A review by magnoliabloomfield
The Last House on Needless Street, by Catriona Ward
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I can’t remember what show or movie it was, but i clearly remember two people arguing about whether a lie could be a twist- ah thank you Google, it’s from Bobs Burgers Hamburger Dinner Theater episode. Anyway. It feels like we don’t get a twist so much as a lie when we read the book after reading the blurb. Is it interesting? Sure. Is it the nerve wracking thriller Stephen King said it was? No. Was he high? Doesn’t he do horror, it’s like his whole thing? Geez.
The plot twist is not what you’re expecting at all but not in a good way.
By the end I really really really wished I’d read a story about “Mommy” instead, whatever she was doing and the “green boys” and her home country seemed waaaaaay more interesting than this story.
Spoiler
Half the characters you’re promised in the blurb aren’t actually physically present in the story.The plot twist is not what you’re expecting at all but not in a good way.
Spoiler
The more I think back on it, the less it makes sense tbh, when you get to the end think back to the whole mall trip with Lauren where he went in the little girls fitting rooms and Lauren’s feet still worked. And him being the “dad” when you find out where and when she came from.By the end I really really really wished I’d read a story about “Mommy” instead, whatever she was doing and the “green boys” and her home country seemed waaaaaay more interesting than this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Torture
Snakes, snake bite.