Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc of Those People By Louise Candlish! 📖
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I have a LOT of thoughts on this one. I’m so torn between oh my god I did not like this to wow I actually really enjoyed myself. It makes no sense but I’ll do my best to explain.
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Lowland Way is the suburban dream. The houses are beautiful, all the neighbors get along, and all their kids play together outside on the weekends. But when a couple moves in a disturbs the peace and break the rules, it doesn’t take long before an all-out war begins. One morning a shocking death occurs and accusations start flying. It seems like everyone on Lowland Way has something to hide....
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This was sold to me as a thriller, and I don’t really think that’s what I’d call it. It almost feels like you’re reading a soap opera or a (really good) lifetime movie. Its called a “neighborhood drama” which I’ve never heard of before. It’s a snobby neighborhood with stuck up, unlikable characters everywhere you turn. Like I mean they are RUDE and so high and mighty it was unbearable sometimes. I loved one couple, the wife mostly, and the rest of the people most of the time I wanted to scream and rip my hair out at them. I’m sure that’s the intention of the book, but my goodness some of these people are truly the worst! But despite truly disliking majority of these people that didn’t really put me off!
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I love a slow burn, but I think this one burned a little too slowly. A lot of parts felt dragged out. Figuring out all the characters off the bat was a little tough but I did get the hang of who was who shortly after. Once I got the hang of that it felt much nicer and easier to get into the story again.
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I truly did not know what the ending was going to be. But for me that’s no surprise, I never know. I loved that everything you expected was actually not what should have been expected, if that makes sense. It was all very well put together, a smooth story that really wasn’t as bad as I feel like my review sounds. That being said I did feel a little bit underwhelmed by the ending, but it wasn’t a bad ending.
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If you don’t mind an entire book full of awful people (again, I’m sure that was the intentions) and you like a good drama about rich neighbors who have hit their breaking point I’d say give it a try. It was something different than my usual read and I’m glad I read it! This book would be an amazing choice for a book club. There’s so much to discuss through the whole book, I was writing notes the entire time and wished I could discuss it with someone.
I think if you’ve made it this far, you should read it. It won’t be for everyone but it’s definitely worth giving a try.
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Lowland way- full of beautiful houses and neighbors who live in harmony with each other. The neighbors are all friends and get along so well in part because they follow the guidelines/rules of the neighborhood. All that changes once Darren and Jodie move into the neighborhood. Darren and Jodie don’t play by the rules- they knock down structures, do construction work at whatever time they want, blast their music, have an abundance of cars that are taking up spaces for other people and so on. The neighbors try to get them to follow the rules but they aren’t having any of it. Tensions rise, spouses fight, friends turn against each other and then there is a death on the street. What happened? Were they murdered? The book is told through multiple character’s points of views and through interviews with the police. Overall a light, quick read that keeps you wondering until the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Just as she did in her previous novel. Our House, Louise Candlish tells the story of a large neighborhood in Those People. There are lots and lots of characters in this neighborhood, but Candlish is brilliant at character development so each is very clear in the reader's mind. A unique talent, in my experience. In Those People, we are in a lovely London neighborhood where everyone knows everyone else, they know each other's business, they have neighborhood street fairs, and life is good. Suddenly, one of the neighbors dies and leaves her house to a boorish relative who thoroughly destroys everyone else's happy life. He smokes, drinks, plays music at ungodly high volume, is loudly renovating the house, and even appears to be selling used cars from and around his property. A total neighbor from hell! Finally, of course, this being a thriller and all, someone dies.

Candlish tells her story from the perspectives of each of the neighbors, which serves to both advance the plot and the character development. The who-dunnit mystery is excellent; however, the problem for me was that not a single character was likable so I couldn't empathize or care about the outcome. I absolutely loved Our House, so this was a let-down for me, but it wouldn't stop me from snapping up Candlish's next novel. I'm rating this at 4 stars mostly because I think Candlish is a fabulous writer.

My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Books for providing me a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Hmm. I don't know where to begin. So, the beginning, I guess. The story held promise (from the blurb), the plot unlike anything I've read in a while. I jumped in, excited as each family had their turn dealing with the obnoxious newcomers. The dynamics of family members were interesting as they unfolded, both in relation to one another and to the horrible people.

Somewhere along the 30% mark, it all bogged down for me. Too many people involved with too much minutiae and backstory that dragged the pacing, and ultimately the story, down. The further I read, the less I liked anyone. Rather than forming a bond with any character, a disconnect occurred to the point the only person I cared about was the baby not getting his proper sleep.

In frustration, I jumped to the 85% mark just to see how it all ended.

I don't mind reading about unlikable characters; in fact, they can be some of the most interesting. But when all they do is snipe behind closed doors while pretending to be polite otherwise, and let others take advantage, they quickly spiral into boring.

For me, this was that book, and I cannot recommend it.

“Those People” is author Louise Candlish’s chronicle of bad neighbors. Darren and Jodie simply appear at run-down property he inherited, immediately displaying their disregard for other people. Newcomers Darren and Jodie are belligerent, slovenly, and pugnacious. Because of them, the peaceful South London neighborhood of Lowland Way is now disreputable. Hard rock music blares constantly, rundown cars are parked haphazardly leaving no room for other residents to park, and the house becomes more unsightly because of constant, noisy remodeling.

Darren and Jodie are neither receptive to complaints nor inclined to change their ways and, after their arrival, mishaps start occurring including the death of a young lady, crushed under rickety scaffolding at the makeshift construction job.

Hostility, flaring tempers, and murderous fantasies begin to appear. Subtle hints of discord turn into rampant discontent. Neighbors, who perhaps don’t realize that seeds of discontent were in place before the appearance of Darren and Jodie, begin devising various plots to get rid of the hated duo that has disrupted their lives. Their own disorders begin to surface.

Candlish is masterful in her ability to use multiple narrators and frequent flashbacks in creating both suspense and amusing encounters in the first part of her story. Her imagination is spot on as she develops the neighbors’ unrest. The action increases as police intervention becomes more serious and neighbors get more involved in their individual plots. No spoilers here. You’ll have to read the book to find out how the situation is solved.

The ending might not be as explosive as some readers might like. Retribution might not be satisfying enough to others. But the resolution could be just where the author intended to go with her story. Just a thought, but she might want to add more intrigue in her next book. I was satisfied, however, with her low-key approach that was still vibrant.

Loved this book! Written from many perspectives over different time periods, this whodunnit kept me guessing until the end. Louise Candish did an excellent job of making the antagonist truly dreadful and showing faults in all the protagonist roles. Read this one on the beach in less than a day.

Thank you so much for this ARC!

I was delighted to receive an advanced copy. However, the beginning was very slow and almost difficult to follow. I may try to read it again in the future.

Those People is a twisted tale of just how fast things can go very wrong for one posh neighborhood in South London when less than desirable new people move in. Many of the chapters in the book begin with interviews the characters have given to the police on the day of the accident and then flashback to fill in the story. As the tale unfolds, nerves become frayed, the posh veneer begins to crack and an accident happens. The wild ride continues to a bit dark, yet satisfying, ending.

Another triumph from Louise Candlish! Special thanks to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing. Who doesn’t like a well run community where the neighbors all get along and everything is harmonious? Pause to play Sunday where everyone moves their cars so the children can play safely and carefree from the streets cars? Where most everyone who is anyone knows your name? Ah bliss! A sure sign you and your family have made it in an almost suburban neighborhood in London.. Everyone peacefully existing or so we think, until “those people” move in and threaten the very utopia the neighbors think they have achieved. Watch as the carefully crafted facades the superior street thinks they have achieved starts to crumble when those neighbors don’t fall in line. Relationships will be tested, perhaps even lives! You don’t want to fall out with the neighbors do you?
A great read on group mentality and what happens when you don’t fall in line..

Ohhh how I enjoyed this one. Something about the “drama” that wasn’t really drama. I have the same problems with noisy neighbors, and I too, ha plot to... not kill them but burn their house down! Also thinking about moving..:

Anyway, the beginning was a little slow for me but then it picked up (for me) and I really enjoyed how everything came together and things were being “discovered.”

I liked each of the characters, the narrative, and the writing so much that I am going to read her other book, “Our House.”

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this title.

I typically love this author...but this one fell a bit flat. It was good, don't get me wrong, just not what I had in mind.
The ending was probably the most disappointing part of the whole thing, it just fell flat. It didn't actually end and not in a cool "OMG, that was the end!!' kind of a way, but in a "did they forget the last page" kind of way.
All in all, three stars. The characters, plot, story were good....ending was flat, denouement disappointed.

This book deals with what would you do to get rid of the most annoying neighbor living in your street...having experienced some annoying neighbors I could relate...Darren is rude and uncouth and he certainly doesn't belong in this posh neighborhood...
A series of events happen that bring all the neighbors together and under suspicion...The book is reminiscent of an Agatha Christie book full of characters and who did it....a little disappointed with the ending ....wanted a more dramatic conclusion.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read and review.

Having read other books by this author I was excited to read this book. It was original and I did not want to put it down, but in the end I was left a bit unsatisfied.
When new neighbors move in to the house at the end of the street, the rest of the people in the surrounding houses are taken aback, first because they didn't realize the house was even for sale, and then because these new people just don't seem to fit in. They play loud music at all hours, keep junk vehicles in their yard, don't abide by the neighborhood "rules," and are standoffish at best--rude at worst. The resentment the original inhabitants of the neighborhood grows and escalates, causing tension in their own personal lives. And then one day someone loses their life. The first half of the book deals with the weeks leading up to the suspicious death, and the second half deals with the aftermath and the search for the truth behind what really happened.
The author does a great job creating the people who live on this street, and their motivations behind keeping their neighborhood a safe haven. The story threads and plot are woven well through the 1st half, if not the first two-thirds of the book. But when the book begins to move toward its conclusion, and the mystery begins to be unraveled, the story begins to feel underwhelming. I kind of had the feeling of, "Hhmmmm...oh well!" What should have been a twisty-turny exciting ending was not that at all.
It was not a bad book, it was just not an amazing book. I would recommend it if you enjoy mystery and domestic thriller novels. And I will read more by this author.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview Those People by Louise Candlish.
A perfect neighborhood - cookie cutter, normal people, all you want for a nice place to live. Well that's until a family moves in and in their own "unconventional" way, disturb this surburban neighborhood.
Well that doesn't work here and soon there is an "accident" - and this little community will ban together to get what they want - back to "normal?". We shall see.
Good book, well written - 3 stars.

DNF. Sorry. Lost interest . No review available. Didn't like it. That's all I can say. Don't have 100 characters to continue review. Trying hard to meet 100 character review. I'm done. Hope this is enough.

Lots of interesting folks in this book....but it was just too far fetched, for me. The music was understandable but noise from remodeling happens all the time!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even though I disliked basically every character. Good plot, solid pacing, and the end made me audibly say, “Wait, what?!”

A mew couple move on to Lowland Way. They are noHing like the people living there, neither affluent nor educated. First they begin to repair and sell used cars from their home. Then they start making extensive and noisy repairs to the house. While doing this, they play heavy metal music loudly. The neighbors, two brothers and their wives, a couple with a new baby and an older woman who is using her home as a B & B, join together in a series of attempts to get rid of the couple. Eventually there is a death when some scaffolding falls down and kills the pregnant girlfriend of the older woman’s son. The Police become involved and conduct an investigation into this death. I won’t go further into the plot because of spoilers, but there is more than one death, and values are challenged throughout as is complacency. This was a solid 3.5 stars raised to a 4. Thanks to Net Galley and Berkley for an ARC for an honest review.

I couldn’t wait to read Those People by Louis Candlish when I saw it. I loved Our House and hoped that this would be just as good and it was! I liked the premise, the characters, how the author structured the book and I had genuine sympathy for the people on Lowland Way.

Lowland Way is the suburban dream. The houses are beautiful, the neighbors get along, and the kids play together on weekends.

But when Darren and Jodie move into the house on the corner, they donʼt follow the rules. They blast music at all hours, begin an unsightly renovation, and run a used-car business from their yard. It doesn’t take long for an all-out war to start brewing. Then, early one Saturday, a horrific death shocks the street. As police search for witnesses, accusations start flying—and everyone has something to hide.

This is one of those books where you wonder how you’d handle the situation of terrible neighbors that affect your quality of life. Darren and Jodie are absolute nightmares! I like the characters in the book, everyone is flawed and has problems, like real life.

Put this one on your calendar and read it on June 11.

Loud death metal, crappy cars parked in the best spots, unceasing renovations, and a foul-mouthed bare-chested brute have lowered the tone of the neighborhood. The longstanding homeowners want to negotiate a peaceful resolution, but the new neighbors are not receptive to their forays. Black humor and a plethora of perspectives make for a delightfully twisted tale. With her second novel of suspense, Candlish deftly establishes herself as a force to be reckoned with.