The Daughters of Block Island

A Novel

By: Christa Carmen

Narrated by: Linda Jones

Length: 10 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

In this ingenious and subversive twist on the classic gothic novel, the mysterious past of an island mansion lures two sisters into a spiderweb of scandal, secrets, and murder.

Two sisters, strangers since birth yet bound by family secrets, are caught up in a century-old mystery on an isolated island.

After arriving on Block Island to find her birth mother, Blake Bronson becomes convinced she’s the heroine of a gothic novel—the kind that allowed her intermittent escape from a traumatic childhood. How else to explain the torrential rain, the salt-worn mansion known as White Hall, and the restless ghost purported to haunt its halls? But before Blake can discern the novel’s ending, she’s found dead, murdered in a claw-foot tub. The proprietress of White Hall stands accused.

Summoned by a letter sent from Blake before she died, Thalia Mills returns to the island she swore she’d left for good. She finds that Blake wasn’t the first to die at White Hall under suspicious circumstances. Thalia must uncover the real reason for Blake’s demise before the forces conspiring to keep Block Island’s secrets dead and buried rise up to consume her too.

©2023 Christa Carmen (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Narrator Linda Jones supplies an appropriately melodramatic performance, ably communicating the hallmarks of this gothic mystery—a remote island setting, a haunted house, murderous ghosts, hidden passageways, skeletons, and unsettling stormy weather. Thrilling psychological suspense that should appeal to fans of gothic novels and the works of Gemma Amor, Sarah Waters, and the Bronte sisters.”—Library Journal

“Great fun for readers…”—Kirkus Reviews

“This compelling and atmospheric thriller pays homage to classic gothic novels while still adding something fresh to the beloved genre. An easy sell to fans of the Brontës but also those who enjoy the creepy, psychological suspense of Simone St. James.”—Booklist

Parts of the story were great

The beginning was slow, the middle was very good and the end was dull. This book had so much potential and midway through I thought it was going to be really good but sadly it fell flat.

So different yet truely entertaining

I loved the twists and turns this story took and the great attention to details for my imagination.

The Daughters of Block Island

The Gothic darkness of this novel pulls you in with its descriptive portrayal of Whitehall Mansion, making it
not just the setting, but more of a critical character. It has the feel of Jane Eyre, and Wuthering Heights.
This book, though, is much more contemporary and easier to read. Very much a psychological thriller, it
has the darkness of a Gothic novel with hints of Stephen King.
I really like that is not the usual trope with a bad romance being front and center. It reads more like an American Historical Fiction novel, which is another favorite genre of mine. Mixed genres tend to read more "real."
Entertain AND educate me. is oneof my favorite sayings.

Think of a roller coaster!

The character building is climbing the first hill. Once the story crests the top the downhill plunge is exhilarating!

Vivid, Gothic Fun

Spooky tale of gothic ghosts, long lost sisters, and all-too-human predators haunting a Rhode Island B & B in winter. Listened to it for Women in Horror month, but dark mystery fans who don‘t mind a ghost in a secret passageway will love it too. Loved the vivid setting & fun “meta” style commentary on gothic lit tropes. #gothic #spooky #sisters

The setting was well described and accurate. Mystery was excellent and very like the families in that area of Rhode Island.

I loved everything about this book. I will listen to it again. An excellent choi6with a gothic feel about it.

Great book of tragedy and strength of heroic women

Enjoyed the characters and strength of the women of Block Island and their triumph over evil men.

Excellent book

I liked all the twists and turns and the depth of the characters as more history was revealed.

If only the second half were first

I had a very difficult time getting into this novel and it seemed flat to me as I kept going with it. It was only until the second half or maybe the third third that everything seem to come together, but I believe it was too little too late. I appreciate the historic value and the research done by the authorand I enjoy Gothic literature as a rule but I can’t in good conscience the story. The saving grace was the performance of the narrator.

Cozy, clichéd, anticlimactic

Teetering between 2 1/2-3 stars ⭐️

There is nothing unique about this story. It is full of the usual cliches - such as; power, money, scandal, and murder. It was a very cozy mystery that is a quick and easy read. The only reason I stumbled upon it was because of the advertisement when it popped up on my Kindle. It was really a random spur of the moment pick. I did enjoy it, I just wasn’t impressed by it. Based on my general 3 stars for the majority of the books I really enjoy - this should get 2 1/2, but then that makes it seem like it was bad, which it wasn’t.