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. STARRED reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly!Named one of the "50 Best Horror Books of All Time" by Esquire! We want to hear from you! , Language I just love how this book was written. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward is insanely good. BooklistWhat did I just read?! Shout it from the rooftops, tell all your friends this novel is a must-read! 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. 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. A good decision, I now think! 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. Summaries. I stayed up way past my bedtime. by Grady Hendrix Hardcover. Broadly, the novel follows Ted, a man living alone in his mid-30s, his daughter Lauren, his lesbian Bible-reading cat Olivia and a woman named Dee who lost her younger sister in an abduction years ago. , is real. This book really got under my skin, made me feel uncomfortable and freaked me out. "The Last House on Needless Street" by Catriona Ward is one of those rare books you'll read in 2021 that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the moment you start. The Last House on Needless Street is finally out! Anyway the trick to life is, if you dont like what is happening, go back to sleep until it stops. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. ", is a shocking and immersive read perfect for fans of. Growing up, Stephen King was my gateway to horror. Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. Each thinks the other is planning to murder her out there. "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 didn't find it horrifying or terrifying, though it is thrilling to read. "The buzzis real. The story unfolds through the eyes of several different characters point of view. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Well-written, captivating, you think you know what is about to happen and then the blue, or is it orange, rug odd pulled out from under you! To me it is a tightly woven tale, full of tension and intrigue, with the truth just dangled tantalisingly out of reach. Put it on the ground right there.I laid her gently on a patch of moss at the foot of the tree. Everything from the gripping plot twists that no one sees coming, to the intricacy of the characters that readers are coming to love. She lives in London and Devon. Catriona Ward. This book was discussed on one of the FB Author pages I follow, so I downloaded it and dove right in!! It twists and turns you in many directions. I was feeling things I didn't want to feel and by the end i understood those feelings. SFF World"This is a true page-turner. Ive loved Wuthering Heights, even on rereading, but the cruelty in this book is so much more explicit and detailed. A masterpiece to read at your own peril." The mystery of its evolving story isnt annoying, as if the book is trying to trick you. , ISBN-13 I highly recommend this book. Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street arrived in 2021 riding a wave of pre-release hype the likes of which I don't think I've seen since Justin Cronin released The Passage ten years ago. I hope you are now reading something uplifting and happy. What happened to Teds parents? After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. 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. Medical horror plays on most peoples preconceived fears of doctors and medical situations lack of control, sharp instruments, harsh lighting, blood. NPR"[P]erhaps the slipperiest psychological study in the annals of horrora book with secrets as sorrowful as they are appalling." 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. you survive it. Your email address will not be published. One of the most powerful and well-executed novels I've read in years." 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. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end. Highly recommend!! To see our price, add these items to your cart. I spent most of my childhood reading so we spent a lot of time together. Interesting perspective. How did the cat learn to read the Bible? It felt like time to push my boundaries as a writer and turn my love of the gothic to something strange and altogether different. Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. Sarah Pinborough, New York Times bestselling author of Behind Her EyesYou dont read The Last House on Needless Streetyou survive it. Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. Learn how your comment data is processed. The book has a twist that will change you world and open yourself to a new way of thinking. 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. An Indie Next Pick! Why did you decide to write a modern gothic thriller? Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and Amazon Prime. In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. 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. Let me in. The Final Girl Support Group. 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. Reality: A slow-burn mystery with some satisfying last act reveals. 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. I couldnt think how to explain my feelings for the little wooden cat.Do you love it more than you want Daddy to get a job? she asked. 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. Just when you think youve figured out what is really going on, youll probably realize you were wrong." Number of pages: 400. 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. Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2023. Every depiction of abuse in this novel is uniquely horrifying, but that of Teds mother is particularly bad, especially with its roots in make-you-squirm medical horror. 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." 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. Tell me the truth, she said.My throat felt like it was full of knives. The characters were amazing and creepy. 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. Her scattered bones sink into the rich changing humus. Most of the book takes place in Ted's house or the surrounding woods area. A Library Journal Editors' Pick! A masterpiece to read at your own peril." This is one of the best books Ive read in quite some time. : No, she said. Little Evewon the Shirley Jackson Award, was aGuardianbest book of 2018 and won the Best Horror Novel at the 2019 British Fantasy Awards. It is only outside the last house on Needless Street that Ted finds occasional respite. , Language A character in The Last House on Needless Street who has become an early reader favourite is the snooty cat, Olivia. Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2023. : The New York Times"[T]he 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." , Print length Revenge. If youre reviewing a book you might also tell how the book makes you feel and something it makes you think about, as its fun to explore the perspective of someone else and think more about what other people are like and why they make the kinds of choices they do. It sounds sinister, and it is but its also about compassion, sacrifice, and the complicated love that can hold families together. '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. A LibraryReads Top 10 Pick!A Library Journal Editors' Pick! I gave a single nod. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2021. Once your package is ready for pickup, you'll receive an email and app notification. The narrative is divided into chapters that focus on individuals, in turn, providing different perspectives on people and events. Just what you want in a good psychological horror thriller. After the first quarter of the book I wasnt quite sure why it was considered a horror or modern gothic mystery, but it was obvious that it was building to something more intense, and then about 2/3 through it becomes more and more disturbing and rather sad with a few twists that I didnt see coming. I was immediately hooked from the very first page, and I did not want to put it down. This book had me writing holy shit! in the margins. The revulsion that dawns on us as we realize what is happening to Ted in this moment is compounded by his youthful, innocent voice. You can follow Catriona Ward on Twitter here and Miranda Jewess on Twitter here. 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. Ward also innovates the tropes of medical and body horror, which are routinely explored in detail in the visual form but are more challenging to accomplish in the literary form. SFF World"This is a true page-turner. Interesting perspective. 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. Esquire magazine listed it as one of the top 25 best horror novels of all time. 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. 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. Once Id read the book, I returned to several sections and appreciated them even more in the light of my new understanding. We are presented with scraps of memories and present lives, and its all too easy to assemble these into the wrong shape. A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory. '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. Descriptions of his love of nature reveal his complex character: he takes joy in feeding birds, and the nearby forest is a source of comfort to him; at times he feels he is in its heart. Does this item contain quality or formatting issues? Often books with multiple POVs are confusing, but the authors style of writing made it flow well and easy to read. You will thank me in the end. Revenge. A LibraryReads Top 10 Pick! This is weirdly justifying, although I am sorry you had to read an upsetting book. Breathtaking. I literally gasped out loud at parts of this book, making me glad I was reading it alone in my bedroom. 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. Of walking away from something you love. Something went wrong. : This is extraordinary, high-wire-act horror, audacious as hell. Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Red Hands"Dark and creepy, sad and wonderfully strange. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. They live among the trees, behind a skin so thin you could scratch it open with a fingernail. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. I've read it and was blown away. Some twists I liked better than others. Click to see spoiler. ISBN: 9781788166188. I was born in the US and lived there as a child. 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. Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts"A masterpiece. Absolutely creep-inducing, skin-crawling, even agonising; and also so beautiful, both in writing and heart. "Brilliant.[a] deeply frightening deconstruction of the illusion of the self." CATRIONA WARD was born in Washington, DC and grew up in the United States, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. Dee only ever reads this one book. See production, box office & company info. Did you plan them in detail, or write furiously and edit afterwards? BooklistWhat did I just read?! I want you to feel the power of it, she said. There was a lot of buzz surrounding The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward, so I knew I had to bump it to the top of my TBR pile, and Im so glad I did. Overall it was entertaining, Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2023. All these things are true. Ward expertly uses the horror concept of the fantastic, which describes the state of teetering between believing alternatively in a supernatural or a psychological explanation for events. Ward won the August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel for her debut, , making her the first woman to win the prize twice. (LogOut/ Was an interesting read ,but at times frustrating ,with all the different characters relating their perception of the same events. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. 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. When she finishes, she opens the book at random in the middle and continues reading. , Sticky notes I enjoyed learning Teds story bit by bit. I really liked Little Eve. But when the last half came around, I was glad that I had invested my time in the first half. '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. Catriona Ward was born in Washington, DC and grew up in the US, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. She is only a couple of pages from the end. It's what attracted me to this book as first. It is horror that is about fear and love and death and survival. I've read it and was blown away. This is a dark psychological horror with alot of twists and turns. I felt that everything the author wrote added to the story. In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. Amazon.com: The Last House on Needless Street: 9781250812629: Ward, Catriona: Books Books Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Thrillers & Suspense Buy new: $20.65 List Price: $28.99 Details Save: $8.34 (29%) Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns FREE delivery Wednesday, March 8 if you spend $25 on items shipped by Amazon I hadn`t read anything about this book prior, just jumped straight in. As every other reviewer here will say: it's hard to review this book without spoilers. A World Fantasy and August Derleth Award Finalist! His writing was a huge influence and still lives in my imagination today. , Text-to-Speech 100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: All is not what it seems on Needless Street. Please try again. : I highly recommend this book. Please try your request again later. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. This isnt just a thriller; its a sleek, diabolical, stress-inducing machine. Jonathan Janz, author of, ASIN It is constructed with extraordinary care. A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory. 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. Especially the cover artwork. Tell the truth.I thought about it. 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. : ", is a shocking and immersive read perfect for fans of, FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. Amazon.com: The Last House on Needless Street (Audible Audio Edition): Catriona Ward, Christopher Ragland, Macmillan Audio: Audible Books & Originals Books Literature & Fiction Genre Fiction Horror Audiobook $0.00 Free with your Audible trial Listening Length 12 hours Author Catriona Ward Narrator Christopher Ragland Audible release date 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. I think so. You think you know what's inside the last house on Needless Street. 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. I know this genre can have a reputation for vilifying mental illness, especially DID, so I was wary of mental illness coexisting so closely with horror in this novel. Learn more. This book really got under my skin, made me feel uncomfortable and freaked me out. But IT IS PHENOMENAL. The idea of such horror in a person seems unrealistic. I picked this up from the new books shelves at the library this weekend, opened it at random, and the page I read was upsetting in similar ways to the passage about the little cat, so I didnt check it out. Dark and relentlessly twisty, the best thing I've read this year. Lisa Hall, author of The PartyNot only edge of the seat, terrifying suspenseful horror, but it also broke my heart into tiny pieces. 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. Her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies. Now take it out of your pocket. 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.