The House on Tradd Street [Paperback]

Karen White (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 4, 2008 | Series: Tradd Street (Book 1)

A brilliant, chilling series debut, featuring a Charleston real estate agent who loves old houses?and the secret histories inside them.

Practical Melanie Middleton hates to admit she can see ghosts. But she?s going to have to accept it. An old man she recently met has died, leaving her his historic Tradd Street home, complete with housekeeper, dog?and a family of ghosts anxious to tell her their secrets.

Enter Jack Trenholm, a gorgeous writer obsessed with unsolved mysteries. He has reason to believe that diamonds from the Confederate Treasury are hidden in the house. So he turns the charm on with Melanie, only to discover he?s the smitten one...

It turns out Jack?s search has caught the attention of a malevolent ghost. Now, Jack and Melanie must unravel a mystery of passion, heartbreak?and even murder.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this engaging novel from Southern novelist White (The Memory of Water), buttoned-up real estate agent Melanie Middleton, lover of order and all things modern, inherits an old house in Charleston, S.C., from a virtual stranger. Melanie can't help seeing the house as a big white elephant, especially regarding the terms; according to the will, Melanie's required to live in the house for a year, restoring it to its former glory, before she can sell so much as a piece of china. But as the house draws the attention (and ulterior motives) of a colorful group of locals, particularly GQ-handsome journalist Jack Trenholm, Melanie finds she has plenty of volunteers to help out. White skillfully balances her tale at the meeting point of romance, mystery and ghost story. The supernatural elements are not played for scares, but instead refine and reveal Melanie's true character; Melanie and Jack flirt with sparkling, snarky energy, but White also digs deeper, giving Melanie a tragic past that's handled with compassion and realism. A fun and satisfying read, this series kickoff should hook a wide audience. (Nov.)
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About the Author

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.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade (November 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451225090
• ISBN-13: 978-0451225092
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (160 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,118 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #54 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction > Single Women

More About the Author

I grew up being a voracious reader and it was a natural step to turn my interest to writing. I have published 16 award-winning and bestselling novels including my 2012 release, SEA CHANGE, which debuted on the New York Times bestseller list at number 12.

I write what others have termed "grit-lit"--southern women's fiction, as well as a contemporary paranormal mystery series set in Charleston, South Carolina. All of my books are set in the US South, and feature a female protagonist at a crossroads in her life.

I live near Atlanta, Georgia with my husband, two children, and the cutest six-year-old Havanese dog, Quincy, whom readers may recognize as General Lee in the Tradd Street series.

My newest release, AFTER THE RAIN (a revamped version of the book originally published in 2003), was released by New American Library, a division of Penguin Publishing, on December 31, 2012. My next book, THE TIME BETWEEN, will be my hardcover debut and will be published in June, 2013.

For more about me and my books, please visit my website at www.karen-white.com or follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/karenwhiteauthor.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 55 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Charleston's Latest Ghost Mystery November 5, 2008

By S. Agusto-Cox

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Karen White's The House on Tradd Street is part romance, part ghost story, part mystery. The narration of this novel grips the reader with its beautiful descriptions of South Carolina and the historic neighborhoods of Charleston. Melanie Middleton specializes in historic home sales, though she hates historic homes and believes those who buy historic homes are saps willing to waste thousands of dollars on renovations. Fate brings her into the home of Mr. Vanderhorst, who asks Melanie if she saw a woman in the garden. He suddenly dies and leaves her his home.

Melanie is given a historic home and the money to renovate and repair it from the Vanderhorst estate. There are a great cast of characters in this book from Mr. Vanderhorst to his mother's ghost and Melanie, her father, and Jack Trenholm. Melanie is a barracuda in the real estate world, but her inability to relate to her family or male companions hampers her ability to widen her horizons. Meanwhile, Jack uses his good looks and fame to woo women to his side and charm them out of information so he can uncover historical mysteries and publish novels. His charm and good looks, on the other hand, are just a cover.

The restoration at Tradd Street begins, and Melanie is overwhelmed by her responsibilities and the two attractive men that have fallen into her life--Marc Longo and Jack Trenholm. In spite of the restoration, Melanie gets wrapped up in the mystery surrounding Mr. Vanderhorst's mother's disappearance and the ghosts that haunt her new home.

White easily draws the reader into the beauty of Charleston and her ghost mystery.... The intricate relationships between these characters are complex, and in spite of the convenient connections between Melanie's family, the Vanderhorsts, and the Trenholms in a big city like Charleston, I was enveloped in the storyline.

The mystery doesn't get heavy with humor sprinkled in. The interactions between Melanie and Jack is contagious and will make readers smile.

I recommend this book to those who love a good mystery and a good ghost story. Read more ›

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 1st in series November 12, 2008

By Amy Leemon VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

This book has everything - an intriguing story line involving missing diamonds from the Civil War, ghosts (good AND bad), location (historic Charleston), a hero with a secret, a bad guy with his own secret, Melanie Middleton who has a long way to go for the peaceful well-ordered life she wants and the house on Tradd Street which brings them all together.

A great mystery, a love story and a ghost story make for an enjoyable read.

The 2nd book in this series will be out in November, 2009.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! November 28, 2008

By JerseyGirl VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

If you like ghost stories and the paranormal, if you like antiques and treasure hunts,if you like historic houses and Charleston, SC, if you like lots of humor and a little bit of romance, then read this book! I really, really enjoyed this page-turner and stayed up all night one night to try and make it to the end to see what happens. Melanie Middleton inherits the house on Tradd Street in Charleston built in 1840 from an old southern gentleman who has a sad and haunting story to tell. From the moment she meets Nevin Vanderhorst, who leaves her his historic and haunted house, Melanie is caught up in the story that the house has to tell. The action never stops and the story telling is wonderful. Don't miss the House on Tradd Street; there is something for everyone here. And there is another book coming in this series so hopefully we will see if Melanie and Jack ever get together!

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars the house on tradd street April 25, 2009

By froggielorraine

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

i am surprised that so many readers raved about this book. i had it downloaded to my kindle recently and have slogged through about one-third of it. i will not be reading any more of this story. i was expecting a smart mystery. instead i discovered a lightweight romance novel filled with unlikeable characters and predictable storyline. i would not recommend this to anyone who enjoys grown-up literature.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The House on Tradd Street May 14, 2009

By Christy Mizell

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Charleston is my home so I am more than aware of the ghost stories that surround the homes in the city. We (Charleston natives) happen to believe most of them! This book was so intriguing, I had to make myself put it down! The places such as restaurants and shops are authentically correct. Buy the book, you will keep it on your shelf and re-read on a stormy, chilly, windy day! I can't wait to buy the sequel. FYI, Ms. White keeps her novels on the clean side of romance.

Christy
Charleston, SC

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars First in a Series December 22, 2008

By Bibliophile By the Sea TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

The House on Tradd Street , is the first in a new series by Karen White. The story is set in Charleston, South Carolina and has some great elements: part mystery, part Gothic ghost story and part romance.

Real Estate agent Melanie Middleton inherits an old Tradd Street mansion from a virtual stranger she met a few days earlier --the stranger senses Melanie can help unravel some long hidden secrets. There is one hitch, the elderly man who left her the house states in his last wishes that Melanie is to live in for at least one year, and she must also restore the old house. Melanie prefers new homes--free from history or ghosts. Few people know this but Melanie has seen ghosts since her childhood, and at the Tradd Street property more ghosts are strutting their stuff.

Jack Trenholm, is a good looking, true crime writer who believes that there are diamonds from the Civil War hidden on the property Melanie has just inherited. He convinces her to let him help her restore the property, and before long an attraction is formed.

The author did a great job of giving the reader a real feel for historic Charleston. The ghosts added a fun element to the story in helping to unravel the mystery. The book was not perfect, but still a fun read.