Past and present collide when two women are brought together through interesting circumstances- circumstances which begin to unravel mysteries and secrets that were meant to be kept hidden.

Beyond pleased with this one! I've heard great things about the author & this did NOT disappoint. I need to be grabbed by the beginning, otherwise I find myself hesitant to keep picking up a book. The way Diane captivated us right from the get-go was brilliant and I needed to know more. The past was my favorite part, even though so much of it aggravated me - prejudice and the fight for civil rights is a HUGE (and important) part of our history. It's so hard to read about though, it just makes me angry the way others were treated. Even between family members, I was disgusted. BUT- that's what good writing and plots do...they are meant to make me feel whether it's happiness, sadness, anger, or anything else. I loved Ellie and her story- the struggles she faced and
her perseverance through every obstacle. I yearned for her to be free from the restrictions of her family and to be with the man she loved- I cried when choices were taken away from her, I cried for all of those who should never have been treated differently based on their skin color.

This was such an impactful and emotional read, but there also was a mystery within that I did not see coming. All of the elements came together beautifully & this is one I will never forget.

A heartbreaking yet must read novel that has me once again thankful to have discovered Ms. Chamberlain’s work .

So I almost skipped this book and that really would have been a travesty because this book was GOOD. It was not what I expected (I thought I was getting a thriller) and what I actually got was more historical fiction with a mystery, but I still really enjoyed it.

There are two timelines and two povs in the story. The current timeline belongs to Kayla, who is moving into her dream house that she and her architect husband designed and built. Unfortunately the house is also the scene of his death. He slipped on screws during the building of the house and fell down a staircase. Now newly widowed, Kayla and her four year old daughter move into the house and as soon as they do, strange things, foreboding things, begin happening.

The second timeline belongs to Ellie in the 60s. Ellie is a college student who becomes a freedom fighter during the civil rights movement. Ellie's storyline is the one I felt was most compelling and tugged at my heartstrings. Ellie also happens to have grown up in the area where Kayla's new house has been built.

This was really, really close to being a five star read for me. The only thing that held it back for me was the the characters weren't making connections that I thought were pretty obvious. Otherwise, a great read.

I just couldn’t get into this one. Maybe historical fiction just isn’t my bag. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for my copy for review

OMG! This book has stayed with me for a while and is one of the first books I suggest to those looking for new recommendations. I loved everything about this book, except the outcome for some of the characters, of course. Such a moving historical fiction, and one done so well, I felt as if I were a part of this time period. Amazing book!

This book was very good but also a hard read for me as it touched on disturbing issues of racism and social justice. Important issues in 1965, in 2010 and still today. Read it for the well done intrigue and get educated on issues you may not have thought about. It is gut wrenching, though, so be warned.

That was an awesome read. Like the main character very much. Book touches a lot of problems that we don’t realize that they exist. Normally I don’t read historical fictions but this one was good. Can’t wait for more books from Diane Chamberlain!
Thank you Netgalley for the copy.

Loved the suspense fulness. The characters were great even if their actions were a bit less than savory. The storyline was typical yet not boring.

I thought this was unique and interesting with spins that I didn't expect. I enjoyed the characters though not always what they did. The story was one I didn't know much about so I learned a lot and enjoyed it.

While I read this book after it was released, I absolutely loved how intense this book was! All the way through I was sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. This was one of my favorite books of the month when I read it and I can't wait to read more books like this!

Ellie and Kayla, live in Round Hill, North Carolina, but are separated by decades. The author explores the themes of justice, racism, and family secrets through Ellie's experiences in 1965, when she is a young woman fighting for civil rights, and through Kayla's experiences in 2010, as she deals with the aftermath of her husband's death and the haunting of her new home.

Both women are dealing with their own challenges and secrets that threaten to collide. The author's use of alternating timelines and perspectives creates a sense of urgency and suspense that will keep the reader engaged.

“The Last House on the Street" is a page-turner that will satisfy fans of psychological thrillers. Chamberlain's writing is sharp and engaging, and the story is both suspenseful and thought-provoking. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries and thrillers.

I love Diane Chamberlain's novels. They are always so in depth and keep me on the edge of my seat. This one is no different. It ties together her traditional mystery with social justice and some history. Two stories, same town, 45 years apart but still looking for justice.

I would classify THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET by Diane Chamberlain as historical fiction, a gut-wrenching story told from alternating timelines. The first centers around a young college student, Ellie Hockley, who, in the year 1965, spends her summer break as a volunteer for SCOPE—the Summer Community Organization and Political Education project—a group of college students helping to register black voters.

After orientation and training at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia, Ellie, along with her fellow volunteers, is sent to the town Turner’s Bend in her home state of North Carolina, wherein each volunteer stays with hosting family, spreading the word about the importance of registering to vote throughout the community, as they wait for LBJ to sign the voter’s rights bill into law.

Though met with life-threatening resistance, the volunteers refused to give up—including Ellie, whose racist family lives in the neighboring town of Round Hill—demands she comes home.

In the second timeline, set in 2010, young widow Kayla Carter and her three-year-daughter are getting ready to move into the house Kayla and her deceased husband Jackson designed and had built at the end of Hockley street, when a mysterious woman warns Kayla against moving into the house.

THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET was a difficult read, a gut-wrenching narrative that ripped my heart out. At various points throughout the book, the budding relationship between Ellie and one of the volunteers warmed my heart tremendously.

By the end of the book, I felt enraged at the lack of justice.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an eBook of THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET at the request of an honest review.

This book was so enjoyable and really held my attention more than I expected. Im excited to read other books by this author!

Diane chamberlain can do no wrong. She always writes a great novel and has done that again. Always have loved her books and can’t recommend them enough

ALL THE STARS!!

I don't know why it took me so long to read this. Diane Chamberlain is one of my favorite authors and I'm always super excited to read her books. Somehow life got away from me and I overlooked it.

Until this past weekend! I picked it up and read it in just a few sittings. I LOVED IT!

The story alternates between 1965 and 2010. Both timeframes were well written and gripping. The story was very emotional and had me in tears many times. I always feel a connection with this author's characters and this time was no different. Many of her novels seem to have that past and present storyline. It always seems to work out great.

I don't read a lot of historical fiction but there are a few authors that I will read whatever they write. Diane Chamberlain will always be one of those authors.

This was such a great read. In one way I'm glad I waited to read it as hopefully it won't seem so long between her books now. Next time I won't lose track.

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain is based on the history of voting rights in the South. I see the history identified in the story, read nonfiction articles about the history, and come back to the story with a better understanding of its context. For me, the book works because the parallel stories Ellie and Kayla work. It once again leaves me thinking of the divisions we create based on race and the atrocities that leads to.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/02/the-last-house-on-street.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

This book was just okay for me. I really wanted to enjoy it more, but while the subject matter and history lessons were interesting and informative, the writing just didn't give the impact I wanted.

While I'm not a huge of Historical Fictions, I do love a good mystery/thriller. I loved that it was narrated from two different timelines - 1965 and 2010. Both of these timelines take place in the same town in North Carolina. Both storylines intertwine with each other to create a beautiful masterpiece.

This story really opens your eyes to a lot of historical information. The overall plot keeps you glued to the pages. It's a great book that everyone should pick up.

If you are going to pick up a book by Diane Chamberlain, you better be ready for the emotional fallout. Her books will follow you for awhile.

The Last House on the Street starts out following two women. Kayla, in 2010, is recently widowed and in the process of moving into her new home with her young daughter. Processing the loss of her husband is even more complicated by the fact that the home she is moving in to was actually designed by her and her husband. The other woman is Ellie during 1965 and her experience volunteering in the Civil Rights movement.

An interesting twist to this historical fiction gem is that Ellie is also present in Kayla's timeline. It is very clear that something tragic happened to Ellie that summer. When we first meet Ellie, she is a young girl eager to help make a difference. She juggles all sorts of emotions as her eyes are opened to the extremes people are willing to go to make sure African Americans don't receive the same rights as the white folk in her southern town. Ellie in 2010 is very guarded and untrusting. You can tell she has put up several walls and the family dynamic is just beyond repair.

As the reader, you kind of get a sense of what really happened before the characters do. I can't even describe the anguish I felt for Ellie when the pieces started falling together and the truth started to roll out of everyone. How people can live with those kind of secrets is mind blowing but not as disturbing as how people can have that much hate for others just because of how they were born.

There really is a lot to unpack from this emotional read but not without spoiling some major plot points. All I can say, is that Diane Chamberlain is a must read author.