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The Other People
C.J. Tudor is terrific. I can't wait to see what she does next. --Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author
The gripping new thriller from the acclaimed author of The Chalk Man and The Hiding Place, about a man desperately searching for his missing family who falls under the sway of a sinister support group with a murderous agenda.
Three years ago, Gabe's family disappeared. Most people think they died. Some of them blame Gabe. Hardly anyone believes the truth--that Gabe saw his daughter the day she and his wife disappeared, smiling at him from the back of a rusty old car speeding down the highway. So even though it's been three years since that day, Gabe cannot give up hope. Even though he has given up everything else. His home, his job, his old life. He spends his days travelling up and down the highway and sleeping in service stations, searching for the car that took her.
It's hard for most people to understand. But Gabe has found some who do in an online group set up by people who have also lost loved ones--who have suffered like him. They call themselves The Other People. Because isn't that what everyone thinks: bad stuff only happens to other people.
When the car that Gabe saw driving away that night is found in a lake with a body inside, Gabe is suddenly under suspicion--and in danger. In desperation, he turns to The Other People for help. Because they are good people. They know what loss is like. They know what pain is like. They know what death is like. There's just one problem . . . they want other people to know it too.
The gripping new thriller from the acclaimed author of The Chalk Man and The Hiding Place, about a man desperately searching for his missing family who falls under the sway of a sinister support group with a murderous agenda.
Three years ago, Gabe's family disappeared. Most people think they died. Some of them blame Gabe. Hardly anyone believes the truth--that Gabe saw his daughter the day she and his wife disappeared, smiling at him from the back of a rusty old car speeding down the highway. So even though it's been three years since that day, Gabe cannot give up hope. Even though he has given up everything else. His home, his job, his old life. He spends his days travelling up and down the highway and sleeping in service stations, searching for the car that took her.
It's hard for most people to understand. But Gabe has found some who do in an online group set up by people who have also lost loved ones--who have suffered like him. They call themselves The Other People. Because isn't that what everyone thinks: bad stuff only happens to other people.
When the car that Gabe saw driving away that night is found in a lake with a body inside, Gabe is suddenly under suspicion--and in danger. In desperation, he turns to The Other People for help. Because they are good people. They know what loss is like. They know what pain is like. They know what death is like. There's just one problem . . . they want other people to know it too.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 23, 2020
1603 people are currently reading
49284 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Tudor
16 books8,687 followersC. J. Tudor was born in Salisbury and grew up in Nottingham, where she still lives with her partner and young daughter.
She left school at sixteen and has had a variety of jobs over the years, including trainee reporter, radio scriptwriter, shop assistant, ad agency copywriter and voiceover.
In the early nineties, she fell into a job as a television presenter for a show on Channel 4 called Moviewatch. Although a terrible presenter, she got to interview acting legends such as Sigourney Weaver, Michael Douglas, Emma Thompson and Robin Williams. She also annoyed Tim Robbins by asking a question about Susan Sarandon’s breasts and was extremely flattered when Robert Downey Junior showed her his chest.
While writing the Chalk Man she ran a dog-walking business, walking over twenty dogs a week as well as looking after her little girl.
She’s been writing since she was a child but only knuckled down to it properly in her thirties. Her English teacher once told her that if she ‘did not become Prime Minister or a best-selling author’ he would be ‘very disappointed.’
The Chalk Man was inspired by a tub of chalks a friend bought for her daughter’s second birthday. One afternoon they drew chalk figures all over the driveway. Later that night she opened the back door to be confronted by weird stick men everywhere. In the dark, they looked incredibly sinister. She called to her partner: ‘These chalk men look really creepy in the dark . . .’
She is never knowingly over-dressed. She has never owned a handbag and the last time she wore heels (twelve years ago) she broke a tooth.
She loves The Killers, Foo Fighters and Frank Turner. Her favourite venue is Rock City.
Her favourite films are Ghostbusters and The Lost Boys. Her favourite authors are Stephen King, Michael Marshall and Harlan Coben.
She is SO glad she was a teenager in the eighties.
She firmly believes that there are no finer meals than takeaway pizza and champagne, or chips with curry sauce after a night out.
Everyone calls her Caz.
She left school at sixteen and has had a variety of jobs over the years, including trainee reporter, radio scriptwriter, shop assistant, ad agency copywriter and voiceover.
In the early nineties, she fell into a job as a television presenter for a show on Channel 4 called Moviewatch. Although a terrible presenter, she got to interview acting legends such as Sigourney Weaver, Michael Douglas, Emma Thompson and Robin Williams. She also annoyed Tim Robbins by asking a question about Susan Sarandon’s breasts and was extremely flattered when Robert Downey Junior showed her his chest.
While writing the Chalk Man she ran a dog-walking business, walking over twenty dogs a week as well as looking after her little girl.
She’s been writing since she was a child but only knuckled down to it properly in her thirties. Her English teacher once told her that if she ‘did not become Prime Minister or a best-selling author’ he would be ‘very disappointed.’
The Chalk Man was inspired by a tub of chalks a friend bought for her daughter’s second birthday. One afternoon they drew chalk figures all over the driveway. Later that night she opened the back door to be confronted by weird stick men everywhere. In the dark, they looked incredibly sinister. She called to her partner: ‘These chalk men look really creepy in the dark . . .’
She is never knowingly over-dressed. She has never owned a handbag and the last time she wore heels (twelve years ago) she broke a tooth.
She loves The Killers, Foo Fighters and Frank Turner. Her favourite venue is Rock City.
Her favourite films are Ghostbusters and The Lost Boys. Her favourite authors are Stephen King, Michael Marshall and Harlan Coben.
She is SO glad she was a teenager in the eighties.
She firmly believes that there are no finer meals than takeaway pizza and champagne, or chips with curry sauce after a night out.
Everyone calls her Caz.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,053 reviews
October 30, 2025
To celebrate the amazing Celtic harvest feast of All Hallow’s Eve, I put on my Marie Antoinette costume, holding a slice of cake in one hand (“Let the hallows eat cake, dammit!”) and this book in the other. As I turned the last few pages with wide eyes, I was jumping from the unexpected twists. I made my rounds, collecting my “threats” in the form of selected wine bottles and Belgian truffles. If anyone resisted giving me treats, I threatened to sing or show them my dance moves. So far, I’ve collected three cases of good wine—I’m so close to opening my own wine bar! Happy Halloween to you, too!
Let’s cut to the chase and talk about this fascinating book:
This is a deliciously entertaining mash-up of The Chain and The Whisper Man! It’s surprising, twisty, agitating, riveting, stunning—an exciting page-turner! I didn’t want it to end! It’s a heart-pounding, thrilling rollercoaster ride, and finishing it on Halloween made it all the more exhilarating. It gave me more of a rush than the Universal Studios Halloween experience (because, you know, the people scaring you there are paid to give you nightmares, which isn’t nearly as effective as what this book did to me!). Naturally, I gave it all of my five gazillion stars—and some of the treats I collected today! Well deserved, well played!
The story centers on Gabe, exhausted and crumbling, nicknamed “Thin Man.” He’s traveling and living in his camper van, passing through service stations, and leaving leaflets about his missing daughter. The authorities believe she’s already deceased. One day, he’s stuck in traffic on his way home and spots a girl in the back of an old car covered in cheesy bumper stickers. He’s certain it’s his daughter and that she’s been kidnapped. But by who?
Then there’s Katie, working as a waitress in a rundown restaurant where Gabe regularly stops by. She’s raising her kids alone after their father was killed in a home invasion. Katie knows what it’s like to lose someone and suffer deep grief. But she also knows something about the person who kidnapped Gabe’s daughter.
It’s all connected to a shadowy group called “Other People.” Their motto: An eye for an eye. Their method: vigilante justice. Quid pro quo. These operatives roam among the people, sniffing out those who carry sadness, grief, and hatred due to past injustices. They hand out cards that lead people to the dark web, where victims of injustice can request retribution. If the group’s masterminds deem the request acceptable, they fulfill it—within 24 hours. But of course, nothing is free. Once your request is completed, you owe them a favor. And until you repay it, you live in fear because they know everything about you. They’re always watching. So you’d better repay that favor and stay away from electronic devices!
We also meet a good Samaritan helping Gabe track down the vehicle seen during his daughter’s kidnapping. Meanwhile, there’s a girl in a vegetative state, lying in a hospital bed, kept alive on life support. Someone visits her regularly, reading her stories and passages from books. This part of the story is confusing at first, making you wonder who she is and how she ties into the larger plot.
After a series of final revelations and multiple twists, I had to massage my temples from overworking my precious grey cells. But by the end, I pieced everything together (and thanks to my spider senses, at least half of my guesses were right!). True to form, the author added some supernatural, mystical elements that gave me more jump scares and “holy shit” moments, but I loved these elements and how they fit into the story. The resolution of the characters’ entwined fates was deeply satisfying.
I’ve read The Chalk Man and The Hiding Place, but this is definitely my favorite work from this author. It’s the best Halloween treat or trick I’ve ever had!
Cheers!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Books for sharing this fascinating book with me in exchange for my honest review.
Let’s cut to the chase and talk about this fascinating book:
This is a deliciously entertaining mash-up of The Chain and The Whisper Man! It’s surprising, twisty, agitating, riveting, stunning—an exciting page-turner! I didn’t want it to end! It’s a heart-pounding, thrilling rollercoaster ride, and finishing it on Halloween made it all the more exhilarating. It gave me more of a rush than the Universal Studios Halloween experience (because, you know, the people scaring you there are paid to give you nightmares, which isn’t nearly as effective as what this book did to me!). Naturally, I gave it all of my five gazillion stars—and some of the treats I collected today! Well deserved, well played!
The story centers on Gabe, exhausted and crumbling, nicknamed “Thin Man.” He’s traveling and living in his camper van, passing through service stations, and leaving leaflets about his missing daughter. The authorities believe she’s already deceased. One day, he’s stuck in traffic on his way home and spots a girl in the back of an old car covered in cheesy bumper stickers. He’s certain it’s his daughter and that she’s been kidnapped. But by who?
Then there’s Katie, working as a waitress in a rundown restaurant where Gabe regularly stops by. She’s raising her kids alone after their father was killed in a home invasion. Katie knows what it’s like to lose someone and suffer deep grief. But she also knows something about the person who kidnapped Gabe’s daughter.
It’s all connected to a shadowy group called “Other People.” Their motto: An eye for an eye. Their method: vigilante justice. Quid pro quo. These operatives roam among the people, sniffing out those who carry sadness, grief, and hatred due to past injustices. They hand out cards that lead people to the dark web, where victims of injustice can request retribution. If the group’s masterminds deem the request acceptable, they fulfill it—within 24 hours. But of course, nothing is free. Once your request is completed, you owe them a favor. And until you repay it, you live in fear because they know everything about you. They’re always watching. So you’d better repay that favor and stay away from electronic devices!
We also meet a good Samaritan helping Gabe track down the vehicle seen during his daughter’s kidnapping. Meanwhile, there’s a girl in a vegetative state, lying in a hospital bed, kept alive on life support. Someone visits her regularly, reading her stories and passages from books. This part of the story is confusing at first, making you wonder who she is and how she ties into the larger plot.
After a series of final revelations and multiple twists, I had to massage my temples from overworking my precious grey cells. But by the end, I pieced everything together (and thanks to my spider senses, at least half of my guesses were right!). True to form, the author added some supernatural, mystical elements that gave me more jump scares and “holy shit” moments, but I loved these elements and how they fit into the story. The resolution of the characters’ entwined fates was deeply satisfying.
I’ve read The Chalk Man and The Hiding Place, but this is definitely my favorite work from this author. It’s the best Halloween treat or trick I’ve ever had!
Cheers!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Books for sharing this fascinating book with me in exchange for my honest review.
November 11, 2019
*4.5 stars *
Very dark, very creepy, but completely gripping - you won’t want to put this one down! Yes C.J. Tudor has done it again.
Gabe is on his way home, when a face suddenly appears in the rear window of the beaten up old car in front of him. It’s his daughter Izzy’s face! But it can’t be, she’s at home with her mum Jenny. Gabe is tired and thinks he must be seeing things, but a terrible shock awaits him - his wife and daughter have been murdered in their own home, and the police won’t allow him in. Sadly he’s too distressed to attend a formal identification later, (his father- in-law has to do it) so in his mind Izzy is still alive - he knows he saw her in that car.
Gabe spends the next three years travelling the motorway in his camper van, handing out flyers with Izzy’s face asking “Have You Seen Me” He hopes against hope that he will also see the car in which she was abducted.
Fran travels the same motorway, but unlike Gabe she’s not searching, she’s fleeing for her life with daughter Alice.
The synopsis does a great job of explaining just what’s going on, so I’ll just get straight to the nitty gritty.
Tudor really has her own distinctive voice, with a penchant for the supernatural. There are acute observations about life, love and loss throughout the book that make one pause and reflect upon our own humanity, and at times, lack of it. This was a quick, immersive and hypnotic read, with vivid characterisations, that are as chilling as they are insightful.
Look out for ‘The Other People ‘ before they find you!
* Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin UK Michael Joseph for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
Very dark, very creepy, but completely gripping - you won’t want to put this one down! Yes C.J. Tudor has done it again.
Gabe is on his way home, when a face suddenly appears in the rear window of the beaten up old car in front of him. It’s his daughter Izzy’s face! But it can’t be, she’s at home with her mum Jenny. Gabe is tired and thinks he must be seeing things, but a terrible shock awaits him - his wife and daughter have been murdered in their own home, and the police won’t allow him in. Sadly he’s too distressed to attend a formal identification later, (his father- in-law has to do it) so in his mind Izzy is still alive - he knows he saw her in that car.
Gabe spends the next three years travelling the motorway in his camper van, handing out flyers with Izzy’s face asking “Have You Seen Me” He hopes against hope that he will also see the car in which she was abducted.
Fran travels the same motorway, but unlike Gabe she’s not searching, she’s fleeing for her life with daughter Alice.
The synopsis does a great job of explaining just what’s going on, so I’ll just get straight to the nitty gritty.
Tudor really has her own distinctive voice, with a penchant for the supernatural. There are acute observations about life, love and loss throughout the book that make one pause and reflect upon our own humanity, and at times, lack of it. This was a quick, immersive and hypnotic read, with vivid characterisations, that are as chilling as they are insightful.
Look out for ‘The Other People ‘ before they find you!
* Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin UK Michael Joseph for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
December 3, 2025
Three years ago, Gabe witnesses the disappearance of his daughter...only to find out she was dead (along with his wife).
"Daddy!"
Then a hand reached back, grabbed her arm and yanked her down. Out of sight. Gone. Vanished.
But...he's never believed it. There was always something niggling in the back of his mind.
...he had a different kind of illness. A sickness of the heart and soul.And so he travels the same roads. Night after night - looking for something, anything - to lead him to his little girl.
...a footpath into the woods, at night, alone.And then one night...there's a clue. It isn't much...but it's finally a clue.
He flicked on his flashlight and headed through.
A ghostly imprint of a dead man's hand.But the clue leads Gabe down a far darker path than he ever could've imagined.
THE OTHER PEOPLE.
The smile snapped off. Gabe felt a sudden chill enter his bones.AHHHHHHH. Tudor has DONE IT AGAIN.
This book was INSANE. C.J.
Right from the start, I was swept off my feet.
Was Gabe hallucinating? Could it all be real? Is there a supernatural twist or are they slowly growing crazy?
The more I read, the more questions piled up.
The plot snarled and tangled and I was like - Tudor. I'm entertained but there's NO WAY this is going to come to a cohesive end.
And then it did.
Mind. Blown.
I don't want to give anything away but I loved it. LOVED it.
This one's gonna stick with me.
We all think that tragedy happens only to other people. Until it happens to us.
A huge thank you to the author and Ballantine Books for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review
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October 19, 2022
It's no secret that I have struggled with reading thrillers of any kind in 2019, so I've developed a habit of steering clear of them for the past 6 months. Whether it be due to my hiatus from the genre, or the appeal that the author's writing holds for me, I found this read to be a knockout amongst a sea of cookie cutter stories. As hold's true to Tudor's prior novels, this one does have a supernatural aspect, but more on that later. Even with the paranormal bit, The Other People feels the most like a traditional break-neck thriller, as opposed to a slow burning psychological suspense, and I am here for it.
"He was just considering changing lanes when the girl's face appeared in the rear window, perfectly framed by the peeling stickers. She looked to be around five or six. Round-faced, pink-cheeked. Fine blonde hair pulled into two high pigtails.
His first thought was that she should be strapped into a car seat.
His second thought was IZZY."
Right, so there's a lot going on here. The prologue is spooky, and is continued in sparse snippits alongside the past and present day narratives, where we see three main POVs. These seemingly unconnected sections do tie in, and this is revealed as the story proceeds. The story unfolds via 3 main players: Gabe, who's daughter and wife were murdered years prior, but he believes that his daughter is actually still alive, Fran, who is on the run with child in tow, and Katie, who is a waitress at one of the service stations that Gabe frequents post losing his family. I don't want to reveal too much, but if you've read any type of thriller before, you know that these separate threads will all come together by the end of the novel, and by golly do they collide in an explosion of sorts.
I cannot stress enough just how engaging and captivating this story is; once I reached about the 50 page mark, I simply couldn't put it down. I was up well past my bedtime, trying to find answers and solve the mysteries, and overall the ending is incredibly satisfying. While I felt that the paranormal aspect wasn't necessary and stilted the flow of the remainder of the book, I do think it was creative and respect what the author wanted to accomplish by including it. What worked the most for me was the incredibly complex was that she flipped between not only POVs, but past and present timelines as well. I never felt lost or confused, but my sense were heightened and my attention was fully focused.
The Other People is a dark, spooky read that will have you staying up well past your bedtime while keeping a nightlight on, just in case. You'll never be able to hear the clacking of stones the same way (Clickety-click), and you should probably avoid bathrooms and mirrors while you're gobbling down this story. This one is out in the US in January of 2020, but don't just take my word for it. Who knows? Maybe the other people really are out there... 😈
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
"He was just considering changing lanes when the girl's face appeared in the rear window, perfectly framed by the peeling stickers. She looked to be around five or six. Round-faced, pink-cheeked. Fine blonde hair pulled into two high pigtails.
His first thought was that she should be strapped into a car seat.
His second thought was IZZY."
Right, so there's a lot going on here. The prologue is spooky, and is continued in sparse snippits alongside the past and present day narratives, where we see three main POVs. These seemingly unconnected sections do tie in, and this is revealed as the story proceeds. The story unfolds via 3 main players: Gabe, who's daughter and wife were murdered years prior, but he believes that his daughter is actually still alive, Fran, who is on the run with child in tow, and Katie, who is a waitress at one of the service stations that Gabe frequents post losing his family. I don't want to reveal too much, but if you've read any type of thriller before, you know that these separate threads will all come together by the end of the novel, and by golly do they collide in an explosion of sorts.
I cannot stress enough just how engaging and captivating this story is; once I reached about the 50 page mark, I simply couldn't put it down. I was up well past my bedtime, trying to find answers and solve the mysteries, and overall the ending is incredibly satisfying. While I felt that the paranormal aspect wasn't necessary and stilted the flow of the remainder of the book, I do think it was creative and respect what the author wanted to accomplish by including it. What worked the most for me was the incredibly complex was that she flipped between not only POVs, but past and present timelines as well. I never felt lost or confused, but my sense were heightened and my attention was fully focused.
The Other People is a dark, spooky read that will have you staying up well past your bedtime while keeping a nightlight on, just in case. You'll never be able to hear the clacking of stones the same way (Clickety-click), and you should probably avoid bathrooms and mirrors while you're gobbling down this story. This one is out in the US in January of 2020, but don't just take my word for it. Who knows? Maybe the other people really are out there... 😈
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
October 14, 2020
I was thrilled when I was offered an advanced review copy of CJ Tudor's "The Other People" and the book did not disappoint. Once the book started, I didn't want to put it down until I finished it. So much of what happens in the book could happen in real life and that's the worst kind of scary to me.
We are seeing things from three different perspectives, until they come together and we understand how each person's story relates to the other two stories. Also there is a supernatural aspect to the story that deals with a little girl's connection to a women who has been in a coma for years. That part of the story is interesting but it's the part of the story that isn't supernatural that scares me the most.
Gabe lost his wife and 5 year old girl to a murderer three years ago and since then has lived in his van, searching for an old car that he saw that horrible evening, with his little girl in the back of it. Because he knows he saw his little girl, he knows she is not dead, even though her body was identified by his father in law. No one will believe Gabe except for a stranger who calls himself the Samaritan.
Kate is a waitress at a service stop that Gabe frequents. She gets involved with Gabe's life when she helps him after he is attacked. Then there is Fran and her 8 year old daughter, Alice. They are running from people who want to hurt them. As the book goes on, we find out how these people are connected to each other and the danger of "The Other People".
"The Other People" deals with meting out an "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" justice and as tempting as such a concept might sound to heartbroken relatives who have lost a loved one, the reality can be a trap that no one can escape. Once you buy into that mindset, allow that kind of justice for your loved one, you are only in a deeper mess than you could ever imagine. Good people getting into horrible situations is the result.
Published January 28th 2020
Thank you to Random House and Ballantine Books for providing me with this paperback ARC.
We are seeing things from three different perspectives, until they come together and we understand how each person's story relates to the other two stories. Also there is a supernatural aspect to the story that deals with a little girl's connection to a women who has been in a coma for years. That part of the story is interesting but it's the part of the story that isn't supernatural that scares me the most.
Gabe lost his wife and 5 year old girl to a murderer three years ago and since then has lived in his van, searching for an old car that he saw that horrible evening, with his little girl in the back of it. Because he knows he saw his little girl, he knows she is not dead, even though her body was identified by his father in law. No one will believe Gabe except for a stranger who calls himself the Samaritan.
Kate is a waitress at a service stop that Gabe frequents. She gets involved with Gabe's life when she helps him after he is attacked. Then there is Fran and her 8 year old daughter, Alice. They are running from people who want to hurt them. As the book goes on, we find out how these people are connected to each other and the danger of "The Other People".
"The Other People" deals with meting out an "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" justice and as tempting as such a concept might sound to heartbroken relatives who have lost a loved one, the reality can be a trap that no one can escape. Once you buy into that mindset, allow that kind of justice for your loved one, you are only in a deeper mess than you could ever imagine. Good people getting into horrible situations is the result.
Published January 28th 2020
Thank you to Random House and Ballantine Books for providing me with this paperback ARC.
August 24, 2020
OMG! I am CRAZY IN LOVE with this book.
She sleeps, a pale girl in a white room . . .
Three years ago, Gabe saw his daughter taken. In the back of a rusty old car, covered in bumper stickers. He was driving behind the car. He watched her disappear. But no one believes him. Most people believe that his daughter, and wife, are dead. For a while, people believed that Gabe was responsible.
Three years later and Gabe cannot give up hope. Even though he has given up everything else. His home, his job, his old life. He spends his days and nights travelling up and down the motorway, sleeping in his camper van in service stations, searching for the car that took her. Searching for his daughter.
Katie spends a lot of her life in service stations, working as a waitress. She often sees Gabriel, or 'the thin man' as she has nicknamed him. She knows his story. She feels for him, because Katie understands what it's like to lose a loved one. Nine years ago, her father was murdered. It broke her family apart. She hasn't seen her oldest sister since the day of the funeral; the day she did something terrible.
Fran and her daughter, Alice, put in a lot of miles on the motorway. Not searching. But running. Trying to keep one step ahead of the people that want to hurt them. Because Fran knows the truth. She knows what really happened to Gabe's daughter. She knows who is responsible. And she knows that if they ever find them, they're dead.
I am left speechless. I can't give this book the justice that this book deserves. I loved to the max. It was my everything. It had everything that I love in a thriller. It was dark and creepy. If you love creepy, then I think you will be crazy in love with this book too. It also has a supernatural vibe to it.
I love this author and I have loved d all of her books. I loved this one the best. Her books get better and better. She cracked this one out of the ball park. This book was so bizarre. It's horrifying and so clever. It made my heart pound and I could not put this book down. Also it's full of twists and turns with characters that are so well developed.
I am jumping up and down with excitement on how much I am crazy in love with this book. This one is one of my favorites for this year. This one is a must read for thriller fans.
I want to thank Random House Publishing Company and Netgalley for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
She sleeps, a pale girl in a white room . . .
Three years ago, Gabe saw his daughter taken. In the back of a rusty old car, covered in bumper stickers. He was driving behind the car. He watched her disappear. But no one believes him. Most people believe that his daughter, and wife, are dead. For a while, people believed that Gabe was responsible.
Three years later and Gabe cannot give up hope. Even though he has given up everything else. His home, his job, his old life. He spends his days and nights travelling up and down the motorway, sleeping in his camper van in service stations, searching for the car that took her. Searching for his daughter.
Katie spends a lot of her life in service stations, working as a waitress. She often sees Gabriel, or 'the thin man' as she has nicknamed him. She knows his story. She feels for him, because Katie understands what it's like to lose a loved one. Nine years ago, her father was murdered. It broke her family apart. She hasn't seen her oldest sister since the day of the funeral; the day she did something terrible.
Fran and her daughter, Alice, put in a lot of miles on the motorway. Not searching. But running. Trying to keep one step ahead of the people that want to hurt them. Because Fran knows the truth. She knows what really happened to Gabe's daughter. She knows who is responsible. And she knows that if they ever find them, they're dead.
I am left speechless. I can't give this book the justice that this book deserves. I loved to the max. It was my everything. It had everything that I love in a thriller. It was dark and creepy. If you love creepy, then I think you will be crazy in love with this book too. It also has a supernatural vibe to it.
I love this author and I have loved d all of her books. I loved this one the best. Her books get better and better. She cracked this one out of the ball park. This book was so bizarre. It's horrifying and so clever. It made my heart pound and I could not put this book down. Also it's full of twists and turns with characters that are so well developed.
I am jumping up and down with excitement on how much I am crazy in love with this book. This one is one of my favorites for this year. This one is a must read for thriller fans.
I want to thank Random House Publishing Company and Netgalley for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 3, 2019
“Fate’s a real fucker.”
The Other People is a dark and atmospheric psychological thriller about a missing girl and her father who won't give up hope of finding her.
The plot, although not complex, is too complicated to explain. There are multiple threads, voices, and timelines, but all are seamlessly woven together. Part ominous fairy tale with some paranormal elements, part mystery, part thriller, I didn’t know where this book was going to take me. It has some similarities to The Chain, but I enjoyed this book so much more! A strong narrative voice, compelling characters, and a plot that had me anxious to unravel kept me riveted.
The voice of the narrator was what made this book a standout for me. The way the plot was framed also made this a standout. I appreciated The Other People because it isn’t your standard thriller--it is so much more! I highly recommend!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Other People is a dark and atmospheric psychological thriller about a missing girl and her father who won't give up hope of finding her.
The plot, although not complex, is too complicated to explain. There are multiple threads, voices, and timelines, but all are seamlessly woven together. Part ominous fairy tale with some paranormal elements, part mystery, part thriller, I didn’t know where this book was going to take me. It has some similarities to The Chain, but I enjoyed this book so much more! A strong narrative voice, compelling characters, and a plot that had me anxious to unravel kept me riveted.
The voice of the narrator was what made this book a standout for me. The way the plot was framed also made this a standout. I appreciated The Other People because it isn’t your standard thriller--it is so much more! I highly recommend!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2020
***MS.TUDOR HAS A NEW BOOK COMING OUT IN FEBRUARY, READ THIS ONE WHILE YOU'RE WAITING !!!!***
This is definitely one of those books that you will want to set aside a long stretch of time to read. Not only is it enthralling but there are lots of characters to keep track of in the beginning, but hang in there and you will be rewarded with a great story.
C.J. Tudor is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. This novel combines three separate points of view that will come together later in the book. There is also a supernatural element to this book as is Ms.Tudor’s signature style. It is relevant to the story and enhances the “thriller tension” that I love to feel!!
Gabe is a troubled, tired soul. Ever since his wife and daughter were murdered years ago he has spent his time in a camper/van driving up and down the motorways. On the day of the incident he is sure that he saw his daughter in another person’s car driving close to him as he is heading home, but he loses sight of the car. He never believes that his daughter is dead and is convinced that someone took her even though her body is identified in the morgue by his father in law.
Fran is on the run from someone or something that we have no knowledge of. She and her daughter Alice have spent years moving from one place to another. When Alice questions this Fran’s answer is always that she is trying to keep Alice safe from “a bad man”. Alice suffers from what she calls “falls” where she will fall asleep for a period of time but she doesn’t remember anything that she “saw” while in this state, but she is always left with a pebble . . . . .
Katie is a single mother working at an all night service station, she works these hours so that her sister Lou can babysit for her two children. She has met Gabe, whom she calls “the thin man” because he looks tired, sad and lonely. She never talks with him except to take his order, etc. but she does watch for him because she is curious as to what it would take to make a man spend his nights driving back and forth along the same stretches of roads.
To make things even more tense and atmospheric we learn about “The Others”, those who believe that justice should be delivered in the “eye for an eye” manner. Gabe will become obsessed with trying to find out who these people are and what they have to do with his wife’s death.
Everyone seems to have a secret “Secrets, he thought. It’s not the big lies but the small ones, the half-truths--those are the ones that mount up, one on top of another, like a giant, stinking fatberg of deception”.
I hope I have given you enough of an enticement to give this book a try, it’s a great thriller with well developed characters and prose that flows from present to past seamlessly.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.
“The Other People:a novel” is set to publish on February 20, 2020.
This is definitely one of those books that you will want to set aside a long stretch of time to read. Not only is it enthralling but there are lots of characters to keep track of in the beginning, but hang in there and you will be rewarded with a great story.
C.J. Tudor is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. This novel combines three separate points of view that will come together later in the book. There is also a supernatural element to this book as is Ms.Tudor’s signature style. It is relevant to the story and enhances the “thriller tension” that I love to feel!!
Gabe is a troubled, tired soul. Ever since his wife and daughter were murdered years ago he has spent his time in a camper/van driving up and down the motorways. On the day of the incident he is sure that he saw his daughter in another person’s car driving close to him as he is heading home, but he loses sight of the car. He never believes that his daughter is dead and is convinced that someone took her even though her body is identified in the morgue by his father in law.
Fran is on the run from someone or something that we have no knowledge of. She and her daughter Alice have spent years moving from one place to another. When Alice questions this Fran’s answer is always that she is trying to keep Alice safe from “a bad man”. Alice suffers from what she calls “falls” where she will fall asleep for a period of time but she doesn’t remember anything that she “saw” while in this state, but she is always left with a pebble . . . . .
Katie is a single mother working at an all night service station, she works these hours so that her sister Lou can babysit for her two children. She has met Gabe, whom she calls “the thin man” because he looks tired, sad and lonely. She never talks with him except to take his order, etc. but she does watch for him because she is curious as to what it would take to make a man spend his nights driving back and forth along the same stretches of roads.
To make things even more tense and atmospheric we learn about “The Others”, those who believe that justice should be delivered in the “eye for an eye” manner. Gabe will become obsessed with trying to find out who these people are and what they have to do with his wife’s death.
Everyone seems to have a secret “Secrets, he thought. It’s not the big lies but the small ones, the half-truths--those are the ones that mount up, one on top of another, like a giant, stinking fatberg of deception”.
I hope I have given you enough of an enticement to give this book a try, it’s a great thriller with well developed characters and prose that flows from present to past seamlessly.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.
“The Other People:a novel” is set to publish on February 20, 2020.
January 27, 2020
The chapters are short and writing style is absorbing. It's a quick and easy read (under 300 pages). The chapters alternate between 3 characters, and are woven together towards the end as the mystery unravels.
I found myself suspending belief shortly into the story. But towards the middle and afterwards, I found so much unrealistic. I don't mind suspending belief to help carry a story here or there, but the main story itself seemed too over the top. The reality was not there.
There is a small paranormal aspect that did not fit in well with the rest, and I did not understand what it had to do with the movement of the story or the finality of the plot.
3 stars because I liked it okay. It was a good-ish read. It's nothing that had me thinking about it after I was done, no big jaw-dropping moments, and probably nothing I will recommend as an omg you will not believe this thriller. It was fast paced, but not thrilling for me. It's a good read for vacation or by the pool.
Thank you to Random House-Ballantine and NetGalley for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.
I found myself suspending belief shortly into the story. But towards the middle and afterwards, I found so much unrealistic. I don't mind suspending belief to help carry a story here or there, but the main story itself seemed too over the top. The reality was not there.
There is a small paranormal aspect that did not fit in well with the rest, and I did not understand what it had to do with the movement of the story or the finality of the plot.
3 stars because I liked it okay. It was a good-ish read. It's nothing that had me thinking about it after I was done, no big jaw-dropping moments, and probably nothing I will recommend as an omg you will not believe this thriller. It was fast paced, but not thrilling for me. It's a good read for vacation or by the pool.
Thank you to Random House-Ballantine and NetGalley for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.
October 13, 2019
Beep, whirr
Clickety, clack
Definitely not your run of the mill thriller by any stretch.
The Chalk Man was one of my favorites in 2018 and I was thrilled to get my hands on this early release!
My attention was captured from the very first chapter. Page-turner alert! The Prologue gave me all the spookish vibes and intrigue that carries throughout the book - All the way to the very end.
The creepy factor is center stage, but there is also an emotional story of a family that suffers loss, a father that won't let go, and dare I say.... The Other People.
Just follow the footpath, don't trust anybody, pay attention and be careful what you wish for!
I can't say more. I don't want to give anything away.
Flippin Fantastic page turning fun with just a slight breeze of the other side. Don't ask, not telling.
Thanks so much to the publisher for my review copy. Highly Recommend.
Clickety, clack
Definitely not your run of the mill thriller by any stretch.
The Chalk Man was one of my favorites in 2018 and I was thrilled to get my hands on this early release!
My attention was captured from the very first chapter. Page-turner alert! The Prologue gave me all the spookish vibes and intrigue that carries throughout the book - All the way to the very end.
The creepy factor is center stage, but there is also an emotional story of a family that suffers loss, a father that won't let go, and dare I say.... The Other People.
Just follow the footpath, don't trust anybody, pay attention and be careful what you wish for!
I can't say more. I don't want to give anything away.
Flippin Fantastic page turning fun with just a slight breeze of the other side. Don't ask, not telling.
Thanks so much to the publisher for my review copy. Highly Recommend.
October 29, 2019
"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth"
A man driving down a highway sees his daughter in the back of a car ahead of him. She mouths "Daddy" and then she is gone. He spends the next three years looking for her. A woman and her daughter are running from those who hope to catch them. A waitress who frequently waits on the man who will not give up searching for his daughter. Their stories will collide as this book progresses.
"The greatest acts of cruelty are born of the greatest love."
Then there are The Other People. They know what you are going through. They might be able to help...
When I reviewed her other book The Hiding Place, I mentioned that she reminded me too much of Stephen King and I only wanted to think of her as an Author while reading her work. Well she brought it in this book. I felt this was entirely original, creative, well thought out, and perfectly paced. There is some creep factor, some paranormal, some darkness and some mystery here. There are also secrets (plenty) and full of people who have suffered loss, and those who are not willing to let go. There is desperation here, some fear, some hope and some justice.
I read this in two days as I did not want to stop until I had all the answers. She had me curious from page one, trying to figure out the connection (if any) between the characters. This was a page turner which had me guessing and second guessing what was going on. I really enjoyed how everything came together and made sense.
Captivating, engaging, creepy and dark.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
A man driving down a highway sees his daughter in the back of a car ahead of him. She mouths "Daddy" and then she is gone. He spends the next three years looking for her. A woman and her daughter are running from those who hope to catch them. A waitress who frequently waits on the man who will not give up searching for his daughter. Their stories will collide as this book progresses.
"The greatest acts of cruelty are born of the greatest love."
Then there are The Other People. They know what you are going through. They might be able to help...
When I reviewed her other book The Hiding Place, I mentioned that she reminded me too much of Stephen King and I only wanted to think of her as an Author while reading her work. Well she brought it in this book. I felt this was entirely original, creative, well thought out, and perfectly paced. There is some creep factor, some paranormal, some darkness and some mystery here. There are also secrets (plenty) and full of people who have suffered loss, and those who are not willing to let go. There is desperation here, some fear, some hope and some justice.
I read this in two days as I did not want to stop until I had all the answers. She had me curious from page one, trying to figure out the connection (if any) between the characters. This was a page turner which had me guessing and second guessing what was going on. I really enjoyed how everything came together and made sense.
Captivating, engaging, creepy and dark.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
December 28, 2019
5 “I’ve Never Read Anything Like It” Stars.
Bravo C.J. Tudor! Bravo! “The Other People” is a Psychological Suspense unlike any other (and given how many there are out there, THAT my friends is saying something!)
It is also a departure from C.J. Tudor’s other novels, which I totally appreciate and is frankly, her best to date.
One night when returning home, Gabe swears that he just passed his daughter in a strange car as she is being kidnapped. Immediately thereafter, he receives a phone call informing him that his wife and daughter have been murdered in their home. Unable to believe it, he searches for his daughter, night after night for 3 years, roaming and looking for answers. Then he finds the car, and three words: “The Other People.”
Creepy, dark and eerie, this novel will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and could very well make you afraid of mirrors and pebbles too. (Don’t ask, I won’t tell.)
Admittedly, this novel made me wonder and made my mind wander as I imagined myself there...searching with Gabe and Katie, (the waitress at the all night diner who befriended Gabe), encountering twists and turns I have never seen before, scared, hopeful and full of angst for what might lie ahead. I was completely immersed in the characters' lives, especially that of Gabe, Katie, Fran and Alice and was scared out of my wits for each of them, pulse pounding, heart caught in throat, chest tight. That kind of suspense kept me up until after 1 a.m., desperate to finish this novel before work the next day. When I finally read the last sentence, I sighed and thought to myself, “Now, that is how you do it!”
A huge thank you goes out to Kathleen Quinlan at Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine (for the galley and the e-arc), NetGalley, and C.J. Tudor. It’s rare when you read a book that surprises you on all levels. Well done Ms. Tudor!
Published on Goodreads on 12.25.19.
Bravo C.J. Tudor! Bravo! “The Other People” is a Psychological Suspense unlike any other (and given how many there are out there, THAT my friends is saying something!)
It is also a departure from C.J. Tudor’s other novels, which I totally appreciate and is frankly, her best to date.
One night when returning home, Gabe swears that he just passed his daughter in a strange car as she is being kidnapped. Immediately thereafter, he receives a phone call informing him that his wife and daughter have been murdered in their home. Unable to believe it, he searches for his daughter, night after night for 3 years, roaming and looking for answers. Then he finds the car, and three words: “The Other People.”
Creepy, dark and eerie, this novel will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and could very well make you afraid of mirrors and pebbles too. (Don’t ask, I won’t tell.)
Admittedly, this novel made me wonder and made my mind wander as I imagined myself there...searching with Gabe and Katie, (the waitress at the all night diner who befriended Gabe), encountering twists and turns I have never seen before, scared, hopeful and full of angst for what might lie ahead. I was completely immersed in the characters' lives, especially that of Gabe, Katie, Fran and Alice and was scared out of my wits for each of them, pulse pounding, heart caught in throat, chest tight. That kind of suspense kept me up until after 1 a.m., desperate to finish this novel before work the next day. When I finally read the last sentence, I sighed and thought to myself, “Now, that is how you do it!”
A huge thank you goes out to Kathleen Quinlan at Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine (for the galley and the e-arc), NetGalley, and C.J. Tudor. It’s rare when you read a book that surprises you on all levels. Well done Ms. Tudor!
Published on Goodreads on 12.25.19.
November 13, 2019
Hands down Tutor's best book in my opinion! An absolute thrill ride that kept my mind in high gear for the entire read. There were no moments of slow burn in this book for me.
The "dark web" we have all heard of it, but what really is out there on the dark web? Is there a group of people that have decided that payback is a bitch?! You do me wrong, you are going to get what is coming to you? Wow I was enthralled with this whole thing. I would prefer not to know the answer to that question...No thanks, I am good....... C.J. Tudor your google history must be crazzzzyyy! LOL.
This was such a carefully created plot that it truly kept me in the dark (in a fantastic way) the entire book. It is not often that you can say you truly did not know what direction this was taking. Heck half the time I really wasn't sure each character was really who I thought they were.
Imagine the terror you would feel being stuck in traffic, behind a crappy car...you are bored and studying the numerous crazy bumper stickers on the car..then you see her...is that your daughter? No it couldn't be her in the rear window of a strangers car...yet it is..she mouths "daddy". I mean wow that is just the beginning of the shocking and crazy things going on. I kept wondering...hmmm what did Gabe do to bring this on? Are "The Other People" checking Gabe off their list? Revenge is sweet?
I can't recommend this book enough! I must admit I have read this author's last two books and I liked them but I wasn't jumping up and down yelling I LOVE THIS BOOK...Yet.......I am with this one...5 stars from start to finish!
The "dark web" we have all heard of it, but what really is out there on the dark web? Is there a group of people that have decided that payback is a bitch?! You do me wrong, you are going to get what is coming to you? Wow I was enthralled with this whole thing. I would prefer not to know the answer to that question...No thanks, I am good....... C.J. Tudor your google history must be crazzzzyyy! LOL.
This was such a carefully created plot that it truly kept me in the dark (in a fantastic way) the entire book. It is not often that you can say you truly did not know what direction this was taking. Heck half the time I really wasn't sure each character was really who I thought they were.
Imagine the terror you would feel being stuck in traffic, behind a crappy car...you are bored and studying the numerous crazy bumper stickers on the car..then you see her...is that your daughter? No it couldn't be her in the rear window of a strangers car...yet it is..she mouths "daddy". I mean wow that is just the beginning of the shocking and crazy things going on. I kept wondering...hmmm what did Gabe do to bring this on? Are "The Other People" checking Gabe off their list? Revenge is sweet?
I can't recommend this book enough! I must admit I have read this author's last two books and I liked them but I wasn't jumping up and down yelling I LOVE THIS BOOK...Yet.......I am with this one...5 stars from start to finish!
July 19, 2022
“People say hate and bitterness will destroy you. They’re wrong. It’s hope. Hope will devour you from the inside like a parasite. It will leave you hanging like bait above a shark. But hope won’t kill you. It’s not that kind.”
Driving home one night, Gabe sees his daughter's face appear at the rear window of an old car... but he'll never see her again. The police are convinced the little girl is dead, but Gabe is convinced she is alive somewhere, and becomes obsessed, driving up and down the motorway trying to find her.
In the meantime Fran and Alice spend a lot of time on the motorway too, but not searching. They are running! Fran knows what happened to Gabe's daughter, and she is scared…
CJ Tudor is my favourite thriller author. Something about her writing makes her stand out from the crowd! I’ve seen her work compared with Stephen King and while I somewhat agree, I think CJ definitely has that special ‘something’ all of her own. I have read all of her major works, The Chalk Man, The Taking of Annie Thorne, The Burning Girls and now, The Other People.
In true CJ style, this book was eerie, creepy and atmospheric. Everything I love in a good thriller. This was so addictive, I couldn't put it down. Definitely had me me thinking 'just one more chapter!...' I really liked that each chapter was from a different characters perspective, it really helped piece everything together. The story was fast paced, emotional, and quite dark. Full of twists and turns! Every time I thought I had something figured out, new information was thrown into the mix. I felt really tense reading this!
The Other People is so engaging and well written. I think C.J. Tudor is going to become a big name in crime and thriller. I’m looking forward to reading her short story collection out in a few months and her new novel out early next year.
Highly Recommend!
Driving home one night, Gabe sees his daughter's face appear at the rear window of an old car... but he'll never see her again. The police are convinced the little girl is dead, but Gabe is convinced she is alive somewhere, and becomes obsessed, driving up and down the motorway trying to find her.
In the meantime Fran and Alice spend a lot of time on the motorway too, but not searching. They are running! Fran knows what happened to Gabe's daughter, and she is scared…
CJ Tudor is my favourite thriller author. Something about her writing makes her stand out from the crowd! I’ve seen her work compared with Stephen King and while I somewhat agree, I think CJ definitely has that special ‘something’ all of her own. I have read all of her major works, The Chalk Man, The Taking of Annie Thorne, The Burning Girls and now, The Other People.
In true CJ style, this book was eerie, creepy and atmospheric. Everything I love in a good thriller. This was so addictive, I couldn't put it down. Definitely had me me thinking 'just one more chapter!...' I really liked that each chapter was from a different characters perspective, it really helped piece everything together. The story was fast paced, emotional, and quite dark. Full of twists and turns! Every time I thought I had something figured out, new information was thrown into the mix. I felt really tense reading this!
The Other People is so engaging and well written. I think C.J. Tudor is going to become a big name in crime and thriller. I’m looking forward to reading her short story collection out in a few months and her new novel out early next year.
Highly Recommend!
April 17, 2020
Tic-tock, tic-tock… The Sandman is coming.
Third time’s a charm! I’ll be upfront and admit I’ve not been a fan of this author in the past. Her 2 previous novels left me cold, with no desire to pick up this latest. But, when I saw one rave review after another I knew I’d have to re-think my opinion and just give this one a try!
Can I say “WOW!” Fantastic from the first page to the last! Seemingly a completely different author! (Sorry but true)! But look at me now. I’m now back on the C.J. Tudor bandwagon!🙋🏻♀️
I loved the ingenious twists of the story-line and at no time had any idea how it was all going to come together. And oh yeah, just a bit of Tudor’s eerie flavor to make my hair stand on end. Yet not enough to truly scare me! A perfect balance.
And yes...I will be reading her next release!
Third time’s a charm! I’ll be upfront and admit I’ve not been a fan of this author in the past. Her 2 previous novels left me cold, with no desire to pick up this latest. But, when I saw one rave review after another I knew I’d have to re-think my opinion and just give this one a try!
Can I say “WOW!” Fantastic from the first page to the last! Seemingly a completely different author! (Sorry but true)! But look at me now. I’m now back on the C.J. Tudor bandwagon!🙋🏻♀️
I loved the ingenious twists of the story-line and at no time had any idea how it was all going to come together. And oh yeah, just a bit of Tudor’s eerie flavor to make my hair stand on end. Yet not enough to truly scare me! A perfect balance.
And yes...I will be reading her next release!
October 28, 2019
C.J. Tudor has redeemed herself with me. I know she was worried about the state of our relationship so I thought it important to start off with that statement. We cool, C.J. ✌
☆
Compelling and propelling are the most legit words to describe this book.
☆
This is a bleak story full of characters that are all enduring a life filled with the worst of pains, the loss of a loved one.
☆
"Missing is different to being dead. In a way, it’s worse. Death offers finality. Death gives you permission to grieve. To hold memorials, to light candles and lay flowers. To let go. Missing is limbo. You’re stranded; in a strange, bleak place where hope glimmers faintly at the horizon and misery and despair circle like vultures."
☆
The star of this book is Tudor's writing.
This is one of those stories that you have to fight with yourself to stay on task because your eyes keep trying to roam ahead to see what's going to happen at the end of the scene. I wasn't always successful on this front.
☆
I COULD NOT READ IT FAST ENOUGH.
☆
I HAD to know the answer to the mystery. Tudor doesn't waste a word so I couldn't even skim! Aaaarrrrgghhh!
☆
Two things kept this from being a 5 star review for me.
First, it ended with too many ambiguous and unanswered questions. I still haven't completely wrapped my head around the chain of events.
Second, the epilogue. So predictable. After such gripping drama, I expected more. It was a real letdown for me.
☆
"We’re all capable of good and bad. Very few of us show our real faces to the world. For fear that the world might stare back and scream."
Ain't that the truth...
** Thank you Kathleen at Random House for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **
☆
Compelling and propelling are the most legit words to describe this book.
☆
This is a bleak story full of characters that are all enduring a life filled with the worst of pains, the loss of a loved one.
☆
"Missing is different to being dead. In a way, it’s worse. Death offers finality. Death gives you permission to grieve. To hold memorials, to light candles and lay flowers. To let go. Missing is limbo. You’re stranded; in a strange, bleak place where hope glimmers faintly at the horizon and misery and despair circle like vultures."
☆
The star of this book is Tudor's writing.
This is one of those stories that you have to fight with yourself to stay on task because your eyes keep trying to roam ahead to see what's going to happen at the end of the scene. I wasn't always successful on this front.
☆
I COULD NOT READ IT FAST ENOUGH.
☆
I HAD to know the answer to the mystery. Tudor doesn't waste a word so I couldn't even skim! Aaaarrrrgghhh!
☆
Two things kept this from being a 5 star review for me.
First, it ended with too many ambiguous and unanswered questions. I still haven't completely wrapped my head around the chain of events.
Second, the epilogue. So predictable. After such gripping drama, I expected more. It was a real letdown for me.
☆
"We’re all capable of good and bad. Very few of us show our real faces to the world. For fear that the world might stare back and scream."
Ain't that the truth...
** Thank you Kathleen at Random House for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **
December 25, 2019
CJ Tudor can be relied upon for disturbing, creepy, unsettling psychological thrillers with a hint of the supernatural. She excels herself with her latest offering, a novel of family, grief, loss, hope, and secrets, where there are those who seek an old testament justice, an eye for an eye, losing sight of the fact that this will make them blind. Gabe Forman is travelling home to his wife, Jenny and his young daughter, Izzy, in Nottinghamshire, running late as he drives on the motorway, . In front of him is a rust bucket of a car, covered in bumper stickers, when to his horror he glimpses Izzy in the back of it, he knows it's her as he tries to follow the car but cannot keep up with it. He phones home, only to speak to a DI Maddock, to learn the shocking truth that Jenny and Izzy have been murdered. Gabe's life falls apart, he is even a suspect, but is eventually cleared although he is ferociously condemned by a media that suggests he deserved the horror and tragedy that befell him.
Three years on, Gabe is a diminished shadow of the man he used to be, haunted by Izzy, he walked away from his entire life, shedding both job and home, now living in a camper van. He is convinced Izzy is still alive as he drives relentlessly up and down the motorway, hoping to find that car, handing out flyers on Izzy, stopping at service stations where he has become a familiar and pitied sight. Hardworking single mom, Katie works as a waitress, becomes familiar with the regular appearance of Gabe, sympathising with his unbearable grief, her family suffered the shattering loss of her father nine years ago. Fran and her daughter, Alice, are on the run from a 'bad' man. Alice suffers from the worrying condition of narcolepsy, she can fall asleep anywhere, coming awake with the strange presence of a pebble in her hand that she adds to her growing collection in her rucksack. Miriam has given up her life to nurse and provide company for a young girl in a vegetative state in a white room. All these threads come to connect in a riveting narrative that reveals that on the dark web is a website of The Other People, where the bereaved can seek a very specific kind of help.
Tudor writes eloquently of the repercussions of grief and where it can lead, along with a murderous resentment that triggers such a horrifying tragedy. Gabe makes a terrific central protagonist with his secrets, aware that it is hope that is slowly and surely destroying him as he lives an itinerant lifestyle of despairing loneliness, his spirits dipping so low that he had to be saved by The Samaritan. This is a brilliant and compulsive read, one in which the twists, reveals and connections are skilfully managed to raise maximum levels of suspense and tension. Highly recommended to crime and psychological thriller fans. Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
Three years on, Gabe is a diminished shadow of the man he used to be, haunted by Izzy, he walked away from his entire life, shedding both job and home, now living in a camper van. He is convinced Izzy is still alive as he drives relentlessly up and down the motorway, hoping to find that car, handing out flyers on Izzy, stopping at service stations where he has become a familiar and pitied sight. Hardworking single mom, Katie works as a waitress, becomes familiar with the regular appearance of Gabe, sympathising with his unbearable grief, her family suffered the shattering loss of her father nine years ago. Fran and her daughter, Alice, are on the run from a 'bad' man. Alice suffers from the worrying condition of narcolepsy, she can fall asleep anywhere, coming awake with the strange presence of a pebble in her hand that she adds to her growing collection in her rucksack. Miriam has given up her life to nurse and provide company for a young girl in a vegetative state in a white room. All these threads come to connect in a riveting narrative that reveals that on the dark web is a website of The Other People, where the bereaved can seek a very specific kind of help.
Tudor writes eloquently of the repercussions of grief and where it can lead, along with a murderous resentment that triggers such a horrifying tragedy. Gabe makes a terrific central protagonist with his secrets, aware that it is hope that is slowly and surely destroying him as he lives an itinerant lifestyle of despairing loneliness, his spirits dipping so low that he had to be saved by The Samaritan. This is a brilliant and compulsive read, one in which the twists, reveals and connections are skilfully managed to raise maximum levels of suspense and tension. Highly recommended to crime and psychological thriller fans. Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
January 24, 2020
Indebted
The Other People is an exceptional psychological thriller with a dark and menacing mood that draws on a creepy supernatural feel. The writing is crazy good in instilling a chilling atmosphere, with voices and the finger of a paranormal threat to remind us that no–one is safe.
On his way home driving along the M1 motorway in England, Gabe believes he sees his daughter Izzy looking out the rear window of a very distinct rusty old car, covered with bumper stickers. Traumatically he reads her lips as she calls out ‘Daddy’ and then he loses the car in traffic. He then learns that his wife and child have been murdered in their home but it can’t be Izzy because he saw her in a car. No one believes him and he is questioned as a murder suspect. Gabe is so distraught that he becomes ill and collapses, and his father-in-law identifies the bodies, as his wife and daughter.
Gabe has withdrawn from the world he once knew, his appearance is dishevelled and he’s noticeably thin. He now lives in a VW Camper Van and travels up and down the motorways of Great Britain stopping at the service stations handing out posters asking if anyone has seen his daughter or has any information. He does mildly interact with a waitress at a service station called Katie and a man only known to him as the Samaritan. “ ‘Some people call me the Samaritan.’ But sometimes, Gabe wondered what others called him.”
Meanwhile, Fran and her daughter Alice are constantly on the run moving from place to place with a knowledge that they are being hunted, by dangerous people and a paranormal foreboding. The fear of their hunters and Alice's dreams are brilliantly portrayed for a manic existence, always on the run. Alice avoids mirrors because she’s not always sure who is looking back. Fran calls on her estranged sister, Katie, for help and the secrets and deceptions escalate.
A third thread drifts like an ethereal tale about a pale girl in a white room. She sleeps. Miriam has devoted herself to looking after the girl in the coma even with the unexplained incidents that often happen and traces of sand are found on her bed.
Clues eventually start to be revealed for Gabe and he uncovers a message that states The Other People. Further digging suggests they can be found on the dark web and now the sinister elements start to gather. Each thread holds suspense and fear while the story unwinds, and it becomes a difficult decision to set the book down.
As the story elements start to weave together the narrative becomes more and more compelling. The characters are full of light and shade and play their role as the story speeds towards its end. It’s difficult to say too much about the plot or characters as that is part of the pleasure of reading this book, to discover for yourself. Just remember that there is always a price to be paid for a favour or request - ‘an eye for an eye’.
Utterly compelling, dark, scary and hugely entertaining. I would highly recommend this book and this author, and I would like to thank Ballantine Books, Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC copy of the book in return for an honest review.
The Other People is an exceptional psychological thriller with a dark and menacing mood that draws on a creepy supernatural feel. The writing is crazy good in instilling a chilling atmosphere, with voices and the finger of a paranormal threat to remind us that no–one is safe.
On his way home driving along the M1 motorway in England, Gabe believes he sees his daughter Izzy looking out the rear window of a very distinct rusty old car, covered with bumper stickers. Traumatically he reads her lips as she calls out ‘Daddy’ and then he loses the car in traffic. He then learns that his wife and child have been murdered in their home but it can’t be Izzy because he saw her in a car. No one believes him and he is questioned as a murder suspect. Gabe is so distraught that he becomes ill and collapses, and his father-in-law identifies the bodies, as his wife and daughter.
Gabe has withdrawn from the world he once knew, his appearance is dishevelled and he’s noticeably thin. He now lives in a VW Camper Van and travels up and down the motorways of Great Britain stopping at the service stations handing out posters asking if anyone has seen his daughter or has any information. He does mildly interact with a waitress at a service station called Katie and a man only known to him as the Samaritan. “ ‘Some people call me the Samaritan.’ But sometimes, Gabe wondered what others called him.”
Meanwhile, Fran and her daughter Alice are constantly on the run moving from place to place with a knowledge that they are being hunted, by dangerous people and a paranormal foreboding. The fear of their hunters and Alice's dreams are brilliantly portrayed for a manic existence, always on the run. Alice avoids mirrors because she’s not always sure who is looking back. Fran calls on her estranged sister, Katie, for help and the secrets and deceptions escalate.
A third thread drifts like an ethereal tale about a pale girl in a white room. She sleeps. Miriam has devoted herself to looking after the girl in the coma even with the unexplained incidents that often happen and traces of sand are found on her bed.
Clues eventually start to be revealed for Gabe and he uncovers a message that states The Other People. Further digging suggests they can be found on the dark web and now the sinister elements start to gather. Each thread holds suspense and fear while the story unwinds, and it becomes a difficult decision to set the book down.
As the story elements start to weave together the narrative becomes more and more compelling. The characters are full of light and shade and play their role as the story speeds towards its end. It’s difficult to say too much about the plot or characters as that is part of the pleasure of reading this book, to discover for yourself. Just remember that there is always a price to be paid for a favour or request - ‘an eye for an eye’.
Utterly compelling, dark, scary and hugely entertaining. I would highly recommend this book and this author, and I would like to thank Ballantine Books, Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC copy of the book in return for an honest review.
April 10, 2020
The Other People starts off with Gabe searching for his daughter Izzy. Three years earlier, he was driving home when he saw his daughter's face in the backseat of an old car. He lost the car in the ensuing chase, and arriving home, he found out that his wife and daughter had supposedly been murdered. But Gabe knows in his heart that his daughter is still alive out there, and he's been looking for her ever since.
The premise is super interesting, but I wonder if this is a case where the story just couldn't quite live up to the hype. In addition to Gabe's story line, we also follows two others: a waitress at a service station, and a mother on the run with her daughter. I found the story lines to be more or less entertaining, though a bit bland. The switching between them felt disjointed to me, and as a result, I never quite bonded with any of the characters.
Once the different stories started to converge, there were a lot of coincidences and many of them were far-fetched. The story seemed to go one way with "the other people", but then towards the end, a paranormal element was thrown in that felt jarring and odd. The ending was very drawn out, with multiple explanations necessary to account for everything. It was all rather complicated, and I'm not sure I grasped it all.
In the end, this was a diverting story, as long as you can suspend your beliefs and don't look too closely at the explanation. It was a fun few hours of reading, but I wish I had found it more compelling and thrilling.
The premise is super interesting, but I wonder if this is a case where the story just couldn't quite live up to the hype. In addition to Gabe's story line, we also follows two others: a waitress at a service station, and a mother on the run with her daughter. I found the story lines to be more or less entertaining, though a bit bland. The switching between them felt disjointed to me, and as a result, I never quite bonded with any of the characters.
Once the different stories started to converge, there were a lot of coincidences and many of them were far-fetched. The story seemed to go one way with "the other people", but then towards the end, a paranormal element was thrown in that felt jarring and odd. The ending was very drawn out, with multiple explanations necessary to account for everything. It was all rather complicated, and I'm not sure I grasped it all.
In the end, this was a diverting story, as long as you can suspend your beliefs and don't look too closely at the explanation. It was a fun few hours of reading, but I wish I had found it more compelling and thrilling.
February 12, 2020
I was loving this for the first 250 pages or so.
It was fast paced, intriguing and I couldn't stop theorizing over what was happening. I never wanted to stop reading!
Unfortunately in went downhill from there. The reveals were all kind of boring and predictable and at the same time it felt like it was too much.
The ending felt rushed and way too perfect for my liking. And then the epilogue? Was that supposed to be shocking?
It was fast paced, intriguing and I couldn't stop theorizing over what was happening. I never wanted to stop reading!
Unfortunately in went downhill from there. The reveals were all kind of boring and predictable and at the same time it felt like it was too much.
The ending felt rushed and way too perfect for my liking. And then the epilogue? Was that supposed to be shocking?
February 23, 2020
A novel that be called unputdownable, dark, with some paranormal ingredients that serve their purpose and are not overdone. A story of a father, Gabe, who is unable to accept the death of his beloved daughter, and, in his opinion, he has some solid grounds to deny it. While travelling along a motorway in search of the car in which he saw Izzy, Gabe meets some people who turn out to have quite unexpected connections.
I enjoyed the plot, the characters, and most importantly, the way the story unfolds, slowly yet steadily, with every chapter adding more information about the protagonists. There are several POVs, and readers are given slices of the mystery. The puzzle is complete at the very end, just the way it should be in a good thriller.
The audiobook has two readers, Richard Armitage being the main one, and he does a splendid job. His interpretation is perfect, and his voice matches the character of Gabe. I bravely admit his voice made me more involved in the story.
For me, this novel was a much better offering by C.J. Tudor than her Chalk Man.
I enjoyed the plot, the characters, and most importantly, the way the story unfolds, slowly yet steadily, with every chapter adding more information about the protagonists. There are several POVs, and readers are given slices of the mystery. The puzzle is complete at the very end, just the way it should be in a good thriller.
The audiobook has two readers, Richard Armitage being the main one, and he does a splendid job. His interpretation is perfect, and his voice matches the character of Gabe. I bravely admit his voice made me more involved in the story.
For me, this novel was a much better offering by C.J. Tudor than her Chalk Man.
January 28, 2020
Holy Shooty Balls!!! Creepy, riveting, and an irresistible page-turner!
Happy Pub Day!!
I’ve been so fortunate to have read some really great books lately. I’ve been quite selective in choosing my books and if it isn’t grabbing my attention right away, I’m moving on. I’m so excited to say that this book immediately grabbed my attention and gets my “Holy Shooty Balls” stamp of approval! I absolutely loved everything about it!
THE OTHER PEOPLE by C. J. TUDOR is one outstanding, gripping, thrilling, dark, creepy, and engaging thriller that had me totally absorbed in this emotionally intricate storyline. I was fully immersed and totally intrigued with the mystery here right to the very end. I absolutely loved all the creepy, supernatural, and spooky vibes that emanated from the pages of this book. I was definitely intrigued and excited by it.
C. J. TUDOR delivers an atmospheric, compelling, quick, and fabulously written story here that is full of intrigue, suspense, and great characterizations. The storyline is well-plotted, flowed seamlessly and had such a distinctive voice to it that was absolutely mesmerizing to read.
It doesn’t happen often when I want to share my excitement over a book with my non-reading husband but this book he had to listen to a few passages that really stood out to me. I’m sure he didn’t get it but I had fun sharing with him. I also theorized with him too, he listened while I unraveled some of the plot points with him. Again I’m sure he didn’t get it but I did and that’s all that matters, right? 😜 I was definitely in the moment and one with this book. I’m so happy that this book helped me get my reading groove back!
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: A perfectly dark, obscure, fitting, and meaningful representation to storyline. I don’t think that the cover of this book would have initially grabbed my attention but it definitely did after reading it though.
Title: Wowza! Intriguing, mysterious, impactful and a fabulous representation to storyline. Love this title and how it perfectly fit!
Writing/Prose: Well-written, skilled, distinctive, suspenseful and engaging.
Plot: Engrossing, suspenseful, ominous, thought-provoking, creepy, clever, riveting, interesting, fast-paced, and highly entertaining.
Ending: I was totally elated and satisfied with that perfectly perfect ending! My armchair detective skills were working a little bit but for the life of me I couldn’t figure out or puzzle together the connections though.
Overall: The storyline is full of unexpected twists and turns that was so cleverly plotted that totally sucked me right in.
C. J. TUDOR does it again and has another winner here with THE OTHER PEOPLE!! Would highly recommend!
Expected on sale date: January 28, 2020
Thank you so much to Kathleen at Random House for offering me an advanced physical copy of this absolutely fabulous book.
Happy Pub Day!!
I’ve been so fortunate to have read some really great books lately. I’ve been quite selective in choosing my books and if it isn’t grabbing my attention right away, I’m moving on. I’m so excited to say that this book immediately grabbed my attention and gets my “Holy Shooty Balls” stamp of approval! I absolutely loved everything about it!
THE OTHER PEOPLE by C. J. TUDOR is one outstanding, gripping, thrilling, dark, creepy, and engaging thriller that had me totally absorbed in this emotionally intricate storyline. I was fully immersed and totally intrigued with the mystery here right to the very end. I absolutely loved all the creepy, supernatural, and spooky vibes that emanated from the pages of this book. I was definitely intrigued and excited by it.
C. J. TUDOR delivers an atmospheric, compelling, quick, and fabulously written story here that is full of intrigue, suspense, and great characterizations. The storyline is well-plotted, flowed seamlessly and had such a distinctive voice to it that was absolutely mesmerizing to read.
It doesn’t happen often when I want to share my excitement over a book with my non-reading husband but this book he had to listen to a few passages that really stood out to me. I’m sure he didn’t get it but I had fun sharing with him. I also theorized with him too, he listened while I unraveled some of the plot points with him. Again I’m sure he didn’t get it but I did and that’s all that matters, right? 😜 I was definitely in the moment and one with this book. I’m so happy that this book helped me get my reading groove back!
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: A perfectly dark, obscure, fitting, and meaningful representation to storyline. I don’t think that the cover of this book would have initially grabbed my attention but it definitely did after reading it though.
Title: Wowza! Intriguing, mysterious, impactful and a fabulous representation to storyline. Love this title and how it perfectly fit!
Writing/Prose: Well-written, skilled, distinctive, suspenseful and engaging.
Plot: Engrossing, suspenseful, ominous, thought-provoking, creepy, clever, riveting, interesting, fast-paced, and highly entertaining.
Ending: I was totally elated and satisfied with that perfectly perfect ending! My armchair detective skills were working a little bit but for the life of me I couldn’t figure out or puzzle together the connections though.
Overall: The storyline is full of unexpected twists and turns that was so cleverly plotted that totally sucked me right in.
C. J. TUDOR does it again and has another winner here with THE OTHER PEOPLE!! Would highly recommend!
Expected on sale date: January 28, 2020
Thank you so much to Kathleen at Random House for offering me an advanced physical copy of this absolutely fabulous book.
November 7, 2019
The title fits!!!!!
It was perfectly dark and creepy...a bit wild... with great characterizations and storytelling.
“The Other People”, claim to offer justice to those who have lost loved ones. They have many talents. Many many talents!!!!
“People say hate and bitterness will destroy you. They’re wrong. It’s hope. Hope will devour you from the inside like a parasite”.
“Love and forgiveness might keep you warm, but hatred would power your rocket all the way to the moon”.
Until....it burns itself out!
The unfolding of events...harrowing and endlessly hopeful—is subtly brilliant with a transportive spell of a pitch-perfect-narrative voice.
“The Other People”, exposed an ethical dilemma...and an opportunity for empathy, that left a lasting impression on me....with a freaking cool ending.
It was perfectly dark and creepy...a bit wild... with great characterizations and storytelling.
“The Other People”, claim to offer justice to those who have lost loved ones. They have many talents. Many many talents!!!!
“People say hate and bitterness will destroy you. They’re wrong. It’s hope. Hope will devour you from the inside like a parasite”.
“Love and forgiveness might keep you warm, but hatred would power your rocket all the way to the moon”.
Until....it burns itself out!
The unfolding of events...harrowing and endlessly hopeful—is subtly brilliant with a transportive spell of a pitch-perfect-narrative voice.
“The Other People”, exposed an ethical dilemma...and an opportunity for empathy, that left a lasting impression on me....with a freaking cool ending.
November 8, 2019
I absolutely loved C.J. Tudor's debut The Chalk Man, though was much less enchanted with her sophomore outing, The Hiding Place. This third offering falls somewhere in between in my estimation, garnering a four star rating. My first thought was that I detected no homage to Stephen King books in this storyline which had at first delighted me in The Chalk Man but made me cynical in The Hiding Place. I used to read every Stephen King book that came on the market back in the 70s and 80s but slacked off over the decades since then, so maybe I've missed something, but this storyline bears no resemblance to anything I remember reading from Stephen King. C.J. Tudor's writing style to me is perfection, as it flows so easily and naturally, so I'm always in a happy place as far as that goes.
This story settles upon the character of Gabe whose wife Jenny and young daughter Izzy were murdered a few years ago. However, the evening this occurred he was stuck in traffic behind an ugly gold vehicle with a lot of garish stickers. To Gabe's astonishment and horror, he saw his frightened daughter peeking out the back window, her mouth forming the words, "Daddy!" Because he never identified the bodies himself (his father-in-law Harry did so and they were cremated), he holds to the promise that Izzy is still alive and is relentless in his pursuit of her whereabouts. He travels at night in a VW camper van, drinking coffee at various rest stops and following endless leads. He's a thin, dark shadow of his former self. If only he could find that car he was chasing on that fateful night.
There are some interesting supporting characters like Fran. She's constantly on the run with her young charge, Alice. Alice suffers from narcolepsy and can suddenly fall asleep at any moment. She also has a particular problem with mirrors in bathrooms. It seems that a young girl is trying to communicate with her and each attempt results in broken glass and a pebble left behind. Alice saves all the pebbles in her little rucksack which grates on Fran's ears with its eerie clickety-click cadence.
Katie is a night shift waitress at one of the rest stops Gabe frequents. She has two young children that her sister Lou watches while she's working. All these characters become intertwined as the story unfolds and some of them have secrets. There is a vague supernatural element simmering in the background with emotional high stakes due to the child separation/death situation. I figured out some of the mystery early on but much of it was a slow burn until the end. I still think The Chalk Man was Tudor's best outing so far, but this was a compelling page-turner with a lot of angst.
Thank you to Random House Publishing / Ballantine and the Marketing Manger Kathleen Quinlan for providing both a physical galley and a digital advance reader copy via NetGalley.
This story settles upon the character of Gabe whose wife Jenny and young daughter Izzy were murdered a few years ago. However, the evening this occurred he was stuck in traffic behind an ugly gold vehicle with a lot of garish stickers. To Gabe's astonishment and horror, he saw his frightened daughter peeking out the back window, her mouth forming the words, "Daddy!" Because he never identified the bodies himself (his father-in-law Harry did so and they were cremated), he holds to the promise that Izzy is still alive and is relentless in his pursuit of her whereabouts. He travels at night in a VW camper van, drinking coffee at various rest stops and following endless leads. He's a thin, dark shadow of his former self. If only he could find that car he was chasing on that fateful night.
There are some interesting supporting characters like Fran. She's constantly on the run with her young charge, Alice. Alice suffers from narcolepsy and can suddenly fall asleep at any moment. She also has a particular problem with mirrors in bathrooms. It seems that a young girl is trying to communicate with her and each attempt results in broken glass and a pebble left behind. Alice saves all the pebbles in her little rucksack which grates on Fran's ears with its eerie clickety-click cadence.
Katie is a night shift waitress at one of the rest stops Gabe frequents. She has two young children that her sister Lou watches while she's working. All these characters become intertwined as the story unfolds and some of them have secrets. There is a vague supernatural element simmering in the background with emotional high stakes due to the child separation/death situation. I figured out some of the mystery early on but much of it was a slow burn until the end. I still think The Chalk Man was Tudor's best outing so far, but this was a compelling page-turner with a lot of angst.
Thank you to Random House Publishing / Ballantine and the Marketing Manger Kathleen Quinlan for providing both a physical galley and a digital advance reader copy via NetGalley.
November 8, 2019
3.5 stars
Told from three points of view, this is a multi-layered plot that will have you flipping the pages to find out what happens next. Gabe’s wife, Jenny, and their young daughter, Izzy, were murdered in their home three years ago but Gabe is convinced that Izzy is still alive after he sees her in the back of a car. Despite no one believing him, and a father-in-law who identified the bodies of his wife and daughter, he has devoted his life to searching for her. The second POV is a woman and her daughter who are on the run from an unnamed threat. And finally, we have the waitress who often waits on Gabe at the restaurant where she works.
All three characters are dealing with grief and loss. Their stories will come together and intersect in surprising ways. I won’t ruin the fun for readers by giving away any more of the plot. It's best discovered on your own.
Readers who enjoy complicated plots, a fair bit of coincidence, and who don’t have a problem with suspending disbelief will find much to enjoy. Be aware there are some supernatural elements, but it was a minor element. This was a buddy read with Marialyce and one we both enjoyed. We both agree that C.J. Tudor writes very well and the different plot lines came together quite nicely.
· Many thanks to the publisher for a digital copy of the book for review
* For our duo review of this book, and others, please visit https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
Told from three points of view, this is a multi-layered plot that will have you flipping the pages to find out what happens next. Gabe’s wife, Jenny, and their young daughter, Izzy, were murdered in their home three years ago but Gabe is convinced that Izzy is still alive after he sees her in the back of a car. Despite no one believing him, and a father-in-law who identified the bodies of his wife and daughter, he has devoted his life to searching for her. The second POV is a woman and her daughter who are on the run from an unnamed threat. And finally, we have the waitress who often waits on Gabe at the restaurant where she works.
All three characters are dealing with grief and loss. Their stories will come together and intersect in surprising ways. I won’t ruin the fun for readers by giving away any more of the plot. It's best discovered on your own.
Readers who enjoy complicated plots, a fair bit of coincidence, and who don’t have a problem with suspending disbelief will find much to enjoy. Be aware there are some supernatural elements, but it was a minor element. This was a buddy read with Marialyce and one we both enjoyed. We both agree that C.J. Tudor writes very well and the different plot lines came together quite nicely.
· Many thanks to the publisher for a digital copy of the book for review
* For our duo review of this book, and others, please visit https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
March 14, 2020
The first pick of the Literally Dead Book Club was a success!!
September 24, 2019
"She sleeps. A pale girl in a white room. Machines surround her. Mechanical guardians...their steady beeps and the laboured sound of her breathing are the sleeping girl's only lullabies...A small piano...in one corner of the room...A sharp "C" suddenly fills the room...The shell trembles...Somewhere, another girl falls."
"Terrible things happen...but they happen to other people...Until one day, one phone call, one sentence. It's about your wife...and your daughter..." Detective Inspector Maddock reports that Gabriel Forman's wife, Jenny and daughter, Isabella are dead. Gabe states, "I saw my daughter being taken. She's alive". Sitting in a traffic jam on his way home from work, he notices an ancient, rusted "moldy banana" colored car covered with bumper stickers. But wait...a blonde, pigtailed five year old that looks identical to Izzy is in the car mouthing the word "daddy". A hand reaches back, grabs her and pushes her out of sight. Gabe floors the gas however, is unable to catch the speeding vehicle.
"Despite what everyone believed, [Gabe] knew it was a mistake. Izzy wasn't dead. He was viewed as a murder suspect...they knew about his record." "[He] spent every day and night driving up and down the motorway searching for his daughter, often handing out leaflets...Have You Seen Me?" According to Katie, a waitress at the Newton Green Services, "The man had been eaten up by hope...Hope will devour you from the inside...he had nothing left." The plot thickens when the bumper stickered car is found half submerged in the lake. A puzzling find in the glove box! A body in the boot!
"Anonymous hotels. Always running, always afraid...A desperate, unrelenting sense of guilt...she couldn't change things now. She couldn't look back...but Fran had no choice: it was what she had to do, to keep her safe." Seven year old Alice was narcoleptic. "She could fall asleep anywhere, anytime...on the way to school, in the bathroom...every time Alice had an episode, she woke clutching a pebble."
Searching for answers, Gabe happens upon information about "The Other People". This organization understands grief and bereavement. It believes in "an eye for an eye", retribution and vengeance. In this taut, unputdownable thriller,"The Other People", author C.J. Tudor has penned a winner! Highly recommended!
Thank you Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and C.J. Tudor for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"Terrible things happen...but they happen to other people...Until one day, one phone call, one sentence. It's about your wife...and your daughter..." Detective Inspector Maddock reports that Gabriel Forman's wife, Jenny and daughter, Isabella are dead. Gabe states, "I saw my daughter being taken. She's alive". Sitting in a traffic jam on his way home from work, he notices an ancient, rusted "moldy banana" colored car covered with bumper stickers. But wait...a blonde, pigtailed five year old that looks identical to Izzy is in the car mouthing the word "daddy". A hand reaches back, grabs her and pushes her out of sight. Gabe floors the gas however, is unable to catch the speeding vehicle.
"Despite what everyone believed, [Gabe] knew it was a mistake. Izzy wasn't dead. He was viewed as a murder suspect...they knew about his record." "[He] spent every day and night driving up and down the motorway searching for his daughter, often handing out leaflets...Have You Seen Me?" According to Katie, a waitress at the Newton Green Services, "The man had been eaten up by hope...Hope will devour you from the inside...he had nothing left." The plot thickens when the bumper stickered car is found half submerged in the lake. A puzzling find in the glove box! A body in the boot!
"Anonymous hotels. Always running, always afraid...A desperate, unrelenting sense of guilt...she couldn't change things now. She couldn't look back...but Fran had no choice: it was what she had to do, to keep her safe." Seven year old Alice was narcoleptic. "She could fall asleep anywhere, anytime...on the way to school, in the bathroom...every time Alice had an episode, she woke clutching a pebble."
Searching for answers, Gabe happens upon information about "The Other People". This organization understands grief and bereavement. It believes in "an eye for an eye", retribution and vengeance. In this taut, unputdownable thriller,"The Other People", author C.J. Tudor has penned a winner! Highly recommended!
Thank you Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and C.J. Tudor for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
did-not-finish
August 14, 2020DNF. I listened to about 3 hours of this audiobook and was honestly just super bored and don't feel the need to continue. Onto the next one!
November 9, 2023
Captivating And Compelling!
One night while Gabe is driving home on the freeway during rush hour traffic a little face pops up in the rear window of the car in front of him and he is amazed to notice how much she looks like his five year old daughter Izzy who is patiently waiting for him to come home along with his wife so they can all have dinner together. Suddenly the child's mouth screams Daddy and Gabe sees a hand pull the little girl.down out of sight. Gabe is very confused, it can't be Izzy in the strange car ahead of him, can it? Should be follow the car? He calls home on his cell but it just goes to voice mail and then his phone battery dies. Should be continue following the car with the little girl who looks like Izzy or get to a phone at the nearest rest stop to let his wife know he's running late. Gabe decides to call home at the service stop and a strange voice answers his call and informs him to come home immediately! Was that Izzy in that strange car? Where is Gabe's wife?
This was a terrific and mysterious book with so many twists and turns along the way even up to the final pages. This was my first book by C.J. Tudor and I was very impressed with her storytelling and smooth writing. The emotions of the characters tugged at my heart strings. I loved and appreciated that almost every character had a veil of mystique surrounding them and left me wondering if they all had ulterior motives. It was fun to think I had figured the many mysteries out and who was ultimately responsible for the abduction but I was so (delightedly) wrong!
I want to thank the publisher "Random House Publishing - Ballentine Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this marvelous book!
I highly recommend this "The Other People to all mystery and thriller lovers and have given a rating of 5 Captivating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
One night while Gabe is driving home on the freeway during rush hour traffic a little face pops up in the rear window of the car in front of him and he is amazed to notice how much she looks like his five year old daughter Izzy who is patiently waiting for him to come home along with his wife so they can all have dinner together. Suddenly the child's mouth screams Daddy and Gabe sees a hand pull the little girl.down out of sight. Gabe is very confused, it can't be Izzy in the strange car ahead of him, can it? Should be follow the car? He calls home on his cell but it just goes to voice mail and then his phone battery dies. Should be continue following the car with the little girl who looks like Izzy or get to a phone at the nearest rest stop to let his wife know he's running late. Gabe decides to call home at the service stop and a strange voice answers his call and informs him to come home immediately! Was that Izzy in that strange car? Where is Gabe's wife?
This was a terrific and mysterious book with so many twists and turns along the way even up to the final pages. This was my first book by C.J. Tudor and I was very impressed with her storytelling and smooth writing. The emotions of the characters tugged at my heart strings. I loved and appreciated that almost every character had a veil of mystique surrounding them and left me wondering if they all had ulterior motives. It was fun to think I had figured the many mysteries out and who was ultimately responsible for the abduction but I was so (delightedly) wrong!
I want to thank the publisher "Random House Publishing - Ballentine Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this marvelous book!
I highly recommend this "The Other People to all mystery and thriller lovers and have given a rating of 5 Captivating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
November 6, 2019
4.5 stars
Imagine seeing your young daughter, for a fleeting moment, in the window of another vehicle and wondering why she would be there. You question yourself, you wonder why, you give chase only to lose the car in which you think she is in .....and then you receive a phone call that will alter your life.
For Gabe this is his reality and when it is found that his wife and child have been brutally murdered, what he thought he saw can not be. Gabe becomes a suspect and yet time can not erase what he thinks he saw and his heart and mind will not let him forget. To Gabe, his daughter is out there but all signs point to the fact that she is gone forever. Even her grandfather, a retired doctor, called to identify his daughter and granddaughter find that both are gone. And yet Gabe knows or at least thinks he knows and three years later he is still on the hunt for a daughter he just won't forget.
As Gabe travels the roads and byways in his eternal search, he meets Katie, a waitress in a service station. She too, has lost a loved one as her father was murdered. Gabe, who she refers to as the thin man, strike up a tenuous relationship and as the story continues Katie's life as well as her sister, Fran, and her mysterious daughter, becomes woven into a tale so clever and insidious that it's difficult to put this book aside as you become witness to a tale of cunning, deceit, and of course huge surprises along the way.
C. J. Tudor has once again captured my imagination and created a brilliant story filled with intricate details that are woven together flawlessly. It is a tale that will have you addicted from page one. If you are a lover of a story that thrills you on every twist and turn of the plot, then this is one not to miss.
Thank you to C.J. Tudor who again gave me a sleepless night burning that midnight oil, Penguin Books, and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this engrossing read.
Thank you also to Holly B, a wonderful book friend, who forwarded her copy of this story to me.
Imagine seeing your young daughter, for a fleeting moment, in the window of another vehicle and wondering why she would be there. You question yourself, you wonder why, you give chase only to lose the car in which you think she is in .....and then you receive a phone call that will alter your life.
For Gabe this is his reality and when it is found that his wife and child have been brutally murdered, what he thought he saw can not be. Gabe becomes a suspect and yet time can not erase what he thinks he saw and his heart and mind will not let him forget. To Gabe, his daughter is out there but all signs point to the fact that she is gone forever. Even her grandfather, a retired doctor, called to identify his daughter and granddaughter find that both are gone. And yet Gabe knows or at least thinks he knows and three years later he is still on the hunt for a daughter he just won't forget.
As Gabe travels the roads and byways in his eternal search, he meets Katie, a waitress in a service station. She too, has lost a loved one as her father was murdered. Gabe, who she refers to as the thin man, strike up a tenuous relationship and as the story continues Katie's life as well as her sister, Fran, and her mysterious daughter, becomes woven into a tale so clever and insidious that it's difficult to put this book aside as you become witness to a tale of cunning, deceit, and of course huge surprises along the way.
C. J. Tudor has once again captured my imagination and created a brilliant story filled with intricate details that are woven together flawlessly. It is a tale that will have you addicted from page one. If you are a lover of a story that thrills you on every twist and turn of the plot, then this is one not to miss.
Thank you to C.J. Tudor who again gave me a sleepless night burning that midnight oil, Penguin Books, and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this engrossing read.
Thank you also to Holly B, a wonderful book friend, who forwarded her copy of this story to me.
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