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spang's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
fictionaladventures's review against another edition
4.0
This was a solid mystery/thriller/soft horror! It’s not like incredibly unique or anything but I was invested.
lliizz12's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
maayaa_r's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
i_blamebookit's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
summer_reads1's review against another edition
4.0
“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!
servingupstories's review against another edition
4.0
Beneath the Stairs is an atmospheric, spine chilling debut thriller from Jennifer Fawcett, who is now on my radar for any future works of hers for giving me the real spooks from this one.
This story centers around an octagon house deep in the woods that is said to be cursed. Through multiple timelines and POVs you start to uncover the secrets this home holds and some you’re left to kind of interpret yourself in the end - which I loved and thought was impressive given this was a debut.
Fawcett incorporates several layers to this story that are interwoven seamlessly together and build suspense slowly, in a way that had me holding my breath nearly any time the characters stepped foot in this house. The writing - stunning and eerie in a way I have not experienced. Each night I was awake reading on my Kindle I simultaneously battled my desire to keep reading and the desire to bury my Kindle back under my pillow due to the uneasiness I felt reading it in the dark. I snuggled my partner more than ever the week of reading this one.
This story centers around an octagon house deep in the woods that is said to be cursed. Through multiple timelines and POVs you start to uncover the secrets this home holds and some you’re left to kind of interpret yourself in the end - which I loved and thought was impressive given this was a debut.
Fawcett incorporates several layers to this story that are interwoven seamlessly together and build suspense slowly, in a way that had me holding my breath nearly any time the characters stepped foot in this house. The writing - stunning and eerie in a way I have not experienced. Each night I was awake reading on my Kindle I simultaneously battled my desire to keep reading and the desire to bury my Kindle back under my pillow due to the uneasiness I felt reading it in the dark. I snuggled my partner more than ever the week of reading this one.