The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton – Audio
Thanks to PRH Audio, Berkley Pub and Netgalley for an honest review
Book Blurb:
With the Great War finally behind them, thousands of civilians and business moguls alike 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.
My Review: 3.5 stars
The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton was an atmospheric and mysterious story about a house that is potentially haunted or it’s just a house seeping in bad luck.
It could not have been easy writing two historical timelines, each with multiple characters under disturbing circumstances. In both timelines, characters die, which unleashes a mystery that takes the whole narrative to reveal itself.
I love books that feature sisters, and this sister relationship needed some guidance. The house, which is described as both opulent and/or gaudy, (take your pick) was its own character. Called Marbrisa, which means “Ocean Breeze” was the perfect name. There were some relationships that I enjoyed but I did find the pacing too slow. Some readers prefer the slow burn, but not for me.
The descriptions of the land in which the house was built came to life amazingly well. I was able to easily imagine the peacocks roaming, the gorgeous gardens and the lavish parties held at the house. Good book, well narrated, just wish it read with more of a punch.
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