Contemporary Fiction: The Other People by C.J. Tudor

Like most book nerds, I carry a book with me pretty much everywhere I go. And I love that having the Cloud Library app means all I need is my phone. Sure, the same works for Kindle, iBooks, etc., but if I buy a book, 99.9% of the time it will be a physical copy. I was able to borrow The Other People by C.J. Tudor, and knowing I could click open the app almost anywhere at any time and pick up where I left off made me so happy. I am sure this is reading somewhat like a paid advertisement, but it is not. I simply love Cloud Library.

The Situation: For nearly three years, Gabe has been driving up and down the same highway, endlessly searching for the daughter everyone else insists is dead. It was in April of 2016 when he was heading home, already late, and he saw his daughter's face appear briefly in the rear window of the car he was traveling behind. That was the same night his wife and daughter were supposedly killed in his home, and his life was turned upside down. Even after he was finally cleared of all suspicion of murder, Gabe knew he could no longer be the person he was, with the life he had. He was also sure that Izzy, his daughter, was still alive, and that the little girl they buried was someone else. Now his mysterious friend has news for him, something that makes him even more determined, despite there still being a lack of concrete evidence. This new information will once again disrupt his life, while bringing him closer to the truth.

The Problem: While Gabe makes slow progress at finding out what really happened to Izzy, Fran and Alice attempt to outrun a danger that has no intention of stopping until they are found. Fran could not be more careful, but with Alice's strange habit of falling asleep in odd places, coupled with her unsettling fear of mirrors, staying one step ahead of those who want to find them will always be difficult, and seems to be getting more so by the day. And Gabe's slow progress begins to hit major snags when those he is supposed to be able to trust are hiding things from him, and some outside force seems intent on keeping him from finding what he is looking for. One thing he has been able to find is the existence of The Other People. Somewhere on the Dark Web exists a site meant to connect those who seek justice, those who have experienced pain, and want others to experience it as well.  Submit a request, and if it is fulfilled, you will be expected to fulfill a request in the future, with refusal meaning dire consequences. It is clear The Other People are somehow connected to what happened to Gabe's daughter, and time is running out if there is any chance she can still be saved.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel set in and around the modern day United Kingdom. Before he loses his wife and daughter, Gabe is a fairly normal husband and father who works hard for his family. He has his secrets, and his marriage has its issues, but he remains devoted and committed to making it work. The man he becomes looks almost nothing like the man he was, as he is now consumed by grief, hope, and also guilt. And then there are Fran and Alice, who will always be on the run. Things were not perfect before the death of Fran's father, but afterwards, they quickly spiraled out of control. Grief, hope, and guilt follow her too, but for very different reasons. Fran sees potential danger around every corner, and is constantly unnerved by the things Alice sees, and the small bag the little girl keeps with her at all times. Both Fran and Gabe will have to face what they have done, while also wondering at one point does justice cross the line into revenge. The Other People promise the former, but it all comes at a cost that is too high for some. 

My Verdict: The books opens with every parent's nightmare: a man sees the image of his daughter in the rear window of a strange car, and that is the last time he sees her. With this, Tudor builds a mystery that keeps the reader guessing until the end. Sure there are many twists and surprises, but they do not feel cheap or forced, and the connections that are made are fairly solid. If there is anything that does not come through completely it is the small, but incredibly significant, paranormal elements of the story that almost seem to have been added for convenience. Just as easily as they are introduced, they are forgotten about, with practically zero follow-up. And with all of the suspense that is built throughout the story, the resolution ends up feeling rushed, and the loose ends tied too quickly. Still, it is a hell of a ride that examines the idea of true justice, and whether revenge is ever the answer. 

Favorite Moment: When Alice manages to take down a would-be attacker with the small bag she always keeps with her. 

Favorite Character: In this book there are none righteous. No, not even one...except maybe the children. And Katie. Every other adult seems to have a fatal flaw, something that has led them to the difficult circumstances they have found themselves in. They are all case studies in the effects of grief and pain, and just how dangerous the thirst for revenge can be.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Sadie by Courtney Summers, a young adult thriller that also involves a search for a missing girl.