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Beneath the Stairs: A Novel
“An enthralling debut by a gifted storyteller!” —Wendy Walker, author of Don’t Look for Me
In this spine-tingling, atmospheric debut for fans of Jennifer McMahon, Simone St. James, and Chris Bohjalian, a woman returns to her hometown after her childhood friend attempts suicide at a local haunted house—the same place where a traumatic incident shattered their lives twenty years ago.
Few in sleepy Sumner’s Mills have stumbled across the Octagon House hidden deep in the woods. Even fewer are brave enough to trespass. A man had killed his wife and two young daughters there, a shocking, gruesome crime that the sleepy upstate New York town tried to bury. One summer night, an emboldened fourteen-year-old Clare and her best friend, Abby, ventured into the Octagon House. Clare came out, but a piece of Abby never did.
Twenty years later, an adult Clare receives word that Abby has attempted suicide at the Octagon House and now lies in a coma. With little to lose and still grieving after a personal tragedy, Clare returns to her roots to uncover the darkness responsible for Abby’s accident.
An eerie page-turner, Beneath the Stairs is about the trauma that follows us from childhood to adulthood and returning to the beginning to reach the end.
In this spine-tingling, atmospheric debut for fans of Jennifer McMahon, Simone St. James, and Chris Bohjalian, a woman returns to her hometown after her childhood friend attempts suicide at a local haunted house—the same place where a traumatic incident shattered their lives twenty years ago.
Few in sleepy Sumner’s Mills have stumbled across the Octagon House hidden deep in the woods. Even fewer are brave enough to trespass. A man had killed his wife and two young daughters there, a shocking, gruesome crime that the sleepy upstate New York town tried to bury. One summer night, an emboldened fourteen-year-old Clare and her best friend, Abby, ventured into the Octagon House. Clare came out, but a piece of Abby never did.
Twenty years later, an adult Clare receives word that Abby has attempted suicide at the Octagon House and now lies in a coma. With little to lose and still grieving after a personal tragedy, Clare returns to her roots to uncover the darkness responsible for Abby’s accident.
An eerie page-turner, Beneath the Stairs is about the trauma that follows us from childhood to adulthood and returning to the beginning to reach the end.
Audiobook
First published February 22, 2022
About the author
Jennifer Fawcett
6 books255 followersJennifer Fawcett holds an MFA from the Iowa Playwrights Workshop. Her work has been produced in theaters across the country and published in Third Coast Magazine, Reunion: The Dallas Review, Storybrink, and in the anthology Long Story Short. Her debut novel, Beneath the Stairs comes out with Atria Books (Simon & Schuster) in February 2022. She teaches writing at Skidmore College.
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January 15, 2022
Beneath the Stairs by Jennifer Fawcett
The synopsis of Beneath the Stairs lured me in with it's mention of a haunted house, a family murdered in that house, and how past events are coming back to haunt two women, twenty years after they last entered the deserted house. In the present day, Clare's best friend from her teens, Abby, has ventured to the house, alone, and tried to commit suicide. Abby is now in a coma and Clare has come back to offer support to Abby and her family, at the request of Abby's mother. Clare has her own personal trauma that might have been induced by Abby's strange text messages a few months earlier.
The story had potential but it got bogged down is too many side issues. There is one character who got a lot of book time who just turned his parts of the story into a rambling, meandering wander down his memory lane, which added nothing to the story. The girls' younger days could have been condensed. And, of course, the characters make really eye rolling decisions when it comes to a world involving a haunted house where murders took place.
Then we come to the end of the book and some very important matters are just "covered over". I'd love to mention the things that didn't work for me at all but those things would be spoilers for the story. I was so put out by the actions of the people in this book but also that threads were left dangling, threads that should have been dealt with in the epilogue, if no where else. I read this book with Susan and Mary Beth and they got a real earful from me.
Publication: February 22nd 2022
Thank you to Atria Books/Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for this ARC.
The synopsis of Beneath the Stairs lured me in with it's mention of a haunted house, a family murdered in that house, and how past events are coming back to haunt two women, twenty years after they last entered the deserted house. In the present day, Clare's best friend from her teens, Abby, has ventured to the house, alone, and tried to commit suicide. Abby is now in a coma and Clare has come back to offer support to Abby and her family, at the request of Abby's mother. Clare has her own personal trauma that might have been induced by Abby's strange text messages a few months earlier.
The story had potential but it got bogged down is too many side issues. There is one character who got a lot of book time who just turned his parts of the story into a rambling, meandering wander down his memory lane, which added nothing to the story. The girls' younger days could have been condensed. And, of course, the characters make really eye rolling decisions when it comes to a world involving a haunted house where murders took place.
Then we come to the end of the book and some very important matters are just "covered over". I'd love to mention the things that didn't work for me at all but those things would be spoilers for the story. I was so put out by the actions of the people in this book but also that threads were left dangling, threads that should have been dealt with in the epilogue, if no where else. I read this book with Susan and Mary Beth and they got a real earful from me.
Publication: February 22nd 2022
Thank you to Atria Books/Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for this ARC.
August 21, 2021
Creepy, scary, eerie house haunted by past inhabitants’ spirits theme is always a big winner for me!
I was making an interview with a director who shot a movie about haunted house and a creepy little doll reminds of us Conjuring’s Annabelle at the same time I received the arc.
After reading few pages, I said I was damned! The same plot line with more well constructed two childhood friends’ traumatic experiences and their never ending nightmares about the house kept calling them were great ideas which hooked me up even though they freaked me up more than I expected !
The story divided between three timelines: first timeline takes place in 30’s: introducing George who builds the house for his girlfriend Alice and his daughter Grace. He plans to marry with Alice but his possessive love and abusing tendencies scare Alice and little Grace also knows George hates her and he would be happy if she’s out of the picture.
Second timeline is about a family of four: who moved in the very same house in mid 60s. Ben, Natalie and elder daughter Joan who finds Grace’s baby in the basement of the house are narrators, trying so hard to adjust their new lives. Then a tragedy strikes out and the brutal murders haunt the place forever!
In present day, we’re introduced to main character of the story: Clare who recently returns back to her hometown from Chicago, after dealing with her traumatic miscarriage and breakup with her longtime boyfriend. Her childhood friend Abby’s mother called her to inform: she’s found at a house’s basement, overdosed and she called Clare’s name before the medics take her to the ICU.
Clare has to come back to confront the ghosts of her past: her guilt feelings, fears, regrets, unresolved issues.
In the summer of 1998, Clare went into that haunted Octagon house ( it’s unusually shaped like octagon) along with Abby, Lori and Monica. The house left abandoned after a man killed his family and sent to prison ( which connects it with second timeline of the story and present narration of Ben who is at the asylum now). It was a few miles outside Summer’s Hills.
If they have just gone one time, everything would be fine. Abby went there again at the same night.
And she was never be the same after she found herself locked in basement.
Clare is adamant to solve the mystery of the house because her childhood friend Lori’s daughter Taylor also went there and she has a big urge to return back just like Clare hardly resists.
She wants to help her friend Abby whose mind trapped in this place for years. But what if she’s not strong enough to face the entire truth the place holds. What if the curse is destructive enough to crash her!
It was well developed psychological, somewhat paranormal thriller. The author chose to emphasize emotional depth of friendship at the conclusion. Thrilling elements were a little overshadowed but it was still fair end for exhausted and broken characters of the story.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books For sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
I was making an interview with a director who shot a movie about haunted house and a creepy little doll reminds of us Conjuring’s Annabelle at the same time I received the arc.
After reading few pages, I said I was damned! The same plot line with more well constructed two childhood friends’ traumatic experiences and their never ending nightmares about the house kept calling them were great ideas which hooked me up even though they freaked me up more than I expected !
The story divided between three timelines: first timeline takes place in 30’s: introducing George who builds the house for his girlfriend Alice and his daughter Grace. He plans to marry with Alice but his possessive love and abusing tendencies scare Alice and little Grace also knows George hates her and he would be happy if she’s out of the picture.
Second timeline is about a family of four: who moved in the very same house in mid 60s. Ben, Natalie and elder daughter Joan who finds Grace’s baby in the basement of the house are narrators, trying so hard to adjust their new lives. Then a tragedy strikes out and the brutal murders haunt the place forever!
In present day, we’re introduced to main character of the story: Clare who recently returns back to her hometown from Chicago, after dealing with her traumatic miscarriage and breakup with her longtime boyfriend. Her childhood friend Abby’s mother called her to inform: she’s found at a house’s basement, overdosed and she called Clare’s name before the medics take her to the ICU.
Clare has to come back to confront the ghosts of her past: her guilt feelings, fears, regrets, unresolved issues.
In the summer of 1998, Clare went into that haunted Octagon house ( it’s unusually shaped like octagon) along with Abby, Lori and Monica. The house left abandoned after a man killed his family and sent to prison ( which connects it with second timeline of the story and present narration of Ben who is at the asylum now). It was a few miles outside Summer’s Hills.
If they have just gone one time, everything would be fine. Abby went there again at the same night.
And she was never be the same after she found herself locked in basement.
Clare is adamant to solve the mystery of the house because her childhood friend Lori’s daughter Taylor also went there and she has a big urge to return back just like Clare hardly resists.
She wants to help her friend Abby whose mind trapped in this place for years. But what if she’s not strong enough to face the entire truth the place holds. What if the curse is destructive enough to crash her!
It was well developed psychological, somewhat paranormal thriller. The author chose to emphasize emotional depth of friendship at the conclusion. Thrilling elements were a little overshadowed but it was still fair end for exhausted and broken characters of the story.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books For sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
January 18, 2022
I love supernatural thrillers, especially one of a haunted house. I also love a good ghost story. The haunted house was deep in the woods and it was so creepy. It had a dark past and I loved reading about the history of it. There were dark secrets. I also thought felt the gothic atmosphere brewing. I thought it was atmospheric. I would bot want anything to do with this house. I wanted to find out all about beneath the stairs. Even the doll was so creepy.
I think the book could of been a lot shorter. I thought the story fell apart close to the end. It just did not add up right and did not make sense. I had so many questions that were unanswered and left me disappointed. I also thought it was unbelievable.
This was a buddy read with Marilyn and Susan which made this fun but we all felt the same way.
I want to thank Edelweiss, Atria Books/Simon&Schuster for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2022
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Clare left her small hometown of Sumner's Mills, in upstate New York, behind many years ago. And it wasn't that she just left, she ran.
After a chilling incident occurred one summer when she was just 14-years old, the town lost its sense of comfort for her. She couldn't wait to get out of there.
It seems a silly thing, tweens exploring a haunted house, but after that day, Clare and her best friend, Abby, were never the same.
In fact, the incident was so traumatic, Abby's entire personality seemed to changed. Her parents moved the entire family from town to try to escape it. It was really a formative experience in Clare's life.
The girls eventually lost contact after Abby's move. That's why Clare is particularly surprised when Abby's mom reaches out to her twenty years later and asks her to return to Sumner's Mills.
Abby, whose mental health has continued to be a challenge for her, is in the hospital, in a coma after an apparent overdose. She had returned to the haunted house.
Having just ended her long-term relationship, Clare is looking for an escape anyway. She decides she will head back to Sumner's Mills, lick her wounds for a bit and try to discover what could have possibly possessed Abby to go back to that house.
Once back in her childhood home, Clare is reacquainted with old friends and begins a deep dive into the history of the haunted house, known in town as the Octagon House for its peculiar shape.
Beneath the Stairs uses both past and present perspectives to weave together this truly haunting tale. I always enjoy that narrative format, so was excited to see it here.
This book is definitely a slow burn, and while there's a lot going on, I feel like Fawcett did a great job weaving it all together in a way that felt fluid.
I enjoyed getting to know Clare as a character. She was strong-willed and pretty fearless. It is clear she had built walls up around herself after her childhood trauma. I felt for her. She was alone, both mentally and physically, through a lot of her struggles.
Over the course of the story, Clare comes into contact with a man who was sort of a first love for her. I was completely invested in the exploration of that relationship. I thought it was extremely realistic and very well done.
My only slight critiques for this story would be that it is quite slow, eventually toeing drawn-out territory. Also, towards the end, a few situations didn't quite make sense to me. I was left with questions.
Overall though, this is a fun read. I am still thinking about it weeks later, so that's always a good sign.
I loved the is it supernatural, is it not supernatural feel; generally an element I will look for when picking up haunting Thrillers. Fawcett definitely delivered those vibes; something I hope she continues to bring with future works.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
I enjoyed this a lot and look forward to picking up more from Jennifer Fawcett!
Clare left her small hometown of Sumner's Mills, in upstate New York, behind many years ago. And it wasn't that she just left, she ran.
After a chilling incident occurred one summer when she was just 14-years old, the town lost its sense of comfort for her. She couldn't wait to get out of there.
It seems a silly thing, tweens exploring a haunted house, but after that day, Clare and her best friend, Abby, were never the same.
In fact, the incident was so traumatic, Abby's entire personality seemed to changed. Her parents moved the entire family from town to try to escape it. It was really a formative experience in Clare's life.
The girls eventually lost contact after Abby's move. That's why Clare is particularly surprised when Abby's mom reaches out to her twenty years later and asks her to return to Sumner's Mills.
Abby, whose mental health has continued to be a challenge for her, is in the hospital, in a coma after an apparent overdose. She had returned to the haunted house.
Having just ended her long-term relationship, Clare is looking for an escape anyway. She decides she will head back to Sumner's Mills, lick her wounds for a bit and try to discover what could have possibly possessed Abby to go back to that house.
Once back in her childhood home, Clare is reacquainted with old friends and begins a deep dive into the history of the haunted house, known in town as the Octagon House for its peculiar shape.
Beneath the Stairs uses both past and present perspectives to weave together this truly haunting tale. I always enjoy that narrative format, so was excited to see it here.
This book is definitely a slow burn, and while there's a lot going on, I feel like Fawcett did a great job weaving it all together in a way that felt fluid.
I enjoyed getting to know Clare as a character. She was strong-willed and pretty fearless. It is clear she had built walls up around herself after her childhood trauma. I felt for her. She was alone, both mentally and physically, through a lot of her struggles.
Over the course of the story, Clare comes into contact with a man who was sort of a first love for her. I was completely invested in the exploration of that relationship. I thought it was extremely realistic and very well done.
My only slight critiques for this story would be that it is quite slow, eventually toeing drawn-out territory. Also, towards the end, a few situations didn't quite make sense to me. I was left with questions.
Overall though, this is a fun read. I am still thinking about it weeks later, so that's always a good sign.
I loved the is it supernatural, is it not supernatural feel; generally an element I will look for when picking up haunting Thrillers. Fawcett definitely delivered those vibes; something I hope she continues to bring with future works.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
I enjoyed this a lot and look forward to picking up more from Jennifer Fawcett!
January 9, 2022
DNF AT 50% I WOULD ADVISE NOT EVEN STARTING IT!!
I'm so so sorry that I wasted hours on this book. In an effort to be fair I read to 50%, way too much time spent on endless wordy repetition.
There is no atmosphere of spookiness that I could feel. The story of what happened to the 3 girls keeps getting told over and over again. By 50% there is no hint of any explanation.
I was bored with the characters, the plot and the writing. This felt very much like a YA novel since "what happened" occurred when these friends were young teens.
I have thrown in the towel on this one. I really can't understand the 4* reviews for this one, but to each there own!!!
I'm so so sorry that I wasted hours on this book. In an effort to be fair I read to 50%, way too much time spent on endless wordy repetition.
There is no atmosphere of spookiness that I could feel. The story of what happened to the 3 girls keeps getting told over and over again. By 50% there is no hint of any explanation.
I was bored with the characters, the plot and the writing. This felt very much like a YA novel since "what happened" occurred when these friends were young teens.
I have thrown in the towel on this one. I really can't understand the 4* reviews for this one, but to each there own!!!
November 28, 2021
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Would you ever go into a creepy, dilapidated house in the middle of the woods? I sure as sh*! wouldn’t...but Clare and her friends did.
Not many people in Sumner’s Mills, a small town in New York, know about the Octagon House. It’s in the middle of a forest with no road to access it. It’s mostly boarded up, and has been empty since a man allegedly murdered his wife and daughters there in 1965.
Clare and Abby, along with their other friends, decide to go into the house one quiet summer day. What they think they see is hair-raising, but then Clare and Abby find themselves there again at night. Clare came out of the house mostly unscathed, but Abby came out scarred.
Twenty years later, Clare has put that night out of her mind. She receives word that Abby, whose had a troubled life in the years since, was found in the basement of the Octagon House after attempting suicide. Abby is now in a coma, but specifically asked for Clare when she was rescued from the house.
Now, Clare plans to uncover the dark secrets surrounding the Octagon House, and those inside it, so she can find out once and for all what Abby’s obsession with the house is.
This is a creepy and atmospheric mystery that I quite enjoyed, and it’s also an impressive debut. The story is told in multiple timelines and from a few different POVs. It can be a bit confusing at times, but manages to work itself out. I also liked that there were some “coming of age” vibes without it feeling YA. It was interesting to see how characters acted years prior vs. today.
The climax isn’t as thrilling as it could’ve been, and the last 15% really goes on more than it needs to. However, the writing and plot are very engaging. I really appreciated this overall, and author Jennifer Fawcett is now on my “one to watch” list.
Thank you to Atria Books and Edelweiss for sending me a widget of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 2/22/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Would you ever go into a creepy, dilapidated house in the middle of the woods? I sure as sh*! wouldn’t...but Clare and her friends did.
Not many people in Sumner’s Mills, a small town in New York, know about the Octagon House. It’s in the middle of a forest with no road to access it. It’s mostly boarded up, and has been empty since a man allegedly murdered his wife and daughters there in 1965.
Clare and Abby, along with their other friends, decide to go into the house one quiet summer day. What they think they see is hair-raising, but then Clare and Abby find themselves there again at night. Clare came out of the house mostly unscathed, but Abby came out scarred.
Twenty years later, Clare has put that night out of her mind. She receives word that Abby, whose had a troubled life in the years since, was found in the basement of the Octagon House after attempting suicide. Abby is now in a coma, but specifically asked for Clare when she was rescued from the house.
Now, Clare plans to uncover the dark secrets surrounding the Octagon House, and those inside it, so she can find out once and for all what Abby’s obsession with the house is.
This is a creepy and atmospheric mystery that I quite enjoyed, and it’s also an impressive debut. The story is told in multiple timelines and from a few different POVs. It can be a bit confusing at times, but manages to work itself out. I also liked that there were some “coming of age” vibes without it feeling YA. It was interesting to see how characters acted years prior vs. today.
The climax isn’t as thrilling as it could’ve been, and the last 15% really goes on more than it needs to. However, the writing and plot are very engaging. I really appreciated this overall, and author Jennifer Fawcett is now on my “one to watch” list.
Thank you to Atria Books and Edelweiss for sending me a widget of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 2/22/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
March 24, 2023
4 "surprisingly immersive, well plotted, carefully constructed" stars !!!
A ribbon of Excellence read for 2023
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Simon & Schuster Canada for an e-copy. This was released February 2022. I am providing an honest review.
Usually with four star reads I leave a generally positive review, grateful that a novel or work has reached excellent status and leave it at that. I intuit that the book is as excellent as can be and cannot reach truly masterpiece status.
I feel differently about this one because what is excellent is often superb and I feel in my bones that we are dealing with an intensely talented author. So I will provide brief feedback as to what could have been improved although even in those areas this book far surpassed most books in the supernatural suspense genre.
My Gushes:
1. the author very carefully constructed and plotted this book in logical and intricate ways with a layering effect that was both highly effective and affective...she leaves no stone unturned and there are no loose ends...as a reader you must pay close attention as there are many pov switches as well as four time periods to keep track of....extremely well done....superb even
2. the author understands grief and elegantly depicts these processes without shoving it down the reader's throat
3. the understanding of interpersonal family, friendship and intimate relationships is absolutely outstanding... I felt it especially in the depiction of young teenage girl dynamics...also a shoutout to a most excellent ability to create dialogue that is both genuine and also helps convey to the reader various relational processes !
4. a most arresting and interesting plot that never becomes stale but is both frightening and riveting ! This book never goes over the top and the author allows the reader to interpret in their own way whether these processes are supernatural or psychological or a combination of the two
Why this book did not achieve 5 star or 4.5 star status
1. the prose was always clear and straightforward but could have used a bit more panache (3.5 star quality) I selfishly hopes the author moves away from popular fiction to a more literary style !
2. a deepening of the psychological portraits of the main players would have made this book even more outstanding
3. I wish the author had done a bit more research on This was a weak link for me and the naming could have been left out entirely.
I am very excited to see what Ms. Fawcett comes up with next !
A ribbon of Excellence read for 2023
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Simon & Schuster Canada for an e-copy. This was released February 2022. I am providing an honest review.
Usually with four star reads I leave a generally positive review, grateful that a novel or work has reached excellent status and leave it at that. I intuit that the book is as excellent as can be and cannot reach truly masterpiece status.
I feel differently about this one because what is excellent is often superb and I feel in my bones that we are dealing with an intensely talented author. So I will provide brief feedback as to what could have been improved although even in those areas this book far surpassed most books in the supernatural suspense genre.
My Gushes:
1. the author very carefully constructed and plotted this book in logical and intricate ways with a layering effect that was both highly effective and affective...she leaves no stone unturned and there are no loose ends...as a reader you must pay close attention as there are many pov switches as well as four time periods to keep track of....extremely well done....superb even
2. the author understands grief and elegantly depicts these processes without shoving it down the reader's throat
3. the understanding of interpersonal family, friendship and intimate relationships is absolutely outstanding... I felt it especially in the depiction of young teenage girl dynamics...also a shoutout to a most excellent ability to create dialogue that is both genuine and also helps convey to the reader various relational processes !
4. a most arresting and interesting plot that never becomes stale but is both frightening and riveting ! This book never goes over the top and the author allows the reader to interpret in their own way whether these processes are supernatural or psychological or a combination of the two
Why this book did not achieve 5 star or 4.5 star status
1. the prose was always clear and straightforward but could have used a bit more panache (3.5 star quality) I selfishly hopes the author moves away from popular fiction to a more literary style !
2. a deepening of the psychological portraits of the main players would have made this book even more outstanding
3. I wish the author had done a bit more research on This was a weak link for me and the naming could have been left out entirely.
I am very excited to see what Ms. Fawcett comes up with next !
February 9, 2022
**Many thanks to Edelweiss, Maudee Genao at Atria, and Jennifer Fawcett for a DRC in exchange for an honest review! Now available as of 2.22!!**
A spooky, suspenseful slow-burn that simmers with ghostly gothic drama...and a dangerous doll to boot!
Clare and Abby are your average teenagers: looking for trouble and to while away the hours. They get the bright idea to explore a creepy house, unique in the town of Sumner's Mills: The Octagon House. (And of course, you have one guess to determine how it got its name). What they find, along with their friends who come along for the ride that fateful evening, is that there is good reason to avoid this terrifying place...besides the obvious fact that a mysterious murder occurred there years ago. Clare and Abby enter and are lucky to escape with their lives, after a frightening encounter in the basement.
Years later, Clare is called back to Sumner's Mills: Abby is in the hospital, in the grip of a coma, after a suicide attempt. Tragic enough to begin with, until Clare learns that this event took place at none other than the Octagon House itself. Why did Abby return and what could have driven her back...and driven her to madness? Does Clare have some unfinished business of her own...and why did Abby call on Clare to solve the mystery? Can Clare protect herself and other women from a similar fate...or has the Octagon House lured its next victim right to the top of the stairs, poised to descend, and never return?
This is Fawcett's debut, and I felt this for the beginning two-thirds of the novel: there are a total of FOUR timelines at one point, as we see Clare in the present, Clare at 14...and then two timelines prior, which deal with further backstory of Octagon House. This isn't necessarily problematic, but it was a LOT. I usually feel backstory isn't fully explicated enough, but in this case, I was intrigued but a bit overwhelmed by all of the back and forth and trying to keep track of the who, where, and why Fawcett explored. I think at least one of these storylines from the past could have easily been dealt with solely in newspaper articles, magazine clippings, or the like. In this case, I would have liked a LITTLE bit more left to the imagination.
That aside, the atmosphere quickly amps up in this one, and The Octagon House itself functions as a creepy character throughout. There are also a couple of subplots that blossom, and by 75%, I was much more invested in the outcome than I was at the start. I wanted the best for Clare just as much as I wanted to know what the Octagon House had under its stairs (rather than up its sleeve, I suppose!) for other victims. I was relieved so much heart and fleshed out character development made the journey worth it, and I love a good haunted doll reference as much as the next thriller buff, so that certainly gave me the Annabelle-esque vibes from Wan's Conjuring series of films. I also could see this one working well as a series or movie, so here's to hoping for that development deal!
If you're feeling a little impatient for Halloween already (I mean, there are only 264 days to go...so I could see why you might be!) and are ready for a bit of spooky, a touch of heart, and a mystery guaranteed to keep you guessing, grab a copy of Beneath the Stairs...and as R.L. Stine so fatefully warned us all in Goosebumps #22... Stay Out of the Basement! 🚪
4 stars
A spooky, suspenseful slow-burn that simmers with ghostly gothic drama...and a dangerous doll to boot!
Clare and Abby are your average teenagers: looking for trouble and to while away the hours. They get the bright idea to explore a creepy house, unique in the town of Sumner's Mills: The Octagon House. (And of course, you have one guess to determine how it got its name). What they find, along with their friends who come along for the ride that fateful evening, is that there is good reason to avoid this terrifying place...besides the obvious fact that a mysterious murder occurred there years ago. Clare and Abby enter and are lucky to escape with their lives, after a frightening encounter in the basement.
Years later, Clare is called back to Sumner's Mills: Abby is in the hospital, in the grip of a coma, after a suicide attempt. Tragic enough to begin with, until Clare learns that this event took place at none other than the Octagon House itself. Why did Abby return and what could have driven her back...and driven her to madness? Does Clare have some unfinished business of her own...and why did Abby call on Clare to solve the mystery? Can Clare protect herself and other women from a similar fate...or has the Octagon House lured its next victim right to the top of the stairs, poised to descend, and never return?
This is Fawcett's debut, and I felt this for the beginning two-thirds of the novel: there are a total of FOUR timelines at one point, as we see Clare in the present, Clare at 14...and then two timelines prior, which deal with further backstory of Octagon House. This isn't necessarily problematic, but it was a LOT. I usually feel backstory isn't fully explicated enough, but in this case, I was intrigued but a bit overwhelmed by all of the back and forth and trying to keep track of the who, where, and why Fawcett explored. I think at least one of these storylines from the past could have easily been dealt with solely in newspaper articles, magazine clippings, or the like. In this case, I would have liked a LITTLE bit more left to the imagination.
That aside, the atmosphere quickly amps up in this one, and The Octagon House itself functions as a creepy character throughout. There are also a couple of subplots that blossom, and by 75%, I was much more invested in the outcome than I was at the start. I wanted the best for Clare just as much as I wanted to know what the Octagon House had under its stairs (rather than up its sleeve, I suppose!) for other victims. I was relieved so much heart and fleshed out character development made the journey worth it, and I love a good haunted doll reference as much as the next thriller buff, so that certainly gave me the Annabelle-esque vibes from Wan's Conjuring series of films. I also could see this one working well as a series or movie, so here's to hoping for that development deal!
If you're feeling a little impatient for Halloween already (I mean, there are only 264 days to go...so I could see why you might be!) and are ready for a bit of spooky, a touch of heart, and a mystery guaranteed to keep you guessing, grab a copy of Beneath the Stairs...and as R.L. Stine so fatefully warned us all in Goosebumps #22... Stay Out of the Basement! 🚪
4 stars
February 23, 2022
A creepy, tense, unsettling and atmospheric story about a haunted house, guilt, grief and friendship
Part horror, part mystery and part thriller, Beneath the Stairs is about Claire, who returns to her hometown, Sumner Mills after her friend attempted suicide in a haunted house. The house built in 1936 by George Sumner for his fiancé, in which a man allegedly killed his wife and children in 1965, and in where Claire and Abby visited in 1998. What happened there? Why did Abby go back? Why did she involve Claire?
This was an amazing debut by Jennifer Fawcett, which terrified me! I would never go into a haunted house, and read that the one time this author ventured into one, it spawned this novel!
This dark, character driven, slow-burn, was written in a few POVs, and in four timelines; 1936, 1965, 1998 and 2021. Some might be annoyed by the different timelines, but I liked the inclusion of them, and thought it cleverly fleshed out both the characters and the events.
Beneath the Stairs looked at childhood trauma, and how it can affect us in adulthood. it also looked at the bad choices we make when we're young and how they can follow us, haunting us.
There are some very mixed reviews, but I was gripped by this frightening page turner! I had to read it with the lights on, as it made me so jumpy, and last night, I was so immersed in the book, I didn't realise that I was the last one left downstairs on my own. Needless to say, I locked up really quick, and ran up to bed once I had finished!🤣
Even though you would never catch me in a haunted house, or down in a pitch black basement, the book showed how the mixture of fear, peer pressure and curiosity makes some kids go into these kind of places!
I liked and empathised with Claire. I was invested in her journey to find out what happened, and really wanted her to get a happy ending. I also felt really sorry for Ben, whose life was wrecked.
I loved the descriptive writing, which reminded me of Simone St. James and Jennifer McMahon. I could really visualise the sleepy town of Sumner Mills, the spooky woods, and the eerie, ominous Octagon House, with it's chilling basement and THAT door! I was sweating reading about it, and can imagine this being adapted for film, although I can't promise I would have the guts to watch it! 🙈
Even though I enjoyed this spooky page turner, it did have it's flaws, which is why I couldn't give it five stars. It could have been shorter, as there were a couple of unnecessary parts included, and quite a bit of repetition in places. It also had a few unresolved loose ends which bothered me a little. However, the story gripped me, building tension right up until the end. I also cared about what happened to the characters, especially Claire. I would recommend this for a chilling, dark read, and am excited to see what this author comes up with next!
Available now! 🛑🛑🛑🛑
Many thanks to Maudee Genao @ Simon & Schuster, and Edelweiss for access to this digital review copy, in exchange for a honest review!
Part horror, part mystery and part thriller, Beneath the Stairs is about Claire, who returns to her hometown, Sumner Mills after her friend attempted suicide in a haunted house. The house built in 1936 by George Sumner for his fiancé, in which a man allegedly killed his wife and children in 1965, and in where Claire and Abby visited in 1998. What happened there? Why did Abby go back? Why did she involve Claire?
This was an amazing debut by Jennifer Fawcett, which terrified me! I would never go into a haunted house, and read that the one time this author ventured into one, it spawned this novel!
This dark, character driven, slow-burn, was written in a few POVs, and in four timelines; 1936, 1965, 1998 and 2021. Some might be annoyed by the different timelines, but I liked the inclusion of them, and thought it cleverly fleshed out both the characters and the events.
Beneath the Stairs looked at childhood trauma, and how it can affect us in adulthood. it also looked at the bad choices we make when we're young and how they can follow us, haunting us.
There are some very mixed reviews, but I was gripped by this frightening page turner! I had to read it with the lights on, as it made me so jumpy, and last night, I was so immersed in the book, I didn't realise that I was the last one left downstairs on my own. Needless to say, I locked up really quick, and ran up to bed once I had finished!🤣
Even though you would never catch me in a haunted house, or down in a pitch black basement, the book showed how the mixture of fear, peer pressure and curiosity makes some kids go into these kind of places!
I liked and empathised with Claire. I was invested in her journey to find out what happened, and really wanted her to get a happy ending. I also felt really sorry for Ben, whose life was wrecked.
I loved the descriptive writing, which reminded me of Simone St. James and Jennifer McMahon. I could really visualise the sleepy town of Sumner Mills, the spooky woods, and the eerie, ominous Octagon House, with it's chilling basement and THAT door! I was sweating reading about it, and can imagine this being adapted for film, although I can't promise I would have the guts to watch it! 🙈
Even though I enjoyed this spooky page turner, it did have it's flaws, which is why I couldn't give it five stars. It could have been shorter, as there were a couple of unnecessary parts included, and quite a bit of repetition in places. It also had a few unresolved loose ends which bothered me a little. However, the story gripped me, building tension right up until the end. I also cared about what happened to the characters, especially Claire. I would recommend this for a chilling, dark read, and am excited to see what this author comes up with next!
Available now! 🛑🛑🛑🛑
Many thanks to Maudee Genao @ Simon & Schuster, and Edelweiss for access to this digital review copy, in exchange for a honest review!
February 26, 2022
Beneath the Stairs reminded me of another book I had read. Where something happens in a house, and the protagonist comes back to face it. I kept feeling as if I had read a similar story before. It drove me crazy the entire book as I was trying to figure out what book.
At the core this book is about Clare, who has returned to her hometown of Sumner’s Mills, after a childhood friend, Abby, attempted suicide inside Octagon House. The creepy house they entered in their youth with friends. A house that shattered their lives.
There is a mystery here - why is Octogon house so creepy? It has a dark history, but is it haunted? What happened when the girls went in the basement? What is with the door on it? Will Clare ever get answers? Why wont the owner sell the house?
While I enjoyed this mystery, I felt that the book could have used a little more editing. It felt a little long at times. I did like how she shows the girls, their curiosity, the thrill of doing something dangerous - going into a creepy house that is shrouded in tragedy. Wanting to do what you are told you should not do. Then having something happens, that stays with you. It's an intriguing premise.
I also bought how a shared past can bring you back together even if you haven't spoken in years. That worked for me in this book. As the book progresses, we do learn more about the house, it's history and.....
I feel the author is off to a good start with this debut. As other reviewers mentioned there are some loose ends at the end. I wondered if this was deliberate or if things were overlooked? Either way, enjoyable and I look forward to more of this author's books.
3/3.5 stars
Thank you to Atria Books and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
At the core this book is about Clare, who has returned to her hometown of Sumner’s Mills, after a childhood friend, Abby, attempted suicide inside Octagon House. The creepy house they entered in their youth with friends. A house that shattered their lives.
There is a mystery here - why is Octogon house so creepy? It has a dark history, but is it haunted? What happened when the girls went in the basement? What is with the door on it? Will Clare ever get answers? Why wont the owner sell the house?
While I enjoyed this mystery, I felt that the book could have used a little more editing. It felt a little long at times. I did like how she shows the girls, their curiosity, the thrill of doing something dangerous - going into a creepy house that is shrouded in tragedy. Wanting to do what you are told you should not do. Then having something happens, that stays with you. It's an intriguing premise.
I also bought how a shared past can bring you back together even if you haven't spoken in years. That worked for me in this book. As the book progresses, we do learn more about the house, it's history and.....
I feel the author is off to a good start with this debut. As other reviewers mentioned there are some loose ends at the end. I wondered if this was deliberate or if things were overlooked? Either way, enjoyable and I look forward to more of this author's books.
3/3.5 stars
Thank you to Atria Books and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
September 22, 2026
Four teenage girls, Clare, Abby, Lori, and Monica, decide it’s a great idea to explore an abandoned, supposedly haunted house called the Octagon House. Because apparently, curiosity killed the cat wasn’t enough of a warning.
Two of the girls experience something supernatural, and fast forward to the present: one of the four returns to the house in a suicide attempt. She survives but falls into a coma, and before she slips under, she keeps asking for her best friend, Clare.
Now Clare has to figure out what’s hiding underneath the stairs and, more importantly, how to help her friend.
This was definitely a slow burn for me. Normally, I don’t mind a slow paced book, but this one felt like four different stories mashed together. You have the present, the girls’ past, the history of the house, and then another layer of the past before all of that. At times, it felt like I needed a family tree, a timeline, and possibly a detective’s corkboard just to keep track of everything.
Unfortunately, I just didn’t connect with the characters or the story. There were some interesting ideas, but the constant jumping around made it difficult for me to stay invested.
As the old saying goes, Too many cooks spoil the broth, and for me, there were just a few too many storylines stirring the pot
⭐️⭐️
Two of the girls experience something supernatural, and fast forward to the present: one of the four returns to the house in a suicide attempt. She survives but falls into a coma, and before she slips under, she keeps asking for her best friend, Clare.
Now Clare has to figure out what’s hiding underneath the stairs and, more importantly, how to help her friend.
This was definitely a slow burn for me. Normally, I don’t mind a slow paced book, but this one felt like four different stories mashed together. You have the present, the girls’ past, the history of the house, and then another layer of the past before all of that. At times, it felt like I needed a family tree, a timeline, and possibly a detective’s corkboard just to keep track of everything.
Unfortunately, I just didn’t connect with the characters or the story. There were some interesting ideas, but the constant jumping around made it difficult for me to stay invested.
As the old saying goes, Too many cooks spoil the broth, and for me, there were just a few too many storylines stirring the pot
⭐️⭐️
January 5, 2022
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
“Go back to the beginning to find the end.”
Old abandoned house + dark basement + creepy doll = haunting gothic story
Clare returns to her hometown of Sumner’s Mills after her childhood friend Abby attempts suicide in the basement of the abandoned Octagon House in the woods. This is where they trespassed as teenagers and neither girl fully recovered from what they saw. The house was previously the scene of a gruesome murder in 1959, where a man was convicted for for killing his wife and two daughters. What actually happened in this house? Is it responsible for Abby’s overdose? Clare must deal with old wounds in order to heal from her own grief.
What an impressive debut! This book is perfect for those who also enjoy Jennifer McMahon gothic thrillers. This is more than just a haunted house story and really delves deep into themes of relationships, friendships, and family. It is beautifully written, and contains just the right amount of scariness and creepiness to have you questioning what is real vs. what is imagined. Clare says exactly what I felt while I was reading this story.
“It’s this mix of real and not real, except all of the real things are dependent on the not real things.”
I was completely engrossed in this story from beginning to end and did not guess the twist!
I highly recommend this stunning debut from Jennifer Fawcett. She is definitely a new author to watch on the gothic fiction scene.
4.5/5 stars rounded down
Thank you to Atria books and Edelweiss for the ARC of Beneath the Stairs in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: 2/22/22
“Go back to the beginning to find the end.”
Old abandoned house + dark basement + creepy doll = haunting gothic story
Clare returns to her hometown of Sumner’s Mills after her childhood friend Abby attempts suicide in the basement of the abandoned Octagon House in the woods. This is where they trespassed as teenagers and neither girl fully recovered from what they saw. The house was previously the scene of a gruesome murder in 1959, where a man was convicted for for killing his wife and two daughters. What actually happened in this house? Is it responsible for Abby’s overdose? Clare must deal with old wounds in order to heal from her own grief.
What an impressive debut! This book is perfect for those who also enjoy Jennifer McMahon gothic thrillers. This is more than just a haunted house story and really delves deep into themes of relationships, friendships, and family. It is beautifully written, and contains just the right amount of scariness and creepiness to have you questioning what is real vs. what is imagined. Clare says exactly what I felt while I was reading this story.
“It’s this mix of real and not real, except all of the real things are dependent on the not real things.”
I was completely engrossed in this story from beginning to end and did not guess the twist!
I highly recommend this stunning debut from Jennifer Fawcett. She is definitely a new author to watch on the gothic fiction scene.
4.5/5 stars rounded down
Thank you to Atria books and Edelweiss for the ARC of Beneath the Stairs in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: 2/22/22
March 15, 2022
Beneath the Stairs by Jennifer Fawcett is a 2022 Atria publication.
A strange, abandoned, octagonal shaped house, hidden deep in the woods, rumored to be haunted, is a magnet for kids looking for a thrill. When four teenage girls decide to go in the house, a childish prank has unintended consequences that will haunt two of them well into adulthood.
Clare and Abby were best friends as kids, until the fateful day they entered that house. Twenty years later, Abby went back to the house and was found in the basement, near death after what was a suspected suicide attempt. Upon learning of Abby’s condition, Clare, whose life is a right mess, returns home to offer support and to hopefully find the courage to fix the mistake she made all those years ago, in hopes it will save Abby’s life, as well as her own….
In March, after months of dark, cold winter days, my thoughts turn to light, sunny beach reads. But this book caught my attention and though horror novels are usually a hard sell for me these days, this one sounded like one I might like. Turns out my instincts were correct!
The story does get off to a slow start and the atmosphere takes a while to cement. It didn’t take much thought to figure what- or who- was behind the haunting- but the specifics take a while to reveal themselves.
Because ‘horror’ novels these days is usually synonymous with over-the-top blood and gore- I’m very picky about this genre and rarely ever indulge in them anymore, but this one was not dependent on those elements, instead making it more of a mystery and relying a on good old-fashioned haunted house atmosphere.
The book goes back and forth between the past and the present, exploring other areas of the past where the octagonal house played a role in a tragedy. The areas centered on the teenage Abby and Clare could occasionally feel juvenile, but it was important to the story, because the triggers for Abby’s mental state is relevant to how Clare and Abby’s family approaches the present-day issues that have trapped Abby in a comatose state- though I did feel it went on a bit too long- since I got the general idea, and was ready to get on with learning the history of the house and how Clare will figure it all out.
The best part of the story, though, was the bonds of friendship, and underlying message of how childhood or teenage traumas can haunt our adult lives.
Overall, this was a quick-low on the graphic violence -sort of old school horror story. It’s not destined to be a classic or anything- but it was a nice change of pace for me right now.
3.5 stars
A strange, abandoned, octagonal shaped house, hidden deep in the woods, rumored to be haunted, is a magnet for kids looking for a thrill. When four teenage girls decide to go in the house, a childish prank has unintended consequences that will haunt two of them well into adulthood.
Clare and Abby were best friends as kids, until the fateful day they entered that house. Twenty years later, Abby went back to the house and was found in the basement, near death after what was a suspected suicide attempt. Upon learning of Abby’s condition, Clare, whose life is a right mess, returns home to offer support and to hopefully find the courage to fix the mistake she made all those years ago, in hopes it will save Abby’s life, as well as her own….
In March, after months of dark, cold winter days, my thoughts turn to light, sunny beach reads. But this book caught my attention and though horror novels are usually a hard sell for me these days, this one sounded like one I might like. Turns out my instincts were correct!
The story does get off to a slow start and the atmosphere takes a while to cement. It didn’t take much thought to figure what- or who- was behind the haunting- but the specifics take a while to reveal themselves.
Because ‘horror’ novels these days is usually synonymous with over-the-top blood and gore- I’m very picky about this genre and rarely ever indulge in them anymore, but this one was not dependent on those elements, instead making it more of a mystery and relying a on good old-fashioned haunted house atmosphere.
The book goes back and forth between the past and the present, exploring other areas of the past where the octagonal house played a role in a tragedy. The areas centered on the teenage Abby and Clare could occasionally feel juvenile, but it was important to the story, because the triggers for Abby’s mental state is relevant to how Clare and Abby’s family approaches the present-day issues that have trapped Abby in a comatose state- though I did feel it went on a bit too long- since I got the general idea, and was ready to get on with learning the history of the house and how Clare will figure it all out.
The best part of the story, though, was the bonds of friendship, and underlying message of how childhood or teenage traumas can haunt our adult lives.
Overall, this was a quick-low on the graphic violence -sort of old school horror story. It’s not destined to be a classic or anything- but it was a nice change of pace for me right now.
3.5 stars
February 23, 2022
I'm a lover of ghostly tales and I'm always on the lookout for the good ones since they are few and far between but I must say that my search continues....ugh.
This book did not deliver for this reader.
Annoying characters, much too much of a Young Adult feel, back and forth time lines between the present, the nineties, the sixties, and the thirties. All that weeble wobble back and forth killed any and all suspense that the author was trying to create. The Octagon House was definitely the most interesting character and it had so much promise but it just fell flat as a pancake. Like a pancake without maple syrup and butter - dry, boring, and not worth the calories or, in this case, my reading time. Did I mention the romance aspect? Oh yeah, unrequited love from the teen years brought back in the present. People making ludicrous decisions time and time again. Did I mention the annoying characters? I couldn't differentiate from when they were teens to when they were adults, hence, the YA feel throughout the story. Also, where were the editors? So many pages could have been trimmed away.
I do like the cover though so there's that. 👍
I don't know, my reading mojo has been struggling lately so maybe it's just me. Most of my friends have loved this so don't let my review dissuade you. This is a debut so I'm wishing this author the best of luck in her future endeavors. 2 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my complimentary copy.
This book did not deliver for this reader.
Annoying characters, much too much of a Young Adult feel, back and forth time lines between the present, the nineties, the sixties, and the thirties. All that weeble wobble back and forth killed any and all suspense that the author was trying to create. The Octagon House was definitely the most interesting character and it had so much promise but it just fell flat as a pancake. Like a pancake without maple syrup and butter - dry, boring, and not worth the calories or, in this case, my reading time. Did I mention the romance aspect? Oh yeah, unrequited love from the teen years brought back in the present. People making ludicrous decisions time and time again. Did I mention the annoying characters? I couldn't differentiate from when they were teens to when they were adults, hence, the YA feel throughout the story. Also, where were the editors? So many pages could have been trimmed away.
I do like the cover though so there's that. 👍
I don't know, my reading mojo has been struggling lately so maybe it's just me. Most of my friends have loved this so don't let my review dissuade you. This is a debut so I'm wishing this author the best of luck in her future endeavors. 2 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my complimentary copy.
January 14, 2022
3.5 Unfinished Business Stars Rounded Up
Stairway to Heaven or Highway to Hell?
If you like ghost stories ripe with moodiness, this may be for you.
Claire returns to her home town at the request of her childhood friend Abby's mother after Abby was induced into a coma. She was trapped and traumatized in the sinister old house they visited as kids. No one knows what happened to her, but she was found at the bottom of the basement stairs.
The eerie Octagon House has been empty since 1965 after a man was convicted of murdering his family. It was built in the 1930’s and suspect occurrences had begun even back then.
Three time periods and subplots didn’t take as much effort to track as you might think. Each element had a creep factor but I’ll admit to being a lightweight in regard to Boogeyman tales - I’m easily spooked. It may take more to scare you.
In addition to the themes surrounding the house, I was pulled in by wanting to discover Claire’s backstory. She was an intriguing character and I was invested in her journey.
While I really enjoyed the pensive writing style, this could have benefited from stricter editing and paring down. Repetition and scenes that could have been cut all together diluted the story. A few perplexing loose ends also left me wondering why they weren't addressed.
Still, I would read more by this author because of a soulful tenor. I’m drawn to a book with heart more than a book that’s perfectly crafted but dry as toast. So, overall, my experience was very enjoyable - in part because I read it with friends. Thank you to Mary Beth and Marilyn for reading and discussing this with me.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Jennifer Fawcett, and Atria Books for my electronic review copy. Set to publish on February 22,2022.
Stairway to Heaven or Highway to Hell?
If you like ghost stories ripe with moodiness, this may be for you.
Claire returns to her home town at the request of her childhood friend Abby's mother after Abby was induced into a coma. She was trapped and traumatized in the sinister old house they visited as kids. No one knows what happened to her, but she was found at the bottom of the basement stairs.
The eerie Octagon House has been empty since 1965 after a man was convicted of murdering his family. It was built in the 1930’s and suspect occurrences had begun even back then.
Three time periods and subplots didn’t take as much effort to track as you might think. Each element had a creep factor but I’ll admit to being a lightweight in regard to Boogeyman tales - I’m easily spooked. It may take more to scare you.
In addition to the themes surrounding the house, I was pulled in by wanting to discover Claire’s backstory. She was an intriguing character and I was invested in her journey.
While I really enjoyed the pensive writing style, this could have benefited from stricter editing and paring down. Repetition and scenes that could have been cut all together diluted the story. A few perplexing loose ends also left me wondering why they weren't addressed.
Still, I would read more by this author because of a soulful tenor. I’m drawn to a book with heart more than a book that’s perfectly crafted but dry as toast. So, overall, my experience was very enjoyable - in part because I read it with friends. Thank you to Mary Beth and Marilyn for reading and discussing this with me.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Jennifer Fawcett, and Atria Books for my electronic review copy. Set to publish on February 22,2022.
December 18, 2021
Beneath the Stairs by Jennifer Fawcett was a creepy yet tense novel that centered around an abandoned haunted house. It explored childhood trauma and the impact it can cause over time, friendships, small town familiarity, guilt, grief and luring nightmares. Beneath the Stairs was Jennifer Fawcett’s debut novel. It was well written and kept me guessing right up to the ending. It was engrossing and tense at times and kept me wanting to read more. Alternating between the time lines of what occurred in the summer of 1998, past background information and twenty years later, Beneath the Stairs was gripping yet so chilling. Beneath the Stairs was character driven with a suspenseful plot. I was lucky enough to have won an ARC of Beneath the Stairs in a goodreads give away. Thank you to Aria Books for allowing me to read this creepy psychological thriller in exchange for this honest review.
In the summer of 1998, best friends Clare, Abby, Monica and Lori, all local girls from a small upstate New York village called Sumner’s Mills, all between thirteen and fourteen years old, were lured by Lori to enter a haunted house. Lori had heard about and discovered the haunted house that was built in the shape of an octagon behind her family’s property. It was called The Octagon House and thought to be haunted. Back in the sixty’s, a woman and her daughter were murdered there. The husband was charged for the murder. She dared her friends to go into the house and they all complied so not to be ostracized or ridiculed even though Abby clearly did not want to go. However, it would be Abby who felt a “gravitational force” that pulled her back to that house later that same night and then again some twenty years later. Abby had been coaxed down to the dark, damp and eerie basement that was guarded by a big metal door. Abby’s best friend, Clare, decided to get back at Abby for taking a picture of her mom without her permission. Clare had lost her mom when she was only eight years old. Her mom had died from cancer when she was just in her late twenty’s. Clare wanted to get back at Abby and punish her for taking the picture of her mom so she thought she would scare Abby by closing her in the basement for a few minutes. Clare told Abby that she had seen something down in the basement. She dared Abby to go down into the basement. They agreed to investigate together but as soon as Abby climbed down a few stairs Claire went back up and shut the door leaving Abby all alone. When Clare went to open the door, though, to let Abby out she was horrified to discover that the door was stuck. With Lori’s and Monica’s help they got the door opened and they helped Abby get out. Later that night, Abby admitted to Clare that she saw a doll on the step just before the door closed and she had tried to get it but it was too dark. She also confessed that she thought there was something else down there…something that scared her very much. Later that same night, Abby and Clare returned to the Octagon House. Abby once again was lured to the depths of the basement. This encounter would traumatize Abby and affect her well into adulthood. Twenty years later, Abby’s mom wrote to Clare and told her that Abby was in a coma. Abby had once again returned to The Octagon House and attempted to commit suicide in the basement. Clare could not ignore this. Even though Clare had not been in touch with Abby for twenty years, Abby had once been her best friend. Abby was letting Claire know she needed her help. Clare was determined to find out why Abby had returned to The Octagon House once again and what had happened there.
I really enjoyed reading Beneath the Stairs by Jennifer Fawcett. It was fast paced and kept me guessing. The ending was both surprising and satisfying, I look forward to reading future books by Jennifer Fawcett. I highly recommend this book.
In the summer of 1998, best friends Clare, Abby, Monica and Lori, all local girls from a small upstate New York village called Sumner’s Mills, all between thirteen and fourteen years old, were lured by Lori to enter a haunted house. Lori had heard about and discovered the haunted house that was built in the shape of an octagon behind her family’s property. It was called The Octagon House and thought to be haunted. Back in the sixty’s, a woman and her daughter were murdered there. The husband was charged for the murder. She dared her friends to go into the house and they all complied so not to be ostracized or ridiculed even though Abby clearly did not want to go. However, it would be Abby who felt a “gravitational force” that pulled her back to that house later that same night and then again some twenty years later. Abby had been coaxed down to the dark, damp and eerie basement that was guarded by a big metal door. Abby’s best friend, Clare, decided to get back at Abby for taking a picture of her mom without her permission. Clare had lost her mom when she was only eight years old. Her mom had died from cancer when she was just in her late twenty’s. Clare wanted to get back at Abby and punish her for taking the picture of her mom so she thought she would scare Abby by closing her in the basement for a few minutes. Clare told Abby that she had seen something down in the basement. She dared Abby to go down into the basement. They agreed to investigate together but as soon as Abby climbed down a few stairs Claire went back up and shut the door leaving Abby all alone. When Clare went to open the door, though, to let Abby out she was horrified to discover that the door was stuck. With Lori’s and Monica’s help they got the door opened and they helped Abby get out. Later that night, Abby admitted to Clare that she saw a doll on the step just before the door closed and she had tried to get it but it was too dark. She also confessed that she thought there was something else down there…something that scared her very much. Later that same night, Abby and Clare returned to the Octagon House. Abby once again was lured to the depths of the basement. This encounter would traumatize Abby and affect her well into adulthood. Twenty years later, Abby’s mom wrote to Clare and told her that Abby was in a coma. Abby had once again returned to The Octagon House and attempted to commit suicide in the basement. Clare could not ignore this. Even though Clare had not been in touch with Abby for twenty years, Abby had once been her best friend. Abby was letting Claire know she needed her help. Clare was determined to find out why Abby had returned to The Octagon House once again and what had happened there.
I really enjoyed reading Beneath the Stairs by Jennifer Fawcett. It was fast paced and kept me guessing. The ending was both surprising and satisfying, I look forward to reading future books by Jennifer Fawcett. I highly recommend this book.
January 5, 2022
My thanks to Atria books, Jennifer Fawcett and Netgalley.
I've been reading this book since December, 22. I'm finally giving up at 55% on January 4.
This story started out strong, but then it kept changing timelines. This isn't usually a problem for me, but this time? It would go back and forth between exciting, then boredom. I'm finished!
The writing was great, I just wish it had been more linear.
I would read another from this author.
I've been reading this book since December, 22. I'm finally giving up at 55% on January 4.
This story started out strong, but then it kept changing timelines. This isn't usually a problem for me, but this time? It would go back and forth between exciting, then boredom. I'm finished!
The writing was great, I just wish it had been more linear.
I would read another from this author.
March 23, 2022
A woman returns to her hometown after her childhood friend attempts suicide at a local haunted house—the same place where a traumatic incident shattered their lives twenty years ago. A man had killed his wife and two young daughters there, a shocking, gruesome crime that the sleepy upstate New York town tried to bury. One summer night, an emboldened fourteen-year-old Clare and her best friend, Abby, ventured into the Octagon House. Clare came out, but a piece of Abby never did. Twenty years later, an adult Clare receives word that Abby has attempted suicide at the Octagon House and now lies in a coma. With little to lose and still grieving after a personal tragedy, Clare returns to her roots to uncover the darkness responsible for Abby’s accident.
I love a creepy supernatural thriller. So I was excited to read about a story revolving around a creepy haunted house, deep in the woods with a dark past and an unknown history. The story was eerie and atmospheric. Narrated in multiple timelines and from a few different POVs, the story unfolds slowly towards the climax. The book manages the multiple timelines pretty well and also manages to create a peculiar atmosphere throughout the book that will keep you engaged right till the end.
The story however got a bit bogged down in the middle with many backstories and flashbacks. Also, many unexplained things are never fully explained. The book felt a little long at times and could have been shorter. It all fell apart close to the end with many questions that were left unanswered which was disappointing.
Overall, the book gets the creepy, Gothic atmosphere and the haunted house setting, pretty spot on. Then again, the story had way too many timelines and backstories, which never quite came together in the end. However, the writing and plot are very engaging and will keep you hooked till the end.
Many thanks to the publishers Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for the ARC.
I love a creepy supernatural thriller. So I was excited to read about a story revolving around a creepy haunted house, deep in the woods with a dark past and an unknown history. The story was eerie and atmospheric. Narrated in multiple timelines and from a few different POVs, the story unfolds slowly towards the climax. The book manages the multiple timelines pretty well and also manages to create a peculiar atmosphere throughout the book that will keep you engaged right till the end.
The story however got a bit bogged down in the middle with many backstories and flashbacks. Also, many unexplained things are never fully explained. The book felt a little long at times and could have been shorter. It all fell apart close to the end with many questions that were left unanswered which was disappointing.
Overall, the book gets the creepy, Gothic atmosphere and the haunted house setting, pretty spot on. Then again, the story had way too many timelines and backstories, which never quite came together in the end. However, the writing and plot are very engaging and will keep you hooked till the end.
Many thanks to the publishers Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for the ARC.
February 26, 2022
We went through all that plot building for a mediocre reveal with a lackluster ending. I am sure almost everyone figured out where the reveal was going, so I thought there was going to be an awesome twist thrown in there. I was disappointed and left reading a book where I could tell you what was going to happen before I got there. Overall, this earns a meh from me.
Did Not Finish
January 9, 2022This holds first place for the first dnf of the new year! In fact though, it did provide for me an almost two hour nap. Repetitious, excessive wordiness, and a story line that kept on going around in circles,this one just could not keep me reading beyond 25%.
February 6, 2022
4.5 Stars — I loved every creepy and unsettling moment of this book! BENEATH THE STAIRS is a haunting slow-burn, character-driven debut with a lot to unpack. Is there a way to break free from childhood trauma and years of guilt and regret?
In upstate New York, the small town of Sumner's Mills has fallen on hard times. Storefronts are boarded, and the old factory walls are crumbling, but one building stands firm — the abandoned Octagon House deep in the woods. When a couple of young teen girls venture into its basement, their lives are changed forever by what they see. Twenty years later, the house calls them back with tragic consequences.
There were moments in this book when I was truly scared! The story takes place over multiple timelines where the disturbing history of the Octagon House is revealed. I was completely immersed in the story and the lives of the flawed characters. That creepy house wouldn't let me rest until I knew its secrets! I'm excited to read more of this author's work in the future. Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ♥
In upstate New York, the small town of Sumner's Mills has fallen on hard times. Storefronts are boarded, and the old factory walls are crumbling, but one building stands firm — the abandoned Octagon House deep in the woods. When a couple of young teen girls venture into its basement, their lives are changed forever by what they see. Twenty years later, the house calls them back with tragic consequences.
There were moments in this book when I was truly scared! The story takes place over multiple timelines where the disturbing history of the Octagon House is revealed. I was completely immersed in the story and the lives of the flawed characters. That creepy house wouldn't let me rest until I knew its secrets! I'm excited to read more of this author's work in the future. Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ♥
Did Not Finish
January 10, 2022DNF: this was too slow and read like YA. My two reading buddies (thanks Marialyce & Dorie!) were further along and confirmed that it didn’t get better so onto the dnf pile it went for all three of us.
November 29, 2021
This is an eerie debut by author Jennifer Fawcett that creates a spine-tingling, hair raising scare. This atmospheric thrill is centered around an octagon house in the middle of the woods without a road to its existence. The house was built in 1936 by George Sumner for his fiance, Alice and her little girl, Grace. George apparently was MIA in France during the war in 1941, but the disappearance of Grace and her mom goes unanswered as well.
George's sister Marion sold the house to a young couple with two little girls in 1965: Ben, the father; Natalie, the mother; Joanie, 8 years old; Molly, 3 years old. Strange happenings surface and warnings to not go in the basement go unheeded even after strange noises can be heard from it. Fast forward, Ben is serving a life sentence for shooting his wife, Molly, and Joanie. Although, he swears he found them that way.
The house became a dare for curious teenagers seeking a good scare, but sometimes the dare becomes too much for Abby, Lori and Clare when they attempt to go to the basement. Abby suffers repercussions of this and is never the same after being so frightened and being locked in by herself. Whatever she saw, she doesn't want to talk about it.
Twenty years later, Clare has been called back to her hometown by Abby's family after she was found in the abandoned house with an attempted suicide and now in an induced coma. Hoping she can find the answers needed to bring Abby back and investigate further why she would go back to the creepy octagon house.
This story incorporates several tactics as well as the atmosphere to build the suspense. There were a lot of underlying fears and disgust that are never mentioned, but left you to build what had happened in the past. I could not put it down and finished it within a day! Kudos to this author!!
Thanks to Edelweiss and Simon and Schuster, Inc. for this title in exchange for my honest review.
George's sister Marion sold the house to a young couple with two little girls in 1965: Ben, the father; Natalie, the mother; Joanie, 8 years old; Molly, 3 years old. Strange happenings surface and warnings to not go in the basement go unheeded even after strange noises can be heard from it. Fast forward, Ben is serving a life sentence for shooting his wife, Molly, and Joanie. Although, he swears he found them that way.
The house became a dare for curious teenagers seeking a good scare, but sometimes the dare becomes too much for Abby, Lori and Clare when they attempt to go to the basement. Abby suffers repercussions of this and is never the same after being so frightened and being locked in by herself. Whatever she saw, she doesn't want to talk about it.
Twenty years later, Clare has been called back to her hometown by Abby's family after she was found in the abandoned house with an attempted suicide and now in an induced coma. Hoping she can find the answers needed to bring Abby back and investigate further why she would go back to the creepy octagon house.
This story incorporates several tactics as well as the atmosphere to build the suspense. There were a lot of underlying fears and disgust that are never mentioned, but left you to build what had happened in the past. I could not put it down and finished it within a day! Kudos to this author!!
Thanks to Edelweiss and Simon and Schuster, Inc. for this title in exchange for my honest review.
March 10, 2023
Clare and Abby were the best of friends growing up until at the tender age of fourteen when the girls and a couple of other friends decided to visit the town's legendary haunted house, "The Octagon House". Abby really didn't want to go inside the house but she didn't have the courage to stand up to the other girls knowing they would think she was baby and that would hurt her feelings so she went inside against her better judgement. When one of the girls locked Abby in the basement she experienced a terror that permanently changed her and then her mental health just spiraled out of control. None of the girls understood or seemed to care except for Clare because now she felt so completely lost and alone without Abby and then suddenly Abby's family moved away leaving Clare with so many questions and losing the friend and family that she had loved and depended on through all her early years.
Twenty years later Abby's family reaches out to Clare to visit Abby since she almost died in a attempted suicide where she was found in the basement of the creepy " Octagon House". Since all of this doesn't make any sense, Clare rushes to the hospital to see Abby because she's now free to travel since she lost her job when she recently experienced a personal tragedy that led to her marriage ending as well as suffering depression and sleepless nights so she needs the distraction to help find out what can be behind this strange connection and pull that this old, dilapidated, seemingly haunted house has held over Abby through the years that would make her friend want to take her own life in that horrible and messed up "Octagon House" and also because Clare never admitted anything as a teenager but she also had heard and seen something that she couldn't make sense of at the time that has always troubled her so now she knows she must seek out this strange, spooky house again and find out all the history behind it if she is ever going to be able to help Abby and herself. If Abby and her family need her then Clare must go back to where it all started since she knows she was responsible for Abby getting trapped in that basement when they were just young girls!
This was a terrific coming of age story that I enjoyed very much, all while revolving around vulnerable teen girls and their insecurities and many secrets. The atmosphere concerning the "Octagon House" was eerie and creepy holding my interest while keeping the insidious secrets not to be revealed until the end of the book which really kept me intrigued. Jennifer Fawcett's writing captured the innocence and essence of youth and just how hard it is being young misunderstood teenagers who need extra love and support but they don't know how to verbalize their feelings to the adults into their lives who only want the best for their children only sometimes love is not enough.
Excellent storytelling! There were quite a few back stories concerning the who, what and why of the house becoming haunted with some tasty chills and thrills, so I felt this was a very original novel from start to finish. There were a few minor flaws but not enough to affect the goodness or the spookiness of an old fashioned haunted house story.
Possible Trigger: Suicide, Depression, Miscarriage, Death of a parent, Violence, Murder, Abuse.
I want to thank the publisher "Atria Books" and Net galley for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I given this book a rating of 4 CREEPY AND EMOTIONAL 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
Twenty years later Abby's family reaches out to Clare to visit Abby since she almost died in a attempted suicide where she was found in the basement of the creepy " Octagon House". Since all of this doesn't make any sense, Clare rushes to the hospital to see Abby because she's now free to travel since she lost her job when she recently experienced a personal tragedy that led to her marriage ending as well as suffering depression and sleepless nights so she needs the distraction to help find out what can be behind this strange connection and pull that this old, dilapidated, seemingly haunted house has held over Abby through the years that would make her friend want to take her own life in that horrible and messed up "Octagon House" and also because Clare never admitted anything as a teenager but she also had heard and seen something that she couldn't make sense of at the time that has always troubled her so now she knows she must seek out this strange, spooky house again and find out all the history behind it if she is ever going to be able to help Abby and herself. If Abby and her family need her then Clare must go back to where it all started since she knows she was responsible for Abby getting trapped in that basement when they were just young girls!
This was a terrific coming of age story that I enjoyed very much, all while revolving around vulnerable teen girls and their insecurities and many secrets. The atmosphere concerning the "Octagon House" was eerie and creepy holding my interest while keeping the insidious secrets not to be revealed until the end of the book which really kept me intrigued. Jennifer Fawcett's writing captured the innocence and essence of youth and just how hard it is being young misunderstood teenagers who need extra love and support but they don't know how to verbalize their feelings to the adults into their lives who only want the best for their children only sometimes love is not enough.
Excellent storytelling! There were quite a few back stories concerning the who, what and why of the house becoming haunted with some tasty chills and thrills, so I felt this was a very original novel from start to finish. There were a few minor flaws but not enough to affect the goodness or the spookiness of an old fashioned haunted house story.
Possible Trigger: Suicide, Depression, Miscarriage, Death of a parent, Violence, Murder, Abuse.
I want to thank the publisher "Atria Books" and Net galley for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I given this book a rating of 4 CREEPY AND EMOTIONAL 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
April 26, 2022
Omg loved this so much 💖
January 9, 2022
So far it looks like my opinion is in the minority, but this debut novel wasn’t it for me. I tried to like it, even just parts of it, but overall I found it to be a very generic haunted house story.
There’s a house. It’s octagonal in shape. A couple of girls went into it in the ‘90s, and one of them came out “changed”. This goes from present day, to the ‘90s, then the ’60s, then when you think there couldn’t possibly be more of the exact same story, to the ‘30s. In present day, the girl who came out of the house different than she went in has seemingly attempted suicide and is in a coma, so her old friend comes back to town to … hmm. I don’t really know what, I guess be there for someone she hasn’t seen in 20 years? I suppose if she hadn’t returned, there wouldn’t be a book. 🤷🏼♀️
There aren’t really spoilers, because nothing too crazy happens. There isn’t a big twist. There was no deeper meaning (that I could see). The characters were boring and slightly interchangeable. It’s just about a haunted house with a creepy basement that has a creepy doll in it … unfortunately about as dull and cliché as it sounds. I feel awful to do it to a debut novel, but I’m going with two stars on this one. Towards the end, I was so ready for it to be over. Hopefully others will enjoy it more than I did.
(Thank you to Atria Books, Jennifer Fawcett, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
There’s a house. It’s octagonal in shape. A couple of girls went into it in the ‘90s, and one of them came out “changed”. This goes from present day, to the ‘90s, then the ’60s, then when you think there couldn’t possibly be more of the exact same story, to the ‘30s. In present day, the girl who came out of the house different than she went in has seemingly attempted suicide and is in a coma, so her old friend comes back to town to … hmm. I don’t really know what, I guess be there for someone she hasn’t seen in 20 years? I suppose if she hadn’t returned, there wouldn’t be a book. 🤷🏼♀️
There aren’t really spoilers, because nothing too crazy happens. There isn’t a big twist. There was no deeper meaning (that I could see). The characters were boring and slightly interchangeable. It’s just about a haunted house with a creepy basement that has a creepy doll in it … unfortunately about as dull and cliché as it sounds. I feel awful to do it to a debut novel, but I’m going with two stars on this one. Towards the end, I was so ready for it to be over. Hopefully others will enjoy it more than I did.
(Thank you to Atria Books, Jennifer Fawcett, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
January 4, 2022
TW suicide
Oooo yes! I have been waiting for a read like this. All the creepy suspenseful haunted house, keep me scared and up all night reading vibes. I really enjoyed this, and I will be looking over my shoulder for a few weeks. So good!
Oooo yes! I have been waiting for a read like this. All the creepy suspenseful haunted house, keep me scared and up all night reading vibes. I really enjoyed this, and I will be looking over my shoulder for a few weeks. So good!
March 7, 2022
I listened to the audiobook and really struggled to finish it. I thought it was going to be an entertaining mystery but this was sadly a thriller without the thrill.
October 27, 2022
There isn't many thrillers nor crime I've completely loved and enjoyed think I judge them more critical. This one was an okay read, mildly entertaining but not something I found very "page turnery" or " I have to find out what happen next". But not a bad read
December 30, 2021
“One not need be a chamber- to be haunted” - Emily Dickinson
Set in the small town of Sumner’s Mill in upstate New York, the Octagon house has sit abandoned for decades. Rumor has it that a man killed his entire family while living there. Only a few residents of the town even know about the house and the ones that do, dare not enter. In the summer of 1998 two fourteen-year-old girls, Clare and Abby wondered into the house, and their lives changed forever.
Twenty years later Clare receives the news that her childhood friend Abby attempted suicide at the Octagon House. Clare who is grieving from a recent miscarriage, the loss of her job, and the end of a long-term relationship, decides to return to Sumner Hills to uncover the mystery as to why Abby would do such a thing and why she would do it at the Octagon House.
Told through various points of view with alternating timelines Jennifer Fawcett weaves the past with the present to create a tapestry of tragedy, suspense, and uncovering long-buried secrets.
Beneath The Stairs is very a unique story., it's part thriller, part mystery, with a bit of horror and historical fiction so it's difficult to label it as only one genre.
I was captivated by this story. I loved following Clare through her journey to solving the mystery of the Octagon house. All of the characters in this book are very well developed with emotional depth as well as a thrilling plot. I loved the passages in this book that took place in the haunted house! the author created a very ominous and eerie setting that truly gave me the creeps.
Jennifer Fawcett did a magnificent job with her debut novel! I will definitely look forward to reading whatever she comes out with next. This book would be perfect for fans of atmospheric thrillers centered around a ghostly mystery. If you are a fan of Jennifer McMahon's work then you will enjoy Beneath The Stairs.
Beneath The Stairs will be available on February 22. Many thanks to Atria Books for the gifted copy!
Set in the small town of Sumner’s Mill in upstate New York, the Octagon house has sit abandoned for decades. Rumor has it that a man killed his entire family while living there. Only a few residents of the town even know about the house and the ones that do, dare not enter. In the summer of 1998 two fourteen-year-old girls, Clare and Abby wondered into the house, and their lives changed forever.
Twenty years later Clare receives the news that her childhood friend Abby attempted suicide at the Octagon House. Clare who is grieving from a recent miscarriage, the loss of her job, and the end of a long-term relationship, decides to return to Sumner Hills to uncover the mystery as to why Abby would do such a thing and why she would do it at the Octagon House.
Told through various points of view with alternating timelines Jennifer Fawcett weaves the past with the present to create a tapestry of tragedy, suspense, and uncovering long-buried secrets.
Beneath The Stairs is very a unique story., it's part thriller, part mystery, with a bit of horror and historical fiction so it's difficult to label it as only one genre.
I was captivated by this story. I loved following Clare through her journey to solving the mystery of the Octagon house. All of the characters in this book are very well developed with emotional depth as well as a thrilling plot. I loved the passages in this book that took place in the haunted house! the author created a very ominous and eerie setting that truly gave me the creeps.
Jennifer Fawcett did a magnificent job with her debut novel! I will definitely look forward to reading whatever she comes out with next. This book would be perfect for fans of atmospheric thrillers centered around a ghostly mystery. If you are a fan of Jennifer McMahon's work then you will enjoy Beneath The Stairs.
Beneath The Stairs will be available on February 22. Many thanks to Atria Books for the gifted copy!
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