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A review by whatsshwereading
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I don't even know where to begin with this one. The last psychological thriller that messed with my head was Colleen Hoover's Verity. I never thought I'd ever read anything as deeply disturbing as that. Then this book happened and I am left questioning why I do this to myself. Am I masochistic?
I've read a fair amount of psychological thrillers, mind you. Some truly excellent ones (Confessions, Verity, Gone Girl, Unravelling Oliver) and a lot of truly terrible ones. The Last House on Needless Street is a category in itself. To call it disturbing would be an understatement and an oversimplification. What it is, is a well structured, multi-layered slow burn yet compulsive psychological horror. The kind that will creep unto you.
It's difficult to talk what the book is actually about without giving away spoilers. It's best you dive in blind. I called part of it 30% into the book (<i> you will too if you're familiar with the tropes of the genre </i>), was blindsided by some of the reveals, horrified in certain chapters and kinda-sorta satisfied with the way it all ended.
However this is not a book I will recommend to just about everyone. Please pick it up only and only if you're familiar with the genre. And if reading such books doesn't make you question the very existence of humanity.
I've read a fair amount of psychological thrillers, mind you. Some truly excellent ones (Confessions, Verity, Gone Girl, Unravelling Oliver) and a lot of truly terrible ones. The Last House on Needless Street is a category in itself. To call it disturbing would be an understatement and an oversimplification. What it is, is a well structured, multi-layered slow burn yet compulsive psychological horror. The kind that will creep unto you.
It's difficult to talk what the book is actually about without giving away spoilers. It's best you dive in blind. I called part of it 30% into the book (<i> you will too if you're familiar with the tropes of the genre </i>), was blindsided by some of the reveals, horrified in certain chapters and kinda-sorta satisfied with the way it all ended.
However this is not a book I will recommend to just about everyone. Please pick it up only and only if you're familiar with the genre. And if reading such books doesn't make you question the very existence of humanity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death