Book Summary and Reviews of The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton

The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton

The House on Biscayne Bay

by Chanel Cleeton

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  • Apr 2024, 336 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

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.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
  1. The House on Biscayne Bay alternates between Anna's life in 1918 and Carmen's life in 1941. Which heroine did you identify with more—Anna or Carmen? What characteristics in their personalities did you relate to? What differences? How do they grow and change throughout the novel?
  2. The novel focuses on Anna's marriage to her husband, Robert. The reader sees both the joy and heartbreak in their relationship. How does their marriage evolve throughout the story? What do you think about the decisions they made? How do Anna's views on her marriage change throughout the book?
  3. Both Carolina and Anna are heavily influenced by their marriages. What parallels do you see between their experiences? What differences?
  4. Carmen ...
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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Cleeton artfully weaves together two storylines, each featuring a different but equally sympathetic heroine, to create a compelling mystery with plenty of gothic atmosphere. Recommended for fans of suspenseful historical fiction about courageous women determined to uncover the truth no matter the cost." —Library Journal

"This is a sure bet for Cleeton fans and lovers of mansion-centric gothic tales." —Booklist

"Chanel Cleeton goes gothic with her latest, and it's a smashing success! The House on Biscayne Bay is a splashy, atmospheric thrill-ride!" —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye

"Reminiscent of Rebecca and Mexican Gothic, Cleeton has spun an eerie, unpredictable tale of secrets in old-world Florida. No one is to be trusted in The House on Biscayne Bay, and Cleeton will leave even the most discerning readers in awe as she reveals twist after twist. Brilliantly done!" —Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary

"The House on Biscayne Bay has it all – glitz, glamor, and a mesmerizing murder. This haunting tale is gorgeously written and will keep you riveted until the end. Such a fabulous read!" —Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Librarian Spy

"Chanel Cleeton never disappoints. Her books bring history to life with gorgeous prose, nuanced  heroines and enough scandal, mystery and glamour to keep readers turning the pages. The House On Biscayne Bay is a haunting, atmospheric novel about buried secrets and forbidden love. I couldn't put it down." —Cristina Alger, New York Times bestselling author of Girls Like Us

"A mysterious but very glamorous mansion, sensational secrets and a story spanning several decades are the ideal cocktail, and they're mixed to perfection here by a brilliant storyteller. I guarantee you'll race through the pages of this thrilling, gothic tale, while at the same time wanting to linger a little longer amongst the beautiful but haunted people gathered together at the house on Biscayne Bay." —Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Orphan

"The House on Biscayne Bay shows a new facet of Chanel Cleeton's talent and I'm utterly enthralled-between the hair-raising character that is the house, the expertly crafted murder mystery, a dash of romance, and quick pace, I couldn't put it down for a moment. Brilliantly done!" —Evie Dunmore, USA Today bestselling author of Portrait of a Scotsman

"Lush, evocative, and shimmering with Gothic eeriness, The House on Biscayne Bay is a riveting page-turner with two dynamic women at its core. Chanel Cleeton's marvelous writing drew me in from the first page and kept me riveted to the last. Unputdownable!" —Mimi Matthews,USA Today bestselling author of The Belle of Belgrave Square

"I devoured this lush, propulsive, and twisty gothic in one sitting. The House on Biscayne Bay is an atmospheric and haunting tale with deliciously tense scenes and superbly delivered surprises. With Chanel Cleeton's expertly rendered historical detail and evocative imagery this haunting and atmospheric novel is the perfect read." —Adriana Herrera, USA Today bestselling author of An Island Princess Starts a Scandal 

This information about The House on Biscayne Bay was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

Reader Reviews

Write your own reviewwrite your own review

Elizabeth@Silver's Reviews

Elizabeth@Silver's Reviews - A marvelous Gothic-style read with undercurrents of menace.
How could a mansion with such a beautiful name - Marbrisa - be the scene of murders?

Peacocks screaming and dying and then construction workers and guests found dead.

1918 - Robert and Anna came from New York to Florida after the Great War, built an outlandish mansion, but it didn’t make them happy.

A drowning at their lavish party didn’t help with things. But was it an accident or murder?

1940 - Years later Carolina and Asher bought the house, fixed it up, and Carolina’s sister, Carmen, came to live with them after their parents died.

Another death happens and Carmen worries about her safety, especially since Asher controls her estate until she’s 21.

We follow both storylines as the mansion seems to be the center of attention and drama and as we meet characters that keep and tell secrets.

A marvelous Gothic-style read with undercurrents of menace that you can’t figure out if the menace is coming from a person, place, or thing.

Don't miss this one!! 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Shawna (TX)

Want to get lost in another time & in a beautiful place?fu
A wonderful book to get lost in. Dual time lines in 1918 and 1941 set the stage for an engrossing story. The gothic elements of this book will make for an interesting comparison to discuss in book groups.

Lisa O. (Brewster, NY)

The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton
This is the seventh novel by Chanel Cleeton that I have read and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed this Gothic mystery with the estate, Mabrisa as a character in the novel. While the timeline involving Anna and Robert Barnes was more interesting, I enjoyed Carmen's as well. Although, I don't know that killing Carmen's sister, Carolina, was necessary, but it does add add to Carmen's isolation. And, I did not even guess the ending. While it did drag a little in the middle, overall I really enjoyed this novel.

The History Mom

Step into an Agatha Christie novel
Another stellar historical mystery from one of my favorite authors, Chanel Cleeton. The House on Biscayne Bay focuses on a mysterious mansion in Miami during the Roaring 20s as well as the more subdued pre-WWII year of 1941. Anna and Carmen are beautiful women in danger as the wild nature of the newly inhabited Miami overtakes law and order. As people die and lives are ruined, who is the culprit, the cursed house set in the midst of savage wildlife or the ones they love the most?

Unraveling the threads of betrayal and intrigue through the decades as the house watches, Cleeton does a masterful job at keeping the reader guessing until the end. I loved learning more about the history of Miami during these challenging years and always enjoy the historical details that Cleeton shares. I highly recommend it for any historical fiction fan who wants to feel as if they've stepped into an Agatha Christie novel.

Laurie M. (Hampstead, NH)

The House on Biscayne Bay
Chanel Cleeton's new novel, The House on Biscayne Bay, was a 5-star read for me. Already a fan of this author's previous works, I was intrigued to see that she had written a gothic tale. The House on Biscayne Bay is perfectly done, just the right amount of atmosphere, great character development, and Cleeton's strong historical elements woven throughout.

The House on Biscayne Bay is a well-researched period piece of fiction that I did not want to put down. I highly recommend this novel for Cleeton fans and for those who love a good gothic and/or historical read. This novel would also appeal to book clubs as there is much to discuss and enjoy here. Thank you to BookBrowse, NetGalley, Chanel Cleeton, and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review an e-galley of this novel.

Barbara G. (Dallas, GA)

The House on Biscayne Bay
The House on Biscayne Bay was written in the style of a gothic mystery. It is about two families who live in the magnolia estate of Marbrisa decades apart. They both experience unexplained mysterious deaths, love, infidelity, and greed. I have read other selections by this author and have enjoy them as I did this one. I would like to thank BookBrowse for the ARC.

...31 more reader reviews

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Author Information

Chanel Cleeton Author Biography

Photo: Chris Malpass

Chanel Cleeton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Cuban Heiress, Our Last Days in Barcelona, The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, The Last Train to Key West, When We Left Cuba, and Reese's Book Club pick Next Year in Havana. She received a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master's degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. She loves to travel and has lived in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.

Link to Chanel Cleeton's Website

Other books by Chanel Cleeton at BookBrowse
  • The Last Train to Key West jacket
  • Next Year in Havana jacket
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