How to Plan a Memoir That Readers Cannot Put Down
Many first-time memoirists believe that because the events are true, the structure will take care of itself. This is a fatal error. Life is chaotic; narrative is order.
Read the article →| Category: | Detective & Mystery |
|---|---|
| Author: | Sharon Mikeworth |
| Publisher: | River Nation Publishing |
| Publication Date: | September 2, 2025 |
| Number of Pages: | 299 |
| ISBN-13: | 978-1-7349365-7-5 |
| ASIN: | B0FH39QG19 |
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.
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