so this should not come as a surprise.) Without Marbrisa, without the house on the bay, Cleeton wouldn’t have had a story to tell us. None of the characters would have come together, in either timeline, and the mystery and thrills would not have occurred or had such a grand effect on the reader. The House on Biscayne Bay is a five star read for me from Chanel Cleeton, a season pass author in my life if ever there was one. If you love a grand house that’s built for your dreams but also food for your nightmares, with screaming peacocks, random alligators, dangerous sea cliffs, and weather that can turn from beautiful one minute to harrowing the next, then pick up this title from Chanel Cleeton. You might be asking yourself the same question that’s also the first line of the book: “I cannot for the life of me imagine why anyone would want to live in Florida.”

I enjoyed this historical fiction novel of a grand house built during the early 1900s in Miami. The house Maribrisa, has a dark history and we are told it's story along with it's occupants during two different timelines in the early 1900s. Chanel Cleeton took inspiration from the great mansions that were built in Miami during the boom and creating a mysterious story of murder and intrigue. The story is rich with characters that are wealthy and take great pride in showing of their riches to the world through the grand estate. However, with great greed usually comes darkness and this story is abundant with it. Several people have lost their lives at Marbrisa, is it bad luck, a person doing the killing or the spirits that haunt the walls of the house? You'll have to read to find out. The story was very entertaining, although I will say at times I felt it repetitive, for the most part the book moved along well and told a good story. It definitely kept me interested and turning the pages. I would like to read more by this author, I have heard great things about her books over the years and I certainly enjoyed this one.

If you liked Rebecca, you will enjoy this one.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the gifted eARC. All thoughts are my own.

I absofreakinglutely loved this book! Chanel Cleeton is an author I pick up when I want a guaranteed home run historical fiction story featuring strong female characters in great settings.

In The House on Biscayne Bay, we follow two POVS - Anna in 1918 and Carmen in 1941.

In 1918, Anna is gifted a house named Marbrisa by her husband as a 40th wedding gift. She sees no appeal in moving to Miami, FL, where the bugs are as big as dogs and alligators slink across the roads at night. Her husband is enthralled with the house and its lavish construction, and Anna begins to feel like she’ll lose her husband if she doesn’t get on board with his grand vision. When tragedy strikes at the party revealing their lavish home to high society, Anna cannot let go of the feeling that something is amiss at Marbrisa.

In 1941, Carmen moves into Marbrisa to live with her sister and brother-in-law after the sudden loss of her parents. Her sister seems distant and not like her former self and strange things begin to happen in the house. The echoes of the past refuse to be forgotten as Carmen digs further into what happened in 1918 and who - or what - caused the deaths of two women under suspicious circumstances.

The House on Biscayne Bay was such a delightful departure from Chanel’s Cuba saga. It had gothic mystery vibes and I absolutely loved the setting of a lavish house against the untamed bay. I was hooked from the start, and the two POVs flowed seamlessly while captivating me with their individual characters and story arcs.

I cannot recommend this highly enough if you enjoy mysteries and gothic fiction. The setting is perfection, the characters are well-written, and the house is full of secrets.

In The House on Biscayne Bay, the lives and fates of two women from different timelines, both residents of the grand Floridian mansion Marbrisa, intertwine, connected by mysterious deaths. The House on Biscayne Bay is a gothic mystery, and it's a little different from other Cleeton's books. I enjoyed it but didn't love it as much as her other books. I liked the atmospheric setting but found the characters in both timelines one-dimensional. The mansion, Marbrisa, was the most interesting character, in my opinion. I did guess who the villain was, but it did not detract from my enjoyment. I recommend The House on Biscayne Bay to readers who enjoy historical and gothic mysteries.

At the end of WWI Miami is the destination for the rich and glamorous and the perfect place to make your mark by building the most opulent home -Marbrisa. But beneath the surface things are not what they seem and as a perfect marriage crumbles with secrets and lies ghosts are created that will impact future residents of the House on Biscayne Bay.

I love Cleeton books, but this is definitely not what I’m accustomed to by her….and I loved it. This one is much more mysterious. The main character in this one is totally the house and I love a gothic story when the house is the main character. The setting really makes this story!
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Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Chanel Cleeton is 1 of 2 authors who write historical fiction that I RUN to the bookstore for. The House on Biscayne Bay is an amazing historical fiction/mystery.

Dual timelines! First timeline is 1918 featuring Anna Barnes and the second is set in 1941 and features Carmen Acosta. Both are set at Marbrisa, an estate on Biscayne Bay in Miami, Florida. She really writes the most beautiful, atmospheric settings that have me googling images to feel fully immersed in the story line. I loved the haunted mansion components that reminded me of Riley Sager's novel. The characters are all 3 dimensional and the timelines weave together effortlessly. Themes include death, family, legacies, fear, respect, trust, jealousy, secrets.

Somehow Chanel always writes an amazing book with NO filler. She is really impressive, and I still need to backlist the rest of her books. I absolutely love her! The only thing holding me back from a 5-star rating is the ending was a little anti-climactic & I am not one for the glitz/glam main characters.

Would highly recommend!

Foreboding and tragic, a fabulous house by the sea has a history from its first moments. Many claim Marbrisa is cursed when deaths and accidents plague those who come to this ominous place of seeming paradise. Chanel Cleeton tackles the gothic fiction genre with brilliance when her dual timeline tale captures the tone to perfection.

In the 1920’s, Anna Barnes is there from the inception of Marbrisa when her husband presents her with the Miami estate for a birthday gift- a present she doesn’t want at first and worries his grandiose plans and ambition for high society is too much for their bank account. Florida and her home slowly grows on her though she can’t get over the feeling that something is wrong about the place until her first sparkling party and a woman dies in the bay. The police say its no accident.

In the 1940’s Carmen Acosta leaves Cuba after the death of her parents to join her sister, Caroline, and brother in law, Asher, her legal guardian to live at their fabulous home on Biscayne Bay. She’s not even unpacked when she senses all is not well in that house. Death follows to prove her intuition is right. Marbrisa’s dark history has bled into the present, it seems.

First person narration in alternating dual time line chapters. Both women, Anna and Carmen, sensitive to place and atmosphere and observant of odd occurrences, bring the reader deeply into their stories and show the life of the main character of the story, the house, Marbrisa. All good hallmarks for any well-told gothic tale.

I enjoyed how the setting, period history, social and cultural history of South Florida, and even down to the appearance, demeanor, and dialogue of the characters were pitch perfect. Add in the personalities of the characters, uncertainty of who to trust, and the lovely pacing and tension from the twisting and tense plot, I was primed for the final escalation and reveal of what was going on at Marbrisa and where the timelines would intersect.

A far cry from the author’s usual, excellent historical fiction- okay not distant for the historical part, but the dive into a new genre went so well. I was well satisfied with both timelines and women narrators and stayed greatly interested for the length of the read. I hope there is more gothic coming from Chanel Cleeton’s pen. Definitely recommend.

Thank you to @netgalley @berkleypub and @berkleyromance for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


No matter what the story is, @chanelcleeton writes stories that you can’t help but get lost in it. The House on Biscayne Bay was filled with historical luxury, drama and mystery. And Peacocks! Can’t forget the screeching peacocks!


This is a dual timeline atmospheric novel surrounding a house that was built following the Great War in 1918 and then again in 1940 and murders that happen on the property. Some say the house is haunted by the original lady of the house, Anna, who is rumored to have been murdered by her husband. The characters were interesting and I thought it was a good mystery.


I read and listened to this book. It is narrated by Caroine Hewitt and Frankie Corzo and was beautifully executed. They immerse you into the story and you can feel the suspense right along with the characters.


4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #berkleypub #audible #netgalley #goodreads #ltbreaderteam #thehouseonbiscaynebay #chanelcleeton

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫✨ (3.75/5)

Marbrisa, an opulent gothic mansion in Miami, is the center point in this beautifully written novel where the lives of two women, past and present, are eerily similar. Dual timeline of 1918 and 1941, told by Anna, original owner along with her husband, and Carmen, sister of new owner.

I am a sucker for beautiful covers and this one is stunning! This is my first novel by this author, although I’ve had her on my radar for sometime. Her writing is beautifully descriptive; you can picture the house, imagine the parties, feel the ocean breeze, hear the wildlife. I enjoyed a fully different look at these time periods. Slower moving storyline added to the mystery and the gothic era. While I enjoyed the story overall, I didn’t connect with the characters, did not feel their fear or disappointment, wasn’t vested in their survival. I found the mystery predictable, although there was a surprising turn. I would definitely read this author again and plan to read her previous books.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

This was an extremely atmospheric, thrilling, murder-mystery! With dual timelines and two POVs the story unfolded so beautifully! I was totally ensnared into the mystery surrounding a grand and beautiful home that was build near the water in Miami! You couldn’t help but want to know all the secrets that were hiding in this amazing spectacle of a mansion! Then you’re brought to a later date with new occupants unaware of the macabre history this house holds! I had a great time reading this book and it’s out now!

Another hit from Chanel. Loved how the house was a character with its gothic element. I loved the dual story line. Very accurate depictions of south Florida. Even down to the way it rains.

Another successful Chanel Cleeton read! She seriously does not disappoint. From the rich setting details, to the complex characters and their relational dynamics, to the dual timeline and mystery adding suspense to the story, this was such a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed both timelines and the mysteries + how they were interwoven, and I thought Cleeton did a great job bringing history to life through her fictitious story. While the ending was a bit different from what I hoped, I still loved this book overall and highly recommend it!

Chanel Cleeton is an auto buy author for me. This is now the 7th book I’ve read by her, and I appreciate the new direction she has taken with her newest, The House on Biscayne Bay. Check out the full synopsis on the second slide.

While Cleeton has proved herself to be the queen of historical fiction romance, her past two books dabbled more in the historical fiction/mystery genre. In The House of Biscayne Bay, there is also a gothic theme permeating the storytelling which was thoroughly enjoyable!

The Miami setting felt reminiscent of her older work. However, using the doomed house Marbrisa, Cleeton shows the dark side of opulence. In this case during the time period of World War 1 in the States. Have I mentioned the screaming peacocks and dead alligators at Marbrisa? For readers who love a creepy house, The House on Biscayne Bay delivers!

In terms of the production of the audiobook, the narration by Caroline Hewitt and Frankie Corzo gave both main characters depth and empathy. Both narrators gave clear, distinct, performances making both timelines equally addicting to listen to!

Atmospheric, reminiscent of classic gothic tales like Rebecca and Wuthering Heights, with all the traits of a traditional gothic: big isolated house, creepy overgrown grounds, characters who seem to pop up out of no where, a young innocent heroine, an aloof older man (I loved a good gothic when I was in high school - Victoria Holt was a fave). There is a dual timeline, one set in the glamorous time following World War I, and the other on the eve of World War II. Will appeal to fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia as well as those who enjoy gothic fiction.

Chanel Cleeton once again balances emotion, mystery, and history to create another unputdownable novel.

The House on Biscayne Bay opens after the Great War ends and people are flocking to the South hoping to make a fortune. Southern Florida sees the worst of it, and Anna’s husband wants to have the showiest house in the area. Marbrisa is built on a large estate abutting Biscayne Bay. The house is a beautiful spectacle, but Anna doesn’t feel very comfortable there. Her anxiety manifests when several deaths are tied to the house.

Years later, Carmen arrives at Marbrisa after the loss of her parents. The culture shock of the home compared to what her life was like in Havana overtakes her. If only Carolina would reach out, welcome her, make her feel comfortable in this home. Strange things have been happening lately including murdered animals and a weird “friend” of Carolina’s husband lurking around. Are events of the past repeating themselves?
The book is a page-turner. Switching from past to present, tension builds up because you want to know what happened next. But Cleeton makes you just invested the other time period. So, then you want to know what happens to them. Each time period leaves you wanting while answering the previous question. Not only that but she keeps you on your toes: just when you think it’s peacocks screaming, it ends up being a person and vice versa.
While Cuba isn’t a huge focus like in earlier novels, it is still represented. Carmen and Carolina are from Havana. Their bringing there and family dynamics are an important part of who they are. It is a part of them.
This gothic mystery makes Marbrisa a character all her own. I wish she would have had a little more room to breathe. I wanted more exploration of the house and its secrets. I need more meaningfulness in the house itself. But this is my only critique of this novel.
I would absolutely recommend The House on Biscayne Bay, Like The Cuban Heiress, Cleeton shows she can create meaningful and enjoyable tales without The Perez Family. She’s no one-trick pony.