This is my first book by Catriona Ward! I expected it to be more horror and creepy, but I wasn’t scared in the slightest. This is more psychological than anything. I suspected the revels earlier on in the book, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment in the book. It has plenty of twists in the end! Loved the afterword and really helped me understand the book better.

This was one of the strangest books I've ever read. It took a while to figure out what was happening. But I think this was the whole point. It is premised as a horror novel but felt far more like a story of survival. Although to think of this happening to you in real life would definitely be a horror.

We are introduced to Ted, a strange man who we think may be a kidnapper. His cat Olivia, whose thoughts we get to hear, was the most interesting character for me. And then Lauren who is Ted's daughter... or is she? We eventually hear from Deb whose little sister went missing by the lake over a decade ago and she has been trying to find her and the person responsible ever since.

Once it got going and the characters were established I found myself really enjoying it. You think you have it all figured out but then it spins.... and then the cycle repeats when you think you have it figured out for a second and even a third time. I liked this because I don't like to guess what is going on too soon.

Ted Bannerman spends his days puttering around his derelict house, caring for his out-of-control daughter, Lauren, and talking to his bible-reading cat, Olivia. But after he wakes up one day to find all of the birds in his yard mysteriously murdered, carefully-suppressed secrets threaten to upend his peaceful existence. Meanwhile, Delilah "Dee" Walters moves in next door to spy on Ted, convinced that he is responsible for her sister's disappearance ten years ago.

The Last House on Needless Street is a slow-burn psychological horror that will keep readers second-guessing Ted's guilt or innocent all the way up until the climax. From the get-go, the book sets an intensely weird stage: repeated, seemingly-throwaway mentions of green men, buried gods, Russian dolls, rug colors, and Ted's mother, among other things, coalesce to create a deeply unsettling atmosphere. Ted and Olivia gradually reveal bits and pieces of Ted's past and present that blur the line between reality and hallucination. Meanwhile, Dee's chapters reinforce Ted's untrustworthiness as a narrator and heighten the suspicion of an unspoken violence lurking within his gentle demeanor. The use of multiple unreliable and contradictory narrators contributes to the deep feeling of unease, and mystery lovers will find plenty of clues and deliberate discrepancies to assemble into a coherent narrative. Though I didn't find Ted, Olivia, or Dee particularly relatable as main characters, they all had distinct voices and felt well fleshed out. Even if I didn't entirely empathize with them, I could at least understand their choices.

The only quibble I have is that the ending felt a bit too neatly wrapped up. The themes explored in the book are too complex to be simplified into a - not happy, per se, but perhaps optimistic - and rushed denouement. Nevertheless, the majority of readers will probably find it satisfying.

Like all good horror stories, The Last House on Needless Street is more sad than terrifying. I expect to see it shortlisted for most of the major horror literary awards in the upcoming year. Give this to patient horror fans who want more depth in their horror, or to thriller readers looking to wade into the darker end of the pool.

[Spoiler note: I do not know enough about Ted's disorder to comment on whether or not it is portrayed in an accurate and sensitive manner. But there is an extensive list of citations at the end, so at least the author did their research. Regarding the ending, I would've liked to have seen treatment and therapy play a bigger role in Ted's recovery.]

The Last House on Needless Street is the creepiest book I've read in a while. I started it late in the evening and had to read until I finished. It has stuck with me ever since. The story is told from the point of view of various people who live in and around the last house on Needless Street. A young girl has gone missing and there is no evidence as to her whereabouts or the identity of her abductor. Ted Bannerman is a suspect but nothing is clear until the point of view changes. I do not want to risk spoiling this story. It is a must read if you like psychological horror. Fans of Stephen King, Joe Hill, Dean Koontz, etc will enjoy this. Snap it up, read it quickly and keep the lights on! Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced copy.

I started this book thinking that I would read a Gothic Thriller with twists and turns and a very dark atmosphere. But all that is not what this book is about.
On the anniversary of her little sister's disappearance, Dee decides to investigate what happened that day, herself. The main suspect (Ted) is off the hook, but Dee is convinced that he is the person of interest, so in a very risky call, she moves to a vacant house right next door to Ted's.
Ted is a man in his thirties that lives alone with his cat, Olivia. His daughter, Lauren, visits him sporadically. We know that something is wrong with them. Their relationship is tense and violent, but both of them seem to have some kind of mental disorder.
The story is told by multiple narrators, including Olivia, the cat. That way, we learn the secrets that the house on Needless Street hides in its foundations. A history of abuse and neglect that explores how sometimes the mechanisms to overcome that suffering are so deeply rooted in our psyche that they come part of the problem.
The book is very beautifully written, but it didn't meet my expectations. I've seen lots of 5 stars reviews and I thought I was going to love it but I found it very confusing sometimes.
What I did love and find highly original is how the book, at some point, becomes something else. There is not a plot twist because we were reading another book all the time, from the beginning. What twists is not the storyline but the book itself, and I found that mind-blowing.

What an amazing story with the twists and turns that I love in a thriller/horror story! This is written in a way that draws the reader into the story so quickly, and just takes them on a crazy ride!

I wanted to like this so much because of the buzz surrounding it’s release but I think I had the wrong expectations. The writing was easy to read, it had a good pace and good character development. The story is told in chapters by each character’s point of view, The cat “Olivia” being my favorite character in this story and favorite point of view to read from. However…. As interesting as the twist was (and it is good)…. I didn’t find the resolution satisfying which brought my final rating down I thought the last few chapters were slow, by far the most interesting parts of the book happen in the first 75% of the story. It’s listed as a psychological horror but I didn’t find it “scary” , the horror feeling wasn’t there for me but I would definitely say it was more of a psychological read. I’m giving it 6.5/10-it was okay, enjoyable enough, but I won’t think about the book beyond this post, just wasn’t for me. I’d recommend it if you’re someone who likes psychological thrillers or psychological dramas. #bookstagram #booklover

Thank you for the ARC.

I gave this book a solid try, but I hate to say that halfway through I had to quit reading. It was hard to get into, the characters were intense and hard to understand. Ted is complicated and needed background knowledge of his personality way earlier in the novel. I also found the excerpts in the cat's head weird. I wanted to like this book but I just couldn't.

This book is a literary masterpiece. The writing is quite phenomenal. First, we’re introduced to Tim, a strange man who lives in a strange house. It’s almost immediately apparent that he’s not quite right in the head. The way that he describes people and the world around him and what he’s doing seems a little… off. And then he refers to his “mommy”, and that seals the deal. There’s something quite odd about this man–but is he dangerous? Is he a killer?

The other characters in this book are just as fascinating, but I fell in love with Olivia, the cat, almost instantaneously. Having the point of view of a cat is so unique, and I loved her attitude and the way that she, too, saw the world in a unique perspective that is reflected in her language and the way that she communicates to the reader.

The author is the master of the show-don’t-tell plot device. We’re shown how odd Ted is, rather than told it. We experience the same disorientation that he feels at certain parts in the story.


At some point, this book transforms from a strange novel with seemingly no purpose but to meet the strange inhabitants of the last house on Needless Street into a mystery. A young girl went missing eleven years earlier. It becomes clear to the reader that whatever happens in this peculiar little novel is going to circle back to whatever happened back then. But the way that it will happen is a complete mystery. There are multiple characters with disjointed storylines that are so compelling and unpredictably peculiar.

While the first twist was expected and quite well implemented, in my opinion, the author takes it too far with several additional twists that seemed over the top. I can’t say much more without spoiling, but I did appreciate the afterword that the author provides explaining the conclusion. However, generally speaking, a good thriller/mystery/horror shouldn’t require an afterword to explain the thought process to justify plot twists.

All in all, Catriona Ward is a talented writer. The characters somehow manage to juggle that balance between disturbing and heartfelt. The plot was perfectly paced, with plot developments are well spaced out among the haunting descriptions and flashbacks. While I wasn’t a huge fan of the twist at the end of the book, I still give the story four stars for the beautiful writing and fascinating characters. Even the plot, up until the end, had me riveted, flipping through the pages and swearing under my breath.

3.5/5 rounded up.
My feelings about this book are very mixed. For much of the novel, I couldn't quite wrap my head around what I was reading and felt disassociated from the story. I almost stopped reading twice but persevered as lots of other reviews were 5 stars. I was also more uncomfortable with the plot (from a personal perspective as a parent) than I expected. And perhaps I've learned that the horror genre is just too scary for me...

Alternatively, this book is very unique. The multiple POVs are done with characters you don't expect and they're all distinct from anything I've read before. The twists are interesting and this book will certainly be one that will be talked about!

Lastly, the author has done extensive research into a mental health condition and included a lengthy bibliography at the end (do not look at it before reading!). This attention to detail and effort is amazing and important to a story like this. Commendable!

While this one may not have been for me, if you are looking for a very different psychological story, check it out!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance e-copy.

DNF'd @ 15%

I thought I was going to love this but I just ended up feeling lost with no clue what was going on. The idea of this sounded great but it didn't work for me. Thanks anyway, NetGalley.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Macmillan- Tor/Forge and Tor Nightfire in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warning: Talk of suicide, kidnapping, child abuse and neglect.

For me, THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET has a very similar reading experience to Shirley Jackson's WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN A CASTLE. So if you liked Jackson's novel, you'll most likely really enjoy this one. They're horror novels that nothing really happens in, there are no jump scares, or salacious moments that trigger your fight-or-flight response as a reader. THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET becomes horrifying once readers are allowed to know the truth.

On the surface, this is a novel about a recluse living in a boarded up house with his cat and teenage daughter. It's a town that had been in the papers years ago for a young girl that went missing while vacationing with her family never to be found. Narrated from various points of view, readers are introduced to these characters and are tasked with trying to determine which narrator (if any) can be trusted.

Just when I thought I had it all figured out, Ward threw in a twist I wasn't expecting. And then once I thought I knew what was going on this time, another twist was thrown in. The best part about Ward's writing is that at the end, once all is revealed, as a reader you can look back at the earlier parts of the novel and realize that the truth was staring you in the face, you just didn't fully realize it.

This book didn't scare me, but it did creep me out once I knew fully what was going on. I thought the plot twists were expertly executed and kept me engaged despite the slow pace of the storyline.

Well—that was not what I was expecting at all. I thought the reveals and shifts in perspective were handled very well—I was able to keep up with everything fairly easily. I would’ve liked to spend more time with Dark Olivia—she was fascinating. Overall, this was a remarkable way to introduce the audience to this incredible phenomenon. I really appreciated the author’s note at the end explaining why and how she wrote this book.

The description pulled me in, but sadly, this one missed the mark for me. I know I'm in the minority, as there are many positive reviews. However, I found it difficult to engage with, and I struggled throughout the entire book. I found it confusing at many points, and the big reveal wasn't as shocking as I'd hoped. This is one of my favorite genres to read, but I just couldn't connect with this book.

I LOVED this book! Halfway through and you think you've got the plot twist, and then WHAM there's more to come. There wasn't a chapter where I thought "oh no not this character's point of view again" - I loved them all and wanted to learn more and more as the story went on. Definitely recommending this one to all of our patrons!

This book had me absolutely engrossed from the very first chapter. The author builds nerve-jangling suspense while unrolling an intricate and oh-so-horrifying plot revolving around a man who is living a real nightmare. The blend of horror, fantasy, and mystery creates an atmosphere that I haven't felt since reading Stephen King's The Shining or Shirley Jackson's Haunting of Hill House..

Fans of tightly plotted, intricate psychological suspense will thoroughly enjoy this one.

This is a perfect horror story, but so much more. Without including spoilers, let me just just say that, when you have finished this book, you will love sitting back and thinking about it as a whole. You will remember parts and say, “Oh yes, now I understand.”! There was a lot of gruesomeness in this book, which I did not care for, but is totally necessary to the book as a whole. If you are really bothered by gruesome details, this is not the book for you.

A missing girl, a man who drinks alone, a cat who reads the bible, and a girl looking for her missing sister. Four people who are all entwined with one another in this mystery, paranormal, horror-esque, thriller. The story is told through 4 POVs and is filled with interesting twists and turns. At first the story starts off a bit slow but by the end it’s at full pace. I was surprised by the twists and had fun reading this book. The main characters of the story include Lauren (a teenage girl who is forbidden from leaving the house and is the “daughter” of Ted), Ted ( a man who was abused as a child and loves his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia), Olivia is a cat who lives with Ted and reads the bible, and finally Dee, a woman who’s sister disappeared years ago and is on a mission to find her sister and the person who took her. The story starts off as a mystery of what happened to Dee’s missing sister and what has happened to said sister but unfurls into a deeper question of what has happened to Ted and there is definitely a paranormal aspect to the story. I thought it was interesting to include Olivia’s perspective and the story definitely gives off a “Behind Her Eyes” vibe. Each voice is distinct and the whole unfurling of what actually happened is interesting. Definitely a fun read and perfect for the upcoming spooky season!

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I am not sure why I requested access to this book as I avoid books that involve missing children. I did not read this but my daughter did and said it was a great book but definitely not something I would enjoy reading. In fairness to the author I will not post anything on Goodreads as I did not finish this book.

This was an emotionally very difficult read for me. As a pediatric healthcare worker, I was able to pick up on the real story very early on... but NO SPOILERS. The Last House on Needless Street reads like atmospheric gothic horror, like true crime, and like a dream. If you are looking for a horror read, this book is for you. If you are looking for a crime or psychological thriller, this book is for you. If you are looking for a medical thriller, take a chance on this book. For those looking for happy endings, you will not find it here... but you may find hope in the face of extreme suffering. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge/Tor Nightfire for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.