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Detective Inspector Caius Beauchamp #1
The Other Half: A Novel
You know how they live. This is how they die...
Rupert's 30th birthday party is a black-tie dinner at the Kentish Town McDonald's—catered with cocaine and expensive champagne. The morning after, his girlfriend Clemmie is found murdered on Hampstead Heath, a single stiletto heel jutting from under a bush.
Who killed Clemmie? Was it the blithe, sociopathic boyfriend? His impossibly wealthy godmother? The gallery owner with whom Clemmie was having an affair? Or was it the result of something else entirely?
All the party-goers have alibis. Naturally. This investigation is going to be about aristocrats and Classics degrees, Instagram influencers and whose father knows who.
Or is it 'whom'? Detective Caius Beauchamp isn't sure. He's sharply dressed, smart, and thoroughly modern—he discovers Clemmie's body on his early morning jog. As he searches for the dark truth beneath the luxurious life of these London socialites, a wall of staggering wealth and privilege threatens to shut down his investigation before it's even begun. Can Caius peer through the tangled mess of connections in which the other half live—and die—before the case is wrenched from his hands? Bitingly funny, full of shocking twists, and all too familiar.
Rupert's 30th birthday party is a black-tie dinner at the Kentish Town McDonald's—catered with cocaine and expensive champagne. The morning after, his girlfriend Clemmie is found murdered on Hampstead Heath, a single stiletto heel jutting from under a bush.
Who killed Clemmie? Was it the blithe, sociopathic boyfriend? His impossibly wealthy godmother? The gallery owner with whom Clemmie was having an affair? Or was it the result of something else entirely?
All the party-goers have alibis. Naturally. This investigation is going to be about aristocrats and Classics degrees, Instagram influencers and whose father knows who.
Or is it 'whom'? Detective Caius Beauchamp isn't sure. He's sharply dressed, smart, and thoroughly modern—he discovers Clemmie's body on his early morning jog. As he searches for the dark truth beneath the luxurious life of these London socialites, a wall of staggering wealth and privilege threatens to shut down his investigation before it's even begun. Can Caius peer through the tangled mess of connections in which the other half live—and die—before the case is wrenched from his hands? Bitingly funny, full of shocking twists, and all too familiar.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 17, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,210 reviews
December 11, 2022
Charlotte Vassell writes a savagely funny satire on the British class system, set in London, creating a monstrously dislikeable set of characters with names like Araminta aka Minty, Euphemia and where the most odious of of them all, Rupert, has a the same surname as DI Caius Beauchamp, but, of course, pronounced differently. Rupert has organised a black tie dinner, his birthday party at the Kentish Town McDonald's, overflowing with cocaine, champagne and, unsurprisingly, bad behaviour. Caius is struggling to get over his break up with Heloise, now in Paris, he is focusing on his personal development, improving his diet, his literary knowledge and jogging in Hampstead Heath, which is where he stumbles across the body, wearing a ball gown, of well known influencer, Clemency 'Clemmie' O'Hara, Rupert's girlfriend of a decade.
Caius and his hardworking team of DS Matt Cheung and DC Amy Noakes find themselves having to navigate their way through their boss, the grand pooh bahh, and a group of suspects from Rupert's party, all of whom naturally appear to have alibis. Helena 'Nell' Waddingham is an emotionally scarred woman who had been a close part of Rupert's circle at Oxford University, she attended his birthday party with Alex and every intention of blowing Rupert out of her life for good, leaving the celebrations early. However, matters and feelings are far more complicated, with a manipulative Rupert intent on doing whatever it takes to have her in his life, including marriage. Caius and his team sift through Clemmie's life and social media presence, an investigation that takes them through the Classics, art galleries, Auction Houses, a supposed charity 'Help for Hippos', encountering a upmarket drug operation, rape, art smuggling, and other connected murders.
Vassell paints a deliciously dark picture of the class system, a callous and obnoxious Rupert, unhampered by either morals or a conscience, with a sense of entitlement that allows him, and others like him, think that they can have whatever and whoever they want, using any means necessary. Misogyny and racism run deep in a world view where anyone who does not belong is considered an 'oik', it's no wonder they have such perspectives as they are well served by an establishment that allows them to get away with anything, including murder. This is a fun and terrifically entertaining crime read, where class, gender and race inequalities are integral, all accomplished with style and wit, and there is a fabulous police team that has to work a case under the threat of having it taken away from them. I think this will appeal to a wide variety of readers, highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Caius and his hardworking team of DS Matt Cheung and DC Amy Noakes find themselves having to navigate their way through their boss, the grand pooh bahh, and a group of suspects from Rupert's party, all of whom naturally appear to have alibis. Helena 'Nell' Waddingham is an emotionally scarred woman who had been a close part of Rupert's circle at Oxford University, she attended his birthday party with Alex and every intention of blowing Rupert out of her life for good, leaving the celebrations early. However, matters and feelings are far more complicated, with a manipulative Rupert intent on doing whatever it takes to have her in his life, including marriage. Caius and his team sift through Clemmie's life and social media presence, an investigation that takes them through the Classics, art galleries, Auction Houses, a supposed charity 'Help for Hippos', encountering a upmarket drug operation, rape, art smuggling, and other connected murders.
Vassell paints a deliciously dark picture of the class system, a callous and obnoxious Rupert, unhampered by either morals or a conscience, with a sense of entitlement that allows him, and others like him, think that they can have whatever and whoever they want, using any means necessary. Misogyny and racism run deep in a world view where anyone who does not belong is considered an 'oik', it's no wonder they have such perspectives as they are well served by an establishment that allows them to get away with anything, including murder. This is a fun and terrifically entertaining crime read, where class, gender and race inequalities are integral, all accomplished with style and wit, and there is a fabulous police team that has to work a case under the threat of having it taken away from them. I think this will appeal to a wide variety of readers, highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
November 15, 2023
The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell is is a Contemporary Mystery-Suspense Story!
Rupert has his thirtieth birthday party at a McDonald's. It's black-tie, a catered affair with lots of drugs and very expensive champagne.
Who does that? I do believe this was the first sign this book wasn't for me.
The next morning, Rupert's girlfriend Clemmie is found murdered. Her body discovered under a bush with her stiletto heels peeking out.
That's Clemmie and her shoes on the cover art, BTW. I do love that cover.
And it's Detective Caius Beauchamp who finds Cammie's body during his morning jog. What a coincidence.
Rupert would, of course, be the first suspect because everyone knows it's always the boyfriend...
The Other Half felt predictable to me from the very beginning. The party, the murder, how the body was discovered, and who discovered it. This feeling never changed for me.
I didn't like or connect with a single character and I thought about stopping almost the entire time I was reading it. Never a good sign.
I didn't connect with the humor either and I believe I'm a fairly funny individual with the ability to see the humor in almost everything. Everything...but this story.
I'm obviously an outlier with The Other Half as most reviews are positive with high ratings and I'm glad this debut author has positive support. I know not every book is for everyone and I also know this one is definitely not for me.
2⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Anchor, and Charlotte Vassell for an DRC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
Rupert has his thirtieth birthday party at a McDonald's. It's black-tie, a catered affair with lots of drugs and very expensive champagne.
Who does that? I do believe this was the first sign this book wasn't for me.
The next morning, Rupert's girlfriend Clemmie is found murdered. Her body discovered under a bush with her stiletto heels peeking out.
That's Clemmie and her shoes on the cover art, BTW. I do love that cover.
And it's Detective Caius Beauchamp who finds Cammie's body during his morning jog. What a coincidence.
Rupert would, of course, be the first suspect because everyone knows it's always the boyfriend...
The Other Half felt predictable to me from the very beginning. The party, the murder, how the body was discovered, and who discovered it. This feeling never changed for me.
I didn't like or connect with a single character and I thought about stopping almost the entire time I was reading it. Never a good sign.
I didn't connect with the humor either and I believe I'm a fairly funny individual with the ability to see the humor in almost everything. Everything...but this story.
I'm obviously an outlier with The Other Half as most reviews are positive with high ratings and I'm glad this debut author has positive support. I know not every book is for everyone and I also know this one is definitely not for me.
2⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Anchor, and Charlotte Vassell for an DRC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
November 20, 2023
EXCERPT: The McDonald's in Kentish Town had seen some sights, but this was something different. At 6 p.m. an elegant man strode through the automatic doors. Wing-collar shirt, cummerbund, and silk bow tie. Expensive shoes: Italian. They made a clipped noise when he walked, much like his vowels when he spoke. He strolled up to the counter and asked to speak to the manager. The server peered around him nervously, looking for a non-existent camera. The manager was dutifully found and propositioned like a comely whore. The gentleman, and there really couldn't be another word for a man dressed in such a manner, was going to use the upstairs area - usually reserved for children's parties on Saturday mornings - for a private gathering that evening. His guests were arriving at 7.30 p.m. and the staff were to bring food upstairs (the order had already been courteously written out in fastidious copper-plate) at 8 p.m. for them. They were not to be disturbed after that. The gentleman made it very clear that they were to be handsomely recompensed for their efforts, and their silence. No one who worked there was to mention it again and CCTV was to be turned off. The gentleman paid in cash - crisp £50 notes - and gave all the staff, including the poor, poor cleaner, who would have to deal with the true horrors tomorrow morning, a nice little tip for all the trouble he was about to cause.
ABOUT 'THE OTHER HALF': The night before
Rupert's 30th is a black tie dinner at the Kentish Town McDonald's - catered with cocaine and Veuve Clicquot.
The morning after
His girlfriend Clemmie is found murdered on Hampstead Heath. All the party-goers have alibis. Naturally.
This investigation is going to be about Classics degrees and aristocrats, Instagram influencers and who knows who. Or is it whom? Detective Caius Beauchamp isn't sure. He's sharply dressed, smart, and as into self-improvement as Clemmie - but as he searches for the dark truth beneath the luxury, a wall of staggering wealth threatens to shut down his investigation before it's begun.
Can he see through the tangled set of relationships in which the other half live, and die, before the case is taken out of his hands?
MY THOUGHTS: Clever, complex, and witty, there's nothing not to love about The Other Half, including the characters. Some I loved, some I vacillated about, and others I intensely disliked.
Rupert is at the centre of this story; titled and entitled, he is obscenely wealthy, misogynistic, and manipulative. His girlfriend (I use this word loosely, perhaps limpet might be a more apt description) Clemmie, has a token job at an art gallery, and is an 'influencer'. She desperately wants to marry Rupert for the title and the country pile he will inherit when his grandfather dies. Rupert is enamoured with Nell, who is considered 'unsuitable'. Alex also loves Nell, who has just parted ways with Caspar. There are various other double and triple-barreled surnamed characters, and women named Minty and . . . well, you get the picture. Everyone is connected to everyone through schools, blood and godparents. There's no six degrees of separation here.
On other side, Detective Caius Beauchamp, who shares a surname, albeit pronounced differently, with Rupert, regrets his lack of classical education and has set about rectifying this deficit. He's also cleansing his body and pining for Heloise, who recently unceremoniously dumped him. He is ably assisted in his investigations by Matt Cheung, intent on sabotaging Caius's clean eating regime, and Amy Noakes, a computer whiz.
Throughout this read I was rooting for Nell, whom I quite liked except for her abysmal taste in men. Alex. And of course for Caius, who is extremely likeable.
But who killed Clemmie (dubbed Plegm by Nell)? I wanted it to be Rupert. I was scared it was Nell.
This was a fun read. I honestly hope that this is going to be developed into a series. I want more of Caius - his team and his personal life. He's a refreshing gem. And I am sure Charlotte Vassell can dream up plenty more aristocratic prats to write about and entertain us with.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.4
#TheOtherHalf #NetGalley
I: @vassellcharlotte @faberbooks
T: @CharlotteVas17 @FaberBooks
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery #romance
MEET THE AUTHOR: Charlotte Vassell studied History at the University of Liverpool and completed a Masters in Art History at the School of Oriental and African Studies, before training as an actor at Drama Studio London. Other than treading the boards Charlotte has also worked in advertising, as a head-hunter, and as a purveyor of silk top hats.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Faber and Faber via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT 'THE OTHER HALF': The night before
Rupert's 30th is a black tie dinner at the Kentish Town McDonald's - catered with cocaine and Veuve Clicquot.
The morning after
His girlfriend Clemmie is found murdered on Hampstead Heath. All the party-goers have alibis. Naturally.
This investigation is going to be about Classics degrees and aristocrats, Instagram influencers and who knows who. Or is it whom? Detective Caius Beauchamp isn't sure. He's sharply dressed, smart, and as into self-improvement as Clemmie - but as he searches for the dark truth beneath the luxury, a wall of staggering wealth threatens to shut down his investigation before it's begun.
Can he see through the tangled set of relationships in which the other half live, and die, before the case is taken out of his hands?
MY THOUGHTS: Clever, complex, and witty, there's nothing not to love about The Other Half, including the characters. Some I loved, some I vacillated about, and others I intensely disliked.
Rupert is at the centre of this story; titled and entitled, he is obscenely wealthy, misogynistic, and manipulative. His girlfriend (I use this word loosely, perhaps limpet might be a more apt description) Clemmie, has a token job at an art gallery, and is an 'influencer'. She desperately wants to marry Rupert for the title and the country pile he will inherit when his grandfather dies. Rupert is enamoured with Nell, who is considered 'unsuitable'. Alex also loves Nell, who has just parted ways with Caspar. There are various other double and triple-barreled surnamed characters, and women named Minty and . . . well, you get the picture. Everyone is connected to everyone through schools, blood and godparents. There's no six degrees of separation here.
On other side, Detective Caius Beauchamp, who shares a surname, albeit pronounced differently, with Rupert, regrets his lack of classical education and has set about rectifying this deficit. He's also cleansing his body and pining for Heloise, who recently unceremoniously dumped him. He is ably assisted in his investigations by Matt Cheung, intent on sabotaging Caius's clean eating regime, and Amy Noakes, a computer whiz.
Throughout this read I was rooting for Nell, whom I quite liked except for her abysmal taste in men. Alex. And of course for Caius, who is extremely likeable.
But who killed Clemmie (dubbed Plegm by Nell)? I wanted it to be Rupert. I was scared it was Nell.
This was a fun read. I honestly hope that this is going to be developed into a series. I want more of Caius - his team and his personal life. He's a refreshing gem. And I am sure Charlotte Vassell can dream up plenty more aristocratic prats to write about and entertain us with.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.4
#TheOtherHalf #NetGalley
I: @vassellcharlotte @faberbooks
T: @CharlotteVas17 @FaberBooks
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery #romance
MEET THE AUTHOR: Charlotte Vassell studied History at the University of Liverpool and completed a Masters in Art History at the School of Oriental and African Studies, before training as an actor at Drama Studio London. Other than treading the boards Charlotte has also worked in advertising, as a head-hunter, and as a purveyor of silk top hats.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Faber and Faber via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 20, 2023
If this was actually a police procedural novel I would have liked it. The writing is solid and the parts with the crime, mystery, and police efforts were interesting and well done.
The rest though, particularly the IDIOT characters, was insufferable. I am way too old for that nonsense. Nell, specifically was beyond my tolerance level. And the waffling on and on about Greek such and the other and Austen as a model for life choices…no thanks. Pick your lane and don’t try to be so pretentious. Either write a crime drama or write a scathing look at societal norms but the two do not work together for me in this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
The rest though, particularly the IDIOT characters, was insufferable. I am way too old for that nonsense. Nell, specifically was beyond my tolerance level. And the waffling on and on about Greek such and the other and Austen as a model for life choices…no thanks. Pick your lane and don’t try to be so pretentious. Either write a crime drama or write a scathing look at societal norms but the two do not work together for me in this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
December 7, 2022
4+ stars
An incredibly well suited and booted gentleman with perfect diction to match courteously books the upstairs room in McDonald’s, Kentish Town (North London)which is usually reserved for children’s parties. He places a food order, generously tips the staff for their silence and the lack of CCTV and for what they will clean up next day. Minions sweep in with flowers and high price champers as nothing but the best will do for Rupert Beauchamp’s thirtieth birthday party. As far as Nell (Helena) is concerned this will be a last hurrah and farewell to all Rupert’s nonsense but she’s perfectly dolled up for the occasion as she waits for Alex to accompany her. The party goes as you would expect (think bacchanalia) when shockingly the next day a female body is found on Hampstead Heath ironically or fortuitously by D I. Caius Beauchamp, no relation to Rupert Bear. This proves to be Clemency, the on/off girlfriend of Rupert for the last 10 years. Who murdered Clem and why? Needless to say, all at the bash have alibis, of course they have. The reactions to her murder are odd, is it because they’re toffs, stiff upper and all that or just not bovvered? Can Caius and his sidekick DS Matty Cheung ably assisted by DC Amy Noakes ferret out the truth amongst this Upper Crust list of suspects? As the novel progresses, it takes a very dark turn……
Okay, here we go! Don’t you just love it when you read a delicious debut which leaves you wanting more of Caius and Matty who are just too good for one-offsville. It’s as pacey as a brisk stroll through Kensington and Chelsea, it’s witty in places, laugh out loud funny in others and it has a clever complex plot. What more could you want, oh, maybe some truly horrible characters you hope get their just desserts???
The other half of the title resonates throughout as Caius and Matty wade their way through upper-class entitlement and that is done satirically on point and of course we have the duality of the capital with the haves a lot versus the haves very little. There is a racist element too, it takes a few swipes at Insta self-improvement twaddle (me not necessarily the author!). There’s a very clever literary and Greek mythology element in addition which I thoroughly enjoy. I also mustn’t forget an interesting archaeological and drugs element, which has yet to be fully resolved, hopefully in book 2?? I’ve my fingers crossed.
This is Made in Chelsea meets Agatha, it has definite shades of the Queen of Crime with tangled webs, plot twists, red herrings and all that jazz. Maybe Caius will become the 21st-century Poirot! The ending is a good blend of the dramatic with the OTT ridiculous, which is great fun and highly entertaining. Methinks this is a winner and a new talent has emerged on the scene, well played Charlotte Vassell. Applause from the sidelines.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Faber and Faber for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
An incredibly well suited and booted gentleman with perfect diction to match courteously books the upstairs room in McDonald’s, Kentish Town (North London)which is usually reserved for children’s parties. He places a food order, generously tips the staff for their silence and the lack of CCTV and for what they will clean up next day. Minions sweep in with flowers and high price champers as nothing but the best will do for Rupert Beauchamp’s thirtieth birthday party. As far as Nell (Helena) is concerned this will be a last hurrah and farewell to all Rupert’s nonsense but she’s perfectly dolled up for the occasion as she waits for Alex to accompany her. The party goes as you would expect (think bacchanalia) when shockingly the next day a female body is found on Hampstead Heath ironically or fortuitously by D I. Caius Beauchamp, no relation to Rupert Bear. This proves to be Clemency, the on/off girlfriend of Rupert for the last 10 years. Who murdered Clem and why? Needless to say, all at the bash have alibis, of course they have. The reactions to her murder are odd, is it because they’re toffs, stiff upper and all that or just not bovvered? Can Caius and his sidekick DS Matty Cheung ably assisted by DC Amy Noakes ferret out the truth amongst this Upper Crust list of suspects? As the novel progresses, it takes a very dark turn……
Okay, here we go! Don’t you just love it when you read a delicious debut which leaves you wanting more of Caius and Matty who are just too good for one-offsville. It’s as pacey as a brisk stroll through Kensington and Chelsea, it’s witty in places, laugh out loud funny in others and it has a clever complex plot. What more could you want, oh, maybe some truly horrible characters you hope get their just desserts???
The other half of the title resonates throughout as Caius and Matty wade their way through upper-class entitlement and that is done satirically on point and of course we have the duality of the capital with the haves a lot versus the haves very little. There is a racist element too, it takes a few swipes at Insta self-improvement twaddle (me not necessarily the author!). There’s a very clever literary and Greek mythology element in addition which I thoroughly enjoy. I also mustn’t forget an interesting archaeological and drugs element, which has yet to be fully resolved, hopefully in book 2?? I’ve my fingers crossed.
This is Made in Chelsea meets Agatha, it has definite shades of the Queen of Crime with tangled webs, plot twists, red herrings and all that jazz. Maybe Caius will become the 21st-century Poirot! The ending is a good blend of the dramatic with the OTT ridiculous, which is great fun and highly entertaining. Methinks this is a winner and a new talent has emerged on the scene, well played Charlotte Vassell. Applause from the sidelines.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Faber and Faber for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
May 5, 2023
This was a 3.5 read for me. I loved the murder mystery aspect. Deciphering who killed Clemmy O'Hara was not difficult as her closest friends and acquaintances were revealed but figuring out the why was where the interest was for me. Clemmie was an influencer and parsing the banal from what may be her deeper characteristics was a good tension. This story is peopled with unlikable characters and I admit to not caring a whit about many of them but they started out interesting enough. My problem materialized when so many of them were no more complex than the awful they presented as. It got to be too much of a bad thing as they ceased to be interesting or worse, amusing. Some seemed to be over the top just for the sake of it. I know this is a satirical look but it wore.
The detective, Caius Beauchamp was very well done, with his pretentious leanings and conspicuous consumption. I enjoyed him even when he came off as tedious. Beauchamp's DS, Matt, was also a good character. The third officer, whose name escapes me at the moment (which is a shame because she was the only woman in the group), was a good character as well.
The ending was a bit incomplete, especially with one aspect of the criminal dealings revealed and if there were a second book in the offing, I'd be glad to read it as it was one of the more interesting threads. I have to give Vassell credit, she has a way with the turn of phrase and I very much enjoyed that. Honestly, if this were about fifty pages shorter, I think I may not have felt it was weighed down by itself.
And lastly to the good, I love the cover! 😍
So a strong 3.5. Recommended if you're in the mood for a bit of social commentary and skewering of the posh class.
The detective, Caius Beauchamp was very well done, with his pretentious leanings and conspicuous consumption. I enjoyed him even when he came off as tedious. Beauchamp's DS, Matt, was also a good character. The third officer, whose name escapes me at the moment (which is a shame because she was the only woman in the group), was a good character as well.
The ending was a bit incomplete, especially with one aspect of the criminal dealings revealed and if there were a second book in the offing, I'd be glad to read it as it was one of the more interesting threads. I have to give Vassell credit, she has a way with the turn of phrase and I very much enjoyed that. Honestly, if this were about fifty pages shorter, I think I may not have felt it was weighed down by itself.
And lastly to the good, I love the cover! 😍
So a strong 3.5. Recommended if you're in the mood for a bit of social commentary and skewering of the posh class.
February 4, 2023
It was a bit like trying to end a conversation with someone who won't stop talking.
November 28, 2023
the setup…
DI Caius Beauchamp is on an early morning jog, part of his self improvement journey following his breakup with his French girlfriend Heloise, when he discovers the body of a dead woman in the park. He’d just stumbled into the world of “the other half” as the woman was later identified as Clemency (Clemmie) O'Hara, the longtime girlfriend of Rupert Beauchamp (no relation and pronounced differently) who had celebrated his 30th birthday nearby the night before…at a McDonald’s.
the heart of the story…
We meet Rupert and Clemmie’s circle of “friends” and acquaintances through the course of the investigation. We get a satirical view of the British class system on full display and it’s a world of self indulgement, who’s who and who’s not, money and entitlement. Rupert is the worst of them all, moving through life fearlessly, knowing the rules for him are different and he isn’t even worried about being a suspect in Clemmie’s murder. Central in the investigation is Helena (Nell) Waddingham, a complex woman whose relationship with Rupert dates back to their days at Oxford and has always been his true focus. She’s emotionally damaged and to say her relationship with Rupert is complicated is the understatement of the century. It’s through her eyes we see the most truths of their world, how it works and the likely suspects. Throughout it all, Cais and his partners on the case, DS Matt Cheung and DC Amy Noakes, do an admirable of job of sifting through the mire and developing the case despite internal pressures to “protect” some of these people who have associations with the powerful and influential.
the narration…
Imogen Wilde was primarily giving voice to Nell and she captured her perfectly. Her storytelling was superb. However, I struggled with Muyunde’s performance as it was hard to distinguish the dialogue as it lacked inflection and he spoke too rapidly. It made it hard to understand what he was saying.
the bottom line…
I enjoyed the story as the author cleverly captured the world of the other half through a myriad of interesting but truly unlikeable characters. While it was satirical in nature, there was always an underlying sense of despair and desperation as the players grasped for recognition and place. Cais and his team could have fallen into the trap of feeling intimidated by this world but did their job despite being looked down upon and challenged internally. While I wanted to know who killed Clemmie, that part of the story almost took a back seat to the intrigue of the despicable Rupert, the conflicted Nell and Alex, the man intent on saving her. The ending left some threads to unravel and I’m glad this is now a series. 3.5 stars
(Thanks to Libro.fm and Random House Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
DI Caius Beauchamp is on an early morning jog, part of his self improvement journey following his breakup with his French girlfriend Heloise, when he discovers the body of a dead woman in the park. He’d just stumbled into the world of “the other half” as the woman was later identified as Clemency (Clemmie) O'Hara, the longtime girlfriend of Rupert Beauchamp (no relation and pronounced differently) who had celebrated his 30th birthday nearby the night before…at a McDonald’s.
the heart of the story…
We meet Rupert and Clemmie’s circle of “friends” and acquaintances through the course of the investigation. We get a satirical view of the British class system on full display and it’s a world of self indulgement, who’s who and who’s not, money and entitlement. Rupert is the worst of them all, moving through life fearlessly, knowing the rules for him are different and he isn’t even worried about being a suspect in Clemmie’s murder. Central in the investigation is Helena (Nell) Waddingham, a complex woman whose relationship with Rupert dates back to their days at Oxford and has always been his true focus. She’s emotionally damaged and to say her relationship with Rupert is complicated is the understatement of the century. It’s through her eyes we see the most truths of their world, how it works and the likely suspects. Throughout it all, Cais and his partners on the case, DS Matt Cheung and DC Amy Noakes, do an admirable of job of sifting through the mire and developing the case despite internal pressures to “protect” some of these people who have associations with the powerful and influential.
the narration…
Imogen Wilde was primarily giving voice to Nell and she captured her perfectly. Her storytelling was superb. However, I struggled with Muyunde’s performance as it was hard to distinguish the dialogue as it lacked inflection and he spoke too rapidly. It made it hard to understand what he was saying.
the bottom line…
I enjoyed the story as the author cleverly captured the world of the other half through a myriad of interesting but truly unlikeable characters. While it was satirical in nature, there was always an underlying sense of despair and desperation as the players grasped for recognition and place. Cais and his team could have fallen into the trap of feeling intimidated by this world but did their job despite being looked down upon and challenged internally. While I wanted to know who killed Clemmie, that part of the story almost took a back seat to the intrigue of the despicable Rupert, the conflicted Nell and Alex, the man intent on saving her. The ending left some threads to unravel and I’m glad this is now a series. 3.5 stars
(Thanks to Libro.fm and Random House Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
November 7, 2023
THE OTHER HALF is exactly what I wanted Pineapple Street to be! A world of luxury and class, mixed with satire and chaos. This book gives off a rich b**ch Agatha Christie vibe and I’m here for it. The story takes place at one of the characters, Rupert Beauchamp’s 30th birthday when his girlfriend Clemmie is found murdered. The investigation dives into a world of luxury influencers, all with British humor and attitude (hard to explain what I mean until you read it).
This murder mystery features a cast of extremely dislikable characters with over the top names. I honestly found this book to be a riot, with wit and expertly done characterization. Most of the characters are vapid and ridiculous, specifically Rupert, but there’s definitely one or two that are more normal than the others. Sorry I like the ridiculousness of the ones you’re meant to hate! The mystery is the central theme here but what kept me engaged was the satirical undertones. I listened to THE OTHER HALF via @librofm and the narration was incredibly done. I see a lot of mixed reviews on social media—I’m not sure how my journey with this book would’ve been without taking it via audiobook. All I know is that I had a lot of fun escaping into this story when I needed to escape.
This murder mystery features a cast of extremely dislikable characters with over the top names. I honestly found this book to be a riot, with wit and expertly done characterization. Most of the characters are vapid and ridiculous, specifically Rupert, but there’s definitely one or two that are more normal than the others. Sorry I like the ridiculousness of the ones you’re meant to hate! The mystery is the central theme here but what kept me engaged was the satirical undertones. I listened to THE OTHER HALF via @librofm and the narration was incredibly done. I see a lot of mixed reviews on social media—I’m not sure how my journey with this book would’ve been without taking it via audiobook. All I know is that I had a lot of fun escaping into this story when I needed to escape.
December 3, 2025
Unfortunately this was a snooze fest 😴
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July 13, 2023Murder mystery set in the world of horrible rich upper class Oxford scum. This obviously appeals on principle but rather falls down for a few reasons, primarily that hardly any of them die. Also,
though, the book is so keen to show how loathsome these people are that we never see the supposed magnetic attractiveness that keeps some of the other characters in their orbit. This is especially a problem with the central villain Rupert. If the plott requires characters to be charmed despite it all, we need the Brideshead / Secret History effect to show us why.
I think this might be the underlying problem though: there's a few areas where the book's stated aims and its telling diverge too much. Plot based very much round abusive men, abused women, racism, and the obscenity of class, but the tone is mostly of light satire and mockery, and for me it it just didn't mesh. Your police inspector can be a tortured warrior against injustice, or a comic fat guy puffing up Parliament Hill and eating ill-advised croissants, but trying to make him both is hard to pull off, and for me it didn't work. Loads of potential, drive and energy, but just not quite under control.
though, the book is so keen to show how loathsome these people are that we never see the supposed magnetic attractiveness that keeps some of the other characters in their orbit. This is especially a problem with the central villain Rupert. If the plott requires characters to be charmed despite it all, we need the Brideshead / Secret History effect to show us why.
I think this might be the underlying problem though: there's a few areas where the book's stated aims and its telling diverge too much. Plot based very much round abusive men, abused women, racism, and the obscenity of class, but the tone is mostly of light satire and mockery, and for me it it just didn't mesh. Your police inspector can be a tortured warrior against injustice, or a comic fat guy puffing up Parliament Hill and eating ill-advised croissants, but trying to make him both is hard to pull off, and for me it didn't work. Loads of potential, drive and energy, but just not quite under control.
January 20, 2023
Wanted to DNF it at least 5 times. That’s saying something.
When Clemmie is found dead, the cops are quick to suspect her rich boyfriend Rupert. Rupert and his friends are Oxford graduates, snobbish and all posh. A major chunk of this book revolves around unpleasant characters who are again rich and snobbish. The three cops assigned to the case are full of banter (probably the only thing I liked about this book) and as they delve deeper into the case, they realise there’s something more to it.
The Other Half at the core has a murder mystery to be solved but the author has thrown in an array of characters to enhance the story. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a single character that I truly connected with especially the main lady called Nell. The plot was unnecessarily dragged and I almost gave up on it about five times before pushing myself to finally finish it. The ending didn’t sit well with me.
Although I’m aware that mine is an unpopular opinion, this book didn’t quite work for me.
When Clemmie is found dead, the cops are quick to suspect her rich boyfriend Rupert. Rupert and his friends are Oxford graduates, snobbish and all posh. A major chunk of this book revolves around unpleasant characters who are again rich and snobbish. The three cops assigned to the case are full of banter (probably the only thing I liked about this book) and as they delve deeper into the case, they realise there’s something more to it.
The Other Half at the core has a murder mystery to be solved but the author has thrown in an array of characters to enhance the story. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a single character that I truly connected with especially the main lady called Nell. The plot was unnecessarily dragged and I almost gave up on it about five times before pushing myself to finally finish it. The ending didn’t sit well with me.
Although I’m aware that mine is an unpopular opinion, this book didn’t quite work for me.
April 7, 2025
The title and cover here were a total “you had me at hello” moment for me, but unfortunately I found the content to be quite a slog. I’m all for reading about despicable one percenters and obviously I love a stabby. I was expecting this to be a fun way to spend a few hours over the weekend, but sadly that was not the case. The main issue was it needed to pick a lane. Either fully embrace the camp of snooty high society or be a police procedural. I even tried to switch things up and listen to some of it, but that didn’t help either so it took me days and days to finally get through this one.
(I now see this is a series (part of me is terrified I may have an unread ARC of the second), but since it is a continuation with DI Beachamp, maybe it would be more successful for me if it does lean toward the procedural side of things???)
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
(I now see this is a series (part of me is terrified I may have an unread ARC of the second), but since it is a continuation with DI Beachamp, maybe it would be more successful for me if it does lean toward the procedural side of things???)
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
March 18, 2024
I started off enjoying The Other Half, a murder mystery set in London. The story involves Detective Caius Beauchamp and his team, assigned to investigate the murder of a young woman whose body is found in the park, and her London socialite circle, some of whom are initially potential suspects.
I enjoyed the dry leaning humor, primarily from Caius and his team, but that alone wasn’t enough for me to enjoy The Other Half more — The London socialite crew was unlikable. There are rich people behaving badly vibes, though I’ve found many other stories along these lines to be more engaging than this one was. I also felt the pace slowed down around the middle, and while some character history and background was useful, this could have been reduced without detracting from the overall story.
I enjoyed the dry leaning humor, primarily from Caius and his team, but that alone wasn’t enough for me to enjoy The Other Half more — The London socialite crew was unlikable. There are rich people behaving badly vibes, though I’ve found many other stories along these lines to be more engaging than this one was. I also felt the pace slowed down around the middle, and while some character history and background was useful, this could have been reduced without detracting from the overall story.
December 6, 2023
3.5 stars
This book started out slow for me - but I quickly got wrapped up in the mystery and the side stories that were going on. We get a look into the lives of the elite - the ones who have money and you never really know how. It all starts at a party going on at a MCDONALDS too which I thought was funny.
This book clearly has satire in it - to all the people complaining that they didn't like any of the characters - THAT WAS THE POINT. These characters were not meant to be liked. I did like Caius and his team though. But the rest including the murder victim were all snobby and entitled and I enjoyed that aspect of it.
This book does take place in the UK so some of the jokes were a little lost on me. But I did appreciate all of the Greek literature and mythology that got put into this one. It gave me dark academia vibes in a modern setting.
The mystery of the killer itself was a little easy to guess - but I am 100% wrapped up into how we kinda left on a cliffhanger with the whole second side of the mystery. Not going to spoil it for anyone but if you know you know. I NEED TO KNOW what is going on with that and I hope the second book touches on it.
Overall, this is a police procedural that deals with the lives of the rich and won't be for everyone. But I gave it a 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for the fact that once I got into it I enjoyed it. There are a lot of characters so it's easy to get mixed up at times. I am looking forward to the second book though and to see what else ends up happening with Caius. Plus I hope we get a peek into Nell's final decisions.
Big thanks to Vintage Anchor, Charlotte Vassell and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!
This book started out slow for me - but I quickly got wrapped up in the mystery and the side stories that were going on. We get a look into the lives of the elite - the ones who have money and you never really know how. It all starts at a party going on at a MCDONALDS too which I thought was funny.
This book clearly has satire in it - to all the people complaining that they didn't like any of the characters - THAT WAS THE POINT. These characters were not meant to be liked. I did like Caius and his team though. But the rest including the murder victim were all snobby and entitled and I enjoyed that aspect of it.
This book does take place in the UK so some of the jokes were a little lost on me. But I did appreciate all of the Greek literature and mythology that got put into this one. It gave me dark academia vibes in a modern setting.
The mystery of the killer itself was a little easy to guess - but I am 100% wrapped up into how we kinda left on a cliffhanger with the whole second side of the mystery. Not going to spoil it for anyone but if you know you know. I NEED TO KNOW what is going on with that and I hope the second book touches on it.
Overall, this is a police procedural that deals with the lives of the rich and won't be for everyone. But I gave it a 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for the fact that once I got into it I enjoyed it. There are a lot of characters so it's easy to get mixed up at times. I am looking forward to the second book though and to see what else ends up happening with Caius. Plus I hope we get a peek into Nell's final decisions.
Big thanks to Vintage Anchor, Charlotte Vassell and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!
January 31, 2023
Labs detektīvs. Uzsvars uz sabiedrības smalko galu, bet bez pārlieku lielas moralizēšanas no sērijas - skat, kā nauda un vara sabeigusi cilvēkus. Secinājumus, protams, katrs var pats izdarīt, bet autore to pārmēru nerīvē degunā. Vislabāk patika izmeklētājs, jo šis nevis katru vakaru piedzeras pālī, jo depresija un tā, bet skrien, jogo, taisa salātiņus un grib iemācīties cept maizi. Nu tāds moderns produkts. Bet tā kopumā - klasiskais stāsts par to, kā cilvēki dara pāri viens otram un paši sev.
September 29, 2023
While The Other Half was a slower read for me, it was enjoyable. Mysteries are a fun genre, and one of my top favorites. This one fit the bill on so many levels. I really enjoyed the characters and have a love/hate feel for a few of them LOL
The story flows well and is a good mix of police procedure and character stories. I was actually surprised by the whodunnit as well and that rarely happens. Definitely recommend this one for mystery fans.
I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
The story flows well and is a good mix of police procedure and character stories. I was actually surprised by the whodunnit as well and that rarely happens. Definitely recommend this one for mystery fans.
I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 17, 2023
Solid 4.5 (I clicked 5 stars because it felt more 5 than 4).
I have to say Charlotte Vassell has absolutely stunned me with her debut. So often a book gets hyped and I expect so much that it's always a let down but not this time. I read it in 2 sittings, struggling all the time to put it down when tiredness overtook me last night.
The story follows the lives of some real upper class twits with excellent names like Rupert and Minty and Hereward. Excellent eye rolling fodder at how the other half lives. However all is not that rosy in paradise as the body of a girl is found mutilated by, of all good fortune, the DI who then takes on the case.
We do a bit of back and forth to explain the relationships and the cryptic conversations but otherwise its a headlong hurtle to find out who the killer is and why there's a connection with the purple charity boxes that seem to be popping up everywhere that DI Caius Beauchamp goes during his investigation.
This is a fantastic debut novel. It's clever, not too confusing, not too many characters but packed with action and just twisty enough.
The bit that made me quaver between 4 and 5 was the depressingly low self-esteem displayed by pretty much all the young female characters involved with Rupert. I am sure that's why he preyed on them but it still made me grind my teeth and shout at the book.
Otherwise it's fantastic. Truly enjoyed 98% of it. I hope we get more from this novelist. So obviously I highly recommend it.
I have to say Charlotte Vassell has absolutely stunned me with her debut. So often a book gets hyped and I expect so much that it's always a let down but not this time. I read it in 2 sittings, struggling all the time to put it down when tiredness overtook me last night.
The story follows the lives of some real upper class twits with excellent names like Rupert and Minty and Hereward. Excellent eye rolling fodder at how the other half lives. However all is not that rosy in paradise as the body of a girl is found mutilated by, of all good fortune, the DI who then takes on the case.
We do a bit of back and forth to explain the relationships and the cryptic conversations but otherwise its a headlong hurtle to find out who the killer is and why there's a connection with the purple charity boxes that seem to be popping up everywhere that DI Caius Beauchamp goes during his investigation.
This is a fantastic debut novel. It's clever, not too confusing, not too many characters but packed with action and just twisty enough.
The bit that made me quaver between 4 and 5 was the depressingly low self-esteem displayed by pretty much all the young female characters involved with Rupert. I am sure that's why he preyed on them but it still made me grind my teeth and shout at the book.
Otherwise it's fantastic. Truly enjoyed 98% of it. I hope we get more from this novelist. So obviously I highly recommend it.
December 5, 2023
If you love to hate a novel's characters, enjoy a good investigation, and like getting a glimpse at the rich and titled, The Other Half is definitely for you!
I really enjoyed this book and it had so many elements I love. Personally, I could have done with a bit more of the rich people and a little less of the investigation, but that could have been related to my dislike of the male narrator.
I listened to this novel and typically love when each voice is narrated by a different individual, however, I really struggled with the male narrator in this instance. He was hard to understand and his voice was much lower in volume than the female. I felt like I was constantly adjusting the speed and volume and still never quite got it perfect.
Nell was a complex and interesting character. I didn't understand her love for Rupert, but did commend her for her loyalty and self-awareness. I also liked that she was part of the rich crowd but more relatable. I loved the setting, descriptions of the clothing and glamour, and the overall pretentiousness. The character names alone were pure gold!
All in all, this was a fun one but I'd be inclined to recommend reading rather than listening.
Thank you to PRH Audio, Libro.fm, Vintage Anchor, and NetGalley for the copy.
I really enjoyed this book and it had so many elements I love. Personally, I could have done with a bit more of the rich people and a little less of the investigation, but that could have been related to my dislike of the male narrator.
I listened to this novel and typically love when each voice is narrated by a different individual, however, I really struggled with the male narrator in this instance. He was hard to understand and his voice was much lower in volume than the female. I felt like I was constantly adjusting the speed and volume and still never quite got it perfect.
Nell was a complex and interesting character. I didn't understand her love for Rupert, but did commend her for her loyalty and self-awareness. I also liked that she was part of the rich crowd but more relatable. I loved the setting, descriptions of the clothing and glamour, and the overall pretentiousness. The character names alone were pure gold!
All in all, this was a fun one but I'd be inclined to recommend reading rather than listening.
Thank you to PRH Audio, Libro.fm, Vintage Anchor, and NetGalley for the copy.
December 8, 2023
This is…fine. But with so many books with similar conceits, this doesn’t offer anything new or exciting in terms of plot, writing, setting, social commentary, or characterization.
“Bitingly funny” and “full of shocking twists?” Are we reading the same book?!
“Bitingly funny” and “full of shocking twists?” Are we reading the same book?!
January 27, 2024
Is it a mystery? A satire? A scathing critique of wealth? I don’t know, and unfortunately neither does the book itself.
Generally I think “Jack of all trades, master of none” is a pejorative fallacy, but it does apply aptly to some books like this one that seem to be trying to do too many things at once and thus accomplishing none of them. Have we seen books do all three of the aforementioned things before? Yes. Did this book showcase these things successfully? Sadly not.
Once you’ve got a murder and a detective as a major character, you’re almost always writing what is primarily a mystery. And indeed that’s what has happened here. Except it isn’t a particularly good mystery either in structure or solution, and the pacing is slow as molasses. The solve, too, is a dud, and all of this takes over the story.
There’s some decent humor and critique of how the titular other half lives and behaves, but the plodding pace and lack of sharpness make those things drone rather than hit hard enough to make much impact.
There are a lot of books that focus on the same topics as this one that are far better. Read one of those instead.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Generally I think “Jack of all trades, master of none” is a pejorative fallacy, but it does apply aptly to some books like this one that seem to be trying to do too many things at once and thus accomplishing none of them. Have we seen books do all three of the aforementioned things before? Yes. Did this book showcase these things successfully? Sadly not.
Once you’ve got a murder and a detective as a major character, you’re almost always writing what is primarily a mystery. And indeed that’s what has happened here. Except it isn’t a particularly good mystery either in structure or solution, and the pacing is slow as molasses. The solve, too, is a dud, and all of this takes over the story.
There’s some decent humor and critique of how the titular other half lives and behaves, but the plodding pace and lack of sharpness make those things drone rather than hit hard enough to make much impact.
There are a lot of books that focus on the same topics as this one that are far better. Read one of those instead.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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July 28, 2023A slow start to this dark satire aimed at the posh parasites of London; to me the opening scene lets were a tad too self-aware of their own preciousness, reminding me of Evelyn Waugh's early work, whose satire didn't quite hide his longing to suck up to those at the top of the social hierarchy.
It does get better--what saved the novel for me was the banter between the three detectives, as they investigate the death of an influencer. I'm not sure I believed in Caius as a person--he seemed to be too consciously a collection of oxymoronic traits--but that might settle out, since this seems to be projected as a series.
The misogynistic whiff--the men predators, the women victims--overwhelmed what charm that Rupert (the possible villain) might have been intended to have. I sighed every time he turned up, as he was more predictable than intriguing, and the ending left me absolutely cold.
Maybe this series is not intended to depict a case per book, but an ongoing storyline? Did not work for me, though I'll keep an eye on this author, whose prose--the banter between the detectives especially--shows such promise.
It does get better--what saved the novel for me was the banter between the three detectives, as they investigate the death of an influencer. I'm not sure I believed in Caius as a person--he seemed to be too consciously a collection of oxymoronic traits--but that might settle out, since this seems to be projected as a series.
The misogynistic whiff--the men predators, the women victims--overwhelmed what charm that Rupert (the possible villain) might have been intended to have. I sighed every time he turned up, as he was more predictable than intriguing, and the ending left me absolutely cold.
Maybe this series is not intended to depict a case per book, but an ongoing storyline? Did not work for me, though I'll keep an eye on this author, whose prose--the banter between the detectives especially--shows such promise.
August 27, 2023
The Other Half was a PERFECT late-summer murder mystery. Set among the upper echelons of British society, The Other Half focuses in turn on the elite community surrounding a murdered socialite and the detectives trying to solve her murder. This was a fabulously fun commentary on social class and a delicious whodunnit with all sorts of elements - there were affairs and art forgery and references to Greek classics. I had so much fun reading this. I hope there's a sequel!
Definitely something to pick up if you're a murder mystery reader :)
Thanks so much to Charlotte Vassell and Vintage Anchor for this ARC through NetGalley! The Other Half will be out November 21st, 2023.
Definitely something to pick up if you're a murder mystery reader :)
Thanks so much to Charlotte Vassell and Vintage Anchor for this ARC through NetGalley! The Other Half will be out November 21st, 2023.
January 16, 2023
Unfortunately I really didn’t enjoy this book, it felt painful to read and was unnecessarily long and dragged out at points. The ending was anti-climactic and disappointing.
It often felt as though the author was using fancy and over complicated words to fluff up the book, however it became difficult to read when you have to look up the meaning of multiple words per page.
Thankyou to Netgalley for approving me for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
It often felt as though the author was using fancy and over complicated words to fluff up the book, however it became difficult to read when you have to look up the meaning of multiple words per page.
Thankyou to Netgalley for approving me for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
July 24, 2023
this was unfortunately a let down that i wanted to DNF multiple times. while there were some enjoyable moments, many parts felt unnecessary and dragged out.
thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
December 13, 2023
The Other Half is quite the page-turner. It will make you laugh, keep you in suspense and keep you terribly hungry. The characters, richly naive or pretending to be, the officers, although wondering what their next meal will be are instinctively, acutely deviously wonderful at their jobs!
Rupert Beauchamp an extremely wealthy (family money), not very liked, want to be but too lazy to be writer has decided to celebrate his 30th birthday with a black-tie affair at the local McDonalds. With added champagne the guests minus his girlfriend who he was planning on dumping anyway, all get smashed. They can barely remember how they got home.
Unfortunately, Rupert’s girlfriend Clemmie is found very dead the next morning in bushes by no other than police detective Caius Beauchamp (no relations) as he was on his morning run deciding what to eat when he got back.
Of course, all the party goers are suspects but Caius and the police feel it just had to be the obnoxious, spoiled Rupert. But as hard as they try, and they do try, they can’t get the puzzle pieces to fit him being the killer. But they do discover a few things about him that raise questions in other matters.
They soon find that with wealthy suspects comes secrets and lies and warnings to be careful who you accuse. But the more information they receive, the more the murder looks like a game of Clue! And when someone else is found dead, well, that changes everything! Are the two murders connected?
Suspects include, the woman Rupert really loves, although she hates him, his godmother, or perhaps the gallery owner who Clemmie was having a fling with. With so many suspects, it makes sense that the police are always hungry and talking about food! But the police investigators stumble into an even more sinister plot!
Will they be able to catch the murderer before another one occurs? Also, what will they be having for dinner? Inquisitive minds need to know in this hysterical story with terrific twists and suprising turns and suspects you love to hate!
Thank you #NetGalley #Anchor #TheOtherHalf #CharlotteVassell for the advanced copy.
Rupert Beauchamp an extremely wealthy (family money), not very liked, want to be but too lazy to be writer has decided to celebrate his 30th birthday with a black-tie affair at the local McDonalds. With added champagne the guests minus his girlfriend who he was planning on dumping anyway, all get smashed. They can barely remember how they got home.
Unfortunately, Rupert’s girlfriend Clemmie is found very dead the next morning in bushes by no other than police detective Caius Beauchamp (no relations) as he was on his morning run deciding what to eat when he got back.
Of course, all the party goers are suspects but Caius and the police feel it just had to be the obnoxious, spoiled Rupert. But as hard as they try, and they do try, they can’t get the puzzle pieces to fit him being the killer. But they do discover a few things about him that raise questions in other matters.
They soon find that with wealthy suspects comes secrets and lies and warnings to be careful who you accuse. But the more information they receive, the more the murder looks like a game of Clue! And when someone else is found dead, well, that changes everything! Are the two murders connected?
Suspects include, the woman Rupert really loves, although she hates him, his godmother, or perhaps the gallery owner who Clemmie was having a fling with. With so many suspects, it makes sense that the police are always hungry and talking about food! But the police investigators stumble into an even more sinister plot!
Will they be able to catch the murderer before another one occurs? Also, what will they be having for dinner? Inquisitive minds need to know in this hysterical story with terrific twists and suprising turns and suspects you love to hate!
Thank you #NetGalley #Anchor #TheOtherHalf #CharlotteVassell for the advanced copy.
March 17, 2024
The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell initially drew me in because of the cover, and as much as I hate to say it, it honestly might end up being my favorite part of the entire book. 🙈 I did like what the author was going for here, and I always love a book that revolves around rich people's bad behavior and quirks, but it still missed the mark for me. I was surprised by the whodunnit, and I am definitely in the minority here, so if you think it sounds good, I would still recommend picking this up and trying it out for yourself. I was quite fond of Detective Caius Beauchamp but not anyone else, and all of the humor was apparently lost on me as I didn't laugh once.
I will say that I think partially where I went wrong was the audiobook, and while I really enjoyed Imogen Wilde's narration, I was not a big fan of Michael Muyunda who voiced Beauchamp. I personally thought he was somewhat hard to understand, even when I had the speed slowed way down, and I hated having to keep speeding it up and slowing it down between viewpoints. For this reason, I would recommend reading the book over listening to the audio. Some parts dragged a little at times as well, which I don't always love in a 350-ish page novel, but it still held my interest, and I did want to keep going until the end. I would love for Vassell to focus more on the detective piece if she does move forward with this as a series.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
I will say that I think partially where I went wrong was the audiobook, and while I really enjoyed Imogen Wilde's narration, I was not a big fan of Michael Muyunda who voiced Beauchamp. I personally thought he was somewhat hard to understand, even when I had the speed slowed way down, and I hated having to keep speeding it up and slowing it down between viewpoints. For this reason, I would recommend reading the book over listening to the audio. Some parts dragged a little at times as well, which I don't always love in a 350-ish page novel, but it still held my interest, and I did want to keep going until the end. I would love for Vassell to focus more on the detective piece if she does move forward with this as a series.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
July 12, 2023
This is a debut mystery novel but you would never guess! Vassell pulls out all of the stops - complex characters, multiple suspects, mysterious circumstances, glamor and of course likable detectives with flaws. Everything you want in your mystery but unique and exciting.
When the very wealthy hold a birthday party in McDonalds of all places, something unusual is likely to happen. In this case it's an unfortunate death - a murder. Detective Caius Beauchamp is called to investigate and must hustle ahead with his team as the Other Half, the incredibly wealthy and connected work to shut down any investigation. It's filled with sardonic wit, hilarity and mystery just what any Brit Mystery Lover could ask for ! If you like British Mysteries, love to hear about the exploits of the rich, or just want a engaging police procedural, The Other Half is for you!
#TheOtherHalf #vintage #Vintagebooks #CharlotteVassell
When the very wealthy hold a birthday party in McDonalds of all places, something unusual is likely to happen. In this case it's an unfortunate death - a murder. Detective Caius Beauchamp is called to investigate and must hustle ahead with his team as the Other Half, the incredibly wealthy and connected work to shut down any investigation. It's filled with sardonic wit, hilarity and mystery just what any Brit Mystery Lover could ask for ! If you like British Mysteries, love to hear about the exploits of the rich, or just want a engaging police procedural, The Other Half is for you!
#TheOtherHalf #vintage #Vintagebooks #CharlotteVassell
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June 12, 2024DNF , when you cannot even force yourself to read more than 30 pages and I am someone who hardly dnf's books!
I couldn't follow through the story, words were in English but it felt like I was reading another language, when you have so many words in two pages that I have to repeatedly Google to find the meaning - 'Salvete', 'pleb' , 'cosset', 'triumvirate'. I lost interest.
But a good cure if you're unable to sleep......
I couldn't follow through the story, words were in English but it felt like I was reading another language, when you have so many words in two pages that I have to repeatedly Google to find the meaning - 'Salvete', 'pleb' , 'cosset', 'triumvirate'. I lost interest.
But a good cure if you're unable to sleep......
July 11, 2024
This was a good mystery! I had a bit of trouble because it was heavily British? Is that a thing? lol. Had to look up words and slang I didn’t understand and that took me out of the story. DI Beauchamp is an interesting character. I’ve read a lot of British authors and didn’t have a problem with language. So there’s that. Yes, I will try to read the second book. I enjoyed this too much not to. 4 ⭐️
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