Is it a thriller mystery along the likes of Blake Crouch, or is that wishful thinking on my part??? The Last House on Needless Street follows Ted, who lives with his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. And I also really wanna meet Olivia the cat. Which is more important to the Hockley family? BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfictionbooks that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Olivia is limited by her understanding as a cat and Dee is ruthlessly single-minded, her life essentially halting with her sisters disappearance and the dissolution of her family. Both Ted and Dee are an absolute wreckage. For example, both Brenda and Ellie were raised in the same society, but had very different values and, consequently, led very different lives. Since this is one I will obviously not be reading, LOL, can you tell me does that poor cat get a Happy Ending? I didnt care for it either. Which characters do you think are most impacted by loneliness? A stolen child. Learn how your comment data is processed. Hugs to @tordotcompub for the review copy . Honestly, by the time the story reaches these revelations, were so far away from relatable reality that its practically parody. I get why people like it, but I'm certainly not in a rush to pick up any of the author's other work. What is the significance of that decision? An ordinary house on an ordinary street becomes a pit of unimaginable darkness in this truly nerve-shattering psychological thriller from the author of Little Eve. They can all no doubt be traced back to the real-life mother of the notorious serial killer Ed Gein, a woman who created such a toxic hellhole of a home life that it would have been a miracle for her son not to have grown up to become the inspiration for Norman Bates and Leatherface. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward is one of those rare novels I read that kept me on the edge of my seat from the moment I started. I have been meaning to get this book for ages. WebThe Last House on Needless Street is a dark and disturbing story about a man, his teenage daughter, and his bible-reading cat, Olivia. It appears Dee had some responsibility for the death and disappearance of her sister and the subsequent destruction of her family. A teenage girl who isnt allowed outside, not after last time. The very subject matter of parental abuse and the destructive traumas that children of abusers can carry into adulthood is alone enough to be triggering to a great many readers. I have to admit I was confused for quite a long time, but Ward does bury clues within her tale, and astute readersor even readers who are well versed in thrillersmay be able to figure things out. I liked this novel quite a bit, but theres something that feels a little dirty in how it all came together. An Expectation: A page-turning supernatural thriller. Why does the bug manTeds therapistseem so sinister? In this novel, Ward is either so clumsy that all of her intended mysteries are obvious from the get-go, or, as in the case with Dees character, she doesnt misdirect the audience, she simply misleads them. But remember, everything in this book is setup for a shocking twist. It is forbidden to copy anything for publication elsewhere without written permission from the copyright holder. Oct 12, 2021 | Book Reviews, Horror, mystery, Thriller | 12 comments. Nicely put, I reallllyyyy disliked this novel. awesome review, Tammy. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Its definitely not for everyone because it may steer some readers into painful childhood memories that may be best left unexamined, but its an excellent example of the power of red herrings when directing attention to all the wrong places. Thanks Sarah! Sign up to get the download as well as an email sent once a month with links to my latest reviews, information on my online book club, and other bookish announcements. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. And yet they are all lies You think you know whats inside the last house on Needless Street. Thats where youre wrong. Shes the only author to have won the August Derleth Prize for Best Horror Novel at the British Fantasy Awards twiceonce in 2016 for her debut, Rawblood, and again in 2019 for her second, Little Eveand has also been shortlisted for the Authors Club Best First Novel Award, a WHSmith Fresh Talent title, and won the 2019 Shirley Jackson Award. A thick, quiet woodland where you could hide anything. Language English. The years passed and so did her parents, but she never gave up the hunt to find the person that took her sister. What do you think is the meaning behind this statement? Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, Movie Review: Roald Dahls Matilda The Musical, 10 Reasons You Should Be Watching Anime (If You Arent Already), Funniest Supernatural Episodes To Watch Before It Ends, Review: Winters Orbit by Everina Maxwell, Review: Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon, Read An Excerpt From Someone Elses Life by Lyn Liao Butler, Review: Youre That Bitch by Bretman Rock, Exclusive Cover Reveal: Lady Sunshine by Amy Mason Doan, A Long Petal Of The Sea by Isabel Allende, Review: All The Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham, 6 Adult Fiction Books For Young Adult Fans, Lovecraft Country Recap: 1.05 Strange Case, Lovecraft Country Recap: 1.06 Meet Me in Daegu. Change). Its another way to show how unreliable. And for any reader who still might be slow on the uptake, later on in the book Ward actually has her characters straight up tell us, Gosh, were just like those Russian nesting dolls!. The novel alternates between Ellie's perspective in 1965 and Kayla's perspective in 2010. Dee moves into the vacant house next door to Ted and begins to spy on him, convinced that not only was Ted responsible for abducting Lulu, but that Lulu is still alive and being held inside Teds house. SYNOPSIS Dee has never been the same since her sister went missing on a family holiday. Its like, give me a break! The main story takes place eleven years after a six-year old girl named Lulu went missing down by the lake. Your review has just cemented my wish to get it sooner. Olivia is the fly on the wall but an unreliable spy at best, since she talks only of her own interests. But even though the journey can be harrowingseriously, this was a book shaped spoon that scooped out my emotions as if they were ice cream; little wonder that its been endorsed by Stephen King amongst others, or that its been selected as one of the titles for the second series of the BBC2 book programme Between the Coversthe story ultimately manages to end on a hopeful note: hope that after survival theres living. The other device the author uses is that she shows the same events from two different perspectives. Overall, this was an excellent story, masterfully constructed and executed, and creepy as hell. Does anyone else find themselves spiraling into these pits of despair when faced with a book that simply reminds us of how terrible some humans are? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. WebThe Chihuahua lady and the mom seemed to be close, and the mom told her later on that she would be going out of town as a way to lead false tracks away from her if Revenge. It is central to the appeal of a mystery, being led down blind alleys in the hope that youre a clever enough detective to piece together the puzzle. Like I could handle the Ted/Lauren/Olivia twist because they would conceivably be so fucked up they are actually be narrating as honestly as they are able. There are too many plot contrivances that ask us to be extremely generous with our willing suspension of disbelief, too many supporting characters who seem like exaggerated and even cartoonish caricatures. When a woman named Dee moves into the abandoned house next door while on her quest to find her sister, who was kidnapped years ago, Ted's life begins to spiral into chaos. The Last House on Needless Street follows Ted, who lives with his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. Excerpt| Although this book is fiction, the terrible things it describes most certainly do go on in the world, are probably happening as I type this, and that level of awareness began to overwhelm me as I considered the extent of human suffering that others endure. Now, lets talk about the characters and the big reveal. Priscilla Bettis recently posted3rd Quarter 2021 Writing Goals, This is one book you DONT want to spoil, it was so unique:-). Maybe I read too much r/fakedisordercringe but I figured out the twist the minute Ted said the cat had to go away when the daughter came over. How does this influence the relationship they're able to create? Most reviews of The Last House on Needless Street mention that you cant talk about the plot without giving away its secrets. Its definitely more psychological horror, if thats something you enjoy. If you read it for its mood, for its sense of dread, if you enjoy being surprised and you dont care to think too closely about the choices the writer is making and why theyre making them, then yes, The Last House on Needless Street is a novel that can have a profound emotional impact. A missing child. You think youve read this story before. Her family moved a lot and she grew up all over the world, including in the United States, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. To her infinite credit, Catriona Ward has taken seriously her responsibility to do justice to a condition that is suffered by a great many deeply traumatized people and present it in a way that is compassionate and, despite the horrors that unfold in the story, hopeful. Just $45 for 12 months or All reviews and site design by Thomas M. Wagner. Thats where youre wrong. From literary classics to sci-fi graphic novels, I love it all. Ted is a middle-aged, jobless man who lives by himself in the house he grew up in as a child. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward is one of those rare novels I read that kept me on the edge of my seat Dartmoor was the one place the family returned to on a regular basis. And speaking of Olivia, what a unique character! Subtle hints are dropped to keep us trying to guess what Olivia knows but doesnt care enough to mention- a fun, unique aspect of Needless Street. And then there is Mommy, Teds mother, a beautiful but slightly sinister figure, who we gather is no longer around but whose presence nevertheless looms over everything like the spider at the heart of a web. We occasionally get a few chapters told from the perspective of Dee, a woman whose younger sister Lulu disappeared when they were little, and Dee suspects Ted was the kidnapper so she moves in next to him in an attempt to revive the cold case. Paperback: Discuss the definition of "family" in the novel. He loses time and makes frequent, nighttime trips to the nearby woods. Reading Guide| This horror fiction-related article is a stub. [5], Ward lives in London and Devon.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. This isnt a spoiler. And I am glad you had such a great time with it! If good intentions made for great novels, Id be only too happy to join the chorus of praise. What are the expectations of family, and where do the lines blur between blood relatives and people who simply fulfill familial roles? I'm so glad to see another fan of The Last House on Needless Street, though! I literally just finished the book and you pretty much nailed how I felt about it. All these things are true. Plot Summary. You'll have to update us on if Sundial is as good! Press J to jump to the feed. This has been in my list for a while.I just might get it now thanks! In the last house on Needless Street lives Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia. Sadly I am not a fan of this kind of book, horror is not for me, amd psychological horror is definitely not for me, but your review was captivating! The Last House on Needless Street is an absolute tour de force of a novel. There are so many questions raised throughout the novel that it borders on the confusing, yet thankfully not everything is tied up in a neat bow at the end either, and the tension between reality and make-believe lands firmly in the real side of things once the last page is turned. Click here to receive notifications of An Average Life new posts by email. (LogOut/ I read one other review of this book and put the audio version on hold. These little bits of information eventually reveal what actually happenedor do they? Synopsis An Indie Next Pick! Also yes, I tasted one and they are delicious, This book was simply exquisite. Olivia is in love with an outdoor cat that strolls by the window peephole, and she has an odd relationship with another cat named Night-time. And that is the beauty of this storygetting to the truth is a circuitous and uneven path, one I never grew tired of. Since then, an invisible bond has connected them. When she returned to London she worked on her first novel while writing for a human rights foundation until she left to take an MA in creative writing from the University of East Anglia. How does it influence the plot? For both characters, their house represents their grief. I loved the tone of voice Ward created for her, its exactly the kind of aloof, narcissistic and skittish attitude youd expect from a cat if it could talk! At last, she has the address of the man who was originally suspected of her abduction. What significance does Kayla's house and all of the Shadow Ridge development mean to the town of Round Hill? Glad you loved it as much as I did :-). Definitely my favorite thing about the snow! Switching between POVs, Needless Street is the tale of Ted- a reclusive drunk, his cat Olivia, daughter Lauren and Dee- a woman in search of her missing sister Lulu. A gut-punch of a novel about a Cherokee child removed from her family and sent to a Christian boarding school in the 1950s. This is one of my favorite story devices and it works so well here. In the most basic sense, The Last House on Needless Street follows the story of Ted, a lonely man who lives in a boarded up house (on Needless Street, What I can say is that The Last House on Needless Street is an incredible character-driven novel. The Last House On Needless Street is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore. Im intrigued by your description of her as Bible-reading! This is a fabulous review! Now on the anniversary of her disappearance, Dee has tracked down a new lead, and that lead just happens to be Ted. 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