The Girl on Legare Street by Karen White is a continuation of a book I read recently called The House on Tradd Street (review here). I was very excited to read more of Melanie and Jack’s adventures and I wasn’t disappointed. I can’t even pick a favorite between the two books because they were both great although I think maybe The Girl on Legare Street had me a little more creeped out than The House on Tradd Street.
Melanie is a woman who can see and hear ghosts. She’s been able to do this since childhood and it runs in the family; her mother and grandmother were the same. While The House on Tradd Street saw healing between Melanie and her father, the Girl on Legare Street sees healing between Melanie and her mother. Melanie’s mother left her when she was just seven years old and now over thirty years later has come back to purchase her old childhood home on Legare Street. However along with Melanie’s mothers return, a ghost from the past with revenge on her mind is forcing Melanie to put past hurts behind her in order to fight this deadly presence with her mother.
Jack is back as well and still wants more of a relationship with Melanie. She drives me crazy though as she keeps pushing him away. Unfortunately this time when she pushes him away it’s into the arms of another woman, Rebecca Edgerton. Rebecca seems to have some physic powers of her own and for some reason Melanie feels as though she recognizes her from somewhere. Rebecca isn’t Melanie’s favorite person as it seems as though she’s out to have Jack for herself and while Melanie can’t make up her mind about him; neither is she willing to give him up. It turns out though that Rebecca may have more of a connection to Melanie’s family than anyone could have expected.
The mystery that unfolds in this story is one that kept me on the edge of my seat at times with my heart pounding just a bit. I wouldn’t say the book is really scary, more like creepy when you think of ghosts wandering among us; maybe protecting us or those trying to hurt us. Karen White manages to draw us into this mystery completely and weaves the past with the present as Melanie, her mother, Jack and a few others uncover the story behind the vengeful ghost.
I really enjoyed this continuation of the story. I really like Melanie despite the fact she drives me more than a little crazy with regards to Jack but I’m hoping in the next novel she wakes up and realizes she should keep him. However she really is a likable character with her quirkiness and smart remarks that she’s either saying or thinking. I also enjoyed reading about the history of the old houses and the area so vividly described by Karen White as well. The Girl on Legare Street would stand alone but in all honestly I think it’s a good idea to read The House on Tradd Street first to have all the background information – it will make this novel much more enjoyable.
You can visit Karen White’s website here and you can purchase The Girl on Legare Street here in the US and here in Canada.
Be sure to pop in tomorrow as Karen White will be joining us here at Peeking Between the Pages with a wonderful guest post.
My Thanks…to Joy with Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting for my review copy of The Girl on Legare Street by Karen White.
I've not read one negative thing about these two books. And the plot and everything is right up my alley. I'm pretty sure one of these days I'm going to have a glass of wine, with my Kindle in my hand, and order the things. I must read them!
Do you know if she's going to write another one after this? I just loved The House on Tradd Street but I haven't had a chance to try this one yet.
I purchased the House on Tradd Street several months ago due to a blogger recommendation. Unfortunately, I have not yet made the time to read it. After this wonderful recommendation for the sequel, I must remedy that soon.
I look forward to reading the author's guest post!
I didn't realise it was a continuation from the The House on Tradd Street. I have yet to read both, but I definitely will. I love the sound of the ghost aspects in them.
After hearing that the mystery kept you on the edge of your seat, I am definitely interested in this book!
I've got this book but don't want to read it until I can get hold of the The House on Tradd Street. I don't want to read them out of order. I'm glad to know this one is so good.
I enjoyed your review of the first book and this one sounds like a good read too. It's nice to get to know characters in more than one book, you can learn so much more about them.
Nice review…good to hear the continuation is as good as the first. The more I read about the books, I realize that I might be too much of a wimp to read them, even though I have coveted the first one for a long time. 🙂
I read Tradd Sreet awhile ago and loved it. I'm waiting on our library to get Legare Street. It's on order. I am looking forward to it so much that I may just break down and buy my own copy. Great review!
Can't wait to read this one. It is about 2 or 3 down on the stack!
So glad that the 2nd book is good, can't wait to read the first one!
Ooohhh, creepy book, that's what I like best 🙂
I haven't read anything by Ms. White yet but these two titles seem like a good start.
Love mystery. Hope this is not too creepy for me.
I loved this book (as well as The House on Tradd Street)! I hope there will be a sequel! 😉
Oh boy, I need to read the first book and then this one. The first one has been on my wish list for a while now. Great review, Dar!
Is it just me, or does anybody else think of the Castle TV show when it comes to Melanie and Jack's relationship? I loved The House on Tradd Street, so I can't wait to read this one.
Thanks so much for the lovely review–I'm glad you're enjoying reading about Melanie and Jack!
To answer your questions–yes, there will be a sequel. Two more in fact, so lots more adventures for Melanie, Jack and the gang to keep us ALL busy. 🙂
Janel–you are not the first person who brings up Castle when casting around for Jack. Hmm. I guess I need to go watch that show.
Sounds like a good read – will have to check it out. Thanks for sharing this.
I love this series! Nice review.
I read this one as well and really enjoyed it and I hope the next book Melanie wakes up!
Glad you enjoyed this one! I'm reviewing it next week. I really enjoy this series. I'm going to try to do a quick re-read of House on Tradd Street first!
I have got to finish the book I'm reading so I can get to this one!
This sounds like a great series and I'm really glad you are enjoying it. I think I'd like it too and am going to be giving the first book a try. Thanks for the great review!
Wow, wonderful review. i have noticed quite a few reviews saying that they felt irked by the Jack angle of the story…!
I so want to read this series!
Great review, Dar. There was a lot I liked about this book. Unfortunately, Melanie has a tendency to get on my nerves, especially when it comes to Jack. I'm really going to have to think long and hard about whether I want to face them in another book. It got to be a bit too much for me this time around.
Seems like Melanie gets on everyone's nerves! Still, I loved this book even more than the first, and I can't wait until the next installment. You're right about this one being creepier, but that made it even better.
–Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
I don't want to read your review too closely because I haven't even read the Tradd Street book yet and I want to. It's enough for me now to know how much you enjoyed these books!