The Other Passenger

by Louise Candlish

From the bestselling author of Our House, winner of the Crime and Thriller Book of the Year Award
You’re feeling pretty smug about your commute to work by riverboat. No more traffic gridlock or getting stuck on the tube in tunnels (you’re claustrophobic); now you’ve got an iconic Thames view, fresh air ?— a whole lifestyle upgrade. You’ve made new friends onboard — led by your hedonistic young neighbour, Kit ?— and just had your first ‘water rats’ Christmas drinks.

But the first day back after Christmas, Kit isn’t on the morning boat. The river landmarks are all the same, but something’s off. You disembark to find the police waiting. Kit’s wife, Melia, has reported him missing and another passenger witnessed the two of you arguing on the last boat home after your drinks. Police say you had a reason to lash out at him. To kill him.

You protest. You and Kit are friends ?— ask Melia, she’ll vouch for you. And who exactly is this other passenger pointing the finger? What do they know about your private lives? No, whatever coincidences might have occurred that night, you are innocent, totally innocent.

Aren’t you?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

400 pages, Paperback

First published June 27, 2019

About the author

Hello and welcome to my page... You may already know my domestic noir thrillers or perhaps you're curious and not sure which to try first - either way, you're in the right place!

My latest is OUR HOLIDAY, a Sunday Times bestseller, WHSmith Richard & Judy Book Club pick and Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2025 nominee. It features my favourite ever love-to-hate characters Perry and Charlotte, second home owners in the idyllic English beach resort of Pine Ridge. It's now in development for the screen - I'll share news on that as soon as I can.

Next up is A NEIGHBOUR'S GUIDE TO MURDER, published in July 2025 (UK) and 2026 (US), available to pre-order now.

Last year I celebrated my 20th anniversary as an author with the news of two prestigious awards for my 90s-set thriller THE ONLY SUSPECT: the Capital Crime Fingerprint Award for Thriller of the Year and the Ned Kelly Award for Best International Crime Fiction. Stay tuned for TV news on that one too - it will be the next of mine to hit our screens!

OUR HOUSE is the one you may know me for as it's now a major four-part ITV drama starring Martin Compston and Tuppence Middleton (watch the full series free on ITVX). This is the novel that turned my career around, winning the 2019 British Book Awards Book of the Year - Crime & Thriller and shortlisted for the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award, the Capital Crime Amazon Publishing Best Crime Novel of the Year Award​, and the Audible Sounds of Crime Award. It was also longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award and the Specsavers National Book Awards. A Waterstones Thriller of the Month, it recently received a Nielsen Bestseller Silver Award for 250,000 copies sold.

A bit about me: I live in a South London neighbourhood not unlike the one in my books, with my husband, daughter and a fox-red Labrador called Bertie who is the apple of my eye. Books, TV and long walks are my passions - and drinking wine in the sun with family and friends. Authors I love include Tom Wolfe, Patricia Highsmith, Barbara Vine, Agatha Christie and Evelyn Waugh. My favourite book is Madame Bovary.

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Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is my first waltz with this author and I don’t want the music stop! As soon as my dance ends, I have to hurry up to buy her previous works!

This book directly addressed the insatiably voracious reader mind of mine! It’s full of surprises, too many well planned, creative, never see it coming twists, well crafted characters and impeccable story building!

It spins your mind, burns your extra grey cells, forced you think harder, agitates you , disturbs you and at the end puts a satisfying smile on your face because of the well developed wrap up of the story and fair conclusion.

Narrator of the story is Jamie Buckby but as he mentions a few pages later at his interrogation with police, everybody calls him Jamie. Let’s keep calling him as he wished even though he’s not one of the reliable narrators and he’s keen on manipulating us about the events so you have to read careful his words not to be fooled by him.

He had a great job at marketing but he suffered from a personal crisis and now he spends his time making coffees, smashing avocados, putting plastered smile on his face ( he reminded of Promising Young Woman’s Cassandra, thankfully in the nighttime, he doesn’t act like drunk and deceive the abuser men at the bars) His partner Clare’s real estate business goes well so he doesn’t need any pressure financially to find better job.

He takes the commuter riverboat at every morning to go his job accompanied by Kit, his new and younger friend ( he’s millennial) but on January 23rd Kit doesn’t show up at 7:30 a.m service! Maybe he was too hangover, he may have had a long night! Who knows? Not us, but Jamie may have some ideas!

The police officers may think just like me: yeah those two guys playing good and bad cop approach him at the end of his trip. Detective Parry and Merchison are searching for Christopher Roper’s ( a.k.a. Kit) disappearance and Jamie might be the last person he see him.

But one of the commuters already talked to the police and told them Kit and Jamie had a big fight. Could Jamie do something to Kit? Well, from his narration style we already start to doubt he has secrets! Let’s flip the pages and learn more about the characters and their back stories!

The book moves between 2019’s Christmas and New Year period . It also moves back to the beginning of the January when Kit and his wife have a dinner party with Jamie and Clare.

As I mentioned before Clare is successful business woman, also coming from privileged, wealthy family but she isn’t financially dominant or pretentious. She never puts pressure on her husband’s shoulders to find better job instead of wasting his time playing barista.

Melia is Kit’s young and beautiful, self absorbed wife who is also failed actress just like her husband, starts working at the same company with Clare ( nope, she doesn’t work under her, she’s at another division) and Kit works at insurance company. Both couple envies each other. Kit and Melia want their stability, big and fancy house, comforts of their lifestyle as Clare and Jamie yearn for their youth and their hopeful attitudes.

You still keep asking what the hell happened to Kit! Is Jamie responsible? Nope, you need to go blind and search your answers by focusing each clue on those pages! Trust me! It’s worth your attention! This is stunning dark noir!

I’m giving my five WTH I just read, mind games, dysfunctional relationships, whirlwind , riveting page turner stars! I cannot wait to read more works of the author!

Special thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, if twisty and twistier is your reading choice then look no further! I’ve read a couple of book by Louise Candlish before and enjoyed them but in my opinion this is far and away the best. The drama (and there’s plenty of it) starts on 27th December 2019 when Jamie Buckby is questioned by Detectives Parry and Merchison about the disappearance of Kit (Christopher) Parry. Jamie seems to have been the last person to see him on December 23rd after drinks with fellow commuters ends with a fight between Jamie and Kit. The book covers the period between Christmas and New Year and is interspersed with backtracking from when the two men meet in January ‘19. Kit’s partner Melia works for Jamie’s partner Clare and she invites the younger couple to their house for drinks. They all seem to get on well and after this the two men commute to work daily on the Thames river boat that ferries passengers between Greenwich and the city. The story surrounding Kit’s disappearance takes you on an unpredictable journey of fabrication upon fabrication, lies are woven upon lies as this clever plot reaches its conclusion. Jamie is the narrator and how honest a storyteller he is becomes a million dollar question.

The book is very well written, the plotting clever and plausible and there are occasions where you genuinely don’t know what’s going to happen next. So most definitely my kind of book!!! The dialogue is very believable, capturing the different moods and atmosphere between the main protagonists with the river commute adding another level of atmosphere. The characters are well constructed though not necessarily likeable. The initial camaraderie and almost paternal relationship between Jamie and Kit is clear as is the unraveling of their relationship as the year progresses. Jamie seems honest (?) though not at all moral especially towards Clare and neither are Kit and Melia. One of the things I find most interesting about these two is their sense of entitlement versus working your way up the career and property ladder by hard work. They both resent Clare because of the lovely house she and Jamie live in which is a gift to Clare from wealthy parents and by default Jamie, as they see him as living rent free in lovely surroundings. There’s a mismatch in earning power between Clare and Jamie which adds to the resentment. The last part of the book has one shock after another and without giving anything away it’s a case of ‘the things we do for love’ or there’s no fool like an old(ish) fool. The end is great with two of the characters getting what they deserve.

Overall, an excellent read that grips from start to finish and one I highly recommend to fans of this genre.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC and the author for a very entertaining read!

[Dorie - Cats&Books :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several other books by this author and enjoyed them, this one was also a hit!! Though this has been released in the UK quite a while ago, it won’t be out in the US until July, 2021.

Jaime and Clare have been living together for a decade. She inherited a gorgeous, beautifully detailed home in the best part of London. She doesn’t have to pay any rent but she continues to work in real estate and seems to enjoy it.

Jaime had worked a white collar job but he had to take the “tunnel” to get to it. One day an awful event left him unable to even consider taking that route any longer. He is riding the Tube and the power went out. He was crushed to the side of the carriage and ended up pulling the emergency handle. “We were in that tunnel for half an hour with no power, no messages from the driver. My skin burned as if I’d been shoveled into a furnace and yet somehow I stopped myself from passing out.” Since one of my own personal fears is being trapped underground, this resonated with me!!!!!!!!


After that incident Jaime takes a job in a coffee shop which he can reach by river boat. Of course Clare isn’t happy with him settling for a job like this and tries everything from prodding and lecturing, to “gifting” him with a number of therapy sessions that might put him in the right frame of mind to find another career.

On the river boat eventually several characters come together as friends.One is Jaime, another Steve, Gretchen and Kit. Kit is the new guy in town, very handsome and charismatic. This little group spends time together outside of the boat ride also. They often stop at the local pub on the way home, particularly Jaime and Kit.

I really enjoyed the description of the river boat ride both during the day and then at night, when all of the lights illuminated some of London’s historic sites.

Clare decides that it would be a good idea to have Kit and his girlfriend Melia over for dinner and drinks. They hit it off and have some good times together UNTIL THEY DON’T. There is lots of resentment on the part of Kit and Melia because Clare has inherited wealth and Jaime gets to live the good life!!

Melia is a beautiful woman used to getting what she wants. Apparently at this time, it’s Jaime. Though it’s hard to see the attraction to a man many years her senior, she is under the impression that he is wealthy because of where he lives.

The book slowed down a little as the predicted affair takes place and the plot became a bit “heard this before, seen this before”.

The morning after Christmas break Jaime is met by the police as he is getting ready to board the river boat. Kit has been reported as missing since the last time they took the river boat together and Jaime is apparently the last person to see him. What transpires next is something the reader should PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO !!!

The last third of the book picks up the pace and the ending is a tangled web of lies, deception and who did what to whom. It was really quite clever in it’s execution.

I felt this was an entertaining read even with an ending that was somewhat predictable. It still had a few surprises. I think some editing would have improved my satisfaction with the novel.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.

This was a buddy read with my good friend Jayme!!

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know how many of you have watched old black and white suspense films in the vein of Hitchcock or others, but having just finished this book, my mind is replaying this entire story as one of those old films. It cuddles up to the line of noir - in fact Louise Candlish herself has referred to the book as “commuter noir”, which I think is an apt description, since the simple act of travelling to work plays such a big role in the story.

Jamie Buckby and his partner Clare are a middle-aged couple living in a regal house purchased for Clare by her parents. Jamie spends his days schlepping coffee and pastries after leaving his white collar job due to his phobia of riding the train there. Now he rides the ferry to work every day while Clare pushes him to get back to a “real” career. When she introduces Jamie to her alluring younger co-worker Melia and Melia’s outspoken partner, Kit, the foursome become fast friends, with Jamie and Kit becoming both drinking buddies and fellow riders on the ferry. There’s a clear disparity in these couples’ lives, with Melia and Kit struggling to make ends meet, while Clare’s inherited wealth pays for the easy lifestyle that she and Jamie share.

All is well until Kit doesn’t show up for the morning ferry ride one day and two detectives appear at Jamie’s workplace with questions and a mysterious stranger’s eyewitness account that may implicate Jamie. Who is this stranger and what really happened to Kit? Well, there’s MUCH more to the story, but what would be the fun in me telling you all of it? I recommend you read it and unfold the twisted tale for yourself. It won’t disappoint!

I enjoyed this one for the most part, with only minor complaints, but let me start with the good. I loved that the whole story was told from Jamie’s POV which offered a great birds’ eye view of events and allowed me to “get in his brain” and see the other characters and his own motivations and psychology in a more intimate way. Candlish’s writing has a gentle humor to it that balances the darker themes, and while I guessed some aspects of the story fairly easily, she still managed to get a couple excellent twists by me that I didn’t see coming!

Where it could’ve been better is just tightening things up a bit - especially at the end which seemed to drag on far longer than it needed to with no major payoff for doing so. Some have mentioned pacing, which I agree could have moved along more briskly, but then again, when I reframe it in the light of an old movie, it kinda works as is to build tension, so my jury is out on that. Overall, it was a great introduction for me to Candlish’s writing and definitely makes me want to read her other books.

★★★★

Many thanks to my buddy Derek for letting me read his copy of this! This is due to be published on July 20, 2021.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCERPT: 'What about you? Any resolutions?'

'Actually I do have one,' she said. 'I've decided I'm going to embrace the new. I read that's the key to aging successfully.'

'I think all aging is unsuccessful ultimately,'I said, grinning. 'New what, exactly?'

'New everything. New hobbies, new ideas, new friends.' She grew emphatic as she searched for the right phrase and I saw she was very determined about this. 'I'm open to submissions'

Enter Melia and, a step or two behind her, Kit, with their winning submission of youth, fun, freedom. Everything Clare feared she was losing.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is this whole thing began with exactly the midlife crisis you might imagine - just not mine.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: On the morning of Monday 23rd December, Jamie Buckby takes the commuter riverboat from his home in St Mary’s, southeast London, to work in Central London, noting that his good friend and neighbour Kit Roper has not turned up for the 7.30am service they usually catch together.

At the London Eye, where he disembarks for his job in a café behind the South Bank Centre, Jamie is met by the police. Kit has been reported missing by his wife.

As Jamie is taken in for questioning, he discovers someone saw him arguing with Kit on the boat home late on Friday night. The other passenger believes Jamie committed murder.

But what really happened?

MY THOUGHTS: 'But what really happened?' is the million dollar question.

Certainly not what appears to be happening on the surface. Or even underneath. You're going to have to dig deeper than that!

The Other Passenger is a page turner. Dark domestic noir. Candlish has taken the old adage that men don't think with their brains when a beautiful woman is involved, and used it to great advantage. This is heart-pounding stuff. The moment you think you have everything straight, Candlish throws in a twist, and doubles it. There is nothing mundane or predictable about this read. It kept me on my toes and more than once I had to pick my jaw up from the floor. I had no idea where this was going, and never in my wildest imaginings could I have guessed where it would wind up. But you do know that it's not going to be good, for the characters anyway. For the reader, it's excellent stuff!

The characters are a diverse bunch. Clare is a successful partner in a top end real estate company, privileged daughter of a wealthy family and, oh dear, I made her sound 'snobby', didn't I? But she's not. She's quite lovely. Jamie (never James), her partner of ten plus years, used to be a high flyer in marketing, but dropped out after a personal crisis and now froths milk and mashes avocado for a living. Melia works in the same company as Clare, but in a different division. She is young, beautiful, a complete narcissist, (there's a reason her name is shortened to 'Me'), and has that certain something that attracts people to her like moths to a flame. Kit, Melia's partner, works in insurance, when he bothers to show for work. They are both failed actors and live well beyond their means in what they believe to be poverty.

The two couples make odd bedfellows. Different generations, different backgrounds, different socio-economic status. Not a lot in common. Except for envy. Melia and Kit want the life that Clare and Jamie have. Clare and Jamie want their youth.

One of those books that you just have to finish as quickly as you can because you want to know the who and why, but that you don't actually want to end at all.

🤯🤯🤯🤯.75 mind blowing stars. Not quite the full five because there is a point where the narrative gets a little bogged down and we wallow briefly in the mud. It doesn't last for long, but it was just long enough for me to wonder if the author had run out of impetus. She hadn't.

'Sunrise, when it came, had no more effect than a frosted glass lamp with a failing bulb.'

'There must be a slight difference between acting and lying, otherwise half the population would be auditioning for the RSC.'

'I don't want to be rich when I'm old, I want to be rich while I'm young.'

THE AUTHOR: Before writing fiction, I studied English at University College London and worked as an illustrated book editor and advertising copywriter.

I live in a South London neighbourhood not unlike the one in my novels with my husband, teenage daughter, and our fox-red Labrador Bertie.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia for providing a digital ARC of The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s 7:30 AM on Monday, 23rd of December and Kit Roper has missed the commuter riverboat from St. Mary’s to Central London, that he shares with his friend and neighbor, Jamie Buckby.

Jamie isn’t overly surprised. That is why the pair stopped walking together.

Kit is always arriving just as the boat pulls out-secure in the knowledge that his favorite seat will be waiting for him, secured by Jamie, who is always early.

Jamie, (approaching 50) is living an affluent lifestyle with his partner of 10 years- Clare, and Kit (early 20’s and very much in debt) are an unlikely pair-introduced by their wives, who work together in real estate.

Clare had invited her vibrant new subordinate, Melia, over for drinks, attracted to her zest for life and looking for a way to energize her own. Melia was attracted to Clare’s success.

But, this time, when Jamie disembarks at the London Eye, for his job at a cafe making coffee, he is met by police who want to question him about an argument he had on the riverboat, last Friday night.

Because, Kit hasn’t been seen since, and his wife, Melia has reported him as MISSING.

The story is told through Jamie’s witty POV, complete with his inner commentary.

By the halfway point, it SEEMED like I knew where this was leading and I was reading to see HOW the story would get there, but I was still fully engaged.

And, as it turns out-I was only partially correct.
There were many surprises in the second half that I did NOT see coming!

How far would these characters go to attain what once appeared to be out of reach?
Could one night of drinks with new acquaintances, completely change the course of your life?

My only complaint...there are several chapters after the resolution which TELL us what happened months later. And, then months after that. And then an epilogue too! They dragged on, and could have been condensed or even eliminated.

This was a fun buddy read with Javier, which I was able to enjoy after receiving a copy from abroad.

Be sure to watch for his review, as they are always entertaining and he just MAY have had a different opinion about this one!!

Thank You to my Secret Santa! 🎅

[Michael David (on hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!

Jamie and his partner, Clare, have gotten to know Kit and his girlfriend, Melia (who also works with Clare) over the past year. Jamie and Kit almost always ride the riverboat to and from the city together on workdays...along with two others. The four of them call themselves the “water rats”, and occasionally have drinks together after returning to land.

After returning from Christmas break, Kit isn’t on the boat like he normally is. Odd, but not unheard of. What is odd is that Jamie finds two police officers waiting for him when he exits the boat in the city. Apparently, Kit hasn’t been seen since the Monday before Christmas. In fact, Jamie might’ve been the last person to see him. Another passenger spotted them fighting on the boat that day after returning from drinks, and the police find that suspicious.

Could Jamie have had a motive to make Kit disappear?

I am a HUGE fan of Louise Candlish, and she does a phenomenal job of building intrigue as unexpected secrets are revealed. The story goes back and forth from almost a year ago to present day, and I willed my mind to pay close attention to what I was reading so that I could crack the case before it was explained. My detective skills picked up on some minor clues, but the rest of the twists were quite a welcome surprise that I did not see coming. Nicely played, Louise. Nicely played. 👏

I do have to say that the last 15% of the book could’ve been trimmed to about 1%...as it doesn’t offer many new revelations after the climax, but I still highly recommend this to mystery/thriller fans.

If you’re new(er) to the works of Louise Candlish, I also highly recommend Our House. It’s a book that will leave you with your mouth open in shock up to the very last sentence.

Thank you to my Secret Santa 🎅, who graciously took a surprise trip from the North Pole to gift me with a copy in the month of February. Also, thanks to Atria Books and Edelweiss for the ARC approval that I received afterwards.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reasons I read this book:

1. It’s written by Louise Candlish, a new-to-me-but-loved-by-others thriller author.

2. It’s set during Christmas! Christmas is my favorite!

For reasons I can’t entirely explain, I just don’t like reading novels that make significant reference to that holiday any time other than the end of the year. If I see a review or synopsis that even mentions the word “Christmas,” onto the December list it goes. So here we are.

The Other Passenger follows the first person perspective of a 40-something jackhole named Jamie who commutes to his job as a cafe barista via a ferry. He befriends another 20-something jackhole named Kit, whose significant other, Melia, works with Jamie’s significant other, Clare. Kit turns up missing on December 27th, so we flash back to the days (and months) leading up to his disappearance.

Did Jamie kill Kit so he could have Melia? Good question!

Was Jamie in kahoots with Melia to get insurance money? Time will tell!

Does The Other Passenger have even the slightest seasonal vibe? Not at all!

Candlish opens the book with the dedication: “For everyone who has ever been tempted to compare up.” Seems pretty clear then that the intention is to examine the old “grass is always greener” adage by way of this suspenseful tale about these four haves and have-nots. It was definitely fun to be a passenger on this twisty, turny ride, even if there was absolutely nothing holly or jolly about it. I’m now game for reading other thrillers by Candlish, whenever she chooses to set them.

3.5 stars

Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/

[Susan's Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.



It's all about the money: your white collar employment status, your bank balance, your address, your clothes.
Jaime and Clare are living in a house owned by Clare's parents in a gentrified part of London, which Clare will inherit one day. Clare has a great, high paying job in real estate, but Jaime lost his own white collar job and is now an assistant manager of a cafe. Clare pushes at Jaime to "get motivated" and climb back aboard the white collar gravy train, but Jaime isn't as fussed about his low-paying, low profile job. (I got the impression that he was enjoying the reduction in stress levels. I totally sympathized with that!)

Jaime and Clare start seeing a lot of Kit and Melia - an up and coming young couple who envy Jaime and Clare's lovely home and its location. Jaime and Kit share a ride on the ferry every morning and become drinking buddies. But one day, Kit disappears and the blood-soaked clues all point to Jaime. Is he being framed?




As soon as the discussion about "life insurance" was raised in the first few chapters, I could tell where this one was going, and who the guilty party was. That was not a very subtle placement of a clue - or maybe I've been reading too many thrillers and I'm better at spotting them? The court room antics were mostly off page and I found that a lot of this novel was "on the surface" for me.



I did like that bit of irony at the end, but not the fact that the perpetrator got to con another unsuspecting target. Justice was not done. I rarely like those types of endings. I am not vindictive and I rarely waste time stewing over past injustices, but I do enjoy plots where evildoers get done in by their victims. "Revenge best served cold" plots often intrigue me. All that patience and planning!

None of the characters in this story were likable. It really was all about the money, which, for me, is a complete turn off - hence my lower rating. I avoid pretentious people like the plague. I certainly don't enjoy reading about them.

[Tina(why is GR limiting comments?!!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first time reading a book by this author. I know she is an acclaimed mystery/thriller writer.

The writing is good and the premise sounded exciting. Jamie takes the Riverboat everyday into London to go to work. There he meets and gets acquainted with a few people and one in particular, Kit, that will become a friend. Jamie and his longtime partner, Clare invite Kit and his girlfriend Melia over to their place for dinner and drinks. The four seem to all get along nicely. Kit and Melia are very impressed with the property, as they are younger and just starting out in the world. They talk about their ever growing debts all the time. One day just before Christmas Kit goes missing. Jamie is the last one to have been seen with him.

There's a mystery that unravels slowly and twists and turns along the way. Some of them I saw coming and some were surprises. I must say I did not like any of the characters at all. The book started off good but stalled towards the middle and finally picked up once again towards the end. Overall a pretty decent book. I like Louise Candlish's style so I will definitely check out another book by her.

I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for granting me access to this Advance Reader Copy.

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Jamie and Kit are part of a group of friends, all London commuters, collectively known as the Water Rats.

So named because they have the luxury of making their daily commute via riverboat on the Thames, as opposed to the more traditional, oftentimes more frustrating, modes of transportation.



They drink coffee together in the morning and more spirited drinks after work. It's not a bad way to start, or end the day.

On the first Monday back to work after the Christmas holiday, however, Jamie is approached by two police officers as he disembarks from the boat. Apparently, Kit hasn't been seen since the Water Rats Christmas drinks celebration a few days prior.



They had all been a bit sauced when they finally boarded a late boat to get home. The boat was practically empty, but it seems another passenger reported Jamie was the last person seen with Kit.

Jamie can hardly believe that he has fallen under suspicion. He and Kit did have a bit of a row, but then he went straight home. Back to his longtime partner, Claire, who can certainly attest to his whereabouts.



As the hours, then days, tick by with no sign of Kit, things begin to look progressively worse for Jamie. It's all a bit of a downward spiral.

Through a past perspective, the evolution of Jamie and Kit's friendship is brought to light, including their significant others, Claire and Melia. Kit and Melia have a contentious relationship, with Jamie and Claire witnessing evident unhappiness on more than one occasion.



Could Kit have run off on his own due to this unhappiness, or has something more sinister happened to him?

Jamie needs to find out. His very freedom may depend on it.



It's no secret that I am a fan of Louise Candlish's brand of Domestic Thriller. There's something about the way she weaves a tale that I am absolutely addicted to reading.

It's always over the top, full of unlikable characters, as well as plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting.



The Other Passenger did start out a little slow for me, but around the midpoint, it really heats up. After that point, the gas pedal is all the way to the floor until the conclusion.

This is one of those stories where the last little bit left a devilish smile on my face. I always enjoy that type of wickedly satisfying ending.



Thank you so much to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review.

I am so on board for anything Candlish writes, so I am definitely looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next!!

[Kaceey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25*
Jamie has taken a job somewhat below his skill set (at least his partner Clare thinks so). All the
same, Jaime is happy working the café with not a care in the world. Well, except his commute. But that’s about to change!

Jamie and Clare befriend a young couple Kit and Melia hoping it will bring back a spark to the partnership and perhaps life.

Jamie and Kit start commuting into the city together on a riverboat. Perhaps a drink on the boat on the way home. Maybe even a second one at the pub once back on dry ground.

But when Kit vanishes all eyes turn to Jaime. After all, he was the last person seen with Kit. And witnesses say they weren’t exactly getting along!

This is the third book I’ve read by Louise Candlish. And I must admit I’m a bit hit and miss with her work. Though this latest falls right down the middle.

None of the characters are very likable. But that worked well in this case.

I enjoyed the premise and writing. And though I had some of the storyline figured out, the author was still able to throw in a few surprises for me. Thank you!

A buddy read with Susanne

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to Megan Rudloff at Atria Books via Netgalley

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I am an outlier on this one with all the positive reviews, but with me this was a tedious read .


The plotline was very twisty & very well done , I couldn't feel anything for the character's we have affairs, drug abuse but the mental health issues were interesting as I have them as well The story was in the past & present timelines the story was told by Jamie's pont of view this was crazy & sometimes stupid things going on their were surprising dark twists that I just couldn't get my head around for me there was no drama at all fell short for me I didn't like our 🏠 either so I may give this author a big miss 3 long winded stars.🙄

[Arna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 & 1/2 stars!

I was really enjoying this one to start with but the middle section seemed to drag, time was moving slowly and it took forever for anything to happen, the last few chapters reeled me back in though and the ending was perfect!

Also, I don’t usually have a problem with unlikeable characters, as they make for good reading and there usually is at least one redeeming quality going for them but not in this case. Everyone sucks and whinges far too much.

Though I didn’t love this, I am looking forward to reading more Louise Candlish in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Buckby has developed a claustrophobic fear of travelling in the London tube so has given up his office job in the city and now works in a cafe so he can catch a ferry to work. Although he's in his forties he doesn't worry about the drop in salary and status as his partner, Clare is wealthy and owns the upmarket house they live in, although she is worried by his lack of ambition. Returning to work after the Christmas break, James is met by police at the wharf where he disembarks to question him about the disappearance of his friend and fellow commuter, Kit Roper. James and Kit were seen arguing after going out for drinks two days before Christmas and Kit has not been seen since. His wife Melia has reported him missing and is frantic with worry.

This is a well thought out plot with quite a few surprise twists. I enjoyed the opening chapters with the two couples becoming acquainted and forming an unlikely friendship. Kit and Melia's constant complaints about not being able to afford a house in London and their jealousy of Clare and Jamie's beautiful house did start to grate and it would be difficult to not be annoyed at in a friendship. The book did also get bogged down a little in the middle as Kit's disappearance dragged on but the plot definitely picked up towards the end as the lies and deception started to emerge.

With thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia and Netgalley for a copy to read

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up
Louise Candish is another author I kept meaning to read and somehow haven’t. So, I jumped at the chance to read her latest.
Jamie is coming up on 50 but working at a coffee bar due to a past trauma. His partner, luckily, comes from money and has a good job, so they’re living the good life. Enter Kit and Melia, a much younger couple. These two are up to their eyeballs in debt and still spending like there’s no tomorrow. There’s not a likeable character among them. These four struck up, for me, a very unlikely friendship. In fact, there seems to be more inter-generational envy going on than true bonding. And what happens next, hmmm.
The book begins when Kit goes missing and Jamie is the last one to have knowingly seen him alive. The story is told in alternating chapters of present day and going back over the past year as they meet and get to know each other, all told from Jamie’s POV.
This is an easy and fast read, but it took until the last ¼ of the book to really engage me. Then, the twists started coming hard and fast . It covers all the aspects of how money affects our relationships - with partners, with friends, with family and what some people will do to achieve the good life.
My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first ever library ebook read!

The story was good, very Machiavellian actually. Quick summary - Claire Armstrong and Jamie Buckby, late forties, have been together for ten years in a gracious four storey home with views of the Thames. The house actually belongs to Clare’s parents. They meet new neighbours (in a much less posh home) Kit (Christopher) Roper and his girlfriend Melia, late twenties, and hit it off surprisingly well. Jamie suffers claustrophobia from the packed trains and he and Kit agree to both buy annual tickets for the river bus - a much more relaxing commute. Clare and Melia both work more locally for the same real estate agency. The twosome of Kit and Jamie soon becomes a foursome with the addition of Steve and Gretchen and they call themselves the Water Rats.

From the start the young couple, particularly Kit, seem dissatisfied with their lot, moaning about their debts yet spending their money freely. There are many digs at the older couple’s apparent wealth. In this story inter generational rivalry is alive and well. Shortly after Christmas the police come to question Jamie as it seems that Kit has been reported missing by Melia and he, Jamie, was possibly the last person to see Kit on the day he disappeared. Of course they had had an argument that evening on the boat. Everything goes downhill from there!

The story is told from Jamie’s point of view both in the present and the year leading up to it. Despite the book feeling quite long to me the characters seemed rather flat. Clare seemed incidental to much of the story. Kit seemed to moan non-stop in between snorting coke he could ill afford up his nose. Jamie and Melia were better developed but I found them both rather unlikeable. Melia was promiscuous and Jamie was very weak and easily led - stereotypical much! There are a couple of good plot twists later in the story but I found it all a bit heavy going and there was very little drama.

I was keen to read this book as I really enjoyed the author’s Our House but unfortunately I found this book underwhelming. Some of the repartee was amusing and clever. I particularly liked this quote “our respective moral gaps fit together like a smooth running zip.” The writing was very good, there were just too flat spots for my liking.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, Louise Candlish what a book! Having read previous books by this author I knew that it would be an adventure but that was something else. That ending...;!!! A psychological thriller with a cast of unlikeable characters and themes of envy and betrayal - I read this in 2 sessions, reading late into the night to finish it. I just had to see how it was going to end, and I was not expecting that!

The Other Passenger is a twisty and unpredictable thrill ride. Jamie is scared of the underground so travels to his job in a cafe on the Thames riverboat with his new friend Kit. On the 27th December, Jamie is met from the boat by 2 police officers asking questions about Kit - he gone missing and Jamie was the last person to see him, making him prime subject number one. From this point we Jamie's story from a year ago when he first met Kit and his girlfriend Melia. The 2 couples are very different in age and financially but enjoy spending time together.

I won't say anymore about the storyline as you will want to be shocked like I was when reading this book. Very cleverly written, I was addicted. Highly recommend.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love a British mystery thriller, and Louise Candlish always delivers. Commuting by river boat on the Thames sounds amazing to me. Anything would beat my driving up and down the road, but that is some scenery!

Jamie travels underground by the Tube previously and experiences a horrific incident that forces him to change careers and methods of travel. Thus, the riverboat. I don’t blame him one bit for making the change.

It’s on that commute he makes friends with a couple, and eventually Jamie and his wife along with the other couple get together. The dynamics are up and down because there’s bitterness between the couples based on their salaries and other things. They are opposites in many ways. An affair happens and one of the friends goes missing.

The Other Passenger was so entertaining. It had my attention from start to finish with a few twists along the way. Creepy, dysfunctional, and full of drama!

I received a gifted copy.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ol' commute to work......

Check off the boxes for anxiety, stress, frustration, sleep problems, digestive problems, and a whole array of emotional/physical symptoms fryin' your insides.

But Jamie Buckby has turned the corner on it all. Jamie suffered from the crush dynamics of an overcrowded train in a London tunnel. His phobia peeks over his shoulder now every time he gets too close to one. Problem solved with boarding a commuter boat on the Thames. Easy on. Easy off.

Jamie's wife, Clare, indulges him with the upscale spacious home that belongs to her and her patience with Jamie's low pay job as a cafe assistant at the Comfort Zone. Clare informs Jamie that she has invited a co-worker, Melia, and her husband, Kit, over for dinner one evening. Melia and Kit live the high life of youth in their twenties and Jamie and Clare have to step it up to keep up.

Jamie convinces Kit to try commuting to work on the boat with him and his fellow friends. They hit the waves every day and elbow their way to the boat bar every night. Life is good. After returning from the Christmas holidays, Jamie doesn't find Kit among the passengers. A frantic Melia calls Jamie searching for Kit with no luck. It's like he's disappeared into thin air. Not a sign. Not a clue.

Louise Candlish has created a tightly-knit storyline lined with whopper lies and indiscretions. Our main characters have not been upfront with one another. And it's all starting to catch up. Jamie, himself, has been heavily interviewed by the police. But what does Jamie really know about the missing Kit? Why doesn't anyone else know where Kit is? Candlish keeps you guessing throughout with a cat-got-your-tongue approach. No one's talking until the threads start to unravel quickly.
The Other Passenger is certainly one to keep an eye out for.

I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Simon & Schuster (Atria Books) and to Louise Candlish for the opportunity.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are very few authors I buy or read their book without even reading the blurb but this author is one, it’s a risk of course but again this book has proved me right
I have to say as well that reading about my street was brill ( one of the characters place of work was here and so a lot of the book was based in and around the area I live )

So....
Clare and Jamie more than solvent late 40’s
Melia and Kit flourishing in debt mid 20’s
And never the twain should meet
But they do via work and also via the ‘riverboat’ commute Kit and Jamie take twice daily
Their friendship blossoms but so does a game that two of them are playing, a game so evil and twisted you struggle not to baulk at the audacity of it
The story is told by Jamie over the period of a few weeks with flashbacks and the web of deceit and lies these people manage to weave is fascinatingly depraved
Its chilling, dark, tense, soooo well written and has twists that twist on themselves until the ending where
you think there cant be anymore...then there is.....
A warning that the characters will have you furious at their deception and loathing of their greed and immorality
Outstanding in every way, makes me happy to be a reader!!
10/10
5 Stars

[Natalie M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m definitely an outlier in the review stakes here but I really don’t enjoy a novel where every character lacks even the most basic of redeeming qualities!

Jamie and Clare an odd couple but with potential, befriend a younger couple Kit and Melia. Through some coincidence they meet via public transport/work and a weird dynamic develops. Kit lands up missing/dead and Jamie is the prime suspect. Nothing is realistic and it seemed implausible from the first police interview.

The plot, despite these gaping holes, had interesting twists, which I hoped would become more but there was nothing to enjoy. I could not muster an iota of sympathy for any of them and they deserved the outcomes.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dial D for Deceit. This new book from Louise Candlish is reminiscent of Hitchcock works yet includes modern twists. I could not put it down. When our main character Jamie decides to commute to work via the Thames rather than the tube/train combo, he makes a new group of friends. His new buddies become drinking buddies and the plot thickens. There is much more going on under the surface and as each new layer is uncovered, we feel the net tighten. I thought it was brilliant. Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewell.

Thank you to Atria Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sunflowerbooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Other Passenger is a slow burn of a psychological thriller with an unreliable narrator.

Louise Candlish does an amazing job leaving her readers on their toes. I was guessing with every turn of a page! The characters are unique and relatable.

Candlish leaves tiny bits of breadcrumbs to her readers.... and well.. not all of them lead you to where you think you're going.

The plot is intriguing and of course plenty of deceit, lies, and betrayal. IT definitely was juicy.. but more of a slow burn. I also loved watching Jamie squirm.. haha. But, I was hoping that things could have been wrapped up a bit better at the end.


All I can say is be careful what you wish for ;).

Overall, I had fun with this one and an entertaining thriller.

3.5/5 stars

Thank you so much to Atria for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: 7/20/21
Published to GR: 7/18/21.

[Susanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review posted to blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Money. It’s What Some People Have and Others Want. When it Comes to Relationships, and the Impact it has on them, Well, it Can be a Doozy!

Jamie and his partner Clare have been together for what seems like forever. Now middle - aged, they live the high life, thanks to Clare, who inherited a fortune. Jamie used to work a high powered job until something happened. Ever since, he’s worked in a coffee shop, much to Clare’s chagrin. Unable to take the tube to work, he decides to take the river boat and it is there that he meets a whole host of new friends: Kit, Gretchen and Steve.

Kit and his girlfriend Melia are in their twenties and struggle to make ends meet. Living beyond their means, these two are desperate for something beyond their reach. Melia is young, gorgeous, and if truth be told, devious among other things.

When Kit begins taking the river boat with Jamie the two hit it off.

Pretty soon, a friendship of sorts forms between the two couples, odd as it seems, given the disparity between them.

It’s smashing at first, until it’s not. One morning Kit doesn’t show up for the river boat. It is then that the police are waiting to question Jamie. And so it all unravels.

Surprise, surprise.

Secrets and lies, here they come.

A few are quite predictable and a few, well, ha, a few, they actually got me.

A somewhat suspenseful mystery suspense that was a tad slow in the beginning and picked up the pace at the tail end, “The Other Passenger” is yet another winner by Louise Candlish that I highly recommend.
3.5 Stars

Another buddy read with Ms. Kaceey that gave us lots to discuss.

Thank you to Megan Rudloff, Atria Books, and Louise Candlish for the arc. #blogtour #bookblogger #bookreviewer

Published on Goodreads, Twitter and Instagram.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish is most certainly one of my favorite suspense books of this year. That is hard to believe considering I almost quit reading The Other Passenger because I thought it was too slow to get started. However, it is well worth hanging in there and you will not regret it. James and Kit become commuting buddies on a ferry in London and they enjoy each other’s company until Kit is reported missing by his wife. James appears to be the last person to have seen him. A witness from the ferry says that the two were having a violent argument the night Kit disappeared. James’ world quickly unravels. Not much more can be revealed so as not to spoil the plot. The more you read, the more confused you become and then you will think you figured out what happened and then everything changes again. This is a thriller well worth spending time with. This is my first Louise Candlish novel but it certainly will not be my last. Highly recommended. Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. (less)

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch · Rating 3 out of 5]

The hook, pace and themes: Was the story a page-turner?

Jamie and Kit commute to work on a river bus every day. Kit doesn't show up one morning and as Jamie departs the river bus he is met by two police officers who question him about Kit's disappearance.

After reading The Heights, I expected a page-turner and was disappointed it was not. The hook here was not much of an angle for me to keep me wanting to turn the pages. Like all psychological thrillers, the story builds up slowly, but it feels more dragged out rather than building the suspense and tension needed to drive the story forward, and the pace didn't pick up.

Jamie and his partner Clare live in a Georgian townhouse by the river in an up-and-coming neighborhood, while Kit and Melia rent a standard one-bed flat not far on the wrong side of the tracks, which they can barely afford. Things start to get interesting when we see they will do anything to raise their status.

I liked all the themes explored: class structure, generations (Gen X versus Millennial), jealousy, the haves and have-nots, and social pressure.

The characters: Are they likeable or unlikeable with flaws that can be easily related to? Was I able to get into their heads and enjoy what I saw?

Louise Candlish follows her signature annoying and unlikeable characters, but none in a good, exciting way. Jamie has some flaws and strengths that make him sympathetic and easy to relate to; however, he is a middle-aged man sleeping with a younger woman, Milia. His irresponsibility and contentment at working in a coffee shop contrast Clare's feelings of superiority, and I liked that part about him. We stayed in his head, and I didn't enjoy what I saw because I couldn't get past his thoughts toward younger Milia, which made it hard to root for him.

Kit and Milia are the unlikable, annoying, selfish characters, and Milia is a femme fatale character making her the most unlikeable character. I am not a fan of that trope.

Structure:

Louise Candlish doesn't use her signature innovative narrative or forms that I love.
The story is told from Jamie's POV in two timelines. In flashbacks, we see into the building relationship between Jamie, Clare and Melia, and Kit, which felt dragged out and in the present as the story unfolds after Kit disappears.

Battle of wits: What and who made up the battle of wits element to the story? Did the unreliable narrator's element increase enough doubt to keep me guessing who was telling the truth?
Jamie and Kit battle wits here; however, Louise Candlish has some surprises that had me thinking that Jamie, Clare, Kit, and Milia were battling wits in different ways with each other throughout the story. This increased that element of doubt and had me questioning who was telling the truth and who wasn't.

Believability element: Did it blur the lines between fiction and reality with a believability element that made me think it could happen?

The story didn't feel convincing or realistic and felt more like entertaining fiction.

Payoff: Was the story layered with clues to see some of the twists and turns coming with a rewarding payoff in the end?

I thought the clues were there, but the story's twists and turns felt convoluted and overdone. I had a hard time following the story's twists and turns, and I gave up, so when the rug was pulled out from under me, I wasn't on it. It felt like the story should have ended a couple of chapters earlier, and the ending was dragged out with more of a turn rather than a twist. The payoff was that the story ended.

Would I recommend it?

Of all her books this wouldn't be the one I would recommend to read. Skip this one and read The Heights if you haven't. If you are looking for an audiobook to listen to, I would recommend it, but once you get halfway, pay attention to those twists and turns.

I received a copy from the publisher

For more reviews like this from the author can be found be found on our blog Penny For Our Thoughts

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Candlish's latest psychological thriller is every bit as good and twisty as you'd come to expect from this author, the unique setting of two friends deciding to commute on the river bus from East London to Waterloo is such a fascinating simple draw.

The story opens just after the Christmas break as Jamie isn't too surprised that Kit has not appeared on the 7.20 from St. Mary's Pier, his friend is notorious for having numerous sick days - he must have over indulged during the festive break...
The shock comes when he disembarks and the police are there to question him, Kit has been reported missing and a witness has come forward stating that the pair were seen arguing prior to the last boat home after Christmas drinks.

With the aid of flashbacks that begins with the guys getting to know each other and the decision to get season tickets for the river bus in January, to the various parties they attend as they start to enjoy each other's company.
The intresting aspect to this story is that Jamie and Claire are in their late 40's whilst Kit and Melia are youthful early 20's which adds another layer as differences between the two generations is quite stark.
The central mystery of why the two friends were arguing really helps drive the narrative.

With so many unexpected revelations, this was another gripping page turner from the ever reliable Candlish.

[Ankit Garg · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the title of the book referring to a person on a public means of transport, I picked this book with similar expectations as with The Girl on the Train, and I can say with absolute certainty that it didn't let me down on any count. If you have read my review of The Girl on the Train, you'll know how disappointed I was with it. Louise Candlish has given a very different turn to the person mentioned in the title, one I have no complains about.

The plot is well planned and confidently executed. The twists are exciting and kept me hooked throughout. It felt a bit dragged in the second half after the abduction was revealed, but the close-to-reality ending made it all worthwhile.

Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.

Verdict: Recommended.

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Jamie has been living an easy life. He has lived with his girlfriend, Clare for ten years. She comes from money and the house belongs to her. She pays for things but would like for Jamie to get a higher paying job. He once had a white-collar job, but his agoraphobia makes it difficult to take the tube, so he is now working in a coffee shop. He rides the commuter riverboat with his friend and neighbor, Kit.

On Monday, Jamie notices that his friend, Kit has not shown up to take the 7:30 a.m. riverboat that they ride together. When Jamie departs the riverboat at the London Eye, he is met by two police officers. Kit's wife, Melia has reported him missing. Apparently, Jamie was seen arguing with Kit the Friday before. What was their argument about?

For me this was a slow burn for most of the book. I am not a slow burn kind of girl, but for some reason, this did not bother me as it does with other books. Candlish threw in just enough twists and turns to keep my interest piqued and have me wanting to know more. Reading this book was like watching a train wreck in slow motion. You know something is going to happen, but you must bid your time, and wait as things begin to unravel.

The story is told through Jamie's POV, and we are privy to his insights, commentary and thoughts. just when you think you have him figured out.... well.... The characters are an interesting lot. The two couples become fast friends but then things being to cool off between all of them – or does it? The less you know about them the better. Go in as blind as possible.

The plot was intriguing. There is deceit, betrayals and lies. It kept things juicy - just at a slower pace. I do not want to say too much about it, but I enjoyed all the tiny reveals and realizations. I also enjoyed watching Jamie squirm and how things were resolved BUT I wondered if the book was ever going to end. I am not talking about the page length but when I thought things were done and the book was over....it was not. Sone will enjoy this. In my opinion, things could have been a little tighter at the end. Having said that, I enjoyed learning what happened with the characters. I was happy for one character had a little chuckle at the expense of others.

There are so many sayings that could go with this book : be careful what you wish for, with friends like these, don't bit off more than you can chew, actions have consequences and my favorite, pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered.

Not my favorite book by Candlish, but still enjoyable, worthwhile and the perfect read while commuting to work. I believe I would have enjoyed this more as an audiobook.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com