My thanks to Headline Review for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Last House on the Street’ by Diane Chamberlain. This novel was published in January. My apologies for the late feedback.

This novel surprised me as I began reading without prior knowledge of its plot. I had expected the usual tropes found in domestic dramas/psychological thrillers but instead it proved a moving story spanning generations in North Carolina.

In 1965 Eleanor (Ellie) Hockley, a young white college student, makes the decision to take part in SCOPE (The Summer Community Organization and Political Education), a voter registration civil rights initiative. Ellie is the only volunteer from the South and her participation proves controversial. Then she and fellow activist, Win, fall in love. Yet because he is a Black man, their relationship must remain hidden from her family and friends, especially as the Klu Klux Klan are once more re-emerging.

In 2010, Kayla Carter is a recently widowed architect, who is about to move with her young daughter into the dream house that she and her late husband designed. Yet from the start disturbing things begin to happen that suggests someone is trying to frighten her into leaving. Who and why?

Then Kayla meets a neighbour outside the Hockley House (the last house of the title). It is Ellie who has recently returned from California after forty-five years to care for her elderly mother and ailing brother.

As the narrative moves between the time periods, explosive secrets are revealed. In the course of the novel Diane Chamberlain explores the turbulent history of the 1960s civil rights movement.

On a personal note while I was a little young to be aware of these issues in the early 60s, I recall driving with my parents through the South and cars were being stopped at a roadblock manned by the KKK where they were collecting‘contributions’. After we passed through my father explained to me and my brother who they were. Chilling at the time and in retrospect.

Overall, I found ‘The Last House on the Street’ an exceptional novel that was moving and thought provoking. Given that voting rights are again under threat and with the rise of nationalism in the USA, especially in the South, it was a powerful reminder of the fragility of democracy.

I would struggle to be able to review this book due to issues with the file/download. The issues stopped the flow of the book. The issues are:
- Missing words in the middle of sentences
- Stop/start sentences on different lines
- No clear definition of chapters.

Not sure if it was a file/download issue but there were lots of gaps and stops/starts which really ruined the flow. I would love the chance to read a better version as the description of the book appeals to me. I would be more than happy to re-read the book with a better file or as a physical book as the book topic and genre are of interest to me. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

A histoical.novel.with dual storylines. Gripping and one you won't be able to put down.the civil rights act is the focus of this novel and it is written in a beautiful and thought provoking way.

I really enjoyed The Last House on the Street. It’s set both in the present and the past and weaves perfectly between the two. Present day is a tale of mystery and intrigue and the past is a tale of painful history in North Carolina. This book will captivate you as the secrets of the past come to a head in the present. It’s a shocking tale that covers some very serious and will stay with you long after you’ve finished the final page. Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and the author for the chance to review.

Diane Chamberlain did it again, creating a unique and surprising book. Magnetic structure of the book - parallel timelines - you can find here two timelines by following two characters - Ellie from the 1960s and Kayla from the present. You are in North Carolina with Martin Luther King, Ku Klux Klan and voting rights issues and then jump to North Carolina in 2010. Some elements of the book could be too heavy or too strong for a reader, but still, they are part of the whole picture and are playing an important roles. I think these elements made the entire story more compelling and realistic and went further emotional intensive. These elements are definitely the speeches, demonstrations or Civil Movements Rights - it is much easier to say what these are than to illustrate them so perfectly as Diane Chamberlain did. I can say it is educational and compelling reading - there are also romantic affair plots which kept me hooked from one chapter to another, trying to guess what other secrets could be hidden there. Mysteries are mixed with many themes like social injustice, prejudice or violence and a love of historical arene. I can say that the book is an eye-opener, will make you think and re-think the world, judge it from your point of view, and will stay with you for a longer time.

It is not an easy book, and it will sit with you for a while. It has a powerful message for you to go undercover. I am delighted that I had an opportunity to read this book. I will strongly recommend it to everyone looking for a book for fun and to survive an incredible experience.

Thank you, NetGalley and Headline Review, for an ARC of this book.

Diane chamberlains books always stay with me long after I’ve finished reading them, she deals with some very controversial or deep topics and this was no exception. A brilliant read.

I love that Diane Chamberlain takes real life historic events mixes them with present day and turns them into a stunning work of fiction. This storyline was based around an initiative in the southern states of the US during the 1960’s to encourage African Americans to register to vote. This storyline is brought together into present day when one of the then student volunteers from the project is living in a house on the street where Kayla Carter has recently moved to. Kayla has a tragic story as the new house she and her husband designed and built was also the scene of his death during its construction.
This was a beautifully written story, with excellent well developed characters. One that I would highly recommend and one that will appeal to a wide range of readers as it covers various genres with its mix of historical fiction and mystery/crime.
Many thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the review copy.

My heart broke for this story. I read it twice now and I can’t and won’t forget it soon.
The beautiful writing, the intriguing characters that had to go through so many obstacles to just live a normal, settled life. The power of love. All the emotional moments. Everything brings heartbreak but also heartwarming moments.


Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

The Last House on the Street was a powerful story told in dual timelines.
Kayla in 2010 was warned off the dream house that she had designed with her husband and where he had ultimately lost his life. Cut to 1965 where Ellie fought for the voting rights for all and fell in love with someone she was not supposed to. Interracial love was frowned upon in those times. Now Ellie had returned home after 45 years to look after her mother and brother and found herself meeting Kayla her next door neighbor and the child of her long-lost paramour.

A complex tale which was an admixture of the truth and fiction where the author brought home some important facts. With the twin plot line, the tension was insidiously built up until it became a taut rope with a huge, unexpected reveal at the end. So big that I could have never thought about it.

SCOPE was the program that Ellie was passionate about that wanted to eradicate racism in voting rights of all. I loved how an important social cause was weaved in where it formed the foundation of the tapestry on which the rest of the story was built on. The writing was vivid in the landscape that it truly laid open with the times of 1965.
I wanted more of Kayla's section written in. She was a young mother and a widow who had more to give than what was written.

A rich storyline that encapsulated the era of the civil rights movement gone past, where the mystery added another layer connecting it to the present, with the last house on the street as the anchor.

Over the years I have read almost all of Diane Chamberlain's novels, including her back catalogue which I have been working my way through since first discovering her books, so knew that I wanted to read her latest book The Last House on the Street. As I've come to expect, this book has a strong and emotive theme that makes for uncomfortable reading but yet compelling at the same time.

When I first starting reading I didn't realise that this was a timeslip novel, set in the 1960's during a time when change is finally happening for racial equality but also a time where not everyone was happy about the situation, and in 2010 when a young widow is about to move into a house that has been shrouded in tragedy. The two central characters, Ellie Hockley and Kayla Carter, are young women who were both strong and resilient in their own ways.

In 1965, Ellie is a young white student who has signed up to go into predominantly black neighbourhoods to help encourage residents to register to vote. It's unusual for anyone to do this in their own state but Ellie was very determined to do her bit for change much to the disapproval of her family and boyfriend. In the present day, well 2010, Kayla is a young woman who has lost so much already after the tragic death of her husband in the house they designed together.

At first I wasn't sure of the connection between the two women but as their stories progress and things become clearer I found myself drawn into both narratives although I found myself drawn to the historical timeline, which is rare for me, moreso than the later timeline although that's not to say I wasn't intrigued about the strange and sinister goings on regarding Kayla's storyline. Ellie was such a strong character who despite witnessing things that many of us wouldn't even be able to comprehend was determined to stand up for the rights of others. Whereas Kayla has already faced the most unimaginable loss but what is supposed to be a new beginning for her and her young daughter, turns into something completely scary and unimaginable.

The Last House on the Street was a deeply disturbing and atmospheric read that deals with sensitive topics such as racism, interracial relationship and grief in such a thought-provoking way.

This book was very promising but I was disappointed with the outcome, thought it could of had a stronger ending. . It just didn’t work for me.

Absolutely fantastic, a story that will stay with me always.
This book switches between times, back when people of colour were treated horribly - this crashes into the current day narrative in a surprising way and the book kept me hooked throughout.

I have yet to read a Diane Chamberlain novel that I didn’t enjoy. There’s something so incredibly absorbing about the way she writes. That said though, as often happens with dual timeline stories, I must admit I enjoyed the past storyline more than the present one.

Let’s start with the latter. In present day North Carolina, recently widowed Kayla is reluctantly getting ready to move into the house of her dreams. This is the house she and her husband designed together, but also the house where her husband died before it was even finished. As if things aren’t bad enough for Kayla, someone seems set on scaring her away from her property. But why?

I felt that Kayla’s part in this story was very much just tying the two timelines together but part of me thinks that maybe the entire novel would have worked just as well, or maybe even better, without her. As it is, she seemed to spent most of her time complaining about her big windows and the trees on her plot of land, making me wonder why she went along with her husband to build their house there in the first place.

The good stuff is in the past storyline, in 1965, where the reader meets Ellie. Ellie is a young, white, female student who becomes involved in the fight for civil rights. She signs up for an initiative that sends young people into the black neighbourhoods to persuade them to register to vote once the president signs the Voter’s Act. In doing so, she is faced with violence, poverty and the re-emerging Ku Klux Klan.

These two threads will collide at some point, obviously. One piece of the puzzle is solved rather quickly, if you pay attention. Everything else is slowly revealed throughout the story, all the while leading to a most devastating and heartbreaking conclusion that absolutely left me reeling. Not the “what”, but the “who”. Part of me felt like I should have seen that coming but mostly I’m glad I didn’t because one particular moment was so shocking, let’s just say it’s not something I’ll forget in a hurry.

Such an ugly piece of history that unfortunately still lingers today. Just look at how hard a country like America makes things for their African-American population to be able to vote. Ellie may be fictional but we know that people like her truly existed, who realised that colour doesn’t matter, who were out there risking their lives to make the world a better place, who are still out there today fighting for equality.

Diane Chamberlain’s writing, as always, completely drew me in. I adored Ellie and her determination to carve out a life so very different from the one her parents and society had in mind for her, I loved the North Carolina setting and seeing the world through Ellie’s eyes. The 1965 storyline had me hooked. I didn’t have that same feeling about the present storyline, seeing it more like an interruption that was keeping me from the story I really wanted to read.

The Last House on the Street is an intriguing family drama with a mystery element to it that is at times moving, harrowing and engrossing. It’s definitely clear that the author has once again done a ton of research and I couldn’t wait to jump on the internet and learn more about the SCOPE project and the civil right’s movement. That said, I don’t think this is Chamberlain’s best novel nor is it my favourite. But if you enjoy her books, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one as well. As I did.

Set in North Carolina in a small town with small minded people . We hear from two perspectives -the past and the present and how the 2 meet with devastating consequences .

Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

Usually I love every book by Diane Chamberlain and have read them all, but unfortunately I have found one I did not enjoy. The Last House on the Street was really hard to get into and I struggled with this book. Sorry not for me.

An emotive and heartbreaking story set in two time lines. I was totally enthralled with the 1965 narrative about racism in USA southern states. That part of the story was engrossing and heartbreaking. The modern day story, set in 2010, was not so captivating for me and bits of it felt a little forced. However, the two stories intertwined to give a powerful ending.

Rounded up from around 4.5 Stars ⭐️

The Last house on the Street follows two timelines. In 1965, Ellie is trying to fight for what she believes in. She joins the SCOPE project despite the protest of her loved ones, and it changes her life forever. In 2010, Kayla is recently widowed and needing to move into her new house. But her husband died in that house, and now that she’s receiving threats she’s not so sure it was the dream she has expected.

This is the first Diane Chamberlain novel I’ve read but it definitely won’t be my last. I was absolutely riveted by this novel. I didn’t want to have to put it down. It touches on some very difficult and dark subjects in regards to Racism, which some may find difficult to read. It was haunting and chilling but so incredibly important too. I found it really interesting learning about the SCOPE project. But I was also horrified at how this is humanities recent past, and even present in many ways.

I completely fell in love with the character of Ellie. Her pure strength, bravery and kindness is something I have never seen in a novel. I think the reflection of people like Ellie and the other SCOPE volunteers in real life, is what made her so incredible to me. It was a reminder that there are people in this world who are willing to fight for what’s right, no matter the personal consequences. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect in quite the same way with Kayla. I just found her character difficult to sympathize with it times. I think I could have liked her more if she wasn’t having to compete with Ellie in mind. This novel compelled me to keep reading, pulled on all of my heartstrings, taught me so much and touches on some incredibly important lessons!

I recommend this to everyone, but please be cautious if some of the topics in this book may be difficult for you. I want to thank Netgalley, Headline publishers and Diane Chamberlain for allowing me to read this book and give my personal thoughts.

Really grateful to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this!

A really well written story that interweaves a modern day thriller with a touching tale of a young lady taking tentative steps in the civil rights movement. Cleverly put together, with mild a narrative that builds towards a somewhat predictable, but altogether satisfying ending.

I have read quite a few of Diane Chamberlains’ books and enjoyed them, so I was really looking forward to reading this.
Set between timelines and POV, it focuses mainly on Ellie in 1965 and Kayla in 2010.
Ellie is a white student in North Carolina who decides to volunteer over the summer with an organisation called SCOPE, which aims to register people to vote. When Ellie becomes involved with a man who is also volunteering, tensions run high.
Kayla is about to move into her new build house with her daughter following her husband’s death during the building of the same house. Someone doesn’t want her to move in however, and she feels threatened.
The two stories interweave in 2010, which, although not obvious at first, are cleverly linked.
I did enjoy this book, it was very interesting to read about SCOPE, I was unaware of its existence beforehand. The social history was very well described and informative without ever feeling like I was reading a textbook.
One thread in the story didn’t ring true to me, which I found quite disappointing (no spoilers!) but overall a very informative, gripping book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

I enjoy a mystery/thriller with depth and Diane Chamberlain delivered just that with The Last House on the Street, a historical fiction interwoven with mystery and social justice. Heavy and dark at times as it depicts the prejudices and racism found in my home state of North Carolina both in the past (1965) and present. Thoroughly enjoyed learning about the SCOPE project. I love when an author educates us on these important bits of history that we may otherwise never hear about. Overall, I enjoyed the 1965 timeline over the 2010. Something about the 2010 just felt a little cliched and underwhelming. Appreciated the book none the less simply because I learned so much that I wish I had been taught in school.