A review by sssnoo
Last House by Jessica Shattuck

dark hopeful informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Last House is a breath of fresh air within historical fiction. The post-WWII Cold War era is rarely covered in fiction. I grew up in this era, just a bit behind Kat from the book, and the atmosphere and details felt real and nuanced. They resonated with my memories of the protest era in the '60s and covered the transition to the increased violence as it occurred in the early 1970s. This novel is a "dysfunctional family" drama but in a good way. There are generational conflicts, but the family members never stop loving each other. 

This novel is medium-paced and full of compelling, complicated, and interesting characters. Early foreshadowing of a dark event to come worked well to keep this reader engaged. Underlying the action in the book is the global quest by the USA to control Iranian oil—I went down the Google wormhole several times as I delved into topics brought up by the book. This is the best compliment I can give a book.

In short, if you enjoy historical fiction and are looking for underrepresented eras and themes, this book will appeal to you. If you are a Baby Boomer or Gen Ex, this book may also speak to you personally (maybe some to the Silent Generation). 

Bookclubs will find many topics to discuss.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an electronic ARC in exchange for a review.