Deliciously creepy, The Other People tackles grief, obsession, justice and revenge in a tight, solid plot that is full of realistic twists, melding the mystery with aspects of the supernatural ... Tudor’s expert storytelling realistically links the relentlessness of Gabe and Fran in a tale that is as terrifying as it is emotional while looking at how grief and obsession can eat at one’s soul. The Other People’s mission promises justice, but delivers only delusion. Tudor delves deep to show Gabe’s complicated history and how it affects his every move. At first, Fran seems like an out-of-control woman on the edge of a breakdown, but Tudor skillfully illustrates the complex motives that drive Fran.
... falls short of the standard [Tudor] set with the first two ... Does that mean it's not worth your time? The answer depends on your reading time. If it's severely limited, you might want to wait for Tudor's next book, because she's such a strong and original writer that she'll return to form for sure. But if you have the time to read everything you like, The Other People will delight you with the same creepy atmosphere you expect, set within a slightly shakier plot ... we can see too many of the marionette strings Tudor has in play ... 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 not experienced such hellacious loss ... Perhaps C. J. Tudor's problem, in The Other People, lies in trying to fit a grief to a plot instead of the other way around.
There are quite a few plot twists and revelations that will have you on the edge of your seat. The Other People is a completely original work of fiction that gets under your skin and doesn't leave until well after the final page has been turned. In fact, I think that many readers will be so creeped out that they are sure to dream about these situations that Tudor has served up. What I like most of all is the final page that leaves the door wide open for further time to be spent with these characters, as well as The Other People.
Tudor’s narrative is saturated in menace, and the action, once it starts, barely lets up. Gabe’s urgency becomes the reader’s as he gets closer to finding out the truth about the horrible day that he lost his family, and Tudor skillfully weaves in poignant observations on the nature of justice and the power of grief. However, while the supernatural storyline is certainly creepy, it could have used a bit more meat on its bones—but that’s a quibble ... Dean Koontz fans, in particular, will find much to enjoy in this sinister, unsettling treat. Tudor just keeps getting better and better.
Realistic characters fueled by genuine emotion carry the tale to a pat yet pleasing conclusion, though the central mystery relies too heavily on coincidence, and a supernatural subplot involving Alice’s mirror-induced narcolepsy feels half-baked. Hopefully, Tudor’s next book will be a return to form.
