With winter coming on so quickly, we’ve been planning how we’ll be spending the long cold nights ahead. One of our favorite ways to keep warm is by curling up in bed with a great book, and reading The House on Tradd Street by Karen White is a great way to spend an evening.
The House on Tradd Street takes place in Charleston, South Carolina and tells the story of Melanie Middleton, a realtor who specializes in historic homes. However, she herself despises old houses and wouldn’t buy one if her life depended on it. When Nevin Vanderhorst, a elderly man who has lived in the same house since birth, invites her to come to his majestic home, Melanie attempts to convince him to allow her to list the property but leaves empty-handed. A few days later, she is informed that Mr. Vanderhorst has died and left his estate to her on the condition that she live in the house for one year before selling it. After deciding to keep her inheritance, Melanie begins planning renovations to get the home ready for sale.
However, there are dark spirits at work in Melanie’s home, and the 80 year old disappearance of Mr. Vanderhorst’s mother casts a dark shadow on the project. With the help of Jack Trenholm, a writer who is interested in exposing the truth, Melanie delves into the past and tries to put the pieces together to discover what really happened to Louisa Vanderhorst all those years ago.
The House on Tradd Street is a wonderful novel that builds suspense each time you turn a page. By the end of the book, the reader truly becomes invested in solving the mystery. This novel is especially poignant to any history lover, who will appreciate the foray into the house’s story. White has done a wonderful job piecing this story together, and we highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery novel.