When I pick up a Louise Candlish book I know to expect some addictive writing, stories of horrible people, and a great twist or two and The Other Passenger delivered on all counts.

I always have to commend Candlish’s writing. Though I did feel the story was a little longer than it needed to be, I had a hard time putting this one down. The plot also heavily involved the main character cheating on his girlfriend of ten years and even though I was disgusted by him – and most the rest of the characters – I still wanted to read it, which is not always the case for me. It did, however, bring my enjoyment of the story down a little.

There’s not a lot I feel like I can say about how the plot evolves without giving away some major spoilers. I will say that there were some fun twists. I had guessed part of the first twist, but there was another part of it that definitely surprised me. After that, I easily predicted the remaining twists, but I still thought they were well done and people who read less of this genre than I do might be more surprised than I was.

Overall, The Other Passenger had some fun – if predictable – twists and addictive writing, but the main plot line of infidelity brought my overall enjoyment down. I also thought there were parts that dragged on a little too long. This might not be my favorite Candlish book, but I will still be looking forward to whatever she writes next.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 3.5 Stars

THE OTHER PASSENGER by Louise Candlish is a twisty and dark domestic suspense novel that kept me guessing right up until the ending. The story is told from the perspective of forty-something Jamie Buckby and covers the period of days between Christmas and the New Year of 2019 with flashbacks to January, 2019 when he first met Kit Roper and his then girlfriend, Melia. Melia works for Kit’s partner Clare and Clare has invited Kit and Melia to the beautiful home in southeast London that she shares with Jamie. Despite the age difference between the two couples and the dramatic disparity in their economic status, the couples seem to get on quite well at first. Since both Kit and Jamie travel to Central London for their jobs, they begin taking the commuter riverboat together every day. When Jamie returns to work after the holidays, he sees that Kit is not on the boat they usually share. He is shocked when he arrives at the London Eye and is met by two police detectives informing him that Melia has reported Kit missing and Jamie is thought to have been the last one to see him before his disappearance. He learns that another passenger witnessed him arguing with Kit that last time they were together. What follows is a fast-paced and unpredictable journey filled with intrigue and drama as we learn through Jamie’s narration what lead up to the present moment. Which of the characters is telling the truth? A web of lies and manipulation are soon revealed that had me flipping the pages to see what happened in the end. I enjoyed this entertaining and cleverly-plotted novel and I look forward to reading more from Louise Candlish in the future. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of the US release of this book.

This was an okay thriller, although it took a bit to get going. While there really was not a a likeable character in the whole book, it was not off-putting. Some good twists, but not until about 2/3 of the way in. Good London setting.

<i>The Other Passenger</i> was a slowly built, twisted psychological novel. It took me a bit to get through the first half of the book, which I found quite boring; after that I shot through this novel like I was out the gate at the races.

There’s much to be said, but without spoilers, friends - buy the book! You will not be disappointed!!

This book lost me shortly after the first chapter. I struggled to finish, the story fizzled. The main character sounded like a female and I was surprised it was a male.

This was a delightfully twisty little thriller. About halfway through, right as I'd started to wonder how the author would fill the other pages, one little surprise after another came in like waves, right up to the end. Love the premise, love the twisty bits.

This is my first book by this author, it had a slow start but it did pick up and while i guessed both parts of the twist, it still kept me involved. It raises the questions of what people will do for money and for love, these people will go much further for a shortcut than most of us

Not for me. I took too hard to the "twisted" part in the description without realizing this was a domestic thriller, which I do not care for.

Friends living together, friends meeting on commutes to work, marital affairs, and now a missing friend and Jaime is the last one to see Kit alive.

We follow Jaime and Clare, Kit and Melia, and Gretchen, and Steve as we hear background information on all characters and their current shenanigans.

Everyone seems to be friendly, but some might be too friendly. We find out Jaime and Melia are having an affair. No one seems to know, but the police do when they are questioning Jaime.

There is a lot to absorb about each character, and when Kit goes missing you definitely can't figure out what's going on with each of them.

Can any of the characters trust each other? I wouldn’t have trusted any of them.

Just who is the other passenger who seems to be a witness to the fact that Jaime and Kit were in an argument before they left the commuter boat.

This book truly dragged for me, and I couldn't really connect with any of the characters.....they all were unlikable.

The story line was very confusing as well, but I do have to say the ending twist and the revelations were brilliant. 3/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley and in print in exchange for an honest review.

OMG WhAT just happened?!? Mind blowing!!! Jamie and Clare have been together for years when they meet an exciting young couple, Melia and Kit. Then things get complicated and out of hand.
I could not put this down!!! Louise Candlish, you are a genius!!

This book left me far from satisfied. The whole "I cheated on my spouse and now I'm worried they'll find out" is so unenjoyable that even the twist(s) didn't make up for it. 2/5

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The ol' commute to work.......

Check off the boxes for anxiety, stress, frustration, sleep problems, digestive problems, and a whole array of emotional/physical symptoms fryin' your insides.

But Jamie Buckby has turned the corner on it all. Jamie suffered from the crush dynamics of an overcrowded train in a London tunnel. His phobia peeks over his shoulder now every time he gets too close to one. Problem solved with boarding a commuter boat on the Thames. Easy on. Easy off.

Jamie's wife, Clare, indulges him with the upscale spacious home that belongs to her and her patience with Jamie's low pay job as a cafe assistant at the Comfort Zone. Clare informs Jamie that she has invited a co-worker, Melia, and her busband, Kit, over for dinner one evening. Melia and Kit live the high life of youth in their twenties and Jamie and Clare have to step it up to keep up.

Jamie convinces Kit to try commuting to work on the boat with him and his fellow friends. They hit the waves every day and elbow their way to the boat bar every night. Life is good. After returning from the Christmas holidays, Jamie doesn't find Kit among the passengers. A frantic Melia calls Jamie searching for Kit with no luck. It's like he's disappeared into thin air. Not a sign. Not a clue.

Louise Candlish has created a tightly-knit storyline lined with whopper lies and indiscretions. Our main characters have not been upfront with one another. And it's all starting to catch up. Jamie, himself, has been heavily interviewed by the police. But what does Jamie really know about the missing Kit? Why doesn't anyone else know where Kit is? Candlish keeps you guessing throughout the cat-got-your-tongue approach. No one's talking until the threads start to unravel quickly. The Other Passenger is certainly one to keep an eye out for.

I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Simon & Schuster (Atria Books) and to Louise Candlish for the opportunity.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Other Passenger.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I'm pleased when NetGalley approved my request.

The premise is straightforward and formulaic; an older couple, Jamie and Clare, befriends a younger couple, Melia and Kit; Melia seduces Jamie, Jamie is enthralled by Melia who doesn't need to do a lot of convincing to enlist him in her devious plot to be rid of her husband and start with a clean slate and debt free.

Jamie is slow on the uptake and by the time he realizes he and Kit have been gamed by Melia, it's too late.

The plot is predictable; I could see the twist coming from a mile away, and so will most readers, if you read as many mysteries/thrillers as I do.

I didn't like any of the characters; they were unlikable with no redeeming qualities. I didn't believe Jamie and Clare had been together for a decade. Their relationship didn't feel genuine or sincere. They had no chemistry or rapport and I found it difficult to believe a hard working woman wouldn't resent her long-term boyfriend after supporting him financially for so many years.

The author spends too many paragraphs describing the commute Jamie and his friends take each morning on the ferry; the bars they frequent, the adultering Jamie and Melia engage in, the random conversations Jamie has with his wife, Melia, Kit, Gretchen, and his lawyers.

The writing was good, but the narrative was long and drawn out; the pacing was slow and there wasn't much suspense or urgency.

I did like the ending, but I wasn't too invested in the story or the characters.

Why is it we’re never content with what we have? Candlish explores how the drive to have what others have can become a fatal obsession. She shows that the dangers of desiring a life change come at the expense of everything one has worked for and established. Furthermore, future happiness often comes at a high cost to someone else.

Kit Roper and his girlfriend, Melia, are millennials who are barely scraping by. They both hold white-collar full-time jobs, but life in London is proving expensive. Kit befriends Jamie Buckby, 48, on the river bus and the two couples become inseparable. Jamie’s wife, Clare, works in real estate and, thanks to her wealthy family, the couple live in an estate home in London. Jamie has had to leave his job in the corporate world because his claustrophobia prevents him from taking crowded transportation to work. He’s now a barista and enjoying the luxury of the riverbus commute complete with its wifi and cafeteria.

Brace yourself for a classic noir slow-burner as Candlish takes time to build characters and motivations in this character-driven plot. She needs to drive home the fixation with age and wealth before continuing her story. The first thing you’ll notice is that you don’t care for any of the characters; they’re unlikeable. They are supposed to be. The second thing you’ll notice is that the narrator is unreliable. He’s supposed to be. As the plot progresses, you’ll enjoy the sharp, witty and well-paced tale. Commuting each workday, the two talk about debt and the lack of opportunities for the younger generation, inheriting wealth and how it leads to resentment, jealousy and, ultimately, rifts between people. It soon becomes obvious that Candlish is focused on the generational and wealth divide. She showcases the dark side of human relationships and their petty disagreements.

When one of the Water Rats (riverboat commuters) goes missing, you may agree that it would have been best if Kit and Jamie had never met.

Two clichés sum up this thriller: The grass isn’t always greener on the other side and appearances can be deceiving.

Be careful who you sit next to on public transportation! You may find your life taking an unintended direction.

Already a hit in the UK, Candlish’s book hits the North American market on July 20, 2021. The movie rights have been purchased by actor, Joseph Cross.

I was gifted this advance copy by Louise Candlish, Atria Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This book tells the story of two couples with little in common who attempt friendship, with the men deciding to begin commuting by riverboat. Several months later, at Christmas time, one of the men disappears, starting a series of events and flashbacks that take the reader through more twists and turns than a winding mountain road. Starting perhaps a bit slowly, the pace increases with each twist until the last page. With fun-to-dislike characters, gasp worthy twists and a great location, this is a perfect escape from reality book.

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it

I found the story took a long time to take off, the characters weren’t that intriguing and the mystery was rather easy to figure out. I usually like Candlish’s stories, this one just didn’t appeal to me.

Louise Candlish is quickly becoming my go to author. This book along with her other work are entertaining can’t put down thrillers. Her stories are unique in a very saturated thriller market. Definitely recommend!

I have been a fan of Louise Candlish for many years now and had been awaiting her newest book. For some reason I just could not get interested in The Other Passenger. I found it a slow start, but the book picked up speed and I thought I had the plot all figured out. Then the twists and turns started and I expected to be more interested. But...and here is where the book lost me...I did not like any of the characters and I didn’t really care how the book turned out. The book is well thought out and the plot intricate. I will certainly read the next book by this author but feel this book just missed something for me.

Having loved other novels by Louise Candlish I whooped with joy to demolish her new psychological thriller ‘The Other Passenger” and I had to recover from this dizzying ride into craziness before I could proclaim this her best ever novel! How devious is this - the plot the characters, the twists and turns, so many unexpected revelations I had to stop reading and rearrange my alliances over and over again. I won’t begin to summarize the plot, instead I just say READ THIS BOOK NOW. Best of the year.!