Beneath the Poet's House by Christa Carmen ~ a Review

by MK French

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

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

December 2024; Thomas & Mercer; 978-1662513275
audio, ebook, print (336 pages); horror

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

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

Buy Beneath the Poet's House at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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