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

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⭐️⭐️⭐️💫✨ (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.

THE HOUSE ON BISCAYNE BAY by Chanel Cleeton is a stand alone, adult, historical, mystery thriller focusing on the Maribrisa, a grand mansion in Miami built as a birthday gift by a man for his much younger wife.

Told from dual first person perspectives, and dual time lines (Anna -1918, Carmen-1941) THE HOUSE ON BISCAYNE BAY focuses on deaths or perceived murders of the women of Maribrisa. In 1918, Robert Barnes, tired of New York society, moved his beloved wife to Miami, Florida where he gifted her with one of the most magnificent homes to be build in Florida but from the outset all was not as it appeared to be as cracks in the marriage began to reveal a disheartening reality.

Fast forward to 1942, businessman Asher Wyatt and his wife Carolina, the new owners of the refurbished Maribrisa home, find themselves with an unexpected houseguest in the guise of Carolina’s younger sister, following the tragic drowning of both of their parents. Similar to the 1918 timeline, Maribrisa holds too many deadly secrets, and when Carmen begins to investigate the truth, suspicion and rumors begin to spiral out of control when death and destruction, murder and infidelity mirror one another in two different timelines.

THE HOUSE ON BISCAYNE BAY is a story set in a gothic mansion, a mansion that keeps its’ secrets buried deep within the walls. Jealousy and envy, secrets and lies, infidelity and obsession blur as the investigation takes a twist no one expected. The premise is intriguing and enthralling; the characters are edgy, broken and struggling. Not everyone will get their happily ever after, and those that will, reveal a surprising and impassioned love.



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Fans of Chanel Cleeton and a good old-fashioned gothic, atmospheric mystery will want to be sure to add The House on Biscayne to their reading list!

Unlike Cleeton's other stories that focus heavily on Cuban life and culture, this one is very focused on the haunting estate of Marbrisa in Biscayne Bay, Florida. It follows two women - Anna, whose husband built Marbrisa after the Great War as a birthday gift to her, and Carmen, from Havana, whose parents died suddenly and has gone to live with her sister and brother-in-law in the renovated Marbrisa estate. But tragedy is all around and nothing is quite as it seems.

Cleeton's descriptive writing brings Marbrisa to life in both eras. It's easy to visualize the glamourous party at Marbrisa, post WW I, and the ultimate decline of the estate. I loved both Anna and Carmen's timelines but probably enjoyed Anna's a bit more when the glitz and glamour begin to falter. Both stories are populated with other compelling side characters like the housekeeper from both timelines and an intriguing detective from Carmen's timeline. This is a bit of a slow-burn mystery, and at times the pacing faltered a bit for me, but I loved the ending, especially for Anna. I did guess the twist in Carmen's timeline, but it was still a satisfying conclusion.

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.

The narration was fantastic and I beliebe it was even better because of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the e-ARC. I was so excited to receive a review copy as Chanel Cleeton is one of my must-buy authors.
I knew I had to read this book when Chanel first posted about it on Instagram about a dual-timeline gothic mystery as her next book. I will keep this review spoiler-free.

The House on Biscayne Bay follows the original owners of a grand palatial mansion called Marbrisa near Miami, Florida in 1918. It also follows the newest owners of the house in the 1940's. What happened between the two owners and the infamy of the house unfolds in a masterful sweeping novel which I could not put down.

The description alone had me immersed within Marbrisa's cursed walls. The character development was very well done, and I felt for everyone tied to the house.

There were a lot of twists and turns I did not see coming until the end. I adore Cleeton's writing, and this was such a fun departure for her. A solid 4 stars. I would love to see a short story or novella from this book at some point.

I love Chanel Cleeton’s novels. She has a way with descriptions and building settings that transport the reader back in history. Cleeton’s books are atmospheric and gripping historical fiction that keep readers coming back for each new book. The story in The House in Biscayne Bay is told in two timelines and takes place in historic Miami, a departure from her acclaimed series set in Cuba.

“I cannot for the life of me imagine why anyone would want to live in Florida.”

It’s 1918 and the Great War has just ended. Anna Barnes discovers that her husband Robert purchased land and plans to build a mansion as a birthday gift to her. Anna doesn’t know what to think about south Florida, she has always lived in New York. She doesn’t care about a mansion, and she doesn’t like the heat, the ocean, or the animals in Florida. With the help of architect Michael Harrison, Robert moves forward with is plans to build the largest, grandest house in Miami with a view of Biscayne Bay. They call it Marbrisa.

It's 1941 and Carmen is an eighteen year-old who lost her parents three weeks earlier in a boating accident during a terrible storm. Her parents willed her brother-in-law Asher Wyatt to manage her inheritance, so Carmen travels to Miami to visit her sister Carolina and her husband Asher. Not long after arriving at Marbrisa, Carmen can feel bad energy surrounding the sprawling estate. People working at Marbrisa speak of a curse in the mansion and a ghost named Anna. The house has a tragic history that hangs over it like a shadow.

I’d describe this book as gothic historical fiction. Like any good gothic, Marbrisa is as unsettling as it is grand. It’s a huge, opulent mansion, but it seems unhappy and eventually, haunted. Rumors, gossip, ghosts, mysterious deaths, and scandal plague Marbrisa, and the reader will feel as though they are standing in the mansion themselves, peeking over their shoulder.

I enjoyed both storylines but I really connected with Anna’s. I actually think moving to Florida would be my greatest nightmare, especially without central air conditioning! Swampy air, deadly animals, and strange critters—not to mention the heat! Of course that is what made it a perfect setting for this story. Carmen and Anna are nothing alike, but the reader gets the strong inference that Carmen’s estranged sister Carolina is experiencing the same thing that Anna did, and that their stories may tragically follow the same path. Carmen is a foil to Carolina and Anna—she isn’t pulled in by whatever is happening at Marbrisa, which may make her the only person who can help.

The story twists along and has some unexpected curve balls. I wanted to understand what was going on at Marbrisa, and I wasn’t disappointed with the reveal! The lush grounds surrounding Marbrisa added to the allure. It felt like the sort of place that drew you in but took your soul (not to be dramatic). This is the story of two women, but at it’s core this is a story of the house, Marbrisa. Can houses have a personality? If so, Marbrisa has one and it has a flare for the dramatic and the macabre. It also seems to only truly reveal itself to women…there’s a lot to unpack in that statement!

A gripping gothic mystery set in the first half of the twentieth century—The House on Biscayne Bay is Cleeton’s best work yet.

Thank you Berkley Publishing and Penguin Random House for my copy. Opinions are entirely my own.

✨ Review ✨ The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton

Thanks to Berkley, PRH Audio and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

This is my first book by Cleeton and I loved the "horror light" vibes. Spooky giant house, mysterious deaths (of humans and alligators etc), and fascinating historic Miami setting all made this an interesting read.

There are two POVS - Anna moves to Miami just after WWI when her husband surprises with a grand house on Biscayne Bay. Anna's reluctant to leave NYC and concerned at what this expenditure most be costing them, but her husband is delighted for the chance to profit from the country's new interest in Florida...until a mysterious death happens during a party.

In 1941, Carmen leaves Cuba after the death of her parents for the same house where her older sister and her husband live. Mysterious things continue to happen and she begins to try to figure out what's happening.

I liked the sense of mystery but could have used a little more spookiness/horror and/or more history in the historical fiction. The context of the growth of Florida and investments after WWI was really interesting, and I'd have loved to have learn more, and the same with Carmen's connection to Cuba.

Overall, this would make a great thrillery/mystery/horror-ish beach read to take with you on vacation!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5)
Genre: historical fiction, mystery/thriller/horror
Setting: Miami, Florida
Pub Date: April 2, 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ spooky houses and murders without too much spookiness or gore
⭕️ historical mysteries
⭕️ dual POV/timeline historical fiction
⭕️ alligators, peacocks, palm trees, and ocean views

I love many things about this book, namely the way she incorporated glitz and glamor into a gothic. We so often see old, decaying environments, but Cleeton showed that isolation and mystery can also be opulent and beautiful. I also loved how Cuban characters were centered, while also not being what the story was about. Characters should be able to exist like this in stories without having to perform what white American readers think a culture should look like. As a Latina myself, this was important to me. I will absolutely recommend this book.

As a daughter to 2 Cuban immigrants and a Florida native, I’m obsessed with Chanel Cleeton as an author. Chanel ALWAYS nails it for me and this book definitely did not change that. I loved the dual timeline and POV, and they made the book 1000x more exciting and interesting for me. The writing made me feel like I was there and I could picture everything so clearly in my head. Another 5 star read from Chanel Cleeton!

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I've found a new author for me. Though she has written a few books I've not read any until now. This book was great. Part history, thriller, mystery, love story, and a touch gothic.

I enjoyed this book from the very start.

You meet Anna shortly after her husband brings her to Biscayne Bay to show her a mansion he's building for her. Marbrisa is it's name. For her birthday. Not exactly what she wanted but she doesn't say much. It's like he is obsessed with it. Making sure everything is perfect. From the house itself to the things inside. He hired Michael Harrison as the architect. It's the first big project Michael has and he puts his whole into it. The setting if shortly after the Great War. It's 1918 and this couple are madly in love. Or are they? Could one be hiding a few secrets?

When you meet Carmen she is new to the US. She's come to Florida, to Marbrisa, to live with her sister and brother in law after the death of her and Carolina's parents in Cuba. Carmen is only 18 and is a bit afraid of what is in store for her. Her and her sister have not seen each other in a few years. Things don't seem right to Carmen. Her sister is a bit aloof. Like she doesn't want Carmen there. Things seem strained between Carolina and her husband Asher.

There are many secrets in both couple's lives. Things that set in motion many events. Things are not always as they seem and in part things are exactly as they seem. This book will take you through two stories simultaneously. From a couple of chapters in one era to the next being the other era. You'll get to know these characters very well. Most of their secrets will come to light. A few surprises along the way. One I figured out but it sure didn't take away from this book.

I enjoyed this book so much and will be looking for more by this author. Well done.

Thank you @NetGalley, @ChanelCleeton, #Berkley, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Five big stars and a very high recommendation. Grab it. Devour it as I did. It was a fast read for me.

I love everything Chanel Cleeton has written from her contemporary romance to her Cuban inspired historical fiction and was delighted to see her delve into a gothic, historical mystery with The House on Biscayne Bay. A suspenseful, atmospheric tale that held me captive from beginning to end.

After the Great War wealthy 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.

Cleeton pulled me into the story from the start, making me question characters’ motives, suspecting supernatural elements and wondering if the home itself is cursed. If you love a gothic mansion mystery, you’ll enjoy the author’s use of dual timelines and the ominous vibe of Marbrisa set against the beauty of Biscayne Bay.

I enjoyed the characters, particularly the detective and the inquisitive Carmen. The multiple murders, unusual foul play, accidents and fleeing staff will hold mystery lovers captive.

Cleeton is an auto-buy for this reader and I cannot wait to see what genre she tries next. If you write it, I will read it.

I was very excited to read this book after reading the synopsis, and it didn't let me down. I enjoyed this gothic historical fiction mystery. This was my 1st book by this author, and I can't wait to read more.

In 1918, after the Great War, people were flocking to South Florida. Robert and Anna Barnes are among those people. Robert has decided to build Marbrisa, a glamorous estate on Biscayne Bay. He says it's for Anna, but that's not what she wants. Marbrisa quickly becomes the talk of the town, and everyone wants to be invited there. But what's really going on with the couple behind closed doors?
In 1941, Carmen Acosta loses both her parents in a tragic accident and leaves Cuba to live with her older sister Carolina and brother-in-law Asher. They are the new owners of Marbrisa. Soon upon her arrival, she learns that her sister’s marriage is not all it's cracked up to be, and neither is the mansion. It has a dark legacy, and Carmen's life could be in jeopardy. Will she be able to uncover the truth before people start to die?

Told in dual timelines and dual POVs of Anna and Carmen, this book was intriguing. It was definitely a slow burn, but I loved the atomspheric setting of the gothic mansion. It was dark, eerie, and haunting. The author did a great job bringing it to life. The mysterious deaths kept me turning pages to find out who or what caused them. And I was definitely surprised by the ending. Who knew peacocks scream? Overall, this was an engrossing read, and I would recommend it.