Book Review: The Strangers on Montagu Street by Karen White

In this third installment of Karen White's Tradd Street series, psychic real estate agent Melanie Middleton faces new challenges from the living and the dead.

The Strangers on Montagu Street finds Melanie Middleton continuing to pour money into her historic home on Tradd Street when Jack Treholm appears on her doorstep with his estranged daughter in tow.

Nola has given the ever chipper and stunningly handsome Jack a real run for his money. He begs Mellie to take her for a bit, and who can resist Jack's charm? Other than Nola, of course.

In an effort to bring them closer together, Jack's mother buys Nola an antique dollhouse. It seems like a great idea to draw the young girl into the family she's never known. But, as night falls, unnerving shadows are cast within its miniature rooms and daylight finds things--including the dollhouse family--in different places from where they are left. Melanie soon realizes a new family has moved in with its own secrets and personal demons, and their past is drawing Nola into their own inescapable darkness.

Wow! I didn't realize how much I missed this series until I sat up reading into the wee hours of the morning. The developing relationships between all the characters is just one fabulous aspect of an engrossing story the reader can't put down. Melanie's parents seem to be rekindling their romance, while Melanie and Jack are growing apart. Melanie's best friend Sophie disappoints her. Melanie's mother wants her to embrace her gift, while she is just wishing it all goes away. After the loss of her mother, the only parent she ever knew, Nola is rebuffing attempts to be drawn into Jack's family and circle of friends. Jack is being ignored by his publisher, which makes him unsure of himself--a feeling very foreign to the over-confident charmer.

Then you have this captivating story of the antique dollhouse and its connection to Charleston. As Melanie's maternal instincts toward Nola kick in, she's determined to uncover the history of the house and its occupants in order to keep her safe.

Karen White is a masterful storyteller who draws you in from the opening line. She weaves a fascinating tale steeped in family secrets and complex relationships taking place in one of the most historical areas of the south. I might have to change my planned reading schedule to grab the next book in this series, Return to Tradd Street. 



Series: Tradd Street (Book 3)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Berkley; 1 edition (November 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451235266
ISBN-13: 978-0451235268

I purchased a copy of this book in 2012. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Shelf Control - May 27

Shelf Control is a weekly celebration of the unread books on our shelves sponsored by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. Pick a book you own but haven’t read, write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up!

Want to join in? Shelf Control posts go up every Wednesday. Here's how to jump on board:

• Write a blog post about a book that you own that you haven’t read yet.
• Add your link in the comments!
• Link back to Bookshelf Fantasies in your own post.
• Check out other posts, and…

Today I am featuring the book I just pulled out of my TBR pile.

BLURB: With her relationship with writer Jack Treholm as shaky as the foundation of her family home, Melanie’s juggling a number of problems. Like restoring her Tradd Street house...and resisting her mother’s pressure to ‘go public’ with her talent—a sixth sense that unites them to the lost souls of the dead. But Melanie never anticipated her new problem.

Her name is Nola, Jack’s estranged young daughter who appears on their doorstep, damaged, lonely and defiantly immune to her father’s attempts to reconnect. Melanie understands the emotional chasm all too well. As a special, bonding gift Jack’s mother buys Nola an antique dollhouse—a precious tableaux of a perfect Victorian family. Melanie hopes the gift will help thaw Nola’s reserve and draw her into the family she’s never known.

At first, Nola is charmed, and Melanie is delighted—until night falls, and the most unnerving shadows are cast within its miniature rooms. By the time Melanie senses a malevolent presence she fears it may already be too late. A new family has accepted her unwitting invitation to move in—with their own secrets, their own personal demons, and a past that’s drawing Nola into their own inescapable darkness...

DATE BOUGHT: 8/22/12

WHY I BOUGHT IT: I fell in love with this series from the very first book. At the time of my purchase, I had read several of Karen White's novels, including the first two Tradd Street books. Life got hectic and I didn't keep going with the series, but I've been eager to get back to it.

The first book is steeped in Charleston's history and Civil War legends. That attracted me, but the entire story and its characters won me over. I enjoy the paranormal aspects of the series as well. I can't wait to dig into this one.

What was your shelf find this week?

First Chapter Review: The Strangers on Montagu Street by Karen White

I purchased the third book in Karen White's Tradd Street series over a year ago with some gift cards I received. The first two books in this series captivated me, so I was eager to read this one; but I was so far behind in reviews when the book came out, I declined taking it on when the publicist offered it to me for review. This is one of the books I want to read soon, especially since the fourth book in the series, Return to Tradd Street, just came out this month.

BLURB:  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...

COVER: Like all of the books in this series, a house graced with Southern charm and elegance is featured on the cover. And if you know anything about this series, that charm and elegance belies the evil spirits hidden inside. This cover is a bit darker than the others, so it adds to the ominous feel.

FIRST CHAPTER: Melanie is awoken early one morning to find writer Jack Trenholm on the doorstep of her Tradd Street home--the one still being restored and costing her tons of money. He has not come alone, however. His estranged daughter, Nola, is with him. Still working through the challenges of becoming an instant father, he begs Melanie to allow Nola to stay with her over the summer.

KEEP READING: Yes, yes, yes! Why haven't I made room to read this book before now? All the things I love about this series are present from the very first words of The Strangers on Montagu Street. Immediately hooked, the mystery, conflict, and hint of the spirits that will arrive later are all here. White has the uncanny ability to draw you in immediately and not let you go. I'm sure this will be the case again if the story continues along the same vein.

If you love paranormal stories and are captivated by Southern living, you won't want to miss this one.


Series: Tradd Street (Book 3)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: NAL Trade; 1 edition (November 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451235266
ISBN-13: 978-0451235268


I purchased this book from Amazon. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.