As someone who still think about the Chalk Man, I was thrilled to read and review CJ Tudor’s upcoming release, The Other People. Let me start by saying, The Other People is a dark book. The story begins when a father, on his way home, sees his daughter in the backseat of an unknown car. Stuck in traffic, he ponders, “should I give chase or is my mind playing tricks on me.” Resolving his sighting to being a lookalike, he continues his drive and then receives the call that will change his life forever, “your wife and daughter have been murdered.” This book starts slowly and you feel the sadness and depths of the fathers grief. Why was his wife killed and who was the little girl in the back of the car? Refusing to believe his daughter died with his wife, he continues to search on the same motorway where he last saw his daughter.

While I enjoyed this book, there were some connections that didn’t just work for me. Mixing dream communication between two characters seemed to muddy the waters of an already compelling story. For me, that element just didn’t work wasn’t needed. If you can suspend some reality and focus on the main storyline, I think you’ll enjoy the search for answers and the meaning of The Other People.

The majority of this book was captivating. I nearly devoured The Other People in one sitting. I would have, had I not run out of time.
The premise of a group existing to serve cold dishes of revenge was brilliant and I am a big fan of multiple narratives in which the connection is not easily identified. The pace, the tension, and the end chapter cliffhangers that propel the reader through the book were not only executed well, but contributed to an even more enjoyable reading experience than The Chalk Man, which I personally loved.
I do have a couple of criticisms, though my overall experience was positive.
First, there may have been just too much going on in the book. There are 8-10 mysteries of varying importance that need to be wrapped up by the end or risk disappointing the reader. There was a satisfying amount of resolution, however, the reveals, twists, and outcomes didn't pack much punch. The story became more and more complex until the very end and then the reveals felt like one info dump after another.
Added to the mix was the unexpected supernatural element that I don't feel affected the plot enough to exist. I love the idea, but not enough hinged upon it. At least nothing that couldn't be explained in an alternative way. If the book is going to venture into areas that question believability, it might as well go all in.
Again, the body of this book is extraordinary and if the end had been executed just a little differently, it would have made my favorites list. That said, my interest in CJ Tudor has not waned one bit.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for ARC of this book.

OH MY GOD!!! This was such a great book! The thrills! The chills! The mystery! The suspense! I can honestly say that this is THE BEST BOOK that I have read in a long time! The writing was superb, the characters were well written, and the plot twists and turns outdid any other book than I have even tried to compare it to!

This book is about Gabe, a seemingly middle aged man, whose wife and daughter were both killed. Or were they? Gabe believes that his daughter is still alive, that he saw her in the back of a car traveling in front of him on the highway on his way home--AFTER the police say his wife and daughter were already dead!

This book follows Gabe afterwards as he travels that same highway in his VW van for years searching for the car he swears he saw his daughter in.

BE PREPARED TO BE AMAZED!!!

This story comes in waves. Gentle at first, then more crashing as the sea reaches high tide. Many pebbles to gather along the way.

Absolutely wonderful. Read this thrilling (sometimes creepy) tale and let the waves wash over you. Highly recommend.

After a string of mostly disappointing thrillers throughout 2019 and into 2020, I was quite pleased with this solid thriller. I requested it because I had been intrigued by the plot of [book:The Chalk Man|35356382] and hadn't had a chance to pick it up yet, and I will definitely be putting it into my "Want to Read" now.

There is a lot of interesting stuff going on here: A dad who is convinced he saw his daughter alive not long after the police say she was brutally murdered, a secret group bent on fulfilling vendettas, a woman on the run with a little girl, a set of vague and slowly interlocking storylines, and a hint of the supernatural thrown in for good measure. This one will be a great pick for fans of Stephen King's police stories like [book:Mr. Mercedes|18775247] and [book:The Outsider|36124936].

I really enjoyed getting to start my year with a book that was compulsively readable with enough weird to leave you guessing as the pages flew by.

Now, I had two small problems with the story. The first is simple, the second I would not read unless you want small spoilers.

1) As with many a thriller, the book starts to drag in the middle under the weight of trying to keep suspense aloft without having enough twists to prop it up.

2) This had a tinge of that [author:Iris Johansen|32498] supernatural element that isn't really explained or a part of the overall story until it comes in handy just in time to save the day. For most thriller readers, this will not be an issue, just a fun plot device that will add a pinch of weird to an already readable story. For me, when books have that element, I always want a little more explanation into the "Why??" of it all and did not get that here.

Put this one on deck for your summer reading needs.

I LOVED this book! This was my first read by C.J. Tudor and I immediately ordered The Chalk Man when I was finished. I was completely engaged with The Other People from the first page and couldn't put it down! My only dislike was the paranormal aspect but that didn't take away from how much I enjoyed the rest of the book. It's not easy to find a good thriller but this is it! Highly recommend!

4.5 stars rounded up!

While Gabe is sitting in his usual rush hour traffic one day, he thinks he sees his young daughter in the back of the pick up truck in front of him. He comes home to find his wife and daughter have been murdered, but he doesn’t believe it’s his daughter because he knows he saw her in the mysterious truck just moments before. He then spends the next 3 years driving up and down the same highway searching for the ghost of a girl and the truck he last saw her in.

This book was a fast read for me! It was a unique take on the kidnapping/murder mystery trope and kept me guessing! The different viewpoints were unique and gave the reader just enough information to unravel the mystery while still maintaining its intrigue. It continues to do so when resolving the book while simultaneously keeping the air of mystery alive. Well written and faster-paced than the prior books, this is a win for C.J. Tudor!

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced copy!!

In Tudor's The Chalk Man and The Hiding Place, we get more subtle, suspenseful burn into a dark thriller, bordering on horror, type of read. With The Other People, we get short chapters that read quickly and pulls you in by your collar and continually shakes you as you progress.

I've been seeing this tit-for-tat type of dark thriller read lately and I am here for every bit of it. Everyone goes through pain. Everyone wants justice and/or revenge. Everyone has family they care about. But not everyone gets a chance to rectify a situation they think went wrong. For better or worse, you are married into your decision and you do NOT want to fuck with The Other People.

There seems to be a lot going on with this read. We have many different POVs that luckily never get confusing. Past and present timelines interweave throughout but never gets muddled. At first you're wondering how these characters and timelines meld and make sense but once you get it, it's pretty genius. I felt for Gabe. I loved Fran and Alice. I flew through the pages wanting to know exactly how their stories would collide... and collide they did.

The only thing I didn't particularly care for was the supernatural twinge. I didn't feel it was necessary for the story line and didn't lend itself to make this a *better* read. It read just fine as a darker thriller without any horror necessary. Horror is already well enough written within the people this book represents. Despite this (which weirdly doesn't play as huge a part as it may seem), I was captivated and involved with this story... and every time I felt Tudor was going to leave me hanging, I got the answers I wanted and needed.

I became a C.J. Tudor fan when I read The Chalk Man. And I'm an even bigger fan after reading The Other People!

Gabe is driving home....mindlessly following the usual route. He notices the rusty car in front of him....reads the various bumper stickers that adorn the back. Then he notices something terrifying. A little girl in the back....her face pops into the window, looking at him. It's....his daughter. Izzy. 5 years old. Then she's gone....the car lost in traffic....and he never sees his daughter again. Gabe spends years looking for her, the car he saw that day, anything..... Gabe meets a group that operates through the dark web. The Other People understand loss. They want to help those who have lost someone. But it's quid pro quo. A favor for a favor.....

What a creepily suspenseful story! As a mom, this was a rough plot for me....I think every parent fears an event like this. What would I do if I saw my child or grandchild in the backseat of a stranger's car?? Holy crap -- that would be incredibly terrifying!!! And then to find a group that will seek out answers, justice, a resolution of some sort.....for a price. This rapidly turned into a binge read for me....I couldn't stop reading!

Another great book from C. J. Tudor! Full stars from me!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Random House. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

I just finished the book and I'm happy to say I loved it. It is about a man whose wife and daughter are found at his home, murdered. He refuses to believe the child found was his daughter because he saw her in the back of a van. He spends years looking for her. There are two other stories going on, a waitress, Katie, and Fran and her little girl, Alice who are running from something. The stories are masterfully woven together going back and forth in time. Just when you think all is revealed, there's more! Tudor used several things that make a great novel. Short chapters, chapters ending with a sentence that keeps you reading one more and characters to love and those the hate. Bravo! Cheers. Thank you

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

WOW.

This is my first C.J. Tudor novel, but it definitely won't be my last.

Crime fiction isn't really on my radar, but I am SO glad to have gotten approved for an ARC of this.

A man is on his way home from work trying to get home in time for dinner when he gets caught in some traffic and sees his daughter (or is it??) in the backseat of the car in front of him.

That's all I'm giving you about the plot, read it for yourself.

BUT HERE ARE MY FEELINGS.

I love the different POVs. You know when stories are able to come together in just the right way, and it actually makes sense? This is that. *chef's kiss*

I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and couldn't wait to turn the page. Almost every chapter leaves you thinking, "Wait.. what?" And you have to read the next one.

There's this almost magical (maybe supernatural?) element happening as well, which gave this story a little kick to it. Honestly, it reminded me of some Dean Koontz novel I read quite some time ago.

The characters almost all sit in that perfect morally grey area where they all have their reasons for justifying their actions, which is one of my favorite things in all forms of entertainment.

The writing is good, accessible, and clearly done by someone who knows what they're doing. The pacing is perfect. I am very excited to read Tudor's other novels.

I received this book from Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Who do you trust? No, really! In this thriller, one characters story bleeds into another. Like a pebble in a pond, the ripple effect of the deeds they keep secret will affect others in ways they would be ashamed to know. Yet, they run, hide, pursue justice at any expense. This is a tale of the poignancy of memories tainted with loss and grief. There is an otherworldly thread that connects the characters and the twisty plot pulls you into the story, almost against your will. At first, I found it hard to connect with the plot, but quickly I found the thread and followed it feverishly to the stunning conclusion. Story has some supernatural elements. It will be a great addition to the thriller genre.

I LOVED this book. I read it in two sittings. It was the perfect amount of true crime, thriller, and fantasy, and the characters played their roles perfectly. Every time I thought something was going to be a little too "out there", something pulled it all together and made it seem entirely possible. I will 100% recommend this book to any thriller loving readers, and can't wait to see what Tudor cooks up next.

C.J. Tudor's best work to date! I loved the characters and the plot was very well done. I could not guess the ending, but it also didn't feel outlandish. I loved this book!

4 stars for The Other People by CJ Tudor. It was a gripping thriller with some aspects of supernatural and horror elements thrown in.

Gabe is an anguished father struggling with the loss of his wife and daughter. They were murdered 3 years ago in his home while he was out. Except that’s not what happened. At least not according to Gabe who believes he saw his daughter being taken away in the back of a car the very day she was supposedly murdered. But why? And how was there a body? Who is responsible? Is Gabe correct or is he just a grief-stricken father trying to make himself feel better?

The story is told throughout different characters including Gabe, a waitress named Katie, a mother on-the-run named Fran, and a little girl named Alice. At first, it was a little hard to keep track of all of the characters and it took me a good 50 pages to understand what was going on, but from there it took off. Each chapter was another twist and turn in the story that keep you wondering. The chapters about Alice were particularly chilling and creepy which is why I was so invested.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Other People for it’s thrilling tale, character development, and plot twists. I only wish it touched on the supernatural aspect a little bit more. But if you’re looking for a bone-chilling thriller, this is definitely it. Pick up The Other People by CJ Tudor on January 28th, 2020!

This review will be posted on GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3123464451

“The Other People” by C.J. Tudor is sure to be one of the best thrillers of the winter season! Driving home one night, Gabe sees a little girl’s face appear in the rear window. She mouths one word: ‘Daddy.” He never sees her again. Three years later, Gabe spends his days and nights traveling up and down the high way searching for the car that took his daughter. Meanwhile, Fran and her daughter, Alice, also put in a lot of miles on the highway - not searching - but running! Fran keeps a big secret and she knows what happened to Gabe’s daughter, but that secret is what is keeping her on the run. While on the hunt, Gabe comes face to face with a group called The Other People. The Other People know what pain, the loss of someone, and what death is like. The main problem … they want other people to know it too!

I absolutely loved this book! I have to admit I was not a big fan of Tudor’s novel “The Hiding Place,” so I was a little hesitant to read her newest thriller. I am glad I did! This thriller is instantly on your toes action instead of the slow burning psychological suspense. The story centers around Gabe, Fran, and Katie’s POV as well as a mysterious character we just know is in a medical coma. All the major characters seem to have their own issues and in search of something whether it’s finding safety or finding the missing child. The stories are not intertwined until later and focus majority on present day with some flashback chapters. I have to admit I figured out quickly how the characters were related but still the build up was intense and the characters’ backstories is what really hooked me.

The other people is a super creepy psychotic group that really makes you think on what is on the web and how quickly something can go bad at a click of a mouse. I do wish the author focused a a little more on the background of the group, but I also did enjoy how the other people is mysterious.

My main criticism was there was a paranormal aspect that I felt had no place in the story. It did not help the storyline and I felt was a complete 180 to what the author wanted in relation to the main aspects of the novel. However, my advice is just to completely ignore that storyline (I did) and you will not be disappointed.

Also, those last few chapters not only does the author wrap up the story, but throws a few wrenches is what really gave my rating the 5 stars. While I thought I had majority of the storyline figured out there were a couple “OMG” moments that what made the book amazing for me! I highly recommend this novel… You will not be disappointed! Release: January 28th

I heard great things about this highly anticipated release (out Jan 28) and was so excited to get the opportunity review this one early. Overall, I would rate this 4 stars. It starts extremely slow, and it took me until about halfway through to really be into it--and to understand what was going on! The short chapters really help you fly through it as some chapters are only 1-2 pages! I personally love that :)

This book is told from the perspective of a lot of different characters. At first it's hard to piece together who is who and if/how they're related, but by mid-way through you start to really understand it and see the overlap, which I loved!

The plot is centered around Gabe and his family. His wife and daughter were murdered, and he's convinced that his daughter is still alive and won't let it go. After 3 years of searching for clues, he finally catches a huge break. He knows his Izzy is out there and he's determined to find her. The only problem is: who has her? Who are "The Other People"? The more he searches for her, the more his life is put in danger -- as well as his daughters.

I loved the ending, although there was a supernatural element slipped in there that kind of came out of nowhere/didn't match the rest of the plot that I still don't really understand. That's probably why this wasn't 5 stars for me, along with not really being emotionally attached to any characters besides Gabe and his daughter (there are lots of others, but these were the main two!).

Overall, this was a good read and I would recommend adding it to your TBR!

#NetGalley #The Other People #Random House Publishing House - Ballantine

A pale girl sleeps in a quiet room, the only sounds in the room are the machines that keep her tethered to this world.
A Woman and her young daughter killed in their home. A man sitting in traffic that sees his young daughter in the car in front of him. The man trying to convince the police that his daughter is not dead.
Another woman on the run with her young daughter.
The dark web, The Other People. The people that will do a favor for you, the catch is that at anytime you will be called upon to repay the favor. The dark web is real, are The Other People real? It's a scary possibility.
Bravo to C. J. Tudor, what an imagination and wonderful writing! This book is a page turner, and stays with you.

Who are The Other People?
4.5 stars!! OMG. I want to give this 5 stars so badly, but I thought it went juuust a bit too far with one part. Other than that one gripe, it was a great thriller!! Gabe is still searching for his daughter, even though the police and everyone else believe she was dead. The story follows Gabe’s search for the truth about the night his wife and daughter were murdered. I loved how the stories tied together and the final twist at the end solidified this as an almost 5 star read!! Definitely recommend this one for all thriller fans!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A gripping thriller about a man who won't give up until he finds his daughter, who no one else believes is alive. This has a lot of unexpected elements, and even a hint of paranormal!

I loved this book. It had me engaged the whole time, and the multiple perspectives kept me guessing. It was very interesting trying to figure out how/if these perspectives connected. Lots of running, driving, and searching. There was also a very intriguing supernatural element which makes this story unique. And of course, there were plenty of satisfying twists! None were particularly mind-blowing for me but they were exactly what the story needed.