No surprise here that thrillers are a new genre I've discovered a fondness for. I don't have a ton of background in how stories usually go in this genre, as the ones I've read were super predictable. I have read a decent few. But haven't found much that I loved.

THIS WAS NOT PREDICTABLE. AND I LOVED IT.

So a little background on the story here...There are 3 main characters. Gabe, who's daughter and wife were murdered. Katie, a waitress at the service station Gabe frequents after the murders. And then we have Fran, who is a woman on the run with a child.

I don't want to really giveaway too much here about the story. Because, as we know, thrillers like to tie in small details. One thing I wasn't too sure about this book was the use of the supernatural, C.J. Tudor has a fondness of tieing it in a little bit to the stories. However, that was the one aspect I'm not sure was really needed as it left me with a few questions afterwards. This is the one and only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5.

This book was a page turner for me. At around the 20% mark on my ebook, I could NOT put it down. The stories were intriguing and I found myself wanting ti know more and more. I found myself also trying to solve the mystery as the story unfolded, and may have stayed up way later than I wanted to. Oops.

If you are looking for a thriller that will keep you captivated and engaged, I highly recommend this book!

*Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in return for my honest review.*

When you hear about horrible things on the news, well . . . it happened to “other people.” But what about when something awful happens to you? Gabe, Katie, and Fran each learn first-hand how it feels to have the rug pulled out from under them as they suffer through the loss or death of loved ones. In this thriller, people are not always who they seem to be. I found it to be a real page-turner as I tried to figure out who’s manipulating whom. At the end, Gabe finds out how these various harrowing events and shady characters are interrelated.

C.J. Tudor’s writing is so vivid that it’s as if you are there experiencing events along with the protagonists. The Other People is a mystery/thriller with a strong supernatural component to it. Very well-done!

just recently read Tudor's other novel "The Chalk Man" and was really impressed with how addictive and twisty the story was. I have to say I was expecting the same with "The Other People" and was not disappointed! This book grabbed me immediately and did not let up until I had finished its last page.

This book is very much a thriller but it also has a bit of a supernatural element that I thought made the story all the more enjoyable. It's actually pretty subtle I thought so I think those of you who don't like your books to be "too out there" would still enjoy this one. The supernatural element made the story more suspenseful and gave it that overall creepy atmosphere that really sucked me in.

There are three main POVs that are a little difficult to sort out right off the bat but as soon as you read a few chapters it isn't too bad. They also skip around from present day to the past too and while they initially seem unrelated it's revealed slowly throughout the book what they all have in common. I have to say I didn't see any of it coming, there are quite a few twists! Also every chapter ended on a sort of mini cliffhanger so that definitely kept me turning pages, I just had to know what happened next.

The writing is great, as I already mentioned it kept me reading and the story flowed well. The overall plot was unique to me and it was completely captivating. I wish I could talk a bit more about it but I honestly do not want to spoil a single thing!

My only gripe is that the supernatural element isn't ever really explained, it wasn't a huge deal but it felt odd to me that we never found out the WHYs of it. It was essentially there to help drive the plot a bit but not ever be explained fully.

As I already mentioned this book is told in three alternating POVs: Gabe, a man whose wife and young daughter were murdered but is convinced his daughter is still alive and out there somewhere. Katie, a waitress who works in one of the service stations that Gabe frequents and who sympathizes as her father's murder tore her own family apart and caused her eldest sister to do something terrible. And Fran along with her daughter Alice who are constantly on the run from people who want to hurt them because she knows what really happened to Gabe's daughter.

There's a lot going on there but as I said all of these stories end up colliding in some form or another by the end of the book and it was mind blowing. Tudor did an excellent job developing each character, they were complex, and I actually gave a damn if anything happened to them. 

What I Loved:

Fast pacing and plenty of action
Great, engaging writing and story line
Unique plot (at least to me it was!)
Supernatural element
Well developed and complex characters
Mind blowing twists!

What I Didn't Love:

A few things weren't fully explained at the end

Overall this is a fantastic book that I would highly recommend! If you enjoy thrillers I would say that this one may have a few surprises for you and if you like eerie books I would say this one might fit the bill as well! It's a great, quick read. 

**** Huge thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ****

Trigger Warnings: Child Death, Child Abduction, Murder, & Violence

Three years ago, Gabe was driving home and saw an old beat up car on the highway, and he locks eyes with his daughter Izzy. He was convinced someone kidnapped his daughter, but Gabe receives a call from the police informing him that his wife and daughter were dead. Even with hard evidence, Gabe never believed Izzy was murdered. He truly believes that Izzy is somewhere out there waiting for him to find her.

Gabe sold his house and he’s been living out of a camper, driving up and down the highway daily, visiting rest stops, passing around a flyer with Izzy’s face that says “have you seen me?”

Fran and her daughter Alice have been driving along the same highway, except they’ve been on the run. Fran needs to keep Alice safe, but she knows that because of what she’s done, they may never stop running.

The Other People by CJ Tudor is an atmospheric, tense mystery that I couldn’t put down. After loving The Chalk Man and disliking The Hiding Place, I didn’t know where my feelings would lie with her latest release. I was completely absorbed in this story and although I had inclinations as to where the story was going, I wasn’t disappointed by the outcome. Definitely another winning book from CJ Tudor! 4/5 stars.

Thank you to Ballantine Books, NetGalley and CJ Tudor for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to start this book since I’ve really enjoyed C.J. Tudor’s two previous novels. The story takes off right from the start and you’re thrust into what I can only assume is every parent’s worst nightmare. However, as the story moves forward I couldn’t get over the feeling that it has been done before. The more I read the more themes it seemed to share with other thrillers. The real kicker, and I hate to say it, but I have recently read a newly released book with the exact same core story line. I’m talking about the exact same big revelation that drives the narrative. That was such a bummer! It made the story less enjoyable for me personally because it took the shock factor away.

The book has short and quick chapters, which I usually really enjoy. However, there are a lot of characters, about four different story lines, and the stories switch back and forth very quickly. As a result, the plot felt choppy and I had a hard time getting and keeping my bearings. I almost felt like I needed to start taking notes.

This book felt very different from The Chalk Man and The Hiding Place. Tudor’s writing style and voice in this novel seem to deviate from her previous work. It makes me wonder if she is trying to reach a different audience with this book.

My review will be posted to my social media accounts between January 20-28. Thank you again for the opportunity to read and review this title!

Tudor has become one of my favorite authors! I have loved all three of her books but this one is definitely my favorite. The writing was suspenseful and the multiple points of view were spectacular. There were times I was on the edge of my seat and turning pages furiously. This mystery had many twists and turns until the very end and was brilliantly written to not be confusing. There is a bit of paranormal thrown in that I found beautiful and touching. An all around fabulous book!

When I started reading this book, I was thinking it was going in a complete opposite direction. CJ Tudor kept me on my toes for the entire story. I couldn’t guess what was going to happen or who “that” character really was.... the FEW parts of the story that were slow were still needed to create the next scene. I felt the main characters heart ache. I hoped with him. I was excited with him. Nervous with him. •
Overall... a great thriller. A quick read! (Only because I couldn’t put it down).. interesting, unexpected plot twist. If you like crime stories and thrillers, this is definitely one I would recommend!

Woah. That's it, that's my review. Thanks for coming.

I jest of course but truly I am reeling from the amazing ride that is this awesome new thriller by C.J. Tudor. From the very beginning it's a true roller coster ride full of great transitions between the various points of view, a cast of wonderfully complex characters who straddle the line between good and not, and a deftly-painted creepy paranormal vibe that's sure to send chills up your spine. Of the characters, Gabe was my favorite as I found his pain and willingness to do whatever it takes very human and understandable. Sure, the rest of the characters think he's a little mad but the reader alone knows that he's not.

I seriously could hardly put this novel down but it was well worth the lost sleep. The threads of the plot are woven in such a way that you feel like you're right on the edge of grasping the truth the whole time which is so great for a thriller. I loved how much guessing I did in the process of reading. Then, when it comes, every reveal that gets the reader closer to that truth lands like a punch. I really enjoyed this one and would absolutely recommend it to anyone. It comes out in a couple weeks, on Tuesday January 28th, so mark your calendars because this is one you should make sure not to miss.

Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher Ballantine Books, and the author C.J. Tudor for the opportunity to do so.

I have read and loved Tudor’s other books. This one was good but fell a little short of the others for me. The pace was good and the story was engaging. I enjoyed how the characters came together and their relationships were revealed. However I felt like the two aspects of the book (the Other People storyline and the supernatural parts) did not really go together. They were obviously connected by characters but they were so different that they almost belonged in two separate books. I did enjoy the book though and would recommend it to fans of suspense and mysteries and of CJ Tudor in particular. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for giving me early access to this book. This review will be posted to my Instagram and Facebook pages today (@thatreadingrealtor)

5 Stars for The Other People by C.J.Tudor! This was my first C.J. Tudor book. Let me tell you, The Other People did not disappoint. This book is packed with suspense, leaving no page without raised eyebrows.

Gabe feels he has lost everything. A victim of extreme loss, believing his daughter is still alive, he appears to be a shell of a man. No one believes his story, time passes but he won't give up hope. He hands out fliers, he drives up and down the highway, reaching a level of desperation that will stir even the most critical reader. With nothing left to lose, he hears about a network of people on the Dark Web called The Other People. Vengeance, sweet revenge, and justice for those who have fallen victim to loss drive many others, seeking answers and justice. A request, if accepted by The Other People must be paid for without any money exchanging hands.

Gabe quickly finds that he is faced with decisions that provide hope in knowing what really happened to his daughter. Families of victims don't forget.

Intricately written with a taste for revenge, The Other People will entangle you in its web, and you'll be trying to sort out how all of the pieces fit until the very last page.

Thank you to @netgalley and #ballantinepress @penguinrandomhouse for providing this book to me in exchange for an honest review. And, thank you @cjtudorauthor for such a fantastic read!

"People say hate and bitterness will destroy you. They're wrong. It's hope. Hope will devour you from the inside like a parasite. It will leave you hanging like bait above a shark. But hope won't kill you. It's not that kind."

This passage sums up the entirety of this book.
What is a person capable of doing in the pursuit of hope? Is the pursuit of hope worth the consequences? When there is hope, even a small glimmer of it, it can alter a person to someone unrecognizable in his or her desperation. That cycle of desperation is unbroken, jumping from one person to the next in an endless loop. That's what The Other People offers-Hope and all the pain behind that hope.

This is such an incredibly written and though provoking tale that takes the reader down the deep, dark rabbit hole of the Dark Web and beyond.
Do yourself a favor and read this book!

Much gratitude to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Other People by C.J. Tudor is a deliciously intriguing thriller about a missing daughter and the lengths her father will go to discover the truth about her abduction. Along this twisty road to the truth, we encounter so many incredible elements that make this story so engaging and utterly unputdownable. What makes The Other People so unique is that Tudor blends so many different characters and stories, weaving together traditional mystery elements and thrilling horror tropes. This is a slowburn story with some paranormal elements, but the twists and turns are absolutely mind-boggling and worth reading! Tudor's latest novel is absolutely creepy and addictive, with a riveting plot that will keep you up way past your bedtime!

This was my second C.J. Tudor book, also having read The Chestnut Man. The storyline follows a man named Gabe who’s lost his wife & daughter. Gabe believes his daughter is still alive. When he does find the truth & the story finally connects, everything comes full circle. Fate is a crazy thing.

There is one scene in the book that doesn’t seem to fit with the theme that I wish that been explained a little more or just played out differently. Other than that I think it’s a great thriller for 2020!

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoyed The Chalk Man or The Whisper Man. There is a certain creep factor this book presents that just made me feel on edge during the entire story. I loved it.

Innocent (and less than innocent) people get caught up in an intricate revenge plot in C.J. Tudor's strikingly dramatic and twisty thriller The Other People.
The action starts immediately and the suspense is almost unbearable at times. The supernatural aspect was only a minor player and yet somehow it was the perfect finishing touch, adding as much flavor to the story as a delicious drizzle of hot fudge over ice cream making it even more satisfying.
Did Gabe really see his daughter being stolen away in the back of a junk car at the precise time the police are in his home viewing her dead body? The "what ifs" are driving him crazy and the grief is so profound he can barely function anymore. Who could possibly want to kill his wife and daughter and where was Gabe really coming home from when he saw is little girl in that speeding car?
I have loved all 3 of this author's books but she has really outdone herself this time.

Loved this book. C.J. Tudor has a way of pulling you in and you can’t stop reading. Great plot, loved how everything connected and made sense at the end. Awesome story.

This author always writes such interesting premises. I enjoyed this book overall and the concept. I enjoyed the multiple timelines and how they all came together, as well as the moral questions this book posed. I didn't connect with the characters as much as I wanted, but that happens sometimes with mystery thrillers. I will definitely read everything CJ Tudor writes.

This was a really difficult book for me to rate. This book follows a few tried and true thriller tropes (murder but someone is still potentially alive and the police never follow leads or investigate, groups of seemingly unrelated people crossing paths in an "unexpected" way, etc). I have had some bad luck with thrillers recently but I honestly do love the generic/basic tropes so I was excited to receive an early copy. I think my main issue with this story is it tried to do too much. I realize authors are always trying to do something new, and I absolutely appreciate that, but you can't just throw the whole pantry into the soup and expect it to turn out perfect.

We start out following a father who thinks he see's his daughter in the back of someone else's car on the highway. Of course, he is cellphone-less and unable to call his wife. Eventually, he finds out from the police that his wife and daughter have been murdered in a home break in - but that's impossible since he just saw his daughter on the highway. The police don't believe him, autopsy/morgue photos claim both are dead, but the father is determined to find his daughter. Along the way, we are introduced to a large amount of characters with differing back stories and no real correlation to each other. Obviously, the story unfolds from here and "plot twists" occur.

I really struggled with the amount of characters. I read high fantasy so it's not that I'm not used to following multiple perspectives, its just the way it was done here that is my issue. For more than 50% of the story, it is very unclear who everyone is and which characters go together. I get that there is supposed to be some kind of mystery element to it but if I put the book down for an hour and then come back to it, I should be able to remember who is who. To be fair, once we got the about the 75% mark, the characters were much more clear and I found the story easy to follow, I just don't feel like it should have taken that long.

I just really feel like the author tried to do way too much here. On top of the amount of characters, there are differing messages about grief, revenge, forgiveness and privilege (???). The privilege issue didn't come in until literally the last few pages and I honestly found it so annoying. The discussion on white privilege is SO IMPORTANT and I think its so necessary to talk about it, but this felt cheap. To just throw in an odd note about white privilege at the very end feels like a cop out and very fake. Include it as a major plot point or don't include it at all. It deserves to be it's own part of the story, not an after thought. Again, I am all for including this discussion in literature, but put more effort in so it fully resonates with your audience and doesn't come off as the worst kind of "woke white person".

The other (more minor) issue I had was the use of a "magical element". I won't go in to details, mostly because I still don't understand, but it felt incredibly rushed and was never fully explored.

Overall, despite my seemingly negative review, I did enjoy this book. It was quick and engaging and I really did like it. Obviously I had some issues, but this is a dark thriller that I think a lot of people would really enjoy. A murdered/missing child and the grief and anger a parent experiences is relatable and understandable to even the most pious of people. The reviews overall have been good, so I think I may be an outlier here but I still think people should give this one a try and see for yourself.

LOVED this book. I was anxiously awaiting his new release and it did not disappoint. This was a quick fun read. Loved the story!!!

Amazing. I started this book on Friday night and had it finished half way through Saturday - I just couldn't put it down and had to know what happened! Highly recommend this suspenseful read that you will not soon forget!

The Other People is C.J. Tudor’s third book. Overall, I found this to be a decent read. I really loved the premise of this novel. The character development and element of mystery were pretty strong. However, I found the writing style in this particular book to be somewhat odd. I noticed that the transitions alternating from past and present didn’t flow well. I also did not like the supernatural elements at the end which seemed to completely off. Despite these discrepancies, I would still recommend checking this thriller out if you loved The Chalk Man and Hiding Place.