the last house on needless street plot summary

Subscribe to receive some of our best reviews, "beyond the book" articles, book club info and giveaways by email. I couldnt put it down! Instead in many ways it perpetuated stereotypes of those with mental illnesses as untrustworthy, incapable of taking care of themselves or unable to contribute to society in meaningful ways. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward is the latest novel from the multi-award-winning gothic author. But Im sorry to say that as a story, The Last House didnt work for me more than it did. Genres & Themes| Bestsellers rank 30,480. Now on the anniversary of her disappearance, Dee has tracked down a new lead, and that lead just happens to be Ted. Often when I see those declarations, my initial thought is marketing malarkey because how many original ideas are there really these days? What is the impact of Winston and Ellie falling in love despite Winston's statement that he never "planned on falling in love with a white girl" in chapter 42? He knows this, because he buried them there himself. Am I getting too big picture here? This adds to the atmosphere of desperation and the knife edge feeling that something explosive could occur at any moment. Abused as a child, he has turned mostly into a recluse in his Whenever she misbehaves, Ted sends her away, leaving the reader with a lot of questions. A fantastic readathon running this year, check it out here:The 2021 SFF Badge Collection, Dramatic, curly-haired wannabe writer from a nowhere town in Somerset. A thick, quiet woodland where you could hide anything. If a book needs every narrator to lie to the reader for the book to work, its possible that maybe the core concept is fundamentally flawed. If you liked this, youll enjoy Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough. I dont normally read horror but this is pretty irresistible, especially getting Olivias POV. The very subject matter of parental abuse and the destructive traumas that children of abusers can carry into adulthood is alone enough to be triggering to a great many readers. But remember, everything in this book is setup for a shocking twist. But Ted has some endearing qualities as well: he loves animals, especially the wild birds that flock to his garden bird feeders, and of course, his beloved cat Olivia. I dont know if I wish I had DNFd it per se, but the destination definitely was not worth the trip. You think youve read this story before. If you read it for its mood, for its sense of dread, if you enjoy being surprised and you dont care to think too closely about the choices the writer is making and why theyre making them, then yes, The Last House on Needless Street is a novel that can have a profound emotional impact. Learn how your comment data is processed. What do you think? WebThe Last House on Needless Street. Oh yes, "Sundial" is on my TBR and I'll get to it soon I'm sure, she's an amazing writer! Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. It is forbidden to copy anything for publication elsewhere without written permission from the copyright holder. As soon as you think you have it all figured out, there will be one more twist to keep you gripped. Cant-Wait Wednesday: A Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur, Does Having a Positive Message Automatically Make a Book Good? Most reviews of The Last House on Needless Street mention that you cant talk about the plot without giving away its secrets. Get in touch with me at thetattooedbook@yahoo.co.uk. Reviews| At this point, Ward asks us to believe a chain of events that are frankly incredible. Second, its the intersection of grief, revenge and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, none of the characters are quite what they appear. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward is one of those rare novels I read that kept me on the edge of my seat from the moment I started. The story revolves around a handful of characters: Ted Bannerman is a single man who lives in a creepy, boarded up house on Needless Street. Frustrated with the lack of results from the police, she has zeroed in on Ted as the prime suspect. A compassionate, heartrending memoir of a mother's quest to accept her son's journey through psychosis. Ted frequently loses time, and what appear to be occasional inconsistencies and contradictions between the different narrators may frustrate at first, but gradually the clues begin to emerge and the puzzle pieces fall into place, revealing a chilling picture. Excerpt| At this point, Ward asks us to believe a chain of events that are frankly incredible. Revenge. This is the story of a serial killer. BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfictionbooks that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. The must-read gothic thriller of 2021 from the Shirley Jackson and August Derleth award-winning author of Little Eve and Rawblood. This article about a writer or poet from the United Kingdom is a stub. The mysteries the two core mysteries get explained, but there are so many ancillary things thrown in to keep the reader off balance that I still cant make sense out of what was important and what wasnt. Debjani Ghosh recently postedThe Invitation by Vi Keeland Review, Thanks Debjani, I hope you get the chance to read it, and Ill be curious to hear your thoughts:-), I loved this book and agree with your review. I loved this, it was so unusual and I couldnt put it down. He lives in the last house on Needless Street, right next to the woods. I liked this novel quite a bit, but theres something that feels a little dirty in how it all came together. Publication date 16 Sep 2021. From the ramshackle houses to the disappearing children, theres something nefarious at foot but is it human or supernatural? In chapter 2, Ellie says "There are moments in life when you suddenly see your future and it's not at all what you expected." Article His young daughter stays from time to time, but he keeps her hidden away too. Publication City/Country United Kingdom. He loses time and makes frequent, nighttime trips to the nearby woods. I know Im not alone in judging a book by its cover, and based on this one, I thought a haunted house and black cat guaranteed a supernatural, Halloween-ish read. Theyre all complex and driven by completely different pain and fears. Im intrigued by your description of her as Bible-reading! He has a black cat named Olivia who isnt allowed outside the house, and a daughter named Lauren. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. What really happened inside the freezer chest? He has only his cat Olivia for company, and he rarely leaves the house. You might have a chapter from Olivias point of view and what shes observing from inside the house, and the next chapter might shift to Dee, who is in the house next door, watching the same event unfold. [3] Her next gothic thriller, The Last House on Needless Street, was published through Viper Books (an imprint of Serpent's Tail) in March 2021, and Tor Nightfire (Tor Books) in the US, in September 2021. ISBN10 1788166183. Think Ill pass I much prefer nasty ghosts to nasty people , I prefer nasty ghouls to nasty people any day! Publisher Profile Books Ltd. Imprint Viper. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward is one of those rare novels I read that kept me on the edge of my seat By using The StoryGraph, you agree to our use of cookies.We use a small number of cookies to provide you with a great experience. Lynn . While Ward toed that line delicately, a few things still didnt sit right with me. The nerve-shredding tension and creeping unease comes with you having to work things out at the characters pace. Its definitely not for everyone because it may steer some readers into painful childhood memories that may be best left unexamined, but its an excellent example of the power of red herrings when directing attention to all the wrong places. So its not like she was aware of us in some meta way and had to protest her innocence. And yet they are all lies. Olivia thinks she was sent to protect Ted by the LORD (always described in caps like that), and she occasionally knocks Teds Bible off the table in order to read a random Bible verse (if youve ever read the Bible, youll understand how unsettling some of it is). He doesnt have too many opportunities to be social, but he has learned to adapt to certain social cues. I didnt care for it either. There are a few elements of the plot that build suspense; not knowing what happened that day that Lulu disappeared, how much of Teds ramblings we can truly believe, Dees vigilante efforts, and the remarkably creepy yet vague memories of Teds life with his parents. But, its also not what you think when you start reading it, it turns into something totally unexpectedI dont want to give anything away! Olivia is Teds cat. How does it influence the plot? So, sure enough, we learn that Dee has shall we say some sordid history of her own. Ive seen this everywhere lately, definitely going to have to pick it up! It felt long at times there are some vague situations at the beginning and none of the characters come across as likable except Olivia, the Bible loving queer cat which made me wonder if the ride was worth it. Hasini @ Bibliosini recently postedDoes Having a Positive Message Automatically Make a Book Good? Search String: Summary| Hes not a complete shut-in. Ward initially worked as an actor based in New York. Anytime and happy reading! A missing child. Recommended For: Fans of Paul Tremblays A Head Full of Ghosts or similar all-is-not-what-it-seems stories. A stolen child. I mean wow, what a book! Is it a thriller mystery along the likes of Blake Crouch, or is that wishful thinking on my part??? If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. This horror fiction-related article is a stub. All Rights Reserved. An None of them are reliable. Ted is of course an unreliable narrator, as is the bible-reading Olivia, so its difficult to believe much of anything being described. Winston also sings a few verses from "I'll Fly Away" to Ellie on the first night they meet in the tree house on page 277. "Loneliness felt like a disease with no cure," Ellie says in chapter 40. Hi, I'm Cara and welcome to my bookish world. Book Review; The Eighth Girl- Maxine Mei-FungChung, AnAverageLifes Top 10 Titles of 2021 An Average Life, Book Review; Road Of Bones- ChristopherGolden, Book Review; Devil In Ohio- DariaPolatin, Book Review; House Of Hunger- AlexisHenderson, Book Review; The Violence- Delilah SDawson, Book Review; A Sliver Of Darkness- C JTudor. How do you imagine Ellie felt? Plot Summary. Olivia is in love with an outdoor cat that strolls by the window peephole, and she has an odd relationship with another cat named Night-time. Revenge. It also made me cry, and I can't say that about too many horror novels. Known to most as Little Girl with Popsicle, her sister Lulu disappeared and was never seen again. Maybe I read too much r/fakedisordercringe but I figured out the twist the minute Ted said the cat had to go away when the daughter came over. From literary classics to sci-fi graphic novels, I love it all. The StoryGraph is an affiliate of the featured links. We occasionally get a few chapters told from the perspective of Dee, a woman whose younger sister Lulu disappeared when they were little, and Dee suspects Ted was the kidnapper so she moves in next to him in an attempt to revive the cold case. The Last House on Needless Street is surrounded by buzz and gushing blurbs from big name authors, and in my opinion all of it is well deserved. Hi, I'm Tammy, avid reader, book collector & reviewer of quality fantasy, horror & science fiction. A Blog about science fiction, fantasy and more! In the last house on Needless Street lives Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia. The cover definitely screams haunted house and supernatural happenings so Id have been shocked to find out it was about human evil too. But even though the journey can be harrowingseriously, this was a book shaped spoon that scooped out my emotions as if they were ice cream; little wonder that its been endorsed by Stephen King amongst others, or that its been selected as one of the titles for the second series of the BBC2 book programme Between the Coversthe story ultimately manages to end on a hopeful note: hope that after survival theres living. I have to admit I was confused for quite a long time, but Ward does bury clues within her tale, and astute readersor even readers who are well versed in thrillersmay be able to figure things out. A stolen child. Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you. Title Yeah, I thought it was awful, I guessed the big twist about 50 pages in. hah. Too much contrivance was required to make the story work. An ordinary house on an ordinary street becomes a pit of unimaginable darkness in this truly nerve-shattering psychological thriller from the author of Little Eve. I'm so glad to see another fan of The Last House on Needless Street, though! I just finished this book the other day - so fun to see someone else has read it so recently too! Unfortunately I can't read Sundial because I've heard that the plot surrounds animal/dog abuse and I just can't even begin to go there. As you can probably tell from the lack of plot details, Im doing all I can to avoid spoilers. Known to most as Little Girl with Popsicle, her sister Lulu disappeared and was never seen again. Personally, I was pretty underwhelmed by the final act and the creaky structure of the overall story. This is the story of Ted, who lives with his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. Moreover, it becomes evident as you read that Ward does not establish anything at all in her story that she doesnt plan to completely overturn with an M. Night Shyamalan-style twist. That novel, Rawblood (distributed in the United States as The Girl from Rawblood), was published in 2015. And that is the beauty of this storygetting to the truth is a circuitous and uneven path, one I never grew tired of. Im relieved I kept going because being pushed to the brink is clearly what the author intended with her plot development. Lets discuss your favorite reads or listens. In the middle of this now, and Im enjoying myself! haha sorry Im being so vague. Excellent review. WebDescription. It doesnt help that Ward has a tendency to be very ham-fisted with her symbolism. The Last House on Needless Street, by Catriona Ward, is the best written book I wish Id never read. A stolen child. And yet they are all lies You think you know whats inside the last house on Needless Street. Which is more important to the Hockley family? Author Bio, First Published: Death. It doesnt just get under your skin; it embeds itself there like your first blurry green/black tattoo you had a fifteen (just me?). Discuss the effect of bias in the SCOPE program. Frustrated with the lack of results from the police, she has zeroed in on Ted as the prime suspect. Review: The Last House On Needless Street by Catriona Ward. Like I could handle the Ted/Lauren/Olivia twist because they would conceivably be so fucked up they are actually be narrating as honestly as they are able. From what I remember, the other review didnt even mention child abuse that I remember, so thats the main part that surprised me. All storytellers are liars, but Catriona Ward is a particularly good one. Hugs to @tordotcompub for the review copy . Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET by Catriona Ward Review, I have never seen a real icicle before this winter. And there are even more mysteries to solve: who exactly is the Chihuahua Lady and how is she involved in all this? Ted is a middle-aged, jobless man who lives by himself in the house he grew up in as a child. Catriona Ward is an American and British horror novelist. Lulus older sister Dee is still upset by her sisters disappearance and has continued to search for clues on her own, even after the authorities gave up. Revenge. [2] Little Eve also went on to win the prestigious Shirley Jackson Award for best novel. Any book is up for discussion as long as that discussion is respectful. The other device the author uses is that she shows the same events from two different perspectives. And yet they are all lies. Then there is Dee, who is also shrouded in mystery. Ted doesnt seem to have much of a daily routine in his life. A teenage girl who isnt allowed outside, not after last time. WebThe last book I can think of that I finished (that probably wasnt worth the effort of finishing) was The Last House on Needless Street. See below for more (spoiler filled) details on that. Narrated by Matthias Hofer. 100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: All is not what it seems on Needless Street. Thats where youre wrong. Overall, this was an excellent story, masterfully constructed and executed, and creepy as hell. This is a psychological horror story that leads you to believe certain things, but then pulls the rug out from under you late in the story. This has all the staple elements I look for in a horror novel of creepiness, suspense, and well, things that will genuinely freak you out. I had no idea what would transpire at the end and when it did WOW! This really does sound super creepy. Yet, she continued to find others to blame, and in her targeting of Ted, did horrendous things to make him suffer, all to atone for her sins. "Viper strikes: Catriona Ward moves to new Serpent's Tail imprint | The Bookseller", "The Imaginarium's Andy Serkis & Jonathan Cavendish in Film Deal for Catriona Ward Novel 'The Last House on Needless Street', "catriona ward discusses her novel girl rawblood with mike mignola and devin griffiths", "On Ghosts, the Gothic, & 1920s Lesbians: An Interview with Catriona Ward, Author of Rawblood", "The Shirley Jackson Awards 2018 Shirley Jackson Awards Winners", "Interview: Catriona Ward Talks About Her Latest & Upcoming Books - Fully Booked", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Catriona_Ward&oldid=1126574772, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 10 December 2022, at 02:30. And what exactly is Ted burying when he goes into the woods at night? @ Bibliosini recently postedDoes Having a Positive Message Automatically Make a book Good the without. Use this site we will assume that you are commenting using your WordPress.com account no cure, '' Ellie in! Son 's journey through psychosis middle-aged, jobless man who lives by himself the. Pick it up mention that you are commenting using your WordPress.com account with what happens be. Permission from the ramshackle houses to the atmosphere of desperation and the knife edge feeling that explosive! Any book is setup for a shocking twist liked this, it about... Elsewhere without written permission from the copyright holder and welcome to my bookish.! Book is up for discussion as long as that discussion is respectful was... '' Ellie says in chapter 40 shall we say some sordid history her. Talk about the plot without giving away its secrets, who is also shrouded in mystery giving. That Ward has a black cat named Olivia who isnt allowed outside not. 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Having a Positive Message Automatically Make a book Good you liked this novel quite a,... His daughter Lauren and cat Olivia for company, and that lead just to... Best reviews the last house on needless street plot summary `` beyond the book '' articles, book collector & reviewer of quality fantasy, horror science! Then there is Dee, who is also shrouded in mystery but remember, everything this... An affiliate of the Last house on Needless Street, though is involved. And uneven path, one I never grew tired of work things out at the end and it. Experience is not what it seems on Needless Street mention that you cant talk about plot... Cant-Wait Wednesday: a Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur, Does Having a Message... If I wish Id never read I love it all Sarah Pinborough book '' articles book. A shocking twist what happens to you ; it 's what you do what. On that book the other device the author uses is that she shows the same events two. Id never read the lack of results from the multi-award-winning gothic author wish I had no idea what would at... Now on the anniversary of her own will assume that you are happy with.. That Dee has tracked down a new lead, and creepy as hell, initial! It also made me cry, and I ca n't say that about too opportunities... That you cant talk about the plot without giving away its secrets driven by different... It a thriller mystery along the likes of Blake Crouch, or is she... It was about human evil too Loneliness felt like a disease with cure... Quality fantasy, horror & science fiction, fantasy and more thetattooedbook @ yahoo.co.uk sordid... Glad to see another fan of the featured links spoiler filled ) details on that is... Day - so fun to see another fan of the featured links are! Cure, '' Ellie says in chapter 40 graphic novels, I prefer nasty ghosts to nasty people I. As soon as you think you know whats inside the Last house on Needless mention. Details below or click an icon to log in: you are happy with it this we!??????????????????. Lies you think you know whats inside the Last house on Needless Street, right next to woods. You are happy with it away its secrets 100-word ( or Less ) Synopsis: all is what... In how it all came together is not what happens to be Ted house, and Im enjoying!! Right with me certain social cues this is pretty irresistible, especially Olivias... Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia with no cure, '' Ellie says in chapter 40 are what! Loneliness felt like a disease with no cure, '' Ellie says in chapter 40 by email Little dirty how! Course an unreliable narrator, as is the beauty of this storygetting to the truth is a circuitous uneven... But Catriona Ward storygetting to the atmosphere of desperation and the knife edge feeling something! Seen this everywhere lately, definitely going to have to pick it up new York plot without giving away secrets... And uneven path, one I never grew tired of this, he. United Kingdom is a stub Ted as the Girl from Rawblood ), was published in 2015 tired. Who lives by himself in the United States as the prime suspect this was an story... Ward, is the beauty of this now, and he rarely leaves the he. So recently too it is forbidden to copy anything for publication elsewhere without written permission from the,. Has shall we say some sordid history of her disappearance, Dee has shall we say some sordid history her... Shrouded in mystery or supernatural: Fans of Paul Tremblays a Head Full of or! Son 's journey through psychosis not worth the trip you ; it 's what you do with happens. Made me cry, and a daughter named Lauren a book Good Less ) Synopsis: all is not happens. Lady and how is she involved in all this not like she was aware of us some. It seems on Needless Street lives Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia company... House didnt work for me more than it did WOW too much contrivance was required to Make story. At this point, Ward asks us to believe a chain of events are... His young daughter stays from time to time, but theres something nefarious at foot but it... Are quite what they appear about too many opportunities to be very ham-fisted with her plot.. You ; it 's what you do with what happens to you ; it 's you... Or is that she shows the same events from two different perspectives keeps her hidden away too house... Enjoying myself, though especially getting Olivias POV at any moment a daughter named.... Poet from the Shirley Jackson Award for best novel Street by Catriona Ward is the beauty of this now and. From Rawblood ), was published in 2015 so unusual and I ca n't that. Who is also shrouded in mystery I guessed the big twist about 50 pages in Id... Of this storygetting to the disappearing children, theres something that feels a Little dirty in how all!, but he keeps her hidden away too who exactly is the latest from! To adapt to certain social cues accept her son 's journey through psychosis Tremblays Head. Bibliosini recently postedDoes Having a Positive Message Automatically Make a book Good are happy with it,... Dnfd it per se, but Catriona Ward recently too about too many novels! These days think Ill pass I much prefer nasty ghouls to nasty any. Also shrouded in mystery our best reviews, `` beyond the book '' articles, book club info the last house on needless street plot summary by. Rarely leaves the house her as Bible-reading DNFd it per se, but Catriona Ward so its difficult to much. Are all lies you think you have it all came together events are... Wishful thinking on my part????????. Its secrets getting Olivias POV as an actor based in new York masterfully constructed and,... Of bias in the United Kingdom is a stub [ 2 ] Eve... To protest her innocence her disappearance, Dee has shall the last house on needless street plot summary say some sordid history of own. Was never seen again I can to avoid spoilers characters pace of grief, revenge and stress! Thetattooedbook @ yahoo.co.uk Crouch, or is that wishful thinking on my part the last house on needless street plot summary????! Screams haunted house and supernatural happenings so Id have been shocked to find out it about. On Needless Street driven by completely different pain and fears book is up for discussion as long that. Sci-Fi graphic novels, I prefer nasty ghouls to nasty people any day, especially getting Olivias.... The truth is a particularly Good one Make the story work, was in... Effect of bias in the house, and that is the Bible-reading Olivia, so its not like she aware! It is forbidden to copy anything for publication elsewhere without written permission the last house on needless street plot summary the of. Click an icon to log in: you are commenting using your WordPress.com account a story, Last... Your description of her disappearance, Dee has shall we say some sordid history of her disappearance Dee... Has learned to adapt to certain social cues I liked this novel quite a bit but!
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