$15 for 3 months. Moreover, it becomes evident as you read that Ward does not establish anything at all in her story that she doesnt plan to completely overturn with an M. Night Shyamalan-style twist. Am I getting too big picture here? Once I acknowledged this discomfort and moved on, I found I could read my way through this book and enjoy the fact that its an incredibly brilliant story, twisted in such surprising ways that I was always eager to turn the page and find the answers that inevitably eluded me until the very end. This is the story of Ted, who lives with his young daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. This is a psychological horror story that leads you to believe certain things, but then pulls the rug out from under you late in the story. Overall, this was an excellent story, masterfully constructed and executed, and creepy as hell. Like I could handle the Ted/Lauren/Olivia twist because they would conceivably be so fucked up they are actually be narrating as honestly as they are able. He doesnt have too many opportunities to be social, but he has learned to adapt to certain social cues. This is the story of a serial killer. Reviews|
hah. Can you describe a situation where this statement resonated with you? Again with Ted blanking for unknown time periods and trying to garner advice from his doctor only by describing TV shows, we are piecing together truth from fiction. Death. An ordinary house on an ordinary street becomes a pit of unimaginable darkness in this truly nerve-shattering psychological thriller from the author of Little Eve.
Revenge. These little bits of information eventually reveal what actually happenedor do they? This article about an American writer is a stub. Ted also has a daughter, a little girl named Lauren, who shows up at odd times for a visit before she has to go away. Are you starting to get the picture yet? But even though the journey can be harrowingseriously, this was a book shaped spoon that scooped out my emotions as if they were ice cream; little wonder that its been endorsed by Stephen King amongst others, or that its been selected as one of the titles for the second series of the BBC2 book programme Between the Coversthe story ultimately manages to end on a hopeful note: hope that after survival theres living. Olivia sounds like a really interesting point of view, makes me wonder what my cats would say about me Great review! That part was WAY too much. Learn how your comment data is processed. [1] Ward won the August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel in 2016 at the British Fantasy Awards for Rawblood and again in 2018 for Little Eve, making her the first woman to win the prize twice. You may think youve read this story before, but its not what you think. Who killed Teds songbirds? In the middle of this now, and Im enjoying myself! It is central to the appeal of a mystery, being led down blind alleys in the hope that youre a clever enough detective to piece together the puzzle. You did such an amazing job to talk about everything without spoilers, lol. Here it does. SYNOPSIS Dee has never been the same since her sister went missing on a family holiday. An Winston also sings a few verses from "I'll Fly Away" to Ellie on the first night they meet in the tree house on page 277. ISBN10 1788166183. Her family moved a lot and she grew up all over the world, including in the United States, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. Ward initially worked as an actor based in New York. Revenge. I'll probably re-read this come October or something. I have been lied to in the best possible way and I enjoyed every single moment. This is the twist that has largely propelled the novel to popularity, but I felt his childlike and duplicitous portrayal made it difficult to offer the forgiveness that Ward was going for. Olivia thinks she was sent to protect Ted by the LORD (always described in caps like that), and she occasionally knocks Teds Bible off the table in order to read a random Bible verse (if youve ever read the Bible, youll understand how unsettling some of it is). Since finishing it, Ive thought about it every single day. She really did her research and reached out to those with DID and although it was over the top for entertainment, many parts were quite accurate. For example, both Brenda and Ellie were raised in the same society, but had very different values and, consequently, led very different lives. I can hardly wait to read Catriona Wards next book! All rights reserved. Death. Faking evidence of a crime like that is a pretty dumb cheat for any mystery writer to pull. You think youve read this story before. Web162 votes, 71 comments. Right away we see that things arent quite right with Ted. Author Bio, First Published:
Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time. Posted July 22, 2021 by Tammy in 5 stars, Reviews / 33 Comments, Ive gotta say Im SUPER intrigued by this book after reading your review. As you can probably tell from the lack of plot details, Im doing all I can to avoid spoilers. Please dont ask me how because that would involve at least a hundred spoilers. The audiobook is narrated by Christopher Ragland, and while he was committed to the characters, some of the portrayals were distracting. Oct 12, 2021 | Book Reviews, Horror, mystery, Thriller | 12 comments. Just $45 for 12 months or
What do you think is the meaning behind this statement? Carolyn is a librarian and book addict with an MA in Creative Writing with aspirations to one day be a published author. Publication City/Country United Kingdom. I dont know if I wish I had DNFd it per se, but the destination definitely was not worth the trip. What are the expectations of family, and where do the lines blur between blood relatives and people who simply fulfill familial roles? A gut-punch of a novel about a Cherokee child removed from her family and sent to a Christian boarding school in the 1950s. is surrounded by buzz and gushing blurbs from big name authors, and in my opinion all of it is well deserved. What is the role of music for the civil rights activists?
Aleksandar Hemon's characters are romantics. This is one of the books Ive most been looking forward to and your fabulous review has me even more excited! Lulus older sister Dee is still upset by her sisters disappearance and has continued to search for clues on her own, even after the authorities gave up. Ted is of course an unreliable narrator, as is the bible-reading Olivia, so its difficult to believe much of anything being described. In the last house on Needless Street lives Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia. Look for a review on the blog later this week! I just finished this book the other day - so fun to see someone else has read it so recently too! Im usually unable to figure things out so perhaps Im also the perfect reader. Greg recently postedSunday Post 411, Wow, sounds great. And there are even more mysteries to solve: who exactly is the Chihuahua Lady and how is she involved in all this? Author
Its evident from the opening chapter that something is very very wrong with Ted Bannerman, who lives in a decrepit old house with all of its windows boarded up, on a cul-de-sac bordering a forest and nearby lake. Frustrated with the lack of results from the police, she has zeroed in on Ted as the prime suspect. In the most basic sense, The Last House on Needless Street follows the story of Ted, a lonely man who lives in a boarded up house (on Needless Street, At last, she has the address of the man who was originally suspected of her abduction. Theres something weird going on in this book. All Rights Reserved. Do you believe this could have been true? The Last House on Needless Street follows Ted, who lives with his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. , Ha ha you will probably be as surprised as I was if you read it:-). The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward will undoubtedly be on my top 10 book list of 2021. This plot is so intricate, I cant help but be in awe of the planning it must have required, which is one of the reasons Im so impressed by this book, even if it pushed me to my empathetic edge. Sign up to get the download as well as an email sent once a month with links to my latest reviews, information on my online book club, and other bookish announcements. Yay! Secrets, shame, and adoption in the 1960sa poignant tale of a mother's enduring love. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The other device the author uses is that she shows the same events from two different perspectives. A Blog about science fiction, fantasy and more! The reveal at the end was sort of mind-blowing, and I loved the authors Afterword where she gives some background on how the story came to be. Yet, she continued to find others to blame, and in her targeting of Ted, did horrendous things to make him suffer, all to atone for her sins. In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. I mean wow, what a book! Has this statement ever rung true in your life? In the last house on Needless Street lives Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia. A missing child. Does anyone else find themselves spiraling into these pits of despair when faced with a book that simply reminds us of how terrible some humans are? Although I know the book has been out for awhile, you might want to put spoiler tags on your comment. Stop-starter of all projects great and small. Second, its the intersection of grief, revenge and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This House may look good on the outside, but inside, its a real fixer-upper. The story revolves around a handful of characters: Ted Bannerman is a single man who lives in a creepy, boarded up house on Needless Street. Lets discuss your favorite reads or listens. While not perfect, she took some truly out-there plots and characters and weaved them together rather seamlessly. Here to talk books, film, mental health and lifestyle. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Personally, I had Cameron Britton in my head as Ted. How do you imagine Ellie felt? We earn commission on any purchases made. Thats okay. Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of St. Martin's Griffin. Seriously, when it was revealed the sister had been lying to the reader and really knew what happened to her sister, I nearly threw the book across the room. Gotta agree with all of this. Its a form of mental illness that is still not well understood, but has been featured so often as a device in horror stories and thrillers that its more or less become cliche. At the half way point I couldn't justify spending any more time with it and refunded it. Now, youve given me a totally different perspective.it almost sounds like this novel is more one of those violent thrillers instead of a horror novel thats designed to be scary, but also makes you laugh nervously because its fun to be scared. Revenge. What follows is a mind-bending mystery where nothing is quite as it seems. Abused as a child, he has turned mostly into a recluse in his In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. A teenage girl who isnt allowed outside, not after last time. A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory. And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible. Think Ill pass I much prefer nasty ghosts to nasty people , I prefer nasty ghouls to nasty people any day! The nitty-gritty: A creepy, disturbing tale perfect for fans of twisty, psychological horror. Debjani Ghosh recently postedThe Invitation by Vi Keeland Review, Thanks Debjani, I hope you get the chance to read it, and Ill be curious to hear your thoughts:-), I loved this book and agree with your review. Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you. As soon as you think you have it all figured out, there will be one more twist to keep you gripped. This isnt a spoiler. Book cover artwork is copyrighted by its respective artist and/or publisher. With the recent Black Lives Matter protests and other similar movements in the news in the United States, how does this book contribute to the conversation about racial injustice? The Last House on Needless Street follows awkward shut-in Ted and his loyal sidekick, Olivia the cat. Something horrible may or may not have happened in Teds past. He was once a suspect in a missing person case involving a little girl named Laura. Jan 2022, 352 pages
Dramatic, curly-haired wannabe writer from a nowhere town in Somerset. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Both Ted and Dee are an absolute wreckage. All these things are true. WebThe Chihuahua lady and the mom seemed to be close, and the mom told her later on that she would be going out of town as a way to lead false tracks away from her if A thick, quiet woodland where you could hide anything. Lynn . Firstly, when I started reading The Last House on Needless Street, I expected a bone-chilling horror and prepared myself for some gore. As I delved deeper into the subconscious of these characters, I found myself horrified by what I found, which is what prompted me to consider abandoning it. This adds to the atmosphere of desperation and the knife edge feeling that something explosive could occur at any moment. And I also really wanna meet Olivia the cat. The Last House on Needless Street moves away from the historical to the contemporary gothic, but deserves just as much praise and attention. His young daughter stays from time to time, but he keeps her hidden away too. The book is Death. 100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: All is not what it seems on Needless Street. All storytellers are liars, but Catriona Ward is a particularly good one. I give The Last House on Needless Street a 4/5 as it is an excellent psychological horror involving murder, serial killers, and survival to the highest degree in a cruel world. Ted doesnt seem to have much of a daily routine in his life. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. WebLulus guilt-ridden older sister Dee has been on a mission to find the little girls killer. Shes the only author to have won the August Derleth Prize for Best Horror Novel at the British Fantasy Awards twiceonce in 2016 for her debut, Rawblood, and again in 2019 for her second, Little Eveand has also been shortlisted for the Authors Club Best First Novel Award, a WHSmith Fresh Talent title, and won the 2019 Shirley Jackson Award. Ive seen this everywhere lately, definitely going to have to pick it up! Catriona Wards The Last House on Needless Street arrived in 2021 riding a wave of pre-release hype the likes of which I dont think Ive seen since Justin Cronin released The Passage ten years ago. The reader isnt in the story. Ellie frequently leads her fellow SCOPE volunteers and supporters in song during protests. Ted is a middle-aged, jobless man who lives by himself in the house he grew up in as a child. WebThe Last House on Needless Street. He doesnt work and it isnt clear what he does for money, though its mentioned that he has pawned off a lot of old family possessions. Review: The Last House On Needless Street by Catriona Ward. After her earlier novels Rawblood and Little Eve gained wide critical acclaim, can The Last House on Needless Street live up to the hype? Was there one perspective that you connected with more than the other? It appears Dee had some responsibility for the death and disappearance of her sister and the subsequent destruction of her family. I've read it and was blown away. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward is one of those rare novels I read that kept me on the edge of my seat from the moment I started. Olivia is limited by her understanding as a cat and Dee is ruthlessly single-minded, her life essentially halting with her sisters disappearance and the dissolution of her family. I wont drop a massive spoiler and say what Teds condition is, but it shouldnt be too hard to figure out unless you yourself have been living in a boarded-up house all your life. I read one other review of this book and put the audio version on hold. What is the house haunted by, if not supernatural beings? The Nerd Daily 2023. Publication date 16 Sep 2021. Click here to receive notifications of An Average Life new posts by email. I love this cover! The Last House on Needless Street is surrounded by buzz and gushing blurbs from big name authors, and in my opinion all of it is well deserved. Broadly, the novel follows Ted, a man living alone in his mid-30s, his daughter Lauren, his lesbian Bible-reading cat Olivia and a woman named Dee who lost What I can say is that The Last House on Needless Street is an incredible character-driven novel. Revenge. Don't miss a beat! A compassionate, heartrending memoir of a mother's quest to accept her son's journey through psychosis. This article about a writer or poet from the United Kingdom is a stub. She built up the setting well, characters that are relatable, and makes it so once this ride was over, youll be completely blown away once you start to put all the pieces together. To her infinite credit, Catriona Ward has taken seriously her responsibility to do justice to a condition that is suffered by a great many deeply traumatized people and present it in a way that is compassionate and, despite the horrors that unfold in the story, hopeful. awesome review, Tammy. It all just struck me as so much unnecessary red herring. Why I Read It: #Bookstagram made me do it. Lulus guilt-ridden older sister Dee has been on a mission to find the little girls killer. Ted lives alone behind boarded-up windows, hiding from the prying eyes of his neighbours. The narrative structure each chapter is told from the viewpoint of one of four characters, and each person provides a slightly different view of what we learned in the previous chapter. He loses time and makes frequent, nighttime trips to the nearby woods. Switching between POVs, Needless Street is the tale of Ted- a reclusive drunk, his cat Olivia, daughter Lauren and Dee- a woman in search of her missing sister Lulu. I literally just finished the book and you pretty much nailed how I felt about it. Olivia is such an interesting character. While theres satisfaction in seeing a bully get comeuppance, does it really need to be at the expense of one mentally ill person targeting another? as they happened was a truly immersive experience. Even as someone that loves cats, I struggled with this fantasy element. When she returned to London she worked on her first novel while writing for a human rights foundation until she left to take an MA in creative writing from the University of East Anglia. Your review has just cemented my wish to get it sooner. Her research took two years, she interviewed people living with the condition, and the back of the book includes a bibliography listing 38 sources. It doesn't matter if you're into Stephen King, Octavia Butler, Jack Ketchum or Shirley Jackson, this is the place to share that love and discuss to your heart's content. I dont normally read horror but this is pretty irresistible, especially getting Olivias POV. Unfortunately I can't read Sundial because I've heard that the plot surrounds animal/dog abuse and I just can't even begin to go there. Reality: A slow-burn mystery with some satisfying last act reveals. Could it have been better? At this point, Ward asks us to believe a chain of events that are frankly incredible. Is it a thriller mystery along the likes of Blake Crouch, or is that wishful thinking on my part??? What does it mean for the future of both characters? Stephanie @ Bookfever recently postedCant-Wait Wednesday: A Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur, I really thought the whole pull the rug out from under you was well done. What do you think? First, were led to believe Ted is the villain throughout the novel abusing animals, keeping his daughter locked up, drinking uncontrollably, living slovenly and (maybe) killing people only to realize in the end that he is the victim and maybe everything weve been told prior isnt exactly true. All these things are true. A testament of how the human spirit can shine, even in the most darkest of places and eventually emerge from that darkness to carry on, to live! Its like, give me a break! And yet they are all lies You think you know whats inside the last house on Needless Street. And yet they are all lies. A missing child. I strongly agree that the sister should have been a reliable narrator. A stolen child. Imagine my surprise, then, when I finished Catriona Wards twisty and twisted novel and became a believer. All storytellers are liars, but Catriona Ward is a particularly good one. I couldnt put it down! [3] Her next gothic thriller, The Last House on Needless Street, was published through Viper Books (an imprint of Serpent's Tail) in March 2021, and Tor Nightfire (Tor Books) in the US, in September 2021. And speaking of Olivia, what a unique character! Ward dips back into the past at times and we learn more about Teds childhood, as well as the events at the lake the day Lulu disappeared. Its another way to show how unreliable. Additionally, two characterizations didn't sit right with me. At this point, Ward asks us to believe a chain of events that are frankly incredible. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. And for any reader who still might be slow on the uptake, later on in the book Ward actually has her characters straight up tell us, Gosh, were just like those Russian nesting dolls!. "Loneliness felt like a disease with no cure," Ellie says in chapter 40. The main story takes place eleven years after a six-year old girl named Lulu went missing down by the lake. Article
Frustrated with the lack of results from the police, she has zeroed in on Ted as the prime suspect. It also made me cry, and I can't say that about too many horror novels. The novel alternates between Ellie's perspective in 1965 and Kayla's perspective in 2010. Learn how your comment data is processed. If youve read the novel, you understand that mental illness is the central plot. From what I remember, the other review didnt even mention child abuse that I remember, so thats the main part that surprised me. The Last House on Needless Street, by Catriona Ward, is the best written book I wish Id never read. Mothers, either of the abusive or excessively smothering variety, who have left their adult children with a boatload of devastating mental health problems have become one of horror fictions most recycled tropes. What is the significance of that decision? Although this book is fiction, the terrible things it describes most certainly do go on in the world, are probably happening as I type this, and that level of awareness began to overwhelm me as I considered the extent of human suffering that others endure. What significance does the Hockley house have in the town of Round Hill? The StoryGraph is an affiliate of the featured links.We earn commission on any purchases made. But Im sorry to say that as a story, The Last House didnt work for me more than it did. Is the cat one of the narrators? This is the story of a serial killer. All these things are true. But Ted has some endearing qualities as well: he loves animals, especially the wild birds that flock to his garden bird feeders, and of course, his beloved cat Olivia. I really cant say a lot more without giving away major plot secrets, youve got to just enjoy the ride for The Last House On Needless Street, the intrigue is blinding in this one and the ending is nothing short of incredible. Change). WebDescription This is the story of a murderer. Excerpt|
For Ellie, her house is a reminder of her tragic loss and familial betrayal. But there is an area in the forest he considers sacred and inhabited by gods. A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory. Even when the detective in charge of the case started to give up, Dee kept hunting. However, Catriona Ward has penned something really unique here that booksellers will struggle to find a genre to shelve it under. Its powerful, beautifully designed and comes with everything you need to engage your visitors and increase conversions. Discuss what that means in the context of this story. Murder. The cover definitely screams haunted house and supernatural happenings so Id have been shocked to find out it was about human evil too. The StoryGraph is an affiliate of the featured links. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward is one of those rare novels I read that kept me on the edge of my seat To know too much going in would have ruined the reading experience for me. All reviews and site design by Thomas M. Wagner. Ward does a great job of creating an ominous atmosphere, especially surrounding Ted, his house, and Olivia and Lauren. "The new face of literary dark fiction." Being able to read the same situations play out from the perspective of other characters and even cats (yes, cats!) He has only his cat Olivia for company, and he 100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: All is not what it seems on Needless Street. WebIn a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. Lulu was never found, nor was her body, so to this day her disappearance remains a mystery. The nerve-shredding tension and creeping unease comes with you having to work things out at the characters pace. While Ward toed that line delicately, a few things still didnt sit right with me. I know Im not alone in judging a book by its cover, and based on this one, I thought a haunted house and black cat guaranteed a supernatural, Halloween-ish read. Edition Statement Main. From the ramshackle houses to the disappearing children, theres something nefarious at foot but is it human or supernatural? When Olivia talks about how much she hates the creepy Russian nesting dolls that sit on the mantlepiece, its almost like a Symbolism Siren goes off. In the dark of the forest, among the white birch trees, something lies buried. (LogOut/ He knows this, because he buried them there himself. Hi, I'm Tammy, avid reader, book collector & reviewer of quality fantasy, horror & science fiction. Heart-pounding suspenseplus Im going to have to read it a second time to see how she crafted the plot, which is honestly So its not like she was aware of us in some meta way and had to protest her innocence. Readalikes|
WebThe last book I can think of that I finished (that probably wasnt worth the effort of finishing) was The Last House on Needless Street. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. Dates read: January 27 February 2, 2022. When you tell someone about a book youre reading you dont Im intrigued by your description of her as Bible-reading! Wink the Astrokitty drawn by Matt Olson. Time is not always linear in this story, so flashbacks of Dee and Teds childhood interrupt the suspenseful present-day plotline, while other times its unclear whether someone is recalling a memory or creating one. Fantasy and more Im sorry to say that as a story, masterfully constructed and executed and... In his memory job to talk about everything without spoilers, lol October., is the house he grew up in as a child by and... He was once a suspect in a missing person case involving a little named... Boarded-Up house on Needless Street follows awkward shut-in Ted and his loyal sidekick Olivia! To pull like that is a librarian and book addict with an in. His house, and Im enjoying myself blood relatives and people who simply fulfill familial roles struck me as much... Face of literary dark fiction. trees, something lies buried follow your favorite communities and start taking part conversations! To engage your visitors and increase conversions on any purchases made me what! And Lauren right away we see that things arent quite right with Ted Hockley house have in the,. Doing all I can hardly wait to read the same situations play out from the prying eyes of his.., if not supernatural beings prying eyes of his TV, trying to the! There himself Im usually unable to figure things out so perhaps Im also the perfect reader hardly to... The audio version on hold seem to have to pick it up middle of this before. The edge of the featured links of it is well deserved at foot is... All lies you think sacred and inhabited by gods, I struggled with this fantasy element much nailed I. At this point, Ward asks us to believe much of a routine... So Id have been shocked to find the little girls killer list of 2021 head... Believe a chain of events that are frankly incredible actually happenedor do they red! Street at the half way point I could n't justify spending any more time with it and refunded.! An excellent story, masterfully constructed and executed, and adoption in the house! Undoubtedly be on my top 10 book list of 2021 its difficult to believe a chain of events that frankly. United Kingdom is a middle-aged, jobless man who drinks alone in front of his,! The Chihuahua Lady and how is she involved in all this nasty people any day more time with and... His life life new posts by email a Thriller mystery along the likes of Blake Crouch, is. Familial betrayal time, but deserves just as much praise and attention with you to. Read one other review of this book the other the outside, but the destination was! Too many opportunities to be social, but he keeps her hidden away too you. Deserves just as much praise and attention Street follows awkward shut-in Ted and his loyal sidekick, Olivia the.... Chain of events that are frankly incredible deserves just as much praise and.... Mystery writer to pull a Thriller mystery along the likes of Blake Crouch, or is that wishful on. Based in new York `` Loneliness felt like a disease with no,. It seems reliable narrator this article about a book youre reading you dont Im intrigued by description... Daughter stays from time to time, but its not what it seems familial roles and a house who... Just struck me as so much unnecessary red herring I finished Catriona Wards next book and..., beautifully designed and comes with everything you need to engage your visitors increase... An Average life new posts by email, Thriller | 12 comments me as much! In front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory have to pick it up to. Perspective that you connected with more than it did and supernatural happenings so Id have been shocked to the... Mind-Bending mystery where nothing is quite as it seems receive notifications of an house. With it and refunded it a great job of creating an ominous atmosphere, surrounding! Because he buried them there himself, revenge and post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD.! Away too best written book I wish I had Cameron Britton in my head as.! For a review on the blog later this week because he buried them there.... A mother 's quest to accept her son 's journey through psychosis as so much unnecessary red herring the uses! From a nowhere town in Somerset situation where this statement ever rung true in your life be Published... Read: January 27 February 2, 2022 red herring asks us to believe a chain of events are! I finished Catriona Wards twisty and twisted novel and became a believer definitely going to have much of being... Do it perspective in 1965 and Kayla 's perspective in 2010 the case started give. Authors, and while he was once a suspect in a boarded-up house on Needless Street Catriona. With this fantasy element didnt work for me more than the other device the author uses is she! With no cure, '' Ellie says in chapter 40 dates read: January 27 February 2,.! These little bits of information eventually reveal what actually happenedor do they other review this. Had some responsibility for the civil rights activists shared with anyone ; opt out any time as praise! Review of this now, and Im enjoying myself American writer is a stub,... House haunted by, if not supernatural beings destination definitely was not the. | book Reviews, horror, mystery, Thriller | 12 comments or is that wishful thinking my... Dont know if I wish Id never read end of an Average life new posts email... A missing person case involving a little girl named Laura and characters even. Kayla 's perspective in 2010 you might want to put spoiler tags on your comment happens you... Film, mental health and lifestyle death and disappearance of her as!. That would involve at least a hundred spoilers same situations play out from the of. And in my opinion all of it is well deserved shame, and creepy as hell was you. Last house on Needless Street, I prefer nasty ghouls to nasty people any day plot,. Follows awkward shut-in Ted and his loyal sidekick, Olivia the cat people any day great of... Wards next book Ward asks us to believe much of anything being described as an actor based new... Discussion guide is reprinted with the lack of plot details, Im doing all I can hardly wait read. He was once a suspect in a boarded-up house on Needless Street Chihuahua Lady how! Health and lifestyle out-there plots and characters and weaved them together rather seamlessly forest, among the birch... In on Ted as the prime suspect is a particularly good one your email is never shared with ;... We see that things arent quite right with me characters, some of the portrayals were distracting design Thomas. Creating an ominous atmosphere, especially getting Olivias POV to figure things out at the half way point could... Of it is well deserved book Reviews, horror, mystery, Thriller | 12 comments knows,! Dnfd it per se, but its not what you do with what happens to you it. And the last house on needless street plot summary design by Thomas M. Wagner me cry, and adoption the... Opt out any time and even cats ( yes, cats! of a like... And supporters in song during protests the forest he considers sacred and inhabited by.. Street lives Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia the lack plot! Since finishing it, Ive thought about it every single day daily routine in his memory although I know book! Went missing down by the lake hardly wait to read the novel, you might to! Olivia and Lauren house may look good on the blog later this week and the knife edge feeling something! Street moves away from the police, she took some truly out-there plots characters... And speaking of Olivia, so its difficult to believe a chain of events that are frankly.. Cemented my wish to get it sooner a little girl named Laura other device the uses. A suspect in a boarded-up house on Needless Street book I wish I had Britton. Enduring love unnecessary red herring in song during protests narrator, as is the central.! Disappearance of her sister and the knife edge feeling that something explosive could occur at any.! Can hardly wait to read Catriona Wards twisty and twisted novel and became a.! Windows, hiding from the perspective of other characters and weaved them rather... That as a child mystery with some satisfying Last act reveals and supernatural happenings so Id have been to! Especially surrounding Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia fun to someone! Sister and the knife edge feeling that something explosive could occur at any moment daily routine in his.. Inside, its the intersection of grief, revenge and post-traumatic stress disorder ( ). Ordinary Street remains a mystery arent quite right with Ted thinking on part! Other day - so fun to see someone else has read it so recently too do! Delicately, a few things still didnt sit right with Ted and Lauren new posts email. Permission of St. Martin 's Griffin mission to find the little girls killer dont Im intrigued your... Genre to shelve it under lines blur between blood relatives and people who simply fulfill familial roles he. # Bookstagram made me do it is it human or supernatural Street moves from! A real fixer-upper myself for some gore as an actor based in new York prime suspect librarian and book with.