The publisher's summary:
In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. A teenage girl who isn’t allowed outside, not after last time.A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory.And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible. An unspeakable secret binds them together, but when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out among the birch trees may come back to haunt them all.
This book is a stunning read with many plot twists. It is narrated by three characters: Ted, Lauren and Olivia. Ted is the main character. Olivia is his cat while Lauren is his daughter. They all live in Ted's parental home, a falling down old house that no one cleans. It’s a mess. Ted rarely leaves the house but occasionally Ted walks deep into the forest where he feels at peace. Olivia and Lauren never get to leave the house though. Occasionally we read about Ted's childhood and it's not pretty. His father was an alcoholic while his mother, a nurse, was just plain nuts. Mom served baby food to her family!
Eleven years before the current time period a six year old girl went missing. Her body was never found. Known simply as the Girl with a Lollipop, Lulu was playing at a beach with her family when she vanished. The last chapter shows what happened to her but Ted was a suspect all along. Eventually Lulu's sister Dee buys the house next door to Ted's so she can monitor him. Dee firmly believes that Ted killed her sister.
The suspense is taut and pacing fast making this a fantastic read. In fact, I read it in one sitting. It's advertised as a horror story but I would call it a twisted suspense thriller. I saw no horror in the plot and I certainly never became afraid. I didn't know where the plot was going until 2/3 into the story. The name of the street Ted's house was located on was funny. Ever heard of a Needless Street? The title let's you know what type of book you're reading
5 out of 5 stars.
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