I truly hope that people of wealth in real life eclipse the despicable characters that represent them here. The snobbery, their privilege, biased attitudes and prejudices displayed by the elite were reprehensible humans.
Within all this display of elitism there was a murder mystery story involving the “other half". For whatever reason, ladies seems drawn to the most disreputable of privileged men, Rupert, and they all paid a high price for it. As a reader, I wanted to see him fall off that pedestal he sat on; so the author certainly attained a visceral reaction from me. He was a man that was above reproach and untouchable.
Trying to solve the murders was a trio from the police force who had their own personal issues but their healthy relationship with each other provided stark contrast to the behavior of the upper class.
I was too upset with the characters to enjoy the underlying story.

The Other Half is a satire on the classic whodunit. It gave me a Knives Out/Agatha Christie vibe. This is a mystery that makes fun of the British upper class, their entitlement by birth or by an Oxford education.

A body of a woman is found in a park. The woman, we learn, was Clemency 'Clemmie' O'Hara, Rupert Beauchamp's girlfriend of a decade. Now Rupert was with "friends" celebrating his 30th birthday, lots of witnesses to vouch for him, the evening Clemmie was killed. Detective Inspector Caius Beauchamp, pronounced differently than Rupert, was out running and found her body.

I will say that I was not fond of many of the characters. I thought they were pretentious. Rupert is only out for himself. Clemmie was a lifestyle influencer.

The investigation takes a number of twists and turns, there are secrets, drugs, racism and inequalities. I did like Detective Inspector Beauchamp and his team, DS Matt Cheung, and DC Amy Noakes. They were far more down to earth.

This is a fun debut and will keep you entertained. I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Vintage Anchor, for an ARC. The review is my own.

This murder mystery intrigued me; I really wanted to like it, but I thought it was just okay. The writing style/dialogue between characters was not for me. (I found myself skimming through much of it.) Additionally, all of the characters came off as unlikeable, so I couldn't connect with any of them. There was a "whodunit" aspect that came together at the end, and that was the only reason I kept reading.

Thank you to Anchor and NetGalley for the ARC!

I was excited about this one because I love a neighborhood thriller. But it was hard for me to get past the writing style and the fact that the book was set in an upper-crust British world that was not only completely unfamiliar to me, but portrayed in a sly, just-between-us way that didn't allow me to understand it easily. I did enjoy the banter between the detectives but ultimately this was just not a book for me.

I reaaaaallz wanted to like this book, the title, description & cover were super appealing, I give those three things an A+!
However, this was just not my style of book whatsoever, in the way it was narrated/written at least, the genre is right but my alley. I'll start by saying I recently learned I have aphantasia (aka can't see pictures in my mind) which makes it difficult to imagine characters looks and scenes if they aren't thoroughly described.
So, if you are like me, you'll probably have a hard time following some things in the book because it's not always clearly mentioned in the dialogues who says wat or dialogues aren't followed by some descriptor so I know who was speaking, I caught myself going back and rereading to try and figure out who was talking. And because there are a looooot of characters and names mentioned in the book, but not always a physical description or clear setting, I was confused at times.
For that reason, I am giving it a 3 because I struggled through the whole book.
For the plot though, I would give it a 3.7, as I wasn't expecting multiple twists that happened which genuinely surprised me and I quite liked, and generally like where the story went, I would've given it more, but I didn't like how there were some plotholes still there at the end, and some situations weren't wrapped up nicely in a bow and just left hanging.

Note: Received a free ARC in exchange for an unbiased opinion.

Thank you to Vintage Anchor for letting me read THE OTHER HALF first. This one publishes on November 21.

I really didn't like any of the characters in the book. I have a serious problem with unlikable characters and have a hard time trying to place myself inside their shoes. Real life has enough unlikable characters and makes reading less of an escape for me. A lot of people dig these types of books, but it's just not for me.

The Other Half, by Charlotte Vassell is a fun read and a peek inside lifestyle of the rich and entitled. The reader will love these characters and then hate them, but the story is lighthearted and enjoyable.

Nell is a complex and emotional character. And although it was not in her best interest, I do appreciate her love and loyalty for Rupert. The setting is beautifully described as are the characters’ wardrobes.

I received a complimentary copy of this English family drama from Netgalley, the author Charlotte Vassell, and publisher Vintage Anchor. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read The Other Half of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Though not a complex mystery, this is a focused look into the world of the extremely wealthy in England. It makes me glad to be a lowly lower middle-class American! Remembering the angst of my late teenage years in late 1960s America I can see some of the problems, but I know for sure that by the time I was looking at my 30th birthday all that was behind me. Thank goodness! However, it does make it hard to find much sympathy for the folks in this brouhaha. I had to keep picturing them as much younger to get through the book. Perhaps it simply takes much longer to reach mental maturity in this high-flying stratosphere. In any case, an interesting tale.

A detective, Caius, comes across the body of recently murdered Clemmie while jogging through a park. As he begins his investigation, he discovers that Clemmie had not shown up for her boyfriend’s birthday party the previous evening, a black tie event held in a McDonald’s children’s party room. Caius and his partners soon discover several bizarre secrets and relationships amongst Clemmie’s friends including her narcissistic boyfriend, Rupert.
I’m a fan of murder mysteries but didn’t enjoy this book at all. I think what I saw as bizarre conversations between the characters was meant to be humorous but I didn’t get it. None of the characters were likable and they were poorly developed. I couldn’t even figure out the roles of the various detectives. I wanted to give up on the book several times. I see that other reviewers enjoyed it more so I think it just wasn’t the writing style for me.
#NetGalley #VintageAnchor

Rupert Beauchamp is celebrating his 30th birthday in a strange way—by renting out the event space in a McDonalds. But most of his guests are too drunk or impaired by copious amounts of champagne and cocaine to notice. Or to notice that his live-in girlfriend, Clemmie, never shows up.

The next morning, detective Caius Beauchamp (no relation) discovers the body of a young woman in obvious party dress while he’s running on Hampstead Heath. He and his colleagues, Matt and Amy, are drawn into the rarefied world of young British aristocrats and influencers as they investigate the murder of Clemmie.

As for Rupert, he seems mainly thrilled to be rid of Clemmie so he can pursue Nell, who he’s fancied since university. He’s completely oblivious that Nell’s infatuation has shifted to hatred.

Blurbed as a cozy mystery, this novel is as much satire and social commentary as it is mystery. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book with so many characters I found genuinely intriguing (and a few despicable). And the culprit was a surprise too, so win-win.

3 stars

Interesting premise and unique characters. However, I didn't care for the people and their attitudes.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell

This remarkably assured first novel is a social satire cleverly disguised as a mystery/crime tale. It is funny and incisive. For the most part, the characters you are supposed to like are authentic and down to earth, while the characters you are not supposed to like are venal, petty, and spoiled. There are, however, just enough people in the gray area to keep things interesting. The story moves along at a brisk pace, and there is a lot of humor and quirkiness mixed in with the murder, drug trafficking, sexual assault, casual racism, and class prejudice.

I really enjoyed this book. It is delightful and should appeal to mystery and crime readers who do not mind a little social commentary leavened with humor. It would be great to see more of Caius, Matt, and Amy as they investigate crimes, navigate the modern world and all its prejudices, and fight the good fight.

I am grateful to Faber and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC of The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell.

The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell is a recommended murder mystery, especially for anyone who enjoys disapproval of the wealthy gilded youth of the British class system.

Influencer Clemmie is found murdered on Hampstead Heath after the 30th birthday party of her boyfriend, Rupert Beauchamp. The party was a black-tie dinner at McDonald's and attended by a host of socialite friends with nicknames. DI Caius Beauchamp, no relation to Rupert, finds the body during a morning jog. Rupert is the obvious main suspect but there are plenty of other suspects available too. Rupert uses Clemmie's death as an opportunity to pursue Nell Waddingham.

After almost set this one aside several times at the beginning of the novel, I stuck with it once the investigation started. The police procedural made me stay, even though at times it almost gets buried under extraneous information. I liked the investigative team of DI Caius, assisted by DS Matty Cheung and DC Amy Noakes and would like to see them on another case. Most of the other characters I actively disliked. There are some plot twists that held my interest and the novel greatly improved toward the end.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Anchor via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Edelweiss, X, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

The Other Half is an impressive debut, great for procedural fans who want something UK set, like a witty style, and enjoy some twists and engaging but generally less than likable characters (these are good things, the book is fun and came across as droll but also a social commentary within a solid procedural).
I enjoyed reading this and also had access to the audiobook, strongly produced, via the LibroFM ALC program.

This was a very darkly funny murder mystery. Despicable characters and a charming detective round out the cast.
It’s a fast read and felt fresh to me. I hope it becomes a series. It felt like it could.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy in exchange for a honest opinion. Coming out on November 28th.
3.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

If we think justice in America is unfair, think about Britain, where a titled ass can, literally, get away with murder. The titled ass, has just hosted his 30th birthday, a black-tie affair with other young socialites, at a McDonald's. How droll. But his girlfriend/frenemy/online influencer Clemmie fails to show. But in all the festivities, no is much worried. Then the next day, during his early morning jog, a police inspector stumbles over her body in a public park.

While navigating this posh crowd, all of whom can alibi each other for the night the murder occurred, Detective Caius Beauchamp is overwhelmed by the sheer callousness of them all. When Clemmie's married lover, by whom she was pregnant, confesses, the case seems closed, but Caius isn't sure. Then a second murder occurs, and a third, all possibly linked to Cassie's death.

The hunt for answers is long and sometimes tiresome, but the story itself is a good one.

British upper class young twenties society can still lead to jealously and murder. The investigator has his own issues with a French girlfriend breakup, and friction with the bosses. But the procedural aspects are fascinating, and they work to solve the crime, stepping on some toes along the way when clashing with the British class structure. Well plotted, and decent characters make for an enjoyable read.

Did anyone else giggle when they took their first look at this cover?

I don't know If it was the animated cover or the lady, which appears to be wine drunk, passed out in a bush, but I couldn't help but let out a fit of laughter.

Well, I promise you, she surely wasn't wine drunk, and she wasn't just "passed out" .

Clemmie is dead, and there is a list of suspects who have motive for murder.

Charlotte Vassell, has hit the ground running, with her debut novel, The Other Half. This book is a modern day "who-dun-it", that will keep readers on the edge of their seat begging for more.

There are no shortage of twists and this book is jam packed with drool worthy secrets.

Don't believe me?

Check out this teaser :

Who killed Clemmie? Was it the blithe, sociopathic boyfriend? His impossibly wealthy godmother? The gallery owner with whom Clemmie was having an affair? Or was it the result of something else entirely?

All the party-goers have alibis. Naturally. This investigation is going to be about aristocrats and Classics degrees, Instagram influencers and whose father knows who.

Or is it 'whom'? Detective Caius Beauchamp isn't sure. He's sharply dressed, smart, and thoroughly modern—he discovers Clemmie's body on his early morning jog. As he searches for the dark truth beneath the luxurious life of these London socialites, a wall of staggering wealth and privilege threatens to shut down his investigation before it's even begun. Can Caius peer through the tangled mess of connections in which the other half live—and die—before the case is wrenched from his hands? Bitingly funny, full of shocking twists, and all too familiar, The Other Half is a truly stunning debut.

Creative and fun story. I was very invested and didn’t want to stop. It was clever, twisty, complex and witty

A fun read that doesn’t take itself or the subject matter too seriously. A quick mystery. A murder is committed by a member of upper-class London. Colorful, crazy rich characters made this a good read. So, who really did it? A lot of the characters had motives, but obviously, in the end only one committed the murder. Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC.