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rene_reads02's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse and Child death
Minor: Death of parent and Suicide attempt
samburkhouse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Car accident, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Grief, Child death, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism and Suicidal thoughts
nrogers_1030's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Car accident, Child death, Cursing, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Gore, Classism, and Medical content
Minor: Addiction, Vomit, and Pregnancy
shereadsmysteries's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Blood, Death, Murder, Gun violence, and Car accident
Moderate: Addiction, Grief, Medical content, Police brutality, Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Stalking
Minor: Gaslighting, Racism, Drug abuse, and Suicide
Suicide turns out to be murder, but describes a suicide situation that may be triggering.ettbokland's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Death, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Murder, and Blood
kiikaridino's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Police brutality, Death, and Death of parent
edgwareviabank's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Other People was my first C. J. Tudor book, chosen because I wanted a gripping fast-paced mystery, and because the premise was more intriguing to me than The Chalk Man's (but just about; I might still read that one if opportunity strikes). The back cover left me with enough questions about the kidnapping that triggers the plot to want to read on; and a gripping, fast-paced thriller is exactly what I got.
But. There are a few buts, and that's where other readers' reviews helped manage my expectations. The book starts in such a promising way, I'd have been sorely disappointed if I'd stumbled upon its later issues without warning. So here's my advice to spare you a few eyerolls, too.
First: believe the reviewers who say the mystery is easy to figure out. You'll likely get part of the way there around halfway into the book. To me, personally, it wasn't a dealbreaker: I still felt there was a lot left to resolve, so my curiosity didn't fade.
That said, you should also believe the reviewers who say the ending feels rushed. That's The Other People's real flaw. The solution feels very convenient, and the questions it answers aren't as satisfying as the ones it leaves open. In that sense, the plot could perhaps do with more layers and more complexity, which I realise is a big ask for a story that already intertwines three points of view and a supernatural undercurrent.
So let's talk about the supernatural elements. If you come across reviews that point out they sometimes feel out of place, believe them, too. They don't drive the plot forward, and the story would work just as well without them. Luckily, they're confined within short chapters here and there. And you know what? It may well be part of why I enjoyed The Other People after all. I'm not a fan of supernatural narratives, so the fact this one is easy to skim through and discount played in my favour. If what I thought to be a crime novel had turned out to be completely focused on the inexplicable and occult, I'd be writing this in a very different mood. Your mileage may vary, so my advice is to not expect much from this book if well-built supernatural subplots are something you enjoy and look for in thrillers.
On balance, I had a good time reading this story. Despite its stumbles, and characters I never really warmed to (with the possible exception of kindhearted, well-meaning single mum Katie), I got the pageturner I was looking for, and enough entertainment to consider reading more by C. J. Tudor in the future.
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Suicide attempt
sadhbhdunne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence