Hell close his eyes in one place and wake up in another. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions. And yet they are all lies. Yet, she continued to find others to blame, and in her targeting of Ted, did horrendous things to make him suffer, all to atone for her sins. What is the role of music for the civil rights activists? But Im sorry to say that as a story, The Last House didnt work for me more than it did. Beyond the Book| And I am glad you had such a great time with it! Stephen KingCatriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street is a shocking and immersive read perfect for fans of Gone Girl and The Haunting of Hill House.The new face of literary dark fiction. Sarah Pinborough, New York Times The other device the author uses is that she shows the same events from two different perspectives. Book Review: The Last House on the Street. And its here that Ward just stops playing fair with her readers. What I can say is that The Last House on Needless Street is an incredible character-driven novel. Since this is one I will obviously not be reading, LOL, can you tell me does that poor cat get a Happy Ending? You think youve read this story before. I was listening to it on Audible and was struggling hard with it. In the middle of this now, and Im enjoying myself! 1965. [3] Her next gothic thriller, The Last House on Needless Street, was published through Viper Books (an imprint of Serpent's Tail) in March 2021, and Tor Nightfire (Tor Books) in the US, in September 2021. He has only his cat Olivia for company, and he rarely leaves the house. Additionally, two characterizations didn't sit right with me. Ted lives alone in his childhood home with his cat, Olivia. Broadly, the novel follows Ted, a man living alone in his mid-30s, his daughter Lauren, his lesbian Bible-reading cat Olivia and a woman named Dee who lost 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. Frustrated with the lack of results from the police, she has zeroed in on Ted as the prime suspect. WebListen to "Das letzte Haus in der Needless Street Thriller" by Catriona Ward available from Rakuten Kobo. For sure, but I think she's going to have a very bright future as a horror writer at the rate she's going. How does the idea of marriage play into Ellie's idea to wait until marriage to "be intimate" with a man? In the last house on Needless Street lives Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia. Also yes, I tasted one and they are delicious, This book was simply exquisite. This is the story of a serial killer. Lulu was never found, nor was her body, so to this day her disappearance remains a mystery. It all just struck me as so much unnecessary red herring. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Plot Summary. Ward initially worked as an actor based in New York. From the outside, she appears to be a woman who is still mourning her sister, and now that she seems to have proof that Ted might have been involved, shes filled with rage and a thirst for revenge. He knows this, because he buried them there himself. 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. How would the story be different if they were just friends? Book Review; The Eighth Girl- Maxine Mei-FungChung, AnAverageLifes Top 10 Titles of 2021 An Average Life, Book Review; Road Of Bones- ChristopherGolden, Book Review; Devil In Ohio- DariaPolatin, Book Review; House Of Hunger- AlexisHenderson, Book Review; The Violence- Delilah SDawson, Book Review; A Sliver Of Darkness- C JTudor. Excellent review. I honestly didnt even catch the plot point about the sister because I stopped paying attention during the final act. Paperback: I love surprises like this if theyre handled well:-), Wow, Tammy. Ted doesnt seem to have much of a daily routine in his life. Ted is of course an unreliable narrator, as is the bible-reading Olivia, so its difficult to believe much of anything being described. 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. Weve seen many stories told from an animals POV, but Olivia was something else. You know from the outset theres a lot more to this than the characters are showing you, but its so carefully written you cant quite figure out what theyre hiding. Am I getting too big picture here? An Ted was abused by his psychopathic and murderous mother for years, which led him to develop dissociative identity disorder. Second, its the intersection of grief, revenge and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Secrets, shame, and adoption in the 1960sa poignant tale of a mother's enduring love. By day I'm a content, social media and PR specialist and in my spare time, I'm a book blogger. Copyright 2020 I've Read This. My hold for this book just came in yesterday! Search String: Summary| Which is more important to the Hockley family? Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Lulu was never found, nor was her body, so to this day her disappearance remains a mystery. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. It really made me a fan of Catriona Ward. WebThe last book I can think of that I finished (that probably wasnt worth the effort of finishing) was The Last House on Needless Street. Will stay up far too late to finish a book and can and will talk about them until the cows come home. The main story takes place eleven years after a six-year old girl named Lulu went missing down by the lake. You think you know whats inside the last house on Needless Street. I've never heard that phrase "not to yuck anyone's yum" as that's the quote of the day! This is a book thats oppressive and disturbing, sometimes nearly overwhelming in its sadness, but one that comes from a place of real humanity and caring. Kayla and Ellie both suffer the loss of the man they love. I have been lied to in the best possible way and I enjoyed every single moment. A Blog about science fiction, fantasy and more! And speaking of Olivia, what a unique character! Abused as a child, he has turned mostly into a recluse in his The narrative structure each chapter is told from the viewpoint of one of four characters, and each person provides a slightly different view of what we learned in the previous chapter. His young daughter stays from time to time, but he keeps her hidden away too. A thick, quiet woodland where you could hide anything. Readalikes| Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET by Catriona Ward Review, I have never seen a real icicle before this winter. Although gothic and dark throughout, theres a surprisingly positive thread that emerges. A gut-punch of a novel about a Cherokee child removed from her family and sent to a Christian boarding school in the 1950s. Ted is a middle-aged, jobless man who lives by himself in the house he grew up in as a child. His mother always warned him how dangerous the outside world was, and she wasnt wrong. About a decade before the story opens, Ted was a person of interest in the disappearance of a four-year-old girl named Lulu, who was visiting the nearby lake with her parents and big sister Dee. Synopsis This is the story of a serial killer. The Last House on Needless Streetis a masterclass in twists and turns. Im probably like you in that I would also start to think about how such things really do occur/are occurring in the world and that makes this type of book one Im far less likely to want to read. Catriona Ward is no stranger to gothic fiction. Ted frequently loses time, and what appear to be occasional inconsistencies and contradictions between the different narrators may frustrate at first, but gradually the clues begin to emerge and the puzzle pieces fall into place, revealing a chilling picture. Its powerful, beautifully designed and comes with everything you need to engage your visitors and increase conversions. The other device the author uses is that she shows the same events from two different perspectives. That novel, Rawblood (distributed in the United States as The Girl from Rawblood), was published in 2015. How did you feel after you learned of Brenda and Miss Pat's involvement in Winston's death? I loved this, it was so unusual and I couldnt put it down. I spent the rest of the story waiting for what seemed to be obvious to be revealed. Submitted by users as part of their reviews. 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. Im glad you kept this spoiler-free. So glad you finished it and enjoyed this as well! 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. by Catriona Ward. house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. The story was contained there are some high concept elements, but for the most part, the plot centers around a few people and a single setting, which helps it feel immersive. Clearly this was not the case while it slowly dawned on me that the evil in this book is purely human. Now on the anniversary of her disappearance, Dee has tracked down a new lead, and that lead just happens to be Ted. This has all the staple elements I look for in a horror novel of creepiness, suspense, and well, things that will genuinely freak you out. That part was WAY too much. BookBrowse LLC 1997-2023. But the way you know misdirection and especially plot twists have been done correctly is if you as the reader can reverse-engineer the story, looking back at earlier sections to discover, yes, there were the clues along, there was always enough information in the narrative for me to have solved this if I had been observant enough. If this was a movie, Id watch it again for clues, but Im not that interested in doing it here. Dates read: January 27 February 2, 2022. Heart-pounding suspenseplus Im going to have to read it a second time to see how she crafted the plot, which is honestly The mysteries the two core mysteries get explained, but there are so many ancillary things thrown in to keep the reader off balance that I still cant make sense out of what was important and what wasnt. WebSummaries. Theyre all complex and driven by completely different pain and fears. From what I remember, the other review didnt even mention child abuse that I remember, so thats the main part that surprised me. Expectation: A page-turning supernatural thriller. Definitely my favorite thing about the snow! I pushed through because I suspected (based on the cover blurbs) that I was purposely being misled, and the twist of all twists eventually changed my mind, but I do feel as though this book should come with some sort of trigger warning because it delves quite deeply into child abuse and neglect. Has this statement ever rung true in your life? awesome review, Tammy. Olivia is the fly on the wall but an unreliable spy at best, since she talks only of her own interests. Stop-starter of all projects great and small. How does this influence the relationship they're able to create? Ted lives alone behind boarded-up windows, hiding from the prying eyes of his neighbours. Any book is up for discussion as long as that discussion is respectful. So its not like she was aware of us in some meta way and had to protest her innocence. The story revolves around a handful of characters: Ted Bannerman is a single man who lives in a creepy, boarded up house on Needless Street. Personally, I was pretty underwhelmed by the final act and the creaky structure of the overall story. Ward does a great job of creating an ominous atmosphere, especially surrounding Ted, his house, and Olivia and Lauren. 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 This is a psychological horror story that leads you to believe certain things, but then pulls the rug out from under you late in the story. In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. A teenage girl who isnt allowed outside, not after last time. A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory. And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible. She built up the setting well, characters that are relatable, and makes it so once this ride was over, youll be completely blown away once you start to put all the pieces together. As you can probably tell from the lack of plot details, Im doing all I can to avoid spoilers. Thats where youre wrong. Often when I see those declarations, my initial thought is marketing malarkey because how many original ideas are there really these days? He lives in the last house on Needless Street, right next to the woods. Catriona Ward is an American and British horror novelist. Im super excited by the news that Andy Serkis production company has optioned the film rights to this because itll be a whole new way to enjoy this story. When hes at home, he enjoys watching monster truck shows, looking after Olivia, and he eagerly anticipates visits from Lauren (whom Olivia hates), even though she tends to misbehave very badly before she goes away. Ted also mentions that sometimes he goes away, and hes not sure what happens when he does. I found the sister story confusing and unnecessary and, like you, felt it was contrived having that whole set-up be a lie to begin with. Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts by email. I can hardly wait to read Catriona Wards next book! Here to talk books, film, mental health and lifestyle. Now, youve given me a totally different perspective.it almost sounds like this novel is more one of those violent thrillers instead of a horror novel thats designed to be scary, but also makes you laugh nervously because its fun to be scared. How do you imagine Ellie felt? An unspeakable secret binds them together, and when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out WebThe Last House on Needless Street is a dark and disturbing story about a man, his teenage daughter, and his bible-reading cat, Olivia. I mean wow, what a book! Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I am excited for this one, also. 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. // Lets Talk Bookish. 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. This is a psychological horror story that leads you to believe certain things, but then pulls the rug out from under you late in the story. He goes out sometimes, usually when he loses time. Dartmoor was the one place the family returned to on a regular basis. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. [4] Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendishs The Imaginarium Productions has optioned film rights to the book. I just finished it and felt like starting it all over again so I could read it with a more complete understanding of how it all fits together. Ted knows he isnt well, and he sees a therapist he calls the bug man, but the guy is just a quack who only cares about the book he claims to be writing. Join BookBrowse today to start discovering exceptional books! A testament of how the human spirit can shine, even in the most darkest of places and eventually emerge from that darkness to carry on, to live! At this point, Ward asks us to believe a chain of events that are frankly incredible. Even as someone that loves cats, I struggled with this fantasy element. I really cant say a lot more without giving away major plot secrets, youve got to just enjoy the ride for The Last House On Needless Street, the intrigue is blinding in this one and the ending is nothing short of incredible. I certainly didnt, which I guess makes me the perfect reader! 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. But there is an area in the forest he considers sacred and inhabited by gods. Theres something weird going on in this book. If The Last House succeeds at anything, its in Wards deep empathy for her subject. After finishing it, I wouldnt describe it as that; its more of a gothic psychological thriller. It also made me cry, and I can't say that about too many horror novels. [5], Ward lives in London and Devon.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. For both characters, their house represents their grief. At this point, Ward asks us to believe a chain of events that are frankly incredible. It is forbidden to copy anything for publication elsewhere without written permission from the copyright holder. "Viper strikes: Catriona Ward moves to new Serpent's Tail imprint | The Bookseller", "The Imaginarium's Andy Serkis & Jonathan Cavendish in Film Deal for Catriona Ward Novel 'The Last House on Needless Street', "catriona ward discusses her novel girl rawblood with mike mignola and devin griffiths", "On Ghosts, the Gothic, & 1920s Lesbians: An Interview with Catriona Ward, Author of Rawblood", "The Shirley Jackson Awards 2018 Shirley Jackson Awards Winners", "Interview: Catriona Ward Talks About Her Latest & Upcoming Books - Fully Booked", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Catriona_Ward&oldid=1126574772, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 10 December 2022, at 02:30. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Was there one perspective that you connected with more than the other? Hi, I'm Tammy, avid reader, book collector & reviewer of quality fantasy, horror & science fiction. This really does sound super creepy. Thats where youre wrong. Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time. Learn how your comment data is processed. The writing itself was not the problem, it was what the characters were doing to each other, or at least, what we are led to believe they are doing to each other. And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible. All Rights Reserved. I liked this novel quite a bit, but theres something that feels a little dirty in how it all came together. A fantastic readathon running this year, check it out here:The 2021 SFF Badge Collection, Dramatic, curly-haired wannabe writer from a nowhere town in Somerset. Im relieved I kept going because being pushed to the brink is clearly what the author intended with her plot development. Ward takes a well-worn horror device and portrays it in a way thats much more sympathetic, less superficial, but without making it any less scary (because the survival itself and the things survived are pretty horrific). In the last house on Needless Street lives Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia. Author It doesnt just get under your skin; it embeds itself there like your first blurry green/black tattoo you had a fifteen (just me?). The characters yes, a talking cat is one of the primary narrators. The nitty-gritty: A creepy, disturbing tale perfect for fans of twisty, psychological horror. Yes actually, the cat does get a happy ending! He does go out, though these excursions usually result in awkward and unpleasant encounters, to put it mildly. A Book Blog for Speculative Fiction, Graphic Novels and more! Ted and Olivia live mostly in the dark because hes boarded up the windows with plywood. But its not what you think. First, were led to believe Ted is the villain throughout the novel abusing animals, keeping his daughter locked up, drinking uncontrollably, living slovenly and (maybe) killing people only to realize in the end that he is the victim and maybe everything weve been told prior isnt exactly true. Catriona Ward expects us to swallow all of this with complete credulity. 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! A stolen child. And yet some of them are lies. Discuss the definition of "family" in the novel. Death. Revenge. The novel alternates between Ellie's perspective in 1965 and Kayla's perspective in 2010. Death. However, Catriona Ward has penned something really unique here that booksellers will struggle to find a genre to shelve it under. So, where do I even start with this?! Discuss what that means in the context of this story. This is all I can say without giving You might have a chapter from Olivias point of view and what shes observing from inside the house, and the next chapter might shift to Dee, who is in the house next door, watching the same event unfold. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward is the latest novel from the multi-award-winning gothic author. I couldnt agree more with everything you said above . There are a few elements of the plot that build suspense; not knowing what happened that day that Lulu disappeared, how much of Teds ramblings we can truly believe, Dees vigilante efforts, and the remarkably creepy yet vague memories of Teds life with his parents. Lulus guilt-ridden older sister Dee has been on a mission to find the little girls killer. Thats okay. When we then switch into kitten Olivias viewpoint its a jarring change. Its a very unique book and one Ill remember for many years to come. Too much contrivance was required to make the story work. Ellie frequently leads her fellow SCOPE volunteers and supporters in song during protests. I was really disappointed in it. I didnt care for it either. All Rights Reserved. I give The Last House on Needless Street a 4/5 as it is an excellent psychological horror involving murder, serial killers, and survival to the highest degree in a cruel world. This is the story of a murderer. reviewing fantasy, sci-fi, and romance novels. Buy This Book. The Last House on Needless Street moves away from the historical to the contemporary gothic, but deserves just as much praise and attention. In what ways does it not impact them? hah. The book is Anytime and happy reading! Now stop reading this and go buy it, I promise you wont regret it. Why does the bug manTeds therapistseem so sinister? ISBN13 9781788166188. It's all just so preposterous. Im usually unable to figure things out so perhaps Im also the perfect reader. 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. Nicely put, I reallllyyyy disliked this novel. In the dark of the forest, among the white birch trees, something lies buried. Don't miss a beat! They take no pride or care in themselves, just forcing their way through each day furthering their own agenda. Frustrated with the lack of results from the police, she has zeroed in on Ted as the prime suspect. Revenge. I had no idea what would transpire at the end and when it did WOW! Think Ill pass I much prefer nasty ghosts to nasty people , I prefer nasty ghouls to nasty people any day! For example, Reverend Filburn and the Northern students did not initially welcome Ellie because she was from the South, and the people in Round Hill opposed the SCOPE program because "Yankee" outsiders were coming in to "tell us how we should be runnin' things," as Buddy says in chapter 6. This is the story of Ted, who lives with his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. This helped slowly build the mystery and allow the reader to revisit key points in near real-time. In what ways does the society that the characters were born into impact who they become? To say she has mad skills is a massive underestimation here. Thats where youre wrong. I dont normally read horror but this is pretty irresistible, especially getting Olivias POV. My first DNF in quite a while. "Loneliness felt like a disease with no cure," Ellie says in chapter 40. In the dark forest at the end of Needless Street, lies something buried. 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. What do you think? 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. A teenage girl who isnt allowed outside, not after last time. Wow, that's so awesome to hear you loved it this much and for sure, it's definitely re-readable! The must-read gothic thriller of 2021 from the Shirley Jackson and August Derleth award-winning author of Little Eve and Rawblood. This is achieved not through making the language overly simplistic but by highlighting his naivete and inability to express himself or his understanding in a complex way, as youd expect an adult to be able to do, naming people by their physical characteristics, literal and figurative, or by associationsMan with Orange Juice Hair, Chihuahua Lady, Bug-Manfor example. WebIn a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. But, its also not what you think when you start reading it, it turns into something totally unexpectedI dont want to give anything away! Finally, this review will not be complete without some mention of the character of Teds late mother. Revenge. I just finished reading this and loved it!! He has a black cat named Olivia who isnt allowed outside the house, and a daughter named Lauren. The silly level of reader manipulation in this moment was immediately topped 3-4 chapters later when it turns out the scarf Ted supposedly took from a victim was actually something she dropped and he tried in vain to return to her. Synopsis An Indie Next Pick! 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. WebCatriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street is a shocking and immersive read perfect for fans of Gone Girl and The Haunting of Hill House. What are the expectations of family, and where do the lines blur between blood relatives and people who simply fulfill familial roles? All rights reserved.Information at BookBrowse.com is published with the permission of the copyright holder or their agent. Since finishing it, Ive thought about it every single day. All these things are true. This is one of the books Ive most been looking forward to and your fabulous review has me even more excited! Revenge. His only companion is a cat named Olivia, who has her own chapters in which she is the first-person viewpoint narrator, suggesting that Olivia is either a very special cat indeed or maybe not a cat at all. Ive seen this everywhere lately, definitely going to have to pick it up! Winston also sings a few verses from "I'll Fly Away" to Ellie on the first night they meet in the tree house on page 277. Once you realize misdirection is the entire goal here, its no longer misdirection, its just a book believing that its smarter than its readers. 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