I am rusty on the works of Poe, but this book did an excellent job of tying that world into the present.

Saoirse has returned to Providence after the death of her husband. There, she moves into the former home of Sarah Helen Whitman--the poet and former fiance of Edgar Allen Poe, and meets a crew of transcendalists who believe that hosting seances in Saoirse's new home can bring Sarah's literary influence into their own lives and craft. Shortly after settling into Providence, she meets Emmit Powell and this new influence in her life injects a sense of inspiration and romance into her life. But underneath it all is a sense of unease.

From questioning Saiorse's status as an unreliable narrator--exactly what is Saoirse running from?--to Emmit's escalating hold on Saiorse's attention, you as the reader are taken through the plot feeling just as unsettled and uncertain as our protagonist.

A creepy, atmospheric psychological thriller that brings the past to life. 4.5 stars.

Have you ever read a book that keeps you on your toes, always making you second-guess the plot, and you just can't put it down? This book had that effect on me.

First of all, this is probably one of the best modern books I have read. Being a fan of classics, I was amazed by how beautifully you portrayed such a captivating narrative.

The story begins with a beautiful woman moving to a different yet familiar location after the death of her husband. Things start to become blurry, or one might say mysterious, when she encounters a person who reminds her of her deceased husband. This person introduces himself as a literary genius and bears a resemblance to the classic horror writer and poet, Edgar Allan Poe. The story revolves around the new but strange relationship with the mysterious poet, and perhaps this person isn't what the woman thought he was at all.

The plot is filled with intricate details and poems that help the reader understand the story from a unique perspective. The writing is beautiful and engaging enough to captivate the reader. The details are given in an ordered fashion, so they are neither overwhelming nor insufficient. The resemblance to the reality surrounding Edgar Allan Poe and his relationships, as well as the places he lived, has been taken into consideration. Most of the information is real and authentic, which allows readers to indulge in the fantasy that such a tale could actually take place. Overall, I loved the story.

Saoirse has recently lost her husband and moved house to try to put the past behind her and hopefully start writing again. She moves to Province, unknowingly moving into a historic home once moved in by Sarah Whitman, who was once engaged to Edgar Allan Poe. The house holds many secrets and with her transcendentalist friends, they attempt to connect with the past and understand what is happening in her home.

But Saoirse has secrets of her own and she can't shake the ghost of her dead husband who makes her question everything including the new man who has come into her life. She's happy and writing again for the first time in forever, so why did she feel a sense of dread lurking beneath it all?

This was a dark, suspenseful story, with a great Gothic feel about it. It was a slow, moody read which kept me turning the pages and wondering what was really going on. A well-written, thoroughly enjoyable read

This book gets a 3.5 from me. I really loved the whole Poe storyline, and the gothic feel. I think what lowered the rating for me, was just not really liking the main character, Saoirse. Overall, it was a nice, atmospheric read. I really didn't care for all of the seance scenes, but that is just something I am sensitive to. I would read more by this author in the future.

I’m a big fan of Poe so I was very interested in reading this. Overall it was pleasant and enjoyable - historical aspects are sprinkled throughout. Highly recommend for Poe fans!

I probably could have been a bigger fan of Poe before reading this book, but still found myself really enjoying it. Almost akin to the mysteries Saoirse has written, Beneath the Poet's House is cozy but unsettling, and the constant layer of uncertainty beneath the surface really made this narrative for me. Just like the arcane and moody poetry, this was almost intoxicating to read -- because we're solely looking through the eyes of Saoirse, we are just as unsure and attracted as she is. At the same time, her paranoia and anxiety infect us as readers. I think my only complaint would be that some of her decisions felt misguided and I became a little annoyed, but after looking at these decisions the way you'd watch something like a slasher, I was set haha. This was definitely at something like 4.5 stars for me!

Beneath the Poet's House is a fun read with a gothic feel. If you love all things Edgar Allan Poe, this is the perfect book for you. I liked the first half of the book the best, the characters are great and feel real, especially the supporting ones. The main character, was a little too quick to fall into bed with the mysterious Emmit, and she lacked basic reasoning sometimes. The end of book kind of devolved into a predictable man "bad" theme taking over and becoming treacherous to the delicate and trusting woman. Meh. A familiar trope. Overall, a pretty good read.

I rather enjoyed this book. It’s not quite your average thriller and had interesting elements in it, including references to Edgar Allen Poe and his works.

I did have issues with the main characters. Saoirse made me want to shake some sense into her. She seemed incapable of looking after herself properly, or her poor cat. And honestly, she should have more understanding of red flags when they are waved in her face. However, characters in books do need to be flawed or there wouldn’t be a story.

All in all, this is a fairly entertaining book. If you can suspend your belief in reality for some of the more unbelievable parts, it’s worth a look.

I loved the mystery in this book, part of the story and the thrilling/terrifying turn near the end, but I really didn't like how long the book was (felt a bit too fleshed out) and the way Emmits character acted like a teenager (and very insecure/jealous), constantly looking for the next thrill.

Worst was the female lead Saoirse who was "so in love" that she chose not to take care of her self (taking meds etc) but also neglected her new cat Pluto who had diabetes. This part angered me the most...
All in all; 3 stars from me.

Part psychological thriller, part historical fiction a mysterious writer protagonist and found family - what a delightful and surprising combination! Perhaps the most enjoyable part of Carmen's work is the rich cast of characters she builds around Saoirse, the grieving widow who moves to a new town for a fresh start. Her new friends are funny and interesting, and help us connect with Saoirse - even when we don't know everything about her and are wondering what she may be hiding. Very well done!

Tale tell heart vibes. Honestly loved this book. I have the whole collection of Edgar Allen Poe so I couldn't pass this up. Total page turner.

In this captivating psychological suspense novel, a grieving writer named Saoirse White relocates to a historic home in Providence to overcome her writer’s block. Surrounded by an enthusiastic group of transcendentalists and a new romantic interest, she begins to rediscover her passion for writing. However, as she delves deeper into her new life, Saoirse realizes that the past she tried to escape may be haunting her more than ever. The story skillfully combines elements of history, romance, and mystery, making it a compelling read.