Beneath the Poet's House

A Thriller

By: Christa Carmen

Narrated by: Linda Jones

For a grieving writer, the secrets of the past and present converge in a novel of gripping psychological suspense from the author of The Daughters of Block Island.

Unmoored by her husband’s death and suffering from writer’s block, novelist Saoirse White moves to Providence, and into the historic home of Sarah Helen Whitman, the nineteenth-century poet and spiritualist once courted by Edgar Allan Poe. Saoirse’s certain she’ll find inspiration in the quiet rooms, as well as in the tucked-away rose garden and forgotten cemetery at the back of the property.

Saoirse is immediately welcomed by an effusive trio of transcendentalists obsessed with Whitman, the house, and Whitman’s mystic beliefs. Saoirse, emerging from grief and loneliness, welcomes the idea of new friends taking her mind off the past—even as they hope to summon it. When she meets Emmit Powell, a charismatic and charming prize-winning author, Saoirse thinks she’s finally turned a corner.

Emboldened by new romance, Saoirse begins to write again and, through her writing, rediscover herself. But as old fears return, she finds that nothing about her new life is what it seems—and a secret she’s tried so hard to bury may not be the only thing that comes back to haunt her.

©2024 by Christa Carmen. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Bram Stoker Award winner [Christa] Carmen weaves a captivating web of psychological suspense in her latest spine-tingler…For gothic mystery fans, this is a treat.”—Publishers Weekly

“Incorporating a love of all things Poe (both the horror and romantic parts), Bram Stoker Award-winning author Carmen has written an intense, creepy psychological thriller that is a perfect cozy read for spooky season.”—Booklist

“Beneath the Poet’s House is creepy and addictive. Carmen uses a gothic New England setting to explore art and magic and left me thinking that the things men do to women are far more terrifying than any conjuring.”—Jessa Maxwell, author of The Golden Spoon and I Need You to Read This

The writing is wonderful! I love the poetry within.

The main character is enduring and shows strength in times of hardship. Her friends are amazing!

I was recommend this book from a blog

I didn’t know what to expect and as someone who was in a manipulative relationship this struck a cord with me I wasn’t expecting and made me uncomfortable in ways I wasn’t prepared for but also made me feel powerful and happy. The end was what I needed

MC is stupid-boredom came at 1/2 way point

Meh - I was really kinda enjoying this one for a while. I like the idea of integrating Poe into the story. However, around the halfway mark I just couldn’t stand the MC, Saoirse. She was so completely stupid. I also don’t think there were any surprises really. The redundancy towards the end had me bored to tears and I just wanted it to be over. Oh wellOn to the next.

Plot twist

I wasn’t sure about this book at first but after I got into it I couldn’t shut it off. The narrator is great and if you’re an EAP fan you’ll definitely love this book.

The narrator was very good, enjoyed listening to her.

Some parts were too predictable, but a good book overall. There were also a few good surprises!