Want a NOOK? Explore Now
Psychic realtor Melanie Middleton returns-only to be greeted by a house full of lost souls.
Psychic realtor Melanie Middleton is still restoring her Charleston house and doesn't expect to have a new houseguest, a teen girl named Nola. But the girl didn't come alone, and the spirits that accompanied Nola don't seem willing to leave...
After playing hooky one day in the seventh grade to read Gone With the Wind, Karen White knew she wanted to be a writer—or become Scarlett O'Hara. In spite of these aspirations, Karen pursued a degree in business and graduated cum laude with a BS in Management from Tulane University. Ten years later, after leaving the business world, she fulfilled her dream of becoming a writer and wrote her first book. In the Shadow of the Moon was published in August, 2000. This book was nominated for the prestigious RITA award in 2001 in two separate categories. Her books have since been nominated for numerous national contests including another RITA, the Georgia Author of the Year Award and in 2008 won the National Readers’ Choice Award for Learning to Breathe.
Karen currently writes what she refers to as ‘grit lit’—southern women’s fiction—and has recently expanded her horizons into writing a mystery series set in Charleston. Her tenth novel, The Lost Hours, will be released in trade paperback by New American Library, a division of Penguin Publishing Group, in April 2009.
Karen hails from a long line of Southerners but spent most of her growing up years in London, England and is a graduate of the American School in London. She currently lives near Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and two teenaged children, and a spoiled Havanese dog (who appears in several of her books), Quincy. When not writing, she spends her time reading, singing, playing piano, chauffeuring children and avoiding cooking.
Reviewed by Lynn F. for Readers Favorite
"The Strangers On Montagu Street"(Tradd Street series book 3) by Karen White is a paranormal mystery novel I found hard to put down. The main plot of the story deals with Melanie who can see and talk to spirits just as her mother does. When her on and off boyfriend Jack shows up one morning with a thirteen year old girl he had just found out to be his daughter, things change quickly. When Nola¿s mother died of an overdose of drugs she left a letter and a ticket for her to go to her father in Charleston S.C. The only problem is this girl has plenty of hang-ups; first she hates her dad, she agrees to stay with Melanie,and she is a vegan. Now as they both try to adapt their lifestyle to this teenage hellion, Melanie finds out that Nola did not come alone. Not only did her mother's spirit follow her but a group of angry spirits were also there.
When presented with a Victorian doll house that seems to be haunted, things start happening. What is the mystery of this doll house? Why did no one want to keep it? When they find the house on Montagu Street that the house was modeled after the mystery deepens. When Melanie finally lets Nola know her mother is there in spirit and Melanie can see her, Nola's attitude changes somewhat.
I enjoyed this book very much and since Ms. White is a new author to me I scrambled to look up the rest of her books especially those in the Tradd Street series. I enjoyed the characters very much, especially Nola and Melanie. Melanie and her mother seem to be able to connect with her better than anyone else. I found humor throughout and romance too but it was mainly the mystery that really drew me to the book and the terror that they encountered. Having never talked to a spirit, I have been in homes that I know had to have a spirit there as one could feel the change in the atmosphere. That is what led me to read this book and I am glad I did. Of course the ending leaves one with the hope that there will be a forth book in the making. If you like books dealing with ghosts and spirits then you will enjoy this book and, like me, will be wanting to get the first two in the series.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Marchsnpw
Posted Sun Oct 02 00:00:00 EDT 2011
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this at the SIBA Convention in Charleston. Having lived in that wonderful city for a few years, I miss it tremendously and I am naturally drawn to any book set there. Originally discovered Ms. White when I picked up her "Learning to Breathe" and have never been disappointed. Good pacing, a bit humorous, with a very natural sense of dialogue. I've heard several people complain about that the paranormal element is not being as deeply developed as it should be. While I enjoy the entertaining quality of the paranormal element and the touch of mystery, at heart, all of Ms. White's books are focused on the relationships between the living characters. The one's in this series might not be the sharpest people around, but as flawed as they are, I loved being able to spend some time with them.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri Dec 30 00:00:00 EST 2011
Great series. Type of book you cannot put down,keeping you up all night......
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sun Nov 06 00:00:00 EDT 2011
I have read the first two books and was highly excited for this book. It did not disappoint. I couldnt put it down. Love spending time with these characters. My only complaint is the ending makes you want to buy the next book and we have no idea when the next book is coming out .
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sat Nov 26 00:00:00 EST 2011
The saga continues...a bit too slowly for my taste but I still anxiously await the next installment.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Gertt
Posted Sat Aug 20 00:00:00 EDT 2011
I Also Recommend:
The first two books were great, can't wait to read this, the third and final book of the series. If you haven't read this series yet, there's still time to read the first two books, The House on Tradd Street and The Girl on Legare Street, before November. Enjoy.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Mon Jul 02 00:00:00 EDT 2012
Karen White has done it again with her third installment of the Tradd Street series. Thoroughly entertaining and a joy to read. I'll not go into the plot as others have already done so. Much was mentioned of the on again off again relationship of Jack and Mellie but one character not mentioned and who I have fallen hopelessly for is "General Lee".
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sat Feb 11 00:00:00 EST 2012
I have enjoyed all books by Karen White. She uses real places in all the stories. If you are familiar with the cities, it makes it that much more enjoyable to read. It's easy to get into the characters and the author makes you excited to see what will happen next! Easy reads but so much fun!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sun Feb 05 00:00:00 EST 2012
Once again, Karen White has written a book I couldn't put down. I really, really hope she will write another one soon, continuing this series.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.hurricanej
Posted Mon Dec 12 00:00:00 EST 2011
I enjoyed this book so much I read it in one day.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Gertt
Posted Thu Nov 24 00:00:00 EST 2011
I Also Recommend:
First of all, Jack is not, nor was he ever Melanie's boyfriend. Yes, Melanie is hopelessly attracted to him, and he plays on this attraction to charm her into doing whatever he wants, like taking in his sultry teenage daughter, but Jack is in love with his old girlfriend, who also happens to be Melanie's cousin, Rebecca, who he's been romancing and sleeping with through most of the series; prior to Rebecca he seduced every woman under 40 in Charleston (according to Melanie). Extremely organized Real Estate Agent, Melanie Middleton, doesn't like anything unexpected in her life, unfortunately, her ability to see and talk with ghosts, a gift she prefers not to have, causes her life to be in almost constant turmoil. Jack Trenold, handsome charming author of mystery novels, is the other unexpected event that causes constant turmoil in Melanie's life...her ghostly adventures make great novels and Jack also enjoys flustering her with his suggestive charms. There are many delightful characters, some of them alive, some of them dead and many quite frightening, written with a touch of humor and set in historical Charleston, SC. The only romance, however, centers around Melanie's friends and family; Melanie has had two regrettable dates in two years (neither with Jack) and spends most of her nights at home alone in her flannel nightgown, with her spreadsheets and ghosts. Jack and Melanie are suppose to be attracted to each other, however, they are in almost constant conflict, often avoiding each other. Jack and Rebecca's long ongoing affair has has been an undercurrent to their relationship and a disappointment to an otherwise great series. If Jack's attracted to Melanie, why isn't he trying to win her over instead of sleeping with Rebecca??? Karen White has written many excellent books and I have read and enjoyed most of them, however, this series has not progressed at all; after three books, Melanie is still the same uptight lonely woman she was in the beginning, Jack is still in love with someone else and they are upset with each other...again.
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.ALY259
Posted Sat Nov 12 00:00:00 EST 2011
This series is enjoyable for a vast number of reasons, to numerous to write them all. The details of the book make you feel like a neighbor peeping over the fence of the characters included in their lives. These books include paranormal, mystery and romance. I am already looking forward to the fourth in the series and hope a release date is soon shown.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Tue Jul 26 00:00:00 EDT 2011
I don't know why this book had a one-star rating. I loved the first two books in this series, and my only complaint is that there is such a lag between books.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Anonymous
Posted Tue Sep 10 00:00:00 EDT 2013
The book is good. I really enjoyed the paranormal plot line and the characters are interesting. I do feel like she is trying to hard. I live in Charleston and it seems like she picked up a 1800's census and used every name she could find. Middleton, Maybank, Gibbes, Ravenel...we have Smiths like everyone else.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.maclean92
Posted Fri Aug 30 00:00:00 EDT 2013
This series is so entertaining and Book #3 does not disappoint at all. I cannot wait for Book #4.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.bongie
Posted Sat Aug 24 00:00:00 EDT 2013
Such a enjoyable read, love the creepy parts and can't wait to read the next in this series.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Loved ths series! But Karen, you can't leaving us hanging.....when will #4 book be out? We all need to know how things work out w/Jack and Mellie. :)
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri Mar 08 00:00:00 EST 2013
Can't wait for the fourth book in this series! I have enjoyed all of the books!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.VirtuousWomanKF
Posted Mon Jan 07 00:00:00 EST 2013
Loved this third installment of "The House on Tradd Street" series. I could not put it down and read it in a day and a half. I was so excitied to see how the series would end only to find out it didn't. This is good news and bad news. Good - because I cannot wait to read more about the characters relationships and budding romances. Bad - because I have to wait to January 2014 to continue the story. This is a great series and truly enjoyed the many aspects of them. You will not be dissapointed. Karen White's books are great and truly a readers dream.
PS - I'll never be able to hear an ABBA song without thinking of Mellie.
Overview
Psychic realtor Melanie Middleton returns-only to be greeted by a house full of lost souls.
Psychic realtor Melanie Middleton is still restoring her Charleston house and doesn't expect to have a new houseguest, a teen girl named Nola. But the girl didn't come alone, and the spirits that accompanied Nola don't seem willing to leave...