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The People Before
What if your dream house became your worst nightmare?
Jess and her husband need a new start. So when the chance to buy a rambling old house in the Suffolk countryside comes up, they leap at it.
But not everyone in Suffolk is welcoming. The locals know a secret about the Maple House, and soon, Jess realises they’ve made a huge mistake.
Something bad happened in that house. Something nobody wants to talk about.
Jess and her husband need a new start. So when the chance to buy a rambling old house in the Suffolk countryside comes up, they leap at it.
But not everyone in Suffolk is welcoming. The locals know a secret about the Maple House, and soon, Jess realises they’ve made a huge mistake.
Something bad happened in that house. Something nobody wants to talk about.
336 pages, Paperback
First published November 10, 2022
36 people are currently reading
447 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Northedge
2 books29 followersCharlotte Northedge is joint Head of Books for the Guardian. She has previously written for a range of newspapers and magazines, including the Guardian, Psychologies and Cosmopolitan.
She has an MA in Modern and Contemporary Literature from Birkbeck and is an alumna of the Curtis Brown Creative writing course. The House Guest is her first novel.
She has an MA in Modern and Contemporary Literature from Birkbeck and is an alumna of the Curtis Brown Creative writing course. The House Guest is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
September 15, 2022
Keen to get out of London, Pete and Jess buy a large house in rural Suffolk which is desperate need of renovation- Japanese knotweed and all. The scale of the necessary work to restore Maple House is somewhat overwhelming and right from the start Jess has misgivings, prickles on the back of the neck with the sense of being watched and there’s a negative energy. Pete doesn’t think she’s being rational but Jess can’t help but wonder if all their problems have followed them here. What problems are those and what stories could the house tell???
The best aspect of the book is the creepy, oppressive and claustrophobic atmosphere which makes you wonder why the couple don’t see this when viewing it. Their young daughters Rose has many fears of the change and of the property and these are palpable with the unease permeating the book. You get some interesting little information bombs which are very intriguing and the introduction of Eve into the storytelling who Jess meets in a a gallery in Ipswich, makes for some intriguing dynamics and distantly off notes. Who is the cuckoo in the Maple House nest? The author introduces The Yellow Wallpaper (1892 Charlotte Perkins Gilman) into the storytelling and I really like this element and I’m disappointed that fizzles out.
You soon grow to appreciate that several characters are living in the past and it’s not going to end well. In the second half there are some elements of subterfuge and sabotage with betrayal aplenty.
However, although the novel is clearly meant to be a slow burner at times it’s too slow and so it takes a while for the plot to get going. My main issue is that it’s hard to fully immerse yourself when you dislike the central protagonists! Jess can be very self centred and extremely whiney as she goes round and round the same old garden. Pete is detached and about as much use as a chocolate teapot. The tension does rise and fall as it reaches the conclusion but the ending really lets it down in my opinion. I could accept unlikeable characters if that had been a cracker!!
Overall, a mixed bag read although there are plenty of positives not least in the cloying atmosphere.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins/ HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
The best aspect of the book is the creepy, oppressive and claustrophobic atmosphere which makes you wonder why the couple don’t see this when viewing it. Their young daughters Rose has many fears of the change and of the property and these are palpable with the unease permeating the book. You get some interesting little information bombs which are very intriguing and the introduction of Eve into the storytelling who Jess meets in a a gallery in Ipswich, makes for some intriguing dynamics and distantly off notes. Who is the cuckoo in the Maple House nest? The author introduces The Yellow Wallpaper (1892 Charlotte Perkins Gilman) into the storytelling and I really like this element and I’m disappointed that fizzles out.
You soon grow to appreciate that several characters are living in the past and it’s not going to end well. In the second half there are some elements of subterfuge and sabotage with betrayal aplenty.
However, although the novel is clearly meant to be a slow burner at times it’s too slow and so it takes a while for the plot to get going. My main issue is that it’s hard to fully immerse yourself when you dislike the central protagonists! Jess can be very self centred and extremely whiney as she goes round and round the same old garden. Pete is detached and about as much use as a chocolate teapot. The tension does rise and fall as it reaches the conclusion but the ending really lets it down in my opinion. I could accept unlikeable characters if that had been a cracker!!
Overall, a mixed bag read although there are plenty of positives not least in the cloying atmosphere.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins/ HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
November 17, 2022
The first half of this book was so slow and jumping all over the place. It started to get very confusing and for this reason I nearly gave up. A not very spooky house and a new family have moved in. As usual in these type of stories the mother picks up on something not quite right and as usual the husband and others decide she is having a mid life crisis, could be menopausal or even pmt. Not that she could be bloody terrified. It did get better but became so repetitive I was losing the will to live. This could have been a good book but it left me feeling flat and very disappointed.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
July 18, 2023
Jess and her husband Pete after a bad experience in London up-sticks and along with their young son and daughter move to a dilapidated large house in a village near Ipswich. It’s meant to be a fresh start for the whole family a chance to live the dream but almost instantly Jess gets a bad feeling about their new home. Neither one anticipated the work and money involved in this large project and as Jess’s paranoia escalates cracks emerge and husband and wife only grow further apart.
Everyone is unhappy even the children and Jess finds herself unable to find her feet everything and everybody is just so different to what she’s used to and she desperately wants her old life back. Meanwhile, Pete who is still commuting is spending longer days working and when he is home he is dismissive and uninterested and constantly glued to his phone.
So I did find this very slow going and quite tedious. It also didn’t help that the characters were not very likeable Jess came across as self-absorbed and fixated on how everything affected her whilst her husband Pete was largely bland uninterested and absent both physically and emotionally. I didn’t feel much of a connection with anyone and because of my growing apathy, I wasn’t even that bothered about anyone’s well-being or even the eventual conclusion which if I’m honest was a tad ridiculous.
The writing wasn’t bad but was very much focused on Jess’s inner monologue which was not a good head-space to be in. This was told from dual POVs both Jess and then Eve a friend she meets whilst she’s ripe for manipulation, each woman but mostly Jess has a story to tell but rather than alternate narratives it’s told in blocks Jess them Eve before we switch back to Jess for the final piece.
The best bit of this is the atmospheric ambience it does have a very creepy ominous vibe that promises much but it then fails to deliver. In conclusion this for me didn’t deliver the goods a slow pace combined with mostly unlikable individuals is my final take home. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of The People Before.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
November 10, 2022
I loved the sound of this book and when reading it you can definitely feel the atmosphere is tense and creepy. A family decide to make a fresh start in Maple House, but what has happened there before, why are people not very welcoming? strange things are going on and Jess and her family don't know what to do. Will they uncover the deadly truth of the house? I have to say for me it was a slow burner but when it got going it was good. It sets the scene at the start with things happening and going wrong and then you in for a hell of a ride with twists and turns at every corner where you least expect them. I had no clue were this story was going to lead and I could feel the tension and unease just sitting reading it. The ending left me stunned. I cannot wait to read more of Charlotte's books in the future.
January 1, 2023
So this book did keep me gripped and yes it did have some kinda creepy vibe but its not horror its a family secrets themed thriller.
I did find it very very predictable but still did enjoy. 3 stars .
I did find it very very predictable but still did enjoy. 3 stars .
January 8, 2023
3.23⭐️
I was obsessed for the first 2 thirds but then the story started to lose pace and the promise of a good scare faded away. Anticlimactic denouement, interesting ending and overall just a little disappointed by the last third of the story, I'm sad to say.
I was obsessed for the first 2 thirds but then the story started to lose pace and the promise of a good scare faded away. Anticlimactic denouement, interesting ending and overall just a little disappointed by the last third of the story, I'm sad to say.
November 11, 2022
3.5 stars
The prologue instantly sets in the creep, using all the senses to evoke the feeling that you are not alone. This continues throughout part one of the book as Jess and Pete move from London after a home invasion in to Maple House in Suffolk.
Isolated, dilapidated, decaying, their new home is so much more than a doer upper. Narrated by Jess you feel that the move was very much her husband’s decision and she just went along with it. However she wants the idyllic life in the countryside to become a reality for their two children.
Jess as a protagonist felt desperately unhappy and I had a feeling the cold and creepy house would not help. Everything felt neglected, the house, the garden and even more so her character.
It then switched narrative to Eve who works in the local gallery and is the one to bring some warmth into Jess’s life and plenty of ideas on restoring their new home. The change of narration gave a new perspective but it also created a loss of the creepy tension that was so prevalent at the start. Jess also became questionable and I would be hoarse if I had kept shouting at her.
An easy reading, solid thriller that had a perfect setting and plenty of chill for a winter read. Although I did guess the who the why was a complete surprise!
The prologue instantly sets in the creep, using all the senses to evoke the feeling that you are not alone. This continues throughout part one of the book as Jess and Pete move from London after a home invasion in to Maple House in Suffolk.
Isolated, dilapidated, decaying, their new home is so much more than a doer upper. Narrated by Jess you feel that the move was very much her husband’s decision and she just went along with it. However she wants the idyllic life in the countryside to become a reality for their two children.
Jess as a protagonist felt desperately unhappy and I had a feeling the cold and creepy house would not help. Everything felt neglected, the house, the garden and even more so her character.
It then switched narrative to Eve who works in the local gallery and is the one to bring some warmth into Jess’s life and plenty of ideas on restoring their new home. The change of narration gave a new perspective but it also created a loss of the creepy tension that was so prevalent at the start. Jess also became questionable and I would be hoarse if I had kept shouting at her.
An easy reading, solid thriller that had a perfect setting and plenty of chill for a winter read. Although I did guess the who the why was a complete surprise!
December 28, 2022
There are several tropes that writers of psychological thrillers always seem to fall back on and four of them are crammed into this book: A creepy house, unwelcoming neighbours, a gaslighting husband, and a friend with sinister motives. If done really well, this might be OK - if not very original - but unfortunately in this case you can see the twist coming a mile off. It also feels very contrived, one minute the husband is a selfish, gaslighting creep then when it suits the plot, he undergoes a miraculous transformation to become a loving spouse and attentive dad. Jess, the wife and central protagonist is frustratingly spineless and the story quickly descends into silliness in the second half. 'The People Before', isn't dreadful, but it isn't great either and if you've read a few books in this genre it's unlikely you'll find any surprises hidden between its covers. Surely it's time for publishers and authors to stop churning out the same old stuff and come up with something a bit more original!
January 3, 2023
A solid 4 out of 5 stars.
Jess and Pete decide to move out of London with their children and buy an old house in the country. They soon find the house is dilapidated and needing more work than expected. They also struggle to settle in their new community and there is something creepy and strange about the house…
I found this an engaging read, the start of the book swept me quickly into the story and the mystery surrounding Maple House. There were a few slow parts and then the ending was nicely rounded off. I could actually see this being made into a TV drama. This is the first novel I’ve read by Charlotte Northedge and will definitely look out for this author again.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing an advance copy in return for my honest opinion.
Jess and Pete decide to move out of London with their children and buy an old house in the country. They soon find the house is dilapidated and needing more work than expected. They also struggle to settle in their new community and there is something creepy and strange about the house…
I found this an engaging read, the start of the book swept me quickly into the story and the mystery surrounding Maple House. There were a few slow parts and then the ending was nicely rounded off. I could actually see this being made into a TV drama. This is the first novel I’ve read by Charlotte Northedge and will definitely look out for this author again.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing an advance copy in return for my honest opinion.
December 5, 2022
The People Before tells the story of Jess and Peter, a couple from London desperate to be seen as doing the right thing, and their move to the country. They’d always been happy in London, until the break-in that has left Jess and her daughter scared. The move to Maple House in rural Suffolk seems like the answer to their prayers.
From early on we know Jess is hiding something. Peter’s behaviour is erratic so it doesn’t come as a surprise to learn he has secrets of his own. With two such nervy characters it doesn’t take long before this seemingly idyllic rural home takes on a life of its own.
People in the village seem to have a strange look on their face when Jess mentions where she lives. There’s a history to the house, and Jess’s new friend Eve is happy to fill her in on the more interesting details.
The initial atmosphere of the book felt unnecessarily exaggerated. As we learn more about each of the characters it was clear that the reality of the problems were more character driven. By the time we were told exactly what was happening and why, I found myself quite disengaged. Everything felt simply too much.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this prior to publication. It was definitely a story that had potential.
From early on we know Jess is hiding something. Peter’s behaviour is erratic so it doesn’t come as a surprise to learn he has secrets of his own. With two such nervy characters it doesn’t take long before this seemingly idyllic rural home takes on a life of its own.
People in the village seem to have a strange look on their face when Jess mentions where she lives. There’s a history to the house, and Jess’s new friend Eve is happy to fill her in on the more interesting details.
The initial atmosphere of the book felt unnecessarily exaggerated. As we learn more about each of the characters it was clear that the reality of the problems were more character driven. By the time we were told exactly what was happening and why, I found myself quite disengaged. Everything felt simply too much.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this prior to publication. It was definitely a story that had potential.
November 18, 2022
The writing was gripping and tapped in to some of my fears. It was cleverly written from two different perspectives. So many different things happened, but they all tied up well. The writing was clear and kept me interested throughout.
The story was split into a prologue and 3 parts (two of which were labelled with the character whose viewpoint we would be reading) with chapters that weren't overly long in each part and were similar in length. There was a good pace to the story with lots of little bits going on. Things were dropped then were gradually explained, which made me want to keep on reading to see how it would all turn out. Even though there were lots of little bits I didn't get lost or confused by what was going on.
The characters were excellent. With the way it was written you just weren't sure who to trust and whether what you were reading was as straightforward as it made out. I loved that we had the two viewpoints so we were able to really get to know the two main characters. They were certainly complex people with secrets that they were trying to keep hidden. I was emotionally invested and was satisfied with the ending.
Lastly the settings. I loved the house. It was a character in itself. It was cleverly written to seem both spooky and not, depending on how you were looking at it. There was enough description to give you an idea of the house, but the main focus of the story was on the characters and their thoughts, feelings and actions.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it if you want something darker to read.
✨For a longer review see my book blog✨ https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/
The story was split into a prologue and 3 parts (two of which were labelled with the character whose viewpoint we would be reading) with chapters that weren't overly long in each part and were similar in length. There was a good pace to the story with lots of little bits going on. Things were dropped then were gradually explained, which made me want to keep on reading to see how it would all turn out. Even though there were lots of little bits I didn't get lost or confused by what was going on.
The characters were excellent. With the way it was written you just weren't sure who to trust and whether what you were reading was as straightforward as it made out. I loved that we had the two viewpoints so we were able to really get to know the two main characters. They were certainly complex people with secrets that they were trying to keep hidden. I was emotionally invested and was satisfied with the ending.
Lastly the settings. I loved the house. It was a character in itself. It was cleverly written to seem both spooky and not, depending on how you were looking at it. There was enough description to give you an idea of the house, but the main focus of the story was on the characters and their thoughts, feelings and actions.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it if you want something darker to read.
✨For a longer review see my book blog✨ https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/
January 18, 2023
Jess and Pete move from London to the Suffolk countryside with their two children Archie and Rose. The Marsh House is a large, rambling old house needing a lot of work. From the moment they arrive Jess feels tense, the house is creepy and she's daunted by the scale of the renovations. Jess struggles to settle, she finds the school mums unwelcoming and the countryside far from idyllic. She meets Eve at an art gallery and the pair quickly form a friendship. But Eve has secrets and is not all she seems.
The story unfolds between Jess and Eve in three parts. A creepy tension builds slowly throughout the book and I struggled to put it down. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.
The story unfolds between Jess and Eve in three parts. A creepy tension builds slowly throughout the book and I struggled to put it down. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.
October 5, 2022
Part one of the story is instantly creepy and atmospheric as you start to try and guess what's going on.
The pace and atmosphere then changes in part two as we switch to a different characters pov.
Then part three switches things up again.
Overall the book is well written and I'd definitely read others by this author. I do wish that the vibe and atmosphere of part one had remained throughout the book, and that the ending had been a little neater. So for this I'd rate it 3.5 stars.
Thanks to netgalley and Harper Collins for the arc ebook.
The pace and atmosphere then changes in part two as we switch to a different characters pov.
Then part three switches things up again.
Overall the book is well written and I'd definitely read others by this author. I do wish that the vibe and atmosphere of part one had remained throughout the book, and that the ending had been a little neater. So for this I'd rate it 3.5 stars.
Thanks to netgalley and Harper Collins for the arc ebook.
November 15, 2022
Read as a NetGalley reviewer - thanks for a copy of this book to review. I really enjoyed this book - 5 *s The characterization, plot, and setting were very good and made me want to read the book very quickly. I found myself intrigued and drawn into seeing what happened next. Maple House is intimidating with a foreboding that you know Pete and Jess should not have bought, yet you are glad they did! I felt all of the emotions - anger, fear, sympathy with the story lines and twists and turns. Not a predictable ending, which added to the mystery and will look out for more titles by this author
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November 23, 2022
This is a top-notch thriller and definitely up there as one of my top reads of the year.
I almost burnt my dinner when I first picked it up, intending only to read just one page that turned into a whole chapter, and those in this novel are quite long.
Overall this was a creepy chiller that had me gripped throughout, I was surprised more than once, and I cannot wait to see what else this very talented author comes up with.
I almost burnt my dinner when I first picked it up, intending only to read just one page that turned into a whole chapter, and those in this novel are quite long.
Overall this was a creepy chiller that had me gripped throughout, I was surprised more than once, and I cannot wait to see what else this very talented author comes up with.
January 4, 2023
My first review of 2023, and I am SO glad that it’s this beauty by Charlotte Northedge. If you’re looking for a thriller, that instantaneously draws you in, then this is definitely the read for you.
Charlotte cleverly creates a creepy atmosphere, and allows you to feel as if you are directly experiencing the story. I was constantly second guessing and questioning every characters motives, and relished in the jaw-dropping ending. It left goosebumps on my skin, and my heart in my mouth! Also, the twists and turns in this book?! I couldn’t stop thinking about them. Incredible.
Charlotte cleverly creates a creepy atmosphere, and allows you to feel as if you are directly experiencing the story. I was constantly second guessing and questioning every characters motives, and relished in the jaw-dropping ending. It left goosebumps on my skin, and my heart in my mouth! Also, the twists and turns in this book?! I couldn’t stop thinking about them. Incredible.
February 11, 2023
Thank you for the opportunity to read this novel.
The People Before is one of those rare books that draws you in completely. I was fascinated by the scenario, curious about the back stories and keen to see how the plot would develop. In the end I read this in a single day, utterly absorbed.
A well plotted and written story, with great characters I could visualise, sympathise with and enthusiastically follow through the development of the story.
Clever, contemporary and atmospheric, this is a novel just waiting for further adaptation to stage or screen.
The People Before is one of those rare books that draws you in completely. I was fascinated by the scenario, curious about the back stories and keen to see how the plot would develop. In the end I read this in a single day, utterly absorbed.
A well plotted and written story, with great characters I could visualise, sympathise with and enthusiastically follow through the development of the story.
Clever, contemporary and atmospheric, this is a novel just waiting for further adaptation to stage or screen.
November 7, 2022
Decent thriller where everyone has secrets to slowly come out. No major surprises but a decent read
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
November 14, 2022
When Jess and Pete need a new start they decide to purchase a rambling, nearly derelict house in the Suffolk countryside. Their plan is to fully renovate the house and outbuildings so they can rent out some of it. But it isn’t too long until they realise that they may have bitten off more than they can chew and that perhaps they have made a huge mistake.
Coupled with the almost insurmountable challenges posed by the house, Jess has given up her job to cut down on child care costs and is feeling isolated and lonely with Pete working longer hours to make ends meet. Jess and her daughter are feeling increasingly uncomfortable about the house - Jess has a bad feeling that someone is watching her and Rose feels that it’s spooky. When Jess’ mother tells her that she feels the same and when Jess picks up on the local vibes that no one want to talk about what happened to the people that lived there before Jess gets really freaked out.
This is a gripping plot that starts with a slow, spine tingling start that feels very creepy and unsettling, and then…..and then comes a switch in the narrator….think total gear change and foot flat on the accelerator pedal!
It’s littered with dark secrets and is twisted with such a tautness in the tension that you can almost hear it twang!!
Hugely compelling! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Coupled with the almost insurmountable challenges posed by the house, Jess has given up her job to cut down on child care costs and is feeling isolated and lonely with Pete working longer hours to make ends meet. Jess and her daughter are feeling increasingly uncomfortable about the house - Jess has a bad feeling that someone is watching her and Rose feels that it’s spooky. When Jess’ mother tells her that she feels the same and when Jess picks up on the local vibes that no one want to talk about what happened to the people that lived there before Jess gets really freaked out.
This is a gripping plot that starts with a slow, spine tingling start that feels very creepy and unsettling, and then…..and then comes a switch in the narrator….think total gear change and foot flat on the accelerator pedal!
It’s littered with dark secrets and is twisted with such a tautness in the tension that you can almost hear it twang!!
Hugely compelling! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
September 24, 2022
Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for my advance review copy of this book.
The house that Jack built ★★★☆☆
The big project house in the Suffolk countryside was supposed to be a new start for Jess and Pete and their two children. However they soon find out that the dilapidated house has a dark history. Even worse, Jess is convinced that someone is watching them.
Jinxed from the beginning, Jess and Pete begin to crumble under their respective secrets as Jess struggles against the house whilst becoming increasingly paranoid. Friendless and isolated, meeting local gallery owner Eve seems like the answer to Jess’s prayers. Then everything gets much worse…
The layers of secrets are interesting as is the cat and mouse game between Jess and someone invested in the house’s secrets. However, the identity of the saboteur and the voice of that character lacks punch and credulity.
I’ll definitely be avoiding buying a mysterious project house in the middle of nowhere!
The house that Jack built ★★★☆☆
The big project house in the Suffolk countryside was supposed to be a new start for Jess and Pete and their two children. However they soon find out that the dilapidated house has a dark history. Even worse, Jess is convinced that someone is watching them.
Jinxed from the beginning, Jess and Pete begin to crumble under their respective secrets as Jess struggles against the house whilst becoming increasingly paranoid. Friendless and isolated, meeting local gallery owner Eve seems like the answer to Jess’s prayers. Then everything gets much worse…
The layers of secrets are interesting as is the cat and mouse game between Jess and someone invested in the house’s secrets. However, the identity of the saboteur and the voice of that character lacks punch and credulity.
I’ll definitely be avoiding buying a mysterious project house in the middle of nowhere!
August 18, 2023
The eerie, creepy feeling while reading this really pulled me into the story
I had many different suspicions running through my head from chapter to chapter, and couldn't put it down .
Well written, gripping and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up a few times.
I had many different suspicions running through my head from chapter to chapter, and couldn't put it down .
Well written, gripping and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up a few times.
January 28, 2025
Melodrama on steroids, cliched Hackney family, forebodings & coincidences galore, credibility stretched to the edge of every seam...and yet, I quite enjoyed it!
August 9, 2023
An eerie and creepy read. I couldn’t put it down!
February 5, 2023
I loved this: creepy, tense and claustrophobic.
Pete and Jess buy a big house in rural Suffolk that needs a lot of work. Overwhelmingly so. Jess is clearly uncomfortable with the house. Pete works in London and Jess is left alone a lot with two children who need a lot of attention. And something clearly happened in London prior to their move that no-one is talking about.
This is a slow burner with characters I loved to dislike. Everything that could go wrong, did. Like Jess, I always felt I was left unbalanced about what was going on. What was going to go wrong next?! One thing after another seems to go wrong in this house. What was Pete up to? What had happened in the house before they had got there?
Honestly, I didn’t read the synopsis to this book before I read it, purely because I’d read and enjoyed The House Guest, Charlotte’s previous book. And I wasn’t disappointed. I’m eager to read whatever she writes next!
Pete and Jess buy a big house in rural Suffolk that needs a lot of work. Overwhelmingly so. Jess is clearly uncomfortable with the house. Pete works in London and Jess is left alone a lot with two children who need a lot of attention. And something clearly happened in London prior to their move that no-one is talking about.
This is a slow burner with characters I loved to dislike. Everything that could go wrong, did. Like Jess, I always felt I was left unbalanced about what was going on. What was going to go wrong next?! One thing after another seems to go wrong in this house. What was Pete up to? What had happened in the house before they had got there?
Honestly, I didn’t read the synopsis to this book before I read it, purely because I’d read and enjoyed The House Guest, Charlotte’s previous book. And I wasn’t disappointed. I’m eager to read whatever she writes next!
November 11, 2022
Desperate to make a new start and leave London behind them, Jess and Pete are inexorably drawn to Maple House despite its isolated location, dire state of repair, and knotweed-infested garden. Sure, the renovation work seems daunting now but, once the work is done, it will be the perfect family home: a rural idyll in which Archie and Rose can grow up and Jess and Pete can leave behind the shadows and secrets of their past.
But Maple House, it turns out, has its own shadows and its own secrets. Stuck in her tumbledown new home with the children, Jess soon realises that the locals don’t like to talk about Maple House. There’s something they know. Something about The People Before…
The People Before, the second psychological thriller from Charlotte Northedge, has page-turning compulsion in abundance. Set back into the trees, Maple House is the perfect location for this creepy tale of sinister secrets and shocking twists, and Charlotte Northedge does a fantastic job of developing a brooding atmosphere of fear, suffocation, and foreboding right from the very first page.
The first third of the novel makes the most of this to develop a slow-burning tension, as it becomes apparent that Jess and Pete’s dream move to the country is anything but. Far from the rural idyll depicted on her Instagram feed, Jess’s life has become a stifling round of school runs, temper tantrums, marital discord, and thwarted ambition. When, in the second third, the novel shifts POV to Eve – a local woman who has befriended Jess and is helping her with her plans to restore Maple House – and we suddenly realise why Jess has been having such a hard time settling into her new home, the tension – and the pace – really ramp up a notch. And, in the final third of the book, it’s a page-turning race to the final page as all the lies and secrets upon which Jess and Pete’s carefully constructed new life is built come tumbling down around their ears!
Whilst I can’t say I warmed to any of the characters, North also does a reasonable job of making their (often very poor) life choices understandable. That said, the characters were – for me – the element of the book that I struggled most with. Although clearly traumatised and isolated, I found Jess to be a rather neurotic and self-absorbed narrator and, as such, couldn’t really bring myself to care about her difficulties fitting into her new home. Whilst I totally understand that good domestic suspense relies upon certain tropes, I also felt that the characters occasionally devolved into clichés: the neurotic suburban mother, the secretive husband, the creepy neighbour, the ‘so-nice-she’s-suspicious’ friend, the ‘unfriendly-villagers-who-hate-outsiders’ etc. As the novel progressed, I did find myself wanting Jess to act on her misgivings about her new life and make a better one for herself and her children but, without giving away any major spoilers for the ending, this never really comes to fruition which I found a little disappointing.
That said, I absolutely cannot fault the way in which the reader is drawn into the perspective of Jess and Eve, and the way that Charlotte Northedge controls the viewpoints to layer the interweaving strands of the story and build up the suspense whilst also leaving the major revelations for the very final chapters. Whilst the characters didn’t invite my empathy, I was still drawn into their respective stories and stayed with them to the end, which is testament to a tale well told!
Whilst there weren’t really any surprises in The People Before, therefore, it is a well-constructed thriller, especially in terms of pace and atmosphere. Charlotte Northedge has done an excellent job of developing tension in the novel’s opening act, ratcheting that up in the mid-section as we realise the extent of the danger that Jess and her family are in, and then releasing it all in an explosive final act. Whilst I personally felt that there were a few too many skeletons in Jess and Pete’s family closet – and that this sometimes detracted from the mystery about ‘the people before’ – North also does an excellent job of tying up the various interwoven strands of the plot by the novel’s end.
NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpre... as part of the blog tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
But Maple House, it turns out, has its own shadows and its own secrets. Stuck in her tumbledown new home with the children, Jess soon realises that the locals don’t like to talk about Maple House. There’s something they know. Something about The People Before…
The People Before, the second psychological thriller from Charlotte Northedge, has page-turning compulsion in abundance. Set back into the trees, Maple House is the perfect location for this creepy tale of sinister secrets and shocking twists, and Charlotte Northedge does a fantastic job of developing a brooding atmosphere of fear, suffocation, and foreboding right from the very first page.
The first third of the novel makes the most of this to develop a slow-burning tension, as it becomes apparent that Jess and Pete’s dream move to the country is anything but. Far from the rural idyll depicted on her Instagram feed, Jess’s life has become a stifling round of school runs, temper tantrums, marital discord, and thwarted ambition. When, in the second third, the novel shifts POV to Eve – a local woman who has befriended Jess and is helping her with her plans to restore Maple House – and we suddenly realise why Jess has been having such a hard time settling into her new home, the tension – and the pace – really ramp up a notch. And, in the final third of the book, it’s a page-turning race to the final page as all the lies and secrets upon which Jess and Pete’s carefully constructed new life is built come tumbling down around their ears!
Whilst I can’t say I warmed to any of the characters, North also does a reasonable job of making their (often very poor) life choices understandable. That said, the characters were – for me – the element of the book that I struggled most with. Although clearly traumatised and isolated, I found Jess to be a rather neurotic and self-absorbed narrator and, as such, couldn’t really bring myself to care about her difficulties fitting into her new home. Whilst I totally understand that good domestic suspense relies upon certain tropes, I also felt that the characters occasionally devolved into clichés: the neurotic suburban mother, the secretive husband, the creepy neighbour, the ‘so-nice-she’s-suspicious’ friend, the ‘unfriendly-villagers-who-hate-outsiders’ etc. As the novel progressed, I did find myself wanting Jess to act on her misgivings about her new life and make a better one for herself and her children but, without giving away any major spoilers for the ending, this never really comes to fruition which I found a little disappointing.
That said, I absolutely cannot fault the way in which the reader is drawn into the perspective of Jess and Eve, and the way that Charlotte Northedge controls the viewpoints to layer the interweaving strands of the story and build up the suspense whilst also leaving the major revelations for the very final chapters. Whilst the characters didn’t invite my empathy, I was still drawn into their respective stories and stayed with them to the end, which is testament to a tale well told!
Whilst there weren’t really any surprises in The People Before, therefore, it is a well-constructed thriller, especially in terms of pace and atmosphere. Charlotte Northedge has done an excellent job of developing tension in the novel’s opening act, ratcheting that up in the mid-section as we realise the extent of the danger that Jess and her family are in, and then releasing it all in an explosive final act. Whilst I personally felt that there were a few too many skeletons in Jess and Pete’s family closet – and that this sometimes detracted from the mystery about ‘the people before’ – North also does an excellent job of tying up the various interwoven strands of the plot by the novel’s end.
NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpre... as part of the blog tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
October 23, 2022
The People Before
Jess and Pete Masters and their young children, Archie and Rose, have relocated to deepest Suffolk from darkest Walthamstow. They’ve bought Maple House and plan to renovate it completely. We meet them on Moving Day as Jess, in the first person, remembers the attempted burglary that had been the final straw for them living in London.
But Maple House looks and feels different from when she first saw it in the summer. Now it seems dilapidated and it looks as though they will need to do more work than they originally thought. In fact, it will soon become a money pit. But there is also an uncomfortable feeling of being watched, that they are not alone and that ‘this place isn’t right.’ Even worse the front door is open and as they drive away to find the removers she notices that a garage door has somehow unlocked itself…..
As the renovations get underway, Pete commutes to London and is distracted by his job. Jess, now jobless, begins to bear the brunt of chores, childcare and supervising the builders. She begins to resent it and to miss their old life and friends. She left more than a house behind when they moved, and she also brought a secret with her. One that only she knows. And she begins to find traces, objects left by the previous owners, a baby’s bootee, a small mirror, a muslin. Jess struggles to make friends and then she’s contacted via social media by a local gallery owner, and they meet up. A friendship develops between her and the sophisticated Eve. She helps Jess with suggestions for what could be done with the house and it’s almost as if she already knows the house inside and out.
Rose is unsettled by the house and sees the small cupboard in her room as a safe place and Jess finds her staring out of her window at night sobbing. She saw the retreating burglar and is frightened that he may return. Sara, one of the school gate mums, tells her the local scary story about a young boy who drowned at Maple House and thinks she recognizes Eve but is unsure why.
As Eve and Peter draw closer together and shut Jess out, she begins to discover the truth about Maple House and who Eve really is….
The first part of the novel which is narrated by Jess, had a lovely sense of creeping unease and eeriness that I really liked. The family, out of their comfort zone, and with a large house that was falling apart around them, was an effective plot device. I thought I was settling down for a supernatural tale. But then it all changed with it being told from another character’s point of view and the mood changed. And we see Jess through her eyes,’ dressing like a children’s TV presenter’ and sneering at her attempts to be creative. It isn’t long before she is playing mind games with Jess.
One of the themes of the novel, I thought, was characters living in the past: Eve with her family history and Jess with her secret Nokia and yearning to be back in London. However, I found Eve to be an unlikable, selfish character and I couldn’t really accept her motivations. As she explained away the goings on that had so unnerved Jess to the reader, I felt that these destroyed the mood of the first part.
Also Pete’s motivations, towards the end, didn’t convince me at all and he never really came alive as a character.
here were a few subplots that didn’t seem to go anywhere such as the scary neighbour, Trevor Martin and the references to ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’. I wasn’t sure about the secret Nokia either although Jess seems to almost see it as an escape route which said a lot about her marriage.
I would have liked the atmosphere of the first part to have continued throughout the book as it really drew me in and I felt that the ending was very much tying up all the loose ends.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
Jess and Pete Masters and their young children, Archie and Rose, have relocated to deepest Suffolk from darkest Walthamstow. They’ve bought Maple House and plan to renovate it completely. We meet them on Moving Day as Jess, in the first person, remembers the attempted burglary that had been the final straw for them living in London.
But Maple House looks and feels different from when she first saw it in the summer. Now it seems dilapidated and it looks as though they will need to do more work than they originally thought. In fact, it will soon become a money pit. But there is also an uncomfortable feeling of being watched, that they are not alone and that ‘this place isn’t right.’ Even worse the front door is open and as they drive away to find the removers she notices that a garage door has somehow unlocked itself…..
As the renovations get underway, Pete commutes to London and is distracted by his job. Jess, now jobless, begins to bear the brunt of chores, childcare and supervising the builders. She begins to resent it and to miss their old life and friends. She left more than a house behind when they moved, and she also brought a secret with her. One that only she knows. And she begins to find traces, objects left by the previous owners, a baby’s bootee, a small mirror, a muslin. Jess struggles to make friends and then she’s contacted via social media by a local gallery owner, and they meet up. A friendship develops between her and the sophisticated Eve. She helps Jess with suggestions for what could be done with the house and it’s almost as if she already knows the house inside and out.
Rose is unsettled by the house and sees the small cupboard in her room as a safe place and Jess finds her staring out of her window at night sobbing. She saw the retreating burglar and is frightened that he may return. Sara, one of the school gate mums, tells her the local scary story about a young boy who drowned at Maple House and thinks she recognizes Eve but is unsure why.
As Eve and Peter draw closer together and shut Jess out, she begins to discover the truth about Maple House and who Eve really is….
The first part of the novel which is narrated by Jess, had a lovely sense of creeping unease and eeriness that I really liked. The family, out of their comfort zone, and with a large house that was falling apart around them, was an effective plot device. I thought I was settling down for a supernatural tale. But then it all changed with it being told from another character’s point of view and the mood changed. And we see Jess through her eyes,’ dressing like a children’s TV presenter’ and sneering at her attempts to be creative. It isn’t long before she is playing mind games with Jess.
One of the themes of the novel, I thought, was characters living in the past: Eve with her family history and Jess with her secret Nokia and yearning to be back in London. However, I found Eve to be an unlikable, selfish character and I couldn’t really accept her motivations. As she explained away the goings on that had so unnerved Jess to the reader, I felt that these destroyed the mood of the first part.
Also Pete’s motivations, towards the end, didn’t convince me at all and he never really came alive as a character.
here were a few subplots that didn’t seem to go anywhere such as the scary neighbour, Trevor Martin and the references to ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’. I wasn’t sure about the secret Nokia either although Jess seems to almost see it as an escape route which said a lot about her marriage.
I would have liked the atmosphere of the first part to have continued throughout the book as it really drew me in and I felt that the ending was very much tying up all the loose ends.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
November 11, 2022
The People Before starts strongly with Jess and her husband Pete and their two young children wondering quite what they have done. They’ve left bustling, multi-cultural Walthamstow for a new life and have bought a draughty run-down pile in the Suffolk countryside which is need of serious renovation.
Maple House was once grand but now this Arts and Crafts house lies neglected and in need of serious modernisation. It is what we might call “a project”.
It’s not made clear just why they have left their Walthamstow home but as time goes on it’s clear that all is not well in Jess and Pete’s relationship. That feeling only gets worse when Pete resumes commuting to London and Jess, who gave up her own job to move into their new home, is feeling lonely and neglected.
We know quite quickly that Jess has secrets of her own, and Charlotte Northedge does an excellent job of portraying an unhappy woman in a house that feels cold and unwelcoming. More than that, there’s an atmosphere that is both spooky and malevolent as Jess feels all the time as if she is being watched.
Northedge drops hints for the reader about what has gone wrong in the marriage but readers have to wait to get the whole story and enjoy guessing what may have prompted the move.
Neither Jess nor Pete is especially likeable. Pete is hardly there and when he is he pays scant attention to Jess’s concerns. Though Jess tries to make friends with other mothers at the school gates, none of her overtures go particularly well and she feels lonely and isolated.
So she is hugely relieved when she meets Eve, who works in a local gallery and Eve is warm and friendly towards her. The two women discover they have interests in common and Jess enjoys going for a coffee with her new friend.
Soon Eve is at Maple House where she has lots of ideas about what could be done to restore it to its former grandeur.
Northedge’s book is in two voices; Jess’ story and then Eve’s perspective. Though the sense of malevolence is strong, with a small cast of characters it is not difficult to see where this story is going and from the middle of the book not all of Jess’ actions ring true. It’s not hard to second guess what’s going on and the tension dissipates somewhat as a result.
Verdict: Well written with good tension and a complement of spookiness, this is a great winter read as long as you can get over the somewhat predictable plot.
Maple House was once grand but now this Arts and Crafts house lies neglected and in need of serious modernisation. It is what we might call “a project”.
It’s not made clear just why they have left their Walthamstow home but as time goes on it’s clear that all is not well in Jess and Pete’s relationship. That feeling only gets worse when Pete resumes commuting to London and Jess, who gave up her own job to move into their new home, is feeling lonely and neglected.
We know quite quickly that Jess has secrets of her own, and Charlotte Northedge does an excellent job of portraying an unhappy woman in a house that feels cold and unwelcoming. More than that, there’s an atmosphere that is both spooky and malevolent as Jess feels all the time as if she is being watched.
Northedge drops hints for the reader about what has gone wrong in the marriage but readers have to wait to get the whole story and enjoy guessing what may have prompted the move.
Neither Jess nor Pete is especially likeable. Pete is hardly there and when he is he pays scant attention to Jess’s concerns. Though Jess tries to make friends with other mothers at the school gates, none of her overtures go particularly well and she feels lonely and isolated.
So she is hugely relieved when she meets Eve, who works in a local gallery and Eve is warm and friendly towards her. The two women discover they have interests in common and Jess enjoys going for a coffee with her new friend.
Soon Eve is at Maple House where she has lots of ideas about what could be done to restore it to its former grandeur.
Northedge’s book is in two voices; Jess’ story and then Eve’s perspective. Though the sense of malevolence is strong, with a small cast of characters it is not difficult to see where this story is going and from the middle of the book not all of Jess’ actions ring true. It’s not hard to second guess what’s going on and the tension dissipates somewhat as a result.
Verdict: Well written with good tension and a complement of spookiness, this is a great winter read as long as you can get over the somewhat predictable plot.
October 19, 2022
In desperate need of a new start, Jess and her husband Pete buy a decrepit old house in the countryside, to renovate and turn into a family home. But not everyone in the area is pleased to see them move in, and Jess gets the feeling that something bad happened in the house – that someone is watching them.
It’s a very generic plot – so much so that my partner had to check whether he’d already read this book when I was describing it to him (he hadn’t; just one very similar) – but it is well done with some surprising twists at the end.
The best thing about this book is the oppressive, menacing atmosphere. There’s a lot of intrigue, as little tid-bits are laid out and not expanded on until much later in the book (why did Jess and Pete need to get away from London? Why does Jess have a secret phone? What really happened in Eve’s past?). This worked really well to peak my interest and gave the book a very suspenseful feel.
Unfortunately, it was spoiled a bit by the repetitive writing and the unlikeable characters. Jess was the absolute worst – whiny, self-centered and naive – and her marriage to Pete made little sense as he also came across as an utter d-bag. I also didn’t get why Jess ever became friends with Eve. She was lonely and desperate – I understand that much – but surely if your husband and your new friend who you’ve only known for a couple of weeks started behaving so inappropriately right in front of you on the very first meeting, you’d cut that off? The children were also very irritating. In fact, the only character I did like was Graham the renovator, largely because he seemed to be the only one who spoke any sense and got himself outta there asap.
It’s unoriginal and not perfectly executed, but I did enjoy the tension and the explosive plot. Even if I was let down by the disappointing conclusion.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
It’s a very generic plot – so much so that my partner had to check whether he’d already read this book when I was describing it to him (he hadn’t; just one very similar) – but it is well done with some surprising twists at the end.
The best thing about this book is the oppressive, menacing atmosphere. There’s a lot of intrigue, as little tid-bits are laid out and not expanded on until much later in the book (why did Jess and Pete need to get away from London? Why does Jess have a secret phone? What really happened in Eve’s past?). This worked really well to peak my interest and gave the book a very suspenseful feel.
Unfortunately, it was spoiled a bit by the repetitive writing and the unlikeable characters. Jess was the absolute worst – whiny, self-centered and naive – and her marriage to Pete made little sense as he also came across as an utter d-bag. I also didn’t get why Jess ever became friends with Eve. She was lonely and desperate – I understand that much – but surely if your husband and your new friend who you’ve only known for a couple of weeks started behaving so inappropriately right in front of you on the very first meeting, you’d cut that off? The children were also very irritating. In fact, the only character I did like was Graham the renovator, largely because he seemed to be the only one who spoke any sense and got himself outta there asap.
It’s unoriginal and not perfectly executed, but I did enjoy the tension and the explosive plot. Even if I was let down by the disappointing conclusion.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2022
This is a creepy and. unsettling read. What do you know about the people who lived in the house that you've just bought? Jess and Pete move from London to the countryside. They have bought a large rambling house in urgent need of some repairs and with outhouses/barns that need doing up so they can rent them out. However, from the moment they arrive at the house and wait for the removal lorry to arrive Jess has reservations about the house. She has a bad feeling about the place and is convinced they are being watched.
The author gradually feeds into the story some of the reasons that Jess and Pete have left London. A break in at their house had disturbed them all and left their small daughter Rose quite traumatised. There is also a hint of something more that Jess is not letting on.
All of this makes for an increasingly disturbing first half of the book, as the atmosphere gets more intense and Jess begins to feel she is going off the rails. The reader is drawn into her perspective and as things get more bizarre and creepy there is the realisation that it is not going to end well.
However, just as things are spiralling out of control for Jess, the perspective changes and we see a different side of things. This for me rather broke the tension the author had built up. I would really have liked the novel to have continued from Jess's point of view and although it does return to it at the end, the thread had broken somewhat.
But the book is a good read with a gripped atmosphere and great sense of place in the house.
I have given it three stars, only because I didn't like Jess very much. If I'd felt more for the main character it would have been four stars. I would happily look for more novels by this author and would recommend the read as something twisty and atmospheric.
With thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for an arc copy in return for an honest review.
The author gradually feeds into the story some of the reasons that Jess and Pete have left London. A break in at their house had disturbed them all and left their small daughter Rose quite traumatised. There is also a hint of something more that Jess is not letting on.
All of this makes for an increasingly disturbing first half of the book, as the atmosphere gets more intense and Jess begins to feel she is going off the rails. The reader is drawn into her perspective and as things get more bizarre and creepy there is the realisation that it is not going to end well.
However, just as things are spiralling out of control for Jess, the perspective changes and we see a different side of things. This for me rather broke the tension the author had built up. I would really have liked the novel to have continued from Jess's point of view and although it does return to it at the end, the thread had broken somewhat.
But the book is a good read with a gripped atmosphere and great sense of place in the house.
I have given it three stars, only because I didn't like Jess very much. If I'd felt more for the main character it would have been four stars. I would happily look for more novels by this author and would recommend the read as something twisty and atmospheric.
With thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for an arc copy in return for an honest review.
October 31, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.
After a break in their London home, Jess no longer feels safe. When Pete suggests moving to the countryside, it seems like the best option for the family and their two young children. But, after viewing the Maple House, out in rural Suffolk, in the middle of summer and being captivated by its charm, it suddenly looks and feels menacing and disturbingly remote when the family arrive in the autumn on moving day.
Throughout the first part of the book, Jess feels isolated, threatened by shadows moving in the large and neglected garden, and misses her tight-knit group of friends back home – with whom she seems to have lost touch over a not-yet explained fallout of some kind.
Pete’s ideas for renovation are overwhelming, and now that Jess has given up her own job working in a gallery in London, she finds herself on her own in the house a lot, failing to connect with the school mums, and losing her connection with Pete at the same time. And then she meets Eve… and the history of the house starts to unravel.
The premise of the book was very intriguing – however it was such a slow burner for me that I just wanted it to pick up the pace! For the first two parts, it was just a little repetitive and I struggled to get gripped on the characters and the mystery. The third part really turned things around as the pace well and truly picked up and the twists and turns brought the story together quickly.
I just wish the pace had been the same throughout!
After a break in their London home, Jess no longer feels safe. When Pete suggests moving to the countryside, it seems like the best option for the family and their two young children. But, after viewing the Maple House, out in rural Suffolk, in the middle of summer and being captivated by its charm, it suddenly looks and feels menacing and disturbingly remote when the family arrive in the autumn on moving day.
Throughout the first part of the book, Jess feels isolated, threatened by shadows moving in the large and neglected garden, and misses her tight-knit group of friends back home – with whom she seems to have lost touch over a not-yet explained fallout of some kind.
Pete’s ideas for renovation are overwhelming, and now that Jess has given up her own job working in a gallery in London, she finds herself on her own in the house a lot, failing to connect with the school mums, and losing her connection with Pete at the same time. And then she meets Eve… and the history of the house starts to unravel.
The premise of the book was very intriguing – however it was such a slow burner for me that I just wanted it to pick up the pace! For the first two parts, it was just a little repetitive and I struggled to get gripped on the characters and the mystery. The third part really turned things around as the pace well and truly picked up and the twists and turns brought the story together quickly.
I just wish the pace had been the same throughout!
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