That was an awesome read. Like the main character very much. Book touches a lot of problems that we don’t realize that they exist. Normally I don’t read historical fictions but this one was good. Can’t wait for more books from Diane Chamberlain!
Thank you Netgalley for the copy.

Loved the suspense fulness. The characters were great even if their actions were a bit less than savory. The storyline was typical yet not boring.

I thought this was unique and interesting with spins that I didn't expect. I enjoyed the characters though not always what they did. The story was one I didn't know much about so I learned a lot and enjoyed it.

While I read this book after it was released, I absolutely loved how intense this book was! All the way through I was sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. This was one of my favorite books of the month when I read it and I can't wait to read more books like this!

Ellie and Kayla, live in Round Hill, North Carolina, but are separated by decades. The author explores the themes of justice, racism, and family secrets through Ellie's experiences in 1965, when she is a young woman fighting for civil rights, and through Kayla's experiences in 2010, as she deals with the aftermath of her husband's death and the haunting of her new home.

Both women are dealing with their own challenges and secrets that threaten to collide. The author's use of alternating timelines and perspectives creates a sense of urgency and suspense that will keep the reader engaged.

“The Last House on the Street" is a page-turner that will satisfy fans of psychological thrillers. Chamberlain's writing is sharp and engaging, and the story is both suspenseful and thought-provoking. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries and thrillers.

I love Diane Chamberlain's novels. They are always so in depth and keep me on the edge of my seat. This one is no different. It ties together her traditional mystery with social justice and some history. Two stories, same town, 45 years apart but still looking for justice.

I would classify THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET by Diane Chamberlain as historical fiction, a gut-wrenching story told from alternating timelines. The first centers around a young college student, Ellie Hockley, who, in the year 1965, spends her summer break as a volunteer for SCOPE—the Summer Community Organization and Political Education project—a group of college students helping to register black voters.

After orientation and training at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia, Ellie, along with her fellow volunteers, is sent to the town Turner’s Bend in her home state of North Carolina, wherein each volunteer stays with hosting family, spreading the word about the importance of registering to vote throughout the community, as they wait for LBJ to sign the voter’s rights bill into law.

Though met with life-threatening resistance, the volunteers refused to give up—including Ellie, whose racist family lives in the neighboring town of Round Hill—demands she comes home.

In the second timeline, set in 2010, young widow Kayla Carter and her three-year-daughter are getting ready to move into the house Kayla and her deceased husband Jackson designed and had built at the end of Hockley street, when a mysterious woman warns Kayla against moving into the house.

THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET was a difficult read, a gut-wrenching narrative that ripped my heart out. At various points throughout the book, the budding relationship between Ellie and one of the volunteers warmed my heart tremendously.

By the end of the book, I felt enraged at the lack of justice.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an eBook of THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET at the request of an honest review.

This book was so enjoyable and really held my attention more than I expected. Im excited to read other books by this author!

Diane chamberlain can do no wrong. She always writes a great novel and has done that again. Always have loved her books and can’t recommend them enough

ALL THE STARS!!

I don't know why it took me so long to read this. Diane Chamberlain is one of my favorite authors and I'm always super excited to read her books. Somehow life got away from me and I overlooked it.

Until this past weekend! I picked it up and read it in just a few sittings. I LOVED IT!

The story alternates between 1965 and 2010. Both timeframes were well written and gripping. The story was very emotional and had me in tears many times. I always feel a connection with this author's characters and this time was no different. Many of her novels seem to have that past and present storyline. It always seems to work out great.

I don't read a lot of historical fiction but there are a few authors that I will read whatever they write. Diane Chamberlain will always be one of those authors.

This was such a great read. In one way I'm glad I waited to read it as hopefully it won't seem so long between her books now. Next time I won't lose track.

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain is based on the history of voting rights in the South. I see the history identified in the story, read nonfiction articles about the history, and come back to the story with a better understanding of its context. For me, the book works because the parallel stories Ellie and Kayla work. It once again leaves me thinking of the divisions we create based on race and the atrocities that leads to.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/02/the-last-house-on-street.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

This book was just okay for me. I really wanted to enjoy it more, but while the subject matter and history lessons were interesting and informative, the writing just didn't give the impact I wanted.

While I'm not a huge of Historical Fictions, I do love a good mystery/thriller. I loved that it was narrated from two different timelines - 1965 and 2010. Both of these timelines take place in the same town in North Carolina. Both storylines intertwine with each other to create a beautiful masterpiece.

This story really opens your eyes to a lot of historical information. The overall plot keeps you glued to the pages. It's a great book that everyone should pick up.

If you are going to pick up a book by Diane Chamberlain, you better be ready for the emotional fallout. Her books will follow you for awhile.

The Last House on the Street starts out following two women. Kayla, in 2010, is recently widowed and in the process of moving into her new home with her young daughter. Processing the loss of her husband is even more complicated by the fact that the home she is moving in to was actually designed by her and her husband. The other woman is Ellie during 1965 and her experience volunteering in the Civil Rights movement.

An interesting twist to this historical fiction gem is that Ellie is also present in Kayla's timeline. It is very clear that something tragic happened to Ellie that summer. When we first meet Ellie, she is a young girl eager to help make a difference. She juggles all sorts of emotions as her eyes are opened to the extremes people are willing to go to make sure African Americans don't receive the same rights as the white folk in her southern town. Ellie in 2010 is very guarded and untrusting. You can tell she has put up several walls and the family dynamic is just beyond repair.

As the reader, you kind of get a sense of what really happened before the characters do. I can't even describe the anguish I felt for Ellie when the pieces started falling together and the truth started to roll out of everyone. How people can live with those kind of secrets is mind blowing but not as disturbing as how people can have that much hate for others just because of how they were born.

There really is a lot to unpack from this emotional read but not without spoiling some major plot points. All I can say, is that Diane Chamberlain is a must read author.

What took me so long?! I’ve had this book sitting for the LONGEST time waiting to be read and I’ve skipped over it countless times!! Why?!!!! This book was so well done and I definitely want to read more from Dianne Chamberlain after reading this story. The Last House on the Street was a little bit of everything rolled in to a beautifully written story about racism, perseverance, love, hope, and mystery. I felt ALL the emotions while reading this one and definitely recommend to anyone thinking about reading this!! Definitely try out the audiobook!! First 5 star read in a long time and first 5 star of 2023!!

This isn’t a usual story line I’d be attracted to but I’m so glad I gave it a chance. Wonderfully well developed characters and story!

Creepy and keeps you interested. Highly recommend. Thsi book kept me wondering. Twists and turns along the way.

I've read other Diane Chamberlain books and this one really held up in comparison. The story was well paced, the characters well thought out, the story made sense. I really enjoyed it and will be looking for more books from the author in the future.

A thought-provoking dual time line novel with a decades-old mystery. In 1965, college student Ellie volunteers for the SCOPE (Summer Community Organization and Political Education) project to help educate Black citizens in rural counties about their right to register and vote, now that the Voting Rights Act is about to be signed into law. In 2010, recently widowed single mother Kayla is about to move into the dream house she and her husband just built, but she’s getting threats warning her to sell it or tear it down.

This is my first Diane Chamberlain novel. Her intense research and devotion to her subject matter is evident. I appreciated learning about SCOPE. I admired Ellie and found her story riveting. She is strong, kind, and brave, and a fighter. The Kayla sections are not nearly as strong--I don't think that both narratives in a dual time line story have to have equal weight--but I wanted to at least connect with her and I didn't. This novel is tragic, hopeful, emotional, page-turning, it made me angry, it made me think. Not an easy read but I learned a lot.

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is my third Diane Chamberlin book and she hit it out of the park once again. She has quickly become one of my very favorite authors. She brings life to tough subjects through complex characters and incredible storytelling. As in her last two books I read, this book goes back and forth between two narrators: one in the present and one in the past. In the present Kaylah is a young, recently widowed architect moving into her dream home. In the past Ellie is a young white woman in North Carolina at the precipice of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 becoming law. She spends the summer working with SCOPE, a real life organization that worked in the south to register black people to vote. The story and the history is fascinating and infuriating. There’s some mystery in the story and it unfolds masterfully. I was literally gasping out loud at the end. I can’t say enough good things about this book, especially in light of current events and the move in many states to make voting more difficult, especially if people of color. Diane Chamberlin’s books sweep me away and keep me up late reading just one more chapter. I’d read her grocery list! I’m glad she has a good backlog of books for me to read.