I spotted Kate Quinn’s quote of praise on the front cover, loved the vivid blue, and decided to listen to a sample of the audiobook. Right away, I enjoyed the narrator. But more than anything, the peacocks on the front cover, a favorite of Flannery O’Connor, hinted at a tragic end for one of the characters, and Cleeton exceeded my expectations and more.
Usually, I don’t read Gothic mysteries, but I got immersed in the story because of the cultural setting of Miami during the Gilded Age, the dual timeline, and the characters. My two favorite characters, Carmen Acosta and her estranged sister, Carolina, were wounded by their parents’ death in Havana, and their ongoing sibling rivalry kept my interest. The narrator’s realistic accent was a refreshing change from a cultural and historical perspective, adding to the landscape’s diversity.
One of the things I enjoyed most in this novel was the setting. Through Cleeton’s perspective and her characters’ eyes, I could see the alligator crossing the road, swishing its tail, staring at the car headlights, and peacocks. Yet Cleeton so beautifully described the cry of the peacocks that I could not only see them but also hear them when I closed my eyes.
Interestingly, in the same month, I read a historical book about the Gilded Age from a Christian perspective. The House on Biscayne Bay depicts the glamorous estate of Marbrisa as an inspiring place that could become a future hospital filled with hope and healing. Similarly, Lynn Austin’s All My Secrets leaves a legacy of the Stanhope Foundation, which gives to those David calls the poor and needy in Psalm 40:17.
If you enjoy historical fiction, intrigue, and secrets, The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton might be the perfect book for you. If you prefer character-driven novels with moral dilemmas, I highly recommend All My Secrets: A Historical Romance Set in Gilded Age New York by Lynn Austin.
