I absolutely love this creepy book. It’s definitely a thriller but they were certain aspects of the books that were unsettling. The author created the perfect characters and setting.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET by Diane Chamberlain in exchange for my honest review.***


In 1965 Ellie leaves her family to register voters in North Carolina. She returns in 2010 to help care for her dying mother and brother. Also in 2010, young widow Kayla moves to the street amid ominous messages to leave.

THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET is my least favorite of Diana Chamberlain’s books, mostly because of flat characters.

First the positive. Chamberlain is a beautiful writer. Her plot crosses all the Ts and dots all the Is. Her word building gets better in every book with a compelling storyline. The last part of the story is nonstop excitement.

In the year 2021, it’s a lot easier to tell ourselves we would have hidden Anne Frank and her family in our attic than making that decision when the Nazis occupied Holland. We’d all like to think we would have been on the right side of history marching with MLK.

Ellie is the Perfect White Ally and every other white person ranges from mildly cowardly to KKK racist, most leaning toward racist with few decent white people. Ellie simply has no depth, even the juvenile mistake she made at age eleven was so mild that most kids would have made has no teeth. I would have rather seen a narrator with more depth, missteps and imperfections. Ellie also had too much insight for a twenty year old in 1965. An example of that is when she mused about an unhealthy attachment to a Black child who reminded her of a Black friend who died.

I’ve done a fair amount of activism with Black Lives Matter rallies and some of the white activists seem more competitive about being the best allies that the purpose of being an ally gets lost. I do think Ellie’s motives were pure, not narcissistic, but her lack of missteps, even in thought didn’t feel authentic.

I didn’t like the other point of view, Kayla from the moment she called the cops after a creepy client. The police have better things to do than help people clean trash from their yards.

I think a lot of people will love THE LAST HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET. Chamberlain is one of my favorite writers and I hate writing a three star review for one of her books.

I read this book on one day. What a masterpiece of storytelling. There is a dual timeline about a neighborhood and the changes and tragedies that occurred there in the turbulent time of getting all people registered to vote. Love, family secrets, Martin Luther King, Jr. And the segregation of the South are all apart of this wonderful novel. It is a must read.

This author is a good storyteller and I, as have millions of others, have enjoyed her prior books. I believe many will also love this story although for me this one felt a bit too familiar and a bit too simplistic. As the story developed I become more interested and absorbed and by the end I was curious to know the facts yet even the surprises just weren’t that exciting for me. I do still recommend it as its a fast read that kept me engaged from the first to the last page.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I really liked this book, “The House On The Street.” It is a suspenseful book with a flare of historical fiction. I kept wanting to get back to the book when I wasn’t reading it. It definitely keeps the reader’s interest throughout the book.

Bad things keep housing at the house on Hockley Street. Right at the start of the book, I was glued. In addition to the suspense, the historical fiction around SCOPE and the KKK was very insightful. It is obvious to me the author did extensive research. It is a book about civil rights and interracial relationships in a small town in the South during the 1960s. It is also set in current day with the protagonist and her child leading the reader through an intertwined story from the past and current times. The house itself is a character in its own right. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspenseful books and are not offended by civil rights issues. I gave it five stars which I seldom give a book. It will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Ideal for fans who like historical fiction with two points of view. This book has two timelines with two different protagonists. As is the case with multiple storylines and POV’s I found myself liking one more than the other due to personal preference. I particularly enjoyed the one set in the past as I learnt a lot about race.

This was a really great book and I pleasantly surprised! I would love to purchase it and add it to my collection. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending this over to me to read.

Oh, the twists and turns leading us through the turbulence of the ‘60s and its consequences to today.
Diane is so good at moving between time periods. She makes it so easy for the reader to know where we are.
Great characters who keep their stories close to the vest. This is one of my favorites from Diane — so far!

WOW!! DIane Chamberlain has given us another very compelling, unputdownable book!! I absolutely loved "The Last House on the Street".

This dual timeline book is extremely eye opening and important as it makes one realize that things have changed but not enough in regards to race, prejudice and hatred in our nation. I was totally amazed at how beautifully Diane Chamberlain, a white author handled this topic.

I HIGHLY recommend "The Last House on the Street" to everyone.

Thank you St, Martin's Press, Netgalley and Diane Chamberlain for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I read The Last House on the Street, by Diane Chamberlain, at the request of St. Martin’s Press, in exchange for an honest review. Of course, as soon as I saw the author’s name, I knew I would love the book, and I did. I am delighted to assign it 5 stars.

This book is so very timely, considering the efforts at voter suppression that are currently going on all over our country. It’s set for publication in January of 2022. I really wish it could be published now.

Set in 1965, in the weeks leading up to the signing of the Voting Rights Act, the book exposes the bigotry and violence that was not just in the south, but more prevalent here. It tells the tale of a white teenage girl in the south who decides to work with a project designed to help black and poor people register vote. She sees poverty in her county she has never seen. She sees violence and bigotry among her own family and friends, and is devastated.

This is an important book that all Americans should read. My review is on HubPages. They will not allow anything published on that platform to be shared anywhere else, so here is the link to my review. I hope you like it, and that it encourages you to look into your heart, and see all people as deserving of an equal voice. https://hubpages.com/literature/The-Last-House-on-the-Street

#TheLastHouseOnTheStreet #DianeChamberlain #StMartinsPress #NetGalley #VotingRights #VoterSuppression #Bigotry #RacialJustice #equality #RacialEquality #PromoteVotingRights #ThePowerOfThePen #Books #ReadingIsImportant #LiteracyIsImportant #Literacy #SupportYourLibrary #ReadToYourChildren #TeachYourChildrenRespectForAll #SetAnExampleForYourChildren

Wow! Thrills, mystery, history, love, friendship, and secrets. This book has it all. Diane Chamberlain is a phenomenal writer. The duel timeline grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go until the end. When I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about it. This is one I will be recommending over and over again. Thanks Netgalley for the arc!

A story that is appropriate for the current social situation. It brings understanding about the history of blacks in America while at the same time is a great mystery story. It is sad but also gives hope that one day we may all be just humans and not defined by our skin color. The characters seemed very real to me as I grew up in the south during the 60's. This is very well written.

I don't think I've read a Diane Chamberlain book that I haven't liked. The Last House of the Street is no different. However, I will say its a little different from what I come to expect from her. Yes there was a mystery going on but it wasn't as much as a thriller as she has done in the past, but it was a fantastic story. Kayla and her daughter are moving into the dream home that Kayla and her husband built. Her husband died in a freak accident leaving Kayla alone. The book starts with a visit from a strange lady basically warning Kayla not to move into the house. The woman is very cryptic and rattles Kayla.
Up the street from Kayla, Ellie has come home to help take care of her mother and brother. The book alternates betweens Kayla's current story and Ellie's past from the 60s and the time of intergration. It has an extremely powerful message that pertains to today's troubles as well. Ellie falls in love with a black man which in todays age is not even an issue, but back when she was younger, it was a huge issue. Her small town finds out and she finds herself in a dangerous situation.
There are many connections between Ellie and Kayla. They are not just two random characters who meet, although it seems that way in the beginning.
I adored both Kayla and Ellie. My heart broke for both characters as their stories unfold. This is a great story and was written with just the right amount of heart and mystery.

WOW ! Just finished what a ride this story takes you on; so much to tell and yet ? How would you feel? Use to think wow if houses could TALK ! I know it fiction but............! Maybe we all could read this and understand

As always I looked forward to a new Diane Chamberlain story, so I jumped on this one as soon as I got it. It’s definitely not my favorite book, but memorable all the same. This author writes of Ellie, a protagonist young woman helping to fight the cause of voters rights against the wishes of her family. . I did like the intertwining story much better, of a recent day connection to the land owned by Kayla, was it cursed by previous actions that were taken on that land ? . I can see another story there..so 4 stars, as anything Ms. Chamberlain writes is alway one that is worth looking forward too. Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martins Press and Ms. Chamberlain for this ARC.

I always look forward to Diane Chamberlain’s latest work because not only do I get to read an enjoyable story but the novel’s message stays with me long after I set the book down. “Last House on the Street” is a timely tale that tackles the topics of racism and the civil rights area in a powerful and memorable way.

As with Ms. Chamberlain’s most recent works, the novel takes place in two time frames. In 2010, Kayla is coping with the death of her husband who is killed in an accident while building the couple’s dream home. Already hesitant about moving her and her daughter into the house that caused the end of her husband’s life, she receives a mysterious visit from a red-haired woman who has a bone-chilling message. Meanwhile, back in 1965, Ellie desires to emulate her aunt and help African Americans register to vote against her family’s wishes.

Ms. Chamberlain handles the two storylines and ties them together in a way only she can. The voices of Kayla and Ellie are uniquely distinct and Ms. Chamberlain weaves back and forth between the two timelines skillfully. Parts of this novel are uncomfortable to read simply because of how horrific people were (and still are) treated. With the push to include Critical Race Theory in school curriculum, this novel is certainly relevant. But this novel does more than teach a lesson, but makes the reader fall in love with Ellie and Karla.


Thank you, Diane Chamberlain, NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel.

Diane Chamberlain does it again. A story told in dual timelines that holds your interest from the beginning to the end. I have become a Diane Chamberlain fan and am looking forward to reading her next book. You are missing out on a great read if you do not pick up this book and reserve the time to read it.

Dianne Chamberlain has a gift of drawing the reader in and making them feel like they are living the story along with the characters. This is one of her best books in years! Kayla and Ellie are dimensional characters that make you feel as if you are right there with them. An excellent portrayal of life in the civil rights era and the workers that tried to help bring equal rights to all. Definitely a must read!

I love all of Diane Chamberlain’s books, so I started The Last House on the Street synopsis unread. I’m not usually a fan of historical fiction, but the story is so powerful that I found myself engrossed in Ellie’s past and Kayla’s present. Learning about voting rights and the hardships faced in the sixties was eye opening and heartbreaking all at once. The forbidden love story, dangerous klan encounters and canvassing was horrific, but engaging for the reader. Fast forward to 2010, Kayla’s losses are unfathomable. Watching her dream house turning into a nightmare and the horrific experiences were adrenaline inducing. The story would make a great movie!

A tale of two women and how their worlds intersect through two separate tragedies. Alternating between time periods, 1965 and 2010, this story captures the heartbreak both of them with very different stories and how it brings them together in the end. Although some parts of the novel were hard to read due to the nature of the topic, this was a beautifully written book .