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Beneath the Poet's House
For a grieving writer, the secrets of the past and present converge in a novel of gripping psychological suspense from the author of The Daughters of Block Island.
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.
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.
321 pages, Paperback
First published December 10, 2024
879 people are currently reading
7450 people want to read
About the author
Christa Carmen
36 books389 followersChrista Carmen is the Bram Stoker Award-winning and two-time Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author of The Daughters of Block Island, Beneath the Poet's House, and the forthcoming How to Fake a Haunting, as well as the Indie Horror Book Award-winning Something Borrowed, Something Blood-Soaked, the Bram Stoker Award-nominated "Through the Looking Glass and Straight into Hell" (Orphans of Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror), and co-editor of the Aurealis Award-nominated We Are Providence and the Australiasian Shadow Award-nominated Monsters in the Mills. She lives in Rhode Island, and has a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, an MA from Boston College, and an MFA from the University of Southern Maine.
When she’s not writing, she keeps chickens; uses a Ouija board to ghost-hug her dear, departed beagle; and sets out on adventures with her husband, daughter, and bloodhound–golden retriever mix. Most of her work comes from gazing upon the ghosts of the past or else into the dark corners of nature, those places where whorls of bark become owl eyes, and deer step through tunnels of hanging leaves and creeping briars only to disappear. Visit her at www.christacarmen.com.
When she’s not writing, she keeps chickens; uses a Ouija board to ghost-hug her dear, departed beagle; and sets out on adventures with her husband, daughter, and bloodhound–golden retriever mix. Most of her work comes from gazing upon the ghosts of the past or else into the dark corners of nature, those places where whorls of bark become owl eyes, and deer step through tunnels of hanging leaves and creeping briars only to disappear. Visit her at www.christacarmen.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
January 17, 2025
Now THIS is a gothic thriller! 🖤 Wow! Thank you soo much @otrpr @amazonpublishing for this gorgeous gifted copy! I loved EVERYTHING about this book… Hands down 5 stars! ⭐️
Guys… there is so much to love about this book. 🖤It is dripping gothic vibes from the very first page. Listen to this..
After the death of her husband, Saoirse needs a new start. What better place for an author to get a little inspiration than renting a beautiful old house. One that Sarah Helen Whitman resided in…. a 19th century poet that dated Poe. 😳 Yes that Poe. The one and only. 😮
OMG this was absolutely fascinating. I knew nothing about this Poe and Sarah love story. Oddly.. history is starting to repeat itself… Is Saoirse just falling into a new lifestyle or should she be running 🏃♀️ out that door 🚪 as fast as she can?! 😳 I mean the balcony overlooks the cemetery .. Just saying…
This was so intense… so creepy… and sooo dark. 😳This went absolutely sideways… I never saw the direction it took… 😳… and I LOVED it.
If you love gothic vibes… cemeteries… seance’s… stalkers… Sounds good right?! 😍 This is one you will love. I am already stalking @christaqua backlist!! 😍 This is one hell of a modern day gothic thriller. 🖤🫶
Guys… there is so much to love about this book. 🖤It is dripping gothic vibes from the very first page. Listen to this..
After the death of her husband, Saoirse needs a new start. What better place for an author to get a little inspiration than renting a beautiful old house. One that Sarah Helen Whitman resided in…. a 19th century poet that dated Poe. 😳 Yes that Poe. The one and only. 😮
OMG this was absolutely fascinating. I knew nothing about this Poe and Sarah love story. Oddly.. history is starting to repeat itself… Is Saoirse just falling into a new lifestyle or should she be running 🏃♀️ out that door 🚪 as fast as she can?! 😳 I mean the balcony overlooks the cemetery .. Just saying…
This was so intense… so creepy… and sooo dark. 😳This went absolutely sideways… I never saw the direction it took… 😳… and I LOVED it.
If you love gothic vibes… cemeteries… seance’s… stalkers… Sounds good right?! 😍 This is one you will love. I am already stalking @christaqua backlist!! 😍 This is one hell of a modern day gothic thriller. 🖤🫶
December 7, 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
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
January 20, 2025
3.5 Stars — As a Poe fan, I couldn't resist the premise of BENEATH THE POET'S HOUSE. After her husband dies, Saoirse, a struggling writer, moves to Providence and into the former home of poet Sarah Helen Whitman, who was once the fiancée of Edgar Allan Poe. Saoirse begins a passionate affair with an unusual author who has a mad obsession with Poe and Whitman's relationship.
There's not much else I can say about the plot without risking spoilers. A lot is going on here — supernatural elements, transcendentalism, buried secrets from the past — it often feels like a fever dream. I enjoyed the gothic atmosphere and the nods to Poe and his life.
Two things I struggled with were the slow, drawn out pacing and bland characters. I wasn't as invested in them as I'd hoped. There was something missing that kept me from really loving the book, though the ending was both exciting and fitting. It did make me interested in learning more about Sarah Helen Whitman and her beliefs.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a digital copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
There's not much else I can say about the plot without risking spoilers. A lot is going on here — supernatural elements, transcendentalism, buried secrets from the past — it often feels like a fever dream. I enjoyed the gothic atmosphere and the nods to Poe and his life.
Two things I struggled with were the slow, drawn out pacing and bland characters. I wasn't as invested in them as I'd hoped. There was something missing that kept me from really loving the book, though the ending was both exciting and fitting. It did make me interested in learning more about Sarah Helen Whitman and her beliefs.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a digital copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
October 2, 2024
I first want to thank NetGalley for the eARC. I would also like to express that these opinions are my own and are not representative of any organization or club.
To start, I just want to make it abundantly clear that I went into this book with hope. I pass Sarah Helen Whitman's portrait every single time I walk through my department to get to my office. I am an avid fan of transcendentalist literature, and I have a soft spot for the lesser known women who are occluded by the fame of successful men. I was thrilled to see that this book was an homage to SHW, but I just can't, in good faith, recommend this book.
Before I get into my critiques, dear reader, I actually want to bring up the parts of this text that I enjoyed. Even I, the most ruthless critic of books, need to acknowledge that I enjoyed parts of this book. First, I thought that the pacing made a lot of sense. I think that when creating a parallel between the relationships of SHW and Poe, the sort of insane whirlwind of emotion is necessary and thoughtful. I also thought the premise of stumbling upon a group of people conducting a séance in your basement is both hilarious and a nice nod to Whitman's own eccentric party habits. I also thought this was just the correct kind of text to begin on the first day of October. The spooky autumnal vibes were there, for sure. The text was full of delicious figurative language that I thought complimented the topic well. Plus, the final 20% of the book almost sort of made up for part of the other 80%.
Okay.
I am going to use a quote of Carmen's to help illustrate my feelings towards this book. I hope that any memory that I have of reading this book "[can] be gone like a fart in the wind." It's a real quote. While I think that Carmen has found a niche in writing thrillers about local Rhode Island history, it is a really great thing that this book is not advertised as anything close to historical fiction. While the general makeup of Poe and Whitman's relationship were somewhat accurate, the details surrounding her residence were not. The house was never owned by Anna Power, Whitman's mother, but Samuel Hamlin, who rented a unit in the house to her. So the whole premise of conducting séances to Whitman as "true owner" of the house doesn't even work. I'm wondering if Benjamin and John Reynolds felt excluded from the rituals in the house that they built....
Additionally, this book reads as though it was pulling information about transcendentalism straight from the Encyclopaedia Britannica. While it is true that transcendentalism very heavily draws from the idea of the unity between individual identity, consciousness, and nature, to simply boil it to "transcendentalism is when no phone" is reductive, insulting, and completely disregards the emphasis on abolitionism and women's suffrage that was intrinsic to the movement. There was mention of the supposed slave tunnels that exist under Providence, but Carmen really pulled a "it's the 1840s without the racists" card from Taylor Swift. And yes, I know that Whitman's societal accolades are mentioned, but aside from the unquoted inclusion of her verse in the text and her life as part of a character's regurgitation of her Wikipedia page, Sarah Whitman is just the counterpart to Poe in this text. At an event that I attended where Carmen spoke, she mentioned that it was a love letter to this accomplished woman, but given the parallel of Saoirse's relationship with Emmit with Poe's and Whitman's, she was overshadowed all the same by the insane actions of men.
As for the characters, there were so few qualities that were memorable, except for their names. Lucretia read exactly like the overexcited best friend in Carmen's previous novel (Sarah); Mia fit the aloof and uptight skeptical woman who seems mean, but is really looking out for the main character; as for Roberto, I have never read anything that has tried to make a character sound gay more so than this book. His characterization made me think of something a friend of mine once said about a different surface-level feminist text: "men can either be highly effeminate or completely toxic." This stands true for 99% of the book with the exception of the very last page. Jonathan? an abuser. Emmit? Psychotic. The dad? Misogynistic. Roberto? Gay so as not to be interpreted as a threat to Saoirse's safety. I know the whole point of the book is that Emmit is a nut case trying to become Edgar Allan Poe, but men are evil for other reasons other than assault! Given how The Daughters of Block Island used sexual violence, I find its inclusion in this book troubling.
Now for the parts of the book that just irritated me, and we'll do this as a list.
1. The emphasis on specific locations in Rhode Island while ignoring the actual layout of Benefit St. At least from the writing, it seems as though the Athenaeum and Carr Haus (which doesn't have waitresses btw) are considerably closer than they are, and that you'd pass the Ath while walking to the cafe? Nope!
2. The fact that Saoirse was thinking in trochaic octameter is just not plausible. I'm sorry. I know that she's having a spiritually induced push from SHW herself, but I find it so unbelievable that someone would automatically think in a stress that is antithetical to most English speech patterns (iambic.)
3. For someone with a heart condition, Saoirse is so stupid. How she could forgive someone for literally drugging her with LSD without her consent while also having a very tenuous relationship to health is unbeknownst to me.
4. As soon as I saw the names Saoirse White and Emmit Powell, I could already tell how the book was going to end. I love creative foreshadowing, but this had the subtlety of a nuclear bomb.
That being said, it was fun to read, so there's that! I would strongly recommend that Carmen gets a new editor because while her writing has its merits, whoever signed off on the book in this state needs to be fired.
To start, I just want to make it abundantly clear that I went into this book with hope. I pass Sarah Helen Whitman's portrait every single time I walk through my department to get to my office. I am an avid fan of transcendentalist literature, and I have a soft spot for the lesser known women who are occluded by the fame of successful men. I was thrilled to see that this book was an homage to SHW, but I just can't, in good faith, recommend this book.
Before I get into my critiques, dear reader, I actually want to bring up the parts of this text that I enjoyed. Even I, the most ruthless critic of books, need to acknowledge that I enjoyed parts of this book. First, I thought that the pacing made a lot of sense. I think that when creating a parallel between the relationships of SHW and Poe, the sort of insane whirlwind of emotion is necessary and thoughtful. I also thought the premise of stumbling upon a group of people conducting a séance in your basement is both hilarious and a nice nod to Whitman's own eccentric party habits. I also thought this was just the correct kind of text to begin on the first day of October. The spooky autumnal vibes were there, for sure. The text was full of delicious figurative language that I thought complimented the topic well. Plus, the final 20% of the book almost sort of made up for part of the other 80%.
Okay.
I am going to use a quote of Carmen's to help illustrate my feelings towards this book. I hope that any memory that I have of reading this book "[can] be gone like a fart in the wind." It's a real quote. While I think that Carmen has found a niche in writing thrillers about local Rhode Island history, it is a really great thing that this book is not advertised as anything close to historical fiction. While the general makeup of Poe and Whitman's relationship were somewhat accurate, the details surrounding her residence were not. The house was never owned by Anna Power, Whitman's mother, but Samuel Hamlin, who rented a unit in the house to her. So the whole premise of conducting séances to Whitman as "true owner" of the house doesn't even work. I'm wondering if Benjamin and John Reynolds felt excluded from the rituals in the house that they built....
Additionally, this book reads as though it was pulling information about transcendentalism straight from the Encyclopaedia Britannica. While it is true that transcendentalism very heavily draws from the idea of the unity between individual identity, consciousness, and nature, to simply boil it to "transcendentalism is when no phone" is reductive, insulting, and completely disregards the emphasis on abolitionism and women's suffrage that was intrinsic to the movement. There was mention of the supposed slave tunnels that exist under Providence, but Carmen really pulled a "it's the 1840s without the racists" card from Taylor Swift. And yes, I know that Whitman's societal accolades are mentioned, but aside from the unquoted inclusion of her verse in the text and her life as part of a character's regurgitation of her Wikipedia page, Sarah Whitman is just the counterpart to Poe in this text. At an event that I attended where Carmen spoke, she mentioned that it was a love letter to this accomplished woman, but given the parallel of Saoirse's relationship with Emmit with Poe's and Whitman's, she was overshadowed all the same by the insane actions of men.
As for the characters, there were so few qualities that were memorable, except for their names. Lucretia read exactly like the overexcited best friend in Carmen's previous novel (Sarah); Mia fit the aloof and uptight skeptical woman who seems mean, but is really looking out for the main character; as for Roberto, I have never read anything that has tried to make a character sound gay more so than this book. His characterization made me think of something a friend of mine once said about a different surface-level feminist text: "men can either be highly effeminate or completely toxic." This stands true for 99% of the book with the exception of the very last page. Jonathan? an abuser. Emmit? Psychotic. The dad? Misogynistic. Roberto? Gay so as not to be interpreted as a threat to Saoirse's safety. I know the whole point of the book is that Emmit is a nut case trying to become Edgar Allan Poe, but men are evil for other reasons other than assault! Given how The Daughters of Block Island used sexual violence, I find its inclusion in this book troubling.
Now for the parts of the book that just irritated me, and we'll do this as a list.
1. The emphasis on specific locations in Rhode Island while ignoring the actual layout of Benefit St. At least from the writing, it seems as though the Athenaeum and Carr Haus (which doesn't have waitresses btw) are considerably closer than they are, and that you'd pass the Ath while walking to the cafe? Nope!
2. The fact that Saoirse was thinking in trochaic octameter is just not plausible. I'm sorry. I know that she's having a spiritually induced push from SHW herself, but I find it so unbelievable that someone would automatically think in a stress that is antithetical to most English speech patterns (iambic.)
3. For someone with a heart condition, Saoirse is so stupid. How she could forgive someone for literally drugging her with LSD without her consent while also having a very tenuous relationship to health is unbeknownst to me.
4. As soon as I saw the names Saoirse White and Emmit Powell, I could already tell how the book was going to end. I love creative foreshadowing, but this had the subtlety of a nuclear bomb.
That being said, it was fun to read, so there's that! I would strongly recommend that Carmen gets a new editor because while her writing has its merits, whoever signed off on the book in this state needs to be fired.
October 3, 2024
“If the death of a beautiful woman is the most poetical topic in the world, then the torture of her soul is the second.”
📚
Following her husband’s death, former novelist Saoirse White moves to Providence, Rhode Island, for a fresh start. Hoping a change of scenery will cure her writer’s block and ease her grief, she rents the historic home of Sarah Helen Whitman — a 19th-century spiritualist, essayist, poet, transcendentalist, and love interest of Edgar Allan Poe — hopeful that the peaceful setting will serve as both salve and inspiration.
Upon her arrival, Saoirse makes new friends in the form of a trio consumed by Whitman, her beliefs, and her abode. And when she forms a romantic connection with a handsome, irresistible, award-winning author soon after, she feels the tide has finally turned in her favor. Inspired for the first time in as long as she can remember, she begins to write again, to feel like herself, but as oddities amass, suspicions abound, and old traumas resurface, Saoirse realizes that not everything is as it seems, and her harrowing past may not be the only thing waiting in the shadows.
From page one, Beneath the Poet’s House spins a gripping, suspenseful, and foreboding account that’s as engaging as it is captivating. Through its melding of history, mystery, fiction, lore, and legend, the narrative constructs a mesmerizing story of séances, obsession, and specters; fear, intimidation, and abuse; entitlement, lies, and manipulation; identity, individuality, and erasure; and health, power, and autonomy.
It’s a tense, exhilarating, terrifying, and anxiety-inducing feminist gothic surrounding storied settings, buried secrets, sinister realities, gruesome truths, doomed relationships, renowned personas, desperate hopes, disquieting red flags, and a storyline riddled with horrific moments, residual hauntings, and brash decisions underscored by toxic masculinity, crushing facts, tainted pasts, and true capabilities — a dark, electric, and all-consuming tale of women’s roles and intuition.
Thank you to Christa Carmen for sharing a physical ARC of this forthcoming work of psychological horror/suspense, currently scheduled for release on December 10th. It’s an engrossing, heart-pounding must-read for Poe fans and gothic/historical horror lovers.
📚
Following her husband’s death, former novelist Saoirse White moves to Providence, Rhode Island, for a fresh start. Hoping a change of scenery will cure her writer’s block and ease her grief, she rents the historic home of Sarah Helen Whitman — a 19th-century spiritualist, essayist, poet, transcendentalist, and love interest of Edgar Allan Poe — hopeful that the peaceful setting will serve as both salve and inspiration.
Upon her arrival, Saoirse makes new friends in the form of a trio consumed by Whitman, her beliefs, and her abode. And when she forms a romantic connection with a handsome, irresistible, award-winning author soon after, she feels the tide has finally turned in her favor. Inspired for the first time in as long as she can remember, she begins to write again, to feel like herself, but as oddities amass, suspicions abound, and old traumas resurface, Saoirse realizes that not everything is as it seems, and her harrowing past may not be the only thing waiting in the shadows.
From page one, Beneath the Poet’s House spins a gripping, suspenseful, and foreboding account that’s as engaging as it is captivating. Through its melding of history, mystery, fiction, lore, and legend, the narrative constructs a mesmerizing story of séances, obsession, and specters; fear, intimidation, and abuse; entitlement, lies, and manipulation; identity, individuality, and erasure; and health, power, and autonomy.
It’s a tense, exhilarating, terrifying, and anxiety-inducing feminist gothic surrounding storied settings, buried secrets, sinister realities, gruesome truths, doomed relationships, renowned personas, desperate hopes, disquieting red flags, and a storyline riddled with horrific moments, residual hauntings, and brash decisions underscored by toxic masculinity, crushing facts, tainted pasts, and true capabilities — a dark, electric, and all-consuming tale of women’s roles and intuition.
Thank you to Christa Carmen for sharing a physical ARC of this forthcoming work of psychological horror/suspense, currently scheduled for release on December 10th. It’s an engrossing, heart-pounding must-read for Poe fans and gothic/historical horror lovers.
November 22, 2024
Beneath the Poet's House is a rollercoaster of a ride.
The author has a beautiful way with words. The prose is poetic and immersive, and I found myself appreciating the lyrical flow of the narrative.
The atmosphere is rich and vivid, with a sense of place that helps draw you into the world of the book. It’s clear that a lot of care went into crafting the setting.
At one point I dnf-ed it, thinking it was predictable and childish, but I have to admit that I was wrong. This was indeed a fun book (in an eerie way).
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me the chance to review the audiobook version of Beneath the Poet's House.
The author has a beautiful way with words. The prose is poetic and immersive, and I found myself appreciating the lyrical flow of the narrative.
The atmosphere is rich and vivid, with a sense of place that helps draw you into the world of the book. It’s clear that a lot of care went into crafting the setting.
At one point I dnf-ed it, thinking it was predictable and childish, but I have to admit that I was wrong. This was indeed a fun book (in an eerie way).
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me the chance to review the audiobook version of Beneath the Poet's House.
November 21, 2024
Christa Carmen is taking you into Providence RI’s Poe. Edgar Allen Poe briefly spent some time in Providence, during his courtship to Sarah Helen Whitman. This story revolves around that relationship, and its setting.
Because it’s a Poe love story, at its core, Beneath the Poets House is darkly romantic and unsettling. Christa Carmen really captured the essence of a quick, impulsive love affair and turns it into something sinister and obsessive. I absolutely loved it. I was actually caught up in the whirlwind romance between Saoirse and Emmit, and I’m not usually a romance fan. Because it happens so quickly, and so strangely, with so many warning signs, it felt like it was too good to be true and I was waiting ( frantically page turning) for it to crash and burn. Carmen lures you in with poetry, really setting the tone.
This book take a minute to get there, but it gets incredibly dark. I’d say the last half of the book is the horror aspect of the story, which is what I was waiting for. Things go from rosey to black, like falling unconscious from a chloroform soaked rag…when you open your eyes it’s the beginning of a nightmare.
There is so much to love about this book. All the nods to Poe are great. I did enjoy how the transcendentalists were worked in, and the idea of a residual haunting.
Because it’s a Poe love story, at its core, Beneath the Poets House is darkly romantic and unsettling. Christa Carmen really captured the essence of a quick, impulsive love affair and turns it into something sinister and obsessive. I absolutely loved it. I was actually caught up in the whirlwind romance between Saoirse and Emmit, and I’m not usually a romance fan. Because it happens so quickly, and so strangely, with so many warning signs, it felt like it was too good to be true and I was waiting ( frantically page turning) for it to crash and burn. Carmen lures you in with poetry, really setting the tone.
This book take a minute to get there, but it gets incredibly dark. I’d say the last half of the book is the horror aspect of the story, which is what I was waiting for. Things go from rosey to black, like falling unconscious from a chloroform soaked rag…when you open your eyes it’s the beginning of a nightmare.
There is so much to love about this book. All the nods to Poe are great. I did enjoy how the transcendentalists were worked in, and the idea of a residual haunting.
November 19, 2024
Christa Carmen does gothic thrillers immaculately every time. It’s one of my favorite genres and is so hard to get perfect but she does. The Daughters of Block Island was one of my top books last year so my expectations were high for Beneath the Poets House and they were met!
You know you’re in for a wild ride when within the first chapter, the main character moves into a gothic house next to a cemetery and finds 3 people holding a seance in the basement.
I loved all the Sarah Helen Whitman and Edgar Allen Poe tie-ins. The way Saoirse’s life begins to parallel to Sarah’s as she’s living in her house and meets a writer whose life strangely parallels Poe’s.
This was such a nerve wrecking ride and I loved (almost) every second of it. Some parts at the end dig drag on and get a little silly but it didn’t take much away from the overall book.
4.5 ✨ rounded up 🐦⬛
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
You know you’re in for a wild ride when within the first chapter, the main character moves into a gothic house next to a cemetery and finds 3 people holding a seance in the basement.
I loved all the Sarah Helen Whitman and Edgar Allen Poe tie-ins. The way Saoirse’s life begins to parallel to Sarah’s as she’s living in her house and meets a writer whose life strangely parallels Poe’s.
This was such a nerve wrecking ride and I loved (almost) every second of it. Some parts at the end dig drag on and get a little silly but it didn’t take much away from the overall book.
4.5 ✨ rounded up 🐦⬛
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
January 30, 2025
Christa Carmen delivers a tension filled, gothic banger of a story here. Chock full of Providence RI history, Edgar Allen Poe, and even some Lovecraft lore, this book slow burns its way to a harrowing end sequence that made me sweat. Another winner from Carmen. I loved this!
January 6, 2025
BOOK ✶ TOUR
#ad many thanks for the finished copy @amazonpublishing + @christaqua + @otrpr #partner
🅱🅴🅽🅴🅰🆃🅷 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🅾🅴🆃’🆂 🅷🅾🆄🆂🅴
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Written in lyrical prose Carmen’s writing will transport you to another place. Oof! I walked in blind and couldn’t put this book down. You’ll read this book with a sense of dread that’ll linger beside you the entire time. You won’t quite know why it’s there but you’ll definitely feel it.
Lovers of literature and history will swoon over this book. I like how the author mixed history with fiction and added in some mystery and suspense. It’s a compelling read that dabbles on the side of horror and the psychological. What’s real and what isn’t.
Truly a magical read that you won’t be able to forget.
Saoirse, a widow suffering from writer’s block, decides to move - hoping to gain inspiration and cure her writer’s block - into the famous poet Sarah Helen Whitman’s historic house. Whitman was once courted by Edgar Alan Poe and the Whitman house is sure to help Saoirse. It could be just what she needs.
But what started out as a magical time soon turns to something else entirely, because secrets don’t stay hidden long in this house, and sometimes you can’t always see the monster in front of you until it’s too late.
Couldn’t recommend this one more!
#BeneathThePoetsHouse, #ChristaCarmen, #ThomasAndMercer #gothicthriller #ghostfiction #edgarallanpoe #sarahhelenwhitman #gothichorror #mystery #suspense #gothicrhodeisland #gothicprovidence #bookstagram #bibliophile #reading #books #literary
#ad many thanks for the finished copy @amazonpublishing + @christaqua + @otrpr #partner
🅱🅴🅽🅴🅰🆃🅷 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🅾🅴🆃’🆂 🅷🅾🆄🆂🅴
Available Now
Written in lyrical prose Carmen’s writing will transport you to another place. Oof! I walked in blind and couldn’t put this book down. You’ll read this book with a sense of dread that’ll linger beside you the entire time. You won’t quite know why it’s there but you’ll definitely feel it.
Lovers of literature and history will swoon over this book. I like how the author mixed history with fiction and added in some mystery and suspense. It’s a compelling read that dabbles on the side of horror and the psychological. What’s real and what isn’t.
Truly a magical read that you won’t be able to forget.
Saoirse, a widow suffering from writer’s block, decides to move - hoping to gain inspiration and cure her writer’s block - into the famous poet Sarah Helen Whitman’s historic house. Whitman was once courted by Edgar Alan Poe and the Whitman house is sure to help Saoirse. It could be just what she needs.
But what started out as a magical time soon turns to something else entirely, because secrets don’t stay hidden long in this house, and sometimes you can’t always see the monster in front of you until it’s too late.
Couldn’t recommend this one more!
#BeneathThePoetsHouse, #ChristaCarmen, #ThomasAndMercer #gothicthriller #ghostfiction #edgarallanpoe #sarahhelenwhitman #gothichorror #mystery #suspense #gothicrhodeisland #gothicprovidence #bookstagram #bibliophile #reading #books #literary
September 26, 2024
The first half of this book I was like “where are we going?” And the second half I was like “holy crap I can’t keep up!” The development of the relationship between Emmit and Saoirse is full of red flags and so confusing and so fast and then once you realize why, you are being dragged along a terrifying experience. Somehow this book is both romance (bad romance…) and thriller in one? Also these are all good things.
Basically, Saoirse meets Emmit shortly after moving into the house that once belonged to Edgar Allan Poe’s finance, Sarah Helen Whitman. The two are haunted by Poe and Whitman and seem to be following their paths, both romantically and literarily.
Stars mean nothing to me on these apps but I chose to go with 4 instead of 5 only because I wished their relationship - and it’s many flaws - had been questioned a bit more before culminating the way it did. It was so 0-60 and even though she questioned it, it felt like she was too passive in accepting it for too long…
Still, though, incredible read. I’ll be buying a physical copy because I’ll likely reread this one. Exactly what I wanted it to be.
“If I can’t have your love, I will take your fear.”
“Down here, where the idolatry of man’s genius is held above a woman’s right to live…”
Now I need a coffin necklace…
Basically, Saoirse meets Emmit shortly after moving into the house that once belonged to Edgar Allan Poe’s finance, Sarah Helen Whitman. The two are haunted by Poe and Whitman and seem to be following their paths, both romantically and literarily.
Stars mean nothing to me on these apps but I chose to go with 4 instead of 5 only because I wished their relationship - and it’s many flaws - had been questioned a bit more before culminating the way it did. It was so 0-60 and even though she questioned it, it felt like she was too passive in accepting it for too long…
Still, though, incredible read. I’ll be buying a physical copy because I’ll likely reread this one. Exactly what I wanted it to be.
“If I can’t have your love, I will take your fear.”
“Down here, where the idolatry of man’s genius is held above a woman’s right to live…”
Now I need a coffin necklace…
January 28, 2025
Brief Synopsis: Recently widowed and seeking a fresh start, Saoirse White moves to Providence and rents an old historic house. The house has a fame of sorts for being the home of Sarah Helen Whitman, the poet and spiritualist who was once the fiancée of Edgar Allan Poe. Saoirse hopes that the change will be good for her and provide inspiration for her writing. She meets a new trio of spiritualist friends that are fascinated by Whitman, her poetry and her beliefs, and although she finds them unusual and a bit odd, Saoirse is happy for the company and distraction from her own disturbing thoughts and memories. When Saoirse meets Emmit Powell, a well-known writer and professor, she thinks she may have actually found love. But was her meeting Emmit Powell a result of serendipity, cosmic design, or something orchestrated and more sinister?
Commentary: A ghostly, haunting atmosphere pervades Beneath the Poet’s House, but it is for the reader to decide whether the ghosts exist in Sarah Helen Whitman’s house or within the confines of Saoirse’s fatigued and tortured mind. Saoirse arrives in Providence a damaged woman – weary in body and mind. She has endured a terrible marriage marked by psychological and emotional abuse, and the harrowing death of her husband. She is vulnerable and raw when she moves into Benefit Street. It seems to Saoirse that echoes of Whitman and Poe are everywhere around her in Providence, so much so that she feels inspired to write again and poetry floats up to the surface of her mind. It feels like destiny when she meets Emmit Powell and is quickly captivated by his unpredictability and spontaneity.
Saoirse appears fragile, even more so because of her heart condition, but she has surprising depths of steely resolve that no one suspects. In Providence she is also fortunate to have something she did not have in New Jersey – three quirky but loyal friends to support her. There is a dreamlike quality to this story, and a blurring of the lines between past/present, historical fact/legend, and reality/hallucination. The conclusion finds Saoirse stepping out of the fever dream and into the bright light of reality to make her new life. It is a unique read, and recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction, psychological suspense and Poe-esque Gothicism.
Commentary: A ghostly, haunting atmosphere pervades Beneath the Poet’s House, but it is for the reader to decide whether the ghosts exist in Sarah Helen Whitman’s house or within the confines of Saoirse’s fatigued and tortured mind. Saoirse arrives in Providence a damaged woman – weary in body and mind. She has endured a terrible marriage marked by psychological and emotional abuse, and the harrowing death of her husband. She is vulnerable and raw when she moves into Benefit Street. It seems to Saoirse that echoes of Whitman and Poe are everywhere around her in Providence, so much so that she feels inspired to write again and poetry floats up to the surface of her mind. It feels like destiny when she meets Emmit Powell and is quickly captivated by his unpredictability and spontaneity.
Saoirse appears fragile, even more so because of her heart condition, but she has surprising depths of steely resolve that no one suspects. In Providence she is also fortunate to have something she did not have in New Jersey – three quirky but loyal friends to support her. There is a dreamlike quality to this story, and a blurring of the lines between past/present, historical fact/legend, and reality/hallucination. The conclusion finds Saoirse stepping out of the fever dream and into the bright light of reality to make her new life. It is a unique read, and recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction, psychological suspense and Poe-esque Gothicism.
January 6, 2025
Beneath the Poet’s House is my first time reading a book by Christa Carmen. I was intrigued by the story and setting, a modern novel with gothic elements, set in Providence, Rhode Island, where a widowed young woman retreats to restart her life. Saoirse, formerly a cozy mystery writer who has been away from writing for several years, returns to the city where she attended college at Brown hoping for inspiration, to find a good job perhaps and/or begin writing again. She begins with renting a house that was occupied by Sarah Helen Whitman in the 19th century, a woman who would briefly be engaged to Edgar Allan Poe. Whitman was also a poet in her own right.
And the ground is set for what will be an almost implausible sudden passionate affair with highly Gothic aspects which highlighted my major problem with this story: the character of Saoirse herself. I didn’t believe in her behavior, reactions, everything much of the time and that undercut much of the plot of the story. Too many inconsistencies in her narratives, both what she tells others and what she tells herself and us, the readers. This may be just one individual reaction and I’m simply not part of the true audience for this book, but I can’t recommend it. Otherwise, there were moments of high tension and scares in well written fright segments. And the sections on Poe and Whitman were also interesting background which was new to me.
2.5 rounded to 3*
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book. This review is my own.
And the ground is set for what will be an almost implausible sudden passionate affair with highly Gothic aspects which highlighted my major problem with this story: the character of Saoirse herself. I didn’t believe in her behavior, reactions, everything much of the time and that undercut much of the plot of the story. Too many inconsistencies in her narratives, both what she tells others and what she tells herself and us, the readers. This may be just one individual reaction and I’m simply not part of the true audience for this book, but I can’t recommend it. Otherwise, there were moments of high tension and scares in well written fright segments. And the sections on Poe and Whitman were also interesting background which was new to me.
2.5 rounded to 3*
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book. This review is my own.
January 27, 2025
This one is full of that gothic vibe as a woman tries to make a new start in a house once owned by poet Sarah Helen Whitman.
It has seances, Edgar Allen Poe references, a main character with a secret, and a newly adopted black cat.
It’s creepy, twisty, and has some action that kept my heart racing.
It has seances, Edgar Allen Poe references, a main character with a secret, and a newly adopted black cat.
It’s creepy, twisty, and has some action that kept my heart racing.
December 27, 2024
I thought this was a clever, page turning, contemporary twist on beloved gothic tropes. We get seances, haunted houses, crypts, the question of "madness," but we also get a group of friends that romanticize transcendentalism, so they don't carry phones with them everywhere, but they do have phones. That makes for both plausible situations of helplessness and isolation, but also not intangible access to modern comforts. I love the central connection to Poe in the story too. This book, simply put, has all my things!
October 25, 2024
Finished reading: October 25th 2024
"She has a secret. A secret that reminds her of what she's capable of when her back's against the wall."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
REVIEW
November 29, 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.
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.
December 30, 2025
My 2nd book by Christa Carmen this year and she's definitely become a favorite!
After Saoirse White's husband dies of a heart attack, she decides it's time for her to move back to Providence, RI. She's rented 88 Benefit St., which used to belong to Sarah Helen Whitman, the transcendentalist poet who also happened to be the love interest of Edgar Allan Poe. She's hoping being in this house will help with her writer's block. Upon arrival, she meets three transcendentalists obsessed with Sarah, and they quickly become her friends. She also meets Pulitzer Prize-winning author Emmit Powell. He's charming and seems to be everything her late husband was not. Their whirlwind romance seems perfect until she discovers he's not really who he says he is. How far will he go to keep Saoirse in his life?
This book was absolutely fascinating, and I loved it SO much! I loved the way the author entwined Saoirse and Emmit with Edgar Allan Poe and Sarah Helen Whitman in Providence. It was beautifully written and gripped me from the very first page. It was atmospheric, haunting, unsettling, and dark. The suspense had me turning pages quickly. My heart broke for Saoirse, having to endure what she did with her late husband. The romance between her and Emmit definitely started out swoon-worthy but quickly took a very creepy turn. I also really enjoyed the historical aspect of the book. This was a truly captivating gothic thriller that I HIGHLY recommend🩷
After Saoirse White's husband dies of a heart attack, she decides it's time for her to move back to Providence, RI. She's rented 88 Benefit St., which used to belong to Sarah Helen Whitman, the transcendentalist poet who also happened to be the love interest of Edgar Allan Poe. She's hoping being in this house will help with her writer's block. Upon arrival, she meets three transcendentalists obsessed with Sarah, and they quickly become her friends. She also meets Pulitzer Prize-winning author Emmit Powell. He's charming and seems to be everything her late husband was not. Their whirlwind romance seems perfect until she discovers he's not really who he says he is. How far will he go to keep Saoirse in his life?
This book was absolutely fascinating, and I loved it SO much! I loved the way the author entwined Saoirse and Emmit with Edgar Allan Poe and Sarah Helen Whitman in Providence. It was beautifully written and gripped me from the very first page. It was atmospheric, haunting, unsettling, and dark. The suspense had me turning pages quickly. My heart broke for Saoirse, having to endure what she did with her late husband. The romance between her and Emmit definitely started out swoon-worthy but quickly took a very creepy turn. I also really enjoyed the historical aspect of the book. This was a truly captivating gothic thriller that I HIGHLY recommend🩷
November 11, 2024
First I want to thank Lovecraft Arts & Sciences for my advanced readers copy. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I started this book. I started reading as an adult after college and remember really paid attention in my English classes in school so I got a little taste of what I was missing about Poe and Whitman.
I loved the Rhode Island references she used just like in her book daughters of block island but I know Providence a lot more than block island so it was cool to be able to visualize the places she was writing about. There were a lot of questionable decisions made by Saoirse throughout the book that had me thinking she desperately needed a therapist lol
The ending was such a roller coaster that felt like there would be twists and turns constantly. I do have to say I didn’t expect the ending though I did think it was a little extreme.
The book did give me an itch to want to go to a cafe in Providence and write my heart out though I’m not a writer.
I loved the Rhode Island references she used just like in her book daughters of block island but I know Providence a lot more than block island so it was cool to be able to visualize the places she was writing about. There were a lot of questionable decisions made by Saoirse throughout the book that had me thinking she desperately needed a therapist lol
The ending was such a roller coaster that felt like there would be twists and turns constantly. I do have to say I didn’t expect the ending though I did think it was a little extreme.
The book did give me an itch to want to go to a cafe in Providence and write my heart out though I’m not a writer.
December 2, 2024
Beneath the Poet's House is a wonderfully twisted and captivating read that is based in Providence, Rhode Island and centered around Edgar Allan Poe and Sarah Helen Whitman. Many of the characters in this novel have unique characteristics, which all add tremendously to the story. The book is incredibly well-written, and the author did a great job weaving in poetry as well as some historical facts. The last half of the book had me on the edge of my seat! The author brought the horror I was anticipating without being over the top. I can't wait for this book to be published so I can grab my copy!
Thank you NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing, and Crista Carmen for this incredible ARC!
Thank you NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing, and Crista Carmen for this incredible ARC!
January 18, 2025
Although I don’t usually delve into Gothic thrillers often, this one was a delightful surprise! The haunting, atmospheric setting—featuring the home of a legendary writer, a romantic rose garden, and a cemetery—completely captivated me. And did I mention there might be ghosts?! 👀
Though the slow burn of this psychological suspense takes time to draw you in, the ever-present tension and anxiety, combined with Carmen’s masterful prose, make it well worth the wait!
3.5 rounded to 4 for Goodreads
Though the slow burn of this psychological suspense takes time to draw you in, the ever-present tension and anxiety, combined with Carmen’s masterful prose, make it well worth the wait!
3.5 rounded to 4 for Goodreads
December 16, 2024
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.
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.
August 28, 2024
Christa Carmen ties the history of Edgar Allan Poe, his fiancé Sarah Helen Whitman, and the city of Providence, RI to a modern haunted love tale. Saoirse White moves back to her college town after the untimely death of her husband. Of course she doesn't move into just any old house, but the one in which poet Sarah Helen Whitman resided while being courted by the legendary Edgar Allan Poe.
Strange sounds emit from the walls of Saoirse's house and she discovers a trap door. Where does it lead? Rumors run through the city that this house, among others nearby, is haunted. Is her's among the truest of haunts?
Saoirse quickly gets drawn into the hype and heart of hauntings. In order to learn more about the woman who formally lived in the house and to keep herself among the living, Saoirse takes part in seances and researches Sarah Helen Whitman. Her new friends draw her out into the city and Saoirse is ready to be swept away.
I was quickly engrossed with this book and Saoirse's journey into life as a young widow. She is pulled toward learning more about Poe & Whitman's courtship while haunted by the death of her husband. His voice constantly in her head, questioning her moves had me wondering if her new friends were all illusions too. I was skeptical of her whirlwind romance and how quickly obsessed Emmitt became of Saoirse. He is the guy every mother warns against. But then, I, like Saoirse, set those notions aside.
The plot line was enjoyable; I did not see the ending coming, nor could I figure a way out of it for Saoirse. The characters were each a bit eccentric, especially her new friends. Saoirse White is layered with secrets, hope, health issues, and a yearning to find herself.
Christa Carmen is a artist with her imagery. I felt like I could taste the dirt and feel the flies & bones while reading Beneath the Poet's House. Carmen artfully explains to the reader how to pronounce 'Saoirse' a few times which I gratefully appreciated.
In her second novel, Carmen does not disappoint. The beginning grabbed my attention and wrapped me up in the intrigue surrounding Sarah Helen Whitman's old house. The details, the mystery, and the fated romance had me flipping the pages and staying up way too late.
If you liked Daughters of Block Island, you will love Beneath the Poet's House.
I read this novel by Christa Carmen courtesy of the author, publishers, and NetGalley. I look forward to its release in December 2024 when the air is as cold as the ground beneath Providence.
Strange sounds emit from the walls of Saoirse's house and she discovers a trap door. Where does it lead? Rumors run through the city that this house, among others nearby, is haunted. Is her's among the truest of haunts?
Saoirse quickly gets drawn into the hype and heart of hauntings. In order to learn more about the woman who formally lived in the house and to keep herself among the living, Saoirse takes part in seances and researches Sarah Helen Whitman. Her new friends draw her out into the city and Saoirse is ready to be swept away.
I was quickly engrossed with this book and Saoirse's journey into life as a young widow. She is pulled toward learning more about Poe & Whitman's courtship while haunted by the death of her husband. His voice constantly in her head, questioning her moves had me wondering if her new friends were all illusions too. I was skeptical of her whirlwind romance and how quickly obsessed Emmitt became of Saoirse. He is the guy every mother warns against. But then, I, like Saoirse, set those notions aside.
The plot line was enjoyable; I did not see the ending coming, nor could I figure a way out of it for Saoirse. The characters were each a bit eccentric, especially her new friends. Saoirse White is layered with secrets, hope, health issues, and a yearning to find herself.
Christa Carmen is a artist with her imagery. I felt like I could taste the dirt and feel the flies & bones while reading Beneath the Poet's House. Carmen artfully explains to the reader how to pronounce 'Saoirse' a few times which I gratefully appreciated.
In her second novel, Carmen does not disappoint. The beginning grabbed my attention and wrapped me up in the intrigue surrounding Sarah Helen Whitman's old house. The details, the mystery, and the fated romance had me flipping the pages and staying up way too late.
If you liked Daughters of Block Island, you will love Beneath the Poet's House.
I read this novel by Christa Carmen courtesy of the author, publishers, and NetGalley. I look forward to its release in December 2024 when the air is as cold as the ground beneath Providence.
December 19, 2024
Probably another favorite read of 2024! Inspired by Edgar Allen Poe I love this twist of a story! Thriller, action, romance, a slice of horror all in one phenomenal story! This was so very charming!
April 13, 2025
Spooky ooky.
December 6, 2024
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.**
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.**
August 14, 2025
I listened to the audiobook of Beneath the Poet’s House and was drawn in almost immediately, though it took a little time for the story to fully hit its stride. I especially enjoyed the dynamic between Saoirse and her neighbor friends, which added warmth and authenticity to the narrative.
The book delivered a solid mix of sadness, curiosity, and unease, with strong atmosphere and well-developed characters. The pacing kept me engaged throughout. My only minor critique is that Saoirse could be surprisingly naive about certain things, but it wasn’t enough to pull me out of the story.
Overall, this is more mystery-thriller than horror, and I think fans of contemporary mystery novels will enjoy it. I’d definitely read more from Christa Carmen in the future.
The book delivered a solid mix of sadness, curiosity, and unease, with strong atmosphere and well-developed characters. The pacing kept me engaged throughout. My only minor critique is that Saoirse could be surprisingly naive about certain things, but it wasn’t enough to pull me out of the story.
Overall, this is more mystery-thriller than horror, and I think fans of contemporary mystery novels will enjoy it. I’d definitely read more from Christa Carmen in the future.
May 25, 2024
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.
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.
March 29, 2025
Edgar Allan Poe & Sarah Helen Whitman somewhat retelling. Saoirse moves into 88 Benefit Street after her husband passes. It's the former home of Sarah's.
Seances, transcendentalists, and a very, very slow burn to unraveling the story.
Several times, I needed to stop reading because I felt a reading slump coming on. Some beautiful and overdescriptive writing.
If you like a cozy style, I would definitely call this cozy gothic!
Seances, transcendentalists, and a very, very slow burn to unraveling the story.
Several times, I needed to stop reading because I felt a reading slump coming on. Some beautiful and overdescriptive writing.
If you like a cozy style, I would definitely call this cozy gothic!
June 9, 2024
Wow. While a few parts in the middle are just slightly slow, the plot slaps you in the face again immediately. Characters are well written and love the ending which is surprising, for me.
Personally, I love the friendships and the heroin feel. Very dramatic, gothic themes as well. Interested to read more by this author!
Personally, I love the friendships and the heroin feel. Very dramatic, gothic themes as well. Interested to read more by this author!
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