I’ve been an avid fan of Karen White stories for years but this was the first I have read in her Tradd Street series. (Leave it to me to start at the end and work my way backward.) Now I understand what all of the hype is about. Her stories are always so rich and full of character and emotion and this book is no different but with a sprinkling of paranormal activity.

A new mother of twins (Melanie) reeling with self-doubt and approaching her time to return to work as a realtor sets out to find a nanny that can live up to her expectations and OCD processes. Melanie’s husband, Jack, is an author and has accepted his wife’s “abilities” to sometimes see or feel things that others cannot. Melanie’s gift is apparently an inheritance from her mother.

Jayne, a newcomer to Charleston, arrives at the realty company where Melanie works and informs her she has received word she inherited an old manor on Guest Street from someone she never met nor heard of. Having no regard for big old homes, she wishes to sell the house, sight unseen, and hopes to employ Melanie for the task. Needless to say there is a story twisted so deep in the home with a dusting of secrets yet to be revealed to others, this is not going to be a quick or easy sale.

I’ll be honest and say that it actually did take me a few chapters to really get my feet wet in this story. But once I got used to the water temperature, I couldn’t escape its grasp on me, even when I could hear the rapids calling in the later chapters. Another excellent story telling by an exceptional author. I can’t wait to see what she’ll come up with to top this one.