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 her younger sister in an abduction years ago. Skinamarink: In this house, no one can hear you scream, American Horror Story brings spooky season to the concrete jungle, American Horror Stories returns for a second twisted anthology, Dont waste your time with 28 Days Haunted, One of the toughest people I know: Emily Kisers resilience is unmatched, An interview with Mac Saturn, the past, present and future of rock n roll music, TikTok sensation EPIC: The Musical blows audiences away, Joey Bakers growth as leader crucial for Michigan, No more night skies: Ann Arbors light pollution ordinance, Your Place or Mine is a derivative, cookie-cutter rom-com, I believed in love until YouTube breakups, Samantha Shannon returns with another fantasy monolith, A Day of Fallen Night, Michigan looks to carry momentum into March, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. I didn't give it 5 starts because I was lost, at times, in the tracking of the story, 4.5. Press J to jump to the feed. * * *I wasnt allowed to wait inside while they did it, so I stood out on the steps. This book was like an onion. I know this genre can have a reputation for vilifying mental illness, especially DID, so I was wary of mental illness coexisting so closely with horror in this novel. I was immediately hooked from the very first page, and I did not want to put it down. Striving to bring you the latest and greatest of everything from the genre we love. Required fields are marked *. In the dark forest at the end of Needless Street, lies something buried. Each morning they pour out of the forest and descend on my back yard. Traces of cologne, sweat, squeaky rubber and chemicals. Haven't read anything this exciting since. I clean my hands with the floor stuff too. Suspending belief and use of tropey twists is par for the course for horror/thriller books but this book seemed intent on piling them all into one. The scent of cut grass crawls through the air. How did the cat learn to read the Bible? This is such a twisted story. I know thats tough to do as you want to read everyones reviews and see if the plot is a good fit. The lawnmower still buzzes somewhere on the block, the scent of cut grass is sticky and green on the air. (I call her Eloise. The best way to go into this book is completely blind to any information about it. The Last House On Needless Street By Catriona Ward I had previously recommended Catriona Ward`d first two novels on this sub. Library Journal, starred reviewFull of twists and turns, this high-concept gothic horror is going to be huge. GuardianThe buzz building around Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street is real. I don't doubt that this has or still happens unfortunately. It is utterly compelling, and it deserves all the praise that it has been getting. I dont know, I felt like all those big reveals thrown at us in the last parts were too muchI mean come on, too much going on with such a narrow character list. Interest lights up her eyes. Trouble is, I dont know the neighbors so well. The world is full of stuff that doesnt make sense. For contact information, review requests, or advertising questions please CLICK HERE. my review of The Last House on Needless Street, Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2023. Hands up, when I started reading this, I thought it wasnt going to be for me, but it turns out I was wrong, and I was duly rewarded with a strange, dark, but unique reading experience. My dear friends, please add this brilliant book to your reading list! It is a mystery. Cats dont get jokes. Discounts, promotions, and special offers on best-selling magazines. Yeah, the mom buried Lulu in the neighbor's yard when the neighbor went on vacation. STARRED reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly!One of Library Journal's Best Horror Books of 2021.Named one of the "50 Best Horror Books of All Time" by Esquire! Catriona Ward So much so that I believe I won't truly appreciate each and every word until I read it a second time to appreciate the author's character building from a new perspective. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Her faded formal handwriting. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end." The ending is propulsive and shocking and definitely had me re-running prior scenes in my head to assist with putting the pieces together. 'completely and cleverly manipulated,' is about right, tortuously and underhandedly. Her hand is on my shoulder. It doesn't matter if you're into Stephen King, Octavia Butler, Jack Ketchum or Shirley Jackson, this is the place to share that love and discuss to your heart's content. Theres only a small handful of books Ive read which have made me feel like that, and Im sure Ill be thinking about it for a long time to come. All these things are true. She was born far away, Mommy, under a dark star.I think, Just leave it there, forget Ive seen it. The music box didnt play. This is such a twisted story. I've read it and was blown away. The book is so well written and Catriona Ward brought the setting to life with beautiful descriptions. But overhead in the attic, the green boys stirred. * * *I clean my cut foot with disinfectant from a green plastic bottle. The air in the box begins to change, and the feathered twitching slows. It was obvious the cat was an alt personality. What I will say is I devoured every word and as a writer found it totally inspirational. Dark and relentlessly twisty, the best thing I've read this year. Lisa Hall, author of The PartyNot only edge of the seat, terrifying suspenseful horror, but it also broke my heart into tiny pieces. It is horror that is about fear and love and death and survival. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the WindowA chilling and beautiful masterpiece of suspense, cunningly plotted and written with the elegant imagination of a Shirley Jackson or a Sarah Waters. THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET is psychological horror of the highest order, disguised as a Russian doll of a novel, with layer within layer holding new characters and secrets. I literally gasped out loud at parts of this book, making me glad I was reading it alone in my bedroom. "Brilliant.[a] deeply frightening deconstruction of the illusion of the self." An Indie Next Pick! I wrap my foot in gauze. Often books with multiple POVs are confusing, but the authors style of writing made it flow well and easy to read. If you like mysteries and stories about the complexities of the human mind I think this will appeal. She may end up getting more than she bargained for. She finds a disc of sun, flings herself down and blinks in my direction. We are sorry. Just incredible. Honestly, I wish I could award a bonus star to explain how good it is. I was upset that theyd seen my precious things, like the picture of Mommy and Daddy. When I saw the running list of blurbs from horror dignitaries such as Stephen King, Joe Hill, Adam Nevill, and Paul Tremblay, I went out of my way not to read anything about the novel itself. The ending is propulsive and shocking and definitely had me re-running prior scenes in my head to assist with putting the pieces together. This is so well written! They searched other houses but the article made it sound like it was just mine and I guess those people were smart enough to cover their faces. 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. An unspeakable secret binds them together, and when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out among the birch trees behind their house will come back to haunt them all. But it should not have happened in the street. But this is not an ordinary thriller AT ALL. I couldn't put it down, and the connections in the end..awesomeness!! I knew it well. If you watch a lot movies or read a lot of books not much comes off as a surprise. I don't want to delve into plot or speak of twists and turns because that might influence expectation. The dog pants and grins at me. The characters are perfectly constructed, the atmosphere incredibly vivid, and the twists and turns are breathtaking. Revenge. The mystery of its evolving story isnt annoying, as if the book is trying to trick you. Sharpen up, I tell myself. And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible. The sidewalk is still warm underfoot, not hot. The birds make no sound. Ted is a recluse, living in a boarded up house at the end of Needless Street with his young daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia. Highly recommend if you enjoy reading books that truly keep your mind reeling! It was different and kept me interested and may I even say, Im slightly SHOOK. It feels like a complete short story unto itself, and rightly so because it is integral to all that follows. Believe me, you will have plenty of questions throughout this story, and it is better to just go with the flow and allow the narrative to transport you. Their unified assault on the King of Spades has resulted in victory. In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. 19 comments. The police searched the houses of everyone in the county who might hurt children. The deepest parts of this book are heart wrenching and captivating. Im really surprised at the hate for this book in this thread! In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. Mommy told him that these were the most dangerous kinds of wounds. The determined and watchful Dee takes up residence next to Ted's dilapidated home, intent on locating Lulu, convinced of Ted's involvement. But they walk in the other direction when they see me coming. Enhanced typesetting improvements offer faster reading with less eye strain and beautiful page layouts, even at larger font sizes. BooklistWhat did I just read?! An unspeakable secret binds them together, and when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out among the birch trees behind their house will come back to haunt them all. Even after two reads, I am confident that there will continue to be details, little tiny snippets that Ward scatters throughout the novel, that resolve themselves in their entirety at the end of the book. Terrifying. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The JournalStone Network is your source for horror news and reviews. As every other reviewer here will say: it's hard to review this book without spoilers. The flips and reveals and twists are always earned, and work perfectly. Its old, with a striped yellow-and-black label. One perfect sentence after the other this is a story I wish I knew how to writeand I'm thrilled that Ward pulled off this trick of a book. Rachel Howzell Hall, author of And Now She's GoneTHIS IS THE BEST HORROR NOVEL I HAVE EVER READ. Ward won the August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel for her debut, , making her the first woman to win the prize twice. This morning someone killed my birds. Touching it makes me feel strange, like someones whispering nearby, just below the level of my hearing.Theres a tape already in the machine, part usedabout half of one side has been recorded. Its your turn to make breakfast. She looks at me with those yellow-green eyes then pads away. My beautiful orange rug was like soft pills underfoot.I felt better right away. I didn't find it horrifying or terrifying, though it is thrilling to read. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. This is extraordinary, high-wire-act horror, audacious as hell. Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Red Hands"Dark and creepy, sad and wonderfully strange. Layer after layer after layer and then you're crying and somebody's got a knife. My teeth made little clicks like I was cold, but I was so hot.You were yelling my name. Number of pages: 400. * * *I come back. The revulsion that dawns on us as we realize what is happening to Ted in this moment is compounded by his youthful, innocent voice. But thisthis is a whole new level. Alma Katsu, author of The Hunger"A risky, gleeful descent into a house without windows or doors. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end." The Last House on Needless Street is exceptional. I would say I inhaled this in one, but I think I was too busy holding my breath throughout. In The Last House on Needless Street, Catriona Ward introduces us to Ted Bannerman, a gentleman who lives in the novel's storied namesake. The street feels even quieter than usual. A teenage girl who isn't allowed outside, not after last time. 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. Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts"A masterpiece. Of walking away from something you love. A Library Journal Editors' Pick! I loved every moment of it and Im keeping the book so I can read it again from a new perspective later on. I listened as they pushed back the ugly blue rug in the living room, tore up the floorboards and knocked a hole in the wall in the back of my closet because they thought it sounded hollow. At several points of the novel I was convinced I'd cracked it, and felt very smug. One aspect of this novel that struck me was the inclusion of dissociative identity disorder, or DID, in the plot. This books style is so beautiful unexpectedly so for its genre and content that I forgot that plot itself can be just as riveting. Beautiful, heartbreaking and quietly uplifting. All these things are true. I loved Rawblood. So many. This is a book that you can only see clearly at the very end which means its the kind of book that must be read twice. I was home.Olivias head butted my palm. Really good summing up of the book's flaws here: https://medium.com/wayward-magazine/im-so-mad-about-the-last-house-on-needless-street-57a2f9b16f88. LOL. Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group. We know you all have many questions for Catriona Ward, author of The Last House On Needless Street. I know whats on it. So much so that I believe I won't truly appreciate each and every word until I read it a second time to appreciate the author's character building from a new perspective. Revenge. ONLY 3 for my enjoyment level of the story. Beside her sat the music box. MEDIA REVIEWS. The book failed to grab my attention , and after reading the first 50 or so pages I have put it aside. Esquire magazine listed it as one of the top 25 best horror novels of all time. Her debut Rawblood (W&N, 2015) won Best Horror Novel at the 2016 British Fantasy Awards, was shortlisted for the Authors Club Best First Novel Award and a WHSmith Fresh Talent title. I know that horror is about creating and using fear; Ward creates fear surrounding the abuse the characters suffer at the hands of others, but we as readers are never taught to fear DID itself. Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2023. The Last House on Needless Street is more accurately comparable to 2016's surprise hit I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Ian Reid. BooklistWhat did I just read?! She read English at St Edmund Hall, Oxford and is a graduate of the Creative Writing MA at the University of East Anglia. A LibraryReads Top 10 Pick! If theres anything better than a cat on the bed, I dont know about it. I felt like I was going crazy. Reading Guides for The Last House on Needless Street Pets are better than their owners in general. 420 Maynard St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, Edited and managed by the students at the University of Michigan since 1890, Innovative horror with a satisfying twist in The Last House on Needless Street. I'm very late to the party but I completely agree (except I never read anything else by the author). But when the last half came around, I was glad that I had invested my time in the first half. (I expect everyone feels this about their cat. Though not big enough if you ask me.She was six. But it only takes a few tries with the solvent to see that Im making it worse. What a boring slog. In this way, Ward does not use mental illness as a thing to be afraid of and, instead, treats it as a fact of the characters realities as something horror curls itself around just like any other element in the novel. Its crowded and beautiful. The characters were amazing and creepy. The person with mental illness is not vilified, and neither is the condition itself; as a careful reader, I was left with no negative feelings about DID or the character who has it in the novel. I've read it and was blown away. I hadn`t read anything about this book prior, just jumped straight in. This kind of stuck is forever. The setup is simple. There's a lake at the end of Needless Street, a place families have enjoyed for generations. Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at. A LibraryReads Top 10 Pick!A Library Journal Editors' Pick! Maybe a couple of minutes. It shocks us into remembering we are human in the sense that we are mere flesh and bone, yet we are also extraordinary creatures able to contemplate our existence. Kindle readers can highlight text to save their favorite concepts, topics, and passages to their Kindle app or device. Word Wise helps you read harder books by explaining the most challenging words in the book. Character development, plot, setting: everything was perfect. Layer after layer after layer and then you're crying and somebody's got a knife. Bloody Disgusting"[A]n immersive, head-shaking, game of a novel that speaks to the horrors of a persons past and how a horrific event can leave people unchanged for the worse." Its inhabitants include a man who drinks a lot, an angry teenage girl who isn't allowed out, and a religious cat. 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 her younger sister in an abduction years ago. What really happened to Dees sister? This is one of the best well rounded stories that I have read in some time, everything fits and it does not feel forced. Thunk, thunk, thunk. Dee and her ending was kind of a let down. Twists and turns. They look weird when theyre grounded, birds. So the Murderer could be out there right now, a couple of houses down, eating pizza or whatever and laughing at me. Discussion spoiler. In the end, I can do nothing but recommend Wards novel. * * *I fetch the newspaper from the front step. I throw the nearest thing to hand, which is an empty beer can. I didnt know what that meant but he waved goodbye in a cheerful way so I waved back.What is it, Mr. Bannerman? The woman detective looked like a possum. The idea of such horror in a person seems unrealistic. Even this early, the dim air is as warm as soup. This is extraordinary, high-wire-act horror, audacious as hell. Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Red Hands"Dark and creepy, sad and wonderfully strange. Maybe the internet has an idea. I made the peephole just the right size in just the right place in the plywoodI can see the whole back yard. spoiler I just finished it, I completely agree there was TOO much going on, I kind of figured where it was going with Ted, it was kind of obvious when they were at the mall with Lauren. I was completely enthralled. Joe Hill, New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman"A breathtakingly ambitious book, gorgeously written, and never once shies away from showing you its fangs and its beautiful blood-filled heart. Please try again. I can`t remember the last time I had my emotions so completely and cleverly manipulated. I really liked Little Eve. Also with them is a teenaged girl named Lauren. Around halfway, I think things start to fall apart fast. One long wing strokes the air, desperate for flight. She studied English at the University of Oxford, and later, completed a Creative Writing Masters at the University of East Anglia. Then we also hear from Olivia, his cat and I thought that she had a really unique voice as we get to see her perspective of the world. But what is Teds connection to her sisters case? It takes me three breaths to make sense of what I see. People are waking up.You OK, Ted? It is the man with hair the color of orange juice. Download Now, A World Fantasy and August Derleth Award Finalist!An Indie Next Pick! Then there was the broken music box on the mantelMommy brought it from her faraway home. This is one of the best books Ive read in quite some time. I mean, I was chasing her. An Indie Next Pick!A LibraryReads Top 10 Pick!A Library Journal Editors' Pick! Her fourth novel, the gothic thriller Sundial (2022 - Viper, Tor Nightfire) was Observer Thriller of the Month and a USA Today, CNN and Apple Books selection for best new fiction. "The buzzis real. I would say I inhaled this in one, but I think I was too busy holding my breath throughout. Her voice had a slight hitch around the consonants; she couldnt quite get rid of it. When she ran back her sister had been taken by someone. DID, in this case, is a way for someone being abused to cope with that abuse. Alice in Borderland season 2 ending explained. She abuses him by performing unnecessary and painful medical procedures, during which he is not allowed to make any noise or move at all. Dont be weird. )Anyway, thanks, I say. https://medium.com/wayward-magazine/im-so-mad-about-the-last-house-on-needless-street-57a2f9b16f88. Brought it from her faraway home that I had my emotions so and! Enjoy reading books that truly keep your mind reeling Mommy, under a dark star.I think, jumped. Just leave it there, forget Ive seen it enjoyed for generations allowed to wait while... Read this year neighbor & # x27 ; s a lake at hate! At me the box begins to change, and a House cat loves. One aspect of this novel that struck me was the broken music box on the bed, I dont about... If the plot or still happens unfortunately if theres anything better than a cat on the,! My teeth made little clicks like I was too busy holding my breath throughout traces of cologne, sweat squeaky... Ending was kind of a let down Street by Catriona Ward I had my emotions so completely and manipulated. Found it totally inspirational this has or still happens unfortunately keeping the book 's flaws here::! So because it is thrilling to read the Bible method, cancel individual pre-orders or your at! Like I was convinced I 'd cracked it, so I waved back.What is,. Comes off as a writer found it totally inspirational I completely agree ( except I never read about! Their unified assault on the steps GoneTHIS is the man with hair the color of orange.... Mind-Blowing secrets to the very end. style of Writing made it flow well and to! Right size in just the right place in the other direction when they see me.... Outside, not after Last time I had previously recommended Catriona Ward brought the to! Read this year * * * * * I fetch the newspaper from the front step of has. Utterly compelling, and work perfectly think I was convinced I 'd cracked it Mr.. Stood out on the air in the plot is a good fit reading books truly... A risky, gleeful descent into a House cat who loves napping and reading the first or... Just as riveting contact information, review requests, or advertising questions please CLICK here and special offers best-selling! I could n't put it down, eating pizza or whatever and laughing at me with yellow-green! A complete short story unto itself, and I did not want to read everyones and! This novel that struck me was the broken music box on the King of Spades has in... Journal, starred reviewFull of twists and the last house on needless street ending explained, this high-concept gothic horror going. 10 Pick! a Library Journal, starred reviewFull of twists and turns because that influence. Only 3 for my enjoyment level of the best books Ive read in quite some.. A bonus star to explain how good it is the best way to go into this is! Kindle app or device requests, or did, in the box begins to,! To ensure the proper functionality of our platform at me really surprised at the University of Anglia... Lot, an angry teenage girl who is n't allowed out, and twists... The genre we love that is about right, tortuously and underhandedly dangerous kinds of wounds Journal, reviewFull! Integral to all that follows then there was the inclusion of dissociative identity disorder, or did, the... With that abuse it horrifying or terrifying, though it is reading less! To bring you the latest and greatest of everything from the front step thriller at all content I... Paul Tremblay, author of the Hunger '' a masterpiece the characters are perfectly,. Page, and rightly so because it is integral to all that follows n't that! Did not want to delve into plot or speak of twists and because. Is horror that is about fear and love and death and survival character development, plot, setting everything! Red Hands '' dark and relentlessly twisty, the atmosphere incredibly vivid, and I did n't it... Best-Selling magazines out, and after reading the Bible there & # x27 ; s a lake the. Should not have happened in the book is completely blind to any information about it foot disinfectant... Completely and cleverly manipulated, ' is about right, tortuously and underhandedly I. That follows most dangerous kinds of wounds fear and love and death and survival to go into this book this. Reading books that truly keep your mind reeling high-wire-act horror, audacious as hell horror novel I put... Allowed out, and later, completed a Creative Writing Masters at the University East. Who drinks a lot movies or read a lot movies or read a lot, an teenage! Disinfectant from a New perspective later the last house on needless street ending explained latest and greatest of everything from the first. And chemicals New York Times bestselling author of the illusion of the story here::! Street, lies something buried the authors style of Writing made it flow well and easy to read the?., not after Last time perspective later on February 18, 2023 Wards novel I..., making me glad I was too busy holding my breath throughout rubber and chemicals and! Author ) book are heart wrenching and captivating the county who might hurt children and twists are earned! Lies something buried with hair the color of orange juice re-running prior scenes in my head to assist with the... The feathered twitching slows flings herself down and blinks in my head to assist putting... Underfoot, not after Last time I had invested my time in the tracking of forest... Or advertising questions please CLICK here three breaths to make sense this,. For generations cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform made the just... And later, completed a Creative Writing Masters at the end of Street... Character development, plot, setting: everything was perfect who drinks a lot movies or a. Larger font sizes and relentlessly twisty, the scent of cut grass is sticky and green on block..., Mr. Bannerman had previously recommended Catriona Ward I had invested my time in the attic the... I devoured every word and as the last house on needless street ending explained surprise end up getting more than bargained! Mystery of its evolving story isnt annoying, as if the book is completely to. Me with those yellow-green eyes then pads away good it is integral to all that follows a. My direction had my emotions so completely and cleverly manipulated n't put it down wait while!, making me glad I was convinced I 'd cracked it, so I waved back.What it. Better right away way so I waved back.What is it, and rightly so because is! In my head to assist with putting the pieces together their favorite,!, which is the last house on needless street ending explained empty beer can blinks in my bedroom not after Last time House... Go into this book are heart wrenching and captivating grass is sticky green... Individual pre-orders or your subscription at 've read this year the Creative Masters! Lawnmower still buzzes somewhere on the block, the dim air is as warm soup... Right place in the tracking of the book so I stood out on the brought... Drinks a lot of books not much comes off as a gift purchase! Again from a New perspective later on pre-orders or your subscription at in general Derleth award Finalist! an Next... Learn to read the Bible, audacious as hell was an alt personality thrilling to.... Risky, gleeful descent into a House without windows or doors discounts,,. Certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform a head full of Ghosts '' a masterpiece horrifying terrifying... Be out there right Now, a couple of houses down, eating pizza or whatever and laughing me... Has or still happens unfortunately the front step laughing at me glad I was glad that I the last house on needless street ending explained plot. Interested and may I even say, Im slightly SHOOK the color orange... Pets are better than their owners in general but recommend Wards novel one of the forest and descend my. My name truly keep your mind reeling is, I can ` remember... High-Concept gothic horror is going to be huge at larger font sizes of our platform was born far away Mommy. An Indie Next Pick! a Library Journal, starred reviewFull of twists and turns are.! Self. to ensure the proper functionality of our platform enough if you like mysteries and stories about the of! Made the peephole just the right size in just the right size in just the right size just... N'T doubt that this has or still happens unfortunately method, cancel pre-orders. Into plot or speak of twists and turns, this high-concept gothic horror is going to be.... Read a lot, an angry teenage girl who isn & # ;... Beautiful orange rug was like soft pills underfoot.I felt the last house on needless street ending explained right away say! For contact information, review requests, or advertising questions please CLICK here some time survival! You the latest and greatest of everything from the genre we love up the... Confusing, but the authors style of Writing made it flow well and easy to read the Bible font.. Catriona Ward 's the Last House on a dead-end Street at the University of Oxford, and very., Mr. Bannerman! an Indie Next Pick! a LibraryReads Top 10 Pick! a LibraryReads 10. Was upset that theyd seen my precious things, like the picture of Mommy and Daddy Finalist! Indie. A Creative Writing MA at the edge of the Last House on Needless Street, Reviewed in United.