The Shop on Royal Street

By: Karen White

Narrated by: Sophie Amoss

Length: 14 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Nola Trenholm is hopeful for a fresh start in the Big Easy but must deal with ghosts from her past—as well as new ones—in this first book in a spin-off series of Karen White's New York Times best-selling Tradd Street novels.

After a difficult detour on her road to adulthood, Nola Trenholm is looking to begin anew in New Orleans, and what better way to start her future than with her first house? But the historic fixer-upper she buys comes with even more work than she anticipated when the house’s previous occupants don’t seem to be ready to depart.

Although she can’t communicate with ghosts like her stepmother can, luckily Nola knows someone in New Orleans who is able to—even if he’s the last person on earth she wants anything to do with ever again. Beau Ryan comes with his own dark past—a past that involves the disappearance of his sister and parents during Hurricane Katrina—and he’s connected to the unsolved murder of a woman who once lived in the old Creole cottage Nola is determined to make her own...whether the resident restless spirits agree or not.

©2022 Karen White (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“White has added another page-turner to her repertoire of haunted houses and ghosts who won't stay put."—Northwest Indiana Times

"A complex mystery that’s appropriately goosebumpy. Not just fans of the Tradd Street series, of which this is a spin-off, will look forward to seeing more of Nola."—Publishers Weekly

Nola, you make me cringe, but I still adore you.

As you must know by now, this is a spin-off of Karen White's fantastically fun Tradd Street series. The main protagonist Nola is a fan favorite from those books. However, this book does work as a standalone as well. Nola, due to her trauma-filled early childhood, came into the original series as weary and mature beyond her years. Although her coming of age may have happened between the books, we still get to cringe along with her good and bad choices as she tries on being a "real" adult for the first time.

I enjoyed this a great deal. There were a few character choices that felt a bit plot-forced, and therefore dishonest as to what (I felt) the character would do, or say, or choose in those situations. Not enough to lose a star over, however.

The Shop on Royal Street is a strong opening for what I hope will be a long series.
(My review was originally posted on Goodreads)

I’m looking forward to this series!

A great read! I hope this becomes a series like the author’s Tradd Street books.

Loved it!!

Great book kept me entertained and engaged!!! I can’t wait to read the next one

Halloween surprise

I got this book out of curiosity, a few weeks before Halloween. I had no idea what it would be about. It was a great surprise. The author has me hooked snd I can’t wait to listen to more of her books.

Holds your interest!

I liked the narrator. She did a good job. I didn’t like the main character’s snarky, know-it-all attitude. The ending was great.

Accurately spooky

I loved the way they nailed the New Orleans layout and geography made it more pleasant knowing they weren’t reaching. Just the right amount of spooky every so often. A little slow sometimes on the descriptions of her emotional roller coaster but all in all pretty sweet read

Solid Mystery

Great mystery and start to a new series. That was fun.

“Life wasn’t supposed to be easy; challenges just made it more interesting, most of the time, mostly.”

“It’s what my Grandmama calls a “life skill” something you will always use and appreciate, like potty-training and playing tennis.” Haha

This is almost a continuation of the Tradd Street

After have read all 7 of the Tradd street Series by Karen White, she stated that it was resolved and all questions were answered. That's great but as a follower of Melanie and Jack I was still wanting more. So, now she has branched off of the Tradd street series and entered a similar genre with Nola, (Jack's daughter), Nola has no real psychic abilities, but on occasions she can see ghosts. This book goes on to delve a bit deeper into her relationship or lack of, with Beau. Beau has his own secrets he is keeping close to his chest. There is a very interesting story going on here that is multifaceted. It is all resolved (more or less) by the end of the book. Although I didn't really like the ending as it was to convenient - the way Sunny was handled. Anyway this is book one so far of two and I did enjoy listening to it. Sophie Amoss did a great job portraying the different characters through the book. I am already starting the 2nd book so I hope that Karen White keeps this series going and not bow out of it like she did the last one. There is so much going on in the psychic world that this could be an endless series.

Another winner

I enjoyed listening to this book as much as I did all the Tradd Street series...
The continued love/hate relationship between Nola and Beau continues to be interesting...
Mimi and Christopher are an interesting new twist and Jolene is just the right foil for Nola...
Can't wait for the next book!!!

Nola is back!!

I love the new spin off and just like the Tradd St series - I was sad when the book ends. The reader is left anticipating what happens next.
The only disappointing thing was Melanie’s voice - it lacked the Southern Charm she had in the Tradd St series.
Looking forward to more of Nola, Jolene, Beau & MiMi