What readers think of The Last House on the Street, plus links to write your own review.

A sad and true picture of the South during the Civil Rights Movement in 1965. The story is fictional but the history of the SCOPE project is true. Lives were changed. Families were torn apart, and history was made. A massive amount of research went into this book. It’s an excellent read, well written and captivating. Your preconceived opinions may change after reading the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to all readers who enjoy a good mystery, a visit to a time and place in history where civil rights and human rights clashed with regional notions of White privilege and a romantic story honoring courageous students who helped shape the new South.

We move back and forth from 1965 to 2010 America.

1965: We learn about the SCOPE (Summer Community Organization and Political Education) program and meet Ellie who leaves to help with getting folks registered to vote through this program.

Ellie’s family is not happy she will be doing this, and her boyfriend Reed Miller is definitely not happy, but he lets her go.

2010: We meet Kayla who along with her husband designed and built a huge house in a new development but whose husband fell to his death while the house was under construction.

A few days before Kayla is to move into her home, even though she doesn’t want to move in now that her husband is dead, a woman comes to her office and tells her to not move into that house and says she feels like killing someone.

Kayla does move into the house, though, with her father’s encouragement even though she finds out from a letter in her husband’s things that her father suggested they not build there.

An unknown surprise also awaits Kayla a few houses down from her new home. She meets Ellie who has no reaction when Kayla tells her that Reed Miller is her father.

What a connection after all these years between Reed and Ellie.

And wonder what happened on this street that has people saying the woods are haunted?

When threats start happening, Kayla wonders why she moved here.

Maybe she shouldn’t have built a house here. Maybe the woods are haunted.

Back to 1965:

We follow Ellie as she does the canvassing with the group and as she tries to keep out of any trouble.

I never knew of this organization or the danger the members were in.

Ahead to 2010:

We see Kayla and Ellie interact and feel the tension when Kayla’s father’s name is mentioned again. She has to find out what it means.

When Kayla meets Brenda, her warning about not living in her new house is chilling but she defends her choice to move in.

THE LAST HOUSE ON THE STREET is an emotional, heartbreaking, well-researched, educational read.

Another book historical fiction fans will not want to miss with shocking ending revelations. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In Diane Chamberlain’s latest novel, The Last House on the Street, she tackles the history of racism in the south through a dual timeline story of a civil rights volunteer in the mid-1960’s and a present day architect facing challenges as she moves into a home in a new subdivision.

I was fascinated to learn about the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states and the obstacles faced by the volunteers trying to canvas the black communities to assist with voter registration. Chamberlain does a great job weaving this history into her suspenseful story.

I thought this book was well written, thoughtful, and relevant. This would be a great book club selection! I was immediately drawn into the story and felt invested in the characters. This was my first Diane Chamberlain book, and I now understand why she is such a popular author. I look forward to reading more of her books!