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The Last House on Needless Street


Synopsis


*** THE THRILLING RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK *** *** THE BBC TWO BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK *** ***ONE OF THE TIMES BEST THRILLER BOOKS OF 2021*** *** THE TIMES NO.4 BESTSELLER *** *** THE #1 KINDLE BESTSELLER *** THE TIMES THRILLER OF THE MONTH OBSERVER THRILLER OF THE MONTH 'I haven't read anything this exciting since Gone Girl' - STEPHEN KING 'One of the most extraordinary thrillers of the year' - DAILY MAIL 'A dark, audacious highwire act of a novel' - GUARDIAN ________________________________________ This is the story of a murderer. A stolen child. Revenge. This is the story of Ted, who lives with his young daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. All these things are true. And yet some of them are lies. An unspeakable secret binds the family together, and when a new neighbour moves in next door, the truth may destroy them all. Because there's something buried in the dark forest at the end of Needless Street. But it's not what you think... From the multiple award-winning author of Little Eve and Rawblood, this extraordinary tale will thrill and move readers. A work of incredible imagination and heartbreaking beauty. *** FILM RIGHTS OPTIONED BY IMAGINARIUM PRODUCTIONS *** *** RIGHTS SOLD IN TWENTY TERRITORIES *** ________________________________________ 'Catriona Ward is the new face of literary dark fiction' - SARAH PINBOROUGH 'Books like this don't come around too often' - JOANNE HARRIS 'Believe the hype... a masterclass' - KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE 'A chilling and beautiful masterpiece of suspense. I was completely enthralled' - JOE HILL 'A masterpiece. Beautiful, heartbreaking and quietly uplifting' - ALEX NORTH

Summary

Chapter 1

* Summary:
* The story begins with a chilling prologue, introducing the Last House on Needless Street.
* The main characters, Ted and Dee Mitchell, move into the last house with their children, Lauren and Ollie.
* Real Example:
* "The Last House on Needless Street loomed in front of them, a haunting silhouette against the overcast sky. Ted felt a shiver run down his spine as he gripped the steering wheel tighter."

Chapter 2

* Summary:
* The Mitchells explore their new home, uncovering a strange and disturbing atmosphere.
* Ted discovers a hidden basement and a collection of disturbing objects, including a doll that resembles their daughter.
* Real Example:
* "As Ted descended the narrow stairs to the basement, the air grew heavy and stale. The walls were lined with dusty boxes and shelves, and in the far corner, he spotted a porcelain doll with piercing blue eyes and a haunting smile."

Chapter 3

* Summary:
* The Mitchells' children begin experiencing strange occurrences and nightmares.
* Lauren witnesses a shadowy figure outside her bedroom window, and Ollie starts drawing disturbing images.
* Real Example:
* "Lauren woke with a start, her heart pounding in her chest. She had seen something outside her window, a dark and twisted shape that seemed to disappear into the darkness."

Chapter 4

* Summary:
* Ted becomes increasingly obsessed with the house's history, uncovering a dark and tragic past.
* He learns that a young girl named Olivia had been murdered in the house decades earlier, and her spirit is believed to haunt the property.
* Real Example:
* "Ted pored over old documents in the local library, desperate to unravel the mystery surrounding the Last House on Needless Street. He discovered that Olivia had been a troubled child, and her death was shrouded in eerie circumstances."

Chapter 5

* Summary:
* The Mitchells' relationship begins to crumble under the strain of the house's malevolent influence.
* Ted becomes increasingly withdrawn and violent, while Dee struggles to cope with the growing danger.
* Real Example:
* "Ted's normally gentle demeanor transformed into something dark and menacing. He lashed out at Dee and the children, his fists clenched and his eyes blazing with anger."

Chapter 6

* Summary:
* The children confront the horrifying truth about the house's curse.
* Ollie reveals that he has been communicating with Olivia's ghost, and that she wants their family to pay for the sins of the past.
* Real Example:
* "Ollie's voice trembled as he whispered to his parents, 'The house wants us here. Olivia wants us to suffer like she did.'"

Chapter 7

* Summary:
* The Mitchells must fight for their lives as Olivia's spirit unleashes its full fury upon them.
* The house becomes a living nightmare, filled with terrifying visions and deadly traps.
* Real Example:
* "The walls of the house seemed to close in on them, and a cold breeze sent chills down their spines. They heard the sound of crying and laughter coming from every corner, haunting reminders of Olivia's presence."

Epilogue

* Summary:
* The survivors of the ordeal confront the consequences of their time at the Last House on Needless Street.
* Ted is haunted by the memories of what happened, while Dee and the children must learn to rebuild their lives after the trauma they have endured.
* Real Example:
* "Years later, Ted and Dee lived in a quiet cottage by the sea. But the scars of their experience at the Last House on Needless Street remained, a constant reminder of the darkness that lurks beneath the surface."