Beneath the Poet's House
by Christa Carmen
Pub Date: Dec 10 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👩🏼👩🏼‍💻👩🏼‍💼
Unmoored by her husband’s death and suffering from writer’s block, novelist Saoirse White moves to Providence, and into the historic home of Sarah Helen Whitman, the nineteenth-century poet and spiritualist once courted by Edgar Allan Poe. Saoirse’s certain she’ll find inspiration in the quiet rooms, as well as in the tucked-away rose garden and forgotten cemetery at the back of the property.

Saoirse is immediately welcomed by an effusive trio of transcendentalists obsessed with Whitman, the house, and Whitman’s mystic beliefs. Saoirse, emerging from grief and loneliness, welcomes the idea of new friends taking her mind off the past—even as they hope to summon it. When she meets Emmit Powell, a charismatic and charming prize-winning author, Saoirse thinks she’s finally turned a corner.

Emboldened by new romance, Saoirse begins to write again and, through her writing, rediscover herself. But as old fears return, she finds that nothing about her new life is what it seems—and a secret she’s tried so hard to bury may not be the only thing that comes back to haunt her.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC.

I picked this book because the premise sounded so interesting to me. However, I ended up bored and frustrated with it.
I really struggled with the author's writing style. Everything was overdescribed. The dialogues were so unnatural and the characters didn't have distinct voices (the dialogues and main narration were written exactly the same). I understand, they are writers/poets but I have never heard a real person speak like that.

The characters were annoying. Saoirse spent most of the book ignoring every red flag, it was to the point I couldn't feel any sympathy towards her at the end, because I was so frustrated with her. The "villain" was so obvious, I couldn't believe she had a problem to figure out what kind of person he was.

One positive thing I can say about "Beneath the Poet's House" is that I liked the setting. I have never been to the places described here, but I could imagine them and could feel the gothic romanticism atmosphere. Also, it was interesting to learn something about Edgar Allan Poe and Sarah Whitman.

The plot was advancing very slowly. For every interesting thing that happens,there were three filler chapters. It didn't read like a thriller. Most of the book is a relationship study between Saoirse and Emmit. I know their relationship needed to be established first, but I wanted to read a thriller, not boring dates between two cardboard people. I liked the parts where Saoirse held seances with her new friends and I wished there was more of them. The ending picked up pace, but at that point not much of the book was left and it couldn't save this book in my eyes.

I think this book just wasn't for me, but maybe if someone likes a slowburn story with a pinch of thriller, they'll enjoy it?

First, I would like to mention that I went to the book release for Beneath The Poets House, so I got an inside look of what went through Christa Carmen’s mind while writing, and it made me go into reading this book with a different mindset. I got to meet her and she’s a wonderful human! I really enjoyed the book release event and reading this book! I have a signed hard copy of BTPH, but wanted the EBook so I didn’t run the risk of ruining the hard copy :)

Also shoutout to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book for free in exchange for my honest, non bias review.

Now for the review itself!

**POSSIBLE SPOILERS!**

Let me start off by saying I was so excited to have the setting of this book be a place I visit frequently written by a person from the same town as me! Very exciting!

I actually really enjoyed Carmen’s writing style. Usually, I’m not too keen on the multitude of descriptions some novels have, but this was necessary for the plot of this book.

We have Saoirse (ser-shahhh), who just moved to 88 Benefit St in providence, still mourning the loss of her late husband, Jonathan… or is she? Even though Carmen wrote this book in the 3rd person, it is still geared towards how specifically Saoirse feels.

Throughout this roller coaster of a novel, the imagery and descriptive language Carmen uses had me scared when Saoirse was scared, sad when Saoirse was sad, and so on. BTPH really had a grip on me! I couldn’t read a lot throughout the 6 days it took me to read it, but I was constantly thinking about this book. When I got to read it again, even just a page. What will happen next. You get it.

Let’s talk about Emmit for a minute. At first, you get the impression that he’s a diehard Poe/horror fan. Then, tried to gaslight Saoirse into thinking SHE is stalking HIM? And then you, as the reader, think “huh… maybe it’s just a coincidence” … until all evidence points to it being anything BUT a coincidence! His character development… or I guess you could say, when his true identity reveals itself, is excellent. It didn’t happen too fast or slow. The kidnapping was soooo not what I thought was going to happen, and when Sersh tried to escape not once, but TWICE? I wasn’t expecting her to actually get caught both times until Saoirse herself thought “he’s probably waiting, watching”

Okay this is probably the longest review I’ve ever written and ever will write, but it’s only because I can’t recommend Beneath The Poets House enough. Especially since she’s a fellow Westerly resident like I am :)

The literary connections in this one made this catnip for book lovers, and there is enough Gothic inspired darkness that captivated me as a reader. I found the characters interesting and well developed, and I look forward to more from the author.

Saoirse White is dealing with grief and writer's block, and decides to move into the home of Sarah Helen Whitman, the nineteenth-century poet and spiritualist once courted by Edgar Allan Poe. Saoirse is immediately welcomed by a trio of transcendentalists obsessed with Whitman, the house, and Whitman’s beliefs. Glad to make friends, she soon meets prize-winning author Emmit Powell and romance blooms. Saoirse begins to write again, but old fears return, and a secret she tried to bury may not be the only thing haunting her.

From the start, there is the hint that Saoirse's husband has some kind of untoward activity going on that she's avoiding. She is lost, so immediately falls in with the trio holding seances in the basement and Emmit. Some creepy things could be suggestions: the sensation of flies buzzing or boards creaking, or visions during a seance. Loneliness and grief can do this, after all, and she has a vivid imagination and the need to write. There are a few red flags, but the whirlwind romance makes her feel wanted and loved for the first time in years due to the conflicts in her marriage before her husband died.

The story is compelling and drew me in right away. Saoirse looks into the history of the house, the ties between Sarah Helen Whitman and Edgar Allan Poe, and has her own poetic inspiration. When things start to deteriorate, it goes rapidly. I was shocked when it got unhinged, but was proud of Saoirse's drive to survive. The final quarter of the book was a wild ride, where spooky romance turned into a thriller. It's a fascinating story, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Such a perfect blend of dark academia and gothicism, constantly tiptoeing on the verge of being paranormal!

This is a story about many things, but most importantly it is about a strong woman clawing her way out of the dirt that's suffocating her (*wink wink*). Saoirse has been through a lot, both in the past and during the events of this book, and all of it has made her into an incredibly strong character, into a fighter that never backs down. I loved the atmosphere of her new home, and how that, combined with her mental and physical illnesses, made her an unreliable narrator in a certain way. Her uncertainty of what is real and what is only a voice inside of her head made for some interesting, eerie scenes that made the hairs on the back of my neck rise. The author has the talent to write these types of scenes masterfully, scenes where you'll start believing into the paranormal and find yourself looking over your own shoulder or straining your ears to discern what that faint whisper from another room was. Her inclination towards the mystical, macabre writing style goes perfectly with the themes explored in this book. I loved the influence Sarah Helen Whitman and Edgar Allan Poe had on the development of this story, how their romance echoed throughout this one. More importantly, I loved how the focus was on the women, how Poe was a face often mixed with two abusers from Saoirse's life, and Whitman was a welcome presence urging her on and providing comfort. As the author herself wrote in the acknowledgements: " [...] where the most poetical topic isn't the death of a beautiful woman...but the life of a momentous one. Soul-crushingly significant and preordained."

If you love Whitman, Poe, dark academia, gothic literature, haunting scenes, and poetic interventions into a novel, you would probably enjoy and cherish this novel! There are some trigger warnings you might want to check out first, though! I'm incredibly grateful that I got to discover this author with her previous book, and that I got to enjoy this one too!

Perfect for people who enjoy dark academia and may be struggling with what comes -after- the doors to the school shut for good. Those readers may vibe with Emmitt and Saorise in their musings of the past and reflection on Poe. But also perfect for those who share a similar interest in thrillers, in paranoia, in claustrophobia, and in revenge. My critique and really the one that keeps this from being a five Star read for me is that I hated the addition of Aidan’s character. He really added nothing for me, except strange sequences of jilted, over dramatic dialogue.

Thank you NetGalley and Christa for the ARC.

Unfortunately this just wasn’t for me. I wasn’t able to get into the story or the characters and found the pacing to be on the slower side than I’m used to.

Set in Providence, Rhode Island, "Under the Poet's House" introduces the reader to the rich literary history of the city. Home to no less than twenty libraries, Providence is also the home of Brown University, an Ivy League college - and coincidentally, the alma mater of our protagonist, Saoirse (pronounded Sur-Sha) White.

Saoirse moves back to Providence a few months after the death of her husband. Saoirse is a mystery novelist, but has not written anything in recent years. The house she rents, fully furnished, was once the home of Sarah Whitman, the paramour of the infamous Edgar Allan Poe. Once ensconced in her new home she make new friends and even adopts a black cat. More importantly, she meets a man named Emmit Powell who resembles both her late husband AND Edgar Allan Poe himself. She is immediately attracted to the man and they begin a passionate affair. Also, she finds herself writing again. She is writing poetry, and not her former cozy mysteries.

As their relationship develops, she slowly becomes aware that Emmit Powell might not be the man she thought he was...

Saoirse is also hiding her own secrets very close to her chest.

With themes of transcendentalism, unhealthy relationships, and literary history, this novel will appeal to many. I would describe it as a literary gothic/suspense novel.

3.5 stars rounded up for NetGalley and Amazon - rounded down for Goodreads where the stars have different values.

unexpectedly enjoyed this one. I usually struggle with slow paced books, but this one was well done and deliberate in its nature. I appreciated that this book had a little horror, mystery, thriller and even a dash of romance. It all worked out really well together which doesn’t happen often. The setting was great, but I do think that this is more of a character driven novel. I loved getting to know everything about everyone. The side characters were also well done and really added to the story overall. I do think that at time things were a little too convenient for everyone and that wasn’t ideal. This is a good read and I would recommend it to those looking for a grittier read.

This book was simply not for me. I found the story to be too slow and did not care much for any of the characters. Hands down, the best part of this book was all of the fun tidbits of facts about Sarah Helen Whitman and Edgar Allen Poe.

Saiorse moves to Providence after her husband's unexpected death searching for a new start in life and rents the house where Sarah Whitman, Edgar A. Poe's fiancée used to live. The town has a history with ghosts, seances, and the paranormal and she will see herself involved with all that plus a renowned horror thriller writer who, at the beginning, brings to her life a new spark of happiness. Nothing could be much further from the truth, soon she'll see herself imprisoned by a web of lies and running for her life. Beautifully written, it makes the reader think about the past, strange romances, the power of the things unexplained, betrayal, deceit, good and bad family relationships, friendship, and domestic abuse.
I thank the author and her publisher for this ARC.

Horror, mystery, thriller, romance … this book has it all. Set in Providence, Rhode Island, it tells an atmospheric, gothic and very poetic story around Saoirse White who -after her husband dies of a heart attack - unbeknownst to her rents Sarah Whitman’s historic home, the 19th century poet who was briefly engaged to Edgar Allen Poe. Saoirse’s husband had been controlling and abusing and here, away from her old life in New Jersey, she hopes to find herself and peace again. She quickly makes a trio of new friends, adopts a cat and meets (and falls for) the charismatic and successful writer, Emmitt Powell, who shares her passion for Whitman and Poe. All seems perfect, and she even starts writing herself again, a career that she had given up during her marriage. But then strange coincidences and parallels to the lives of Whitman and Poe keep happening, and Saoirse must face dark secrets.
I truly enjoyed this story and the auhor’s poetic writing style. I loved how she draws you into 19th century poetry which made me want to pick up and read some of Poe’s classic works again myself. I had not been aware of his relationship with Whitman but she sounds like an interesting and strong woman. My favorite characters by far were the 3 friends who used Saoirse’s home for their séances to ‘bring Sarah Whitman back to life’, and I loved each of their adorably quirky personalities.
While the beginning is a bit slow, the end is a massive twist that I did not see coming and had me turn the pages. A solid 4-star read for me.
I thank NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Ms Christa Carmen for the opportunity to read this advance copy. The above is my honest review and own opinion.

Beneath The Poets House by Krista Carmen, After the death of her husband, Saoirse White buys a home sight unseen in the college town where she graduated and met her husband. she doesn’t learn She’s bought the home of Sarah, Helen Whitman, who happened to be Edgar Allen pose Paramore, and fiancé until she is moving in her new home and hears chanting, only to find three people in the basement of her newly purchased home having a séance trying to contact the dead poet Whitman. they’re being there is a simple misunderstanding, but what’s even crazier is that she soon joins the group and she two is trying to contact the poet. The séance group is an explainable strangeness, but after she runs in to a guy that has a striking resemblance to Edgar Allan Poe, and her dead husband, the strangeness only intensifies, especially after their acquainted. Oh yes, I didn’t mention it, but she also looks like Sarah, Helen Whitman. when she arrived in Rhode Island, she was suffering from riders block, but whether. It’s the séance or the new love in her life. The writers block is over big time! Unfortunately, the strangeness doesn’t end, but is it the past she fled or is it the present that is causing her all these ominous feelings of doom. From strange nightmares to ghost to unexplainable happenings Sersha only wants to live in peace, but unfortunately, someone doesn’t want the same. Does it have to do with the two dead poets or is it a modern day creation. this was such a great story, but I did get tired of all of the describing of every building in nature scene she saw, but having said that the mystery was good. Her dilemma was great because it almost came off one way, but was totally something else I really enjoyed the ending but like with her last book there was just something about it that didn’t grab me, but I still read it and enjoyed it and recommended.#NetGalley, #KristaCarmen, #BeneathThePoetsHouse,

The premise of this book was so interesting, however I really struggled with the character development and how little I cared about any of the characters. There were so many different incidents in this book that were just ridiculous. The group of "friends" that Mia magically finds in her house having a seance and the illicit doping that occurs with the main character having cardiomyopathy. She was totally fine with it though. She didn't die. The list goes on and on. Mia just has things forced upon her and doesn't actually make any decisions throughout this book. It is infuriating by the end. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley, but this one just did not work for me.

After the sudden death of her husband Jonathan, novelist Saiorse White starts over by moving back to Providence. When she moves into her new home, once occupied by poet and spiritualist Sarah Helen Whitman, she finds something unexpected in her basement: a trio of transcendentalists who call upon the "Divine Poet" for inspiration. In spite of the initial strangeness of their meeting, Saiorse and the trio become fast friends, and their late-night activities even appear to shift her writer's block. But they aren't the only strange people she meets. Nearly as soon as she arrives, Saiorse finds herself in a whirlwind romance with Emmit Powell: a Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose works, philosophy, and life overall mirror those of Edgar Allan Poe. A strange coincidence, since Poe himself romanced Sarah Helen Whitman.

However, even Saiorse's new friends find the whole scenario a bit strange. Is their relationship a residual haunting—an echo across time of Poe's ill-fated love for Whitman—or something more sinister? As Saiorse navigates paranormal happenings and dark memories of her husband's final days, as well as the increasing attentions of her husband's best friend, she must decide what to do about Emmit. In the best case scenario, they could inspire each other; in the worst, she could be in great danger.

While the plot and characters of Beneath the Poet's House are riveting, especially for lovers of Gothic literature, the prose can occasionally feel a bit stilted. If Emmit were the only character given over to histrionics, it could be written off as a character trait, and a very apropos one for him. However, spoken words by other characters (including and especially Saiorse) don't feel especially natural, even for lovers of the written word. This is a problem in a book where one of the main issues at play is the protagonist's ability to catch a narcissist in the act of putting on a persona. It can become difficult to tell what is a character trait we should be aware of and what is simply the writer's style. The over-the-top parallels between Powell/White and Poe/Whitman (down to the names) become more forgivable when the third act kicks in, but it occasionally feels like the author doesn't trust the reader to catch these very blatant parallels. So, while the story itself is fantastic—an important conversation about being trapped in a dangerous relationship—its setting reaches high and falls a bit short.

Beneath the Poet's House by Christa Carmen is a really enjoyable read with believable characters and a fantastic setting. I am looking forward to what this author comes up with next!
A wonderfully written historical fiction mystery.
Beneath the Poet's House is a well written, immensely enjoyable thriller perfect, perfect reading for a gloomy night. The twists and turns and final reveals will keep you up until the sun rises.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this novel.

This novel could be classified in the historical fiction-thriller-romance genre, fitting each separate category and all three together. The story line is familiar: a recently bereaved young widow,Saoirse White, wants to leave behind sad memories and collapsed hopes by moving elsewhere and starting fresh. It becomes quickly evident that her deceased husband Jonathan was driven, controlling, emotionally abusive, and addicted to prescription drugs. Yet she feels guilty about not having been there when he died, and hears his nagging, berating voice constantly. She relocates to the storied town of Providence, Rhode Island, a Transcendentalist centre that was home to Walt Whitman, his sister Sarah, and the infamous Edgar Allan Poe, briefly Sarah’s fiancé. Saoirse, a writer who is currently unable to write, unwittingly rents Sarah’s house.

So it is quite an event when, on her very first night in residence, she discovers a trio of local writers and Sarah Whitman devotees in the basement, attempting to raise her from the dead. Oddly, Saoirse takes their unwarranted presence with calm, and soon makes joins their writing circle. Just as abruptly, considering how the dead husband still dominates her emotionally, she begins a relationship with the scarily enthralling Emmit. The red flags are apparent to everyone but Saoirse.

The bigger question, for me, is why she deliberately moved to the very place where she and her husband studied and courted (at Brown University), all the while trying to put her past behind her. Saoirse thinks a lot, but mostly avoids reasoned conclusions, which led me to some eye-rolling. Her fate seems to be about bad choices more than bad luck/evil spirits, and she even repeats them.

I did enjoy how Carmen interwove the fascinating story of Poe and Sarah Whitman with that of the contemporary protagonists. Her style is very readable, and compelling. But the pace is draggy and most of the ‘thriller’ part is pushed to the book’s last third. An overall tightening up of writing and plot would have brought the momentous events of the last section up front to enliven the far too long earlier chapters.

This book that offers a mix of intriguing elements and some shortcomings. There are aspects of this book that I truly appreciated. It is well-written, with a narrative style that captured my attention. The plot is interesting, and kept me engaged in the beginning. The genre itself is exciting, and I particularly enjoyed the literary focus and the gothic atmosphere that Carmen created.

However, the book had its drawbacks. At times, the pacing felt slow, which made it difficult to stay fully immersed. Additionally, some characters did not resonate with me. For instance, Saoirse came across as too peculiar, and I found it hard to believe in her character. This disconnect made it challenging to empathize with her situations, which in turn made the story feel somewhat detached from my reading experience.

Overall, "Beneath the Poet's House" is an okay book with a great premise, but it unfortunately did not live up to my expectations.

This story was strange and intriguing with descriptive writing that helps you imagine the life of Sarah Helen Whitman, poet and once fiance of Edgar Allen Poe. Saoirse moves to Providence Rhode Island after the death of her husband, looking for a different life and hoping to begin writing again after years of writer's block. Immediately after arriving in her new rental home, she discovers a group of strangers holding a seance in her basement. Apparently her new home used to be the home of the famed poet. In a strange twist, she becomes friends with this group but it's only after meeting prize-winning author Emmit that she's inspired to write again. They start a whirlwind romance mirroring the famous couple in the past, but then the past comes back to haunt her and everything in her new life isn't what it seems.
It's hard to describe this book without giving everything away. I do admit it started slow and I debated DNF'ing, but I'm so glad I didn't. After about halfway, things started to happen and I was flipping pages and glued to my Kindle.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.