New Release Tuesday: Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen

Dear readers, I apologize for my absence last week (and probably for the rest of September).  Although it may not feel like and absence because I have all these book reviews pre-scheduled.  Between new job and grad school things have been crazy and I’m giving myself a few weeks to continue to acclimate. I do have to say though, the job is fantastic.  I spend most of my days working on developmental edits, faxing permissions requests, talking to authors, and discussing title and cover concepts.  I’m basically working my dream job and making money as an added bonus!  I want to thank everyone for their prayers, support, good thoughts, and basic nudging of the universe.  If I have to be busy I’m glad it’s doing this.  Alright, update over, on to the review!

Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen

Published by Simon and Schuster

Anticipated Release date: Oct 1

“But I had not yet come face to face with sheer malice, with the dark and ill side of humanity that is inured to the suffering of others.  To know such is a necessity if one is to write something truly chilling.”

Author Lynn Cullen has brought to life the rumors surrounding the relationship of Francis Osgood and Edgar Allen Poe.  But while this Romantic-romance seems to appeal to the dark Victoriana in you…this is a haphazardly put together “dark tale” at best.  And reads more like a romance novel by a Poe-fangirl.  With a tagline that includes the phrase “a wife’s revenge” I expected more mystery, action, suspense, and fear but what you’ll get with Mrs. Poe is more along the lines of gossip, social climbers, and scandal.

Not having read Cullen’s previous works I came to this novel purely because of the plot.  I love the American Dark Romantic period and was interested to see how this piece played into that rich history while still serving up a dark tale that could have been from the pen of Poe himself.  I expected something along the lines of a gothic The Paris Wife, but was disappointed.

Told in the voice of Mrs. Osgood this tale drags along as she constantly monologues about her inability to create as a woman and her absent husband (who is by any account a good for nothing), and then, finally, the instant attraction to Mr. Poe.  The dynamics between Mr. Poe, Mrs. Poe, and Mrs. Osgood have potential to be creepy.  There are so many ways Cullen could have utilized that dynamic to create a truly dark tale…or at least add a little more suspense to this one.

Instead, their relationship continues as a petty affair.  Mrs. Poe is childish and petulant (although she must be given a little credit as she is dying), Mr. Poe is needy and a little obsessive, and Mrs. Osgood is conflict, wanting what she can’t and shouldn’t have.  By the time the story actually gets to the creepiest part the atmosphere has been lost and any sense of terror and suspense have been turned into a confused shoulder shrug.

This book is more romance than anything.  Cullen tries to give the reader a glimpse into the literary set at the time, but compared to The Paris Wife this book falls short.  The only characters you truly care about are Poe and Osgood…and even then they don’t stick with you as the book ends.  As a tragic romance (be it Romantic or not) this story might hold its own, but because of all the other threads Cullen has tried to tie together even that aspect did not get the attention it deserved.

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for a review