The House on Tradd Street, Karen White
Even though Melanie Middleton is a real estate agent specializing in old houses- she hates them, and much prefers the stripped down and modern look that she sports in her own austere condo. She has good reason to be wary, though she is loath to admit it to herself, Melanie sees ghosts- and we all know that often there is no better hang out spot than an old house for a unearthly presence. Melanie tries to ignore them as best she can but a turn of events makes this near impossible.
Melanie meets with Nevin Vanderhorst, ostensibly to help him put his house on the market, but during their brief meeting Nevin comes to a decision of his own about Melanie. When he dies a few short days later he leaves Melanie his house on Tradd Street with the provision that she restore it (with funds provided by the estate), not sell it for a year, and also live in it for that year (oh, is that all?). Let’s just say that someone in the house has other ideas.
I really enjoyed the quality of White’s writing and the heroine that she created in Melanie Middleton. Melanie’s character is well defined and we get a good sense of the woman that she has become as a result of her mother’s abandoning her as a child and her father’s alcoholism. When you combine this with the fact that she has had to hide the fact that she is able to see ghosts (even from her father) just to fit in, you can see how this would lend itself to the slightly cold, hyper controlled and organized persona she adapted as protective barrier. Thankfully she has help from best friend- Sophie, nosy secretary- Nancy and potential love interest and writer, JacK Trenholm, to keep her from getting too staid and set in her ways.
The House on Tradd Street is a fast paced and entertaining mystery. Melanie finds that she is indeed invested in Nevin Vanderhorst’s home and wants to get to the bottom of why his mother mysteriously disappeared from his life when he was just a child, and at least one ghost in the house expects this from her. The opposites attract, prickly banter and pseudo romance with Jack was entertaining even if not original, though both characters suffered by resorting to the juvenile when new love interest Marc Longo enters the scene.
The middle meandered with more than a few moments of implausibility but nicely rebounded for the end section as the mystery wrapped up in a way that I never expected. I like that Melanie and Jack each had issues they were working toward resolving and I was glad to see Melanie start making some progress for her own sake, if not to soothe the feelings of her errant parents. Both Melanie and Jack got under my skin and I am curious to see what progress, if any, Melanie makes with Jack and her mother in the next book.
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Have you read any ghost stories that have kept you up at night? I want to find a really good one.
FTC Disclosure – I am an Amazon Associate. This book was purchased for use in my personal collection.
28 Responses to “The House on Tradd Street, Karen White”
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I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to buy these two books soon on my Kindle. I have a balance with Amazon, and I have a hard time resisting ghosty stories. I know people have found little foibles in the story, but it seems they can be overlooked.
Sandy´s last blog ..Monday Movie Meme – We Are the Champions
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Nicole Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:05 AM
I think they can. I find that I can’t wait to see what Melanie gets into next.
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I liked the second book in this series even better than this first one. Melanie’s mom is a central figure in the next book. Great review!
Tricia´s last blog ..Predictably Irrational
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Nicole Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:06 AM
Yay! Glad to hear that. I am looking forward to the next one. I think her issues with her mother will be interesting.
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i recently read about this book on another blog–and both reviews were similar. i do want to read this–i love old houses and dream of owning a second empire with a mansard roof! (and secret passages, if possible!) essentially, my hubby and i want to live in the addams family house…
great review–thanks for posting it.
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Nicole Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:08 AM
I’m a little to easily scared for secret passages, but I think I would love to spend some time in an old house. You’ll probably enjoy reading the house description and all the antiques that were in the house.
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Ghost stories don’t keep me up at night as much as ghost films do. I don’t like to visualise it too much whilst reading them, so they don’t affect me that much. The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi had a rather evil ghost in it.
vivienne´s last blog ..Have you had a good weekend?
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Nicole Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:10 AM
I was surprised that I wasn’t a little more scared. Maybe reading it during the day helped. I have all the traffic noises to keep me company. I really want to check out the Icarus Girl.
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I don’t like ghost stories that keep me up at night, so I try to avoid them! I got The Girl on Legare Street at SIBA and think I need to read this one first. I’m so glad to see it’s good.
Kathy´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday
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Nicole Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:12 AM
Yeah, I don’t want to actually be up at night but I think I want something just a touch bit creepier. It’s hard to find the balance. But it is a good thing to be comfortable sleeping in one’s home.
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Now that I’ve had a bit of a break I am anxious to get back to Melanie and Jack. I’m reading one of the Betsy-Tacy omnibuses right now, but maybe between the two stories in here…
Jen – Devourer of Books´s last blog ..Now & Then – Book Review and Giveaway
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Nicole Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:14 AM
I miss them! It’s funny how that happened. Glad I don’t have to wait more than I want to.
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I’ve heard so many good things about this one now I can’t wait to read it!
Leah´s last blog ..Do I Dare?
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Nicole Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:15 AM
These are fun books. I’ll be curious to see what you think when you get around to reading.
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I’m definitely going to be reading this author sometime!! Enjoyed your review!
Staci´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday- November 23
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Nicole Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:16 AM
She was on my list for such a long time that I am glad that I finally got the chance to pick one up and get into it. Hop you enjoy when you get to read them.
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Sounds like a fun read. I’ve always been tempted by stories with haunted houses in them. I used to read scary books as a child an my mom would hide them from me because they would scare me and I would’t want to sleep in my own bed. I can’t resist a good mystery/ghost story!
Kathleen´s last blog ..Sunday Salon – Another Week When I Wish I Had Read More!
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Nicole Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:30 AM
I couldn’t read scary story either or watch scary movies and tv. Every shadow or noise that I heard would then become sinister. I’m a little better now, I think. Or maybe i just haven’t read anything truly scary.
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Hi Nicole,
I just gave you an award…check out my blog to read more about it:
http://boardinginmyforties.blogspot.com. Have a great week!
Kathleen´s last blog ..I’ve Been Uplifted by my Award!
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Nicole Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:40 AM
Thanks you so much Kathleen! I will go and check it out.
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Totally off topic, but I had to click on the ostensibly link. Your post cracked me up! I’ve always been fond of veritable, myself.
softdrink´s last blog ..The Woman in White
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Nicole Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:41 AM
Veritable is a good one. I rolled it around in my head a bit. Nice!
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Yet another great review of this book I have read in the past few days. Both the books are on my wish list. Thanks for the review
Shona´s last blog ..Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
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Nicole Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 8:42 AM
I’m glad that i have the both of them because I am really looking forward to the continued story in the next one.
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I’m looking forward to the next one too. Thanks for linking to my review
Stacy´s last blog ..Monday Movie Meme – We are the Champions
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Love the review! i am having a hard time making myself not buy these books! They sound so good!
Veens´s last blog ..True Believer By Nicholas Sparks
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I really enjoyed this book. I found melanie fun but whiny
Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit)´s last blog ..Dragon House by John Shors
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