Stunning! C. J. Tudor NEVER disappoints! Unremittingly suspenseful, highly tense throughout; and then there's that constant unrelenting pull of "What if?" What if: the Other People have the right idea? What if: vengeance is more just than forgive-and-not-forget? I think the premise here is one that will touch the heartstrings of a lot of readers, and it's one that each will have to judge for herself or himself. How far should Justice reach? How right (or wrong) is "an eye for an eye?" And: who determines what is Justice, and what is just sadism or anger or revenge? Who ultimately is gifted to "play God"?

C.J. Tudor is the author of The Chalk Man and The Hiding Place, both of which I really enjoyed. So needless to say I was so excited to receive The Other People. Gabe travels the motorway searching for his lost daughter. Three years prior, he was on his way home when he believed he saw his daughter in the back of a truck. But she should be at home with Jenny, his wife. When he arrives home he finds out that his wife and daughter were murdered. He does not believe his daughter was killed and spends every moment looking for clues. With the help of a man named The Samaritan, he discovers there is a chance she is alive. Why did this happen to him? The answer is The Other People- a secret online society determined to see justice and vengeance. An eye for an eye. One mistake in his past could be the reason. When he meets Katie, a waitress with her own family. They could never imagine how their paths are linked.

WOW! I think that this book is my favorite out of all her works. I did not want to put it down. The characters are phenomenal. Just brilliant. Gabe is serving penance for his past. He has his flaws but that does not mean he would not do anything for his family. Alice is quite fascinating. She is haunting. Her connection with another girl is just otherworldly. It adds a wonderful paranormal aspect to the story. I absolutely adored Katie and her determination to take care of her family.

One of the most brilliant aspects of the story is how all the storylines come together. All the pieces come together so beautifully. Every character is connected. And the suspense—it will keep readers on the edge of their seat. Also, the concept of the Other People is fascinating and quite terrifying, but not unbelievable. I could actually believe that something like this existed. Be sure to get your copy on January 28th!

Thank you to Netgalley and CJ Tudor for a copy of the book! I rate this 5 out of 5 stars. I can’t wait for her next book! Also, could this book be made into a movie? That would be AMAZING

This was my first time reading a C.J. Tudor novel but it definitely won't be my last. I loved all of the twists and turns that kept me guessing as well as the book's focus on the "dark web." There was a supernatural thread that occasionally interrupted the story. That bit felt somewhat unnecessary and just pulled me out of the story whenever it popped up. Without that, this would have been a 5 star read for me because everything else about the story was riveting and kept me on the edge of my seat.

The Other People by C.J. Tudor is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, Kathleen Quinlan at Random House Publishing - Ballantine, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 
My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

Gabe has been searching for his daughter for the past three years.  On the night she went missing, he swears he saw her in the back of a rusty old car with a lot of bumper stickers.  No one believed him.  He gave up everything - his home, his job, his life, but he has not given up hope.  He drives up and down the highway every night, looking for that car.   He sleeps in his van, and eats in service stations along the way.

Katie is a waitress in one of the service stations that Gabe often visits.  She thinks of him as the "thin man".  She commiserates with his loss.  She knows what it means to lose someone you love.

Fran and Alice also use that highway.  They are running.  Fran knows that if they are found, they are dead. Fran knows what happened to Gabe's wife and daughter.

But Gabe will not stop looking, and when he starts to find evidence of a cover-up, everyone's life is in danger.


My Opinions:  

This is definitely the best novel that CJ Tudor has written to date.  I definitely enjoyed her other two books, but felt that they had both been Stephen King adaptations.  This one was truly her own creation, and it was wonderful.  She has found her own voice, and it is good!

As always, the writing is good and the pace quick.  The plot was great, with just a touch of the supernatural.  Note that if you aren't a fan of that, it certainly is not a major part of the book.  It was just enough to keep things a little off balance.

The story is told from different points of view, and that way the story unfolds at a good and natural pace.  It is about the love of a mother for her daughter.  It is about a father who is trying to find his daughter, and his undying devotion and determination, even when no one else believes him.  It is also about revenge, and the premise of "an eye for an eye" mentality that leads some into making decisions without thinking of the consequences.  It is about making very human errors, and paying the price.  And it is about the secrets that everyone keeps.

The characters were a mixed bag of caring and creepy, and down right sinister.  They were all deep enough to feel "real".

This was a really intriguing, enthralling read.  It wasn't scary, but it was a little creepy, and definitely one I didn't want to put down.

I am highly recommending this one!

How do Gabe, Katie, and Fran (and her daughter Alice) relate to one another? It's all about Gabe's daughter Izzy, who everyone but Gabe thinks was murdered three years ago. This one is really twisty and impossible to synopsize (but you don't really want me to do that anyway, do you?). No spoilers! There are times when things don't make sense, there's a paranormal element, and it goes close to the top. It's also a real page turner filled with interesting characters. Tudor has already proven herself to be an excellent storyteller and this one just boasted her further in my eyes. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Two thumbs up!

Gabe and his wife, Jenny, have been drifting apart. She gives him an ultimatum: one night a week, no working late, no other commitments—he needs to be on time for family dinner and to put their daughter, Izzy, to bed with a story. Racing home on the M1 so he will be on time, Gabe is stopped in traffic behind an old car covered in stickers. As he reads the platitudes, he sees a child’s face—it’s Izzy, who whispers “Daddy.”

Three years later, Gabe lives in an RV and drives the motorways hoping to see the car again even though everyone else believes she’s dead. Then, a mysterious figure known only to Gabe beckons him to a remote lake: he’s found the car with an unidentified adult body inside. Clues in the car point to The Other People, a dark web community of wounded souls who find justice—in exchange for a favor that is less than optional.

Fran and her daughter, Alice, understand Gabe’s life. They, too, make their home on the motorways, but they are desperate to disappear. Fran knows more than she should about The Other People, and if they find her and Alice, Fran knows they’ll be killed.

As Gabe tries to uncover the trail of The Other People to find Izzy and Fran and Alice attempt to outwit him, the secret association mobilizes to stop them at any cost. In the process, Gabe allies with Katie, a waitress from the night shift at one of the service areas, but that only puts her and her two children in the crosshairs. They must confront their deepest secrets and shameful pasts if they are to find the truth about Izzy and survive The Other People.

𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒪𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒫𝑒𝑜𝓅𝓁𝑒 captured my attention. While some of the plot was self-evident, other developments made my jaw drop. Gabe, Katie, Fran, and Alice were all interesting characters, and the Samaritan was an intriguing cypher throughout the book. I also liked having the motorways as the primary setting—a place of transience and anonymity seemed fitting for the characters. I didn’t enjoy the supernatural element that wove through the book, though. It wasn’t ever explained to my satisfaction, and I think the plot would have stood alone without that element. Regardless, I enjoyed 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒪𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒫𝑒𝑜𝓅𝓁𝑒 and would encourage fans of Tudor or Stephen King to add this to their reading list.

The allure of The Other People is instantaneous. Tudor grasps the minutely written characters and their complex stories, wrapping it all into an intermingling tangle of horror. A superbly written thriller, it reads like a vivid dream you can’t escape. Layered with deep suspense and intricate twists, The Other People will stay with you awhile.

Oh wow, this was strange and creepy and also very very good. The description of the book had me hooked. We have a dad who is desperately searching for his daughter who everyone else thinks is dead. Then...driving home to his family and sees a little girl in the car ahead, she wants help. He believes it to be his daughter. It is a fast-paced novel but you really have to believe the unbelievable. I can deal with a little serendipity now and then. When my initial question was answered it wasn’t answered by the father which I found to be an odd thing. This is much better than her last novel and I didn’t mind the supernatural bit all that much. This is creepy like the other books, but also very real. The story is quite complicated but everything starts fitting together as you get through the book. I really enjoyed it and will definitely be buying a copy for my shelf! (less)

There are a lot of raves on this site about this book. but I'm not going to add to them. C.J. Tudor is a gifted writer of suspense. but this disorganized book doesn't serve as a case in point.

Perhaps it was the fact that the connections between the principal players, were a long, LONG time in being revealed. Perhaps it was that the only consistent thread through all the sections was a supernatural element that was never fully explored or explained (it was merely repeated.)

Perhaps it was that chapter by chapter, I seldom felt the story was being advanced. There were very few aha! moments, satisfying me that another of my questions had been answered, another puzzle piece had been successfully place.

I liked the namesake device of The Other People, as an underground group of vigilantes who achieved vengeance for victims of violent crime (as in the classic film Strangers on a Train). Dialogue in each scene was natural and believable, but -- again -- rarely seemed to advance the plot.

I'm sorry to say that I almost didn't finish the book, and when I did, I was still disappointed. Thanks to NetGalley for an advance readers copy

Ahoy there me mateys!  Though this log’s focus is on sci-fi, fantasy, and young adult, this Captain does have broader reading tastes. So occasionally I will share some novels that I enjoyed that are off the charts (a non sci-fi, fantasy, or young adult novel), as it were. I received this thriller eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

the other people (C.J. Tudor)

Title: the chalk man

Author: C.J. Tudor

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine

Publication Date: TODAY!! (hardback/ebook)

ISBN: 978-1984824998

Source: NetGalley

I read the chalk man by this author and really enjoyed it so was looking forward to reading this.  While I read this in one sitting and it was sometimes gripping, I ultimately felt it was just okay and didn't have the same punch as the author's other book.

The story follows Gabe who is driving home from work on day only to see his daughter Izzy in the car in front of him.  He tries to convince himself that he was mistaken and calls home only to be told that his wife and daughter have been brutally murdered.  But he saw Izzy and so knows she is alive.  He is determined to find her.  Even if no one else believes him.

The book has three subplots that tie together and that is where the problem lies.  One follows Gabe, one follows Fran who is on the run with a girl named Alice, and one follows a waitress named Kate.  There is also a three year jump after the murder reveal and a seemingly supernatural bent.  Together all these elements were muddled and stretched belief.  Though I liked Kate, that subplot could have been removed altogether and I think it would have strengthened the story.  I also did not Gabe's secret past subplot either.

But ultimately the main dissatisfaction was with the other people themselves and how it all worked.  They weren't scary or even very interesting.  There are no real answers and the resolution of both the three subplots and the other people themselves didn't do it for me.  There were just too many threads in this book and I would have preferred something more streamlined and realistic.  I did have fun reading this book but have to admit that overall it be rather forgettable.  Arrr!

So lastly . . .

Thank you Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine!

The Other People is an exceptional psychological thriller with a dark and menacing mood that draws on a creepy supernatural feel. The writing is crazy good in instilling a chilling atmosphere, with voices and the finger of a paranormal threat to remind us that no –one is safe.

On his way home driving along the M1 motorway in England, Gabe believes he sees his daughter looking out the rear window of a very distinct rusty old car, covered with bumper stickers. Traumatically he readers her lips as she calls out ‘Daddy’ and then he loses the car in the traffic. He then learns that his wife and child have been murdered in their home but it can’t be Izzy because he saw her in a car. No one believes him and he is questioned as a murder suspect. Gabe is so distraught that he becomes ill and collapses, and his father-in-law identifies the bodies as his wife and daughter.

Gabe has withdrawn from the world he once knew, his appearance is dishevelled and he’s noticeably thin. He now lives in a VW Camper Van and travels up and down the motorways of Great Britain stopping at the service stations handing out posters asking if anyone has seen his daughter or has any information. He does mildly interact with a waitress at a service station called Katie and a man only known to him as the Samaritan. “ ‘Some people call me the Samaritan.’ But sometimes, Gabe wondered what others called him.”

Meanwhile, Fran and her daughter Alice are constantly on the run moving from place to place with a knowledge that they are being hunted, by dangerous people and a paranormal foreboding. The fear of their hunters and Alice’s dreams are brilliantly portrayed for a manic existence, always on the run. Alice avoids mirrors because she’s not always sure who is looking back. Fran calls on her estranged sister, Katie, for help and the secrets and deceptions escalate.

A third thread drifts like an ethereal tale concerning a pale girl in a white room. She sleeps. Miriam has devoted herself to looking after the girl even with the unexplained incidents that often happen.

Clues eventually start to be revealed for Gabe and he uncovers a message that states The Other People. Further digging suggests they can be found on the dark web and now the sinister elements start to gather. Each thread holds suspense and fear while the story unwinds, and it becomes a difficult decision to set the book down.

As the story elements start to weave together the narrative becomes more and more compelling. The characters are full of light and shade and play their role as the story speeds towards its end. It’s difficult to say too much about the plot or characters as that is part of the pleasure of reading this book, to discover for yourself. Just remember that there is always a price to be paid for a favour or request – ‘an eye for an eye’.

Utterly compelling, dark, scary and hugely entertaining. I would highly recommend this book and this author, and I would like to thank Ballantine Books, Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC copy of the book in return for an honest review.

On his drive home one night, Gabe seems a little girl in the back of another car. When he looks closer, he sees that the girl is his daughter. He tries to catch up to the car, but they get away. He never sees his daughter again.

Told from multiple viewpoints - Gabe, Fran, and Katie. The night Gabe saw his daughter, was the same night someone entered his home and killed his wife and daughter. Gabe is convinved he saw his daughter that night, and that she is still alive. Gabe spends the next few years driving up and down the highway in search of the car that last held his daughter. The police don't believe him, but he's convinced she's out there somewhere. Fran and her daughter are on the run. It's not clear exactly who is after them and why, but there is someone trying to track them down and kill them. Katie works the night shift as waitress near the highway. As the story progresses, the points of view come together.

An intriguing thriller that combines suspense, paranormal, and vigilantism. I enjoyed the suspenseful mystery, but I wasn't interested in the paranormal parts. For me, it didn't really work, but I get how it was used to connect some of the characters. The idea of a vigilante group using the dark web was interesting, and my favorite aspect of the novel.

A good read, and one fans of C.J. Tudor will surely enjoy. Dark, eerie, and mysterious.

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyed the mystery and sense of the weird. Definitely worth reading, as usualy for CJ Tudor! I found this one preferable to others that I've read by this author, overall.

3.5 Stars Rounded Up

This read was my second chance for CJ Tudor. I really didn't like The Chalk Man and her second book, The Hiding Place, didn't interest me much. The summary of this one did (obviously), so I jumped at the opportunity to get an early look. I'm really glad I opted to try again because I felt this was much better suited to my interests and I was easily captivated throughout most of the book.

My rating was reduced because of one too many happy coincidences and the ending was a little confusing for me. A lot happened very rapidly and there were some unexplained circumstances that kind of left me scratching my head.

I was sufficiently creeped out for the first half and enjoyed the question at its core - Would you exact revenge if you knew you could be called on at any time to return the favor?

Thanks to Netgalley, Ballantine Books and CJ Tudor for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

Review Date: 01/22/2020
Publication Date: 01/28/2020

The Other People is the third book from C.J. Tudor

"Three years ago, Gabe's wife and daughter were murdered. But Gabe knows he saw his daughter in a car and thinks she must still be alive. Now he cruises up and down the road in a run-down camper van, looking for the car she was in.
Fran and her daughter, Alice, spend a lot of time on the motorway...running. Because Fran knows what happened on that night three years ago. And she knows what will happen if they find her...the other people."

This is Tudor's best book so far. The story POV changes among the characters. We see the awful thing in Gabe's past slowly revealed to us and the weight it has on him. You feel bad for him especially when you realize the finality of it. The desperation and fear in Fran to keep Alice safe. And the longing Katie has for a meaningful life for herself and her children.

Many authors have incoporated the "Dark Web" into recent novels - something the majority of us will never visit. It works here because it's a place for the Other People to hide.

Tudor asks an interesting question - "What would you do if there was a way to get justice?" Would you sell your soul for revenge? Nobody will know. This book looks at some people who do just that. Just a tiny bit of the supernatural here - makes you think twice about looking in the mirror and walking on the beach.

And the twist at the end - never saw the person who started it all. It will surprise you.

Would love to see a stand-alone book with the Samaritan character. So many stories there.

Another great read from Tudor.

"Welcome to The Other People"
"We know about pain. We know about loss. We know about injustice. We share the pain...with those who deserve it."

Tragedy happens to many but we always hope to keep it away from ourselves and those we love. When or if the unthinkable happens, there's absolutely no way to avoid the grief, the rage, or the hopelessness. Sometimes it occurs due to accident, but what if it was something caused by another person -- such as murder? And, just say, that there was a way for you to get justice -- an eye for an eye -- so to speak? Would you do it?

Reminiscent of The Chain but equally clever, this novel explores how hate and bitterness can lead people to make choices and decisions that will have far-reaching repercussions that they could never anticipate. Blinded by desolation and loss of hope, unable to see the future without their loved one, individuals might feel bent on revenge.

This deliciously sinister novel tells the story of Gabe whose daughter, Izzy, was murdered along with his wife. He's lost in suspended animation because he thinks that his daughter is still alive even though she's buried next to his wife in the local cemetery. He believes this because he saw his daughter in a car that night, but no one will listen and, in fact, he's initially thought to have been involved in the double homicide. In addition, there's Fran: on the run with Alice and they can't seem to get away from those following them. And, Katie, a waitress who works in the cafe at Newton Green Services off the M1 Junction. She serves Gabe his coffee every day as he spends all of his waking hours driving up and down the highway where he had last seen his daughter. Katie, divorced with 2 young children, has a drudge of a life and hasn't quite recovered losing her father -- killed in his own garage. What do these three have in common? NO SPOILERS.

This was a great story and I found it impossible to put down so read it in a single sitting this evening. It hooks you from the beginning and reels you in as the narration flops between different points of view and time. The writing is excellent, the characterization strong and believable. There's a bit of paranormal involved but I could overlook that because the rest of it had more realistic tone. Definitely a must read as it's a very well-crafted thriller.

Just beware the stranger who seems to offer you an odd bit of comfort in your moments of desolation. Don't take them up on their brand of resolution.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House/Ballantine Books for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

I think maybe it’s time for me to just give up and admit that this author’s books are not for me. C.J. Tudor is a talented writer and that makes me want to keep giving her a try, but like the books preceding it, The Other People, left me a little bored and underwhelmed.

The story had a lot going for it: murder, kidnapping, mysterious characters, secretive pasts, and a shadowy organization from the dark web. It really should have been a lot more intriguing than it ended up being. I figured out how the characters were related long before they were revealed. Gabe’s big secret past and the horrible thing he did ended up being not nearly as shocking as I was expecting. The supernatural elements didn’t really make a lot of sense to me and left me a little bit annoyed. And I thought The Other People organization should have been a little further explored.

Overall, The Other People, was ok, but left me pretty underwhelmed. I do like Tudor’s writing style and I liked the main character, Gabe, for the most part. However, the pace was pretty slow, the twists didn’t surprise me, I didn’t think the supernatural element added much to the story, and I found myself pretty bored. I have read several positive reviews for this book, though, so it might just be me. I don’t think I’ll be checking out any more books from this author in the future.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 3 Stars

The Other People is about Gabe and his search for his missing daughter. Gabe’s wife and daughter were murdered while he was on the way home. At the time, Gabe didn’t know that and was surprised when he saw his daughter’s face appear in the back window of the car in front of him. That set off a series of events. Gabe was accused of their murder and the cleared. Then the car is found and new evidence that his daughter wasn’t the one that died. But, Gabe isn’t prepared for the truth. He also wasn’t ready for a secret that he has kept buried to be exposed. What happened the night his wife and daughter were killed? Will Gabe get his answers?

I know that it is only a few weeks into the new year, but this has to be the best mystery/thriller/suspense book that I have read to date. I couldn’t put this book down!! Put it this way, I read it in two hours. It was that good!!

The plotline in The Other People does get off to a slow start. It did take me a couple of chapters before I got immersed in it. There was also a small amount of lag in the book, right around where Fran left Alice with her mother. But the author was able to get the book back on track.

Gabe was amazing in The Other People. He knew that he saw his daughter the night of the murder, and he never gave up hope that she was alive. I did feel bad for him at the beginning of the book because he was utterly destroyed by what happened. I also admired his restraint when he found out what his in-laws had done. I would have gone ballistic. And of course, there was the issue of his secret. I wish that it had been released earlier in the book.

Fran was an enigma throughout the book. I didn’t understand why she was on the run until she went to her mothers. Then a little bit of her story fell into place. At that point, I understood why she did what she did. My heart broke for her.

I figured out Alice’s story reasonably early in the book. But I couldn’t understand what was happening to her with the stones. Then it was explained and man, it was creepy. Again, my heart went out to her.

The plotline with Gabe looking for his daughter was amazing. The author was able to show his frustration, worry, anger, and hope. I was a little irritated by how the police treated him. But once concrete evidence was found (and Gabe told them what his father in law did), they took him seriously.

The plotline with Fran and Alice was interesting. Right away, I guessed what was going on. But I never guessed why it happened, who Fran was running from and how it was connected to Gabe. That all took me by surprise. Add in the secondary storyline with Fran’s sister and The Sandman, and yeah, I was blown away.

There was a paranormal element in the book that I wished it had more power in the book. It was interesting because of how Alice brought the stones in. But, the connection to Gabe’s secret was something that I didn’t even see coming.

The end of The Other People was interesting. I say interesting because there were a couple of twists in the plot. I didn’t see either of them coming. The author did a great job of combining all of the storylines, even ones that I thought were done with. But, it was the very end of the book that gave me chills.

This was so close to being a solid 5 star book! And it could have been. In depth thoughtful plot with interesting and well developed characters! I wish I had more time with them! But, why dock it a star? Well, because there is a sprinkling of supernatural/spiritualness that I felt weakened the story for me. It wasn't needed and I feel the story would have been even better without it. It wasn't overwhelming and I don't think it should turn anyone off to the story of a man searching for his supposedly dead daughter who ends up involved in something much bigger and far reaching than he ever could imagine. I really enjoyed the flow of the book and how Ms. Tudor kept the reader waiting just long enough before letting the puzzle pieces start fitting together. The timing was just perfect and may have kept me up past my bedtime last night. I can't wait to see what Ms. Tudor has for us next!

Wow! What a book! This one was an excellent read. It started off with a father seeing his daughter being driving away in a car while he was on the freeway and never let up. There were multiple perspectives and I couldn't figure out how they were going to intersect until the end. Just the idea of this happening is horrifying. The second half of the book was so hard to put down! I stayed up late into the night to finish it. I have read The Chalk Man and The Hiding Place by this same author, but this one is definitely my favorite. I would highly recommend this book.