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.

I do need to say I didn’t finish this book, I wasn’t able to get interested in the characters, and while I do appreciate sarcasm in stories, for me it was overdone, I do enjoy trying different writing styles and genres, and thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advance copy of this book.

"The Other Half" by Charlotte Vassell is is a Contemporary Mystery-Suspense Story!

Rupert has his thirtieth birthday party at a McDonald's. It's black-tie, a catered affair with lots of drugs and very expensive champagne.

Who does that? I do believe this was the first sign this book wasn't for me.

The next morning, Rupert's girlfriend Clemmie is found murdered. Her body discovered under a bush with her stiletto heels peeking out.

That's Clemmie and her shoes on the cover art, BTW. I do love that cover.

And it's Detective Caius Beauchamp who finds Cammie's body during his morning jog. What a coincidence.

Rupert would, of course, be the first suspect because everyone knows it's always the boyfriend...

"The Other Half" felt predictable to me from the very beginning. The party, the murder, how the body was discovered, and who discovered it. This feeling never changed for me.

I didn't like or connect with a single characters and I thought about stopping almost the entire time I was reading it. Never a good sign.

I didn't connect with the humor either and I believe I'm a fairly funny individual with the ability to see the humor in almost everything. Everything...but this story.

I'm obviously an outlier with "The Other Half" as most reviews are positive with high ratings and I'm glad this debut author has positive support. I know not every book is for everyone and I also know this one is definitely not for me.

2⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, Anchor, and Charlotte Vassell for an DRC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you to Vintage Anchor, Anchor and NetGalley for an electronic advanced readers copy of this novel.

The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell takes place in present day London, where rich young adults have superficial jobs, spend their trust funds and hang out with each other at weird parties. But unfortunately, poor Clemmie turns up dead after missing her boyfriend's birthday party (black tie at a MacDonalds). Detective Caius Beauchamp is recruited to help solve the crime. Prime suspect, the boyfriend, also with a last name Beauchamp (no relation).

I enjoyed it for what it was - a mystery and a peek at how the other half lives. It was well written but somewhat surfacey, so if you require great meaning in your books, this probably isn't for you.

The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell is a fun debut mystery about the upper half of society and all the hijinks they can get into when one of their own is murdered. The Detective Caius Beauchamp may be out of his league but he makes a good try at discovering who murdered the girlfriend of the birthday boy. All in all a very fun book to read. I look forward to reading the next on from the author.

I do so appreciate that the publisher granted me access to this ARC through NetGalley; unfortunately, this ended up being a book that wasn’t for me.

I suppose it’s meant to be satirical? But I struggled to connect to the voice from the very start and it didn’t get better from there. I wouldn’t recommend this, though I’m sure there’s an audience out there.