The story pulls readers in with back stories that set the tone, while pushing multi timeline characters into events that follow through to the present. When Claire's life seems to have fallen apart, a call from her childhood friend's mother will bring her back to the home of her youth and stir emotions she thought had died many years ago. Sounds great, but there are so many characters pulling attention away from the core story, it just gets lost along the way. Jennifer Fawcett does bring the story back to the plot and give it a great follow through but the detour leaves a few questions at the end.

If you love creepy abandoned mansions and mystery, this book is for you. Clara returns to her hometown to help her friend Abby. They must unravel the mysteries surrounding their childhood trauma and the mansion. I loved the alternating timelines, it really added to the story.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an eerie creepy novel.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC.

This book gave me the creeps.

At one point I could feel my heart beating and goose bumps rising.

I need more books like this!

it started really good, page after page made me very interested in the story but then int he middle of the book it stopped being interesting, it just dragged a lot, random stories which I did not liked, plus it made my head hurt with all the random stories going back and forth I could not catch up it was a too many flash backs it felt like a was reading four to five different stories in this same book you really have to remember or else you will get lost it made my head hurt trying to remember where the story was going, I do have to say that the last part of the book was getting super good and it was very fast ending, the begging of the book was dragging and the end super fast. over all I did enjoyed the ending but this book I would not reread.

What I surprisingly enjoyed most about this book is that this is, despite the mystery and creepy elements presented in the house, a story heavy on drama and grief and discussion of suicide.
To be honest, in my opinion the most interesting chapters were the one focused on Clare's struggles, drama and traumas regarding her best friend and the house they once visited, other than the creepy vibes.
I went for this for the mystery but stayed for the drama.

"Beneath the Stairs" by Jennifer Fawcett is an enthralling and chilling debut that masterfully blends psychological and paranormal elements. The story follows Clare as she returns to her hometown to uncover the dark secrets of the haunted Octagon House after her childhood friend, Abby, attempts suicide there. The narrative's eerie atmosphere and rich history of the house kept me hooked from start to finish.

Fawcett's writing is captivating, with well-developed characters and a plot that expertly builds suspense. This book is a must-read for fans of haunted house stories and psychological thrillers. Highly recommended!

This was a scary haunted house story with some added romance. Enjoyed the multiple timelines but felt it dragged in places.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I'll start by saying I genuinely liked this book. I think Jennifer Fawcett is a talented writer, and for the most part, she kept me very engaged, very eager to pick the book back up.... that said, two things kind of bothered me: 1) I felt what finally ended up happening to the Octagon House, physically, was quite simplistic and happened quite easily. I guess I thought there would be more of an "epic showdown", of sorts. I don't believe this subtracted anything from the book, but I also just felt that i spent so many pages reading this story, how a building and the terrible things that happened there affected so many innocent loves, yet the climax part was over in less than four pages..... and 2) going back to the "many pages" previously mentioned, I found a couple scenes to be quite wordy and not really necessary in advancing the plot.
Those two (minor) complaints aside, I really enjoyed the book. It was well-written, well thought out, and had an ending that warmed my black little heart. I've recommended this book already, and upon re-reading, plan to up the ante with my recommendations. Definitely a gifted storyteller- one I will actively seek titles from in the future.

If Shirley Jackson and Stephen King gave birth to a novel the result would be “Beneath the Stairs”, a creepy haunted house tale complete with murder, attempted suicide, a dark unescapable basement, a spooky doll, and all those things that “go bump in the night” and scare the bejeezus out of us.

With a long history of events (some gruesome and others unexplained) Octagon House has affected the lives of many beginning with its builder and extending to those who visited or were brave, or foolish enough, to resided within its walls. It's all here for the reader to explore.

For those who read at bedtime - a word of caution. To quote the famous Bette Davis line "Fasten your seatbelts it's going to be a bumpy night".

Thank you NetGalley and Atria for the e-copy to read and review!

Beneath the Stairs by Jennifer Fawcett was one of the creepiest books I've read in a long time! It was atmospheric, immersive and impossible to put down. Perfect for fans of Jennifer McMahon or Simone St. James.

If you're a fan of haunted houses and spooky ghost stories you won't want to miss this one!

Any book that focuses on creepy lore surrounding a historical house, like the octagon house, is an auto read for me. I can't help myself! The book is following a friend who is seeking answers about her friend who has left without any real reason. The secrets in Octagon House's halls engage the reader and create a slow, but eery vibe throughout. The reader can almost see themselves moving cobwebs and blowing dust off furniture along with the character. The scenery is rich and the ultimate ending is one that will haunt the reader forever.

Beneath the Stairs was a good read about a haunted house. There is enough history about the house to give it an air of fright, but I would have liked a bit more of that. When old friends come together again because of the house an unfinished story from the past is finally brought to a conclusion. If ghost stories are your thing, I recommend this one.

I'd like to thank Jennifer Fawcett and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a review.

"In this spine-tingling, atmospheric "nail-biter of a novel" (Shelf Awareness), a woman returns to her hometown after her childhood friend attempts suicide at an alleged 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, Clare receives word that Abby has attempted suicide at the Octagon House and now lies in a coma. With little to lose, Clare returns to her roots to uncover the darkness responsible for ruining their lives. A "spellbinding horror story, where the terror comes not from ghosts, but from the haunted places we find within ourselves" (Elizabeth Brundage, author of The Vanishing Point), Beneath the Stairs is perfect for fans of Jennifer McMahon, Simone St. James, and Chris Bohjalian."

I mean, I get tingles up and down my spine just at the name of the house, Octagon House!

The book is skillfully divided into three timelines, introducing characters dealing with traumatic experiences. The main character returns to her hometown in the present day to confront her past and solve the mystery of the haunted octagon house. The story is well-developed, merging psychological and paranormal elements to create a thrilling experience for the reader. The ending is fair for the characters and emphasizes the emotional depth of their friendships. Overall, the book is a great read for those who enjoy psychological and paranormal thrillers.

Beneath the Stairs...

As a kid, my brother and I had this secret little spot under the stairs we used to hide in, together we were ok, alone... it was terrifying.

A title like this had my interest peeked and reminiscent of my younger years and the things that transpired under our own stairs. I knew without a doubt, I needed to know more.

I went into this one blind, I read the synopsis when I chose it, but didn't reread it when I picked it up to start and I am so happy I didn't.

Every twist was unexpected and felt like an explosion. I gasped, I held my breath, the hair on my arms raised.

Jennifer Fawcett is a magician when it comes to orchestrating a perfectly narrated thriller.

Check out this teaser (or don't) and be just as surprised as I was :

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, Clare receives word that Abby has attempted suicide at the Octagon House and now lies in a coma. With little to lose, Clare returns to her roots to uncover the darkness responsible for ruining their lives.

Since this was already out when I got it, it took a while to get to it. It just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t connect to the story.

Loved the writing style and the plot, pretty interesting and fast paced. I wish we could have gotten more about the background of the Octagon house and more chapters about the supernatural elements. Also, loved the way the scary scenes were written, I just was left reeling for more. But I’d definitely recommend to readers who like to read spooky stories with the spooky factor dialed down a bit.

A fabulous horror slow-burn! This was well written, well-paced, and creepy as hell without being over the top gory or reliant on jump scares. With a satisfying conclusion, this book was summed up perfectly by a fellow reviewer: “[the book] hurts you and scares you and holds you, but then lets you go.”

I would absolutely read from this author again.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

An exciting mystery and a great page turner by Jennifer Fawcett, Under The Stairs will quickly wrap you in its spell and hold onto you until the last word.

Clever premise, tied to the past and to childhood friendships.

This book had such a good creep factor to it. I read this in one sitting! Absolutely would recommend! Thank you @netgalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this ebook!