The Other People

This is Tudor's third novel in the spooky twisty thriller genre, and I think she may really have hit her stride in this twisty, tense, tale of haunted motorways, rest-stops, cafes with bad coffee and dead end estates where a man who has lost everything roams the night searching for the daughter who is supposed to be dead but who he gimpsed, impossibly in the back of astrange car on the day of her death, and a woman flees from unkown dangers with a young girl who may or may not be her daughter. Tudor unravels the story and the secrets, tragedies and crimes behind it with precision, and incorporates the subtle supernatural element more succesfully, I feel, than in her first two books and, as always, her characterisation is rich and complex.

C. J. Tudor incorporates such disparate elements as dysfunctional families, secrets, the supernatural, and a desire for retribution into her sinister, unnerving, and complex novel, "The Other People." In addition, Tudor introduces us to an intriguing cast of men, women, and children who are caught up in disturbing situations that they cannot control. Gabe Forman, the flawed hero, believes that his beloved little girl, Izzy, who was allegedly shot to death in her home by an armed intruder, may still be alive. Forman sells his house and embarks on a desperate search, aided by a mysterious figure who calls himself the Samaritan.

Others who play key roles are Katie, a good-hearted waitress and single mother; Fran, Katie's sister, who is on show more the run with Alice, a precocious seven-year-old; and a woman who has been in a persistent vegetative state for many years. The book's central premise is that grieving relatives, through the Dark Web, have access to a shadowy organization known as "the other people," whose members arrange to satisfy their clients' hunger for justice. Although one need not pay the avengers in cash, the price for their services is still exorbitant--as unwary customers will learn to their horror.

The author creates a chilling atmosphere, her characters are well-drawn, and the evocative descriptive writing is often poetic. We sympathize with Gabe, a doting dad who deeply regrets his past mistakes and refuses to give up hope that he and his beloved daughter will reunite. "The Other People" is clever, eerie, and suspenseful, and Tudor clearly demonstrates that while it may be tempting to exact vengeance, doing so may have unintended consequences. Fans of supernatural thrillers will be mesmerized by this poignant, powerful, and intricately plotted work of fiction. show less

OMG what a damn good book this is. I am ever a fan of CJ Tudor. This one is dark, twisted, confusing, chilling and addictive. Read it in a flash!
One fine day, Gabe is driving and he sees his daughter Izzy in the back of a strange car calling out to him. When he comes home, he finds his wife and daughter murdered; but he just saw Izzy, so wtf?
As the years go by, Gabe finds himself driving down the motorway trying to find the car in which he last saw Izzy. No rest for the wicked, because Gabe himself is a bit wicked.
As we join him in the search for his daughter, we come across Alice and Faye, who are somehow connected to Gabe and Izzy; as well as Katie, Isabella, the Samaritan and The Other People. What happens next is anybody’s guess, show more truly.
What a disturbingly good read this was. Couldn’t recommend enough. show less

4.5 rounded up because I didn't want to be a nitpicker. Where does CJT come up with these amazing plots? I admit that it took me nearly half the novel to follow the different plotlines/character stories – trying to figure out who is who. Things got darker and creepier as the storyline continued. This is my favorite CJT book to date – maybe because it was just as dark but a little less creepy and a little less supernatural/mystical than her previous books, or maybe because I’ve developed a thicker skin.

The book opens with a scene that is eerie and otherworldly in description…seems even a bit dreamlike or mystical. Next, we meet Husband (Gabe) who is desperately trying to get home on time for once, after promising to do so. Gabe show more seems to always work late and miss the most important events in his 4-year-old daughter’s life, his wife chided continually. Although he left early enough to make it home on time, traffic issues held him up – and what do you know? No battery on his phone…he left his charger…pretty lame, eh? (I’m part Canadian). As he pulls up to the house, he sees what he believes to be his daughter being dragged into an old beat up car with rude bumper stickers. Not taking any chances, he does not stop to go into his house but rather tears after in a highway chase until he loses the car in the traffic. He pulls into a service area and finds a phone to call home, but instead of his wife answering the call he is informed by the police that his wife and daughter have been killed in what appears to be a housebreaking.

Long time passes. We watch this shell of a man still desperately searching for his daughter who he insists was dragged into the car and spirited away, despite the police believing otherwise – based on his father-in-law’s identification of the bodies. We learn some interesting and surprising things about Gabe, and about his wife, along the way – things they never disclosed to each other. Gabe is confronted by some creepy scary characters, in his journeys, one of whom inadvertently introduces him to the dark net and a group calling themselves “the Other People”. This is an anonymous quid pro quo vigilante group who assist people by meting out justice in their own special way. If a request is approved the requestor is obliged to fulfil the task (nay, demand) made by the Other People – the obligation is non-negotiable and (believe me) you do not want to try to renege on your commitment. Some of the tasks are benign – but some of them…(whew!). There are quite a few storylines, interconnected with the Other People and it is interesting to try and figure out who is being delivered up, by whom, and why.

And the final irony!!!! CJT - you slay me!

What were those nitpicking annoyances (which clearly did not bother anyone else)? Mystical/supernatural doesn't suit me and especially because there was no need (in my humble opinion) – the relative scene could have played out without mystical overtones. My next issue is with Epilogues, they simply are not always necessary. The plot was solid, the characters flawed (the most interesting kind), the dark net element intriguing and creepy, the story ends. I don’t always have to know what happened a year or two later. show less

I have been a big fan of C.J. Tudor since the release of her debut novel, The Chalk Man. Her third novel, The Other People, is another fantastic read!

How's this for an opener - you're trying to get home on a rainy night. The car ahead of you is slow moving, rusty and sports some questionable bumper stickers. But the last thing you'd expect to see is your daughter's face in the back window, mouthing the word 'Daddy.' This is what happens to Gabe. The car, with his daughter inside, eludes him. He finally arrives home at last - only to find his wife has been murdered. And now, for the last three years, he's driven up and down the highway searching for that car, a clue, a memory - anything.

Uh huh, you're hooked right? I was! Putting an show more 'everyday' person into an untenable situation is one of my favourite scenarios. The possibilities are endless with an opener such as this. And C.J. Tudor has come up with some crackerjack plotlines. Each new entry led down another rabbit hole - the dark web, a mysterious man who also drives the highways, calling himself the Samaritan, a rest stop waitress who knows more than she lets on, a girl in a coma and... The Other People.

The story unfolds from numerous viewpoints and flips from past to present. I expected to be able to piece together what the end outcome might be, but was happily unable to. We all love a good twist at the end right? Well, Tudor provides more than one! She's blended a great mystery/thriller with a touch of supernatural and it makes for addictive reading.

I can't wait for book number four! There's also a nice blurb from Stephen King on the cover..."If you like my stuff, you'll love this." show less

A few years ago, Gabe Forman’s wife, Jenny, and their 5-year-old daughter, Izzy, were killed in their home, but Gabe is thoroughly convinced that Izzy is still alive, he begins traveling England in a camper van which is now his home, in an endless search for clues to his daughter might be. That of course is no way to live, but Gabe, is a mere shadow of his former self, seeing this as penance. During the attack on his family three years ago, Gabe wasn’t home. He was on the road, where he insists, he caught a glimpse of Izzy in an old car. His father-in-law identified the bodies, but Gabe’s sighting of Izzy that day, and a few other things, has convinced him that she’s still alive. He was a suspect for a while, but he was cleared show more and couldn’t convince the police of what he saw. A tip on Izzy from a mysterious man who calls himself the "Samaritan" leads to a submerged car, a dead body, and an underground network that calls itself "The Other People". Its website that is only accessible via the dark web, and it offers a very exclusive service for victims of crime who feel robbed of the justice they feel they deserve, but the group's help isn't free, and it comes at a terrible price. Meanwhile, a woman, Fran, is on the run with a little girl called Alice, who has terrifying visions of a girl on an eerie beach. Noone knows who the girl is or what is she trying to tell Alice. The narrative is saturated in menace, and the action, once it starts, barely lets up. Gabe’s urgency becomes almost electric as he gets closer to finding out the truth about that horrible day that he lost his family and changed his very life. The author skillfully weaves in poignant observations on the nature of justice and the overpowering essence of grief. While the supernatural storyline is certainly creepy, it could have used a bit more, but it was still a fantastic read. Thos eof us that like Dean Koontz's books will enjoy this sinister and unsettling offering. show less

I became a C.J. Tudor fan when I read The Chalk Man. And I'm an even bigger fan after reading The Other People!

Gabe is driving home....mindlessly following the usual route. He notices the rusty car in front of him....reads the various bumper stickers that adorn the back. Then he notices something terrifying. A little girl in the back....her face pops into the window, looking at him. It's....his daughter. Izzy. 5 years old. Then she's gone....the car lost in traffic....and he never sees his daughter again. Gabe spends years looking for her, the car he saw that day, anything..... Gabe meets a group that operates through the dark web. The Other People understand loss. They want to help those who have lost someone. But it's quid pro quo. A show more favor for a favor.....

What a creepily suspenseful story! As a mom, this was a rough plot for me....I think every parent fears an event like this. What would I do if I saw my child or grandchild in the backseat of a stranger's car?? Holy crap -- that would be incredibly terrifying!!! And then to find a group that will seek out answers, justice, a resolution of some sort.....for a price. This rapidly turned into a binge read for me....I couldn't stop reading!

Another great book from C. J. Tudor! Full stars from me!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Random House. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** show less