From the ramshackle houses to the disappearing children, theres something nefarious at Teds infrequent trips to the bug doctor give us a little extra insight into his personality and a few ideas of important events. Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy. A LibraryReads Top 10 Pick! Moreover, it becomes evident as you read that Ward does not establish anything at all in her story that she doesnt plan to completely overturn with an M. Night Shyamalan-style twist. Yay! Has this statement ever rung true in your life? What is the importance of society and "fitting in" for the characters in the 1965 timeline? All Rights Reserved. At this point, Ward asks us to believe a chain of events that are frankly incredible. Hell close his eyes in one place and wake up in another. Maybe its nothing, or maybe hes visiting his favourite place in the woods. Plot Summary. Ted doesnt seem to have much of a daily routine in his life. (LogOut/ Right away we see that things arent quite right with Ted. Overall, this was an excellent story, masterfully constructed and executed, and creepy as hell. How do the idea and perception of protest differ in 1965 to the present day? And speaking of Olivia, what a unique character! The Last House on Needless Street moves away from the historical to the contemporary gothic, but deserves just as much praise and attention. All these things are true. I certainly didnt, which I guess makes me the perfect reader! Ted is a middle-aged, jobless man who lives by himself in the house he grew up in as a child. How did the alternating timelines and voices impact your reading experience? By the end of the book youll have most of the answers, but not all, which I was OK with. Some cheap tricks to help spice up a plodding story that mostly amounted to characters sitting and waiting and watching. 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. The final act theres a bait and switch that felt organic and not for shock value. Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time. Which characters do you think are most impacted by loneliness? I got about halfway through The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward and debated closing the book for good I just wasnt sure I could handle it anymore. This isnt anything like Blake Crouch, sorry to say, but you wont be disappointed:-), Okay I need this now! I was listening to it on Audible and was struggling hard with it. An Yeah, I thought it was awful, I guessed the big twist about 50 pages in. The Last House on Needless Street follows awkward shut-in Ted and his loyal sidekick, Olivia the cat. Something horrible may or may not have happened in Teds past. He was once a suspect in a missing person case involving a little girl named Laura. 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. Subscribe to receive some of our best reviews, "beyond the book" articles, book club info and giveaways by email. Why or why not? Heart-pounding suspenseplus Im going to have to read it a second time to see how she crafted the plot, which is honestly Expectation: A page-turning supernatural thriller. Buy This Book. Synopsis This is the story of a serial killer. Zeen is a next generation WordPress theme. Now she writes novels and short stories, and reviews for various publications. Its a difficult book to review however, as the less you know about the plot going in, the better (though the title reminds me of the house on Neibolt street from IT, its not a spoiler for me to say that there arent any clowns hanging around in storm drains), but Ill do my best. "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. 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. Its another way to show how unreliable all of the characters are, since they never seem to agree on what they see or experience. reviewing fantasy, sci-fi, and romance novels. The nerve-shredding tension and creeping unease comes with you having to work things out at the characters pace. Yes: 65% | It's complicated: 30% | No: 3%, It's complicated: 59% | No: 25% | Yes: 13%, No: 35% | It's complicated: 32% | Yes: 28% | N/A: 4%, Yes: 82% | It's complicated: 14% | No: 1%. Well I found it difficult to read because ultimately its about child abuse and neglect, and I found that difficult to stomach. And yet they are all lies You think you know whats inside the last house on Needless Street. And I also really wanna meet Olivia the cat. I absolutely loved it, but I guess it could be in part that, as the spouse of a system (person with DID), I really appreciate her final notes on DID. He goes out sometimes, usually when he loses time. ISBN10 1788166183. 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. But I think Ward could have given poor Ted a mother who fit that trope, if thats the trope she really needed to utilize, without going overboard into making the woman into some kind of Resident Evil villain performing devilish medical experiments on missing children. Like putting a hat on a hat. 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. But its not what you think. Ward initially worked as an actor based in New York. 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 And what exactly is Ted burying when he goes into the woods at night? Often when I see those declarations, my initial thought is marketing malarkey because how many original ideas are there really these days? 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. There were moments when I thought continuity mistakes had been made (I have a proof copy so it can happen) but trust me when I say that nothing in this book is a mistake. The Last House on Needless Streetis a masterclass in twists and turns. The Last House On Needless Street is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore. What are the expectations of family, and where do the lines blur between blood relatives and people who simply fulfill familial roles? He has only his cat Olivia for company, and he "The new face of literary dark fiction." 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. WebSummaries Follow Ted, who lives with his daughter and his cat. Hes boarded up all his windows and can only see outside through the small peepholes hes drilled into the boards. Book Review: The Last House on the Street. 1965 Known to most as Little Girl with Popsicle, her sister Lulu disappeared and was never seen again. This was the first novel Ive ever read by Ward and her style of writing is absolutely fantastic. Is Ellie lonely in California? Another fabulous review, Tammy! Catriona Ward is an American and British horror novelist. the characters are, since they never seem to agree on what they see or experience. Your review has just cemented my wish to get it sooner. 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. Would you look for excuses to extend your solitary visit with this possible pervert child murderer in his own house by asking things like Can I use the bathroom? and Could I have a drink of water? Would you spy on his movements and follow him, all by yourself, when you see him walking into the forest at night with a shovel? [4] Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendishs The Imaginarium Productions has optioned film rights to the book. For example, both Brenda and Ellie were raised in the same society, but had very different values and, consequently, led very different lives. 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. And, read at a superficial level, this novel brings us to the brink of despair and back to the promise of hope quite effectively. WebSummaries. A Library Journal Editors' Pick! It was a genuine surprise and just made me love this novel even more, even though I wanted more with the ending, still thought it was an excellent reading adventure. I wont drop a massive spoiler and say what Teds condition is, but it shouldnt be too hard to figure out unless you yourself have been living in a boarded-up house all your life. Language English. This is the story of a serial killer. Mothers, either of the abusive or excessively smothering variety, who have left their adult children with a boatload of devastating mental health problems have become one of horror fictions most recycled tropes. What significance does Kayla's house and all of the Shadow Ridge development mean to the town of Round Hill? This plot is so intricate, I cant help but be in awe of the planning it must have required, which is one of the reasons Im so impressed by this book, even if it pushed me to my empathetic edge. I get why people like it, but I'm certainly not in a rush to pick up any of the author's other work. I wish I could wax lyrical about what twists I liked best and the clues I missed, but I have no intention of explaining the ending. Ward dips back into the past at times and we learn more about Teds childhood, as well as the events at the lake the day Lulu disappeared. Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you. Catriona Wards The Last House on Needless Street arrived in 2021 riding a wave of pre-release hype the likes of which I dont think Ive seen since Justin Cronin released The Passage ten years ago. 50 pages in, this was the first novel Ive ever read by Ward her... 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