Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 25, 2021. Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Streetis one of the most anticipated books of the year, with Stephen King himself singing its praises. A brutal, twisty, puzzle box of a book. Library Journal, starred reviewFull of twists and turns, this high-concept gothic horror is going to be huge. GuardianThe buzz building around Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street is real. : Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2023. Speaking in younger Teds narrative voice, Ward writes, Some of the cuts were the invisible kind, he couldnt see or feel them at all. CATRIONA WARD was born in Washington, DC and grew up in the United States, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. Alex North, author of The Whisper ManAbsolutely brilliant. Please try again. STARRED reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly!One of Library Journal's Best Horror Books of 2021One of Bustle's "Most Anticipated Books of September""[A] terrifying exploration of human consciousness that excavates character like an ice pick chipping through an ancient glacier: The deeper one goes, the chillier it gets." An early reference to Wuthering Heights (Emily Bront, 1847) reflects the extent to which Dee is haunted by Lulu, just as Heathcliff is haunted by Catherine. Bloody Disgusting"[A]n immersive, head-shaking, game of a novel that speaks to the horrors of a persons past and how a horrific event can leave people unchanged for the worse." 1. Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2023, Talk about the unreliable narrator. "Brilliant.[a] deeply frightening deconstruction of the illusion of the self. I couldn't put this one down. A good decision, I now think! MEDIA REVIEWS. I loved everything about this book from cover to cover. Highly recommend if you enjoy reading books that truly keep your mind reeling! Additional gift options are available when buying one eBook at a time. Medical horror plays on most peoples preconceived fears of doctors and medical situations lack of control, sharp instruments, harsh lighting, blood. A brutal, twisty, puzzle box of a book. Was an interesting read ,but at times frustrating ,with all the different characters relating their perception of the same events. I just love how this book was written. my review of The Last House on Needless Street, Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2023. , Dimensions An unspeakable secret binds them together, and when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out among the birch trees behind their house will come back to haunt them all. I stayed up way past my bedtime. T. This book was discussed on one of the FB Author pages I follow, so I downloaded it and dove right in!! Do you love the cat more than you want her to get better?No, I said. Find your next must-read with the Serpents Tail newsletter and discover gripping crime and mystery from Viper Books. It's what attracted me to this book as first. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory. Anyway the trick to life is, if you dont like what is happening, go back to sleep until it stops. Unlike many books there is little to no superfluous parts included as filler to make the book longer. I don`t even want to try and review it, because I won`t do it justice. I was completely enthralled. Joe Hill, New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman"A breathtakingly ambitious book, gorgeously written, and never once shies away from showing you its fangs and its beautiful blood-filled heart. Library Journal, starred reviewFull of twists and turns, this high-concept gothic horror is going to be huge. GuardianThe buzz building around Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street is real. An unspeakable secret binds them together, and when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out among the birch trees behind their house will come back to haunt them all. Twists and turns. I didn't find it horrifying or terrifying, though it is thrilling to read. An Indie Next Pick! But it ends in a way that makes me somehow feel tranquil. The story unfolds through the eyes of several different characters point of view. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price. I think so. Especially the cover artwork. Everything from the gripping plot twists that no one sees coming, to the intricacy of the characters that readers are coming to love. There was a problem loading your book clubs. , ISBN-13 The Last House on Needless Street follows Ted, who lives with his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. It exposes our deepest feelings like a raw nerve, like cold air on minty teeth. An Indie Next Pick! "Brilliant.[a] deeply frightening deconstruction of the illusion of the self. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. Ward won the August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel for her debut, , making her the first woman to win the prize twice. Unlike many books there is little to no superfluous parts included as filler to make the book longer. 3. DID, in this case, is a way for someone being abused to cope with that abuse. Thank you to the author, publishers Viper Books and NetGalley UK for access to an advance readers ebook. It is horror that is about fear and love and death and survival. STARRED reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly!One of Library Journal's Best Horror Books of 2021.Named one of the "50 Best Horror Books of All Time" by Esquire! She studied English at the University of Oxford, and later, completed a Creative Writing Masters at the University of East Anglia. The Last House on Needless Street is finally out! Courtesy of Laurie Sparham, Profile Books, Tom Sizemore Dies: 'Saving Private Ryan' & 'Black Hawk Down' Star Was 61; Reactions + Career In Photos, MRC, James Wans Atomic Monster & 3 Arts In Deal To Develop Pornsak Pichetshotes Noir Graphic Novel The Good Asian Into Series, Searchlight Lands Theatrical Remake Rights To Oscar-Nominated National Geographic Docu Fire Of Love, Lava Love Story Of French Volcanologists, The Oscar-Nominated Women Behind Elvis: Gail Berman, Catherine Martin & Mandy Walker Speak On The Man, The Myth, The Movie. Thank you to the author, publishers Viper Books and NetGalley UK for access to an advance readers ebook. I've read it and was blown away. Send us a tip using our annonymous form. The possible villain also changes and perpetually remains on rotation; just when we think weve figured out who it is, something new is revealed. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. The Last House on Needless Street follows Ted, who lives with his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. Dee sees her sister everywhere, alive and dead: She kneels and comes face to face with it, the child, its silver white flesh dappled in the moonlight, its mouth a black cherry, eyes gleaming like lamps, filled with the light of death, scalp stripped and wounded, where the birds have plucked the hair from her skull.Come in, Dee whispers and puts out her hand.. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations. 100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: All is not what it seems on Needless Street. SFF World"This is a true page-turner. This book was like an onion. , X-Ray you survive it. Stephen KingWinner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel!A World Fantasy Award Finalist! Winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel! I literally gasped out loud at parts of this book, making me glad I was reading it alone in my bedroom. It felt like time to push my boundaries as a writer and turn my love of the gothic to something strange and altogether different. A teenage girl who isn't allowed outside, not after last time. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold. One of the most powerful and well-executed novels I've read in years." It is a genre that allows for exploration of the awful, terrible, horrible parts of humanity in order to find something that is strangely beautiful. THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET is psychological horror of the highest order, disguised as a Russian doll of a novel, with layer within layer holding new characters and secrets. It brought everything in line as to the sequence of the events throughout the book. The idea of such horror in a person seems unrealistic. You think you know what's inside the last house on Needless Street. Overall it was entertaining, Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2023. Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2023. No ghost walks under the spreading trees. 420 Maynard St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, Edited and managed by the students at the University of Michigan since 1890, Innovative horror with a satisfying twist in The Last House on Needless Street. It's a must-read for horror fans." So far nothing quite so compellingbut yes, a few things to take the taste out of my brain. Certainly, Dee (Lulus older sister) holds him responsible, and when the reader hears the story from her perspective, it appears likely. In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. When you tell someone about a book youre reading you dont recount the plot; you tell them how the book makes you feel, something it makes you think about, or how it causes you to reflect on shared experiences. 'The Last House on Needless Street' (Viper Books, Tor Nightfire) was a Times Book of the Month, Observer Book of the Month, March Editors Pick on Open Book, a Between the Covers BBC2 book club selection, a Times bestseller, and is being developed for film by Andy Serkiss production company, The Imaginarium. Just incredible. Haven't read anything this exciting since. In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end." Burning questions keep you plunging forward: Where does Teds daughter go when she goes away? What, exactly, is wrong with Ted? $18.91. An unspeakable secret binds them together, and when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out among the birch trees behind their house will come back to haunt them all. The book answers all these questions and eventually lets you know that you were asking the wrong questions all along. Her scattered bones sink into the rich changing humus. I was not disappointed. Number of pages: 400. I want you to feel the power of it, she said. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. King said of the gothic tale: "The buzz building. A puzzle narrative combined with Gothic influences makes The Last House on Needless Street a compelling read. I did not find the character at the heart of the mystery in the first few chapters interesting and as a result nor was I interested in the mystery. This is an honest and voluntary review. Sarah Pinborough, New York Times bestselling author of Behind Her EyesYou dont read The Last House on Needless Streetyou survive it. Lauren is Teds daughter, and possesses important information about her father which transforms the character. You think you've come across this story before. I was not disappointed. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. I told my roommates that I couldnt hang out with them yet (on a Friday night, no less) because I was on the last 50 pages of this book and I simply had to finish. It was like spinning a vast spiderweb. : : Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The book is Wards third novel, following her 2015 gothic horror debut Rawblood and 2018s Little Eve, both of which won the August Derleth Prize at the British Fantasy Awards. This engaged me in the narrative to such an extent that I found it hard to put the book down; when I did, I was still trying to untangle the narrative threads in my mind. Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. This book really got under my skin, made me feel uncomfortable and freaked me out. Beautiful, heartbreaking and quietly uplifting. I read it in one sitting because its so compelling, but the more I got drawn into the mystery of what was happening and the more I found out, the worse I felt. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2021. I always leave her work enriched. A character in The Last House on Needless Street who has become an early reader favourite is the snooty cat, Olivia. 'Little Eve' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2018) won the 2019 Shirley Jackson Award and the August Derleth Prize for Best Horror Novel at the 2019 British Fantasy Awards, making her the only woman to have won the prize twice, and was a Guardian best book of 2018. Bloody Disgusting"[A]n immersive, head-shaking, game of a novel that speaks to the horrors of a persons past and how a horrific event can leave people unchanged for the worse." It brought everything in line as to the sequence of the events throughout the book. Its terrifyingly real and physically upsetting, yet, like the best of the genre, it leaves space for hope to ultimately shine through." BooklistWhat did I just read?! In the end, I can do nothing but recommend Wards novel. She read English at St Edmund Hall, Oxford and is a graduate of the Creative Writing MA at the University of East Anglia. BooklistWhat did I just read?! , Enhanced typesetting Layer after layer after layer and then you're crying and somebody's got a knife. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Alex North, author of The Whisper ManAbsolutely brilliant. Highly recommend if you enjoy reading books that truly keep your mind reeling! What really happened to Dees sister? 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. Catriona Ward was born in Washington, DC and grew up in the US, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. Haven't read anything this exciting since Gone Girl. Stephen KingSensational.I cant recall another novel in recent years that dares so much and succeeds so wildly. A. One perfect sentence after the other this is a story I wish I knew how to writeand I'm thrilled that Ward pulled off this trick of a book. Rachel Howzell Hall, author of And Now She's GoneTHIS IS THE BEST HORROR NOVEL I HAVE EVER READ. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. It's a must-read for horror fans." At first, I found the structure fragmented my understanding of exactly what was happening, but this mirrors the characters lives: theres no omniscient narrator, no one person who guides the reader through. Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2023. In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. It is cinematic in a way that never forgets it is literary. I read the first half over the course of a week and was interested but could easily put it down to check my phone or have a conversation. I thought of how cold and alone she would be, here in the dark, how the rain would wet her and rot her, how squirrels would chew her beautiful head.It is practice, Mommy said. Learn more. She lives in London and Devon. Summaries (1) Summaries Follow Ted, who lives with his daughter and his cat. She practically floated down the aisle and when she reached . Scary to say the least. But IT IS PHENOMENAL. Each plot thread was integral yet interconnected to a hundred others, and each change affected and reverberated through the whole. Book Reporter. I just love how this book was written. The Last House on Needless Street is more accurately comparable to 2016's surprise hit I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Ian Reid. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 19, 2021. Just when you think youve figured out what is really going on, youll probably realize you were wrong." I would say I inhaled this in one, but I think I was too busy holding my breath throughout. It is utterly compelling, and it deserves all the praise that it has been getting. This book was like an onion. In the most basic sense, The Last House on Needless Street follows the story of Ted, a lonely man who lives in a boarded up house (on Needless Street, naturally) with his 12 year old. The actual description of the procedure is short and cold: The third incision, she said, is superficial, outer dermis only. Her hands followed the words. Ward doesnt need to give us anything more than that; our mind will supply the rest. This isnt just a thriller; its a sleek, diabolical, stress-inducing machine. Jonathan Janz, author of The Siren and the SpecterIncredible. You will thank me in the end. Yeah, the mom buried Lulu in the neighbor's yard when the neighbor went on vacation. Daily Arts Writer Emilia Ferrante can be reached by emiliajf@umich.edu. Matt Rogerson journeys along some of Britains most haunted roads, Suggestion Box Horrified, can you please Loading, A man recalls a peculiar incident while staying in a small village, leading to the demise of his relationship. : This is one of the best books Ive read in quite some time. Unable to add item to List. , ISBN-10 Scary to say the least. The ending is propulsive and shocking and definitely had me re-running prior scenes in my head to assist with putting the pieces together. Please read our privacy notice before signing up. This book was discussed on one of the FB Author pages I follow, so I downloaded it and dove right in!! Esquire magazine listed it as one of the top 25 best horror novels of all time. His writing was a huge influence and still lives in my imagination today. Please try your request again later. She studied English at the University of Oxford, and later, completed a Creative Writing Masters at the University of East Anglia. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. The New York Times"The most powerful narratives in the genre manage to create an unshakable sense of unease, and that's exactly what this novel does a must-read for those who like the kind of labyrinthine narratives that pull the rug out from under you, sending you tumbling into a dark, dark room." She abuses him by performing unnecessary and painful medical procedures, during which he is not allowed to make any noise or move at all. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Click to see spoiler. In this house where his mother took her life Ted is haunted: she is many years dead, yet still as loved and feared by him. The idea of such horror in a person seems unrealistic. "The buzzis real. An Indie Next Pick! I was completely enthralled. Joe Hill, New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman"A breathtakingly ambitious book, gorgeously written, and never once shies away from showing you its fangs and its beautiful blood-filled heart. Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Again, possibly everything we need to know about Dee is revealed by what we learn early on:She reads Wuthering Heights. There is a truth we begin to see relatively. She was born in Kenya, and came with us when we moved to Madagascar, the US, Yemen, Morocco and finally the UK where she passed away peacefully at the age of 19. Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web. Kingfisher, author of The Hollow Places"Ward ably handles the series of nested revelations of the truth about the house's inhabitants and how they connect to Ted's own childhood, all the while maintaining a propulsive, suspenseful tone. But IT IS PHENOMENAL. Her debut Rawblood (W&N, 2015) won Best Horror Novel at the 2016 British Fantasy Awards, was shortlisted for the Authors Club Best First Novel Award and a WHSmith Fresh Talent title. Expectation: A page-turning supernatural thriller. Often books with multiple POVs are confusing, but the authors style of writing made it flow well and easy to read. Learn how your comment data is processed. It is only outside the last house on Needless Street that Ted finds occasional respite. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the WindowA chilling and beautiful masterpiece of suspense, cunningly plotted and written with the elegant imagination of a Shirley Jackson or a Sarah Waters. As the novel begins, it seems that the mystery is about the disappearance of a little girl. Ward expertly weaves together plot points and metaphoric images to create something that I, quite frankly, am in awe of. Breathtaking. This book really got under my skin, made me feel uncomfortable and freaked me out. I recommend giving yourself the time to read the last hundred pages in one go. A man recalls a small village and the strange experience he had in a small village that led to the end of his relationship. And yet some of them are lies. Your email address will not be published. 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The Last House on Needless Street, Catriona Ward's third novel, begins with an unsolved crime: the abduction of Lulu, a six-year-old girl taken from her family one summer's day. Absolutely creep-inducing, skin-crawling, even agonising; and also so beautiful, both in writing and heart. I would give this book more stars if I could. This has all the staple elements you look for in a horror book of creepiness, suspense, and well, things that will genuinely freak you out. Winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel! In the dark forest at the end of Needless Street, lies something buried. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. There used to be a poster I liked at Despair dot com showing a sinking ship and printed with the words maybe the purpose of your life is to serve as a warning to others.. A Library Journal Editors' Pick! by Grady Hendrix Hardcover. Somehow the ending is peaceful and happy, which isnt cheesy in this case because everyone in the novel has endured such hardship that a peaceful ending is the least they all deserve. I may try to pick it up again in a few weeks time, but for the time being I feel there are better books to grab my attention and don't want to spend my reading time on this. Change). Interesting perspective. Her debutRawbloodwon Best Horror Novel at the 2016 British Fantasy Awards, and was a WHSmith Fresh Talent title. 'The buzz building around Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street is real. Can you tell us something about your next book, Sundial? Surely I couldnt. She opened these cuts again, cleaned them and sewed them back up.. Instead, its exciting. I didn't give it 5 starts because I was lost, at times, in the tracking of the story, 4.5. : A brutal, twisty, puzzle box of a book. Oh no. "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. I enjoyed learning Teds story bit by bit. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. The gods are closer than you would think. The Last House on Needless Street follows Ted, who lives with his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. Just that little excerpt, holy sh*t! At least the people in Wuthering Heights understand that life is a terrible choice, which you must make each day. You think you've read this story before. Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street is a shocking and immersive read perfect for fans of Gone Girl and The Haunting of Hill House. A masterpiece to read at your own peril." Please consider donating to The Michigan Daily, Stanford Lipsey Student Publications Building I was feeling things I didn't want to feel and by the end i understood those feelings. Try again. The story is initially told by Ted, who lives on Needless Street near the lake where Lulu disappeared. : You can follow Catriona Ward on Twitter here and Miranda Jewess on Twitter here. Most of the book takes place in Ted's house or the surrounding woods area. The Last House on Needless Street keeps the reader on the knifes edge of the fantastic for most of the book, which contributes to building the suspense and tension that propels the story forward. Its fun to talk about books because it leads you into talking about ideas and reflections. In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. Its a weird book. Wonderful review, Jeanne. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Ted calls Lulu the Little Girl With Popsicle and cant forget the anniversary of her abduction, as even eleven years after Lulus disappearance, hes a suspect or feels like one. Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. Said Ward: From the very first, I was bowled over by the Imaginarium team their passion, their dedication and thoughtful approach to this book. The Last House on Needless Street is complex and multilayered, but more like a multiverse than an onion. Anyway the trick to life is, if you dont like what is happening, go back to sleep until it stops. So much so that I believe I won't truly appreciate each and every word until I read it a second time to appreciate the author's character building from a new perspective. Just what you want in a good psychological horror thriller. Growing up, I had a black cat called Velvet. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. , Text-to-Speech An Indie Next Pick!A LibraryReads Top 10 Pick!A Library Journal Editors' Pick! Please try again. 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. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2021. . One of my favourite things in ages. James Smythe, author of The ExplorerIncredible. All these things are true. Ward is the internationally bestselling author of, is real. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2021. I don't doubt that this has or still happens unfortunately. She lives in London and Devon. I don't doubt that this has or still happens unfortunately. Ships from and sold by GreenworldIntl. I've read it and was blown away. Its terrifyingly real and physically upsetting, yet, like the best of the genre, it leaves space for hope to ultimately shine through." In this way, Ward does not use mental illness as a thing to be afraid of and, instead, treats it as a fact of the characters realities as something horror curls itself around just like any other element in the novel. I stayed up way past my bedtime. Shout it from the rooftops, tell all your friends this novel is a must-read! shammon5 1 yr. ago. Just what you want in a good psychological horror thriller. Once your package is ready for pickup, you'll receive an email and app notification. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This isnt just a thriller; its a sleek, diabolical, stress-inducing machine. Jonathan Janz, author of The Siren and the Specter"Its one eerie mind-bender of a novel in the best way."