The Last House on the Street: A Novel

A sad and heartbreaking tale of the 1960's civil right movement called SCOPE. A group of college students rallying around the right to vote for Black Americans. How the Klan tried to stop the movement and how it overlapped into the future as far as the next generation. How one girl's involvement so angered her family, her friends and her towns people that it ended in an event that was so horrible it was remembered for generations. In the telling of the story it outlined the conditions that some Black Americans were living and how having the right to vote and with that vote electing those that would help them improve conditions would be beneficial to so many. Ellie was a young woman, a college student, passionate about civil rights and the movement. She did not know that joining SCOPE (Summer Community Organization and Political Education) would change her whole life, alienate her from her family and cost the life of the boy she fell in love with. Kayla , years later, moves into her new home in the neighborhood as Ellie is living with her mother and brother after returning from California to care for them. In this dual timeline this story is the least interesting part. However, it ties Ellie and Kayla and an event that happens years ago. It also shows that hatred can keep going even long after events in the past are over and done. The story was interesting in that it was written about an actual time in history. Growing up in the west I was not at all involved with the civil rights movement as it was not important in my area. I actually know very little about it except for what is in history books and on Television growing up. It was a sad story and very well written although the hatred and the betrayal of Ellie's family and best friend was so very hard to read. I just don't understand at all how a family could be that heartless. I think it was a good story and that I would recommend it. Thanks to Diane Chamberlain for writing another great book, to St. Martin's Press for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available for me to read.

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain is a dual-timeline novel. We meet Ellie a twenty-year old woman who signs up for the SCOPE project. Kayla in 2010 is a recent widow with a young daughter. Her husband died before their dream home was completed. It is the only house in a new development and Kayla is warned away. Just outside the development is a home that has been there for three generations and the dying owner refuses to sell. After Kayla moves into her new home, she meets Ellie Hockley who grew up in the old home and they become friends. Kayla can tell, though, that Ellie has secrets. Something happened in this area almost fifty years ago. Is it time for the secret to come to light? The Last House on the Street contains good writing, but I thought the pacing was slow. As I kept reading, I was wondering if the book would ever get moving. I enjoyed Ellie’s story more than Kayla’s. Ellie’s story tells of the bigotry, violence, and hatred that was prevalent in the south during this time. There was a great deal of unrest in the south. It was interesting learning about the SCOPE project. Ellie’s character was significantly more developed than Kayla’s. For most of the book, Kayla is unnecessary. Her character lacked emotion and depth. As I read, I could soon see how everything tied together and how the story would play out. I wish the storyline had not been so obvious. I had trouble getting through the first two thirds of the book because of the slow pacing and there was little action up to this point. The ending nicely wrapped up the story. This was not my favorite Diane Chamberlain story. It was not the same caliber as her last novel. The Last House on the Street is an emotional and dramatic story that will take you back to 1965 in North Carolina.

The Last House on the Street Is a Dual Time Mystery Novel by Diane Chamberlain set in 1965 and 2010. It is an emotional story of love, loss, and a portrayal of how actions can change lives for generations. This is a well written story with interesting characters but there were some parts of the story that were unrealistic. For example it was odd that 1965 Ellie thought people were poor and did not have indoor toilets or electricity because they did not vote or involve themselves in politics. Was Ellie so naive at 20 that she did not know that there were many people both black and white still using outhouses in the 1960’s and 1970’s? Ellie’s historical storyline seemed to be more focused on solving poverty rather than the infringement of rights. However the story does address many of the evil practices of the KKK and the lack of punishment for their crimes. I really enjoyed the suspense, mystery surrounding the characters, the house, and the suspicious relationships. The time periods and storylines were woven together well. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 4 Stars