4.5 stars, rounding down only because 5 stars are reserved for only my favorite books of all time and I’m not totally sure this makes that list even though I LOVED IT. This novel was a big wow for me. I’ll admit that when I first started it I was a bit skeptical and it was slow to start.

“You think you know what’s inside the last house on Needless Street. You think you’ve read this story before. That’s where you’re wrong.”

I totally walked into this novel expecting that I had already figured out the ending. There are enough hints dropped throughout early chapters to allude to part of what’s to come. And you think, yeah this isn’t new, this isn’t groundbreaking. But you’re wrong. I was wrong.

The story is billed as horror but it’s not horror in the classical sense. There is horror in the experiences of the characters. It was hard to read sometimes and there is sensitive content. I mean, it’s about a missing child and the surviving sister of that child looking for vengeance. It’s about a murderer terrorizing families. It’s about an unusual recluse who has a secret and maybe a violent side.

But it’s about more than that – and there’s a reason that most of the people who have read this book won’t or can’t say what that is. That’s the hard part in reviewing a mystery / thriller, especially one like this. There is so much to say about this book, but it will only ruin the journey and ultimate reveal for other readers.

The beginning is a little confusing, but things start to come together pretty quickly, building to an ending that, frankly, I never ever saw coming. The prose is stunning. It’s beautifully written and incredibly descriptive without being over the top and losing steam.

I saw another reviewer use the word brilliant. And that’s the word. Brilliant.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Really interesting book! It was a little slow at first but after a few chapters I was hooked! Really kept me guessing until the end. Would definitely recommend to fans of thrillers.

A thrilling ride that takes you to unexpected places, very clever with a great twist. I am usually ready for a book to end once the crisis is resolved but this one kept me fully engaged through to the end, a fascinating read. I don't want to say too much to avoid any possible spoilers, I encourage you to go into this one knowing very little about the story, but I can say this has total creep vibes with a fascinating resolution. I don't think you will be disappointed! I am definitely keeping me eye on this author for future reads.

This novel is an extremely twisty and intense reading experience. Having read and loved one of her other novels, The Girl From Rawblood, I can say this one is of very similar caliber, if not a bit better in terms of pacing and building tension. There is no "big reveal", but a successive unfolding of narrative layers that I found consistently shocking. It's as graphic as Rawblood, with similar triggers.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've been hearing a lot of buzz about this novel lately. It deserves it. I went in knowing almost nothing and I think that is how a reader should go in. This novel was instantly engaging, hard to read a times and constantly kept me guessing about what was happening. The audiobook narrator is FANTASTIC. I can't state that strongly enough. This book was horror but also a mystery but also really emotional at times. If you want some thing new and different, read it.

I can't get into why without spoiling it, but I cannot believe that this is the same book that's been getting so much attention pre-release. So kudos to the author for constructing the book in a way where I'd be a jerk for saying why I absolutely hated it.

It's trite, repetitive, and awful. I haven't been this angry at a book in a long time.

THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET is a suspenseful horror novel that follows a man, his daughter, and his cat, but it has a fair amount of twists, turns, and reveals that sometimes hit and sometimes don't. In terms of what I did like, I really liked how Ward gave different and unique voices to all of her characters, from the mysterious and strange Ted to angry and haphazard Lauren to the delightfully snarky and aloof but also loving cat Olivia. All of their perspectives felt well thought out and actualized, and I liked how unreliable they all were in their different ways. I also enjoyed the chapters that followed Dee, the new neighbor who believes that Ted was involved in her sister Lulu's disappearance a number of years ago, and how that strange and unsettling mystery ties into the other mysterious elements of the novel. That said, while a few of the twists and reveals legitimately caught me off guard, what I imagine was the very big reveal wasn't as shocking as it was meant to be. And on top of that, it's a reveal that we have seen done before, and it's a trope that hasn't really aged very well as time has gone on. But that is all I will say, as I don't want to spoil anything.

THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET has interesting elements and well crafted characters, but there were elements that didn't work as well for me. But that being said, I am very eager to read what Catriona Ward has in store for future horror stories, as her writing is really well done.

Usually, I start my reviews off with a brief synopsis but Last House on Needless Street is not your average book. I would suggest going into this book with no expectations. The less you know the better. In fact, you may want to stop reading this review!
This is a book that takes risks and defies genres. I saw it was classified as gothic horror so I went in expecting something different, which at first made me not enjoy the book as much. I can see this as neo-gothic, perhaps taking up the lineage of Joyce Carol Oates or Shirley Jackson, but definitely leaving its own unique mark. I enjoy genre fiction but I really enjoy books that take risks and are completely their own thing too. I think labeling this book as gothic horror limits it.
As I was reading Last House I felt strong emotions, not but not always in a good way. I found that I could not put this book down. I thought I knew where the story was going and it irked me because I assumed the author was using a common horror trope that I dislike. At first, it came across as a true-crime thriller, but then something completely different happened that completely redeemed the story.
I have a few quibbles. Some of the side characters were undeveloped and their story arcs were unsatisfying. However, the main storyline was both edge-of-your-seat gripping as well as redeeming at the end. It reminded me of the movie Split as well as The Lovely Bones. The ending was so refreshing and unexpected! I highly recommend this book.

The Last House on Needless Street was amazing. It has a lot of hype, which was a little daunting going into it with high expectations, but it was worth every bit. Absolutely stunning.

It was so unique and strange and not at all what I thought it would be. Every time I thought I had it figured out, I realized how wrong I was. I loved the subject matter and how the story unfolded. Fair warning, it started a bit.. I don’t want to say slow because it’s not the right word, but kind of strange. It was weird, but still compelling and I’m glad I kept going.

It’s hard to write a review without sharing too much and I feel like I enjoyed it best without having any idea what to expect. I especially enjoyed the afterword where the author gave us some insight into how the story became what it was. It was incredible and I highly recommend.

I was extremely impressed by Ward's novel. I was immediately drawn in by the crime fiction/mystery elements but was still pleasantly surprised when they turned out not to be the ultimate focus of the book. Ward outdoes herself by coming up with a narration device that is more clever than any plot twist. Using multiple unreliable narrators, Ward unspools small pieces of information that show her incredible attention to detail and the care she takes in plotting her story. I was also impressed by how emotionally engaged I was with the story and how many emotions Ward's characters solicited. I'm so excited to read her other books!

the trick to life is, if you don't like what is happening, go back to sleep until it stops. ~ Olivia

The Last House on Needless Street has many layers to the story, like Russian dolls that nestle inside each other.

The story follows Ted Bannerman who lives in a run down house at the end of Needless street. In the first few chapters you start to realize there is something not quite right in Ted's house.

The nearby lake has had kids go missing over the years. Who is The Murderer? Where is the Little Girl with The Popsicle. What goes on in the forest next to Tom's house?

The story is very hard to describe without giving away any spoilers. Good news, this book has been picked up to be made into a movie. The big screen will put it over the edge into a real horror movie. For me this story did not tip the scales to horror genre, more of a creepy psychological thriller mystery. This mystery slowly unfolds with the ending that wraps up all the breadcrumbs scattered throughout the story. I give it 5 stars because I wanted to re-read as soon as I finished the book.

I listened to the audiobook while reading. The narrator did great job with the different POVs. I think my favorite was the narration of Olivia.

Don't miss reading Ward's afterward!

This is my first book by Catriona Ward! I expected it to be more horror and creepy, but I wasn’t scared in the slightest. This is more psychological than anything. I suspected the revels earlier on in the book, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment in the book. It has plenty of twists in the end! Loved the afterword and really helped me understand the book better.

This was one of the strangest books I've ever read. It took a while to figure out what was happening. But I think this was the whole point. It is premised as a horror novel but felt far more like a story of survival. Although to think of this happening to you in real life would definitely be a horror.

We are introduced to Ted, a strange man who we think may be a kidnapper. His cat Olivia, whose thoughts we get to hear, was the most interesting character for me. And then Lauren who is Ted's daughter... or is she? We eventually hear from Deb whose little sister went missing by the lake over a decade ago and she has been trying to find her and the person responsible ever since.

Once it got going and the characters were established I found myself really enjoying it. You think you have it all figured out but then it spins.... and then the cycle repeats when you think you have it figured out for a second and even a third time. I liked this because I don't like to guess what is going on too soon.

Ted Bannerman spends his days puttering around his derelict house, caring for his out-of-control daughter, Lauren, and talking to his bible-reading cat, Olivia. But after he wakes up one day to find all of the birds in his yard mysteriously murdered, carefully-suppressed secrets threaten to upend his peaceful existence. Meanwhile, Delilah "Dee" Walters moves in next door to spy on Ted, convinced that he is responsible for her sister's disappearance ten years ago.

The Last House on Needless Street is a slow-burn psychological horror that will keep readers second-guessing Ted's guilt or innocent all the way up until the climax. From the get-go, the book sets an intensely weird stage: repeated, seemingly-throwaway mentions of green men, buried gods, Russian dolls, rug colors, and Ted's mother, among other things, coalesce to create a deeply unsettling atmosphere. Ted and Olivia gradually reveal bits and pieces of Ted's past and present that blur the line between reality and hallucination. Meanwhile, Dee's chapters reinforce Ted's untrustworthiness as a narrator and heighten the suspicion of an unspoken violence lurking within his gentle demeanor. The use of multiple unreliable and contradictory narrators contributes to the deep feeling of unease, and mystery lovers will find plenty of clues and deliberate discrepancies to assemble into a coherent narrative. Though I didn't find Ted, Olivia, or Dee particularly relatable as main characters, they all had distinct voices and felt well fleshed out. Even if I didn't entirely empathize with them, I could at least understand their choices.

The only quibble I have is that the ending felt a bit too neatly wrapped up. The themes explored in the book are too complex to be simplified into a - not happy, per se, but perhaps optimistic - and rushed denouement. Nevertheless, the majority of readers will probably find it satisfying.

Like all good horror stories, The Last House on Needless Street is more sad than terrifying. I expect to see it shortlisted for most of the major horror literary awards in the upcoming year. Give this to patient horror fans who want more depth in their horror, or to thriller readers looking to wade into the darker end of the pool.

[Spoiler note: I do not know enough about Ted's disorder to comment on whether or not it is portrayed in an accurate and sensitive manner. But there is an extensive list of citations at the end, so at least the author did their research. Regarding the ending, I would've liked to have seen treatment and therapy play a bigger role in Ted's recovery.]

The Last House on Needless Street is the creepiest book I've read in a while. I started it late in the evening and had to read until I finished. It has stuck with me ever since. The story is told from the point of view of various people who live in and around the last house on Needless Street. A young girl has gone missing and there is no evidence as to her whereabouts or the identity of her abductor. Ted Bannerman is a suspect but nothing is clear until the point of view changes. I do not want to risk spoiling this story. It is a must read if you like psychological horror. Fans of Stephen King, Joe Hill, Dean Koontz, etc will enjoy this. Snap it up, read it quickly and keep the lights on! Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced copy.

I started this book thinking that I would read a Gothic Thriller with twists and turns and a very dark atmosphere. But all that is not what this book is about.
On the anniversary of her little sister's disappearance, Dee decides to investigate what happened that day, herself. The main suspect (Ted) is off the hook, but Dee is convinced that he is the person of interest, so in a very risky call, she moves to a vacant house right next door to Ted's.
Ted is a man in his thirties that lives alone with his cat, Olivia. His daughter, Lauren, visits him sporadically. We know that something is wrong with them. Their relationship is tense and violent, but both of them seem to have some kind of mental disorder.
The story is told by multiple narrators, including Olivia, the cat. That way, we learn the secrets that the house on Needless Street hides in its foundations. A history of abuse and neglect that explores how sometimes the mechanisms to overcome that suffering are so deeply rooted in our psyche that they come part of the problem.
The book is very beautifully written, but it didn't meet my expectations. I've seen lots of 5 stars reviews and I thought I was going to love it but I found it very confusing sometimes.
What I did love and find highly original is how the book, at some point, becomes something else. There is not a plot twist because we were reading another book all the time, from the beginning. What twists is not the storyline but the book itself, and I found that mind-blowing.

What an amazing story with the twists and turns that I love in a thriller/horror story! This is written in a way that draws the reader into the story so quickly, and just takes them on a crazy ride!

I wanted to like this so much because of the buzz surrounding it’s release but I think I had the wrong expectations. The writing was easy to read, it had a good pace and good character development. The story is told in chapters by each character’s point of view, The cat “Olivia” being my favorite character in this story and favorite point of view to read from. However…. As interesting as the twist was (and it is good)…. I didn’t find the resolution satisfying which brought my final rating down I thought the last few chapters were slow, by far the most interesting parts of the book happen in the first 75% of the story. It’s listed as a psychological horror but I didn’t find it “scary” , the horror feeling wasn’t there for me but I would definitely say it was more of a psychological read. I’m giving it 6.5/10-it was okay, enjoyable enough, but I won’t think about the book beyond this post, just wasn’t for me. I’d recommend it if you’re someone who likes psychological thrillers or psychological dramas. #bookstagram #booklover

This book is a literary masterpiece. The writing is quite phenomenal. First, we’re introduced to Tim, a strange man who lives in a strange house. It’s almost immediately apparent that he’s not quite right in the head. The way that he describes people and the world around him and what he’s doing seems a little… off. And then he refers to his “mommy”, and that seals the deal. There’s something quite odd about this man–but is he dangerous? Is he a killer?

The other characters in this book are just as fascinating, but I fell in love with Olivia, the cat, almost instantaneously. Having the point of view of a cat is so unique, and I loved her attitude and the way that she, too, saw the world in a unique perspective that is reflected in her language and the way that she communicates to the reader.

The author is the master of the show-don’t-tell plot device. We’re shown how odd Ted is, rather than told it. We experience the same disorientation that he feels at certain parts in the story.


At some point, this book transforms from a strange novel with seemingly no purpose but to meet the strange inhabitants of the last house on Needless Street into a mystery. A young girl went missing eleven years earlier. It becomes clear to the reader that whatever happens in this peculiar little novel is going to circle back to whatever happened back then. But the way that it will happen is a complete mystery. There are multiple characters with disjointed storylines that are so compelling and unpredictably peculiar.

While the first twist was expected and quite well implemented, in my opinion, the author takes it too far with several additional twists that seemed over the top. I can’t say much more without spoiling, but I did appreciate the afterword that the author provides explaining the conclusion. However, generally speaking, a good thriller/mystery/horror shouldn’t require an afterword to explain the thought process to justify plot twists.

All in all, Catriona Ward is a talented writer. The characters somehow manage to juggle that balance between disturbing and heartfelt. The plot was perfectly paced, with plot developments are well spaced out among the haunting descriptions and flashbacks. While I wasn’t a huge fan of the twist at the end of the book, I still give the story four stars for the beautiful writing and fascinating characters. Even the plot, up until the end, had me riveted, flipping through the pages and swearing under my breath.

3.5/5 rounded up.
My feelings about this book are very mixed. For much of the novel, I couldn't quite wrap my head around what I was reading and felt disassociated from the story. I almost stopped reading twice but persevered as lots of other reviews were 5 stars. I was also more uncomfortable with the plot (from a personal perspective as a parent) than I expected. And perhaps I've learned that the horror genre is just too scary for me...

Alternatively, this book is very unique. The multiple POVs are done with characters you don't expect and they're all distinct from anything I've read before. The twists are interesting and this book will certainly be one that will be talked about!

Lastly, the author has done extensive research into a mental health condition and included a lengthy bibliography at the end (do not look at it before reading!). This attention to detail and effort is amazing and important to a story like this. Commendable!

While this one may not have been for me, if you are looking for a very different psychological story, check it out!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance e-copy.