In 2010, Kayla has recently suffered the tragic loss of her husband in an accident at the home they were designing together. She has trepidations about moving into the house with her four year old daughter, but this is the dream home that she and her husband designed themselves. A visit from an odd woman warning Kayla not to move into the house only serves to further unsettle her. As other odd occurrences take place on their property, Kayla can only wonder if she is making the right decision to live there, or is someone just trying to scare her away?
In 1965, Ellie Hockley hears about a group of northern college students coming to North Carolina to make Black residents aware of LBJ's Voting Rights Act and encourage them to register to vote. Against so many obstacles in her way, Ellie pursues her hope of being involved in this important movement. She is met with disdain by her friends and family, danger from those who oppose what the students are doing, and some speculation from the other students as to what her motives are. The events of that summer change Ellie's life in ways beyond imagining.
The Last House on the Street is a multi-layered mystery blending historical details and social injustice. I believe reading has the power to make change in our world and is one of the most powerful ways to build empathy. The Last House on the Street should be a must read for those reasons alone.
I received this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.