I will admit that I was most intrigued about this book based solely on its cover. Also, not even gonna lie, the critique by Stephen King sealed the deal. Because if King recommends it, I need to read it! Nevertheless, I was sadly disappointed with this novel. I I do like the ideas behind it, but I don't like the way in which the story was told. It was confusing at times and, after I finished, I still had questions which means it didn't satiate me the way I like. Also, there really wasn't anything thrilling or scary about it. In fact, if anything, it's all very sad. This is great if that's what you're looking for. But, I wasn't, so it made me disappointed.

This was quite the ride. It felt like two different stories (in that the first half was horror and appeared as one thing but the ending was quite different and was a whole different experience) and I loved them both. I felt so uncomfortable being in Ted's mind, but at the end was rooting for him.

I went into this one blind and spent pretty much the entire time wondering what IS going on here? Because it’s very weird and yet at the same time you also know that it’s sad. The writing was done well enough to keep pulling me along until that moment of understanding and all becomes clear.

Wow. This book was just wow. It’s a very unconventional book and it might take you a bit to get used to it, but I really hope you give it a try because believe me it’s worth it. This is a deeply unsettling and utterly captivating book that is creepy, dark and heartbreaking. It’s unlike anything I’ve read and I thought it was brilliantly done.

I truly do not want to say too much because to give anything away would be a disservice. This is one that will keep you guessing as you read it and have you thinking about it long after you finish. 5/5⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for gifting me this eARC. The Last House on Needless Street will be out in the US on September 28.

This is twisting, turning, mind-bending take that every time you think you have it figured out … the author jerks you up, spins you around, shakes you about, and leaves you spinning and breathless, unsure of what just happened. This is perfect for fans that love a good mash up of <i>Alice In Wonderland</i> meets <i>The Haunting of Hill House</i> while befriending Stephen King in one of your unending nightmares. This truly kept me on my toes and guessing, and anymore that’s a treat from a novel.

A huge thank you to #NetGalley, Macmillan #TorForge, and the talented author Catriona Ward for providing me an electronic ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. I definitely recommend you have a go at this one when it’s released Sept. 28, 2021.

You can see my reviews at http://www.OceansOfBooks.com

I am super picky about suspense/thrillers. In fact, I'm honestly pretty snobby about them. (It's cool, I'll own it.) I despise when an author sacrifices plot, character development, and so many times downright believability for the sake of throwing in some type of spectacular, knock-your-socks-off twist. You will find very books in the suspense/thriller genre on my shelves that I rate 5 stars.

This book, readers. The writing is tight. The characters are dimensional. The story is gripping. And I never knew what the heck was going on. I thought it did, and then I didn't. And it wasn't an eye-rolling, that-was-such-a-juvenile-move sort of reaction. It was HOLY-CRAP-THAT-CAME-OUT-OF-NOWHERE-AND-IT-WAS-BRILLIANT.

And, can I add, that the above happened more than once? Yes, on more than one occasion I was completely blindsided by the direction the story took. (I had a weird inkling about one twist, but I was only about 20% in the ballpark on what actually happened.)

It's fantastic. Truly.

This book is already out in the UK (so you can order it on Book Depository - which I may have to do just so I can have my own physical copy), and it will be published here in the US September 28, 2021. Put. It. On. Your. List.

**Biggest thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book.

This book was much better than I expected. In fact, it far exceeded my expectations and I am so thankful I had a chance to read it! WOW! I can't even think of the words to say other than READ THIS BOOK! It's amazing! Haunting, creepy, and extremely well written!

This book is EVERYTHING. If you like to read, you will like this book. It is exactly what one should look for in a book - engaging, page-turning, mysterious, and emotional. I think Ward is an absolutely brilliant writer. It's hard for me to describe this book because I don't want to give anything away, but trust me - this book will stay with you long after you finish.

Wow. This is one of those books that makes me wish Goodreads had a higher rating system, because five stars doesn't seem like enough. <i>The Last House on Needless Street</i> is a masterwork of psychological fiction that is at once terrifying, heartwarming and tragic. It's one of those stories where you feel compelled to reread it as soon as you finish it because you want to go back and see all the clues you missed. Things that seemed to be mistakes or errors in the timeline are actually keys to unlocking the story as a whole.
I've never read anything quite like it. The only thing that comes sort of close is <i>The Little Girl Who Was Too Fond of Matches</i> by Gaetan Soucy, in that events aren't altogether clear at first, but there is a pervasive sense of foreboding and <i>wrongness</i> that surrounds everything.

This is bound to become an instant classic and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Wow. This book was amazing. It was beautifully written and everything unraveled so nicely. I was so excited to pick this book up, that I will have to read her other books as well!

While it wasn’t totally fast-past, Catriona Ward has a way of writing that keeps you on your toes and wanting more. I flew through a majority of this book in one night. Such a fascinating read!

TW: child abuse, kidnapping, mental illness, disassociation, trauma

I began The House on Needless Street knowing only that it was a horror novel. At the end of the day, I think that’s truly the best way to consume this book. And consume it I certainly did. I read it’s entirety in less than 24 hours and only stopped to sleep. It’s a twisting, sometimes confusing (in a good way) ride that thrills in the beginning and makes you sit and think by the last line. I don’t think this is a book I’ll forget anytime soon.

Ted is a loner. He lives in Needless Street and avoids his neighbors. His only companions are his cat, Olivia, and his daughter Lauren who comes for short visits too.

Ted's parents are both gone and his childhood home is now his house. He tries to maintain the upkeep of his property but he doesn't do a very good job. When he was a kid he used to go to school but he never really developed close friendships. His mother was a nurse and she took care of him after his father left.

Ted became a recluse when his face was in the newspapers. His face was associated with the disappearance of a young girl. She disappeared near the lake and her body was never found. People said Ted had an alibi, but the girl's sister, Dee is not too sure.

Is Ted the monster who took Lulu? Did Ted kill her? If so, can Dee find out the truth?

You would have to read (or listen to it as I did) this book to know what really happens.

Yes, this book is unconventional. Olivia, the cat, has her own chapters which might dissuade some readers. I will say, persevere, IT'S WORTH IT. Furthermore, I think Olivia became my favorite character.

The audio was superb and the narrator did a wonderful job at interpreting each character and their own turmoil.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio/Macmillan-Tor/Forge via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is full of broken people who make really questionable decisions.

I liked the first 80%. The story was rolling along, a little confusing, as we learned about the characters. Until we got to the end. Then there was a giant information dump that changed how we looked at things. Too much information all at once. It's as if the author wanted to end the story but couldn't figure out how, so they just told us a bunch of stuff to finish things.

Ted. I really hated him. At the end, are we supposed to feel sympathy for him? Maybe we are, but at that point it is really hard not to dislike him. Dee. She obviously has her share of mental problems too. But she is mostly sympathetic. I am confused about how I feel towards both of them.

I guess this story has a lot to say about mental illness. And how you never know what is lurking inside someone. It was definitely an interesting read. It left me thinking about the ending for days.

I received a free copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Beautifully unsettling.

Rarely do I pick up a book that has me sucked in within the first few lines, but this book did that.
Captivating and unsettling, Last House was like a boat ride on rocky seas- there was never a moment when I felt like the earth was securely below my feet. At any moment, I could teeter and fall, unable to trust each new step forward. Ward did this masterfully, keeping me hooked and stumped as she twisted and turned through the story.
Each character was well written and executed.
Ted’s story, in particular, was told with such an elegant literary style that I found myself rereading lines and passages for the sheer art and beauty.
The ending was both heart-rending and haunting, and I look forward to rereading this book for all the qualities above.
I’ve read some reviews that say this is not true horror, but horror is so multifaceted and immense. There are sub-categories of horror that most overlook. On that note, I’ll leave you with this one thought-
Not all horror is blood and gore, demons and monsters. Sometimes, the most frightening monsters of all are human.

I thought this was a very well done book. It kept me guessing until the end. I enjoyed the thoughtful subversion of traditional horror tropes. The author took a very thoughtful approach to her characters.

The Last House on Needless Street is about a serial killer, a missing child, and the sister looking for the girl who went missing a decade ago. I don't really want to say any more than that when it comes to the plot. I went into this book knowing very little about the story and I think my experience was better for it.

The brief synopsis given might read like a thriller, but this book didn't feel like a thriller at ALL to me. I definitely felt horror vibes the whole way through. It was unsettling and creepy and made me feel sick to my stomach at certain points. This book was so well written. I can't remember the last time I read something that kept me completely unaware of my surroundings. I felt like I was inside that house with Ted. I spent a portion of the book with my hand over my mouth and my eyebrows furrowed. It was just.... a really intense experience.

I wouldn't go into this looking for a fun, twisty thriller. But if you are interested in horror, I would highly recommend.

Wow! I am an avid reader of thriller/suspense and this one knocked it out of the park. What a dark, twisted tale with one of the best twists I have ever read! Excellent book that I will (and already have) recommend to anyone who likes mystery and suspense. Fantastic read!

This is one of those books that right from the beginning you think you have it all figured out. And then you start to doubt yourself and think that maybe something else is going on (it is) and all of a sudden realize you have no idea the who, what, or where of anything.

There are three main narrators in The Last House on Needless Street... Ted, Dee, and Ted's cat Olivia. (yes, you read that right). Later on, there will be another POV introduced, but those are the main three. When they were all introduced I thought that maybe this book wasn't for me, Ted is childlike and I felt weird reading the POV of a cat, but I am so glad I stuck with it. The ending has this twist that I did not see coming, but capped off this unique, layered horror novel perfectly.

Great read. Recommend.

This book was told from a few different perspectives. Some were harder follow than others. The story of a missing girl and the strange neighbor is a solid storyline. This story is so much more than that.

It is a look at guilt, love, and mental health. Villains can be both monster and victim. Victims are not always guilt free. This hovel is unique and will keep you guessing.

I wasn't able to finish this one. It didn't grab me. I loved the concept, but being inside the mind of an adult man stuck at the age he was abused by gave me the heebie jeebies in an unpleasant way. Maybe i'll try it again close to halloween!