A sprawling estate in Florida provides the opulent setting for Cleeton’s (
Next Year in Havana;
The Cuban Heiress) latest, a suspenseful tale of murder and deception by a book-club favorite. Anna Barnes is horrified when her husband surprises her by buying Marbrisa, an overwhelmingly ornate mansion meant to rival the flashiest properties being erected around it in post–World War I Florida. Where her husband sees limitless opportunity, Anna sees bad weather, huge insects, and a glittering lifestyle she has no interest in. Anna worries that her husband might be hiding even more dangerous secrets when a party at Marbrisa ends with a woman plunging to her death. Decades later, Carmen Acosta comes to Marbrisa, now owned by Carmen’s sister and her husband, following the death of her parents. Her sister’s frosty welcome, combined with a persistent detective, a mysterious necklace, and a twisty garden maze, makes Carmen wonder what secrets the mansion still holds.
VERDICT 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.
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