In 1965, twenty-year-old Ellie Hockley has been dating Reed, who is earning fast promotions at the local bank, for four years and everyone, including Reed, expects them to marry. Round Hill, North Carolina is a close-knit community in which the residents are all acquainted and knew each other's business. Her parents are unaware that while serving as a reporter and photographer for the University of North Carolina's newspaper, Ellie was assigned to cover a protest against segregated business establishments. As Ellie and her lifelong best friend, Brenda, watched the students, professors, and townspeople kneeling side by side in the street, blocking traffic, Ellie took pictures and found herself "moved by their quiet courage." Ellie was influenced by her late Aunt Carol, a champion of civil rights who took part in the 1963 March on Washington at which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke. "Impulsively, before I had a chance to change my mind," Ellie relates, "I took my place at the end of the line -- which was in the gutter -- and got down on my knees" next to Gloria, the only black woman in her pharmacology class.

Home for the summer, Ellis is expected to work in her father's pharmacy. Listening to him read the newspaper, she learns that SCOPE will be comprised of more than five hundred volunteers canvassing seventy-five rural counties "with the aim of removing racism from American politics." Only thirty-four percent of black voters are registered, so SCOPE participants will be trained to encourage and assist them to register. "I knew in a way I couldn't explain even to myself . . . that I was going to be one of those white students working to register Negro voters. I knew it the way I knew my own name," Ellie recalls.

But in 2010, Kayla Carter is mourning her husband, Jackson, and steeling herself to move into the home they designed. The staircase in that home is where Jackson died tragically, leaving Kayla to raise their daughter, Rainie, alone. Kayla feels trapped. She dreads living in the house without Jackson, but doesn't want strangers to live in it, either. The new subdivision in which it sits, Shadow Ridge Estates, is on the outskirts of Round hill. With expansive windows, it is the only house in the new development that has been completed, situated at the end of the road. Behind it are dark woods -- "straight out of a Grimms' fairy tale." Just up the street, the old Hockley house is still occupied by Buddy Hockley, Ellie's brother, who refuses to sell to the developer. Growing up, the Hockley kids "just about lived in those woods, climbing trees, playing hide-and-seek, and fishing in the lake." They even had a tree house in an enormous oak tree. Kayla discovers it's still there and, unbeknownst to her, Jackson renovated it. Kayla's father, Reed Miller, admits that he hoped Kayla and Jackson would not build their home in the new development because, as a kid, he and his friends thought the woods were haunted. In fact, there remains a circular clearing in the woods where the local KKK used to meet in secret. Kayla is shocked when he tells her, "I knew some of those Klansmen. Back then, a lot of otherwise upstanding people in town belonged."

Kayla also remains rattled by the unsettling visit to her office from a woman who called herself Anna Smith and appeared to be disguised. She refused to remove her sunglasses and wore a red wig. She knew about Jackson's death, Rainie, and the new house. Speaking in a deep, raspy voice, she told Kayla, "No one should've put a house there to begin with. All those new houses. They don't belong. But especially that one. Yours." Worse, she claimed she has been "thinking about killing someone. I've been thinking about it for a long, long time. Years and years and years. And now I have the chance."

Author Diane Chamberlain compellingly recounts the experiences of the two women through alternating first-person narratives. Ellie convinces the local minister at the A.M.E. church to let her be part of SCOPE, even though the students selected are only supposed to be Northerners. He fears that Ellie's involvement might adversely impact the program, but her conviction wins him over. Her parents, Buddy, and Brenda are all horrified, disapproving, and worried about their own standing in the community when she announces her plans for the summer, but she will not be dissuaded. She completes the training and is partnered with Winston Madison, a young black junior at Shaw University in Raleigh who, in contrast to Ellie, is assigned to the area precisely because he is from the county and knows the people who live there.

SCOPE's mission is fraught with dangers that Chamberlain details from Ellie's perspective. She is well-meaning, but naive and idealistic. In various ways, as initially feared, Ellie's presence complicates the volunteers' efforts, despite her earnest desire to help bring about change. Ellie's experiences serve as a poignant reminder of life in the South during the tumultuous 1960's as the civil rights movement gained momentum in America. She is shocked to learn that North Carolina has "more Klan members that all the other states put together," and that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and looming enactment of the Voting Rights Act are causing them to enhance their efforts to maintain the segregated status quo.

And in 2010, Ellie and Kayla come face to face when Kayla sees Ellie at the Hockley house and stops to introduce herself. Kayla is mystified by Ellie's strange reaction when she learns that Kayla is the daughter of Reed Miller. Ellie has returned to Round Hill for the first time in forty-five years. She has been living in San Francisco where she teaches yoga. Now she is back in North Carolina to care for her mother and Buddy, who is terminally ill.

As strange and disturbing events disrupt Kayla's efforts to settle into her new residence, Chamberlain reveals how young Ellie's life unravels as a result of her feelings, choices, and refusal to conform to the expectations of her family and friends.

Chamberlain's two narratives merge as Kayla learns about Ellie and Reed's history, as well as what actually took place in the woods that long-ago summer. Chamberlain's story is full of her signature twists and shocking revelations. Young Ellie is endearing and sympathetic, but clearly inviting tragedy as she stubbornly refuses to see the world as it should be, rather than how it is. Chamberlain credibly illustrates how dramatically different the Ellie who returns to Round Hill is from the young woman who turned her back on her home and family forty-five years ago, although not even Ellie knows the whole truth until the story's jaw-dropping ending. Kayla is equally empathetic. She is a young, grieving widow intent on keeping her daughter safe who finds herself at the center of a mystery she could never have anticipated. Every supporting character is believable -- Chamberlain expertly conveys the political climate through characters who seem despicable with the benefit of hindsight but, in their own estimation, were justified in taking whatever measures necessary in order to preserve their way of life.

In The Last House on the Street, Chamberlain smartly tackles contemporary issues by relating a tale set fifty-seven years ago. The ongoing fight for voting rights is in the headlines on a daily basis, as politics figure prominently into "what should be a basic American right" but still isn't in far too many regions of the United States. The Last House on the Street is a powerful commentary not just about the ongoing struggle for voting rights, but also about racism, social injustice, and the freedom to love whomever one chooses. It is heartbreaking and memorable as a result of Chamberlain's restrained telling of a cleverly-plotted, riveting story -- neither of her narratives lapses into a preachy or self-righteous tone. Rather, Chamberlain lets the villains in her tale self-identify through deftly-timed revelations of their reprehensible beliefs and actions.

True to Chamberlain's style, The Last House on the Street is an exploration of relationships, particularly with respect to Ellie, who tragically comes-of-age with the knowledge that not all relationships can or should be long-lasting, even though we carry the memories of them and the lessons we learned from them with us for the rest of our lives.

Diane Chamberlain captivates her audience with powerful messages that arouse intense emotions.

“The Last House on the Street” alternates between two intriguing timelines. It explores racism, prejudice, and social injustice and their influence on family dynamics in a small community.

This fascinating tale begins in 1965, focusing on civil rights, and concludes in 2010, weaving the two timelines together for a flawless ending. It is packed with history, injustice, superstition, and the perfect amount of romance.

Ellie is an incredible character who is committed to bringing an end to voter discrimination. If only more people had her passion and empathy!

Excerpt:
<blockquote>“If you work for SCOPE, you’ll have to be watchful. Every place you go. Everything you do,” he said. “The thing the Klan hates more than a Negro man is a white person who tries to help a Negro. Have you really thought this through?” he asked.”</blockquote>

Everyone should read at least one book by this author!

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC. I’m voluntarily leaving my honest review.

#thelasthouseonthestreet #dianechamberlain #netgalley #stmartinspress #bookreview #justfinishedreading #civilrights #voterdiscrimination #bookstagrammer #historicalfiction

This is an excellent historical fiction novel that will stay with you for a long time. The story is told in alternating chapters by Kayla Carter, a present day architect whose husband died in a fall while building their dream house, and Ellie Hockley, a 20 year old North Carolina girl who spent the summer of 1965 participating in the SCOPE program to register black voters. The time is one in which many white Americans remained blissfully unaware, reading about riots and marches on the news but not directly affected by them. Even Ellie, who lived there, was unaware of the Negroes near her. The book shows us the conditions they lived in and the fear they lived in as Ellie experiences it. We see just how predominant the KKK was in North Carolina and what KKK rallies were like. You can feel the fear and the hatred through the author's words and Ellie's actions. The mystery in the book comes through the connection between these two main characters. Ms Chamberlain developed these characters into women who feel like friends. Her depictions of the surrounding countryside make you feel like you are there. It was a book I could not put down. I was a teenager at the time and the news did not report instantly on every little thing like now. I realize I too was blissfully unaware of what was happening. Books like this, although fiction, can bring these times to life and are very worthwhile reading especially today.

I wasn’t sure I would be able to write this review, there were so many aspects of this book that touched me deeply.Historical fiction, suspense and mystery,racial injustice and so much more all came together in what to me would seem to be a best seller well on its way. Told in dual timelines, it was very easy to keep track of what was going on. A touching, poignant and hear ending story that I am glad I read.

The Last House On The Street made for a fabulous, enthralling read that captured my every emotion, anger, fear, sadness, disgust, and surprise. Set across two timelines in North Carolina, the story follows two women on a voyage of heartbreak, injustices and prejudices. I can't wait to read more from this author

I haven't met a Diane Chamberlain novel I didn't love, and this was no different. A heavy hitting historical fiction with characters that have etched themselves into my mind and heart, I know I won't soon forget the story of the last house on the street.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain that I read and reviewed.
I really enjoyed this book even though I had a good idea of where it was going to go as I was reading it. It still held an emotional punch that really makes the reader think about how life was back then and how in some ways it is the same today with all the racial racial hate that is still going on.
Once again Chamberlain writes a book that makes the reader really think about things. This is another excellent read.
I am giving The Last House on the Street five out of five stars.

WOW. There is so much in the novel I really don’t know where to start or if I can do it justice. Diane Chamberlain has another winner in THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET… and no, I am not surprised. Chamberlain continues to improve, delivering stories that are gripping, timely, and oh so wonderful.
Kayla and her husband looked for the perfect spot to build their dream home, finally finding it at the end of the street in a new development. The lot is full of trees and the house positioned perfectly to not only blend in, but bring nature in. When tragedy strikes before the house is finished, Kayla must find all the strength she has to overcome her grief and try to make it normal for her daughter. When weird things start happening, the woods feel more ominous and scarier than the haven she and her husband planned. The bright spot is meeting one of the residents of the original (only) house on the street. Ellie left town when she was 20, only returning now to care for her ailing brother and mother. Round Hill has painful memories, and the last thing she wants to do is relive them.
Kayla and Ellie are connected in ways they don’t know, and the town of Round Hill, Ellie’s family, and the woods have secrets that have been buried too long and Kayla’s arrival and her new house threaten to expose those secrets many want to stay in the past. Chamberlain’s atmospheric writing, including her character development, descriptions, and pacing are spot-on, pulling the reader into the novel and wrapping it around you, without relinquishing its grip until the end.
Told on a dual timeline, Chamberlain explores a past filled with prejudice and violence, hope, love, and justice. Like her previous work, THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET is a novel that will live in your thoughts for a long time to come
Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the book. All opinions are my own and freely given.
#thelasthouseonthestreet #dianechamberlain #stmartinspress

Oh man this was sad which I should have realized it would be with the south and civil rights being the backdrop for the historical part. I definitely liked the link from the past and present with Kayla’s dad being Ellie’s ex-boyfriend from 1965 and how that unraveled the plot and who was threatening Kayla in the present on her new property. And how everything was finally resolved with a twist that I saw some coming but not all of it. It was a good read and while some of the subject matter was distressing that was history back then and it really helped set the scene for the plot.

Thanks to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own.

45 year old secrets are revealed in this story about 2 women connected by a tragic event. In 1965 Ellie Hockley is a 20 year old Southern college student when she decides to volunteer with the civil rights program...SCOPE. Going against her family's wishes she is committed to the cause. In 1965 I was a senior in high school and I remember those difficult times but this book opened my eyes to so much more that was happening back then. Fast forward to 2010 and we have the story of Kayla, a young widow with a small daughter. She and her husband had designed the house at the end of the street but he died in an accident in the house before they could move in. She's warned not to move in by a strange older woman and odd, scary things are happening on her property. Is it haunted?
The two women meet and the truth of what happened that summer begins to come out. Diane Chamberlain tells their stories via dual timelines and alternating points of view. I thought I knew what was going to happen...and I did...up to a point. Until the tragic end of that summer completely blew me away. This is an amazing story that everyone should read.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wonderful storytelling by Diane Chamberlain. As usual, her writing is spot-on in this book with an amazing cast of characters and just a great story. It is told in dual timelines, 1965 and 2010. I felt that the subject of racial injustice back in 1965 was well done here but it is always heartbreaking and infuriating to read about it. I wondered how Kayla's character in 2010 had anything to do with Ellie's character in 1965 and was pleasantly surprised once it is revealed. This book was a hard one to put down and had me captivated from the very first chapter. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy.

An older woman with bright red hair, mirrored sunglasses, scratchy voice, and badly painted acrylic nails appears in Kayla’s office at the architecture firm to tell Kayla it’s a mistake to move into her new house. She knows how Kayla’s husband died, about her little girl, and she says she could murder someone before mysteriously disappearing. And that’s the way, The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain begins.

The Last House on the Street is told between two storylines, one in 1965 about Ellie, a young 20-year old from Round Hill, a small North Carolina town, who wants to volunteer and help people. She decides to join SCOPE, a program that would educate and register Black Americans to vote, after learning about it in the newspaper, much to the fear and then disgust of her family and friends. The second storyline is in 2010 with Kayla newly widowed after her husband dies in an accident in the house they designed together.

To be honest, if the 1965 story had not existed, I doubt I would have continued with the novel as Kayla never felt like a completely drawn character while Ellie was not only completely fleshed out but was a more interesting character. Also, the Kayla storyline dragged for a good bit, with some needless repetition regarding the strange red-headed visitor. However, as the two storylines began to draw together the novel really gripped me.

Chamberlain did an excellent job of depicting life in 1965, the way that Black people were forced to live, the terrors they felt, and the constant threats. I don’t believe she in any way over-dramatized the situation for fiction. Many episodes were upsetting, disturbing, and emotional coming on the heels of uplifting ones. As I was reading, seeing that many Whites did not want Blacks to have a vote or were certainly not encouraging it, I couldn’t help but draw parallels to the US today and how some politicians are trying to ensure that minorities find it very difficult to vote.

As far as the mystery goes, I have to say only one aspect of the great reveal was a surprise to me. Any good mystery buff will probably figure most of it out. Of course, it’s always the ride in a mystery and The Last House on the Street definitely had that.

Once past the slow start, The Last House on the Street proved to be an engrossing novel.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

How have I not read this author before??!! I think I found a new auto-buy. This was a fantastic read, full of all the emotions. I laughed, fell in love, cried, had my heart broken, was appalled, got closure and felt my heart heal.

I loved all the characters, even the annoying, irritating and pain-in-the-arse ones. They are just so well-written that you love who you should, and dislike who should be disliked.

There wasn't anything I didn't love about this one. The dual timeline was perfect. It flowed well and kept me 100% engaged from start to finish.

I had a feeling who was responsible for the mystery, and wanted to be wrong. When the truth finally came out .. oh my heart.

Whew! This is definitely a 2022 favorite.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.

Inspired in part by her aunt’s beliefs, but equally by her own social conscience, Ellie Hockley is determined to spend her summer helping African Americans register to vote. Even if that’s not something nice white southern girls do in 1965. She can deal with her parents’ and boyfriend’s disapproval, but when the stakes get too high, Ellie sets in motion a chain of events that will change her life.

In 2010, Kayla is learning to deal with widowhood and single motherhood. Luckily she has her widowed father to help her. Her trepidation over moving into the house her husband designed, and in which he lost his life, grows as weird things happen. And multiple people warn her away from the woods behind the house—some kindly, some not so much. Kayla suspects her neighbor Ellie and her father know each other better than they let on, but she can’t predict how the events of the summer of 1965 still affect the southern community where she lives.

This is an excellent and timely book, although it’s disturbing how little progress has been made in over 56 years. Everyone should read this book to help put human faces on contemporary issues. Despite the contemporary relevance of the themes, this is still a page-turning suspense novel that will keep you up until you learn what really happened during that long ago summer. #TheLastHouseOnTheStreet #NetGalley

Diane Chamberlain masterfully combines two exciting stories in her latest novel The Last House on the Street. It is 2010 and Kayla is a young North Carolina architect who was recently widowed. Kayla and her daughter will soon be moving into the beautiful house that she and her late husband designed in Kayla's hometown. Kayla is spooked when a mysterious woman confronts her at work and warns her against moving into to the home located on a densely wooded and secluded lot. In a flashback to 1965 the reader meets twenty year old college student Ellie. Ellie is bright and she is interested in the civil rights movement. She jumps at the chance to spend the summer with other young people registering local black residents to vote. Ellie's parents and friends spurn her decision, but Ellie perseveres. She lives with impoverished black families and becomes immersed with their struggle. Her life is permanently changed. Chamberlain connects the two stories in a predictable, but fascinating way. Kayla and Ellie are strong women who will lead the reader on a thrilling journey.

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain is during the 60's in the south when there was racism among the white families and town people. Ellie who vowed never to return to her hometown, reluctantly came home because of her brother and mother's health. This novel reveals Ellie's life story as well as Kayla's. Both wanting to put their earlier lives in the past. Chamberlain did an excellent job explaining what real life was like then. A mystery that is not revealed until the last pages keeps you in suspense. I would like to thank #Netgalley for allowing me to read this exciting novel, The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain before its publication date.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Diane Chamberlain's newest novel; The Last House on the Street was an absolute treasure to read. Dealing with timely topics regarding racial injustice and the dark history of segregation, this book weaved a beautiful historical story with a mysterious and more modern one. Told through two different timelines and by two different point of views, I was eager to learn the connection the women had to one another.

I was completely captivated by Ellie's story from the very start and continued to fall more in love with it as time went on. This book is full of emotion, heartbreak and mystery and I would highly recommend it to all historical fiction fans. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

This book is a dual timeline story.
In 2010, architect Kayla Carter and her husband built their dream house on Shadow Ridge. Unfortunately Kayla’s husband died in an accident in the house before they moved in. There are rumors that the property was haunted, and the new home has been targeted. And Kayla’s neighbor Ellie Hockley is harboring long buried secrets about the dark history of the land where her house was built.
Back in 1965,Growing up in the well-to-do town of Round Hill, North Carolina, Ellie Hockley was raised to be a certain type of proper Southern lady. In the summer,she enrolled in the SCOPE programme as a volunteer to help black people vote. And it changed everything.
This is a great story about the civil right movement. Diane’s writing glued me on the pages. I like both stories. The cutover of 2 timelines are smooth. Characters are believable, Ellie and Reed are my favorites.
There is only one thing that bothers me - the purpose of Ellie joining the SCOPE. Diane gives the reason at the end, but is a little bit late. If Diane unwrapped it earlier, it would clear my thoughts better. The ending is bomb. Civil right, race is never an outdated topic.
Highly recommend this book.

When I dive into a new Diane Chamberlain book I just know to be prepared for an emotional read and this was no exception.

Synopsis: When Kayla Carter's husband dies in an accident while building their dream house, she knows she has to stay strong for their four-year-old daughter. But the trophy home in Shadow Ridge Estates, a new development in sleepy Round Hill, North Carolina, will always hold tragic memories. But when she is confronted by an odd, older woman telling her not to move in, she almost agrees. It's clear this woman has some kind of connection to the area...and a connection to Kayla herself. Kayla's elderly new neighbor, Ellie Hockley, is more welcoming, but it's clear she, too, has secrets that stretch back almost fifty years. Is Ellie on a quest to right the wrongs of the past? And does the house at the end of the street hold the key? Told in dual time periods, The Last House on the Street is a novel of shocking prejudice and violence, forbidden love, the search for justice, and the tangled vines of two families.

I’m usually a fan of dual timelines and I can definitely see why the format was used here but I was much more invested in the 1965 chapters than the 2010 ones. I think overall I was just more connected to Ellie and her story as she worked for voters rights against the wishes of all of her friends and family members. I did both print and audio but was more drawn to the audio, so take note if you’re a listener. Overall a solid read from the author that tackles lots of heavy topics in a respectful and meaningful manner. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to the tagged partners for my copy!

Chamberlain is a successful American author of many books, the most recent of which was "Big Lies in a Small Town". This new release is an historical fiction set in 2010 and 1965 North Carolina. In 2010 Kayla and her four year old daughter's impending move into her dream home is made difficult as her husband died from a staircase fall in it during the construction. Just days before the move a strange woman, who knows way too much about her, shows up at her office and advises her not to move in. In 1965 President Johnson has been delaying the enacting of the new Voting Rights Act, but it is coming. Elle has decided to go against her family and join a group helping to advise rural black families on how to register to vote once it is enacted. The two stories come together in this riveting tale of racism, forbidden love and families. It is a wonderful recommendation for historical fiction fans or anyone who enjoyed the Natchez Burning series by Greg Iles. I loved it.