THE DAUGHTERS OF BLOCK ISLAND by Christa Carmen – Review

I received this book for free from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Daughters of Block Island by Christa Carmen
Published by Thomas & Mercer on October 10 2023
Genres: Adult, Gothic, Thriller
Pages: 323
Format: ARC
Source: Author
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The nitty-gritty: Fans of eerie, gothic fiction will not want to miss The Daughters of Block Island, a contemporary thriller dripping with atmosphere.

“She looks back to see White Hall looming behind her like a haunted house. Like a nightmare. Like the cover of a horror novel. It bares its teeth, beckons her through the rain and the gloom beyond the skeletal branches of the waiting mulberry forest—for it’s after midnight, and the previously bright moon has pulled a cloud over itself like a blanket.”

I’m so glad I discovered Christa Carmen, and The Daughters of Block Island was the perfect book to read for spooky season. Carmen has written a meta gothic tale that hearkens back to stories like Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights or The Mysteries of Udolpho, and she nails the Gothic sensibility perfectly. The “meta” element comes into play with the character of Blake Bronson, who grew up on old gothic tales (The Mysteries of Udolpho was her favorite), and once she arrives on Block Island, she realizes she might just be living in a gothic story herself. This book is also perfect for readers looking for something a bit darker than usual, since it’s almost Halloween, but who don’t like horror novels. I would call this a mystery/thriller, since there aren’t any supernatural elements, but the author’s wonderful descriptions of the rain-soaked, cliff-side mansion that dominates the story put it firmly in the “eerie” category.

The story opens with a mysterious letter. Thalia Mills grew up on Block Island, but she hasn’t been back in years. Her mother Maureen still lives there, working as a waitress in a high end restaurant. But when Thalia receives a letter from a woman named Blake Bronson, her world is turned upside down. In the letter, Blake claims to be Thalia’s sister—a sister she didn’t know she had—and included with the letter is a copy of Blake’s birth certificate, naming her mother as Maureen Mills. Right after reading the letter, Thalia hears about a death on Block Island. Twenty-six year old Blake Bronson was found dead in her bathtub, and Fiona Searles, the owner of the B&B where Blake was staying, has been arrested for the murder.

Thalia immediately leaves for Block Island, determined to solve the mystery of what happened to Blake, as well as confront her mother. Why didn’t Maureen ever tell her she had a sister? Who is the Mulberry Maiden? And how is Blake’s death connected to White Hall, the looming mansion where she was found dead? Thalia is about to uncover decades worth of family secrets, but she needs to hurry before she becomes the next victim.

The first part of the story is told from Blake’s point of view, so the reader gets to see what happens to her on Block Island, including her gruesome murder (although the details are fuzzy because at this point we don’t know the identity of the killer). The second part picks up several weeks after and is Thalia’s story, as she navigates an uncomfortable reunion with her mother and attempts to find out what happened to Blake. Carmen spins a twisty tale about family secrets, domestic abuse, orphans and drug addicts, with an atmospheric setting as a backdrop. At the center of everything is White Hall, the epitome of Gothic mansions, where the ghost of Mary Searles just might haunt the halls. The author’s writing style is perfect for her story, and I became completely immersed in Blake’s and Thalia’s journeys to find the truth.

Besides Blake and Thalia, we meet the girls’ mother Maureen, a substance abuser with a horrible secret in her past. At first I didn’t like her at all, but later you learn why she’s so cold, and I felt so sorry for her. Aileen is the proprietress at White Hall, and she’s also the sister of Fiona, the woman accused of Blake’s murder. Thalia intends to interview every single person on the island connected to her mother, but Aileen isn’t interested in telling her anything—at first. Then we have Martin Dempsey, who owns half the town and is connected to Maureen and Fiona in some very unpleasant ways. In typical murder mystery fashion, the author casts suspicion on just about every character before the truth is finally revealed at the end of the story. It was great fun watching Thalia solve the mystery of Blake’s death, as well as her quest to learn more about Maureen’s past and why she kept Blake a secret all these years.

Carmen uses typical Gothic tropes to great effect, like the non-stop rain that falls almost the entire story; the crumbling mini replica of White Hall that stands apart from the house, close to the cliffs; a scary, thrilling scene involving underground tunnels, and much more. The story maintains a wonderfully old-fashioned feel, even though it takes place in the present day, and I was so impressed by how easy it was to fall into it. 

The author gives her story extra depth by including themes like substance addiction and domestic abuse, but don’t worry—this isn’t an “issue” book. These elements felt natural to the characters and worked to make the plot even better.

The final climax is suitably melodramatic and did not disappoint. The author also includes a brief epilogue to explain where the characters ended up after those events, and I thought it was the perfect ending. I cannot wait to read more from this talented author!

Big thanks to Christa Carmen for providing a review copy.