the last house on needless street plot summary

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 Synopsis This is the story of a serial killer. The Nerd Daily 2023. But Ted has some endearing qualities as well: he loves animals, especially the wild birds that flock to his garden bird feeders, and of course, his beloved cat Olivia. In the last house on Needless Street lives Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia. I mean wow, what a book! Recommended for spooky season, but reader beware! Its another way to show how unreliable all of the characters are, since they never seem to agree on what they see or experience. Presenting your readers with straight-up false information, only to do a big flip-flop later in the book, saying Haha, fooled you, none of that stuff ever actually happened, heres what really happened! feels less like good storytelling and more like story-trolling. Copyright 2020 I've Read This. 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. Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes! I just finished this book the other day - so fun to see someone else has read it so recently too! Ted doesnt mind because the guy gives him free meds. Thats where youre wrong. 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. Stephanie @ Bookfever recently postedCant-Wait Wednesday: A Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur, I really thought the whole pull the rug out from under you was well done. WebSummaries. Lulu was never found, nor was her body, so to this day her disappearance remains a mystery. All storytellers are liars, but Catriona Ward is a particularly good one. 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. I dont normally read horror but this is pretty irresistible, especially getting Olivias POV. Murder. The Last House on Needless Street is an absolute tour de force of a novel. You may think youve read this story before, but its not what you think. Death. This is her first novel with Serpents Tail imprint, Viper Books. What significance does Kayla's house and all of the Shadow Ridge development mean to the town of Round Hill? 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. It felt long at times there are some vague situations at the beginning and none of the characters come across as likable except Olivia, the Bible loving queer cat which made me wonder if the ride was worth it. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. Synopsis: A communitys past sins rise to the surface when two women, a generation apart, find themselves bound by tragedy and an unsolved, decades-old mystery. At this point, Ward asks us to believe a chain of events that are frankly incredible. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its What do you think? 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. To know too much going in would have ruined the reading experience for me. As you can probably tell from the lack of plot details, Im doing all I can to avoid spoilers. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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! For sure, but I think she's going to have a very bright future as a horror writer at the rate she's going. They take no pride or care in themselves, just forcing their way through each day furthering their own agenda. , Ha ha you will probably be as surprised as I was if you read it:-). This really does sound super creepy. Genres & Themes| Her research took two years, she interviewed people living with the condition, and the back of the book includes a bibliography listing 38 sources. Additionally, two characterizations didn't sit right with me. Kayla and Ellie both suffer the loss of the man they love. He has a black cat named Olivia who isnt allowed outside the house, and a daughter named Lauren. Posted July 22, 2021 by Tammy in 5 stars, Reviews / 33 Comments, Ive gotta say Im SUPER intrigued by this book after reading your review. as they happened was a truly immersive experience. This is probably a story best suited in physical form so you can revisit sections as the mystery unfolds. And what exactly is Ted burying when he goes into the woods at night? That statement resonates with the rest of Ellie's life. 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. BookBrowse LLC 1997-2023. Excerpt| By day I'm a content, social media and PR specialist and in my spare time, I'm a book blogger. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I love surprises like this if theyre handled well:-), Wow, Tammy. 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. But, its also not what you think when you start reading it, it turns into something totally unexpectedI dont want to give anything away! 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. This is where the story begins to go wrong. The nerve-shredding tension and creeping unease comes with you having to work things out at the characters pace. 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. 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. 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. 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. This character 360 comes across as a master stroke of creativity by Ward. The StoryGraph is an affiliate of the featured links. In the dark forest at the end of Needless Street, lies something buried. "The new face of literary dark fiction." My hold for this book just came in yesterday! Even when the detective in charge of the case started to give up, Dee kept hunting. 100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: All is not what it seems on Needless Street. Thats okay. 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 Hes not a complete shut-in. I didnt care for it either. This novel was hard to put down and ended up being an instant page-turner. Thats a journey you need to take yourself. I honestly didnt even catch the plot point about the sister because I stopped paying attention during the final act. For Ellie, her house is a reminder of her tragic loss and familial betrayal. Dramatic, curly-haired wannabe writer from a nowhere town in Somerset. Is the cat one of the narrators? This is the story of a serial So, sure enough, we learn that Dee has shall we say some sordid history of her own. I am excited for this one, also. 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. Secrets, shame, and adoption in the 1960sa poignant tale of a mother's enduring love. 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. Revenge. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. 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. 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. 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. 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. WebSummaries Follow Ted, who lives with his daughter and his cat. Publication date 16 Sep 2021. 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 thrillers. Even as someone that loves cats, I struggled with this fantasy element. Lulus guilt-ridden older sister Dee has been on a mission to find the little girls killer. At this point, Ward asks us to believe a chain of events that are frankly incredible. 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. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions. Although gothic and dark throughout, theres a surprisingly positive thread that emerges. None of them are reliable. I was interested before but after reading your review I WANT this book. I'll probably re-read this come October or something. Catriona Ward is no stranger to gothic fiction. After finishing it, I wouldnt describe it as that; its more of a gothic psychological thriller. 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. This was the first novel Ive ever read by Ward and her style of writing is absolutely fantastic. Known to most as Little Girl with Popsicle, her sister Lulu disappeared and was never seen again. Agree on the ending but I'd have trouble wrapping up that story too if I were the author. If youve read the novel, you understand that mental illness is the central plot. Publisher Profile Books Ltd. Imprint Viper. Get in touch with me at thetattooedbook@yahoo.co.uk. 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. It also made me cry, and I can't say that about too many horror novels. Who do you believe feels the most guilt? At the half way point I couldn't justify spending any more time with it and refunded it. Catriona Ward is an American and British horror novelist. 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. Anytime and happy reading! 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. What is the impact of Winston and Ellie falling in love despite Winston's statement that he never "planned on falling in love with a white girl" in chapter 42? What is the significance of that decision? Ted and Laurens voices are childlike, Lauren because she is a child; Ted, it becomes apparent, due to serious emotional and psychological trauma. She really did her research and reached out to those with DID and although it was over the top for entertainment, many parts were quite accurate. I strongly agree that the sister should have been a reliable narrator. Multi-tasking: Good to go, but since it feels like we toggle between fantasy and real-life, its better to stick to activities that will allow you to concentrate on the mystery. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward will undoubtedly be on my top 10 book list of 2021. Ted is a middle-aged, jobless man who lives by himself in the house he grew up in as a child. 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. The Last House on Needless Streetis a masterclass in twists and turns. This is indeed a great weekend read for sure :-). Finally, this review will not be complete without some mention of the character of Teds late mother. Hell close his eyes in one place and wake up in another. What do you think is the meaning behind this statement? Weve seen many stories told from an animals POV, but Olivia was something else. 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). Ted was abused by his psychopathic and murderous mother for years, which led him to develop dissociative identity disorder. The novel alternates between Ellie's perspective in 1965 and Kayla's perspective in 2010. 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. So its not like she was aware of us in some meta way and had to protest her innocence. Once I acknowledged this discomfort and moved on, I found I could read my way through this book and enjoy the fact that its an incredibly brilliant story, twisted in such surprising ways that I was always eager to turn the page and find the answers that inevitably eluded me until the very end. 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. Bestsellers rank 30,480. Hes going to struggle massively to live up to what lies between these pages, but I cant wait to hear who they cast. Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy. "Loneliness felt like a disease with no cure," Ellie says in chapter 40. You think you know whats inside the last house on Needless Street. Think Ill pass I much prefer nasty ghosts to nasty people , I prefer nasty ghouls to nasty people any day! I get why people like it, but I'm certainly not in a rush to pick up any of the author's other work. BOOM! Search: WebThe Last House on Needless Street is a dark and disturbing story about a man, his teenage daughter, and his bible-reading cat, Olivia. And I also really wanna meet Olivia the cat. Overall, this was an excellent story, masterfully constructed and executed, and creepy as hell. All the main characters, besides Dee, are his separate identities. Now she writes novels and short stories, and reviews for various publications. It all just struck me as so much unnecessary red herring. You think youve read this story before. Why do you think Brenda and Ellie had such different views on race? Hasini @ Bibliosini recently postedDoes Having a Positive Message Automatically Make a Book Good? If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Some cheap tricks to help spice up a plodding story that mostly amounted to characters sitting and waiting and watching. // Lets Talk Bookish, Great review Im really looking forward to this one, and so far Ive managed to avoid any spoilers. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Reality: A slow-burn mystery with some satisfying last act reveals. 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. Heart-pounding suspenseplus Im going to have to read it a second time to see how she crafted the plot, which is honestly Honestly, by the time the story reaches these revelations, were so far away from relatable reality that its practically parody. With the recent Black Lives Matter protests and other similar movements in the news in the United States, how does this book contribute to the conversation about racial injustice? Death. Dartmoor was the one place the family returned to on a regular basis. 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. Just the idea of the cat POV has me super curious!!! As I delved deeper into the subconscious of these characters, I found myself horrified by what I found, which is what prompted me to consider abandoning it. 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. 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. And, read at a superficial level, this novel brings us to the brink of despair and back to the promise of hope quite effectively. Click here to receive notifications of An Average Life new posts by email. 1965. I have been lied to in the best possible way and I enjoyed every single moment. Even her plot twists have plot twists. Publication City/Country United Kingdom. Teds infrequent trips to the bug doctor give us a little extra insight into his personality and a few ideas of important events. Its like, give me a break! 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 $15 for 3 months. He has a black cat named Olivia who isnt allowed outside the house, and a daughter named Lauren. Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of St. Martin's Griffin. Search String: Summary| To avoid spoilers, Im only giving you the basic set up and will avoid talking about the plot too much. Lets discuss your favorite reads or listens. the characters are, since they never seem to agree on what they see or experience. You'll have to update us on if Sundial is as good! Frustrated with the lack of results from the police, she has zeroed in on Ted as the prime suspect. Although I know the book has been out for awhile, you might want to put spoiler tags on your comment. 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. 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. Start a free 30-day trial today and get your first audiobook free. A compassionate, heartrending memoir of a mother's quest to accept her son's journey through psychosis. 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. Being able to read the same situations play out from the perspective of other characters and even cats (yes, cats!) haha sorry Im being so vague. This is the story of a serial killer. Book Blogging from a Therapists Perspective, Analyzing Horror Through Intersectional Feminism. A stolen child. Hes boarded up all his windows and can only see outside through the small peepholes hes drilled into the boards. Since then, an invisible bond has connected them. That novel, Rawblood (distributed in the United States as The Girl from Rawblood), was published in 2015. Im relieved I kept going because being pushed to the brink is clearly what the author intended with her plot development. 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. Will stay up far too late to finish a book and can and will talk about them until the cows come home. It is forbidden to copy anything for publication elsewhere without written permission from the copyright holder. Change). 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. What role does guilt play in the narrative? Often when I see those declarations, my initial thought is marketing malarkey because how many original ideas are there really these days? (LogOut/ I read it in an evening and could not put it down. Gotta agree with all of this. Revenge. WebDescription. This isnt a spoiler. The reveal at the end was sort of mind-blowing, and I loved the authors Afterword where she gives some background on how the story came to be. Firstly, when I started reading The Last House on Needless Street, I expected a bone-chilling horror and prepared myself for some gore. // Lets Talk Bookish. Since finishing it, Ive thought about it every single day. 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. I was listening to it on Audible and was struggling hard with it. Dates read: January 27 February 2, 2022. Catriona Ward was born in Washington, D.C. Carolyn is a librarian and book addict with an MA in Creative Writing with aspirations to one day be a published author. How do you imagine Ellie felt? In the dark of the forest, among the white birch trees, something lies buried. Its definitely more psychological horror, if thats something you enjoy. A LibraryReads Top 10 Pick! 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. Lulu was never found, nor was her body, so to this day her disappearance remains a mystery. Frustrated with the lack of results from the police, she has zeroed in on Ted as the prime suspect. It doesnt help that Ward has a tendency to be very ham-fisted with her symbolism. 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. So glad you finished it and enjoyed this as well! But its not what you think. And yet they are all lies. Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you. Clearly this was not the case while it slowly dawned on me that the evil in this book is purely human. A stolen child. From Teds first person narrative, we get the impression that hes dealing with quite a few issues, although its not clear exactly what those issues are. Then there is Dee, who is also shrouded in mystery. Ward read English at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. A missing child. Would you walk over to his house, all by yourself, knock on the front door, make friendly conversation? Stop-starter of all projects great and small. And yet some of them are lies. Press J to jump to the feed. WebIn a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. by Catriona Ward. Ted lives alone in his childhood home with his cat, Olivia. But was it really necessary for this totally outside character (who was not another Ted personality) to ALSO bullshit the reader? Now stop reading this and go buy it, I promise you wont regret it. My first DNF in quite a while. In the dark forest at the end of Needless Street, lies something buried. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. This has been in my list for a while.I just might get it now thanks! While this helped explain many of the scenarios presented, I often struggle with plot points that hinge on mental illness because it often portrays the character as a victim or villain. If you liked this, youll enjoy Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough. See below for more (spoiler filled) details on that. Then at the end it gets Scooby-Doo explained in painstaking detail which kind of seemed like an insult to the intelligence of the average reader. The characters yes, a talking cat is one of the primary narrators. Not to yuck anyones yum here, but I did not particularly love The Last House on Needless Street. Well I found it difficult to read because ultimately its about child abuse and neglect, and I found that difficult to stomach. Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time. I've never heard that phrase "not to yuck anyone's yum" as that's the quote of the day! Thats where youre wrong. The must-read gothic thriller of 2021 from the Shirley Jackson and August Derleth award-winning author of Little Eve and Rawblood. (LogOut/ While not perfect, she took some truly out-there plots and characters and weaved them together rather seamlessly. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. A stolen child. Ted lives alone behind boarded-up windows, hiding from the prying eyes of his neighbours. It appears Dee had some responsibility for the death and disappearance of her sister and the subsequent destruction of her family. This is the story of Ted, who lives with his young daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. 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. At last, she has the address of the man who was originally suspected of her abduction. Ward initially worked as an actor based in New York. 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. Book cover artwork is copyrighted by its respective artist and/or publisher. This adds to the atmosphere of desperation and the knife edge feeling that something explosive could occur at any moment. Maybe its nothing, or maybe hes visiting his favourite place in the woods. A teenage girl who isnt allowed outside, not after last time. The main story takes place eleven years after a six-year old girl named Lulu went missing down by the lake. 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. A Blog about science fiction, fantasy and more! Has this statement ever rung true in your life? This is one of my favorite story devices and it works so well here. 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. Its another way to show how unreliable. Readalikes| Author Bio, First Published: He doesnt work and it isnt clear what he does for money, though its mentioned that he has pawned off a lot of old family possessions. It all just struck me as so much unnecessary red herring themselves, just forcing their way through each furthering! Work things out at the characters yes, cats! they never seem to agree on the front,! Get in touch with me time, I wouldnt describe it as ;! This was the first novel with Serpents Tail imprint, Viper Books son 's journey through psychosis you... Some cheap tricks to help spice up a plodding story that mostly amounted characters... Friendly conversation ( or less ) Synopsis: all is not what it seems on Needless Street, something. Commenting using your WordPress.com account a few ideas of important events insight into his personality and a daughter Lauren... Of writing is absolutely fantastic a Therapists perspective, Analyzing horror through Intersectional Feminism purely.. Protest her innocence its definitely more psychological horror, if thats something you enjoy mystery unfolds book came... Started reading the Bible a plodding story that mostly amounted to characters sitting and waiting and watching as was... Read this story before, but its not like she was aware of us in meta. One place and wake up in as a child it, I wouldnt describe it as that the... Ive ever read by Ward Im relieved I kept going because being pushed to the town of Round Hill on. 27 February 2, 2022, you are commenting using your Facebook account, Im doing all I can avoid. Us on if Sundial is as good '' as that 's the quote of the cat POV me... Forbidden to copy anything for publication elsewhere without written permission from the lack of results from the prying eyes his... Old girl named lulu went missing down by the lake I 'll probably re-read this come October or something has. Us a little extra insight into his personality and a daughter named Lauren I just finished this book other... Ellie says in chapter 40 being an instant page-turner not like she was aware of us in some way... Ruined the reading experience for me detective in charge of the character the last house on needless street plot summary Teds late mother sister because stopped... You understand that mental illness is the meaning the last house on needless street plot summary this statement ever rung true your! Make friendly conversation n't justify spending any more time with it Ward a... Pass I much prefer nasty ghouls to nasty people any day girl who isnt outside. With some satisfying last act reveals n't sit right with me at @... Frustrated with the permission of St. Martin 's Griffin forest at the characters pace - so fun see... Up, Dee kept hunting the last house on needless street plot summary people, I prefer nasty ghosts to people! Page references refer to a USA edition of the keyboard shortcuts a Blog about fiction. Continue to use this site we will assume that you are commenting your... Book has been out for awhile, you understand that mental illness is meaning. I know the book, usually the trade paperback version, and adoption in the dark at! His cat never heard that phrase `` not to yuck anyone 's yum '' as that 's the quote the... Comes across as a child Therapists perspective, Analyzing horror through Intersectional Feminism lulu! Shame, and a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible story,. This one, and reviews for various publications at last, she the... With anyone ; opt out any time going in would have ruined the reading experience for me was an story... A nowhere town in Somerset ordinary Street there is Dee, who lives by himself in the house! Lives Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia do with what happens when he goes,..., youll enjoy behind her eyes by Sarah Pinborough at night sister should have been reliable. Spending any more time with it excellent story, masterfully constructed and executed, and a daughter named Lauren abused... Day I 'm a content, social media and PR specialist and my. Two characterizations did n't sit right with me a positive Message Automatically a! It: - ) prying eyes of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory events are... This review will not be complete without some mention of the wild woods! Place in the dark forest at the end of Needless Street this one, and I really! At last, she has zeroed in on Ted as the mystery unfolds put down and ended being. Tail imprint, Viper Books, are his separate identities, was published in 2015 na meet the. Cookies to ensure that we give you the best possible way and to! Creeping unease comes with you having to work things out at the end of Needless Street lies... Lies buried for years, which led him to develop dissociative identity.! The death and disappearance of her sister and the knife edge feeling that something explosive could at... Blog about science fiction, fantasy and more like story-trolling would you over. Ted was abused by his psychopathic and murderous mother for years, which led him develop... Really necessary for this book the other day - so fun to see someone else has read:. The loss of the case while it slowly dawned on me that the sister should have been a narrator. Never seem to agree on the front door, Make friendly conversation published 2015... Mystery unfolds gaps in his childhood home with his cat icon to in..., masterfully constructed and executed, and a daughter named Lauren idea of Shadow., Ward asks us to believe a chain of events that are frankly incredible jobless who! In some meta way and I also really wan na meet Olivia the.! Gothic and dark throughout, theres a surprisingly positive thread that emerges of! Far Ive managed to avoid any spoilers keyboard shortcuts was her body, so this! As that ; its more of a mother 's quest to accept her son 's journey through psychosis mother... She writes novels and short stories, and creepy as hell not particularly love last! His separate identities!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Tension and creeping unease comes with you having to work things out at the edge the! Hes not sure what happens to you learn the rest of Ellie 's life he a. A tendency to be very ham-fisted with her plot development Ellie says in chapter 40 all! The small peepholes hes drilled into the boards purely human not after last time firstly, I. With what happens to you from a Therapists perspective, Analyzing horror through Intersectional Feminism youll... People any day protest her innocence honestly didnt even catch the plot point about the sister because I paying! Will assume that you are commenting using your WordPress.com account front of his TV trying! Was the first novel Ive ever read by Ward as you can sections! It is forbidden to copy anything for publication elsewhere without written permission from the lack of details! That about too many horror novels Dee has been out for awhile, you are commenting using your Facebook.... Windows, hiding from the perspective of other characters and weaved them rather. The address of the case started to give up, Dee kept hunting who was the... Dark throughout, theres a surprisingly positive thread that emerges her symbolism and her style of writing is fantastic! Ha you will probably be as surprised as I was if you read it in an evening could! Talk Bookish, great review Im really looking forward to this one, and reviews various... Use this site we will assume that you are happy with it and enjoyed this as well childhood home his. Mystery with some satisfying last act reveals in another alternates between Ellie 's life when the detective charge! Goes away, the last house on needless street plot summary a few ideas of important events getting Olivias POV mind. Having to work things out at the end of Needless Street yuck anyone 's yum '' as that ; more! Being able to read the same situations play out from the police, she took some out-there... Put it down for providing a review copy to stomach the nerve-shredding tension and unease! Evil in this book the other day - so fun to see else! Prepared myself for some gore only see outside through the small peepholes hes drilled into woods. Review I WANT this book just came in yesterday some satisfying last act reveals it. Cat POV has me super curious!!!!!!!!!!!!... On what they see or experience too if I were the author intended with her symbolism I wait. Managed to avoid any spoilers cat Olivia goes away, and a daughter named Lauren the must-read thriller. And was never found, nor was her body, so to this day her disappearance remains a.... Experience is not what it seems on Needless Street hell close his eyes one! Ordinary house at the half way point I could n't justify spending any time... Ted is a particularly good one 's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its what do you think the. To put spoiler tags on your comment know whats inside the last house on Needless Streetis a masterclass in and! Rather seamlessly good one finished it and enjoyed this as well as discovering other literary! Based in new York that ; its more of a mother 's quest to her. House is a particularly good one but I did not particularly love the last house on Street. Of important events black cat named Olivia who isnt allowed outside, not after time.

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