They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Push it too far, however, and it comes across as disingenuous and awkward. I fear that author Nancy Zaroulis did indeed push things too far in this Poe-based and exceedingly Poe-inspired story, ultimately squandering what begins as a pretty good read.

Of course, the subject material itself is rife with potential. The long-lost love letters from Edgar Allan Poe to Annie Richmond make for quite the literary and historical treasure. History tells us that the inspiration for Poe's poem "For Annie" destroyed Poe's letters some time before her death in 1898, having rebuffed all those who sought the opportunity to examine the letters over the decades following Poe's own death in 1849. This novel presents the first-person story of one young, desperate Poe fan who manages to insinuate himself into Annie's world during her final months -- and gets much more (and less) than he ever bargained for.

Zaroulis adopts a very Victorian style of writing to return the reader to the days of the late 19th century and, more importantly, to put readers in mind of the literary milieu of Poe himself. As such, the story is presented in the first-person perspective of the anonymous narrator, whose obsession with Poe -- and the great writer's love letters to Annie Richmond in particular -- is almost dangerously zealous from the start. He first approaches Annie through subterfuge, representing himself as a member of the Boston Art Club writing a monograph on painter Henry Claypool Hough, an artist whom Richmond had helped during his early years. Distraught over his failure to win an audience with this devious ruse, he boldly tries again and manages to speak to Richmond's daughter Lenore. Lenore is an austere and mysteriously complex woman, but her obvious resentment of her mother's hold on her leads her to assist the narrator to a certain degree (although her actions are not always in the narrator's favor).

Thanks to a heavy blizzard, the women of the house call upon the narrator to remain with them until the weather clears. This proves to be just the beginning of an extended stay, however, one that takes on darkly stranger proportions with each passing day. Roles are reversed as both women attempt to use the narrator for their own personal interest and amusement. It is actually rather pathetic to watch this gentleman deteriorate into something less of a man at the bequest of these cold and calculating women. He demeans himself for one reason only, though -- he is steadfast in his determination to find and claim Poe's letters for himself. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants, and that sets the stage for a dramatic conclusion.

It is difficult to voice my criticism of the novel without divulging pivotal plot points. What I will say is that Zaroulis seemingly falls prey to her own obsession with Poe in the end. In the final chapters, she attempts to emulate Poe's writing herself, suddenly abandoning her previously careful approach to the story. Needless to say, there is only one Edgar Allan Poe, and Zaroulis's attempts to emulate his style and unique approach to storytelling come across -- in my opinion -- as weak and forced. It left a bad taste in my mouth and significantly detracted from my appreciation of the novel.

Other readers may not share my feelings about the ending, however, so I certainly don't want to steer any potential readers away. As I said, the premise of The Poe Papers makes for a powerful literary hook, and I still consider it a very interesting read.