CW:// child abuse

The last House on Needless Street was a book I went in not knowing much about it and it really did not disappoint.

There are multiple POV Ted who at time seems not himself, Lauren a moody but smart little girl who comes out for weekends then disappears, Olivia the cat who reads scriptures from the bible and Dee who is trying to find who took her little sister years ago.

You think you now everyone but some of it is a lie and as the story unravels it starts to all make sense. I can't really say more without spoilers but this book was really good and I made sure to read the end acknowledgements to see how the author did a lot of research and wanted to make this story more than a horror and takes fault if she got something wrong- so I appreciated that and this book get 5 stars from me

Thanks NetGalley and Nightfire for the e-arc

I have been reviewing books intermittently between writing about film and balancing my day job for about a year, maybe a bit longer. Lately, though, with some shifting conditions in my circumstances I have found time to focus more on them than any other medium. Books have always been my first love and, while I have favorite little pockets to occupy, the most important thing to me - beyond genre conventions or expectations, beyond type of book - is the story itself. Can it make you feel something unexpected? Can it absorb you completely without your knowledge? Can it leave its mark on you long after you have stepped away from its pages? Catriona Ward can, and her latest novel, The Last House on Needless Street, is proof.

I have mentioned this before, but there is nothing quite like being so taken in and turned around by a story that you couldn't even begin to guess where it will go next if you try. It's what keeps us turning the pages and staying up into the wee hours of the night. Recently I have had the good fortune to be given opportunities to review the upcoming work of several novelists who seem to have developed the ability to keep readers on their toes at every turn to such a sharp edge we hardly even feel it sliding into our subconscious. Every time I think I've found my new first place favorite novel of the year, the next one I'm given comes to take its place - or at least nudge the others aside in willingness to tie. Needless Street, already out in the UK but releasing in the US on September 28th, clawed its way to the top of my list from first wildly uncomfortable page to last.

One of my favorite quotes to do with the horror genre talks about how it is necessarily rooted in sympathy. While it is possible to have good horror that does not contain sympathetic characters, the need for connection is there. We need to connect with something about the story in order for us to give it enough meaning that we want to carry on exploring it. Catriona Ward and her array of central characters inhabiting Needless Street seems intimately aware of this need, and of a way to play with it such that our sympathies flow along with even those we do not expect. It tells the story of a man, a cat, and a young girl; a family of a kind, all together in a house with holes instead of windows and tape recorders in the closets.

Talking about the plot of this book without accidentally divulging spoilers feels like an impossible feat and, even though it is out haunting the dreams of one part of the world, it wouldn't be right to divulge those until everyone has had a chance to experience it for themselves. So, in lieu of that let me instead say this: while genre fiction of all media forms is rooted in the human need for sympathy and connection, it takes a passionately skilled hand and mind to costume those themes in horror that is capable of being repulsive on several different levels, even as it plays with your allegiances. I can with a fair degree of safety say I have never read anything quite like The House on Needless Street, and I feel it is unlikely that I will again. Within its pages are more than twists and turns. More than darkness. It is an exploration of trauma and its effects, alternately hopeless and hopeful, planting seeds of sympathy for people who, for much of the novel, we may feel almost wrong in sympathizing with, if we identify them the way our preconceived ideas of how it should work tell us to.

Ward paints a narrative that is both unforgiving and surprisingly, consistently, sensitive. To crack open the covers of this book is to begin on a journey that demands you bear witness to its deepest, darkest corners while guided along by a cast of characters who's own worldview is but one piece of a constantly evolving puzzle. It is the first in some time I have both been unable to put down and needed to put away before bed. The first in some time to linger in my brain in such a way as to give me nightmares whose details I can't fully recall the next day. And the first in an even longer while to manipulate my view of the plot in such a way as to force me to confront my own preformed notions on both story and expectations of villainy. The Last House on Needless Street can - and very well might - horrify and break your heart all at once.

While the UK can wander its halls and crevices now, The Last House on Needless Street will open its doors to US readers on September 28th, 2021 from Tor.

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I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review an ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This is probably the best-executed book I have read so far this year. I’m not sure how to review it in its entirety without spoilers, so I will keep my thoughts brief on public forums and invite everyone who’s read it to my blog post for a spoiler discussion. The description is vague on purpose, and the best thing to do is just dive in without any information. I read some reviews after I finished the book that spoiled the main twist, so beware!

This story is about Ted, a recluse suspected of a child’s abduction. The perspectives switch between Ted, the sister of the abducted child, and that of Ted’s cat. The cat chapters were a little kooky (who knew cats could be religious!), but such a creative way to describe Ted from another point of view. I loved Olivia!

Looking back from the end of the book, I’m amazed at how well-executed this story was. I feel like I need to re-read this book in order to catch all the clues I missed!

I know this review is vague, but it's so worth it to go into it knowing nothing about the story. Just trust that it's worth it!

I was so excited to this one but it just didn't work for me at all. It was avery different which again I was excited about but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. I honestly kept skimming not necessarily because I was confused, perhaps a bit bored and not that impressed with the writing style as I expected too.

I will say the author did hit the marks on thing. You can tell they did research and tried to stay true to the trauma and harsh reality of abuse and it's affects.

Some twists seemed well done. I think the author tried too many and to find it surprising that they all piled onto each other without wowing or shocking me much..

This book is very different from the usual type of books I like to read. I do love the horror genre, but the format is is unusual. At first, it's a little dry for me, but it's unusual enough for me to keep going to see where it's headed. After a while, I'm intrigued enough to see it through to the end. It gets rather interesting about a quarter of the way through it. When you realize that this is going to be an unusual story. By the end, I was shocked. Usually, I can see the twists coming, and this one packs a punch! I don't want to give away the storyline, but I will say that this book is a must read for any horror fan! The author is brilliant in how she chose to write this book!

Nothing is as it seems in The Last House on Needless Street. Ah, you will say, some pages in. Yes, I understand. No, you don't. Do you force yourself to slow down and enjoy the writing, or allow yourself the leeway to forge ahead, trying to predict how this thing's going to turn out? You might as well slow it down. The twists and turns in this book are not taking you where you think you're going. Savor this one and appreciate the reveals. This is a puzzle box of a novel, elevated by Ward's ability to hit one off-note here and there to signal a shift in the narrative. The skill is immense and so is the heart.

This one was dark twisted, just how I like it! I felt this was unpredictable and was not able to put it down until I was done! This gave me Stephen King vibes! Wow did I like this one!!

A story about abuse and survival like none other I have ever read. A very rewarding read for anyone who can stomach so much and such varied child abuse…

Creepy, atmospheric and propulsive. A highly recommended purchase for collections where horror and thrillers are popular.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this publication! I really enjoyed this book!

So what drew me in was the description that there was a bible reading cat as part of the cast. I was NOT disappointed. This book had me hooked from the very beginning! The chapters told from the cat (Olivia's) point of view were funny to begin with and definitely got darker. It had all the elements that make a fantastic horror story and the twist at the end made it complete. Highly recommend!

I am struggling to find where to even begin to explain this book to you all. Because I have never ever read anything even similar to this book.

Like others have reviewed here, this book is not just a standard "ooh there's a twist coming" horror story. It is a slow unfolding explanation of the truth. It is written with such a raw hand of emotion and details that a book that would typically take me two days to read, took me a week. I wanted to read every line and understand every detail. And friend, let me tell you- buckle up- there is no way you will see the ending of this story. I told my husband at least 4x while reading this book "I am completely mind f**ked" with every turn of the page.

To begin, we hear from a few POVs- Ted, a lonely single man living in the house on Needless street, his cat, Olivia- who loves to read the Bible, and an older sister- who is looking to discover where her sister went to all those years ago.

I honestly hesitate to mention more because my only wish for anyone opening this book, is to go in as cold as possible.

This book does take patience. You have to be able to think to yourself- "okay I don't understand what's happening or what this means yet, but I trust that it will later." The payoff is there, people.

This is one of those books that will take your bookstagram by storm soon, as it makes its way over from the UK to USA publishing in September. Stephen King's quote is on the cover- what more backing do you need?!

Mark my words, The Last House on Needless Street will be a classic in 25+ years time. We will all be talking it over in book clubs for years.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillian publishing for an ARC for my true and honest review.

Interesting premise that was well written. Studying and working in the psych field for many years, I knew early on what was going on. I believe most readers will not understand what is being explored. The chapters are short and easy to read with just enough information to confuse the issue. The author obviously researched her subjects well. A good solid four star read.
I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from Macmillan-Tor/Forge through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

#TheLastHouseonNeedlessStreet #NetGalley

Review of The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow. This book is honestly one of the most unique and original ones I’ve ever read. It was amazingly written and I was so intrigued by the stories.

Ted is a loner who lives on Needless Street with his cat, Olivia, and sometimes with his daughter Lauren. He has a difficult time relating to people and struggles to discipline his daughter. At the start of the book Ted realizes it is the anniversary of the disappearance of a girl at the local lake named LuLu. He was at once considered a suspect but excluded with his alibi.
Dee is LuLu’s older sister who is obsessed with finding out the truth about what happened to her sister. She moves onto Needless Street for her pursuit.

The book is told from the perspective of all characters including Olivia that cat (how cool is that that?!?!)

What on earth did I just read? This book is so weird and yet oddly addicting, I managed to read it in one sitting. 3/5

Well slap my ass and call me a cat. I am equal parts still utterly baffled and entirely impressed and let me tell you why... without telling you too much because it's best to go into this with only knowing what the vague synopsis tells you.

For 85% of this book, I had a look of puzzlement on my face that surely created a new wrinkle somewhere but I'm A-freaking-OK with it because of what the last 15% (or less probably) did in bringing it all together when I didn't think that was going to be possible.... but alas, Ward gave it to me good here. We get a few perspectives throughout the read and Olivia, the cat, was my favorite throughout. Yes, we get the POV of a cat and it's glorious. It wasn't until one shocking reveal that the little clues left throughout starting pinging in my head... ping, ping, ping, PING, PING, MF-ING PING! That's when I did that little shake of the head that you do when you're impressed with just how crazy everything sounded but then also made so much damn sense. But I did figure out the next part but only because surely, that's the only way it COULD go, am I right? *wink* But seriously, it was the thread ups after THAT that really got to me and I could hear something going "oh... OH..." and realized, it was me.

Now, after all of this, why not the full stars? Because for 85% of it, I was UTTERLY CONFUSED - I had no idea what was happening and yet I was very much intrigued. But I also truly am impressed with the geniusness of Ward and I implore you to make sure to read the Afterword after you pick up this book to read (because you WILL, right?). I realize that the utterly confused to brilliant is still leaving me in a state of awe but damn, sometimes it just didn't feel like an enjoyable read and I felt myself wanting to put it down at times but was compelled not to. Catriona, did you put a spell on this book? 😏 (I approve.)

Ahhhh - this one is going to stick to my bones for a long time. I eagerly await whatever Ward has for us next. Definitely get this one on your TBR, readers... and stick with it until the end. Meow.

This one was really hard for me. At times the writing was very confusing and it felt like work to get through. But once you start to understand what is actually going on it starts to feel worth it. This is not going to be for everyone but it is clear that the author did the research on child abuse and trauma and different ways that children deal with their pain. A very different type of horror novel that had me flipping the pages yet reading with caution. You MUST read the afterword I think to fully appreciate and absorb novel.

TW: child abuse, child murder, suicide, self harm, struggle with mental illness

I rarely give a book recommendation before finishing a novel, but in the case of The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward, I told my co-worker it was a must-read before completing the first half of the book.

This is a story to jump right into. Avoid spoilers! I recommend for readers of horror, true crime, and intense suspense. It has disturbing elements, so if one is sensitive to violence, please be aware.

I'm still thinking about the book even though I'm well into reading a new book, a sign of a great read!

I'm a library paraprofessional and received and advance copy from #NetGalley. Opinions are my own.

This was a strange book to say the least. There were parts that were really good and others that left me scratching my head. What was going on?! It was certainly different from what I was expecting.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

5 stars

This book is intriguing, sad and a bit unsettling.
Don’t read spoilers just dive right in. As you read you might think you have it all figured out but you’re gonna be wrong. Definitely worth the read!