The House on Chestnut Circle

The House on Chestnut Circle by Sharon Mikeworth is a haunting story that follows Trent Cooper, a former graphic designer seeking a fresh start in a small, aging neighborhood after leaving his tumultuous marriage. The move will allow him to be near his son, but moving into the fifty-year-old Lance Harrington’s house comes with surprises Trent never imagined. Trent becomes intrigued by the house’s dark history, particularly the mysterious disappearance of Lance’s girlfriend, Valerie Summers, who vanished without a trace twenty-five years earlier. As Trent explores the house and neighbors, he uncovers secrets, hears eerie noises, and faces unsettling truths about Valerie’s fate. He is a man wrapped in loneliness, grief, and guilt, but can he peel off the layers of betrayal, long-buried secrets, and the unresolved fate of Valerie?

Sharon Mikeworth’s novel was one of the stories I have read about redemption that kept me grounded in realism and gripped me with the hints of horror. One of the things that captivates about this novel is the imagery introduced by the setting. I was instantly moved by the eerie character of Trent’s new neighborhood, a place that speaks of old age and leaves you feeling as though life is dying around you. The House on Chestnut Circle presents characters that are quirky, believable, and elaborately drawn, and apart from Trent, who suffers from remorse and is driven by his desire for the truth, elderly neighbors like Patsy and Lorraine symbolize the quiet strength of a fading community. The author cleverly handles themes of deception, love, aging, and the haunting presence of the past, delivering a narrative that kept me awake through the night. While the story itself is enthralling, the well-executed first-person narrative voice, the gorgeous prose, and the superior storytelling are a bonus that make the story a must-read.