Review: The Strangers on Montagu Street by Karen White

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade; 1 edition (November 1, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 0451235266
• Source:  Publisher

In the third of Karen White’s Tradd Street novels, psychic realtor Melanie “Mellie” Middleton is forced to move in with her mother after she discovers her mid-19th century Tradd Street home needs additional work.   Joining her is her latest house guest, Nola, Jack’s angry and distraught teen daughter.

Feeling guilty for everything Nola is forced to deal with, Mellie agrees to take Nola under her wing in an attempt to ease her transition into a new home and family. Nola isn’t alone, however.  Her mother, Bonnie, is a constant ghostly presence.  When Jack’s mother gives Nola an antique dollhouse, the supernatural activities increase.  When Nola indicates that she recognizes the dollhouse, a model of an actual home in Charleston.

When they track down the home the dollhouse is modeled off of, Melanie and Jack are introduced to a family of prestige and wealth…and decades of buried secrets.  The dolls within the dollhouse, small representations of the family members are angry, and for good reason. To make matters worse, they are luring Nola into their dark world of despair.

Heartbreak, murder, deceit, The Strangers on Montagu Street has it all.  Fans of the Tradd Street novels will appreciate the return of Mellie and Jack, their relationship full of sexual tension. Their dysfunctional relationship adds to the storyline, unrequited love plays a key role in this novel. The ending indicates more books in this series; I cannot wait to read what White comes up with next.

As indicated, this is the third book in a series.  While White makes an attempt to provide sufficient back story to readers new to the series, I believe that, in order to understand the characters and their history, it is imperative to start at the beginning.  Highly recommended.