Title: The Last House on the StreetAuthor: Diane Chamberlain
Published by: St. Martin's Press on Jan. 14, 2020
Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery/Thriller, Women's Fiction
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover
Source: St. Martin's Press
Book Rating: 10/10
From bestselling author Diane Chamberlain comes an irresistible new novel that perfectly interweaves history, mystery, and social justice.
When Kayla Carter’s husband dies in an accident while building their dream house, she knows she has to stay strong for their four-year-old daughter. But the trophy home in Shadow Ridge Estates, a new development in sleepy Round Hill, North Carolina, will always hold tragic memories. But when she is confronted by an odd, older woman telling her not to move in, she almost agrees. It’s clear this woman has some kind of connection to the area…and a connection to Kayla herself. Kayla’s elderly new neighbor, Ellie Hockley, is more welcoming, but it’s clear she, too, has secrets that stretch back almost fifty years. Is Ellie on a quest to right the wrongs of the past? And does the house at the end of the street hold the key? Told in dual time periods, The Last House on the Street is a novel of shocking prejudice and violence, forbidden love, the search for justice, and the tangled vines of two families.
Review:
Thought-provoking, ominous, and highly absorbing!
The Last House on the Street is an alluring, mysterious tale that sweeps you away to Round Hill, North Carolina during 1965, as well as 2010, and into the lives of Ellie Hockley and Kayla Carter, two intelligent, young women whose strength, tenacity, and compassion will be tested when the ones they love are lost and the long-buried history of a town steeped with strong underlying racist mentalities, longstanding alliances, hidden betrayals, and dark secrets is finally brought to light.
The writing is effortless and eloquent. The characters are empathetic, vulnerable, and endearing. And the plot, alternating between timelines, unravels and intertwines seamlessly into a beautifully tragic tale about life, loss, love, family, friendship, self-discovery, regret, deception, cruelty, manipulation, power, privilege, racism, politics, mayhem, violence, and murder.
Overall, The Last House on the Street is another sincere, thought-provoking, incredibly affecting tale by one of my all-time favourite authors that does an incredible job of highlighting the weakness and ugliness of group mentality and the ease with which it allows one to participate in the most unforgivable of crimes, while also reminding us that compassion and kindness is the base of humanity that should ultimately always transcend socioeconomic status and skin colour.
This novel is available now.
Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.
Thank you to St. Martins Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
About Diane Chamberlain
Diane Chamberlain is the New York Times, USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling author of 25 novels published in more than twenty languages. Some of her most popular books include Necessary Lies, The Silent Sister, The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes, and The Keeper of the Light Trilogy. Diane likes to write complex stories about relationships between men and women, parents and children, brothers and sisters, and friends. Although the thematic focus of her books often revolves around family, love, compassion and forgiveness, her stories usually feature a combination of drama, mystery, secrets and intrigue. Diane's background in psychology has given her a keen interest in understanding the way people tick, as well as the background necessary to create her realistic characters.
Diane was born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey and spent her summers at the Jersey Shore. She also lived for many years in San Diego and northern Virginia before making North Carolina her home.
Diane received her bachelor's and master's degrees in clinical social work from San Diego State University. Prior to her writing career, Diane worked in hospitals in San Diego and Washington, D.C. before opening a private psychotherapy practice in Alexandria Virginia specializing in adolescents. All the while Diane was writing on the side. Her first book, Private Relations was published in 1989 and it earned the RITA award for Best Single Title Contemporary Novel.
Diane lives with her partner, photographer John Pagliuca, and her sheltie, Cole. She has three stepdaughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren. She's currently at work on her next novel.
