For Fans Of: Agatha Christie, Rute Ware
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌗
Genre: Thriller
Violence: 🪓🪓🪓🪓
Spice: 🔥🔥
TW: forced confinement, dismemberment, suicide, discussion of rape and child abuse

Synopsis: 10 strangers awaken in a locked house. To escape, they must solve the disappearance of a young woman even as a killer stalks them & the body count rises.

Thoughts: A group of strangers gathers together in a manor home at the machinations of a shadowy host. Giving you Clue vibes yet? But this is far from a comedy, so squeamish readers beware. Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” is a perennial favorite, so I’m primed to love any one-by-one tale. Everett’s take on this trope is certainly unique, and there are some fun nods & jabs at the original. For me, the book’s premise is what both redeems it & fuels the elements that put me off, making me think it benefits from a 2nd, eyes-wide-open, perusal. The challenge with that, of course, is that mystery & thriller fans are impelled to figure out ‘what’s going on.’ And that level of focus can cause readers to snag on clues that may unfortunately read as weaknesses in the storytelling. Like me, they may find a few of the characters compelling while others read as one-dimensional, relying on stereotypes about gender, profession, age, etc. All I can say: power through. The final twist did surprise me, which I think is among the highest praise you can give a writer.

This book was not for me. I thought it would be because I LOVE an “And Then There Were None” retelling, but this one rubbed me the wrong way.

The story was pretty good, but the beast in the cellar chapters really took me out of it. I thought it was so random and added nothing to the story, in my opinion. I couldn’t stand how the beast broke the fourth wall and talked directly to the reader. It also added weird anecdotes that I didn’t think had anything to do with the story.

The whole time I was reading, I was so confused why they cared about this one missing girl if all of them were being killed off. Of course, it made sense in the end, but I couldn’t help feeling like it was such a random plot device until the big reveal.

I will say that the ending was satisfying. Most of my questions were answered and there was a twist I definitely didn’t see coming!

My problem with this book was the constant focus on religion and God. The author talks very negatively about God and is almost blasphemous at times. I read only secular fiction, and I have never come across a book as blatantly hateful toward God and it just made me really uncomfortable. It also added nothing to the story, so I don’t know why all the comments were there in the first place. I know that’s a personal issue, but book reviews are personal, so that’s my two cents.

The Other People has a crack ending, it's just the way it gets there that's the problem.

A serious problem for this reader was the chapters dedicated to "The Beast" This is an unknown narrator. I'm all for that, in theory. It just feels more like the author realizes the reader will be confused and needs a moment for someone to explain it all. It was a distraction. Relationship building in a matters of hours was problematic, as well.

But still I persisted in my reading and was rewarded with that ending. And, once you realize what was happening, it almost made up for the bizarreness that came beforehand. A spectacular premise with some execution of plot problems.

Thank you to Atria Books for a gifted electronic copy via Netgalley

C.B. Everett’s The Other People sets up an intriguing premise: a classic locked-room mystery with a modern psychological twist. The novel promises suspense, misdirection, and a chilling unraveling of secrets. However, while the setup holds significant potential, the execution falls short, leaving readers with a story that feels frustratingly underdeveloped.

At its core, the book presents an isolated setting, a group of strangers bound by hidden connections, and an impossible crime that demands an ingenious solution. The initial tension is gripping, and Everett crafts an eerie atmosphere well. The pacing in the early chapters builds anticipation, making it easy to get swept up in the mystery. Unfortunately, as the plot progresses, cracks begin to show.

The biggest issue lies in the resolution—or rather, the lack of a satisfying one. A locked-room mystery hinges on the clever unraveling of an impossible scenario, yet The Other People stumbles by relying on contrived twists and a final reveal that feels unearned. The logic behind the solution is flimsy, undermining the suspense that had been carefully built. Instead of a satisfying “aha!” moment, the climax leaves more questions than answers, making the mystery feel less like a puzzle and more like a missed opportunity.

Additionally, the characters, while initially intriguing, fail to develop in a way that makes their fates compelling. Instead of deep psychological insights or shocking revelations, much of the novel’s second half feels like it’s treading water, stretching out suspense without truly delivering on it. The dialogue often falls into exposition-heavy territory, making key moments feel more like plot explanations rather than natural interactions.

That’s not to say the novel is without merit. Everett’s prose is crisp, and the initial premise is undeniably engaging. There are glimpses of brilliance in the way tension is built, particularly in the eerie descriptions of the setting. But in a genre that demands airtight plotting, The Other People ultimately fails to deliver a mystery that feels both surprising and fair.

For readers new to locked-room mysteries, there may still be enjoyment in the setup and atmosphere. But for fans of the genre expecting a tightly wound puzzle with a masterful conclusion, The Other People is a case of wasted potential.

Thank You NetGalley and the Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Ten people awaken in a mysterious locked house with no idea where they are or how they got there. They are informed they have 12 hours to find a kidnapped girl and her captor or people will start dying so they band together to solve the mystery. One by one characters start dying, are they any closer to unmasking a killer before time runs out?

I was initially quite engaged by this book but the last third just completely lost me and I really didn’t appreciate the ending. With interesting characters and a great premise, the main twist felt ridiculous and undermined the world the author had painstakingly built. 2.5 stars rounded to 3.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

The Other People, written by C.B. Everett, had all the right ingredients to make for a spectacular read: locked room mystery, ten strangers invited to an island, one by one they die... any Agatha Christie fan would love it. And it delivered on so many levels. I couldn't put the book down for most of the time. As we got down to the final few suspects, things unraveled a little for me. We began to see signs of intentional information being left out which was both crucial to discovering the killer and couldn't be told until the very end without giving the plot away. So, it felt a bit distracting... But, the plot device, once it's fully unveiled, actually has a lot of merit and brought out the mystery fan in me. There were a few dangling threads in the end, meaning... either a red herring / clue was left open-ended or purpose behind some of the plot was murky. As a whole, it totally delivered on suspense and I could see how it would play out as a movie... so kudos to the author!

Thank you to C.B. Everett, Atria Books, and Netgalley for the arc copy of The Other People in exchange for an honest review! Locker room/ one by one thriller! The characters are racing against time to stay alive! This book kept me guessing the entire time! I did not see the twist coming, kept me on the edge of my seat! Why were these characters chosen? & what secrets did they bring with them to the house? What is connection between all of the characters? Read it to find out!!! This book publishes on 3/25/25!

Without giving any spoilers, the execution of the plot is one of the better that I’ve read. I truly didn’t see the twist coming and once things played out everything made sense. The setting was a strong point and definitely creepy. If you like locked room thrillers then this is one not to miss!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

he Other People blends the classic mystery elements of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None with the sinister tension of Saw. Ten strangers wake up in an old house with no memory of how they got there. Each has a mysterious device attached to their wrist, and their only way out is to solve the mystery of a missing girl—before a killer picks them off one by one.

This book takes a little time to settle into, mainly because of its large cast and multiple first-person perspectives. It requires some patience at the beginning, but once you get familiar with the characters, the story picks up fast. Fortunately, the author gives each character a distinct voice, making it easier to follow their individual arcs.

The pacing is brisk, keeping you turning the pages with each new twist. If you love psychological thrillers with strong endings, this one delivers. Just be careful not to read too many spoilers beforehand—part of the fun is uncovering the mystery as it unfolds.

Obviously, the characters who stick around longer get more development, but even those who don’t last have compelling backstories that shape their personalities.

If you're looking for a gripping, fast-paced thriller with an intense and satisfying conclusion, The Other People is a solid choice. I really enjoyed it!

Really wanted to like this one as I love a good locked room thriller! Promise of Agatha Christie and Shutter Island vibes? Sign me up! Unfortunately, this book just did not do it for me.

Overall, a pretty messy read. There were too many characters which made things confusing. Also the promised Agatha Christie vibes were not present. I did like the final twist, but the whole book kinda hinges on it. However, this twist was not enough to make up for the poor beginning of the book.

Oof, I went in thinking I would love this book. It took me awhile to get through it and it was not my favorite.

I absolutely love the premise of strangers sticker together in a manor, having secrets that they would never share gets out. I liked the first half, you have some unlikable characters as expected and the twist was good but I really just felt bored and wasn’t as interested in it anymore.

It I did really try liking but I realize the writing style wasn’t my favorite and I just didn’t care bout the characters anymore.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Mystery Thriller

The synopsis of the book really intrigued me, so I decided to request an ARC from NetGalley. A few of my friends on Goodreads had read the book and didn’t enjoy it, so I had low expectations starting it. Fortunately, the story worked for me! Honestly, not many mystery thrillers get my upvote these days.

The story in The Other People blends Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” with the movie “Saw.” Ten strangers awake in an old house, unaware of how they ended up there. Each of them has a device attached to their wrist! Their only chance to escape is to solve the mystery of a missing girl or risk being killed one by one by a murderer.

This book takes time to get used to. I think the main reason is that there are many characters, and the story is told from multiple perspectives in the first narration style. So, the reader will need some time to get used to them. You need to be patient at first. If you are, then I think this book will work for you because as you progress, you will become more familiar with the characters.

The good news is that the author has given the characters unique voices, which will make it easier to distinguish them from each other. The story moves quickly, so after each chapter, you want to know what will happen next. If you enjoy entertaining page-turners, you will like this one.

This is a psychological thriller, so be prepared for a strong ending that holds up. Just don’t read too much about the synopsis to avoid spoiling the story for yourself. Obviously, the characters who survive longer will have better character development than those who are killed earlier. In all cases, the author has provided the characters with their own backstories, which helps shape their personalities.

If you are looking for something entertaining with a fast pace and a solid ending, I recommend The Other People. I enjoyed it a lot.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.

There are so many things I want to say about this book but also want to be careful not to give anything away. First off, the description of The Other People immediately made me add this to my list of books to read in 2025. Then I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to read an ARC of it, so I didn’t have to wait long. I love locked room/house, Clue style stories, especially ones that are disturbing and creepy. A group of strangers locked in a house with a serial killer, what could go wrong? Oh so much. This is told through the points of view of all of the characters of the book. It took a little bit to keep track of who was who. With each chapter I was able to put together the pieces and did figure out the outcome of what was going on. With the way things were happening I thought it was a brilliant direction to go. There were definitely influences from a couple movies that I love and won’t name because that would definitely spoil the ending. Mark your calendar for March 25th so you can get a copy of The Other People . Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!!

Huh! Well that ended in a way I never would have expected! As far as psychological thrillers go, this changes things.

Ten characters--all with different personalities that are very well developed by the author, C. B. Everett, find themselves locked up together in a house where they are told in order to get out they have to find a young female who will die soon if she is not saved. The action and events kept me glued to the story.

Some of my most pressing questions were never addressed--like how did they all end up in that house? when they didn't know the answer to that question either. And why did the dead bodies keep disappearing? Where did they go? I couldn't figure out what sleight of hand the author could come up with to wrap the book up in a way that made the least bit of sense, and yet, C. B. Everett did.

I saw the book had a bit of a low rating by some people, and I have to say as far as originality goes, this book was well played. I'm giving it 5 stars!

The Other People

Author: C.B. Everett
Publisher: Atria Books
Publish date: March 25,2025

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the e-arc of this book to read and review.

Description:
“A group of strangers gathered at a mysterious country house are in a race against time to stop a serial killer in this twisty, high-concept thriller that combines Agatha Christie with Shutter Island.

Ten strangers.

An old dark house.

A killer picking them off one by one.

And a missing girl who’s running out of time…

And then there was one.

Ten strangers wake up inside an old, locked house. They have no recollection of how they got there. In order to escape, they have to solve the disappearance of a young woman. But a killer also stalks the halls of the house and soon the body count starts to rise. Who are these strangers? Why were they chosen? Why would someone want to kill them? And who—or what—lurks in the cellar?

Forget what you think you know.

Because while you can trust yourself, can you really trust The Other People?”

Review:
To be honest, I don’t know how much I enjoy mystery thrillers that are “self aware”. If that’s your thing you might like this more than me. Some aspects were very interesting, I like the locked room trope, but there were too many POVs for my taste.

I think as far as the description goes it’s fair to compare it to “Shutter Island”. There’s also another movie I could compare it to but I fear that would make this review too spoilery. Also one of the POV’s I was not a fan of. Overall, for me it was okay. 2.5/5

#atriabooks #netgalley #bookstagram #booktok

I actually was really enjoying this book. I liked that the characters seemed different, that the story was weird and twisty and confusing… but the ending didn’t do it for me. I knew there was a twist coming but ultimately I just can’t get behind the demonizing of DID. I get it - it adds drama and flair to say it was all in someone’s head. But really… that’s old news. Come up with a new thing, please!! It’s only getting 3 stars because I was wholly engrossed the whole time and I’d say about 85% of the book was about a 4.5 star read for me. A bit disappointing, but I’m happy I’ve read it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Welp, this book didn't quite work for me. The premise of The Other Peopleis intriguing - a group of strangers at a country manor with a killer doing what killers do best! I thought this was going to be a great locked room mystery where the strangers must find a missing girl or else! The description dubs this Agatha Christie/ And Then There Were None meets Shutter Island. This pulled me in hook-line-and-sinker. Unfortunately, The Other People failed to hook this reader.

One positive is the twist that was seriously good. The characters are unreliable, unlikeable, and unappealing; at least they were to me. There were times which I thought what-the-actual-f---. But you must keep in mind that this book is a little off the beaten path, a little different, unique, and a little peculiar. Readers get the POV's of the guests along with some input form 'the beast' which moves the book along.

This was an interesting ride, and I felt as if I should have figured 'that out' and 'seen that coming a mile away' but I didn't. This is a book that is going to be polarizing. Many enjoyed this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well.

Yikes, this was a let down. The concept sounded right up my alley as I LOVE locked room mysteries and stories with that trope are usually a guaranteed good time for me. This one, however, was not.

The plot and pacing felt off to me. After the inciting incident kicks off, the characters sort of move on and forget about it, wandering around through countless chapters that make you feel like you're losing a sense of time. I believe this was intentional, but it made for a strange setting.

The Other People by C.B. Everett was such a wild, intense read! If you love locked-room mysteries with a creepy edge, this one delivers.

Ten strangers wake up in an old house with no memory of how they got there. Their only way out? Solve the disappearance of a missing girl. But things take a deadly turn when a killer starts picking them off one by one. No one knows who to trust, and the secrets buried in that house are seriously disturbing.

This book gave me major Agatha Christie meets Shutter Island vibes—dark, suspenseful, and full of twists. While I saw a couple of things coming, the eerie atmosphere and fast-paced tension kept me hooked. If you’re into survival thrillers with a psychological twist, The Other People is one to check out!

I want to start with the things that I enjoyed with this book. The setting really shines through with a dark and twisting mansion of your nightmares. Feels like the classic Clue, Agatha Christie murder mystery and it totally drew me in. The cast of unreliable narrators did keep me guessing and the shifting perspectives gave the novel a very dynamic feel. I will say the “Beast” breaking the fourth wall was starting to feel very obtrusive and patronizing towards the end. Some of the dialogue felt very clunky and repetitive, with random I could have done without some of the more gory/gruesome scenes, I would say this feels more aligned with a horror than mystery.
Overall, I enjoyed this fast-paced locked-room mystery.
Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for the free eARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!