Book Review: “The Other People” by C J Tudor

Thank you @randomhouse for my gifted copy of “The Other People” by C.J. Tudor! (pub date 1/28/20).

A gripping new thriller about a man’s quest for the daughter no one else believes is still alive, from the acclaimed author of “The Chalk Man” & “The Hiding Place”.

Q: Why are you called the Other People?

A: We are people just like you. People to whom terrible things have happened. We’ve found solace not in forgiveness or forgetting. But in helping each other find justice…

Driving home one night, stuck behind a rusty old car, Gabe sees a little girl’s face appear in the rear window. She mouths one word: ‘Daddy.’ It’s his five-year-old daughter, Izzy. He never sees her again. Three years later, Gabe spends his days & nights traveling up & down the motorway, searching for the car that took his daughter, refusing to give up hope, even though most people believe that Izzy is dead.

Q: What sort of justice?

A: That depends on the individual. But our ethos is a punishment that fits the crime.

Fran & her daughter, Alice, also put in a lot of miles on the motorway. Not searching. But running. Trying to keep one step ahead of the people who want to hurt them. Because Fran knows the truth. She knows what really happened to Gabe’s daughter. Then, the car that Gabe saw driving away that night is found, in a lake, with a body inside & Gabe is forced to confront events, not just from the night his daughter disappeared, but from far deeper in his past.

Q: Can I request to have someone killed?

A: If your Request is acceptable, and unless there are exceptional circumstances, we fulfill all Requests.

His search leads him to a group called The Other People. If you have lost a loved one, The Other People want to help. Because they know what loss is like. They know what pain is like. They know what death is like. There’s just one problem . . . they want other people to know it too.

I read this one a few months back, just missed posting about it. I definitely remember this book giving me all the chills & it was so hard to put down! From what I have heard, this is Tudor’s best novel to date, & I would probably agree, but I still have to read my copy of “The Chalk Man” & I need to get a copy of “The Hiding Place“.

“The Other People” is a shockingly twisted, ominous, super creepy supernatural/psychological suspense novel that nearly compelled me to nail biting (which I do not do!). With well-written & developed characters, expert plotting, & a gripping story-line, this is one of those books you will want to read all night long…with the doors & windows locked, of course! This book is available now wherever books are sold! Add it to your TBR list today! You won’t be disappointed! Be sure to click HERE to give my Instagram post a LIKE to show the author & publisher your support.

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What other authors are saying about “The Other People“:

“Eerie.”—Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review

“The Other People will delight you with the same creepy atmosphere you expect. . . . At more than one point while reading, a person might be tempted to access the dark web and see if groups like this exist. Although who knows what might happen once they’ve got your data? Shudder. . . . What will keep readers engaged is the menace of the titular conceit and the authenticity of Gabe Forman’s grief, easily recognized even by those who [have] not experienced such hellacious loss.”—NPR

“The Other People will keep you up all night, reading frantically and searching for answers. Warning: This fast-paced, engaging story is so spooky, you might need a nightlight.” —HelloGiggles

“Hugely enjoyable and deliciously creepy . . . I was hooked from its gripping opening, all the way through its many twists and turns. You may think you’ve got it worked out, but C. J. Tudor is always several steps ahead. She is a brilliant storyteller.”—Alex Michaelides, New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient

“The Other People is a creepy, intense novel that drew me right in and never let go. C. J. Tudor’s books keep getting better and better, and this one won’t let you stop reading until the very last page!”—Samantha Downing, author of the international bestseller My Lovely Wife

“C. J. Tudor has done it again. . . . A mesmerizingly chilling and atmospheric page-turner.”—JP Delaney, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Before

“The Other People is tight as a straitjacket, diabolically clever, and propulsive as a roller coaster. If you like twisty thrillers that leave you guessing till the very last page, this is a must-read.”—Alma Katsu, author of The Hunger and The Deep

“Like no book you’ve read before. It’s the definition of a nail-biting page-turner and sets the bar high for every other thriller this year. Tudor remains at the top of her game. Tightly plotted and utterly unpredictable, The Other People proves that Tudor is the queen of the cliffhanger.”—John Marrs, internationally bestselling author of The Passengers and The One

“Chilling, moving, and disquieting, The Other People proves C. J. Tudor is a force to be reckoned with. With nuanced characters and a satisfying, intricately braided slow-burn that builds to a heart-pounding finish, this novel gripped me, surprised me—and stuck with me long after the final page.”—Andrea Bartz, author of The Lost Night

“A mesmerizingly chilling and atmospheric page-turner.” —JP Delaney, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Before

C. J. Tudor was born in Salisbury & grew up in Nottingham, where she still lives with her partner & young daughter. She left school at sixteen & has had a variety of jobs over the years, including trainee reporter, radio scriptwriter, shop assistant, ad agency copywriter & voiceover.

In the early nineties, she fell into a job as a television presenter for a show on Channel 4 called Moviewatch. Although a terrible presenter, she got to interview acting legends such as Sigourney Weaver, Michael Douglas, Emma Thompson & Robin Williams. She also annoyed Tim Robbins by asking a question about Susan Sarandon’s breasts & was extremely flattered when Robert Downey Jr showed her his chest.
While writing the Chalk Man she ran a dog-walking business, walking over twenty dogs a week as well as looking after her little girl. She’s been writing since she was a child but only knuckled down to it properly in her thirties. Her English teacher once told her that if she ‘did not become Prime Minister or a best-selling author’ he would be ‘very disappointed.’

The Chalk Man was inspired by a tub of chalks a friend bought for her daughter’s second birthday. One afternoon they drew chalk figures all over the driveway. Later that night she opened the back door to be confronted by weird stick men everywhere. In the dark, they looked incredibly sinister. She called to her partner: ‘These chalk men look really creepy in the dark . . .’
She is never knowingly over-dressed. She has never owned a handbag & the last time she wore heels (twelve years ago) she broke a tooth. She loves The Killers, Foo Fighters & Frank Turner. Her favorite venue is Rock City. Her favorite films are Ghostbusters & The Lost Boys. Her favorite authors are Stephen King, Michael Marshall & Harlan Coben.
She is SO glad she was a teenager in the eighties. She firmly believes that there are no finer meals than takeaway pizza & champagne, or chips with curry sauce after a night out.
Everyone calls her Caz.