Overall I thought this book was just ok. I really tried to like it. I enjoy wierd books usually. I just didn't like the man who was one of the main characters.

I'm a huge fan of horror, but I wasn't ready for this. The Last House on Needless Street is dark, horrific, terrifying and heartbreakingly sad. It takes a while to get started with this book because the timeline is confusing, but it's impossible to put down. I thought I had figured out what was going on with Ted, his daughter, Lauren, and his cat, Olive, but I was way off. The truth of everything is so much more than I could ever have imagined. Content warning for child abuse.

This was absolutely remarkable from start to finish. Really surprised me at times and felt so tender at moments, too, where horror often isn't, especially to specific types of people. I shouldn't say too much bc spoilers but just, excellent job.

Wow, this book! First of all, the gushing quote by Stephen King, one of our most respected horror writers in existence, made me want to start this book immediately. Start it I did, and I finished it in one day.

This book is not what it seems. The description of the book is correct and true; but there is so much more to this story. The "twist" is epic, and completely changes everything you just read.

But this is not an ordinary horror story. This story is about humans, and the human condition, and the challenges we are faced with, and how they present to others. And also about how we see ourselves.

I can't say anything else without spoiling the entire book. But trust me when I say that this book is one you will not forget.

TW: Animal abuse, severe and graphic child abuse, missing child.

I did not finish this novel. I read to the half way point and I was still as clueless as I was in the beginning. It started to become a chore so I decided not to finish it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I don't know how to talk about this without spoiling it for anyone that hasn't read it. The book description merely scratches the surface of what the book is really about. I wouldn't categorize this as a horror but more a darker fiction that is told from the POV of four characters. Each chapter really explores both the physicality and the thought processes of each character from whose POV it is told. At the start of the book, we know two things: 1) a young girl has gone missing while enjoying the day at the lake with her family, and 2) a man named Ted lives in the house he grew up in and is basically a recluse with mental health issues. I cannot say anymore without fear of ruining it!

I usually pride myself in figuring out a book's "twist" before the author reveals it. To be honest, I had two theories about one of the "twists" and one of them them turned out to be right! There was another twist I didn't see coming at all though which made this book even more enjoyable. This is a creative, well thought-out and quick (yet not easy in terms of its themes) read!

A serial killer lives inside the last house on Needless Street. Or does he? What secrets lie buried in the forest? Forget what you think you know and understand. Things are not as they seem.

Meet Ted.

The Last House on Needless Street is absolutely worth the hype! It is a very dark and uncomfortable read, one that forced me to put it down many times in order to decompress. All of the little hairs on my arms stood to attention throughout this book. I thought that I knew where the plot was headed, but then it took some clever turns, tricking my astute thriller mind. But alas! It did end up MOSTLY where I thought it would. That is not to say that all readers will figure out the twists because Ward does a fabulous job making you think one thing, when it’s actually another. There are multiple unreliable narrators (one is even a cat!) that will mess with your sense of time and place. My favorite character is Olivia, the afore mentioned cat, whose mantra is “If you don’t like what is happening, go back to sleep until it stops.” I loved this book because Ward does a fantastic job making the reader sympathize with Ted and Dee’s complex pasts, while also frightening at the same time. Additionally, I appreciated the Afterward, as it really enhanced my understanding in how this book came to fruition and it’s purpose.

That’s it. No spoilers here!

Will this book make you uncomfortable? YES!
Will it mess with your mind? YES!
Will you love it? YES!

*Trigger alerts - some animal cruelty, abuse, torture

5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan-Tor/Forge for the ARC of The Last House on Needless Street in exchange for an honest review.

I was super thrilled to receive this ARC, because so many people were really hyping the book up. I’m sorry to say that it just didn’t work for me. The unreliable narrator just completely threw me and had me vacillating between confusion and boredom. The big reveal was just not at all worth all the build up. I do commend the author on an original plot. Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan, Tor/Forge for this incredible and intense arc, The Last House On Needless Street by Catriona Ward.

Okay..... ooookkkkaaaayyy... honestly ya'll, I'm having difficulties figuring out where to start with this book bc it literally led me in every direction possible and impossible alike. And, I mean that in a good way!

Meet Ted. Ted is quite strange. Not only does he eat really unique food combinations but his daily life/habits are quite questionable. He has a daughter named Lauren.... he also has a homosexual cat named Olivia. The living arrangements seem a little off, just not clear on where everybody spends their time. Definitely awkward... creepy.

The reader will have different narrators each chapter, Ted, sometimes Lauren, Olivia the cat... also Dee. Dee is an interesting character. She is searching for her little sister lulu who has been missing for some time. And all of this is connected but probably not at all in a way you might presume.

This story, horror story, is bizarre and full of secrets within secrets like those Russian wooden dolls... always more to see than meets the eye! I was completely shocked over and over again. I could have sworn I knew what was really going on and still, another twist and another turn!

This story truly speaks on survival and hope. The way a mind copes with fear and suffering. I highly recommend this read. It is truly unlike anything I've read before. Treat yourself to this mind bending ride this Halloween/fall season!

Expect this on Sept. 28th!

This has been one helluva year for horror. Maybe there’s something in the air, something in the water. Maybe the flaming dumpster fire that is the past couple of years has somehow concentrated all that consuming rage out there and distilled it into pure, undiluted creative excellence. Stephen Graham Jones’ My Heart Is a Chainsaw, Chuck Wendig’s The Book of Accidents, Joe Lansdales’s Moon Lake, Hailey Piper’s Unfortunate Elements of My Anatomy—that’s just off the top of my head, the list goes on and on.

Which brings me to The Last House On Needless Street by Catriona Ward. Ward has written a book so audacious, so original, so unnerving, that I want to shout about it to the world, or at least to the folks who read this blog. My problem is that due to the nature of the novel, I don’t really want to share anything about the plot at all. The Last House On Needless Street works best when you go in cold and let it worm its way under your skin and sink the claws in.

What am I willing to I tell you? This is a horror novel, make no mistake. Ward ratchets up the tension right from the beginning and plays your nerves like a virtuoso. The Last House On Needless Street begins with a young girl going missing, and it is stressful, particularly reading it as a parent.

I said it’s audacious a couple paragraphs back. Here’s what I meant. The novel has four, no five, main characters telling the story in alternating chapters, and every one of them is an unreliable narrator. That’s crazy, it should be impossible, and Ward pulls it off without breaking a sweat. Each character is distinct, with their own world view, their own language, their own (damaged) past. Oh, and one of them is a cat. This is a highwire act without a net, and every word of it works.

I said it’s a horror novel, and it is, but it’s more than that. Ward explores heartbreaking issues of abuse, mistreatment, family dynamics, and mental instability (I’m treading carefully here, to not give anything away), with compassion and understanding. All while never not keeping you on the edge of your seat.

The Last House On Needless Street drops on September 28th. This one is well worth a pre-order. I can’t wait to read what she writes next.

Wow, I don’t even know where to begin. This book is completely unlike anything I’ve ever read before. It’s dark and twisted and I had no idea where this book was going to go at first and then slowly I began to put the pieces together. I have to say that my favorite part of this book was Olivia.

I can't wait for this to be out in our store! This will be an easy recommendation to make to lovers of horror and psychological thrillers. Especially to those looking for something different. I was kept guessing, and the quality of language and writing was exceptional. I know a book is going to be a best seller when I keep thinking about it says after I'm done reading. Will definitely be giving this a re-read which is the highest compliment I ever give a book!

What is this? A psychological thriller? Horror? Fantasy? It was certainly bizarre, that’s certain! If you’re looking for a wild ride, this is sure it!

This book was an unexpected surprise. I have never read anything like it !! It is hard to describe without giving anything away but I think it is most like a spider weaving a web. It starts out simply by introducing you to an unusual cast of characters, a man named Ted, A young woman Dee whose sister disappeared many years ago, a cat named Olivia and Ted's daughter Lauren. Then slowly truths start to reveal themselves, little by little the story builds. There are so many unexpected twists in this story that sneak up on you slowly instead of the usual in your face shock. Don't get me wrong the twists are shocking but are unveiled by strong character development and amazing story telling. By the time the web has been woven you are left feeling unsettled, raw and a little sad.

This story had me entranced right away, I wish I could tell you more about this book but I think it is best to go into it blind, experience it for yourself. It is a truly unique, fantastic read.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Not going to lie at first I wasn't too sure about this book, but this is a perfect example of an instance where I am so glad I pushed through. I ended up absolutely loving the world that the author created and I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that I did not predict half of the twists and turns that this book ended up taking. I am a bit of a chicken so I found bits to be a little scarier than expected, but that is totally not a bad thing. I loved the slow unravel of the truth and how everything seemed to play out. I loved the different pov's and narrators and thought that they truly added an extra layer to the story. I totally thought that this was a deliciously dark book that kept me wanting more. There are topics of child neglect that do come up that is hard to read, but I do think that the author was careful and didn't overdo past what is needed for the plot. I thought that this was overall a great read.

I read halfway through this book and even that was a struggle. I kept waiting for the turning point that made people love it so much, but honestly I was so confused where it was going and what the point was. I normally love horror and thrillers, but this was so far from what I was expecting and I felt totally disconnected from it.

I hate books that purposefully keep readers in the dark, unless there is a twist that's worthy of doing so; this book didn't have that.

I found the "twist" rather obvious, and honestly, the reason it probably surprised so many readers is that we've mostly grown beyond using a character's mental health diagnoses as plot points, so they're not used to seeing it. This had a very 60s/70s vibe to it in that way.

Maybe I just expected too much after that description, the early buzz, and the reviews promising shocking reveals. But I found this very slow, repetitive, and kind of aggravating. I'm interested in seeing what Catriona Ward does in the future, though.

When I started reading I was unsure where this story was going. I was not prepared for the ride I was about to go on. I was unsure how the plot was going to work out. This story grabbed me and kept me guessing right until the end. Very dark book and some subjects were sensitive. This is not a story for the weak. Thank you Netgalley and Catriona Ward for arc.

Sorry I just couldn’t get into the story. I kept picking it up again and again hoping to find a connection with any of the characters. It just seemed to drag on without going anywhere. I love cats but I couldn’t even connect with that. I’m sure many readers will love this book it just wasn’t for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

Thank you to TOR Books, Catriona Ward and Netgalley for letting me read this one early. This book hits the shelves on September 28.

Wow. This book was not at all what I was expecting, it became so much more. It's so creepy and dark but also so atmospheric, compelling and heart breaking. It's so unique and hands down the most interesting horror/thriller book I've ever read. At times it felt a little slow and I think that's just because the subject matter was so heavy and I wasn't always in a good place for that. This book is so smart and really keeps you in the darkness while also shining a light on you as well.

I honestly don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil anything. I'm not even going to write my own blurb, below you will find the actual summary taken from the back of the book. Tread lightly, this book contains a lot of trigger warnings that I also won't tell you because they'll spoil the book.

This is the story of a serial killer. A stolen child. Revenge. Death. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. All these things are true. And yet they are all lies... You think you know what's inside the last house on Needless Street. You think you've read this story before. That's where you're wrong. In the dark forest at the end of Needless Street, lies something buried. But it's not what you think...