Good Day, thank you to Catriona Ward and Macmillan Audio along with Catriona Ward for the Auto-Approved audiobook!
Are you a reader? Well it doesn’t matter if you are living under a rock, you have heard of the buzz surrounding this novel! And yes it is buzzworthy! Whatever the heck that means! There have been comparisons to Gillian Flynn, and I do believe that this novel is worthy of those comparisons.
This book, along with all books IMO, but is particularly important here is to go into the novel without reading the synopsis. It is a thriller and mystery with dark lit themes, yes even with the Cat Narrator! Ha! That is the most synopsis you will get out of me!
There are plenty of twists along the way, and not your run of the mill twists, good stuff. And as we all know the twists don’t work unless the story and the characters are there to back them up, and they certainly are present in this novel.
Very smart, and difficult to determine who is the “bad guy” A true mystery, not really a horror book, just great storytelling and strong characters. Obviously going to be a big hit, and I am sure this will be a film one day.
The story is told in POV chapters, which like a lot of folks is not my favorite, but the story was so strong that it overcame the format for me.
Again, great story telling and mystery, enjoy the read and The Cat!
Thanks for reading, and Stay Safe!

Very twisty book! Every time I thought I knew what was going on the perspective would change again. I never would have guessed what actually happened to Little Girl with Popsicle (lulu)

A great book to discuss serious mental illness, phobias, delusions, and multiple personality disorder. Some parts of the book made me feel very uncomfortable but I think that’s the whole point.

Recommend for horror fans, mental health advocates, and people who love plot twists.

4.83 stars

I won't lie. What drew me to the book the most was the buzz and the fact that people who have read it don't say much about it but give it high ratings. I wanted to be one of those people who are in on the secret and helps keep it!

In my humble opinion, it's best to go into The Last House on Needless Street blind. But if my word is not enough, and you need a bit convincing, we meet Ted, his cat, and daughter, residents of the titular house next to the wild Washington woods.

They each seem to be more than meets the eye and are bound by a dark secret. They try to keep to themselves, but their symbiotic stasis seems to be at risk when a new neighbour moves in.

I read this as an audiobook produced by Macmillan Audio and narrated by Christopher Ragland. The audiobook was excellent. Even though it is a single narrator book, Ragland was so good at giving each character their own voice and personality, I didn't miss the full cast. His pace was impeccable, and his rendition of Olivia was beautiful, respectful, and quite honestly everything! I felt her, and I think that I wouldn't have done as good a job with my "head voice" (what I call when I read it). For this character alone, I highly recommend the audiobook.

Catriona Ward really ticked all of my boxes with this book; her narrative delivers a punch you don't regret getting, and it results in the kind of pain you're thankful for. The atmosphere was so well crafted; it was dark and gloomy and scary and heavy. I do suggest having a light read lined up for after The Last House on Needless Street (unless you can handle carrying people's despair and angst, as an empath, I can't). We follow a few different character's POVs and they each bring their own emotional baggage. That being said, I loved how each character was so unique and so well developed; you get to know each of them well while not knowing who you can trust.

My favourite character was Olivia, the cat. You heard me right – a cat who loves the bible. Experiencing the world through her eyes was such a unique experience I am sure I'll carry it with me for a long time. Ward was supernaturally inspired while writing Olivia; every single sentence made sense. Olivia's experiences made sense; her thoughts were actually believable. Can I explain it? No, but trust me, you get her!

Even though the clues were more psychological, Ward played fair with her solution and delivered it terrifically. It was so layered that I suspect people won't guess it all, but once you know, it makes sense and begs for a reread!

This book is unique and fresh – it's the kind of book you didn't even know you needed to read because your mind never went there – thankfully, Catriona's did! It is, however, a slow burner, and as part of its originality, we have the introduction of new words to describe concepts we know (such as Ted for human, through Olivia's POV). Even though once you get used to it, it becomes part of why the book is so brilliant until you do, it requires a bit of concentration, and for that reason, I didn't enjoy it as much in the beginning.

The Last House on Needless Street is like general anesthesia – until you're under, you fear the unknown and hope for the best. While you're under it, completely immersed in the experience, everything is perfect and feels right. In the end, when you wake up, it feels like you have just been punched, and it takes a while for you to get your bearings but in the best possible way.

This is one of those books that is hard to review because the author has crafted a masterful immersive experience. To say anything about this book is to risk spoiling the reading experience to future readers. I know I would have been upset if I hadn't gone along the journey with no expectations.

Ward is a master. In the Last House on Needless Street, she took some of the scariest horror tropes and spun them on their heads, making them even more frightening yet heartbreaking, poetic, and uncomfortable.
This book is so multidimensional and organic, you catch yourself turning off your brains and just giving in to your emotions – not all of them positive, but each of them intense and visceral.

To me, this book was scary. But I have a hard time putting the kind of fear it evoked in a category. Sorry to be vague, but for your sake, I have to leave it at that.

I will definitely be picking up this book in physical form (pre-order has been placed) as I want to reread it and annotate. This will make a great book club choice, as it begs to be discussed but not spoiled!

I hope this wasn't too vague bit The Last House on Needless Street is a must-read book that you should go in prepared to face some uncomfortable feelings and to carry the thoughts the book provoked for a long time. To me, it was a similar experience as reading Shirley Jackson's books. Amazingly sad and hauntingly beautiful.




#CatrionaWard #MacmillanAudio #TheLastHouseOnNeedlessStreet #Horror #ChristopherRagland #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC

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.

So, should you listen to it as an audiobook? Oh my!! Yes yes and yes!! The narrator, Christopher Ragland, does a fabulous job with this multi view point tale, and without giving away spoilers, he will keep you on your toes as much as reading it for yourself! .



A huge thank you to #NetGalley, #MacmillanAudio and the talented author Catriona Ward for providing me an advanced copy of this thrilling audiobook in exchange for my honest opinions. I definitely recommend you have a listen to this one when it’s released Sept. 28, 2021.

What A RIDE! Well worth the read/listen if you like dark themes and multiple plot twists. This is not a horror novel, so be forewarned, it is more mystery than anything.
When I first started listening to this audiobook by Catriona Ward I wasn’t quite sure if I would be able to keep listening. I mean, a missing little girl, a man who drinks alone sitting in front of a TV worrying over his daughter. and… a talking cat? I mean, what? I thought I had figured it out about halfway through, I honestly did, and I was on the right track, but I was in for a shock. This is the first book I’ve read (audiobook version) by the author and I believe I will read more of her work because of it.

The narrator, Christopher Ragland…let me just say WOW. I went in knowing there was only one narrator but the way he changed his voice for each character is amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to him narrate this book. Most narrators just drone on and I get bored or irritated but with Christopher Ragland, I was enthralled. I will listen to more audiobooks narrated by him in the future.

What happened to Little Girl with popsicle? That is the main question of the story. So, to answer that question, let’s first get to know Ted, his cat Olivia, his daughter Lauren and DeeDee, not to mention the Bug-Man. Let’s look through the peephole. Just give it a try. We might see Olivia knocking down Ted’s Bible or Lauren riding her tricycle around the house, or Ted thinking about the Gods buried in the forest. And what’s up with that empty freezer? And why do we never see Lauren outside playing? Why is there plywood over the windows? What is Ted trying to hide? Who just moved into the house next door?

Come on, take a chance. Get on the Needless Street ride, strap yourself in tight, it’s going to be a blast!
*I was provided a free copy of this audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

This is a tough one to review. I enjoyed it for the most part. But this is the type of mystery/thriller where nothing is as it seems and the reader is heavily misled. I generally don't like that direction of writing. I have to give the author props for creativity, because the story did have great depth. I just can't say I appreciate the cheap twists. I might have enjoyed this more in physical format rather than audiobook. I thought Olivia's chapters were pretty unbearable with all of the meows and references to the Lord and the use of "GD". Ultimately by the end, when all the revelations came to fruition, I felt empty. It was surprising, but not in a pleasant way.

This book had so much hype surrounding it that I went in very apprehensive. I also went in knowing next to nothing at all about the plot, and I think I liked the book better for that.
The story is told in multiple POVs which sometimes can be a slog, but in this story it worked well. As the story gradually came together there was a certain predictability on the way that the plot would go, but I was still enthralled the entire time. The reveal was slow and I enjoyed taking the time to put it all together.
There were some spots in the middle where it felt like it dragged a little bit, so I think it could have used some work with pacing, which is why I only gave 4 stars, but I think that this book was excellent and I think it deserves the hype.
The audio was well produced as well and the narrators were good.

3.5

👍 Slow burn mystery
👍 Multi POV
👍 Character Driven
👍 Dark themes
😐 Plot twists


The Last House on Needless Street markets itself as a book about a serial killer/murder, as though it covers a grand mystery, but that's not really true. It's also not really a horror, as it is marketed. It's a slow-burning character drama with some dark themes. It's also very weird.

The story is focused on Ted. He lives in a boarded-up house with his cat Olivia. His daughter Lauren also visits. It also focuses on Dee, who is trying to uncover the mystery of who abducted her sister many years ago. Sharing anything else about the book is spoiler-heavy, though one thing I haven't seen mentioned is that Ted has a few co-morbid mental disabilities. A lot of this book is written through an extremely childlike perspective and can be jarring to some readers.

On top of the unique way Ted communicates and sees the world, The Last House on Needless Street is a very strange and isolating book. I can see it being off-putting to a lot of people because of how heavy it is with uncomfortable slice-of-life moments- from the life and times of Olivia the cat, to Ted navigating the disability of his own daughter, to his own struggles and substance abuse issues. It's written with intense fragmentation.

There are several plot twists in this book. None of them are super hard to figure out, but I did see them as a little more lazy and stereotypical for a thriller. Some of the twists I was hoping for, which would have made the story a little more spooky, did not in fact happen. I also felt like the twists made up for a few awkward plot holes and sort of exhausted me when the book was finished.

There were points in this book I didn't want to put it down and carved out my day to listen to them. The audiobook is exceptional and the narrator is incredible. There were also a lot of lows, especially after mysteries were revealed. The wrap up was also a little slow for my taste.

This is a very grim and gripping book, and I am glad I listened to it in audio--the narrator was spectacular, doing a variety of different voices and accents. I will look for more books by this author, Catriona Ward, as well as more recordings by the narrator, Christopher Ragland. Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc of the audiobook. It was excellent!

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.

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wow..how do I even begin?
This story follows Ted, his daughter Laura, and his Cat Olivia. They all live in the house at the end of Needless Street close to the forest. We come in as a girl has been murdered, and we get several different perspectives. You will want to go in as blind as you can to get the full effect of the story. This story is weird, but in a very good way. Just remember to stick it out until the end, it is worth it.
You think you know what is happening,but you would be wrong. I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy. I read this by way of the audio book, and it really was a showstopper, but I already want to reread this in physical form to fully I understand.
Thank you to netgalley for the copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Full disclosure: I received an ARC from the publisher.

I heard enough good things to want to give this book a try, and I am very happy that I did. I work as a librarian, and as soon as this is around here (US), I'm definitely going to be recommending it.
Definitely plays with your expectations, and messes with them nicely.

This is definitely a very original book. I don’t think I have ever read anything like it. The characters are very strange and disturbing. You know something is wrong without really knowing what is going on. This one definitely holds all it’s cards until the end. I found myself surprised at what actually happened. Definitely a good book if you want to be surprised and love a twist ending.

This book was definitely unlike any other book I’ve read. It’s easiest comparison would be a spoiler. But this reads as a confusing, almost heartbreaking story about the lonely resident of the last house in needless street.

His only friends are his cat and his daughter. It’s almost sad at how this character’s story pans out as it flashes into the past. I think my only main criticism that did bother me a bit was how mental illness was portrayed. I won’t go into detail for the sake of spoilers.

This was a surprisingly twisted read! I wasn't sure initially what the catch would be but WOW! I definitely didn't see it coming!! The audio performance was creepy with terrific acting. It was a chilling gothic tale about a missing child. What happened to her on that fateful day she disappeared from the beach? This was a psychological mystery that kept me wondering and guessing. Very tense at times. Would recommend the audiobook to readers looking for a suspenseful, atmospheric, horror thriller.

Going into this book you basically have NO idea what its about which i appreciate. This read like a gothic horror and the atmosphere was fantastic. I absolutely loved the performance from the narrator they did an amazing job. As for the story itself I did enjoy it but coming up to the twists I had already figured them out.

Incredibly suspenseful and eerie atmosphere.

I’m very conflicted about this one, and I think this is more of a 3.5 star review. Ward’s writing was suspenseful throughout and I felt like it was a very beautiful exploration of the idea of memory. It’s definitely a binge worthy book with amazing atmosphere that hooks you in. If you’re a fan of settings where everything is just a little (if not a lot) off, then this book is for you! I’m thinking specifically of Iain Reid’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things’ as a prime comparative.
That being said, I found that the big twist everyone is raving about was extremely obvious (like within the first few chapters kind of obvious) and it make it difficult to make it through certain characters’ narratives. I persevered hoping that perhaps there was a bigger twist and I was a bit let down. Definitely some interesting information arises, but if you’re aware of the twist early on, none of the events in the book will shock you. It’s probably best to go into this book with an open mind and not try to figure out the twist like I did.

Christopher Ragland was a superb narrator with an incredible range of voices.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the Advanced Listening Copy!

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 (coming soon) for a spoiler discussion.

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for an ALC of this incredible audiobook. I loved the story, but the audio production made it ten times better. I can't believe this is all one narrator! Often, I'm not a fan of male narrators trying to do female voices, but Christopher Ragland did an incredible job of matching all the different characters. Five-star audio production, and five-star book.

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 were Christian!), but such a creative way to describe Ted from another point of view.

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!

TW: child abuse

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was really trippy! The audiobook production was done really well. For the different characters, the narrator used different dialects and tones which helped listening to conversations during scenes. This was super easy to listen to and enjoyable! I finished this 11hour audiobook in 2-3 days which says a lot on how much I liked it.

As for the story, it's about a young girl who ends up missing and her older sister trying to figure out what happened to her. There are multiple storylines, characters and timelines in this. One character I enjoyed her perspective the most and loved how the author humanized her (don't want to say too much in case it's a spoiler). I went into this completely unknowing of the plot and what it was about--and I'm so glad I did because the different reveals were all shocking and fun.

Towards the end of the book, things get SUPER crazy and VERY deep--so pay attention if you are listening to the book! There were a few moments I went, "huh" and had to relisten because I was confused or a little lost. But I did like how it ended and again, the reveal was a surprise to me.

This book has strong messages and themes of mental health, family dynamics, hidden secrets and how people function under stressful situations. This is my first Catriona Ward book and wow..I can't wait to read more by this author.

4/5

Someone is abducting children and Dee, whose little sister Lulu was taken, needs to know who. Her hunt for who took her sister will take her down a long, dark tunnel of mental illness and family secrets and make her face her own fears and regrets.

I was steered in so many directions in this book and never quite put it all together until the very end. Each chapter is told from the point of view of one of four characters - 1. Ted, the overweight, simple recluse who suffered abuse as a child, has some mental and developmental illnesses, 2. Ted's cat, Olivia, who reads the Bible and tries to be a help to Ted, 3. Lauren, Ted's daughter, who has some mental or developmental issues and can't walk, but we're not sure why, and 4. Dee, whose little sister, Lulu, was abducted as a child and was never found, and who also suffers from some mental illness, perhaps depression, because of the incident. Yes, there are four unreliable narrators.

There are so many twists and turns in this book that I never really put it all together until the very end. I did enjoy it but I'm not sure I "liked" it. It was twisted, dark, creepy, and held my attention to the end. I would recommend this to anyone who likes really dark psychological thrillers. The audiobook is very well narrated.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review this ARC audiobook.