I ate this series of entertaining ghost stories up, of which The Strangers on Montagu Street is the third book. I liked this third book very well, it avoided some of the repetitious writing of the 1st and 2nd books. The main character, Charleston, SC belle Melanie Middleton is maddeningly stubborn in her insistence on keeping emotional walls up, and in denying her extra-sensory ability to see and hear the departed. She sort of gets a come-uppance in this book, yet the ending is still a surprise. I had thought the series ended with this book, but it turns out there is another on the way! I suggest reading the entire series for the full effect - The House on Tradd Street, the Girl on Legare Street, and this. Great series!
Oh where to start with this one! Some of you know Melanie and Jack from the first two books, The House on Tradd Street and The Girl on Legare Street. For those of you who don't, this is still a great place to start. Melanie is a real estate agent that sees ghosts, although she isn't too happy about it. Jack is a friend, who definitely has interest in becoming more. When Jack shows up on Melanie's doorstep with a daughter he never knew about, things begin to get interesting. Nola, Jack's daughter, is being followed by a ghost. With the addition of a haunted dollhouse, the fright begins.
I loved this! Karen's writing style sucks you in from the very first page. I stayed up all night because I couldn't stop reading long enough to sleep. There's just enough of the paranormal to keep you guessing what's going to happen next. The characters are fun and fresh. The creep-factor just kept piling up higher and higher. There were a few parts of the book where I found myself becoming a bit paranoid and wondering if I was being haunted. So delicious!
The only problem I had with the book was the cliffhanger at the end. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful there's going to be another Melanie and Jack book. I'm thankful I have two previous books to go back and read. What I'm not thankful for is that I'm going to have to wait a minimum of months to find out what happens next! Definitely pick this one up!