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 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.
Out now
Penguin/Berkley
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Praise for The HOUSE ON BISCAYNE BAY
Chanel Cleeton goes gothic with her latest, and it's a smashing success! Recently orphaned Carmen makes the journey from Cuba to Miami where her married sister lives in splendor at Marbrisa, a gilded estate with a haunting past. Intrigued by a painting of the house's last mistress, Carmen discovers that women have a habit of dying at Marbrisa, and she will need to unravel its secrets fast or she will be next. THE HOUSE ON BISCAYNE BAY is a splashy, atmospheric thrill-ride!
– Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye
The moment I began reading Chanel Cleeton's next novel, The House on Biscayne Bay, I found myself fighting off a sense of foreboding. Whether in 1918 or 1941, the grand estate of Marbrisa harbors something dark, and I raced through the story, eager to uncover the truth about the house and its inhabitants.
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
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
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 Keeper of Hidden Books
I always look forward with huge anticipation to a Chanel Cleeton novel and this one took my breath away! 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 Miami of the two eras comes alive as Cleeton delves into the area’s changes through the decades. Cleeton shows how Flagler’s railway turned Florida into a tourist destination, encouraging new towns to spring up along the coast during the early part of the 20th Century. References to the Biltmore Hotel and Joe’s Stone Crab restaurant, before it was called that, show the past’s relevance to the present.
– The South Florida Sun Sentinel
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
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. … How well do we really know the people we love? This important question guides the novel’s suspense. … 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…. The ending is perfect, too.
– Historical Novels Review
This is a sure bet for Cleeton fans and lovers of mansion-centric gothic tales.
- Booklist
Cleeton unfolds the story in a way that grabs the reader and keeps the suspense going . . .
-New York Journal of Books
Cleeton delivers a sophisticated and innovative take on the gothic tradition.
- Crime Reads
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
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
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 The Gentleman’s Gambit