What a fun, thrilling page-turner! It hooked me from the beginning! I love a book that jumps right into the story and takes you on a rollercoaster, versus the slow build-up to what's really happening...and boy did C.J. Tudor do it here! While some of the plot twists you see coming instantly, others kept you guessing until the end...and even knowing the twists didn't keep this reader's enjoyment level at an all time high.

Well-rounded characters you care about (hell, many of them are anti-heroes, and you're still pulling for them to win), and a fast-paced story made this the first read of the year I truly enjoyed. While I would have liked more on The Other People and their history, I can only imagine Tudor might be saving that for an inevitable sequel. I'll definitely be recommending this to my customers!

3.75
Everyone handles grief different. The grieving process can produce other emotions/feelings as well. Vengeance may be one of them.

‘Driving home one night, stuck behind a rusty old car Gabe sees a little girl's face appear in its rear window. She mouths one word: Daddy. It’s his five-year-old daughter, Izzy. He never sees her again.’

THE OTHER PEOPLE, the first book that I have read by C.J. Tudor, this page-turning Thriller with a splash of the Supernatural mixed in, is a novel I Highly Recommend!

‘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.’

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books, for loaning me an advance eBook of THE OTHER PEOPLE in exchange for an honest review.

Driving home one night, stuck behind a rusty old car, Gabe sees a little girl’s face appear in its rear window. She mouths one word: Daddy. It’s his five-year-old daughter, Izzy. He never sees her again.


Three years later, Gabe spends his days and nights traveling up and down the highway, searching for the car that took his daughter, refusing to give up hope, even though most people believe she’s dead.


When the car that he saw escape with his little girl is found abandoned with a body inside, Gabe must confront not just the day Izzy disappeared but the painful events from his past now dredged to the surface.


Q: What sort of justice?

A: That depends on the individual. But our ethos is a punishment that fits the crime.


Fran and her daughter, Alice, also put in a lot of miles on the road. Not searching. Running. Because Fran knows what really happened to Gabe’s daughter. She knows who is responsible. And she knows what they will do if they ever catch up to her and Alice.


My thoughts

Would I recommend it ? Yes

Would I read any thing else by this author?yes

This is the third book by this author that I've read so going into the story I know I was either going to like it, love it or hate it, but not once did it let me down.Just like her other previous books it reached out and grabbed me from the the ever start and won't let go.Every page has me asking did Gabe really see his daughter, or he did have something to do with her disappearance.And if he really saw her ,then who took her and why.This book had a lot of twist and turns and it was just a bit dark as The Chalk Man and The Hiding Place. Another thing I loved about the story was the the paranormal touch it had ,and how it was waving into the story so well that once again it gives you a creepy feeling . As for the other people they make you wonder who they are and what is their end game are they the good guys or the bad guys and why if their either are they working from the shadows. With that said I want to thank Netgalley for letting me read and review it .

Gabe is blindsided when he receives a call out of nowhere one day telling him that he needed to get home immediately. When he makes it home, he discovers that his wife has been murdered and his daughter is missing although he is told that she is dead as well. Gabe spends years living on the road trying to find the car that he saw his daughter in that day three years ago when he finally is able to figure out what is going on and what has happened. This was a tough book to get into, however am glad that I stuck with it. It was a superb thriller and kept me guessing in so many different ways until the very end. The story was solid and so different from what I have read in the past. Thanks for the ARC, Net Galley.

Be careful what you wish for... the ‘other people’ might be listening.

Super creepy story about retribution and what cost people pay for ‘justice’ to be served. This read a lot like a Stephen King novel. A good solid story with a few oddities thrown in. I appreciated that it wasn’t overly graphic. It gave just enough details, but not the overkill that I find a lot in today’s thriller genre. The ending, again, reminded me of King’s. A weird scene that just didn’t work for me. It wasn’t necessary & kind of trivialize that particular storyline. Also, a few questions about Izzys odd behavior weren’t answered thoroughly. Why the bag of pebbles? Broken mirrors? Overall, I really enjoyed this. 4 stars.

I really enjoyed reading this book and finished it in one sitting. I just had to know how everyone was connected and what actually happened. Having read a prior book by this author and not liking it I was worried that I might not like this one but I really liked it.

There isn't much to say about it because you should go into not knowing much but the writing was great and I was hooked from beginning to end.

A great read from beginning to end. I loved how every single chapter compelled you to keep going, think James Patterson/Stephen King. The storyline is creepy, creative, with some great twists. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

C. J. Tudor has written a unique story with this novel. It combines a mystery/thriller with the magical realism of a Stephen King or Haruki Murakami. At first, I wasn't quite certain that this would hold up to that level of combining genres but in the end, it worked. The story is engaging and although there are some clunky bits that seemed to not flow as well as the novel as a whole, in general, the plot and characters were engaging. I enjoyed the way the storylines ultimately came together at the end, while leaving some questions for the future.
All in all, this was more of a win than early reviews would have had me expecting. It was definitely worth a read if you like those mentioned genres.
#TheOtherPeople #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishing #Ballantine

If you’ve lost someone beloved, The Other People want to help…

Gabe sees his daughter, Izzy, in the back window of a car ahead of him on the freeway one night. He assumes that he is mistaken until she mouths the word “Daddy”. He gives chase but loses the car in the traffic. When he arrives home, the police tell him his wife and daughter have both been murdered. How is that possible?

After driving the freeway for three long years searching for the car and Izzy, Gabe is befriended by Katie, a waitress in the gas station truck stop he frequents. She has also lost someone. In the meantime, Fran and her daughter Alice are running away from a threat. How do these stories intertwine? Will Gabe find Izzy? Or is she already dead and Gabe is living in a fantasy world?

I enjoyed this paranormal thriller. The Other People was engaging and kept me reading until late at night. The characters seem genuine. Plus the atmosphere and the feeling of dread in the book is kept at 11. It is perfect for readers who like a bit of horror with their thrillers. 4 stars!

Thanks to Ballantine Books, Random House and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I almost finished this book in one sitting but forced myself to set it down and go explore on my vacation. It was a super fast paced thriller that kept me guessing and had a slight paranormal element which upped the spook factor! It would be a great book for a plane or a rainy afternoon when you can binge read.

"The Other People" was wonderfully suspenseful and twisty. I read it nearly all in one sitting; I would definitely recommend it.

I don't like mixing my supernatural with my mystery/thriller when I haven't been warned about it prior to reading. It's why I didn't LOVE The Outsider or the Bill Hodges trilogy by Stephen King (I read The Outsider before Bill Hodges). But at least with King, you can expect there to always be a supernatural element. I didn't except one in this book and didn't like when it appeared and then built on it. This was my first C. J. Tudor (anyone else not realize she was a female? For some reason I just always expect initialed authors to be male) and I already own [book:The Chalk Man|35356382] so I will be reading that. I liked that there was only one question at the end - where did the supernatural junk come from?! All other questions were answered point blank, black and white in the last 2 chapters. And I didn't really care for the "villain's" reason for setting this whole book into motion. Meh. I have to like why they're doing it, or at least have a good explanation as to why, to be full invested in the book. I hope something like this does not exist on the Dark Web because that is horrifying.

I read the first chapter of this book and I was hooked! I was definitely invested in this story and needed to know how it all ended.

Gabe is driving home one night behind a rusty old car when his daughter Izzy’s face appears in the rear window mouthing, “Daddy.” Gabe convinces himself he is just tired and imagining things so he pulls over to a service station to call home and check in. When an unfamiliar voice answers his home phone telling him something has happened to his wife and daughter, Gabe wishes with everything in him that he had followed that rusty car.

It is now three years later and Gabe is living in a camper van and spends his days traveling up and down the highway searching for his daughter. Everyone has told him Izzy is dead but he refuses to believe it- he is certain he saw her face that night. When he locates the rusty car abandoned in a nearby lake, he finally gets some answers that lead him to The Other People. Gabe has no idea just how far these people will go to keep him from discovering the truth about what happened to his family.

This definitely was a little far fetched and out there, but it was also fast paced and kept my interest. We meet a lot of characters but the author did a great job of tying all the storylines together and explaining the connections. This was my first Tudor book and I’m looking forward to reading more from her.

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine Books for this advance reading copy.

I absolutely loved this book!! She doesn’t disappoint. I’ve read all of her books so far. This book has just the right amount of thrill!!

Creepy, suspenseful, intriguing, and well-written. That just about sums up The Other People by C.J. Tudor.

Gabe has spent three long years looking for his daughter, Izzy. Everyone tells him she is dead. But, Gabe knows better. On the night she supposedly died, Gabe saw Izzy in the back of a strange car. Since then he’s been looking for that car and the more he looks, the more he realizes that things are not what they seem to be. People are lying and Gabe is determined to find out the truth. And, meanwhile, just who or what are “the other people”?

The Other People is a twisty story told from several points of view. The characters are well-drawn and the intertwining stories are slowly revealed. The writing is superb and story is told at an excellent pace. I thoroughly enjoy this latest book by C.J. Tudor and I highly recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

HE OTHER PEOPLE
BY C.J. TUDOR

I am editing my prior review sent in prior to today. Based on all of the high reviews I decided to give this book a re-read to find out what I was missing the first time around. I appreciated being gifted with an ARC from Ballantine Books a division of Random House Publishing and Net Galley. There is no denying that C. J. Tudor is a gifted storyteller and writer who I suspect admires Stephen King's work. While this book delivered on the creep factor and is a page turning thriller which I love occasionally, I think something in me is shifting about not enjoying dark and depressing themes in the horror genre. I tend to want to be inspired by lighter themes and lovable characters--at least a few mixed in with the villains. That doesn't mean I am totally giving up on horror because I love a good scare and I have always also enjoyed books with unlikable characters. This book didn't wow me as much as the other reviewers and I am not sure why. I can't quite understand because usually when I see a majority of a highly good reviews I tend to love the book too.

My only answer to this confounding question is that I don't feel aligned with one of the premises of this book that the title implies by "The Others," meting out injustices by "an eye for an eye." or vigilante justice or revenge. I don't agree with that and I strongly feel that it is self destructive. There are a number of reasons why I am not excited by this book. One other could be that I empathized with Gabe's grief as the predominant character I found him to be depressing. I also think that I can suspend belief and find a book enchanting if I am charmed by it in any other genre except thrillers. For whatever the reason I didn't resonate with this thriller and I am rating it a 3.5 stars which I rounded up and that is being as charitable. Please take my review with a grain of salt because I am in the minority so it could also be the timing. As the saying goes timing is everything. I won't be summarizing the plot because the Good Reads synopsis and there are many reviews that already accomplished that. I am sorry that I didn't like it more because I really wanted too. I do wish the author and Ballantine Books a division of Random House great success and many thanks for my ARC via Net Galley.HE OTHER PEOPLE
BY C.J. TUDOR

I am editing my prior review sent in prior to today. Based on all of the high reviews I decided to give this book a re-read to find out what I was missing the first time around. I appreciated being gifted with an ARC from Ballantine Books a division of Random House Publishing and Net Galley. There is no denying that C. J. Tudor is a gifted storyteller and writer who I suspect admires Stephen King's work. While this book delivered on the creep factor and is a page turning thriller which I love occasionally, I think something in me is shifting about not enjoying dark and depressing themes in the horror genre. I tend to want to be inspired by lighter themes and lovable characters--at least a few mixed in with the villains. That doesn't mean I am totally giving up on horror because I love a good scare and I have always also enjoyed books with unlikable characters. This book didn't wow me as much as the other reviewers and I am not sure why. I can't quite understand because usually when I see a majority of a highly good reviews I tend to love the book too.

My only answer to this confounding question is that I don't feel aligned with one of the premises of this book that the title implies by "The Others," meting out injustices by "an eye for an eye." or vigilante justice or revenge. I don't agree with that and I strongly feel that it is self destructive. There are a number of reasons why I am not excited by this book. One other could be that I empathized with Gabe's grief as the predominant character I found him to be depressing. I also think that I can suspend belief and find a book enchanting if I am charmed by it in any other genre except thrillers. For whatever the reason I didn't resonate with this thriller and I am rating it a 3.5 stars which I rounded up and that is being as charitable. Please take my review with a grain of salt because I am in the minority so it could also be the timing. As the saying goes timing is everything. I won't be summarizing the plot because the Good Reads synopsis and there are many reviews that already accomplished that. I am sorry that I didn't like it more because I really wanted too. I do wish the author and Ballantine Books a division of Random House great success and many thanks for my ARC via Net Galley.HE OTHER PEOPLE
BY C.J. TUDOR

I am editing my prior review sent in prior to today. Based on all of the high reviews I decided to give this book a re-read to find out what I was missing the first time around. I appreciated being gifted with an ARC from Ballantine Books a division of Random House Publishing and Net Galley. There is no denying that C. J. Tudor is a gifted storyteller and writer who I suspect admires Stephen King's work. While this book delivered on the creep factor and is a page turning thriller which I love occasionally, I think something in me is shifting about not enjoying dark and depressing themes in the horror genre. I tend to want to be inspired by lighter themes and lovable characters--at least a few mixed in with the villains. That doesn't mean I am totally giving up on horror because I love a good scare and I have always also enjoyed books with unlikable characters. This book didn't wow me as much as the other reviewers and I am not sure why. I can't quite understand because usually when I see a majority of a highly good reviews I tend to love the book too.

My only answer to this confounding question is that I don't feel aligned with one of the premises of this book that the title implies by "The Others," meting out injustices by "an eye for an eye." or vigilante justice or revenge. I don't agree with that and I strongly feel that it is self destructive. There are a number of reasons why I am not excited by this book. One other could be that I empathized with Gabe's grief as the predominant character I found him to be depressing. I also think that I can suspend belief and find a book enchanting if I am charmed by it in any other genre except thrillers. For whatever the reason I didn't resonate with this thriller and I am rating it a 3.5 stars which I rounded up and that is being as charitable. Please take my review with a grain of salt because I am in the minority so it could also be the timing. As the saying goes timing is everything. I won't be summarizing the plot because the Good Reads synopsis and there are many reviews that already accomplished that. I am sorry that I didn't like it more because I really wanted too. I do wish the author and Ballantine Books a division of Random House great success and many thanks for my ARC via Net Galley.HE OTHER PEOPLE
BY C.J. TUDOR

I am editing my prior review sent in prior to today. Based on all of the high reviews I decided to give this book a re-read to find out what I was missing the first time around. I appreciated being gifted with an ARC from Ballantine Books a division of Random House Publishing and Net Galley. There is no denying that C. J. Tudor is a gifted storyteller and writer who I suspect admires Stephen King's work. While this book delivered on the creep factor and is a page turning thriller which I love occasionally, I think something in me is shifting about not enjoying dark and depressing themes in the horror genre. I tend to want to be inspired by lighter themes and lovable characters--at least a few mixed in with the villains. That doesn't mean I am totally giving up on horror because I love a good scare and I have always also enjoyed books with unlikable characters. This book didn't wow me as much as the other reviewers and I am not sure why. I can't quite understand because usually when I see a majority of a highly good reviews I tend to love the book too.

My only answer to this confounding question is that I don't feel aligned with one of the premises of this book that the title implies by "The Others," meting out injustices by "an eye for an eye." or vigilante justice or revenge. I don't agree with that and I strongly feel that it is self destructive. There are a number of reasons why I am not excited by this book. One other could be that I empathized with Gabe's grief as the predominant character I found him to be depressing. I also think that I can suspend belief and find a book enchanting if I am charmed by it in any other genre except thrillers. For whatever the reason I didn't resonate with this thriller and I am rating it a 3.5 stars which I rounded up and that is being as charitable. Please take my review with a grain of salt because I am in the minority so it could also be the timing. As the saying goes timing is everything. I won't be summarizing the plot because the Good Reads synopsis and there are many reviews that already accomplished that. I am sorry that I didn't like it more because I really wanted too. I do wish the author and Ballantine Books a division of Random House great success and many thanks for my ARC via Net Galley.HE OTHER PEOPLE
BY C.J. TUDOR

I am editing my prior review sent in prior to today. Based on all of the high reviews I decided to give this book a re-read to find out what I was missing the first time around. I appreciated being gifted with an ARC from Ballantine Books a division of Random House Publishing and Net Galley. There is no denying that C. J. Tudor is a gifted storyteller and writer who I suspect admires Stephen King's work. While this book delivered on the creep factor and is a page turning thriller which I love occasionally, I think something in me is shifting about not enjoying dark and depressing themes in the horror genre. I tend to want to be inspired by lighter themes and lovable characters--at least a few mixed in with the villains. That doesn't mean I am totally giving up on horror because I love a good scare and I have always also enjoyed books with unlikable characters. This book didn't wow me as much as the other reviewers and I am not sure why. I can't quite understand because usually when I see a majority of a highly good reviews I tend to love the book too.

My only answer to this confounding question is that I don't feel aligned with one of the premises of this book that the title implies by "The Others," meting out injustices by "an eye for an eye." or vigilante justice or revenge. I don't agree with that and I strongly feel that it is self destructive. There are a number of reasons why I am not excited by this book. One other could be that I empathized with Gabe's grief as the predominant character I found him to be depressing. I also think that I can suspend belief and find a book enchanting if I am charmed by it in any other genre except thrillers. For whatever the reason I didn't resonate with this thriller and I am rating it a 3.5 stars which I rounded up and that is being as charitable. Please take my review with a grain of salt because I am in the minority so it could also be the timing. As the saying goes timing is everything. I won't be summarizing the plot because the Good Reads synopsis and there are many reviews that already accomplished that. I am sorry that I didn't like it more because I really wanted too. I do wish the author and Ballantine Books a division of Random House great success and many thanks for my ARC via Net Galley.HE OTHER PEOPLE
BY C.J. TUDOR

I am editing my prior review sent in prior to today. Based on all of the high reviews I decided to give this book a re-read to find out what I was missing the first time around. I appreciated being gifted with an ARC from Ballantine Books a division of Random House Publishing and Net Galley. There is no denying that C. J. Tudor is a gifted storyteller and writer who I suspect admires Stephen King's work. While this book delivered on the creep factor and is a page turning thriller which I love occasionally, I think something in me is shifting about not enjoying dark and depressing themes in the horror genre. I tend to want to be inspired by lighter themes and lovable characters--at least a few mixed in with the villains. That doesn't mean I am totally giving up on horror because I love a good scare and I have always also enjoyed books with unlikable characters. This book didn't wow me as much as the other reviewers and I am not sure why. I can't quite understand because usually when I see a majority of a highly good reviews I tend to love the book too.

My only answer to this confounding question is that I don't feel aligned with one of the premises of this book that the title implies by "The Others," meting out injustices by "an eye for an eye." or vigilante justice or revenge. I don't agree with that and I strongly feel that it is self destructive. There are a number of reasons why I am not excited by this book. One other could be that I empathized with Gabe's grief as the predominant character I found him to be depressing. I also think that I can suspend belief and find a book enchanting if I am charmed by it in any other genre except thrillers. For whatever the reason I didn't resonate with this thriller and I am rating it a 3.5 stars which I rounded up and that is being as charitable. Please take my review with a grain of salt because I am in the minority so it could also be the timing. As the saying goes timing is everything. I won't be summarizing the plot because the Good Reads synopsis and there are many reviews that already accomplished that. I am sorry that I didn't like it more because I really wanted too. I do wish the author and Ballantine Books a division of Random House great success and many thanks for my ARC via Net Galley.HE OTHER PEOPLE
BY C.J. TUDOR

I am editing my prior review sent in prior to today. Based on all of the high reviews I decided to give this book a re-read to find out what I was missing the first time around. I appreciated being gifted with an ARC from Ballantine Books a division of Random House Publishing and Net Galley. There is no denying that C. J. Tudor is a gifted storyteller and writer who I suspect admires Stephen King's work. While this book delivered on the creep factor and is a page turning thriller which I love occasionally, I think something in me is shifting about not enjoying dark and depressing themes in the horror genre. I tend to want to be inspired by lighter themes and lovable characters--at least a few mixed in with the villains. That doesn't mean I am totally giving up on horror because I love a good scare and I have always also enjoyed books with unlikable characters. This book didn't wow me as much as the other reviewers and I am not sure why. I can't quite understand because usually when I see a majority of a highly good reviews I tend to love the book too.

My only answer to this confounding question is that I don't feel aligned with one of the premises of this book that the title implies by "The Others," meting out injustices by "an eye for an eye." or vigilante justice or revenge. I don't agree with that and I strongly feel that it is self destructive. There are a number of reasons why I am not excited by this book. One other could be that I empathized with Gabe's grief as the predominant character I found him to be depressing. I also think that I can suspend belief and find a book enchanting if I am charmed by it in any other genre except thrillers. For whatever the reason I didn't resonate with this thriller and I am rating it a 3.5 stars which I rounded up and that is being as charitable. Please take my review with a grain of salt because I am in the minority so it could also be the timing. As the saying goes timing is everything. I won't be summarizing the plot because the Good Reads synopsis and there are many reviews that already accomplished that. I am sorry that I didn't like it more because I really wanted too. I do wish the author and Ballantine Books a division of Random House great success and many thanks for my ARC via Net Galley.

Three years ago Gabe was driving home from work, stuck behind an old, crappy car in horrible traffic. As he's reading the bumper stickers on it, the face of a young girl appears in the back window. She mouths the word "daddy" and then disappears from view. He tries to follow the car, but loses it in the jam.
He is so shaken up, he needs to call home but his phone battery has died. Although he is late, he stops along the road to use a pay phone. The police answer and tell him to hurry home, it's about his wife Jenny and daughter Isabella.
When he arrives, he finds out they have both been murdered. How can that be, he just saw his daughter Izzy in a stranger's car?!
When he goes to identify them at the morgue, he is so physically ill, his father in law must do it for him.
In the ensuing years, he primarily lives in his van, on the road, endlessly searching for his daughter. She must still be alive.
Fran and her daughter Alice, spend their time on the same roadways. But they are not looking for anyone like Gabe is. They are trying to escape someone who is out to get them. And Fran knows the truth about what really happened to Gabe's daughter.
Watch out for the other people.
I basically read this spooky and captivating supernatural/psychological thriller in one day, I just could not stop reading it. It was so realistic, even with the paranormal aspect.
Great writing and engaging characters. A distinctive story that really stands out from most of the other thrillers.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballentine Books for the e-ARC via NetGalley.

The story in C.J. Tudor’s newest thriller centers on Gabe, a man who seems to be on an endless quest for his daughter, Izzy, who was supposedly murdered along with Gabe’s wife. Tudor successfully weaves Gabe’s story with those of Fran (who is looking after a young girl called Alice), Katie (a waitress in a coffee shop) and a comatose young girl, sprinkles a bit of the supernatural (a chilling group know as The Other People), and provides enough twists and turns to create a very readable thriller. A definite page-turner!

Tudor’s characters are all interesting and realistic, and they each seem to be fueled by genuine emotion. The plot line — albeit somewhat complicated, especially in the beginning third of the novel — is cleverly thought out and ties together quite well in the end. All in all, I found this to be another great read from Tudor, and I look forward to reading her next book.

I’ve devoured every book this author has written and this book doesn’t disappoint. This book draws you in and doesn’t let go. I found myself straying up late, getting up early and grabbing every spare second. Each chapter builds until the pulse stopping ending. This sets the bar high for the best thriller of 2020!