THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET
Diane Chamberlain
St Martin’s Press
January 11, 2022
352 pages
I have been in a bit of a reading slump. I was lucky to receive Diane Chamberlain’s newest book as an Advance Readers Copy. I knew right away that this could be the book to pull me out of my slump.
The book starts out with a bang. Not literally, but it was a meeting with two women that left me with an eerie feeling. Right away I was hopeful that this was a good sign of things to come, to pique my interest.
There are 2 timelines: 1965 featuring Ellie who is bound and determined to get involved in the Civil Rights movement by helping African Americans register to vote. And, 2010, featuring Kayla who is an architect about to move into a new home which seems to be causing an issue for an unknown lady with bright red hair.
Crossovers between the 2 timelines start happening early. Name dropping and locations. But, of course, it takes time to discover the whole connection. The 2010 storyline foreshadows troubling or dark issues from the past.
I found the historical parts of the story very interesting and informative. I was a young teen when the Civil Rights Movement was established. I remember the marches and demonstrations and riots. The 1960s were a very turbulent time. But my memories of this time are nothing compared to reading the story of Ellie and Win.
Ellie and Win’s relationship is fictional but I’m sure situations like theirs played out in the south. It was very realistically portrayed. An emotional tale.
The characters are so well developed. The story is intense. The author uses a real Civil Rights group from the 1960s as the organization central to the characters. Also, some actual names and news stories from the decade are woven into the story. The Klu Klux Klan plays a major part.
Some progress had been made in the rights of African Americans but the last 2 or 3 years have shown us that there is still a long way to go. The journey is not an easy one.
The last part of the book is very intense and at times uncomfortable to read. But my discomfort is incidental when it comes to the horror of the events that happened in the 1960s.
There were a couple of twists revealed at the end. One I had figured out but the other was a surprise.
And, the conclusion was good. It showed hope and resilience. The past would not be forgotten but there was the element of closure for the characters. The book was well written and the subject was well researched.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an Advance Readers Copy.
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