2010 - Kayla Carter is moving into her dream home that she designed with her late husband Jackson, finding it quite bittersweet as the house that they built together was also the site of his untimely death. However the constant reminder of Jackson’s accident isn't the only horror in store for her at the house. Strange things are happening on her secluded property and soon it becomes clear someone doesn’t want her there, and is willing to go to great lengths to scare her away.

1965 - Ellie Hockley defies her family’s wishes and joins the SCOPE (Summer Community Organization and Political Education) program to help educate and register Southern black voters in preparation for the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. That summer changed her forever, and she didn't come back home again until 2010 when her mother and brother were in medical need. Her family home is the only other house on the street that Kayla built her home on, and the two women’s lives may just be connected by far more than an address.

First things first, I would classify this more as historical fiction than a mystery/thriller. It took me a very long time to get into this, I think because I was expecting something totally different. Once I settled into the fact that it was not the genre I was expecting, I had a better time with it. The last quarter of the book also ramped up the pace finally, after what felt like miles and miles of exposition. By the time we got to the conclusion however, it was very anticlimactic as I’d figured everything out long before.

Ellie’s portion of the book heavily focused on her experiences with the SCOPE program, which I think many readers will find interesting (and heartbreaking) to read about. I have to be honest though, I struggled a bit with how much this felt like reading about black people’s struggles through the eyes of privileged white people. Perhaps that’s helpful for some readers, as it frames the issue in a package that is more relatable to their own mindset and experiences, but I found it to be a bit off for 2022. Ellie also came off as a bit of a “Mary Sue” and felt like an unrealistic character to me, interesting as though it was to read about her experiences.

3.5 stars rounded up.

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain is told in dual timelines—-Kayla in 2010 and Ellie in the 1960’s. Kayla and her young daughter are getting ready to move into a house that her husband was building. Her husband died during the building of his house so she has mixed feelings about moving in now. One day an older lady comes to her office and tells her she cannot move into that house. It almost seems like a threat more than a warning. . What could possibly be the reason?
The story of Ellie takes place in 1965. She is in college and has a very serious boyfriend. She decides to volunteer to help register black voters. Her family does not approve of this. It causes a lot of conflict for her.
How are these stories related? You will have to read the book to find out! I love the way the author develops each character and their story so completely. Everytime I read one of her books I am completely immersed in the setting of the book. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I went into this book with high hopes, but it left me hoping for more. I love the concept and the story of the SCOPE Project. However, the story and characters fell flat for me. I ended up skimming to the end of the book, where the story grabbed my attention.

Kayla and her 3-year-old daughter, Rainie, are about to move into the home of their dreams, only it seems to me more out of a nightmare. Kayla's husband, Jackson, died in the home as they were building it, and it is a constant reminder of what she has lost. After Kayla and Rainie move in (and even before), strange things begin to happen at their home -- and it brings up the past for some residents of Round Hill, North Caroline who'd rather it stay in the past. One resident who has horriffic memories of that time is Ellie Hockley. Ellie was ahead of her time back in the 1960s, working and living in the South fighting for equal rights for black people. Her past and Ellie's present will come colliding together to hopefully put the past to rest -- finally. Told in dual timelines from Kayla's present and Ellie's past.

I thought this book was a very slow starter -- honestly, I didn't really care for Kayla one way or another as Ellie was a much better fleshed out character. I found the history behind SCOPE fascinating. This book is especially relevant now with all that is going on in the United States. I will say the end was a heartbreaker -- predictable but incredibly sad. The last 100 pages or so of the book I just flew through having to know what happened.

Thanks to the publishes for the eARC.

Architect Kayla Carter must make the decision whether she and her 4 year old daughter are going to move into the house her husband fell to his death in, the house that was their dream house when an encounter with a stranger sets her on edge. Once she makes the move, nothing seems right. She meets Ellie who has returned to North Carolina to care for her mother and dying brother, the only other neighbor on the road to the ridge. While Ellie seems friendly on the surface and even acknowledges knowing Kayla's father years ago, Kayla senses that Ellie is not being truthful about something. Readers get small glimpses into what that "something" is as we read Ellie's story circa 1965 in chapters that alternate with Kayla's story. Suspense builds with each chapter and readers will fear what is going to happen. Chamberlain has two strong stories, one a 50 year old story of race, bigotry, and tragedy. The other is a story of those who choose to be strong and put life's hurts aside vs. those who will go to any lengths to keep the past secret. With each page of Ellie's story I kept thinking. This is 1965. I was a teen like Ellie and Win. How could Ellie's world have existed in the same time frame as mine? As always Chamberlain is a masterful story teller and I highly recommend this book. I received a copy of this title from Netgalley. All opinions are mine.

Told in two timelines, this story is convincing and compelling. My favorite was the 1965 timeline and I learned so much about the SCOPE project. Very well written!
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoy Diane's books so I went into this blind (like I prefer) and I'm so glad I did. I had no idea the journey I was about to embark on, but it was fantastic. The story jumps between 2010 (Kayla) & 1965 (Ellie). It's part historical fiction and part mystery/suspense which equals a must read. I wasn't prepared for the emotional roller coaster or the ending, but you definitely don't want to miss this one.

When I read books with dual timelines, I usually prefer one more than the other, but I was equally invested in both time periods in The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain.

2010 - Kayla and her daughter move into the family’s dream house in North Carolina after the tragic death of Kayla’s husband. A mysterious woman tells her that she shouldn’t live there, and Kayla’s new neighbor, while welcoming, is clearly harboring secrets.

1965 - Ellie faces backlash from her family and friends when she decides to work with SCOPE, a civil rights movement that recruits white college students to help the black community register to vote.

This was an utterly emotional, intense, and impactful read. Chamberlain seamlessly wove together elements of history, mystery, love, hate, grief, and social justice. Through exquisite writing, extremely well-developed and complex characters, and a raw and tragic story, Chamberlain masterfully painted a vivid and heartbreaking picture of racial prejudice and violence in America. It was a powerful and poignant novel that I will not forget.

This book was not what I was expecting it to be based on the initial blurb. I was expecting a mystery, maybe even a bit of a thriller and that isn't really what this story is.

There are two parts to this story and two timelines. The first part is a bit of a mystery. That mystery is set in 2010 when Kayla Carter is moving in to her dream home with her 4 year old daughter after her husband had an accident and dies suddenly in that home. The mystery begins right at the start of the book when an older woman comes into Kayla's office and tries to scare her out of moving into her new home. Who is the woman and why does she not want Kayla to move into her new house? That question is touched upon throughout the story, but it is not the major focus. The larger part of the 2010 timeline is Kayla meeting her new neighbors and connections being made.

The part of the story that was unexpected based on the initial blurb, was the second timeline set in 1965. During this timeline the focus is on Ellie Hockley. Ellie is a college student who is upset by the social injustice of the times and decides to work with a program to help black people get out and vote. She believes that if they have help registering and getting to the polls that they can vote people into office that will help better their situations and she is determined and passionate about the cause. Unfortunately, Ellie lives in North Carolina where Klan activity is high and they do not appreciate the efforts of white students trying to help the black people to vote, particularly 'one of their own' from the south.

Needless to say, the storylines come together and the mystery is solved by the end of the book. I really enjoyed the way the story ultimately played out, though I did expect some of the 'twists' before they were revealed. The writing was still engaging and the story heartfelt.

I would recommend this story more to historical fiction fans than someone looking for a mystery/thriller. There is a mystery, but it almost plays a side part to the historical fiction aspect of the story.

The Last House on the Street
By Diane Chamberlain
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is that kind of book I'll never forget. A powerful and emotional historical-fiction/mystery book. I just couldn't put it down. The book goes back and fourth between 1965 and 2010 in North Carolina, telling a story that took place during the Civil Rights movement, the voting rights bill, the KKK (Ku Klux Klan) and SCOPE. It's a very intense read, specially after half way through. I requested this book because of the author Diane Chamberlain, I didn't read the back of the book and I had no idea what to expect. I trusted that it would be good and I wasn't disappointed.

2010: Kayla and her husband Jackson were both architects, and after years they finally built the house of their dreams in Shadow Ridge Estates, in a town called Round Hill NC. During the construction of the house, Jackson accidentally fell off the stairs and lost his life. Widowed and with her little girl Raine, Kayla decides to move into the house that took her husband's live even though she was grieving because they had worked so hard to design and build it the way they wanted that she felt like this was the right thing to do. Her house was the first house finished and it was the last house in the neighborhood with the woods in the back. A woman wearing a red hair wig showed up at her office threatening her about her new house and knowing too much about her personal life, including about her husband's death and about her daughter. The woods behind her house doesn't just look scary, bad things had happened there, and that's when she meets Ellie, a 65 years old woman that lives in the only old house in the neighborhood with her mother and her ill brother, the Hockleys.

1965: Ellie Hockley is a white NC girl that came from a wealthy family. Her father owns a pharmacy and she went to Pharmacology school at UNC. She has a friend called Brenda, that is expecting and is about to marry Garner. Ellie is also dating Reed, Garner's best friend. One day Ellie decides to become part of the SCOPE program (during the Civil right's movement). As a white and southern girl, her family was completely against her going down to Atlanta to help Black people register to vote. She ends up braking up with Reed and leaving her family and friends behind to follow her goals. During the program, she had to live with a few different black families and walk around their neighborhood talking to them about them registering to vote. Some of the houses she stayed at barely had food, no electricity or a shower, and she had to share a bed with the host kids, which was totally different from where she came from. Ellie really wanted to help them, even more now after living with them and getting to know about the injustices they had to go through. Ellie's partner Win was a black guy. After working together for a few weeks, they did something that was impossible for them at that time: they fell in love! But that would put Win's life at risk, so the program's coordinator sent Ellie back home, after Ellie's brother bit up Win.

- The story gets very intense. I don't want to get into details so I don't spoil anything but this is a very emotional book. As I said, this is that kind of book I'll never forget.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thanks Diane Chamberlain and St. Martin’s Press.

Diane Chamberlain has become my FAVORITE historical fiction author. Every novel teaches so much to the reader. The Last House on the Street does not disappoint and could not have come out at a better time! I love how her story telling really gets in your head and every book you read will have you remembering it and thinking about it for years to come.


I highly recommend this novel to anyone and everyone!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This is a social justice story told in dual timelines. We have Elle who is the main character in 1965. She cares quite a lot about voting rights and helping others get registered to vote after she learns of a project called SCOPE. She commits to a summer of volunteering for the cause. Her family disapproves. During that summer she meets a boy that will change her life.

The 2010 timeline is about Kayla and her young daughter. Kayla and her husband, Jackson, have just built a house but Jackson has an accident and they never get to live in it together as a family. Kayla's father lives in the same town and she is very close to him. He often helps with his granddaughter and enjoys being part of her life. Kayla is threatened at the beginning of the story by a woman in sunglasses and red hair. She tells her to not move into that house and be afraid of the woods that surround that house. Kayla already has mixed feelings about living in the home because her husband died of an accident there while they were finishing it.

The two timelines do converge and I loved the plot up until about 80%. I did not like the ending, however, and didn't really find it believable. I was frustrated and angry with the outcome. I can't say what bothered me so much because that would be a spoiler for sure. I know a lot of GoodReads friends who loved this novel and rated it very high. I was eager to get a chance to read it when I saw it available on NetGalley. I have enjoyed several books by Chamberlain quite a lot. I will keep adding books by the author. This one did disappoint me a little, however. I just didn't feel the ending was realistic; but, the story is quite stunning as far as telling what horrors happened during Elle's time period.

Subjects are racism, violence, murder, deceit, social justice, and pure evil.

I want to thank the publisher via NetGalley for a digital copy and an audiobook to read for review. The narration is superb. I do recommend this novel and you can decide for yourself how that ending works out. I liked both women and timelines. How they converge is shocking. Well written and important for the times.

Round Hill, North Carolina

2010—Both architects, Kayla Carter and her husband designed their dream house together, excitedly anticipating the day they and their young daughter could move in. After a freak accident during the building, Jackson is dead. Now a grieving widow, Kayla can hardly face the idea of living in the home, beautiful as it is. All of her misgivings come to the fore when a strange woman visits her at work, warning her away from the property. It doesn't help when Kayla's new home is vandalized and her own father fills her head with stories about the haunted woods in her backyard. Although she's completely unnerved, Kayla decides no one is going to scare her off her own property. It's time to face her future head on by making the house she and her husband built together into a place of refuge and healing for herself and their beloved daughter.

1965—Raised in a proper Southern household, 20-year-old Ellie Hockley's future has already been written. She'll marry her banker boyfriend, raise a passel of children, and grow old hosting meaningless tea parties and society galas. Longing to do something significant, Ellie decides to join a campaign to help Black people register to vote. Her family and friends react with disbelief, shock, and anger. Defying them all, Ellie goes to work, where she experiences—for the first time—harsh realities like poverty, racism, hate, and violence. As they work together, she finds herself falling for a fellow campaigner, a young Black man named Winston. The forbidden romance will lead to consequences far beyond anything either one of them could imagine...

When Kayla meets Ellie, who has moved in next door temporarily to take care of her elderly mother and terminally ill brother, she learns the real story about what happened during the fateful summer of 1965. Devastating secrets, kept for decades by her father and others, will finally come to light, revealing shocking truths about Round Hill and its residents.

I've enjoyed all of the hard-hitting past/present novels I've read by Diane Chamberlain. Her newest, The Last House on the Street, is no exception. While it's not my favorite of the author's books, it's still a compelling, well-written story that is thought-provoking, moving, and engrossing. The plot is engaging, even if it doesn't contain any real surprises. Kayla, Ellie, and Win are all sympathetic characters, who are easy to root for. None of them is really unique or memorable, but they're all warm, compassionate story people. Although the novel ends on a hopeful note, overall it's pretty sad and depressing. This surprised me as I wanted happier endings for this cast. On the whole, then, I didn't absolutely love this book. I liked it and I will always read more by Diane Chamberlain. The Last House on the Street just isn't my favorite of hers.

(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books by Diane Chamberlain as well as those by Susan Meissner)

Grade: B-

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for language (one F-bomb, plus milder expletives), violence, mild sexual content, and disturbing subject matter

To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Last House on the Street from the generous folks at St. Martin's Press via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Have you ever wondered what secrets small town hold?
“The Last House on the Street” by Diane Chamberlain brings us a fast paced read about tight knit communities and secrets.
The citizens and homes of Round Hill, North Carolina are at the heart of the story
Architect Kayla Carter is getting ready to move into her dream home with her four-year-old daughter. A home she planned and built with her husband, a house where he lost his life.
A house someone doesn’t want Kayla to live in.
Sixty-five-year-old Ellie Hockley is Kayla’s neighbour. Ellie grew up in Round Hill and has recently returned to care for her ailing mother and brother.
A town that drove Ellie away.
Told in alternating timelines we see two strong female protagonists: each resilient in their own way.

In the 1960’s we encounter a young and passionate Ellie. Strong in her love of activism, Ellie finds a calling in SCOPE, an organization that helps register Black Southerners to vote.
In present day we encounter Kayla who is looking around the mystery that surrounds her home.

Weaving the past and present, Chamberlain brings us a narrative which at its core carries many messages. Lessons on relationships, racism, family, love, small town, and activism.
Chamberlain shares the struggles faced by the Black Southerners as they registered to vote, the hatred spread by the KKK, and the impact felt by communities all over.

As this fast-paced read takes its readers towards the climax, we are met with emotional and heartbreaking ending.
Thoroughly enjoyed this thought provoking and interesting historical fiction!

Hi everyone! Today I'll be reviewing The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain.
I have no words to describe how much I liked this book. The story it tells is deeply interesting, I particularly liked the sixties timeline and the role that Ellie played in the fight for civil rights; I'd definitely say she is my favorite character.
I also loved how this book blends the 2010 and 1965 timelines together, and I was amazed by the ability of the author to create a realistic atmosphere and to tell such a great story; I'm looking forward to read some of her other books.
I'd absolutely recommend you The Last House on the Street if you like historical fiction and mystery books.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Last House on the Street is an intriguing and suspenseful book written by a talented author. I have loved so many of Diane Chamberlain’s books in the past (including The Dream Daughter, which is one of my all time favorite books) but I have to say, this one is my least favorite of her novels. The premise of the story is very interesting and I really liked Ellie’s point of view and the parts of the novel that take place during the 1960s during the fight for equal voting rights for African Americans. I loved how Chamberlain chose to focus on a lesser known aspect of the civil/voting rights movements (the SCOPE program, in which young college students canvassed neighborhoods in order to get African Americans to register to vote). However, I did not relate to or feel as interested in the other timeline featured in the story, which focused on the present day (the year 2010) in which a woman is receiving threats for moving into a house that was built on the same street as Ellie’s childhood home. I just did not connect to the events of this timeline and thought the big reveal at the end, as to who was making the threats, was pretty weak and predictable. I also did not really feel the chemistry between the two main characters whose love story plays out in the 1960s timeline. Some parts of the novel seemed to be drawn out and I lost interest while reading certain chapters. Overall, this was an okay read.

Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book!

An intense, emotional story uncovering the truth about past secrets and injustices. Trigger warnings: suicide, child death, attempted kidnapping, and miscarriage.

Whew! This book wrecked me!! I mean, I read the synopsis but I just was not prepared for this gut-punch! I'm strongly encouraging you to have a happy book or tv show ready for when you finish this book because it is HEAVY!

This book is definitely a slow burn: Ellie's chapters detail her finding out about the summer volunteer program, her planning and orientation, and her day-to-day life while working with the Black communities in her county. Kayla's chapters provide the mysterious portion of the novel and honestly, I was more interested in them at first because it was just so strange. (And because I wanted to know how it all tied in to Ellie's story.) However, I wish that Ellie's story was introduced after she and Kayla meet; before then, the connection isn't clear.

As the book continues, Chamberlain subtly cranks up the intensity, particularly in Ellie's story which is both saddening and infuriating. As much as I'm aware of the reality of the injustices and tragedies depicted in this book, it's no less hard to believe nor is it any easier to forget now that I've finished reading. (I don't want to give too much away but man, did I hold out hope.)

The end is absolutely explosive and by that point, I was so invested that I didn't want the book to end. I also wanted and expected more resolution. Though there isn't a true epilogue, Ellie's and Kayla's last chapters each serve as one, and it was a bit underwhelming. I mean, there was a lot of information given (read: truth exposed) so where was the fall-out?

Still, I would definitely recommend this book. I think it touches on some very deep (and hot-button) topics, and that's what makes it important and relevant. I will be making a point to read more of Chamberlain's previous works, and of course, I look forward to reading her future novels as well.

4.5 stars!

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC!

Diane Chamberlain does it once again!

1960's North Carolina, Ellie is at the University of North Carolina and finding her way. After hearing about a new program to help Blacks register to vote via the SCOPE program, she feels compelled to help!

2010, Kayla, a recent widow, and her daughter Rainie are in the processes of moving to their new home, where an unfortunate accident took her husband Jackson just months earlier. But someone is trying to keep Kayla from feeling safe in her new home.

When Kayla meets her neighbor Ellie she discovers Ellie has decades old secrets. Together they might just learn the truth about the past!

5 Stars

Ms. Chamberlain created a book that is a very intense and not for the faint of heart. I usually don't enjoy back and forth background history but the author seamlessly goes between decades to weave a story that's linked from the past. It is the 1960s in the south and a young woman wants to become involved promoting equal voting rights for blacks. This caused a huge rift in her family and the dangers were surreal. It's hard to imagine times like this ever existed. The cruelty and the racism during that time frame were brilliantly highlighted in this book.

Over 4 decades later Kayla, a young widow is overseeing the completion of her dream house. She and her husband were architects designing this beautiful home. Her husband was accidentally killed in a freak accident during the construction, and she is struggling with the idea of moving into the house. A stranger appears and tries to frighten her off from moving into her home. I won't go into the details but there are many horrifying moments that makes her rethink living there.

Ellie, the civil rights activist has come back home for the first time in over 40 years. She's taking care of her sick brother and mother. She moved away after a horrible tragedy, and has never regretted her destiny in life. She and Kayla become somewhat friendly. There is a connection between the two that is scary and profound. Why is somebody trying to stop Kayla from moving into this home, and what happened to Ellie that made her flee to California and never come back? This book was intense, credible, and deeply moving. Be prepared for a heartbreaking civil rights story that will truly stay with you for a long time.

Because I have read and loved two other books written by this author, I picked up this book without reading the blurb. And honestly, if I did read the blurb beforehand, I probably would not be interested in reading this book. However, this is storytelling at its finest.

The author expertly weaved together the past and present in a tapestry of words that left me intrigued to the last page. I was captivated by both storyline but was definitely more drawn towards Ellie’s story than Kayla’s. What I love about this book is that the characters are so real and believable. It was an unexpected ending to a story spanning time, heartache and love.

This is an emotional yet also heartwarming story that will keep you turning the pages. I loved every minute of this story and look forward to reading another book from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Diane Chamberlain for an ARC of "The Last House on the Street" in exchange of an honest review.