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.

Something about Christa Carmen's writing just doesn't do it for me. The writing is fine, but her characters are at times infuriating and mostly just boring. The protagonist, Saoirse, in particular. I couldn't figure her out. I also couldn't figure out the tone. It seemed like it was trying to be eerie and gothic/suspense but then you have an eclectic group of spiritualists that Saoirse finds in her basement (but doesn't freak out about???) that seemed more like they stepped out of a cozy mystery. All in all, not bad on a technical level but just not interesting.

Beneath the Poet's House is a highly imaginative and engaging read. Although the protagonist Saoirse frustrated me with many of her choices, the well executed plot, the lyrical prose, and quirky secondary characters redeemed the novel.

Read this if you like:
-highly atmospheric, gothic settings with historical creepy houses, old Libraries, graveyards, catacombs, tunnels and secret passages
-supernatural, seances, transcendentalists, residual hauntings
--parallels of protagonist and 19th century poet and spiritualist Sarah Helen Whitman's life
-references to the world and life of Edgar Allen Poe
-themes of gaslighting and obsessive relationships
-the literary world, the writing process, muses and inspiration
-life imitating art
-suspense filled reads, with real historical facts and a satisfying ending

My rating 4.25 out of 5

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this eARC that will be published December 10 2024.

A recent widow, Saoirse White, moves into the historic home of Sarah Helen Whitman, a 19th-century poet and spiritualist who was once the object of Edgar Allan Poe's affection. The house is wrapped in secrets and strange happenings, yet it will help Saoirse return to her writing. But what about the mysterious man that she keeps seeing around town? What is he looking for and why does Saoirse become the object of his desire?

The story unfolds gradually, with significant events not occurring until halfway through the book. If you're at ease with paranormal elements and coincidental happenings, this book will captivate you. I was ambivalent about Saoirse; I couldn't decide whether to be worried for her safety or fearful of her. I appreciated how Christa Carmen skillfully crafted that uncertainty within a claustrophobic atmosphere.

But I feel that I have to warn future readers that Saoirse will drive them crazy. She drove me crazy at times. My goodness, for a woman who wanted to be left alone, she had a habit of pulling the most outrageous stunts. When all was revealed about her secrets, I had a hard time accepting the woman presented with some of her actions through the course of the book.

Overall, Beneath the Poet's House kept me reading and I liked its gothic atmosphere.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Expected Publication 10/12/24
Goodreads Review 07/12/244
#BeneaththePoetsHouse #NetGalley

4.5 Stars!

BENEATH THE POET'S HOUSE, by Christa Carmen (Author of THE DAUGHTER'S OF BLOCK ISLAND), is a dark, psychological horror/mystery. This one put me in mind of historical fiction a bit, but occurred very much in the present time.

Saoirse White, recently widowed, moves to Providence to start over--trying to leave thoughts of her deceased, overly controlling husband and his friends behind her. Her first night in her newly rented home she finds a trio of writers/spiritualists conducting a seance in her basement. Although unnerved at first, she quickly takes to the three, and--having no friends of her own--begins to feel as though she was meant to meet them. Her new acquaintances, Mia, Roberto, and Lucretia, are the first to tell her that the house she rented once belonged to Sarah Helen Whitman--poet, spiritualist, and one-time financee of Edgar Allan Poe. Their seances are meant to commune with her spirit, and help them with their writing endeavors. Saoirse, once a writer herself, finds the first of many "coincidences" makes her feel that she is becoming more the "person she used to be", in a positive sense.

While the first half of the novel is relatively slow paced, it presents a fantastic unveiling of the main character's life, trauma, and finding herself. The parallels between herself and Sarah Whitman rival only those between an award winning author, Emmit, and Edgar Allan Poe. While Saoirse and Emmit begin a sudden, whirlwind relationship, the undercurrent of supernatural tension is always present, even in their day-to-day interactions.

After that, things begin to take a much darker turn, and faster pacing.

The mention of "Residual Haunting" at this point was fantastic, as you could easily see the parallels between the past and current couples. From here on, the action simply takes you away in a mix of horror, both tangible and mental.

Overall, a dark, imaginative read that touches on the supernatural in both the past and present day occurrences. For those who love gothic thrillers and mysteries, this novel is highly recommended.

**I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This review contains my own opinions.**

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Moves at a steady pace, and then at the 50% mark it takes off! Doesn’t let up until the very last heart pounding beat.

📣I recommend this to those who need a deeply atmospheric story. One that runs along the vein of psychological manipulation, full of suspenseful and thrilling situations with surprising outcomes.

Check the trigger warnings.

WOW. 🪦⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🪦I blasted straight through to the end with Beneath the Poet’s House (BTPH). I really enjoyed the nods to the book lover and poet Sarah Helen Whitman and Rhode Island’s Athenæum and its most famous visitor, Edgar Allan Poe. In September of 1848, Poe traveled to Providence in order to meet and court the wealthy Rhode Island widow, Whitman and proposed to her in a cemetery (gothic romance!). The characters in Christa Carmen’s Beneath the Poet’s House mirror the troubled historical relationship of Poe and Whitman in several ways. (No spoilers from me!)

In BTPH, novelist Saoirse White moves to Providence, and into the historic home of Sarah Helen Whitman, the nineteenth-century poet. Saoirse meets a Pulitzer Prize-winning author Emmit Powell and quickly tumbles into a yawning pit of love, but the words of her late husband begin to haunt her every day.

I enjoyed the late husband talking to Saoirse in her mind throughout the book in italics. It reminded me of the unsettling typographic choice used by Stephen King in The Shining to keep the reader on edge even during a dinner date or other steamy romantic encounters. The end of BTPH will leave you gulping for air. I just put it down at 1:30AM, so you know that’s a good sign when a horror/mystery/thriller book keeps you up at night.

Thanks so much to Christa for sending me an early version of the novel. I truly appreciate it and I’m reviewing this book because I want to! I’m looking forward to finally reading The Daughters of Block Island next after BTPH.

The nitty-gritty: Mystery and horror combine with gothic literary elements in this excellent, atmospheric tale.

If you haven’t discovered Christa Carmen yet, now's your chance. In Beneath the Poet’s House, Carmen sets her literary, gothic mystery in Providence, Rhode Island and centers it around 19th century poet Sarah Helen Whitman’s famous house at 88 Benefit Street. Whitman was briefly engaged to Edgar Allan Poe, and the story is full of references to both Whitman’s and Poe’s work and incorporates those into the contemporary literary scene of Providence’s Brown University. And while that alone would make a fascinating story, Carmen has penned a thrilling mystery revolving around a woman named Saoirse who moves to Providence after her husband dies of a heart attack. There’s a wonderfully eerie ambiance to the story, although the ghostly elements may or may not be real, so readers will have to decide for themselves.

Saoirse White is a thirty-something writer who has just rented 88 Benefit Street in Providence, Rhode Island. After the shocking death of her husband Jonathan several months earlier, she left New Jersey in order to escape her memories of finding Jonathan dead in his home office. 

Saoirse has had writer’s block for a while, but she hopes the gothic atmosphere of her new house will provide inspiration. Her new friends Lucretia, Mia and Roberto—writers and transcendentalists who are trying to contact the ghost of Sarah Helen Whitman—are determined to get Saoirse back on track with her writing, and drawing her into their mystical world seems to be working. One night in the basement of her house during a séance, she experiences an odd vision, and later finds herself in a frenzy to write down the lines of poetry that appear in her head. Could it be Sarah’s ghost speaking to her?

Even odder, Saoirse keeps running into a strange man in town, a man who looks very similar to both her late husband and Edgar Allan Poe. Emmitt Powell is a literature professor at Brown and a Pulitzer Prize winner as well. Saoirse is drawn to him despite a few red flags: she’s convinced he’s been stalking her, although he denies that claim. Still, she finds herself unable to resist Emmitt’s charisma and is drawn into a passionate affair. But then Emmitt confesses he needs Saoirse as his muse. The deadline for his next novel is looming and he’s convinced she is the only one who can help him out of his writer's block. His intensity is both exciting and frightening. Just how far will Emmitt go for literary inspiration?

You can tell from my recap that there are several mysteries going on. The reader gets hints about the circumstances of Jonathan’s death early on, but we don’t learn the truth until much later in the story. Jonathan’s friend Aidan comes to Providence, trying to talk to Saoirse about the night her husband died, but she refuses to talk to him. Why is he being so pushy? And what does he know about his friend’s death?

Then there’s Emmitt, who is clearly more than he appears on the surface. Despite the immediate attraction between him and Saoirse, and the fact that Emmitt actually listens to her (as opposed to her late husband), there’s a sinister undercurrent to their relationship. Emmitt, with his professorial good looks and intense gaze, seems almost fictional, as if he were the embodiment of Edgar Allan Poe himself. This is both a turn-on and a red flag for Saoirse, although it will take her some time to come to terms with the latter.

Saoirse is a complex character with a rather upsetting backstory (trigger warnings for verbal abuse and gaslighting). When she moves into 88 Benefit Street, she starts seeing flies buzzing around her head, but it’s unclear at first whether they are real or only in her imagination. She’s eager to start a new life, but things in Providence are weird. I loved the way she’s both strong and vulnerable. She wants to trust Emmitt because he’s so different from Jonathan, but when things go south she goes into survival mode and surprises everyone. 

In addition to many thoroughly researched historical details about Edgar Allan Poe and Sarah Whitman, the author mentions aspects of publishing in her story, which was a lot of fun. Both Emmitt and Saoirse are traditionally published authors, and one of the characters even mentions Goodreads at one point, which was such a fun reference and put a smile on my face.

The story takes a very dark turn at about the halfway point, morphing from mystery into visceral horror. Carmen’s descriptions of the basements and tunnels below the houses on Benefit Street give the story a claustrophobic feel, much like being in one of Poe's stories. The ending is thrilling and tense and very scary! There are so many elements in Beneath the Poet’s House that I haven’t even touched on in this review, so I will leave the rest for you to discover yourself. Highly recommended for lovers of gothic mysteries with well developed characters.

Big thanks to the author for providing a review copy.

Christa Carmen’s Beneath the Poet’s House is an atmospheric, beautifully written thriller that blends gothic horror with psychological suspense. Set in Providence, Rhode Island, the story pulls you into the eerie charm of a historic home tied to Sarah Helen Whitman, a 19th-century poet and spiritualist once connected to Edgar Allan Poe. The descriptions of the house and its surroundings are so vivid and haunting that it feels like you’re right there. The book skillfully weaves historical elements into the plot, making it even more intriguing. With well-developed characters and twists that keep you guessing, this is the kind of story that lingers long after you turn the last page. If you love moody, gothic tales with a touch of suspense, this one is a must-read!

Thank you Netgalley & Thomas & Mercer for an eARC 🔥

Meet Saoirse White, a former novelist trying to escape her painful past after her husband's passing. She finds herself in Providence, Rhode Island, renting the historic home of Sarah Helen Whitman, a 19th-century spiritualist and poet. But little does Saoirse know, this old house holds secrets and stories that will change her life forever.
As Saoirse delves deeper into the mystery of the house, she meets a cast of intriguing characters, each with their own secrets and motivations. There's the charming author who sparks her creativity, the trio of friends obsessed with Whitman's life and work, and the eerie, unexplained occurrences that will keep you guessing until the very end.

What I loved most about this book is its ability to transport you to another time and place. Christa Carmen’s writing is vivid and immersive, conjuring up the sights, sounds, and sensations of 19th-century Providence.♥️

Saoirse is an author. An author with writer’s block. And a lot of grief.

Her husband has died. Not that he was a great husband or anything. Overly critical and making her doubt herself and her writing. But grief has her adrift with her life.

After renting a house sight unseen in Providence, Saoirse discovers that the house belonged to Sarah H. Whitman, the nineteenth century poet and beau of one Edgar Allen Poe. Well, that should be inspirational enough, right?

Except for the voices. Strange voices coming from the basement. And when she finds actual living people there holding a seance, well, what in the world?

With the group of transcendentalists as her new friends, She is stepping out of her comfort zone, and meets a semi-famous author who is way too into her from the start. He was suspiciously nice.

And she should have been paying attention, because he is trouble.

With ghosts, odd houses, cemeteries in the backyard and lots of secrets. Some are hers. More are not.

Saorise may be meeting her ghostly hubby herself!


Such a good read. Horror, psychological torture, and a lot of supernatural shenanigans. And I loved it!



NetGalley/ Thomas and Mercer December 10, 2024

(4.5 Stars) Many thanks to @netgalley and the author for the #gifted advanced digital and audiobook copies!

Novelist Saoirse White is still grappling with the death of her husband when she decides to start over in Providence, Rhode Island. Seeking inspiration to reignite her writing career, she rents the historic Whitman House, once home to Sarah Helen Whitman, a 19th-century poet and spiritualist famously courted by Edgar Allan Poe.

Saoirse quickly connects with three eccentric transcendentalists obsessed with the Whitman House and soon begins a romance with Emmit Powell, a globally acclaimed author and professor at Brown University. But as she settles into this new chapter, Saoirse can’t shake the feeling that the house is hiding dark secrets. The past and present blur, and she begins to wonder: is she unraveling, or is someone deliberately trying to harm her?

Like Carmen’s 2023 release, The Daughters of Block Island, this story beautifully blends fact and fiction. Rooted in the history of Edgar Allan Poe and Sarah Helen Whitman, Beneath the Poet’s House pays homage to Poe and Whitman’s haunting legacies while weaving a wholly original and mesmerizing tale. What starts as a slow-burn exploration of grief and inspiration quickly crescendos into a pulse-pounding psychological and physical thriller. The result is a deeply satisfying, intensely gripping story that will leave you breathless.

Linda Jones delivers another stellar solo narration, bringing both the eerie and emotional elements to life. Fans of Carmen’s previous work will love her performance and her ability to make the characters and setting feel vivid and real.

If you enjoy smart thrillers steeped in historical detail, I can’t recommend Beneath the Poet’s House and The Daughters of Block Island enough. Both books will have you itching to explore Rhode Island’s rich history and mysterious allure.

Interesting historical fiction. Saoirse, a recent widow, finds herself folded into what becomes a gothic horror novel by the end. It might seem slow at first (it does meander a bit) but know that it will pick up. You might also find yourself down the Google hole looking for more information about the various writers-making this a learning opportunity as well. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

**Review for *Beneath the Poet's House* by Christa Carmen**

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Christa Carmen's *Beneath the Poet's House* is an atmospheric and deeply immersive masterpiece that blends haunting suspense with sharp emotional depth. From the very first page, Carmen demonstrates her exceptional talent for crafting vivid, unsettling imagery and intricate character dynamics that grip the reader and refuse to let go.

This book is much more than a tale of terror—it’s an exploration of the human psyche, laced with themes of resilience, identity, and the power of storytelling. The protagonist is compellingly written, her struggles and triumphs pulling you into a narrative that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. Carmen’s prose is beautifully evocative, painting scenes that linger long after you’ve turned the last page.

The setting, a crumbling poet's house with secrets hidden in every shadow, becomes a character in its own right. The eerie atmosphere builds steadily, with the suspense tightening like a coiled spring. Fans of psychological and domestic horror will find echoes of Shirley Jackson and Gillian Flynn, but Carmen’s voice remains entirely her own—fresh, bold, and unforgettable.

The pacing is pitch-perfect, with twists that caught me completely off guard and an ending that left me both breathless and satisfied. This book is not only a must-read for fans of horror and suspense but also for anyone who loves richly layered stories with heart and complexity.

*Beneath the Poet's House* is a triumph, and Christa Carmen has firmly established herself as a modern master of the genre. I can’t wait to see what she delivers next!

Perfect for readers of domestic thrillers, literary horror, and anyone looking for a story that is as chilling as it is thought-provoking. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this unforgettable read.