Wow I don’t even know how to put words together to describe this book! It’s been so long since a book has kept me on my toes the entire read! I had no idea who or what was real...cats? Snakes? Evil mothers? This book was so well written and even though it made me so confused it pulled together in the end. Horror is not my usual genre but this book had me feeling every emotion mostly sad. I now understand the reviews and excitement around this novel.

Stephen King devotee that I am, I don’t always agree with his pre-hype for new books, but he’s definitely spot on when it comes to The Last House on Needless Street. Along with a great atmosphere ala Silence of the Lambs and a clever, believable writing style, Catriona Ward kept me guessing all the way through to the surprising end.

I really don't get the hype around this book...

I really didn't enjoy the writing style or the characters. I found the plot hard to follow, the writing difficult to read at times and no connection to the characters.

This book is very weird and people said it will mess with your mind. Yes, it's different but the problem is I went in knowing that so I questioned everything I read and therefore, the twists were not that shocking.

One important quality that a reader must possess is the ability to tell when a book is not for them. The reviews for this book have been fantastic. It sounds good! But by the second chapter, from the perspective of a cat, I knew this wasn’t for me. The book begins with Ted, who lives in a dilapidated house with a cat and his daughter. Ted obviously has some... issues. This novel teases a major twist, one I’ll never know. Because this one? It just wasn’t for me.

It’s important to approach a problem from the right perspective. But it can be difficult to know just which angle to take. Should you tackle the issue logically or empathetically? Impulsively or methodically? Things get even tricker when you ask others for advice. No matter the situation, different people will come to different solutions.

Every character in The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward (out September 28; Tor Nightfire) has a problem. Dee Dee is struggling to find clues to the mysterious disappearance of her little sister, Lulu. Ted—a recluse living at the end of Needless Street—wants to help make a better world for his daughter, Lauren. Even Ted’s cat, Olivia, has a series of troubles to contend with, ranging from the beautiful tabby cat to the irritating buzzing sound she can’t quite track down. But while it may seem only natural for characters in fiction to have problems, it’s the way these troubles intertwine that makes Ward’s book sing. The result is a mesmerizing tale of horrifying mystery.

To discuss the plot of The Last House on Needless Street in much detail would be a disservice to both the author and the reader. Every chapter of this expertly crafted novel reveals new shades of meaning that will be best enjoyed by those who go in blind. On its surface the story is about the disappearance of a young girl and those affected in the aftermath. But once you sink a little deeper, Ward reveals an intricate world where cause and effect fold in on each other in a Sisyphean loop that’s not easily untangled.

What can be commented on is Ward’s remarkable prose. In a landscape laced with violence and affliction, every sentence sings with harmonious precision. Readers will no doubt find their heads lifting from the page at the sheer rightness of Ward’s character’s observations. But they won’t stay lost in reverie for long. There is something magnetic about Ward’s work—a certain literary special sauce—that compels the reader forward. Perhaps it’s the mysterious intentions of her characters, but it’s just as likely in the writing itself.

The Last House on Needless Street is a powerful story told by a first-rate craftsperson. If you’re a fan of the dark and mysterious, this book will be for you. Avoid the spoilers, skip the back cover copy, and place yourself directly into Catriona Ward’s chilling hands.

I really enjoyed this book because it was so vastly different from anything I’ve read. I waited to review it because I needed to sit with it for awhile after. I loved the twists and surprises in the ending. The character development was unreal. I really could picture everything even the therapist. I think this should be a movie. Rating it a 5/5 and agreed with Stephen kings review. This is a must read.

Wow. Even though I managed to figure out some of the twists, this book is still very powerful. There’s basically nothing I can tell you without spoiling it. You’re just going to have to read it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

I heard a lot of good things about this book online, so I was really looking forward to checking it out. It was way better than I expected and totally blew me away by how good it was. It's beautifully crafted, both in the way it's written and how the story unravels. The pacing is slow at times but steadily progresses in a satisfying way that kept me invested and wanting to know what happens next. It's dark, creepy, psychologically engaging, and has lots of twists that I didn't see coming. Catriona Ward is an exceptional writer and I can't wait to read more of their work.

Thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC of this wonderful book.

I really struggled with this book ,I just couldn’t get into the story or the characters and I am sorry to say I didn’t finish the book .

4.5 stars!!!

Twisty, dark and haunting at times. Told in various points of view this story has a slow burn but with wild twists I could never see coming. I fell deeply for the characters and at times needed to put the book down for a break. In the end it turned out to be a spectacular horro/ gothic read!!

Thank you to NetGalley for an early edition of The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward in exchange for my. Honest review.

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Firstly (in case there are others like me) I dislike the cover of this book. It gave it a Sabrina the teenage witch vibe, which is sooooo far from what this book was actually like. This book was so well thought out as we spiral deeper and deeper into the disturbed mind of the characters. The story twists and it turns and when you think you have it figured out your thrown back to square one. A deep psychological thriller that will leave you breathless. The first half was a little slower and then wham full speed ahead. What a crazy read!

I will admit that I was most intrigued about this book based solely on its cover. Also, not even gonna lie, the critique by Stephen King sealed the deal. Because if King recommends it, I need to read it! Nevertheless, I was sadly disappointed with this novel. I I do like the ideas behind it, but I don't like the way in which the story was told. It was confusing at times and, after I finished, I still had questions which means it didn't satiate me the way I like. Also, there really wasn't anything thrilling or scary about it. In fact, if anything, it's all very sad. This is great if that's what you're looking for. But, I wasn't, so it made me disappointed.

This was quite the ride. It felt like two different stories (in that the first half was horror and appeared as one thing but the ending was quite different and was a whole different experience) and I loved them both. I felt so uncomfortable being in Ted's mind, but at the end was rooting for him.

I went into this one blind and spent pretty much the entire time wondering what IS going on here? Because it’s very weird and yet at the same time you also know that it’s sad. The writing was done well enough to keep pulling me along until that moment of understanding and all becomes clear.

Wow. This book was just wow. It’s a very unconventional book and it might take you a bit to get used to it, but I really hope you give it a try because believe me it’s worth it. This is a deeply unsettling and utterly captivating book that is creepy, dark and heartbreaking. It’s unlike anything I’ve read and I thought it was brilliantly done.

I truly do not want to say too much because to give anything away would be a disservice. This is one that will keep you guessing as you read it and have you thinking about it long after you finish. 5/5⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for gifting me this eARC. The Last House on Needless Street will be out in the US on September 28.

This is twisting, turning, mind-bending take that every time you think you have it figured out … the author jerks you up, spins you around, shakes you about, and leaves you spinning and breathless, unsure of what just happened. This is perfect for fans that love a good mash up of <i>Alice In Wonderland</i> meets <i>The Haunting of Hill House</i> while befriending Stephen King in one of your unending nightmares. This truly kept me on my toes and guessing, and anymore that’s a treat from a novel.

A huge thank you to #NetGalley, Macmillan #TorForge, and the talented author Catriona Ward for providing me an electronic ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. I definitely recommend you have a go at this one when it’s released Sept. 28, 2021.

You can see my reviews at http://www.OceansOfBooks.com

I am super picky about suspense/thrillers. In fact, I'm honestly pretty snobby about them. (It's cool, I'll own it.) I despise when an author sacrifices plot, character development, and so many times downright believability for the sake of throwing in some type of spectacular, knock-your-socks-off twist. You will find very books in the suspense/thriller genre on my shelves that I rate 5 stars.

This book, readers. The writing is tight. The characters are dimensional. The story is gripping. And I never knew what the heck was going on. I thought it did, and then I didn't. And it wasn't an eye-rolling, that-was-such-a-juvenile-move sort of reaction. It was HOLY-CRAP-THAT-CAME-OUT-OF-NOWHERE-AND-IT-WAS-BRILLIANT.

And, can I add, that the above happened more than once? Yes, on more than one occasion I was completely blindsided by the direction the story took. (I had a weird inkling about one twist, but I was only about 20% in the ballpark on what actually happened.)

It's fantastic. Truly.

This book is already out in the UK (so you can order it on Book Depository - which I may have to do just so I can have my own physical copy), and it will be published here in the US September 28, 2021. Put. It. On. Your. List.

**Biggest thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book.

This book was much better than I expected. In fact, it far exceeded my expectations and I am so thankful I had a chance to read it! WOW! I can't even think of the words to say other than READ THIS BOOK! It's amazing! Haunting, creepy, and extremely well written!

This book is EVERYTHING. If you like to read, you will like this book. It is exactly what one should look for in a book - engaging, page-turning, mysterious, and emotional. I think Ward is an absolutely brilliant writer. It's hard for me to describe this book because I don't want to give anything away, but trust me - this book will stay with you long after you finish.

Wow. This is one of those books that makes me wish Goodreads had a higher rating system, because five stars doesn't seem like enough. <i>The Last House on Needless Street</i> is a masterwork of psychological fiction that is at once terrifying, heartwarming and tragic. It's one of those stories where you feel compelled to reread it as soon as you finish it because you want to go back and see all the clues you missed. Things that seemed to be mistakes or errors in the timeline are actually keys to unlocking the story as a whole.
I've never read anything quite like it. The only thing that comes sort of close is <i>The Little Girl Who Was Too Fond of Matches</i> by Gaetan Soucy, in that events aren't altogether clear at first, but there is a pervasive sense of foreboding and <i>wrongness</i> that surrounds everything.

This is bound to become an instant classic and I can't recommend it highly enough.