Ted, his daughter, and Olivia the talking cat make up the main cast of characters. It's made pretty clear from the start that we're being presented with an unreliable narrator. The atmosphere is weird and creepy, but not in a suspenseful way. More an uncomfortable way. The Last House on Needless Street is one of those books that you're either going to love or hate right from the beginning. It's one of those books where the reader is going to instantly guess the "twist" or be shocked and delighted when it occurs. I'm a little unsure of how I feel about the use of mental illness as a plot device.

I attempted to read this book but ended up stopping a bit over half way. A lot of people enjoy this book but it just was not for me. Have enjoyed other books by her.

Incredible writing. I usually can guess an ending but this one truly shocked me. I can’t wait to see more from this author.

| BOOK REVIEW |

Title: The Last House on Needless Street
Author: Catriona Ward
Format: 🎧 (Originally received ARC from @tornightfire)
Rating: ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩

The most important thing heading into The Last House on Needless Street is this: don't read anything about it. Go in with as much of a blank slate as possible. Don't look up spoilers, even when you are tempted to. It's worth it to push through.


And you may have to push through at times. While the mystery is interesting, there were a couple times when the pacing slowed down and I had to fight just a little to stay engaged. For me, this is the only reason I didn't give the novel 5 stars. My only advice: stick with it, keep paying attention, because it will all pay off in the end.


My favorite thing about the novel was the writing: it was beautiful, but it is also so clever and the way that Catriona Ward build the novel was masterful. I would almost call it genius. This is one of those novels that makes you keep thinking long after you finish it.

Key Points:
• Key twists
• Pay close attention
• Don't read any spoilers!

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Deeply weird and unsettling. I liked the way the story continually shifted - every time I thought I knew what was happening, we went around another corner and I was back in the dark. It's a well developed thriller. Each POV is distinct and interesting. It was incredibly refreshing to read a thriller that felt completely unique and different from what is currently saturating the market.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

At the end of a quiet street near the woods, a man lives with his cat and his daughter. They're reclusive, to say the least: he keeps the windows boarded up and he doesn't let his daughter out of the house too often (and never unsupervised), given her penchant for trying to run away. Certainly, there is something not at all right in the titular house. Told in chapters alternating between the man, the cat, and the daughter's points of view, this story slowly spools out in increasing horror. I'm a bit hesitant to fully call it "horror," though many publications have listed it as one of the best horror novels of 2021. What I will say is that this book is incredibly well-written and captivating and truly impossible to put down.

I read many of the reviews before I started reading this book and still ended up with a completely different story than I had expected. The mood is dark, sometimes sad, always expectant. The characters seem two dimensional at the beginning but then we learn they have been traumatized and their dark moods have been earned. I did expect to be drawn into the story and I was, but on a completely different level. I was in the story's many levels of plot as each voice brought a different vision, a different opinion, a different outcome from their experience. I will agree with so many of the reviews I read......read the damn book. It's the only way to truly appreciate the story as it unfolds. Catriona Ward is a genius.

I think this was well written and strong, but ultimately it is a subject matter I feel is overdone/I am tired reading about. I will pick up more of this author and I do think many people will really jive with this story.

Having been fortunate to read an advanced reader copy of "The Last House on Needless Street" by Catriona Ward, I can attest that this book is a remarkable and unsettling masterpiece of psychological suspense that lingers in your thoughts long after you've turned the last page.

The narrative introduces us to Ted, an enigmatic and reclusive resident of Fox Hollow, a house that stands ominously on Needless Street. Ted is haunted by a tragic past, struggling to find solace as he is consumed by the memory of his missing sister, Dee. The arrival of new neighbors and their relentless curiosity forces Ted to confront his inner demons and the chilling mysteries that have tormented him for years.

Catriona Ward's writing is an absolute revelation, weaving a narrative that is both beautifully lyrical and deeply disconcerting. Her storytelling prowess transforms "The Last House on Needless Street" into a mesmerizing exploration of grief, loss, and the fragile boundaries of reality. The author delves into the complexities of Ted's psyche, creating an atmosphere of unrelenting suspense that grips you from the outset.

The characters in this novel are intricately developed and intensely human. Ted is a protagonist who is as compelling as he is deeply disturbed. Ward meticulously navigates his traumatic history and explores the depths of his paranoia, leaving readers in a state of continuous unease. The new neighbors, Dee's devoted friend Dee-Dee, and the enigmatic Dee herself, are all integral pieces of this chilling puzzle, each adding layers to the narrative.

"The Last House on Needless Street" is a tour de force in the psychological thriller genre. It masterfully manipulates your perceptions and leads you down a twisted and nightmarish path where the line between reality and delusion is fluid. The narrative is punctuated with unexpected twists that keep you on edge, continually challenging your understanding of the story.

While the novel is profoundly absorbing, some readers may find the nonlinear structure and ever-shifting perspectives to be initially disorienting. However, it is precisely this narrative complexity that adds to the book's eerie and immersive atmosphere.

In conclusion, "The Last House on Needless Street" is a psychological thriller of unparalleled depth and darkness. Catriona Ward's uncanny ability to blend the poetic with the macabre results in a story that is both haunting and unforgettable. If you are seeking a mind-bending and emotionally charged reading experience, this book is a must-read.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to explore the enigmatic world of "The Last House on Needless Street."

The twist in this story was phenomenal! It kept me on my toes the entire time and had me staying up late almost every night. I was so eager to find out what happened next that I could hardly put the book down. This title is definitely worth the read.

Fascinating, beautifully written, and definitely had at least two twists I wasn't expecting! Honestly you cannot expect anything more from a book ever. 10 out of 10 no notes!

3.5/5

I had high expectations for this novel because I've heard so many people sing its praises. I didn't know anything about the premise of this book, and the only aspect of the story I did hear was that it was told from the perspective of a cat. I was, nonetheless, intrigued; therefore, when my brother's girlfriend bought me a copy for Christmas, I read it as soon as I could.

Though I have heard several people discussing the unforeseeable twists in this novel; I had an idea of what the biggest twist was from the first few chapters. This idea was completely cemented for me with a few different elements included within the story; therefore, the major, driving point of the story was removed for me. It made the book a bit of a hassle to get through because I was awaiting the formal reveal.

This book felt fully centered around its twists, and, without that driving the book forward, it felt a little stale for me. Now, there were two additional twists that I did NOT see coming; however, they seemed minuscule in the grand scheme of the story, and almost felt like an afterthought to the story itself.

The varying perspectives were interesting to read from, and I did enjoy making my way through the novel because of these characters; however, I wasn't reading through it as quickly as I would've had the plot elements would've been a bit better developed.

This is also a slow-burn, horror novel which I tend to enjoy. A lot of the action occurred in the last 50 pages, or so, of the book. I think it was perfectly timed, and I was glad that there was something else to help propel me through the story because it was running a little stale up to that point.

Overall, I think that the hype and my expectations of this novel negatively impacted my enjoyment of it. It was an enjoyable enough read, but it wasn't a new favorite of mine like I hoped it would be.

At no point during reading this book did I know what was going on, and man, what a ride this was. Even when I thought I'd figured it out, I was wrong. This was a unique take on the traditional thriller/horror book, and I really enjoyed it.

I am a huge fan of Catriona Ward and love her writing style. I struggled a bit with this book because of the cat narration. I do feel like it was well worth getting to the end and I thought that the author treated a subject that has been done many times (don't want to give a spoiler) with imagination and skill. Despite my hang up with the cat, I would absolutely read this book again just to reread the reveals. Would recommend.

The Last House on Needlass Street by Catriona Ward
Release Date September 28, 2021

Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Pace: 4/4
Suspense: 5/5
Overall Enjoyment: 5/5

Murder, check…. Revenge… check! This book has it all. A missing girl and a sister who will stop at nothing to find her. This book is well written and has all of the makings for an amazing psychological thriller. It was a tad bit slow to start with and I wondered where the author was going, but soon found out and was in for a twisted ride.
I want to read more by this author and hope to,do so soon.

Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

Over the last couple years, I've picked this up a few times and each time, I end up setting it aside, so I think it's safe to say at this point that it's a DNF for me. I just couldn't figure out what was going on and didn't have the patience to find out, I guess. It's super weird and definitely eerie, but not my kind of thriller.

A psychological rollercoaster, both poignant and sharp. I love any book with a cat for a main character. Recommended for its beautiful depiction of mental illness and trauma.

Excellent book, but nothing at all like I expected. Well crafted and interesting plot and characters

I adore anything and everything that Catriona Ward writes. Her writing is quiet, until it's not and the way that she is able to weave in all of the details, and complete them all / tie everything at the end, is always masterful and it was especially so for this novel. I will recommend it to anyone that loves twisty horror.