In what ways does it not impact them? (LogOut/ Death. 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. house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. Known to most as Little Girl with Popsicle, her sister Lulu disappeared and was never seen again. I have been meaning to get this book for ages. A stolen child. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 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. Submitted by users as part of their reviews. Thats where youre wrong. Then there is Dee, who is also shrouded in mystery. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. 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. His mother always warned him how dangerous the outside world was, and she wasnt wrong. Naturally we are encouraged to scratch our chins and think Hmm, Lulu Lauren is there a connection?. Synopsis This is the story of a serial killer. Catriona Ward was born in Washington, D.C. My first DNF in quite a while. And I also really wanna meet Olivia the cat. Is it a thriller mystery along the likes of Blake Crouch, or is that wishful thinking on my part??? From the ramshackle houses to the disappearing children, theres something nefarious at foot but is it human or supernatural? The final act theres a bait and switch that felt organic and not for shock value. A missing child. Catriona Ward is an American and British horror novelist. 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. 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. Article 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. When you tell someone about a book youre reading you dont In the middle of this now, and Im enjoying myself! (LogOut/ 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. They take no pride or care in themselves, just forcing their way through each day furthering their own agenda. 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. This is the story of a murderer. And, read at a superficial level, this novel brings us to the brink of despair and back to the promise of hope quite effectively. How does this impact each of them? How do you imagine Ellie felt? Most reviews of The Last House on Needless Street mention that you cant talk about the plot without giving away its secrets. For Kayla, her house is a constant reminder of the loss of her husband and the life they could have shared there. 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. Sign up to get the download as well as an email sent once a month with links to my latest reviews, information on my online book club, and other bookish announcements. This is the story of a serial killer. Finally, this review will not be complete without some mention of the character of Teds late mother. Does listening to audiobooks count as reading? The main story takes place eleven years after a six-year old girl named Lulu went missing down by the lake. This is her first novel with Serpents Tail imprint, Viper Books. The house itself, although not haunted like I first expected, also acts as another character, releasing shuddering movements at particular times that only the cat can recognize. Yeah, I thought it was awful, I guessed the big twist about 50 pages in. , Oh Im so used to just ignoring blurbs most of the time, especially Stephen King, he blurbs everything these days! All Rights Reserved. I read one other review of this book and put the audio version on hold. And there are even more mysteries to solve: who exactly is the Chihuahua Lady and how is she involved in all this? Personally, I was pretty underwhelmed by the final act and the creaky structure of the overall story. At last, she has the address of the man who was originally suspected of her abduction. be able to figure things out. 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). A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory. 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. Lulu was never found, nor was her body, so to this day her disappearance remains a mystery. Its another way to show how unreliable all of the characters are, since they never seem to agree on what they see or experience. You may think youve read this story before, but its not what you think Catriona Ward is no stranger to gothic fiction. Maybe I read too much r/fakedisordercringe but I figured out the twist the minute Ted said the cat had to go away when the daughter came over. At times, you find yourself feeling genuinely sorry for Ted, a man who is obviously a threat to the women around him. Glad you loved it as much as I did :-). What do you think? 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. An unspeakable secret binds them together, and when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out Its evident from the opening chapter that something is very very wrong with Ted Bannerman, who lives in a decrepit old house with all of its windows boarded up, on a cul-de-sac bordering a forest and nearby lake. 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. Im relieved I kept going because being pushed to the brink is clearly what the author intended with her plot development. Theres something weird going on in this book. [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. Who needs the real world? Gotta agree with all of this. What is the significance of that decision? At the end of Needless Street is forest. The Last House on Needless Street is an absolute tour de force of a novel. 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. Discuss the definition of "family" in the novel. A stolen child. 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. 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. 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. WebThe Last House on Needless Street is a dark and disturbing story about a man, his teenage daughter, and his bible-reading cat, Olivia. Im glad you kept this spoiler-free. Im usually unable to figure things out so perhaps Im also the perfect reader. It doesnt help that Ward has a tendency to be very ham-fisted with her symbolism. 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. Her research took two years, she interviewed people living with the condition, and the back of the book includes a bibliography listing 38 sources. The audiobook is narrated by Christopher Ragland, and while he was committed to the characters, some of the portrayals were distracting. Author In what ways does the society that the characters were born into impact who they become? Who do you believe feels the most guilt? Another fabulous review, Tammy! haha. Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time. How did you feel after you learned of Brenda and Miss Pat's involvement in Winston's death? He has only his cat Olivia for company, and he rarely leaves the house. The novel alternates between Ellie's perspective in 1965 and Kayla's perspective in 2010. You think youve read this story before. Now stop reading this and go buy it, I promise you wont regret it. Hell close his eyes in one place and wake up in another. View all posts by Roxanne Michelle. This novel was hard to put down and ended up being an instant page-turner. Author Bio, First Published: 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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. [1] Ward won the August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel in 2016 at the British Fantasy Awards for Rawblood and again in 2018 for Little Eve, making her the first woman to win the prize twice. 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%. I've read it and was blown away. I can hardly wait to read Catriona Wards next book! You think you know whats inside the last house on Needless Street. Why I Read It: #Bookstagram made me do it. EXCLUSIVE: Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish s Imaginarium Productions has optioned film rights to Catriona Ward s upcoming new novel The Last House on Needless Street. Viper will publish in the UK on March 18 and Tor Nightfire will publish in the U.S. in late September. Ward will executive produce alongside the Imaginarium. Has this statement ever rung true in your life? But there is an area in the forest he considers sacred and inhabited by gods. This isnt a spoiler. This is a fabulous review! By using The StoryGraph, you agree to our use of cookies.We use a small number of cookies to provide you with a great experience. But its not what you think. A missing child. I love when I can read a book and I truly not know the direction that it will take. 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. I love/hate it when authors pulls the rug out from under you and leaving you shocked. 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. Plot Summary. 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? Title His young daughter stays from time to time, but he keeps her hidden away too. 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. The other device the author uses is that she shows the same events from two different perspectives. Heart-pounding suspenseplus Im going to have to read it a second time to see how she crafted the plot, which is honestly And I am glad you had such a great time with it! 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. 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. is surrounded by buzz and gushing blurbs from big name authors, and in my opinion all of it is well deserved. Get in touch with me at thetattooedbook@yahoo.co.uk. Even when the detective in charge of the case started to give up, Dee kept hunting. Change). From what I remember, the other review didnt even mention child abuse that I remember, so thats the main part that surprised me. Its definitely more psychological horror, if thats something you enjoy. Thats okay. What I can say is that The Last House on Needless Street is an incredible character-driven novel. A Library Journal Editors' Pick! I just dont think that such emotional impact requires abandoning good storytelling logic and realistic characters. We earn commission on any purchases made. To avoid spoilers, Im only giving you the basic set up and will avoid talking about the plot too much. Am I getting too big picture here? Revenge. Paperback: Bestsellers rank 30,480. the characters are, since they never seem to agree on what they see or experience. How do the idea and perception of protest differ in 1965 to the present day? Thanks Sarah! Catriona Ward expects us to swallow all of this with complete credulity. The other device the author uses is that she shows the same events from two different perspectives. All storytellers are liars, but Catriona Ward is a particularly good one. What do you think is the meaning behind this statement? My hold for this book just came in yesterday! Prepare to be scared, angry and heart-broken, all in one book. See below for more (spoiler filled) details on that. If this was a movie, Id watch it again for clues, but Im not that interested in doing it here. 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. Ward does a great job of creating an ominous atmosphere, especially surrounding Ted, his house, and Olivia and Lauren. So basically, in the first fifty pages or so. as they happened was a truly immersive experience. It doesnt just get under your skin; it embeds itself there like your first blurry green/black tattoo you had a fifteen (just me?). Definitely my favorite thing about the snow! 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. 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. Ted is a middle-aged, jobless man who lives by himself in the house he grew up in as a child. That part was WAY too much. This has been in my list for a while.I just might get it now thanks! He has a black cat named Olivia who isnt allowed outside the house, and a daughter named Lauren. All reviews and site design by Thomas M. Wagner. Is Ellie lonely in California? The Last House on Needless Streetis a masterclass in twists and turns. Join BookBrowse today to start discovering exceptional books! 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. Once you realize misdirection is the entire goal here, its no longer misdirection, its just a book believing that its smarter than its readers. 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. He has a black cat named Olivia who isnt allowed outside the house, and a daughter named Lauren. I just finished reading this and loved it!! From literary classics to sci-fi graphic novels, I love it all. 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. 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