The Cuban Heiress [Book Review] #historicalfiction @BerkleyPub #mystery

Scoundrels and imposters galore in The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton, a page-turning mash-up of historical fiction and mystery/thriller.

The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton

The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton (cover) Image: a woman sits in a lounge chair on the deck of a cruise ship

Genre/Categories/Setting: Historical Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Mystery/Suspense, Cruise Ship (between New York and Havana, Cuba)

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

My Summary of The Cuban Heiress:

Thanks #NetGalley @BerkleyPub #BerkelyWritesStrongWomen #BerkleyBuddyReads for a complimentary e ARC of #TheCubanHeiress upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Inspired by the true and tragic sinking of the SS Morro Castle in 1934, The Cuban Heiress is the imagined story of two imposters, a New York heiress named Catherine and a (dead) woman known as Elena and their intertwined lives. As the voyage gets underway, Catherine’s life is threatened and she joins forces with a jewel thief.  Elena is dead, or so everyone thinks. She seeks revenge and fights to right the wrong done to her. Danger is everywhere for Catherine and Elena and they must risk everything to see justice served.

My Thoughts:

Imposters, Scoundrels, and Pageturning Action

Unreliable Narrators

Imposters and scoundrels galore! If you love a story with unreliable narrators and wonder if any one of them is endearing, you might enjoy this unpredictable and page-turning tale of mystery, revenge, and intrigue.

Unpredictable

If you’re weary of predictable plots, you might enjoy The Cuban Heiress filled with imposters, scoundrels, and twists and turns.

Genre

The Cuban Heirness is a mashup of genres: historical fiction + women’s fiction + mystery + suspense + a side of romance (closed door). I enjoy a highly engaging mix of genres!

Plot

I hesitate to say too much about the plot because the fun is in its twists and turns, the unpredictability, and the unraveling. However, I can say that it’s fast-paced and unputdownable from the first page. I think of this as a perfect escapist read for a weekend getaway or a beach/vacation read (or staycation).

Character Development

I must note that in-depth character development is sacrificed for page-turning suspense/thriller/intrigue. If you’re looking for an escapist read, this might be fine for you as it was for me.

Themes

Interesting themes include women supporting women, friendship, and revenge.

Dependable Author

Having read Chanel Cleeton’s last few releases, I can say that she is becoming an auto-buy author for me. I love her storytelling, the page-turning action, likable characters, and compelling plots. I also appreciate limited profanity and closed-door romance. Her stories are not heavily agenda driven which provides a relaxed reading experience (for me since that’s one of my pet peeves). Books I’ve read by Cleeton and reviewed: The Last Train to Key West, The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, and Our Last Days in Barcelona.

Recommending The Cuban Heiress

I recommend The Cuban Heiress for fans of Cleeton and for readers who love a women’s fiction/histfic/mystery mashup. In addition, this book is certainly highly discussable for book clubs.

My Rating:  4.5 Stars

The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton (cover) Image: a woman wearing a green dress and a wide brimmed hat sits in a chair on the deck of a cruise ship

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More Information Here link

Meet the Author of The Cuban Heiress, Chanel Cleeton

Author Chanel Cleeton

Chanel Cleeton is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Originally from Florida, Chanel grew up on stories of her family’s exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England where she earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master’s degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Learn more about her on her website at http://www.chanelcleeton.com.



QOTD:

Is Cleeton’s latest release on your TBR or have you read it?
Are you a Chanel Cleeton fan?



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