This is definitely one of those books that you either love or loathe. I should have learned by now not to pick up books that all are the rage because I am just not that target reader. The Last House on Needless Street was so intriguing to start but as I read, I didn't find it eerie or unexpected at all.

The characters were just okay for me. The differing POVs took me out of the story but that's a pet peeve of mine, not at all the authors. I absolutely hated the cat, which is one part I really thought I'd like but a sanctimonious cat just missed the mark for me. As soon as she was introduced, I had a feeling I knew where the plot was going but I hoped I was wrong that it was that easy. I enjoyed Dee's character and honestly, the mystery there with her missing sister kept me reading.

While the ending does tie up all the loose threads and make the nonsense make sense again, I wasn't shocked by it. Maybe I've read too many horror novels and seen too many horror movies. I feel like people who love thrillers are probably the demographic for this one.

I almost DNF’d this book, but being an optimist when it comes to books, I trudged on. I am so glad I did!

The tale is told by Ted, Olivia, and Dee. Ted definitely has some issues, one of which is that he might be a serial killer. Olivia is his cat. Her purpose is to protect and comfort Ted. Dee is the older sister of one of the missing children. The book slowly reveals itself, twisting and turning, leaving the reader thinking one thing, then something is said or done and the reader must revise what they thought, and then it starts all over again. It is worth the slow, confusing (for me) beginning.

I just reviewed The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward. #TheLastHouseonNeedlessStreet #NetGalley

A woman has made it her life’s mission to find the person who abducted for her sister, who vanished as a young girl years earlier. She tracks down a peculiar, secretive man that she suspects, but who was ruled out at the time of the disappearance, and moves next door to him.
This book is a little hard to pin down for a review. It had several narrators, a couple of which I didn’t really enjoy, and often times I would have no idea what I was really reading.
It started to all come together with about a fourth of the book left, and if I had tons of time on my hands, I might be inclined to go back and reread with fresh eyes. But I don’t and so I’m not going to.
If you prefer stories that are pretty straightforward, you might find this one a little frustrating, but if you’re into more twisty narratives, this could be worth a read.
Thanks #netgalley and #viperbooks for this #arc of #thelasthouseonneedlessstreet in exchange for an honest review.

Unique psychological horror, unlike anything else I have read thus far. I would definitely recommend to those who love twisty plots, horror, and thrillers. I would pick up all of the author's future works, it was so well written and enjoyable.

Catriona Ward offers a captivating and sensitive portrayal of a tortured mind in her captivating book, "The Last House on Needless Street". Ward's dexterous handling of multiple perspectives and points of view leaves the reader mentally exhausted, but richly rewarded for the effort. This is a horror story that is actually defies the conventions of the genre. You won't soon forget Ted, Olivia, Lauren, and Dee.

This book was a wild ride. It took me a bit to figure out what was going on with the shifting perspectives and gaps in the narrative, only to have it take a hard turn in the last 20% or so. The ending is so compelling and so detailed you can’t stop reading.

I'm surprised I didn't love this more. I feel like it's a 3.5 star, but I couldn't justify rounding up to 4. I wasn't blown away by the end. It was alright, but I didn't love it.

Boy howdy, was this one creepy trip of a thriller. It is hard to say much about this book without giving things away, so I'm not even going to bother with a plot summary, because this is the sort of book that is much better if you go into it knowing nothing. Instead, I'll give you a smattering of random quotes and reasons to read it:

- Multiple very distinct points of view (no "voices blending together" problem like many multi-POV novels have)
- One of the narrators is a cat. And she is my favorite.
- "Anyway the trick to life is, if you don’t like what is happening, go back to sleep until it stops." #relatable
- Majorly unreliable narrators (not a spoiler, you can tell almost immediately)
- "I judge people two ways— on how they treat animals, and on what they like to eat. If their favorite food is some kind of salad, they are definitely a bad person. Anything with cheese, they are probably OK."
- A series of well-executed twists
- Addressing of serious topics in respectful ways, though I will refrain from too much elaboration (PM me if you need more info)
- "'There’s a monster inside each of us,' he says. 'If you let yours out, Ted, it might not eat you.'"
- Multi-layered storytelling that subverts some common horror tropes
- The cat doesn't die (thank god)

I'm not saying anything more, except to reiterate that this book is weird and twisty and smart and crazy and all the things you like to see in thrillers. It can get pretty intense, but if you're up for it, the payoff is excellent.

(Also, be sure to read the author's note at the end (once you finish--otherwise you'll spoil things big-time) to get a little more insight on why she wrote the book the way she did. It added a little something extra to the book for me.)

Trigger/content warning: child abuse

This book is a psychologically twisting tale that keeps the reader guessing. When you think you know what the story is, it changes. A great read!

excellent narration of a book I found confusing and off paced at times. The cat as narrator was odd but overall worked. The story alternates between Ted, the cat, and his daughter Lauren. the story centers on a lonely man who lives by himself near the forest. there's odd yet surprising revelations with his daughter but really I was lost most of the time. The plot was confusing

This ended up being better than I feared it would be; the overall picture adds up to be more worthwhile than the sum of its parts. Ultimately sympathetic and understanding of trauma, though perhaps a little heavy-handed and gruesome.

I'm not really sure what to say about this book. From the opening pages I was aware that something wasn't right. That palpable sense of dread is hard to do but so very disturbing when it is done well. The Last House on Needless Street is a giant jumble of things not right but it is executed perfectly.

I am in awe of Catriona Ward's ability to craft a story with characters that are so diverse and real. I wasn't quite sure how all of the loose ends would tie together but it did so in such a satisfying way. I wouldn't necessarily classify this as a horror novel but more of a psychological suspense novel which I highly recommend.

So many layers of suspense! The Last House on Needless Street provided me with a very entertaining story and it brought a bag full of twists. Maybe it was more of an ongoing unraveling of suspenseful events. This is my first experience reading Catriona Ward. This book had some hype attached to it prior to me reading it so I was a bit doubtful that it would all by hype with no substance but I was pleasantly surprised that this book was as excellent as everyone said it was. Like many readers, I found myself trying to jump a few steps ahead to predict the outcome only to find that I kept hitting dead ends with my predictions. What I loved more than anything is how compelling the characters are. I think Ward did a masterful job bringing these characters to life and making you empathize with a character that may have committed evil acts. In a way it reminded me of Dexter. Not fully, Dexter only kills bad people after all but there was enough in Ted to make you feel like, maybe he isn't capable of doing these bad things. But the more you read you feel like, maybe he can.

I loved the many scenarios that played out in my head as I was trying to figure things out. I love Catriona Ward's writing style and character development and plot building. How she was able to keep all of this straight is beyond me. I am very glad I got to experience this book, especially right before Halloween. It fit the mood of the holiday perfectly.

I want to thank Catriona Ward, Tor Nightfire, Macmillan Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Woah. This book is quite the ride and will have you reeling until the very end. The author tackles a difficult subject and weaves a story that is unlike anything I have ever read before. The multiple points of view with each having a level of unreliability to them makes for such a unique and surreal reading experience. Warning: there are parts of this book that will have you so shocked that you will exclaim aloud. On the bright side, this will make your coworkers very curious and then you can recommend this fantastic book!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. Ok, I went into this with absolutely no expectations or ideas of what it was about and I think that's the way to do it with this book. It was a ride from start to finish trying to piece together exactly what on earth was happening and was and wasn't real. It's been almost a month since I finished this and I still don't quite know how to properly express all my thoughts on this book. Just go and pick up The Last House on Needless Street and the less you know about it beforehand the better.

This was an interesting story, definitely original. The twists and turns and differing points of view made you think that you had it figured out, then realizing that no, you still have no clue what's going to happen.

I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be weird and confusing and creepy, but in the best way. It was fast-paced and I kept wanting to pick it back up to find out more about Ted and Olivia and all the fascinating characters. I thought the main reveal was well done. It was a layered and excellent book from Catriona Ward. I can't wait to pick up more from this author.

☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ + 1/2

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A dark multi-layered tale of secrets, twisted hidden pasts, and ever-changing realities.

THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET is the type of book where you sit down to read a chapter and wind up staying up all night to finish it. Ward, in what seems like an effortless way, developed a story with so many twists, turns, and pivots the reader cannot help but want to find out what happens next.


One of the things I enjoyed about the book was getting inside the headspace for Ted, Oliva the Cat, Lauren, and Dee. Because of the multiple perspectives, the author is able to carefully construct a narrative leading her readers down one path only to reveal a new tidbit that changes so much of what you thought you knew. When you make your way through this book, you will learn, just as I did, things are not what they seem. How Ward thought of this plot, I will never truly comprehend, but the masterful way she wrote it made it addictively creepy. This book took me down a rabbit hole of complex psychosis, shocking secrets, and bone-chilling suspense. And I don’t say that lightly. It is simply horror at its best.


THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET is haunting and will stay with you for long after you finish. I cannot wait to read another book by the author.

"The Last House on Needless Street," by Catriona Ward is a work of psychological suspense that toys with what is real and imaginary. The central character is Ted Bannerman, a lonely man, battered in body and spirit, who spends hours locked up in the dilapidated house where he was raised. He often drinks himself into a stupor. There are chapters narrated by Ted, and others by Olivia, a talking cat (yes, a cat); and Dee, who bears tremendous guilt because of a tragic event that occurred when she was a teenager.

The blurbs would have us believe that this book is a shocker that will leave us reeling when we discover what really happened. Nothing could be further from the truth. Ward gives us plenty of clues along the way that point us in the right direction. However, is the trip worth it? Sadly, it is not. This novel is a creepy, desolate, and sickening story of child abuse; murder; and self-harm. It is torture to read about these pathetic characters who have been beaten down by life.

What is the point of "Needless Street"? Is it that children need to be cared for with love and kindness? Or that when parents treat their offspring cruelly, their sons and/or daughters will likely develop some form of mental illness? If so, Ward conveys nothing particularly original here. We have seen too many scenes of unspeakable damage done to youngsters before, both in fiction and nonfiction. it is neither entertaining nor enlightening to read about sadistic adults who, because they are unhinged, are driven by their inner demons to destroy themselves and others.

Wow. Needless Street kept me reading late into the night and is still haunting me days after I’ve finished. This was not the “crazy killer” story I was expecting; it was deeper, scarier, and so heartbreaking!

What a well crafted tale that left me guessing and unsteady all the way to the end.