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Getaway #4
Belle Mer
On the New England coast, an irresistible vacation rental draws a woman into the sinister secrets of her past in a cunning short mystery with a gothic twist by a New York Times bestselling author.
Clea McAllister returns to the Newport haven of her childhood, a gilded mansion by the sea once owned by her beloved grandmother. Now she is a paying guest at her own ancestral home, and Clea’s vacation hides a darker intention: to confront the estate lawyer who stole her rightful inheritance. But wicked games are still being played at Belle Mer, and Clea uncovers more than she ever intended.
Belle Mer by Luanne Rice is part of Getaway, a collection of six stories about dream escapes that take unimaginable, even sinister, turns. Each piece can be read or listened to in a single sitting.
Clea McAllister returns to the Newport haven of her childhood, a gilded mansion by the sea once owned by her beloved grandmother. Now she is a paying guest at her own ancestral home, and Clea’s vacation hides a darker intention: to confront the estate lawyer who stole her rightful inheritance. But wicked games are still being played at Belle Mer, and Clea uncovers more than she ever intended.
Belle Mer by Luanne Rice is part of Getaway, a collection of six stories about dream escapes that take unimaginable, even sinister, turns. Each piece can be read or listened to in a single sitting.
51 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2022
932 people are currently reading
966 people want to read
About the author
Luanne Rice
112 books3,162 followersLuanne Rice is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-eight novels, translated into thirty languages. Rice often writes about love, family, nature, and the sea. Most recently she has written thrillers, including one based on a murder that affected her family. She received the 2014 Connecticut Governor’s Arts Award for excellence and lifetime achievement in the Literary Arts category.
Connecticut College awarded Rice an honorary degree and invited her to donate her papers to the College’s Special Collections Library. They are archived in the Luanne Rice Collection.
Rice has also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from St. Joseph University in West Hartford, Conn.
Several of Rice's novels have been adapted for television. Her monologue for the play Motherhood Out Loud premiered at Hartford Stage and has been performed Off-Broadway in NYC and at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.
Rice is a Creative Affiliate of the Safina Center. She lives in southeastern Connecticut.
Connecticut College awarded Rice an honorary degree and invited her to donate her papers to the College’s Special Collections Library. They are archived in the Luanne Rice Collection.
Rice has also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from St. Joseph University in West Hartford, Conn.
Several of Rice's novels have been adapted for television. Her monologue for the play Motherhood Out Loud premiered at Hartford Stage and has been performed Off-Broadway in NYC and at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.
Rice is a Creative Affiliate of the Safina Center. She lives in southeastern Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 360 reviews
November 7, 2022
Belle Mer (short story) by Luanne Rice
narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya
When Clea McAllister see that Belle Mer, the seaside Newport mansion that she should have inherited, is for rent, she jumps at the chance to see the mansion one last time. She is surprised to see that little has changed at Belle Mer. Something is not right here! It's a nice juxtaposition of modern woman Clea with the old time feel of the mansion and grounds.
Belle Mer is part of the Getaway collection of six stories about dream escapes that take unimaginable, even sinister, turns. This audiobook runs at 1 hour and 21 minutes. Take a break at Gothic Belle Mer.
Published August 31st 2022 by Brilliance Audio
This is a Kindle Unlimited audio selection.
narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya
When Clea McAllister see that Belle Mer, the seaside Newport mansion that she should have inherited, is for rent, she jumps at the chance to see the mansion one last time. She is surprised to see that little has changed at Belle Mer. Something is not right here! It's a nice juxtaposition of modern woman Clea with the old time feel of the mansion and grounds.
Belle Mer is part of the Getaway collection of six stories about dream escapes that take unimaginable, even sinister, turns. This audiobook runs at 1 hour and 21 minutes. Take a break at Gothic Belle Mer.
Published August 31st 2022 by Brilliance Audio
This is a Kindle Unlimited audio selection.
February 27, 2023
This little short beachy thriller was just what I needed on this frigid Michigan day! 🥶
This had such a Nantucket feel along with old-timey vibes that made this such an endearing read. I had never heard of this author before and certainly have never read anything by her but her writing style reminded me a bit of Nora Roberts’ books.
Although short stories never have enough time to completely get to know characters and their backgrounds, I thought Rice handled the set up well and didn’t make the story too in-depth where it felt rushed at the end. It also had a surprising twist that I didn’t really see coming.
This is probably my favorite out of the series. I have one more to read and hopefully it’s another winner!
This had such a Nantucket feel along with old-timey vibes that made this such an endearing read. I had never heard of this author before and certainly have never read anything by her but her writing style reminded me a bit of Nora Roberts’ books.
Although short stories never have enough time to completely get to know characters and their backgrounds, I thought Rice handled the set up well and didn’t make the story too in-depth where it felt rushed at the end. It also had a surprising twist that I didn’t really see coming.
This is probably my favorite out of the series. I have one more to read and hopefully it’s another winner!
September 30, 2022
Publisher blurb: “Clea McAllister returns to the Newport haven of her childhood, a gilded mansion by the sea once owned by her beloved grandmother. Now she is a paying guest at her own ancestral home, and Clea’s vacation hides a darker intention: to confront the estate lawyer who stole her rightful inheritance.”
What will she discover and will she be able to rectify the past?
“Belle Mer by Luanne Rice is part of Getaway, a collection of six stories about dream escapes that take unimaginable, even sinister, turns. Each piece can be read or listened to in a single sitting.”
It’s a great way to sample the work of authors you may not have read before.
This was my first by the author and it had an “old fashioned” feel to me. I prefer stories which feel more contemporary so this has been my least favorite of the four from the Getaway series that I have read so far.
2.5 rounded up
What will she discover and will she be able to rectify the past?
“Belle Mer by Luanne Rice is part of Getaway, a collection of six stories about dream escapes that take unimaginable, even sinister, turns. Each piece can be read or listened to in a single sitting.”
It’s a great way to sample the work of authors you may not have read before.
This was my first by the author and it had an “old fashioned” feel to me. I prefer stories which feel more contemporary so this has been my least favorite of the four from the Getaway series that I have read so far.
2.5 rounded up
September 24, 2022
Gothic vibes......
Just what is going on at Belle Mer?
Clea McAllister returns to her late grandmother's home, Belle Mer, in Newport. Hidden behind a massive wrought iron gate that kept the world at bay. Plenty of secrets hiding too.........
A frightening and shocking end!
I read this short story (51 pages). Part of the Getaway Collection (free with Prime Amazon).
Just what is going on at Belle Mer?
Clea McAllister returns to her late grandmother's home, Belle Mer, in Newport. Hidden behind a massive wrought iron gate that kept the world at bay. Plenty of secrets hiding too.........
A frightening and shocking end!
I read this short story (51 pages). Part of the Getaway Collection (free with Prime Amazon).
October 25, 2022
the setup…
Clea McAllister has returned to Belle Mer, her ancestral home in Newport, Rhode Island, one of the jewels of the town. However, she was denied her rightful inheritance by a conniving estate lawyer who took advantage of her grandmother in her final years. He’s renting the property out and that’s the only way Clea can now see her family’s home again as she booked it through her assistant.
the heart of the story…
Clea hasn’t given up her fight to reclaim Belle Mer and is further encouraged when she finds Mary and John still working there. Mary’s been the housekeeper for over thirty years along with her brother John the gardener and groundskeeper for just as long. There was a creepiness to just about everything and I felt unease as Clea tried to reach out to the lawyer and explored the home. It wasn’t anything I could put my finger on but…
the narration…
I’m sure it was the talent of the narrator that brewed that eeriness and unease! She was very, very good and it was powerfully subtle. I didn’t hear it coming.
the bottom line…
The beauty of a well written short story is that everything develops quickly but without you feeling things are moving too swiftly. I loved my visit to Belle Mer and the ending that made me smirk.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Clea McAllister has returned to Belle Mer, her ancestral home in Newport, Rhode Island, one of the jewels of the town. However, she was denied her rightful inheritance by a conniving estate lawyer who took advantage of her grandmother in her final years. He’s renting the property out and that’s the only way Clea can now see her family’s home again as she booked it through her assistant.
the heart of the story…
Clea hasn’t given up her fight to reclaim Belle Mer and is further encouraged when she finds Mary and John still working there. Mary’s been the housekeeper for over thirty years along with her brother John the gardener and groundskeeper for just as long. There was a creepiness to just about everything and I felt unease as Clea tried to reach out to the lawyer and explored the home. It wasn’t anything I could put my finger on but…
the narration…
I’m sure it was the talent of the narrator that brewed that eeriness and unease! She was very, very good and it was powerfully subtle. I didn’t hear it coming.
the bottom line…
The beauty of a well written short story is that everything develops quickly but without you feeling things are moving too swiftly. I loved my visit to Belle Mer and the ending that made me smirk.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
September 29, 2022
This is a short story from Luanne Rice with all the depth and character of a longer work. It moves quickly from beginning to surprising end. Very good.
September 27, 2023
Sinister, unsettling any Gothic describe this installment of the Getaway collection. This was a quick listen that was moderately entertaining with an unexpected final twist. This was just okay for me. 2.5 stars rounded to 3.
November 2, 2022
Glad I tried a new author, but this just wasn't for me 🫤.
November 4, 2022
Fourth in the Amazon Original Getaway Series - available on Kindle Unlimited with free Audible. I enjoyed the first two of the series but, for me, it is going downhill for the third and (this) fourth. Never the less, I will forge on, only two more to go. There still may be a gem waiting for me.
Forty-ish aged woman, comes back to her hometown where she was raised by her grandmother after her parents died (this is a very popular theme, being raised by grandmother after parents die). She is renting her grandmother's 20 room mansion (another popular theme - do authors think we only want to read about rich people?) - which by all rights would have been hers if her grandmother's lawyer hadn't hoodwinked the old lady, taking unfair advantage of her deteriorating cognitive disorder/diminished capacity, and employing undue influence on her - leaving the family asset to him in her Will rather than to beloved 40-ish MC who was the only child of her only child, etceturrah, etceturrah, etceturrah (that was my Yul Brynner imitation from the King and I)
Mostly everything is exactly as you would guess, no real surprises here.
Forty-ish aged woman, comes back to her hometown where she was raised by her grandmother after her parents died (this is a very popular theme, being raised by grandmother after parents die). She is renting her grandmother's 20 room mansion (another popular theme - do authors think we only want to read about rich people?) - which by all rights would have been hers if her grandmother's lawyer hadn't hoodwinked the old lady, taking unfair advantage of her deteriorating cognitive disorder/diminished capacity, and employing undue influence on her - leaving the family asset to him in her Will rather than to beloved 40-ish MC who was the only child of her only child, etceturrah, etceturrah, etceturrah (that was my Yul Brynner imitation from the King and I)
Mostly everything is exactly as you would guess, no real surprises here.
September 11, 2022
This was okay but a bit too muddled and unfocused - too short for the story to really explain itself.
September 17, 2022
Neo-Gothic New England
Review of the Amazon Original Kindle eBook (August 31, 2022), released simultaneously with the Audible Original audiobook.
This has been my favourite to date of the 4 of 6 Amazon Original "Getaway" short stories that I've read. Author Rice sets up a terrific neo-gothic tale here with a disinherited daughter returning to her family mansion in New England which was swindled away by her deceased grandmother's shady lawyer and conservator. There is a mysterious housekeeper and gardener couple of a sister and brother who are seemingly now aligned with the new owner. Clea is now a successful TV series producer and screenwriter who bases her plots around the characters and settings of her New England childhood. She is ever more certain of re-claiming the family mansion of Belle Mer as her birthright, but what dangers await her in the process?
Belle Mer is one of six Amazon Original Kindle eBooks/Audible Audio audiobooks released on August 31, 2022 as part of the Getaway Collection of short stories where "Secrets follow you everywhere. Perfect vacation or last resort? In this collection of short psychological thrillers, bestselling authors bring trouble to paradise. Today’s itinerary: surfing, sailing, hiking, facing your worst fears... Most dream vacations never live up to expectations—but few cause this many nightmares."
Trivia and Link
You can watch for current and past Amazon Original Kindle short stories which are usually paired with their Audible Original narrations at an Amazon page here (link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
Review of the Amazon Original Kindle eBook (August 31, 2022), released simultaneously with the Audible Original audiobook.
This has been my favourite to date of the 4 of 6 Amazon Original "Getaway" short stories that I've read. Author Rice sets up a terrific neo-gothic tale here with a disinherited daughter returning to her family mansion in New England which was swindled away by her deceased grandmother's shady lawyer and conservator. There is a mysterious housekeeper and gardener couple of a sister and brother who are seemingly now aligned with the new owner. Clea is now a successful TV series producer and screenwriter who bases her plots around the characters and settings of her New England childhood. She is ever more certain of re-claiming the family mansion of Belle Mer as her birthright, but what dangers await her in the process?
Belle Mer is one of six Amazon Original Kindle eBooks/Audible Audio audiobooks released on August 31, 2022 as part of the Getaway Collection of short stories where "Secrets follow you everywhere. Perfect vacation or last resort? In this collection of short psychological thrillers, bestselling authors bring trouble to paradise. Today’s itinerary: surfing, sailing, hiking, facing your worst fears... Most dream vacations never live up to expectations—but few cause this many nightmares."
Trivia and Link
You can watch for current and past Amazon Original Kindle short stories which are usually paired with their Audible Original narrations at an Amazon page here (link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
July 9, 2024
For such a short story, nothing of substance was said.
It’s like walking into a soap opera episode of a series your grandma has been watching for 35 years. It’s all new to you and you don’t care enough to learn who the characters are.
It’s like walking into a soap opera episode of a series your grandma has been watching for 35 years. It’s all new to you and you don’t care enough to learn who the characters are.
November 13, 2025
Story 3 stars**
Audio 4 stars**
Narrator Jennifer Jill Araya
Audio 4 stars**
Narrator Jennifer Jill Araya
February 25, 2023
Lots of secrets in this one.
It was an ok short story.
It was an ok short story.
December 31, 2022
Belle Mer is another fabulous short story included in the Amazon Original Stories - Book 4 of The Getaway Collection!
Reminiscent of William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily,” Luanne Rice captures the Gothic macabre, while telling a current tale of traditions, greed, and misfortune.
Clea returns to her grandmother’s Newport mansion under the guise of a friendly vacation rental. After her death, Clea’s grandmother’s swindling estate lawyer stole it from it’s rightful heir. But who is really conning whom? Clea is about to uncover astonishing buried secrets, which are even more sinister than she had imagined.
My one criticism is that this story is missing a foreboding atmosphere. However, it still manages to produce a creepy read. I highly recommend this one to those who enjoy horror and/or Gothic short stories!
4.5/5 stars rounded down
Reminiscent of William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily,” Luanne Rice captures the Gothic macabre, while telling a current tale of traditions, greed, and misfortune.
Clea returns to her grandmother’s Newport mansion under the guise of a friendly vacation rental. After her death, Clea’s grandmother’s swindling estate lawyer stole it from it’s rightful heir. But who is really conning whom? Clea is about to uncover astonishing buried secrets, which are even more sinister than she had imagined.
My one criticism is that this story is missing a foreboding atmosphere. However, it still manages to produce a creepy read. I highly recommend this one to those who enjoy horror and/or Gothic short stories!
4.5/5 stars rounded down
October 21, 2022
Free audio short story. Some good twists, decent for quick entertainment.
November 30, 2024
Wow. Just reading about the gilded mansion by the sea—Belle Mer—gave me such pleasant vibes. I could definitely use a vacation in a place like that.
Gothic, vividly haunting, and a bit shocking right up until the end, this story hooked me. I enjoyed how it explored themes of greed and the abuse of power. It’s a stark reminder that we can never truly trust people—not even those we think we know and love.
The writing is smooth and incredibly picturesque. While the ending was what I expected, I still enjoyed it.
Gothic, vividly haunting, and a bit shocking right up until the end, this story hooked me. I enjoyed how it explored themes of greed and the abuse of power. It’s a stark reminder that we can never truly trust people—not even those we think we know and love.
The writing is smooth and incredibly picturesque. While the ending was what I expected, I still enjoyed it.
June 28, 2024
The Beach House
Clea was so upset that her grandmother hadn’t left the beloved beach house Belle Mer to her, but she knew that it was because her grandmother’s solicitor had taken advantage of the old woman. Amazingly it was up for rent for the summer and when Clea arrived to enjoy her stay she realized that Mary and Jack, the couple who cared for her grandmother were still caretakers there. She was so happy to see them even though the loss still stung.
Jack told Clea a story that helped Clea to understand why they had not stepped up to defend her grandmother from Stephen’s machinations. Jack knew what rich woman Stephen was currently defrauding and offered to take Clea there if she wanted to speak her mind, but Stephen wasn’t there. The woman thought he was at Belle Mer, and even suggested to Clea that he was defrauding her too.
To tell you any more would be to give away the entire story, but this is really a mystery at the beach house. A weird mystery at the that I give four and a half stars rounding up to five.
Clea was so upset that her grandmother hadn’t left the beloved beach house Belle Mer to her, but she knew that it was because her grandmother’s solicitor had taken advantage of the old woman. Amazingly it was up for rent for the summer and when Clea arrived to enjoy her stay she realized that Mary and Jack, the couple who cared for her grandmother were still caretakers there. She was so happy to see them even though the loss still stung.
Jack told Clea a story that helped Clea to understand why they had not stepped up to defend her grandmother from Stephen’s machinations. Jack knew what rich woman Stephen was currently defrauding and offered to take Clea there if she wanted to speak her mind, but Stephen wasn’t there. The woman thought he was at Belle Mer, and even suggested to Clea that he was defrauding her too.
To tell you any more would be to give away the entire story, but this is really a mystery at the beach house. A weird mystery at the that I give four and a half stars rounding up to five.
September 9, 2022
This was a fine enough story with the swindling of a woman out of her inheritance by someone who was close to her mother. It was atmospheric and creepy and a little bit predictable. Alas, the gothic twist just wasn't for me and so its not one in the collection I really recommend.
October 16, 2023
Strong ending, although a bit confusing. The story as a whole wasn't for me, it turned out to be quite boring, honestly.
For me, it's the one I liked the least from the Getaway collection so far.
I give it ⭐ star, and I'm being generous here.
For me, it's the one I liked the least from the Getaway collection so far.
I give it ⭐ star, and I'm being generous here.
June 26, 2025
A short and twisted tale
September 3, 2022
Started a bit slow, especially for being a short story, but ended so strong.
September 11, 2022
This didn't work for me.
September 14, 2022
Although it took me back to the Rhode Island shore where I spent many happy years decades ago, the story itself wasn't original or intriguing or at all surprising.
May 17, 2023
2½⭐
This didn’t really grab my attention. I had to relisten to the second half because I didn’t really grasp what was going on the first time. I think, overall, it just wasn't my style.
This didn’t really grab my attention. I had to relisten to the second half because I didn’t really grasp what was going on the first time. I think, overall, it just wasn't my style.
September 9, 2022
Great short story. Very creepy.
October 15, 2022
I feel like this story should have been longer. The ending was good but rushed.
I still don't really get how we got from point A to B but okay.
I liked the story itself, as a whole.
Out of the set, so far it was the weakest for me though.
But on the other hand, I liked it enough to want to read more from this author.
3.5/5
I still don't really get how we got from point A to B but okay.
I liked the story itself, as a whole.
Out of the set, so far it was the weakest for me though.
But on the other hand, I liked it enough to want to read more from this author.
3.5/5
October 14, 2022
Meh. You could see the ending coming from the Pacific Coast (🤦🏻♀️). And then there was just an odd twist at the end that had no relevance to anything except some kind of shock factor.
September 6, 2022
Lovely evocation of Newport, RI. But it goes gothic and is a bit fun, however thin.
September 14, 2022
A very interesting story, with a unique ending.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 360 reviews