I enjoyed this read. It was unexpected, scary, and also, at times, funny. I really appreciated the cat character/personality and the role she played in the story. I also liked the unique plot and the way the story was slowly revealed.

Thanks to MacMillain-Tor Force, Netgalley, and Catriona Ward for this ARC. What can I say about this book? I think either people will love it, or hate it. I happen to love it. I’ve seen so many great reviews online and different book clubs and the statements of “what did I just read?” So I was intrigued. I love this synopsis of it, I was envisioning every Character best I could. Wasn’t exactly sure what anything was, but in the end it all came together as promised by other readers. I have my theories that the main character had multiple personalities, and did the kidnapping of Lulu., When the answer to why Ted was like this, the answer came at the end of the book. . By the end I knew this wasn't so much as a horror thriller, as much is a book of a disorder brought on by abuse . Kudos to the author from bringing to light something that most of us never heard of.

While not exactly a horror novel it’s more of a psychological thriller with a number of sensitive topics included. If you give this a read you may wonder what the heck is going on - I’m still not sure what happened at the end and I read the last few chapters twice. An interesting writing style that may not appeal to some but I say give this a go, you definitely will be surprised.

Weird. Psychologically twisted. Wow… This story is a mystery in itself because of the narrators. As I read, I was unsure if I could trust any of the narrators. They all seem unreliable in some way. Ted, the man with extremely odd behavior and lifestyle, Olivia, Ted’s cat, and Dee, a woman who moved into Ted’s neighborhood who’s secretly looking for her younger sister that’s been missing for years. Ted supposedly has a daughter, Lauren. It’s difficult to decipher her age and maturity. Also, it seems that Ted’s mother handicapped Lauren so she’s unable to walk. It took me a few chapters to get into the story but then I needed to finish it to figure it all out. By the time, I read the entire book, I was fascinated, albeit a bit morbidly. I completely appreciate the author’s notes at the end of the book, explaining everything and making sense of it all and her spoiler alert at the beginning of her notes. So, don't read her notes until after you've finished reading the book. She shares her research also, which is impressive! I want to read more of Catriona Ward’s books now. She wrote an intricate and complicated story, The Last House on Needless Street, showing the fragility and capabilities we all have within us. 5 stars!

I have very mixed feelings on The Last House on Needless Street. Halfway through I would have given it one star, but then ending redeemed it. I'm months late on reviewing this and have read dozens of books since, however; The Last House on Needless Street is still fresh in my mind. I would rate it higher if the middle was more interesting.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC! What a crazy story!! I was a little confused at the beginning. However, once I got in to the groove I could not put this book down. Told from alternate points of view. Sad, creepy, heartbreaking! Will recommend!!

Good initial build, but once things began to be revealed it felt convoluted and hectic. Unsure about the major "twist" as well.

What a great book! The writing was amazing and I did not see all the twists coming. Loved the different perspectives too.

I started reading this and almost put it down but then a few chapters in it grabbed me.

The book morphs quite a bit until I couldn't put it down. The book is told in four people's point of view. Ted (main adult in story), Olivia (the cat), Lauren (a child) and Dee (adult who lost her sister). I really enjoyed this back and forth in perspectives. You are always getting part of the story but never the whole story until the last few chapters.

I will be looking for more books by this author.

Wow. I was hearing a lot about this book. At first, I really wanted to read it, but then as I do with things that get a lot of hype, I subconsciously tabled it because I worry I won’t enjoy something as much as I expect to.

Eventually, I got around to starting it and, at first, I was not connecting with it. But it takes me a bit to get into any book so that’s not really new.

Thankfully I stuck through it and I am so glad I did.

The Last House on Needless Street is a dark and disturbing story about a reclusive man Ted, his teenage daughter Lauren, and his bible-reading cat Olivia. Yes, seriously.

There are many layers to both the story and the characters. Due to the structure and the multiple points of view (even the cat’s!), it can be a bit confusing and disorienting. Trust me, it’ll pay off.

There’s not just a twist at the end; it’s a winding, curvy road. So, buckle up, friends cause even when you think you have it figured out, you probably don’t.

And definitely read the author’s note at the end. Ward explains really well how this story evolved and the important messaging throughout.

3.75?

it's hard to rate this one. for the first half or so, i really didn't know what to make of it. it wasn't even until i was explaining the plot to my fiance' that i realized i was actually really enjoying it lol. but one of the biggest twists is my most hated trope so i couldn't give it a full 4 stars.

i will say i loved the prose and the slow reveals throughout were super engaging. everything is presented as normal but slightly askew to the point where you, as a reader, know something is off but you don't know what or why. then the author slowly reveals what is really happening and then it makes slightly more sense. i tried not to read any reviews but i get the impression this one is REALLY hit or miss. and i can see why some wouldn't like it. honestly, most of it worked for me, and i am tempted to re-read it sometime in the future now that i know how it plays out. <spoiler>i meant to go back and re-read some of Dee's chapters bc i guess her made up version of events is what is presented to the reader, and i think lying to your audience is an annoying cop out. but i couldn't remember how everything was told to be sure.</spoiler> will def be checking out the author's other stuff though.

I was so excited to receive an ARC of The Last House on Needless Street! I love all things spooky and the cover caught my attention right away. This book has become quite popular among my spooky book lovers, as it should! (It is a book club pick this month in Spooky Book Club!!). I enjoyed the writing style, found the characters likable and it was an overall captivating story.

This is one of those rare books that came with a TON OF HYPE and actually LIVED UP to the hype and then some! I really loved that this book started out in one direction and completely reeled you in another by the end!

Right from the very beginning, the reader knows there’s something very wrong the moment we dive into the story. This novel excels in creating this crescendo of dread and unease that by the time you’re hit with the climax, you’re questioning your own sanity.

Ted lives alone in a run-down home with his beautiful kitty Olivia while his daughter Lauren comes to visit him from time to time. When Dee moves next door to him, convinced that he had something to do with her little sister’s disappearance things really start to escalate into chaos for everyone involved. This thriller is a wild ride and one you won’t easily forget once you’re through with the final page.

I can’t recommend this book enough. Believe the hype, it’s worth reading!

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars.

Wow. Where to start with this one. This was a very strange book and at first I wasn't sure I was going to like it. There was a moment when I did consider a DNF, but I'm so glad I stuck it out. The Last House on Needless Street is a creep fest with the strangest plot, unreliable narrators, and just a whole host of WTF.

The construction of this book is brilliant. I didn't see it when I was in the middle of the read, but the last third just blew everything apart and made this book stellar. I did put a few of the pieces together along the way, but I was SO far off on a couple of things. The characters are just a jumble of screwed up and they're mostly unlikable, but they're also incredibly intriguing and overly damaged in a way that had me both totally turned off by them and not able to look away.

The plot is disjointed, creepy, and just plain weird. The narration moves through several points of view...none of which is reliable...and a timeline that feels incredibly disorienting. There is a definite ick factor and the story made my stomach turn more than once. I felt this story to my bones in some places and ran a gamut of emotions during my read.

The Last House on Needless Street is not a read for everyone, but if you like to be totally sketched out by your reads and enjoy being confused for a good majority of the narrative...this is for you. Haunting, damaging, and full of trigger warnings. It feels weird to say I liked the book...it feels a little twisted given the contents...but I did enjoy the journey of reading and I am in awe at the absolute talent that went into its construction. Brava to Catriona Ward.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET begins with story of a young girl who has gone missing while on vacation. At the time Ted Bannerman somewhat of a recluse is a suspect in Lulu’s disappearance. Living on his own on Needless Street, Ted is photographed on his front porch while the police search his house. Ted is eventually cleared but the damage is done.
Dee who is Lulu’s older sister has become obsessed with finding her sister. After much digging for clues and leads Dee believes Ted Bannerman knows more than he is letting on. To aid her investigation further Dee rents the house next door to Ted hoping to get some answers to questions that have plagued her for years.
I found THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET interesting. The setting was as were the characters sufficiently creepy. I must say I was somewhat confused by the ending so I feel I may need to reread it for some clarity. I liked Catriona Ward’s style of writing and I am looking forward to reading her next book SUNDIAL.
Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley for allowing me access to an advanced digital edition of this book.

I absolutely loved this book. I really had no idea where this book was going for the majority of the book and once I did realize it, I was absolutely even more engrossed that I already had been. This was not an easy book to read and one I would definitely recommend checking trigger warning for.

Each of the characters felt so fleshed out. Even when you realize that the cat and Lauren are alters, there was so much distinction in their voices.

My main criticism was in the way that this book was marketed. I went into it believing it was a horror novel, possibly with supernatural elements, and it was not that at all. I understand that this is a difficult book to market, especially without spoiling major plot points, but it felt somewhat dismissive of the medical condition the main character had.

I love kidnapping and survival stories, so when I saw this I knew I had to read it! This book is told from multiple points of view: Ted, Dee, Lauren and Olivia. It was a little confusing to me, and I didn't really know what was going on? But as I kept reading, I enjoyed some of the POVs I read and little bits of the story here and there. I also felt underwhelmed by the twist, and I wish the ending had been more developed because it fell short for me.

Overall, I thought it was a fun read and I liked the writing and the plot. I would definitely give this author another try, because I'm interested to see what Catriona Ward comes out with next.

My first read of 2022!

I know many of my fellow bookish friends absolutely loved this dark horror book, and I definitely can see why. The book is entertaining and has a pretty intricate plot with unexpected twists. While I liked it and enjoyed it, I can't say that it blew my mind. It was good and fun, but nothing extraordinary, in my humble opinion.

This is a story of Ted, Olivia (the cat), Lauren (Ted's daughter) and Dee (a neighbor who is investigating her sister's disappearance). Dee thinks Ted was somehow involved in that crime and now Dee is trying to find out what exactly is happening in his house, the last house on the Needless street.

The story is told through multiple POV of the main characters. While the multiple POV was done well, at some point I found certain story lines a bit slow and less entertaining. The cat's POV was very cool in the beginning, but the novelty wore off really fast and those chapters were very tedious to read through. Dee's chapters were the best as they seem to be the ones that moved the story forward for most of the book. I think some parts of Lauren and Olivia's story could have been edited to make it more succinct and interesting.

The plot itself was complicated and some of the twists were unexpected and shocking. However, I found that there was just to much going on and, in the end, it didn't feel like all loose ends were tied properly. Some parts of the story were implied, but still left ambiguous, at least to me (blame my think skull). Personally, when a psychological story is so complicated I want full clarity in the end, to ensure that I really got all the details correctly.

Overall, a very good book, but a bit overhyped. If this book sounds interesting to you, I would say give it a try - I am in the minority here and there is a big chance that you will like it more than I did.

Currently a DNF at 10%. Couldn't get into the writing style. I hope to give it another chance in the future but for now, I've shelved it.

I really enjoyed this book. I figured out a twist very early on, but it wasn't something that is extra easy to figure out, so don't let that put you off.
The characters were well developed and the story flowed nicely.
I will definitely recommend this book to others.