THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET by Catriona Ward is filled will secrets, sorrow, suffering, and pain. Incredible pain. From the outside, it is an old neglected house on a normal street where Ted, Olivia, and Lauren live. On the inside, it holds unspeakable horrors and the ghosts of childhood trauma. There is no light or sunshine here, but is it the home of a monster who takes children?

Ted Bannerman remembers when the newspaper reporters came after the Little Girl with Popsicle disappeared eleven years ago. They searched his house but found nothing. Ted also had an alibi and was cleared. Now Ted lives on Needless Street with his daughter, Lauren, and his beloved cat, Olivia. But, his daughter is getting harder to manage and his cat can’t stand the little girl. Ted’s world seems to be imploding. He spends his days writing down recipes, going into the woods, and drinking way too much.

Dee was with her sister the day she disappeared by the lake. Now Dee spends her time trying to uncover who kidnapped the little girl. Dee zeroes in on Ted Bannerman and moves in next door. She is convinced Ted has her missing sister, Lulu.

As Dee gets closer to finding the truth, Ted spirals out of control and tries desperately to make sure no one finds out who he really is underneath. But, who is Ted really? Is he a monster who takes children, or is he a misunderstood innocent living in a house full of secrets?

Wow! Catriona Ward’s THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET is a complex continually shifting story that delves into the deep dark places of childhood trauma and abuse. It is clever and intricately layered with new revelations at every turn invoking an array of emotions from empathy to anger.  Furthermore, it is a study into the human mind and how it protects itself from unspeakable acts. You may be asking yourself why a cat is one of the narrators, but by the time you get to the end, you will understand and appreciate how the author uses this in the book. Although this novel might not appeal to all readers, due to its dark subject matter, it is an exceptional work of thrilling horror and psychological suspense.