This book was such a trippy experience, it almost defies explanation. There is almost nothing I can say about this book that won't on some level give it away. So I'll recount the plot ... or what one thinks the plot is: DeeDee is mourning the loss of her younger sister Lulu, who went missing during a family holiday at a lake. It's been a decade and she still can't get over it. Her sister's disappearance not only fractured their family of four, but resulted in her mother leaving home, her father dying an early death and DeeDee having to sacrifice her dreams of becoming a dancer.

Since then, DeeDee has spent her life on a fruitless search for likely suspects in the crime of having taken her sister, to no avail. Until she stumbles across one more promising candidate, Ted Bannerman, who lives on Needless Street, cloistered in his home with only his cat and his never-seen-outside daughter. Deciding that because of his proximity to the lake, a long-ago coincidence involving the street where Ted lives, and the fact that he fits a particular profile, DeeDee moves in next door to watch Ted. So sure is she that he took her sister, she's willing to risk everything to expose him.

In the meantime, Ted ... well ...let's just say that DeeDee isn't wrong. Something very, very strange is happening in the last house on Needless Street.

I listened to this one, and while it was confounding at times, I never considered abandoning it. Not only because the narrator was stellar--effortlessly switching the genders, tones, ages and attitudes of the characters without sounding campy--but because the psychological suspense was unmatched. Much of the book happens in the characters' interiors, but nevertheless, it felt action-packed. And as happens with the best suspense writers, details are fed to you piecemeal so that while you may suspect that they are clues, you have no idea clues to what. When all the answers are revealed, I defy you to say you saw it coming. But I will say though, that this is very much a focused reading experience. If you blink, you may miss the real clinchers.

Great author. Truly original delivery of a concept. Will I read more by her? Sure. When I have the stamina to go through something like this again.

It's a bit weird, there is a religious cat narrator, and well... I'm not 100% sure how I feel about this book.

Wow. I love Catriona’s mind. Never have I ever read a book quite like THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET. Confused as shit, I had to talk this one through with people to make sure I understood it the way I did. I highly recommend choosing this as a buddy or book club read so you have people to talk with about it. ⁣
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There were times I wanted to stop reading to go back and reread things, but I kept going because I couldn’t put it down. Things came together in the end, but that’s where I had all my questions. ⁣
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This book is a mind f**k and I loved it. Something that actually made me really think and second guess myself! ⁣
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My favorite character was the cat. But that’s all I’ll say so I don’t give anything away. I liked Ted, but then I hated him, but then I felt really bad for him. Ok, that’s it. I can’t say much else without giving anything away. ⁣
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Excuse me while I check out what else Catriona has written.

Weird. This book will definitely keep you confused most of the way.
It’s a hard to describe without giving something away: multiple POVs, confinement, a paranoid man, woods, a new neighbor, an old mystery.
Didn’t have many expectations for this as it was a cover impulse read, but it just wasn’t for me.

4.5 stars. Honestly, I struggled to connect to this book for a long time, but then it just clicked for me and I became emotionally invested in the stories of Olivia, Lauren, Ted, and Dee. All of them connected to a mystery on Needless Street. I will just say that I wept for a good quarter of the ending. Absolutely gut wrenching. I haven't wept like that over a book in a while. Review to come.

I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING.... should be the catch-phrase for this book.
The narrator is AMAZING and I loved it all.

From the start, going in completely blind, this story captured my attention and hooked me into its web of whodunnit. I'm not one that puts details in their review.... all I want to say is that going in blind was magical and I wish I could listen to it again for the first time!!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Catriona Ward and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an Audiobook ARC of this publication which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher/author for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was exactly what I wanted it to be! I loved it. I will make sure to check out other books by this author. When I requested this I was just intrigued by the concept of it and I loved how it turned out. This story had a great plot and if you have read this and enjoyed it, This was so much. It was such a great story. I would say give this one a try. I will continue to follow this author. Way to go to this author for not letting me down.

I highly enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook. Kept me listening.

A twisty tale for fans of literary horror with psychological depth.

In a boarded up house near the woods in Washington state, there lives three individuals - a traumatized man who is trying to do the right thing for his daughter, a teenage girl who is not allowed out, and a cat who watches the world and uses the Bible for personal guidance. But all is not as it seems. And the fragile balance of this world is disrupted when a women moves in next door. A woman obsessed with finding her kidnapped sister.

Audiobook narrator does an excellent job voices the various characters. Not for readers looking for action, but for those who want to delve into characters' psyches, understand heartbreak, and, ultimately, find hope.

Honestly this was too scary and weird for me to read the whole thing. I’m starting to realize that I’m way too much of a scaredy cat for true horror.

The jacket copy for this novel is very deliberately vague. Therefore, it's not really surprising that it's not quite what I expected. This kind of crime novel is not my favorite. That said, there were surprises aplenty along the way, and the pacing was good.

This book was weird, creepy, atmospheric with twists and turns. If you like strange and unusual the you gotta pick this up!

Some Cuts Never Heal

The book opens with a creepy flashback. We are placed in the memory of a very disturbed man and relive an episode of his past. Eleven years ago, a little girl was murdered. Nice and creepy. Great start.

I was surprised to hear chapters told by the viewpoint of a cat. Quite unique.

Ted, Olivia, and DeeDee

Christopher Ragland is a skilled narrator. I will definitely listen to more of his work. I’ve added them to my TBR pile already.

The story is intriguing and having three narrators added to the depth of the book. It’s a tale of a missing little girl. We’ve read these before. The narrators made this one unique - a cat?! Yes. Interesting.

This is a very unique, disturbing story. It kept me guessing but made me sad as well. The mystery of the missing girl added another layer.

Quite clever, detailed - is there another word for disturbing? Psychological, a deep dive into the mind of a psychotic, broken person. A look at how he got there.

Memorable.

This was a spooky and odd atmospheric thriller, told in part from a cat's point of view. If you are into the unique and unusual, give it a listen.
Thanks Netgalley for the advance copy.

The Last House on Needless Street is probably one of the most original takes on a horror story that I have read in a very long time. To attempt to describe it would be impossible without giving some spoilers. I thought I was pretty sure what was going on, but it felt like a rollercoaster ride—each twist a little wilder than the one preceding it. At one point, I thought for sure the story had to be close to ending, but I was pleasantly surprised to know that there was so much more to go.

If you are a fan of audiobooks, you are in for a treat. The extremely talented narrator, Christopher Ragland, kept me engaged throughout the entire book and did a great job of giving each character their own personality and voice. I hope to find more books read by him soon.
The Last House on Needless Street is 5/5 stars for me and was one of my top books of 2021. Safe to say I’m now a Catriona Ward fan.

Big Thanks to #NetGalley and to #MacMillanAudio for providing this review copy. All thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.

Wow just wow!! Brilliant. "How many times can someone bend before they break. Great Halloween read. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley

I'm at a loss for words when it comes to discussing this book. There is a "twist" that I'm not sure whether it should be called a twist (in the same way as using someone's sexuality as a "twist" in a novel isn't really a twist to me, it's just a part of who they are). That being said, I'll err on the side of caution and just state that I think that aspect of the book is handled really well. I thought the writing and character development were superior to a lot of horror I've read, and while I wish it had gone in a different route, I still enjoyed it.

I thought I wasn't smart enough for this book. Turns out, the twists were so absurd that the problem wasn't me. Yes the characters are original, including a talking, bible quoting cat, but the story doesn't seem to connect. You will spend your time reading trying to understand what is going on. Don't even bother guessing, you are wrong. It's kind of like a having a dream where things keep getting more nonsensical the longer you are asleep.

I haven't disliked a book more than when I read "Imaginary Friend" by Stephen Chbosky. Just odd, and I'd like to wake up now.

Audio made this book slightly more palpable. I did enjoy the narration, and different voices of characters.

I'd heard so much about this book that I think I was slightly underwhelmed due to my high expectations, but it is a very solid book and I would recommend it. There's a lot more depth here than what you would normally expect with a mystery/thriller, and it's something that I've never read before. If a book like that has been written, I'm unaware of it, so if you're a lover of this genre I would especially highly recommend it. Not a fan of the audiobook, though. I'd say physically reading it is the best way to consume this one.

This book started out Creepy and just got creepier. It was distressing and depressing. I felt no connection to the main character, not endearing, sympathetic or empathetic. So I give this one star, because I am unable to give it no stars. There are too many great books available that I dislike having to waste my time reading and reviewing on this one.

This book is strange and twisty. It's nothing like what I expected, and it kept me thinking. It's best to go in without too much context.

Many thanks to the author, narrator, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.