At first I was entertained and curious with all the different charactes' personalities, and the mystery plot, obviously.
I like the setting and the 'locked-room vibes' this story brings, but sadly after nearly 40% of this book going in, I started to feel bored and no longer interested in the narrative. I'm not saying it is bad or that it gets repetitive, no.
It's just that I have read many books like this before, and unfortunately this book in particular brings nothing original to the plot. Especially if you are hardcore mystery reader.
But I would recommend this book to new mystery readers out there. I believe they might benefit more from this read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was entertaining. It wasn't great, it wasn't bad. It had good and bad. I loved locked room mysteries (Knives Out type movies and Agatha Christie books). This book satisfied the itch. However, this book was filled with such unlikeable, stereotypical characters. I did not care about what happened to any of them. It kind of just felt like I was watching Clue. It was well-written and the twist was surprising. Thank you for the complimentary copy!

I love a locked room mystery and trying to piece together all the clues to uncover the truth. The Other People unfortunately lacked the spark that makes these stories so enjoyable. The twist comes at the very end of the book but by then I was frustrated and had given up a bit. I liked the parts that were narrated by the omniscient character of the beast. The book is also told from the point of view of each of the guests who have been tasked with finding and saving a girl who will die in the next 12 hours if they are unsuccessful. My biggest take away was that I could not care about the characters who were both unlikable and self-centered. For most of the book, I was just hoping the characters would do something to prioritize that poor girl. While the twist explains most of my concerns, I unfortunately was too frustrated to enjoy it. This a personal preference and I can see that the author has created a well written story that is meant to hide the truth from the reader.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

This was a fascinating novel full of interesting characters brought together to a mysterious manor house under frightening circumstances. Who is responsible for spiriting them out of their homes in the dead of the night and given the nearly impossible task of rescuing a missing girl before time runs out and they are killed as well. The house itself is an enigma with locked doors. mysterious paintings and secret passage ways. Why are the library books blank? What sinister forces are at work and preying on these innocent ( or not ) people?? This is a must read for Christie fans and all mystery buffs, but I can't give away anymore of the story as you race to the shocking end.

Frightening, perplexing, gruesome and engrossing, The Other People will challenge your mind with intricate twists and keep you on edge as you unravel the mystery of both the culprit’s identity and the escape from the old, locked mansion. A devilishly conceived and skillfully executed blend of Agatha Christie and Dennis Lehane by author C.B. Everett.

Ten people find themselves trapped inside a mansion with no way out and no memory of how they arrived. They’re told that the only way to secure their freedom is to solve the mystery of a missing young woman within 12 hours. But this house harbors a killer, and one by one they are picked off in brutal yet intimately personal ways. And the closer they get to the truth, the more danger they find themselves in. Why are they here, how were they selected and who wants them dead? That’s only the beginning of the myriads of questions that pop up within this suspenseful thriller.

This book fucks with your head in a big way. From the jump you’re tasked with figuring out multiple mysteries without sufficient information while hearing the story from multiple points of view, which further muddies the waters. Then, as the slow drip of reveals are disclosed, you get some answers and even more questions, making you feel like you’re no closer to the truth than before. But in reality, you are progressing towards an outcome that will both shock you and feel inevitable at the same time.

This is anything but a cozy murder mystery. The Other People is a locked room psychological thriller with horror elements infused throughout that will have you muttering to yourself as the bodies drop and the tension ratchets up. An entertaining and terrifying read that will keep you riveted from start to finish.

C.B. Everett's "The Other People" is such a FANTASTIC book.
I will say that Clue is my all-time favorite movie ever so this book really was fantastic for me.

A locked house, 10 strangers trying to find a missing girl and a killer.

I loved the characters so much; they were so diverse and surprising.

The twist OMG, seriously this book has everything you want in a locked room mystery.

this is one of my new favorite books. you know when you read a book and it was so good and messed with your head so much that you have to take a few days before you start reading another book and truly think about how that book impacted you? yeah this is that book.


I am sad its not already out because i have been recommended it to EVERYONE. its so creepy and horror while also being so suspenseful.

I really wanted to like this book. It had some great qualities but all in all it just didn’t hold my attention. Thank you netgalley for my free review.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy. I love the premise of strangers together and a killer picking them off, one by one. It was definitely alot of POVs and I did get confused. The Beast was interesting.

WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS.

3 stars--I liked the book. Content warning (huge spoiler) for mental illness.

I'm torn on this one. It's a quick read that seems confusing at first, but if you stick with it, all becomes clear. I enjoyed the chaos of the plot (mirroring the chaos of the characters), and found myself reading quickly to see what would happen. Definitely a plot-driven novel.

On the other hand, the old trope of "he's crazy! It's all in his mind!" seems tired and potentially harmful in 2025. Still, I rushed through it and and enjoyed my time.

I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!

It’s impossible not to get sucked into this mystery. As the clock ticks down and the stakes rise, you’re left scrambling for clues, trying to piece together what’s really going on, only to have your mind twisted into knots as new revelations come to light. And just when you think you’ve figured it out? The final reveal will knock you off your feet. If you love intricate puzzles, unreliable characters, and a plot that keeps you second-guessing until the very last page, this book is an absolute must-read.

WOAH. This one was like Clue, And Then There Were None, and Saw all wrapped up into one. It was very interesting and kept me turning pages. I loved the variety of characters. They’re all so different and trying to figure out what they had in common (or not) was fun! I could see how some people will find it gimmicky, but I enjoyed it! I would also love to see it as a movie!

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the ARC!

Ten strangers wake up in a strange house with no memory of how they got there. They soon begin to be picked off one by one while trying to find a missing woman.

I would suggest going into this one blind. I have seen many mixed reviews, some with minor to major spoilers so be warned! I personally really enjoyed it. There are many characters to keep straight, but I think the author did a great job of keeping them straight for the reader with just enough description and development of each. Despite the plot, it was a bit of a slow burn at times and I was really hoping it was leading up to something big, and it definitely did. However, it's either really going to work for you, or it won't at all. I loved it, and I'd certainly recommend giving it a try!

C.B. Everett's "The Other People" starts with an intriguing premise—a locked house, ten strangers, a ticking clock to save a missing girl, and a lurking killer—but unfortunately stumbles in execution. The standout aspect is its twist, which redefines the story in its final moments. It's clever and unexpected, but it can’t retroactively redeem the lackluster 95% of the book.

The characters are largely two-dimensional and unsympathetic, blending into a chorus of indistinguishable voices. Emotional arcs veer into melodrama, overshadowing the pressing urgency of the missing girl. Rather than propelling the narrative forward, much of the dialogue feels detached from the stakes.

While the meta-narrative elements hint at a more sophisticated exploration of genre tropes, these attempts often come across as overly self-aware rather than engaging. In the end, this thriller's inventive concept is weighed down by its flat characters and uneven pacing.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ten people from various locations find themselves in an old mansion in the middle of nowhere. A young woman is missing, and if they can't find her within 12 hours, they will be picked off one by one.

I personally feel as though this book is a good cross between the movies Shutter Island and Saw (both of which I loved), following characters who seem to be paying for their past mistakes and wrongs, with their secrets being exposed/ revealed throughout.

My biggest issue with the story, though, is the pace. I’m a type of reader that needs her attention stolen from the beginning and kept the entire way. However, the large amount of characters spreads the emotional depth thin, making it hard to fully invest in anyone.

I have to say I loved the premise! Which is why I deemed it a 3 stars read. While I didn’t absolutely love it, I didn’t dislike it either. Since reading is subjective, I would still recommend for readers who enjoy a slower pace. I respect the authors effort, but wish the novel was able to carve out its own uniqueness.

✨ FINAL RECOMMENDATION: 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭! It wasn’t a bad read it just wasn’t memorable for me! ✨

I hate giving such a low rating for a book not released yet but wow - this really missed the mark for me. First off, I did like the there was a comment about how many characters there are in this story. But I still struggled with who was who. The beast was probably the only character I liked. The story felt drawn out and done before. The ending did have a twist but I had a feeling that was going to be the outcome.

Finished The Other People by C B Everett last night. This story follows a group of strangers who mysteriously awake in a house that they can’t escape from. They’re tasked with locating a girl who has been kidnapped and have only a few hours to find her before she dies. The strangers’ predicament becomes more dire as they are killed off one by one. Each chapter takes the pov of a different character and follows them as they try to survive the night. Unsure of the killer’s identity, the characters have to decide who to trust and when watch their backs. The house they are trapped in adds to the eerie atmosphere with its library of blank-paged books, kitchen with dollhouse fixtures and portraits of the characters that change when the subject dies.

Although the ending included a twist I wasn’t anticipating and some chapters were cleverly written, I was slightly disappointed by how bored I felt during part of this read. I confused some of the less memorable characters with each other and was reading on auto-pilot during the less exciting chapters. The premise was more intriguing and thrilling than the book ended up being, in my opinion. I was hoping for more twists and turns throughout, not just in the last 1/4 of the book. I still liked the short chapters, the shifting pov’s, and how the ending was totally unexpected. I’ll give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5! This book releases on March 25 of 2025, check it out if interested!

Reader's Review of The Other People by C.B. Everitt

So, I just finished The Other People by C.B. Everitt, and wow, what a ride! It’s got that perfect mix of creepy, thrilling, and just enough “wait, what?!” moments to keep you hooked. Honestly, I’m still processing the twisty, mind-bending ending.

The story kicks off with Gabe, who’s dealing with a mysterious tragedy in his life and starts seeing strange things—other people who shouldn’t be there. As he unravels what’s going on, things get more twisted, and you start questioning what’s real and what’s not. The pacing? Perfection. I couldn’t put it down because I needed to know what was going to happen next.

What I loved most about this book is how it keeps you on your toes. It’s like peeling an onion—just when you think you’ve figured it out, another layer of mystery gets peeled back. Everitt really knows how to keep you guessing, and the whole time I was thinking, “This can’t be what I think it is, right?!”

I’ll be honest, it’s one of those books that makes you want to stay up late and read just one more chapter (and then, surprise, you’ve finished the whole thing). The characters are all super intriguing, and Gabe is someone you really want to root for, even when everything around him feels off.

If you’re into psychological thrillers that mess with your head and make you second-guess everything, this is definitely one to pick up. Highly recommend!

10 strangers wake up trapped in a giant mansion with no memory of how they got there and no idea how they are connected. When they are told they must find a missing girl named Claire before 12 hours is up AND that someone is trying to kill them panic ensues. Why them? How are they all involved in the girls disappearance?

This is a one by one locked room murder mystery story with a twist. Readers bounce between perspectives of the 10 strangers and a cheeky rather self-aware character called the Beast in the Cellar. The Beast is very meta, talking directly to the readers, often making fun of the typical locked room tropes. It was a refreshing break from the tense meanderings of the strangers wandering through the mansion. The ending wasn't super original but i enjoyed the twist and how the author wrapped things up. Overall a decent read.