spoiler I just finished it, I completely agree there was TOO much going on, I kind of figured where it was going with Ted, it was kind of obvious when they were at the mall with Lauren. This book was like an onion. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end. The idea of such horror in a person seems unrealistic. STARRED reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly!Named one of the "50 Best Horror Books of All Time" by Esquire! A Library Journal Editors' Pick! Hushed, like its remembering.When I see the front page my stomach goes into curls and knots. 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." Highly recommend!! In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. They were leaving me, vanishing into white. I stayed up way past my bedtime. T. Stories of human cruelty are always horrific, particularly when the perpetrator is trusted - even loved - by their victim. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end." This is smart! )Its a real shame, that cat, she says. A brutal, twisty, puzzle box of a book. It shocks us into remembering we are human in the sense that we are mere flesh and bone, yet we are also extraordinary creatures able to contemplate our existence. One of the most powerful and well-executed novels I've read in years." 2023 One hundred and thirty-two years of editorial freedom. Throughout, I didn't know where to put my heart. Catriona Ward is far from done with you yet. Her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies. Even a bird should have that. Catriona Ward By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2023, Talk about the unreliable narrator. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end.". As every other reviewer here will say: it's hard to review this book without spoilers. Beautiful, heartbreaking and quietly uplifting. Synopsis It looks like we don't have a Synopsis for this title yet. The birds make no sound. Sounds like some people just expect too much from books these days. Anyway the trick to life is, if you dont like what is happening, go back to sleep until it stops. That made me feel even better. The thing is a pest. Just finished the bookagreed 100%. Her voice had a slight hitch around the consonants; she couldnt quite get rid of it. 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." I know whats on it. I cover one foot with the other but it doesnt make me feel any better. 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. The 4 narrators were each individually interesting- the red haired fat alcoholic man whose house is all boarded up with just peep holes cut into the plywood; his young daughter that cant leave the house and is prone to fits of anger; his religious cat that reads the Bible; and the older sister of a missing young girl. They dont print the other picture, the one of me. Each idea makes me feel weirder. Suspending belief and use of tropey twists is par for the course for horror/thriller books but this book seemed intent on piling them all into one. I hated it. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. my review of The Last House on Needless Street, Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2023. I highly recommend this book. It is cinematic in a way that never forgets it is literary. She goes slowly, in her uneven clawless limp, as if it is her own idea.I collect the living birds. 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. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold. I felt that everything the author wrote added to the story. I stopped going out during the day. Reading Group Guide Medical horror plays on most peoples preconceived fears of doctors and medical situations lack of control, sharp instruments, harsh lighting, blood. I had a conversation the other day about how literature depends not on plot, but on style. But it should not have happened in the street. 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. A brutal, twisty, puzzle box of a book. Twitching. The ending is propulsive and shocking and definitely had me re-running prior scenes in my head to assist with putting the pieces together. I just loved the ride. Not as much fun throwing rocks when theres nothing to break. I didn't find it horrifying or terrifying, though it is thrilling to read. The security tape says so. Everything was OK. Reading Guides for The Last House on Needless Street 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! Alma Katsu, author of The Hunger"A risky, gleeful descent into a house without windows or doors. The book is so well written and Catriona Ward brought the setting to life with beautiful descriptions. A breathtaking, fiercely beautiful novel. Rio Youers, author of Lola on FireBreathtakingly brilliant. I don't want to delve into plot or speak of twists and turns because that might influence expectation. The setup is simple. 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. First off, we meet Ted Bannerman. See production, box office & company info. Everything from the gripping plot twists that no one sees coming, to the intricacy of the characters that readers are coming to love. It's the tragic and often heart-wrenching story of a man living with a profound mental illness, and how this illness forces him to navigate his life. 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 New York TimesCatriona 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.In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three.A teenage girl who isnt allowed outside, not after last time.A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory.And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible.An unspeakable secret binds them together, but when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out among the birch trees may come back to haunt them all.The new face of literary dark fiction. Sarah PinboroughAt the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied. Its crowded and beautiful. But thisthis is a whole new level. Summaries (1) Summaries Follow Ted, who lives with his daughter and his cat. Then the chapter titled `Dee` follows and is the most beautifully structured and emotional piece of writing I`ve read in awhile. In the end, I can do nothing but recommend Wards novel. All these things are true. Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at. 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This is a story the reader must work for to enjoybut it is so worth the effort! Doesnt it make you feel strong?. Overall it was entertaining, Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2023. 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. I've read it and was blown away. No ghost walks under the spreading trees. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Ward won the August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel for her debut, , making her the first woman to win the prize twice. Just incredible. When a woman named Dee moves into the abandoned house next door while on a quest to find her sister, who was kidnapped years ago, Ted's life begins to spiral into chaos. Sarah Langan, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Good NeighborsThis book was like an onion. A masterpiece to read at your own peril." Traces of cologne, sweat, squeaky rubber and chemicals. That was a bad time. 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. This is an honest and voluntary review. Layer after layer after layer and then you're crying and somebody's got a knife. I loved Rawblood. My skin burned slowly as the afternoon wore on. I've read it and was blown away. When she ran back her sister had been taken by someone. However, the villain is not the person with mental illness; its the abuser who is actually evil. The foot looks much worse after; the skin is red and raw. This book warmed my horror-loving heart because it implements genre tropes in ways that are new and exciting, especially for the literary form. Whats done is done. She executes the existentialism in this passage in a sad yet satisfying way, like releasing a deep breath. I was feeling things I didn't want to feel and by the end i understood those feelings. Word Wise helps you read harder books by explaining the most challenging words in the book. Alma Katsu, author of The Hunger"A risky, gleeful descent into a house without windows or doors. But what is Teds connection to her sisters case? Prior to this I had only read Catriona Ward's short stories in various anthologies. The book failed to grab my attention , and after reading the first 50 or so pages I have put it aside. Honestly I don't get angry about figuring out what's going on in a story because to me that means the writing is good and has enough clues that someone who's paying attention could reasonably figure it out. Now, Olivia is not a pet. I listened as they pushed back the ugly blue rug in the living room, tore up the floorboards and knocked a hole in the wall in the back of my closet because they thought it sounded hollow. The finale kicks off with a bittersweet triumph for Arisu and the gang. So many. One of the most powerful and well-executed novels I've read in years." 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." In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. One aspect of this novel that struck me was the inclusion of dissociative identity disorder, or DID, in the plot. I tell myself not to be weird, take a deep breath and put my eye to the hole.I see the jay first. Some twists I liked better than others. Thank you to the author, publishers Viper Books and NetGalley UK for access to an advance readers ebook. Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2023. Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts"A masterpiece. I realize that I am not wearing shoes or socks. CATRIONA WARD was born in Washington, DC and grew up in the United States, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. Book Review: THE GLOBSTER OF CAPE FRANKFURT. One of my favourite things in ages. James Smythe, author of The ExplorerIncredible. 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. Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group. I knew what kind of dogs they were. Ted`s mother was reponsible for the child disapearances over the years, so no, it wasn`t coincidental. This is one of the best books Ive read in quite some time. Time is iffy and everyone is erratic. It is utterly compelling, and it deserves all the praise that it has been getting. Interest lights up her eyes. It was different and kept me interested and may I even say, Im slightly SHOOK. * * *I clean my cut foot with disinfectant from a green plastic bottle. 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. You think you've come across this story before. A teenage girl who isn't allowed outside, not after last time. There she is. An unspeakable secret binds. A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory. This is one of the best well rounded stories that I have read in some time, everything fits and it does not feel forced. Limp, still-warm bodies, soft to the touch. Im really surprised at the hate for this book in this thread! Layer after layer after layer and then you're crying and somebody's got a knife. In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. Thank you to the author, publishers Viper Books and NetGalley UK for access to an advance readers ebook. A LibraryReads Top 10 Pick!A Library Journal Editors' Pick! We know you all have many questions for Catriona Ward, author of The Last House On Needless Street. To me it is a tightly woven tale, full of tension and intrigue, with the truth just dangled tantalisingly out of reach. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end." 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. 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." I feel better now.You bet, she says. A Maryland man who says he was banned from his favorite local bar for 'being old and white' has claimed that staff previously tried to drive him away by playing obnoxious 'head-banging' music . Thunk, thunk, thunk. The birds close their eyes and pant in the fumes. People are waking up.You OK, Ted? It is the man with hair the color of orange juice. The novel is told from the point of view of three characters, Ted, Olivia (his cat) and Dee. I think it was meant for floors or countertops, not for skin. What happened to Teds parents? Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. It kept me glued and guessing right up to the endI loved every inch of it." Her fourth novel, the gothic thriller Sundial (2022 - Viper, Tor Nightfire) was Observer Thriller of the Month and a USA Today, CNN and Apple Books selection for best new fiction. We have a problem with that around here, especially by the lake, so things happened fast. Please try again. by Ray Palen | Sep 20, 2021 | Book Reviews, Reviews, The Horror Review News | 0 comments, THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET I think every reader will have a different experience with it, and thats what makes it so original and exceptionally well written. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. You think you've read this story before. Why can the cat talk? They had half given up already, from heat and fear. A thin man with a camera came and took pictures as I stood there. The conclusion is somehow so predictable, while also being entirely chaotic in its execution. Do they know the neighborhood? I recall reading something somewhere that birds have lice. The birds cant live but theyre not dead. Even before the complexities of the plot start to emerge I was finding it a challenge to keep on top of the different parts of the story. There's a lake at the end of Needless Street, a place families have enjoyed for generations. Sometimes my insides know things before my mind does. They searched other houses but the article made it sound like it was just mine and I guess those people were smart enough to cover their faces. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end. Its a weird book. She hasn`t repressed the memories, the guilt of what happened and the fact that she kept it all to herself drives her to find who took her. I know that horror is about creating and using fear; Ward creates fear surrounding the abuse the characters suffer at the hands of others, but we as readers are never taught to fear DID itself. Its Mommys. Revenge. What really happened to Dees sister? Ted is a recluse, living in a boarded up house at the end of Needless Street with his young daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia. Mommy would have been ashamed if she knew but I loved candy so much. The story starts to kick in beyond this, grips you and never lets up. Download Now, A World Fantasy and August Derleth Award Finalist!An Indie Next Pick! I have a lot of gauze and bandages about the place. Ill make cookies.I cant tomorrow.Well, any time. MEDIA REVIEWS. I think about unlocking the laptop cupboard. The book failed to grab my attention , and after reading the first 50 or so pages I have put it aside. This is the best book I have read in recent years. 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. Sarah Langan, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Good NeighborsThis book was like an onion. But they walk in the other direction when they see me coming. You made it to the end, which is further than I did. They got in big trouble for that. I don`t even want to try and review it, because I won`t do it justice. And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible. I wrap my foot in gauze. She alters her memory of the snakes in order to cope with the guilt. Interesting perspective. Dont be weird. But I cant figure out where to put the birds down. The birds will be arriving. I love this book! A Library Journal Editors' Pick! Catriona Ward builds on a dark, foreboding atmosphere as the plot unfolds. They felt haphazard and cheap. They put my photograph right alongside the one of Little Girl With Popsicle, which was a story in itself.The picture didnt show the name of the street but people must have recognized it. I fetch a big Tupperware box, baking soda and the white vinegar from under the sink. The first one is: would they be kind to my cat? Fuck this book and every author who blurbed it. When the birds came to feed in the dawn their feet and beaks stuck to the adhesive.All I can think is, Murder, murder, murder Who would do this to the birds? Like most horror, Wards book takes its emotional undercurrents from unavoidable mortality; like great horror, it utilizes fear to force readers to contemplate that mortality. Weight: 340 g. Dimensions: 196 x 128 x 34 mm. This is a dark psychological horror with alot of twists and turns. Shout it from the rooftops, tell all your friends this novel is a must-read! They look like a monster from my bad dreams, legs and eyes everywhere, beaks drinking the air. I didnt know what that meant but he waved goodbye in a cheerful way so I waved back.What is it, Mr. Bannerman? The woman detective looked like a possum. Book Reporter, Macmillan Code of Ethics for Business Partners. And I think I have whiplash from all the twists! Looks like it would really hurt if I could feel it. Honestly, I wish I could award a bonus star to explain how good it is. Burning questions keep you plunging forward: Where does Teds daughter go when she goes away? What, exactly, is wrong with Ted? The morning is too quiet. 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 was such a fantastic book!. I love to watch it. Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2023. The Last House on Needless Street is exceptional. The mystery of its evolving story isnt annoying, as if the book is trying to trick you. * * *I come back. I make sure the feeders are always full up and that theres water. The Last House on Needless Street is complex and multilayered, but more like a multiverse than an onion. I feel bad for all those dogs and cats and rabbits and mice. Her sister was never found, and Dee has not ceased in her efforts to find her. The sidewalk is still warm underfoot, not hot. Meanwhile, Lauren is confronting Ted/Dad about his providing her with more freedom and allowing her to get out of the house, where she is being home-schooled. The determined and watchful Dee takes up residence next to Ted's dilapidated home, intent on locating Lulu, convinced of Ted's involvement. The Chihuahua lady and the mom seemed to be close, and the mom told her later on that she would be going out of town as a way to lead false tracks away from her if the police came snooping because of what happened at the hospital . The book answers all these questions and eventually lets you know that you were asking the wrong questions all along. The can flies wide and hits the fence post with a noise like dunggg. If so it hovered just over the edge of my thoughts.Mr. It's so clever, so satisfying, and also written utterly beautifully. I have no idea how the author managed to construct a book that is both mind-boggling clever and also FULL of heart and beauty. * * *The next day I was in the newspaper. The headline was SUSPECTS HOUSE SEARCHED. Hands up, when I started reading this, I thought it wasnt going to be for me, but it turns out I was wrong, and I was duly rewarded with a strange, dark, but unique reading experience. 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. Now he has a new neighbour, a woman called Dee, Lulu's sister. I literally gasped out loud at parts of this book, making me glad I was reading it alone in my bedroom. Margaret M - Hiatus - I will respond when I can. Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street, which opens 11 years after a little girl vanishes on a family trip to a lake, comes emblazoned with glowing - and much-deserved - praise.