*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"Even the villain believes they are the hero of their own story."

There are twists in psychological thrillers and then there are TWISTS! The chilling climatic The Other People by mind blowing author C.B.Everett had an ending twist I never imagined; especially the way the writer cleverly plotted out this deadly locked room mystery.

Ten people, including a mother and her baby, with no connection to each other, wake up in a sealed up mansion. They have no idea how they got there. They are told that a young woman, Claire, is locked away in the mansion. They have 12 hours to find her would-be killer, and her, in order to keep her alive and leave the mansion.

They're an eclectic group made up of a university student, an army captain, a stripper, a retired detective, an elderly librarian and a despicable being. As time ticks away so do their numbers as one by one they die gruesome deaths. Yet the way they die seems to reflect the secrets they keep not only from each other but themselves.

Voice actors Heather Long and Kaffe Keating are phenomenal in giving each character their own voice filled with fear, regret and often sadness.

My favorite was The Beast In The Cellar. He's hilariously cheeky and philosophical in this "what just happened" thriller. He toys with the reader breaking the fourth wall; asking if we figured out who's the killer while we forget to worry about Claire being found in time. He talks about grief versus guilt and pain in love.

Reading and listening to each person struggling with the horror that was happening to them and not someone else, begs the question, what do you do when you are "The Other People" bad things are happening to this time?

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. Opinions are my own.

I really did try, but I just could not keep forcing myself to pick this one back up. I made it 40 percent in, and it just felt so.....boring. The murders were described in very graphic detail (it felt like for shock value), but the actual plot just dragged. There are so many characters, and there just wasn't enough character development to keep track of who was who very easily. This one had potential, but I just do not have the time to see if it ever rises to the occasion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an e-arc!

The premise of this one is really interesting, it immediately had me hooked! A group of strangers all wake up in a house with no idea how they got there or why. The most troubling thing, though, is that they have no way to get out.

Although the guests don’t know each other, it’s clear that whoever threw them together (perhaps the owner of the house, we’re not sure) knows them all very personally. This person knows their likes and dislikes, what their homes look like, what they do for their jobs, and even their secrets.

The guests are told that someone in the house-maybe even one of the members of the group- wants to kill each of them. The only way to escape the house is to solve a huge mystery. A serial killer has been going around kidnapping and killing young, blonde women, and there’s one missing right now. The group is tasked to find her within 12 hours, or else she will die, and so will the house guests.

I did find this to be an interesting read, and it was unlike other books I’ve read! There’s twists, and you’ll be questioning what’s happening and second guessing your favorite characters throughout reading.

I do want to give a warning that there are some offensive things in this book. This is due to the troubling thoughts and opinions of some of the unlikable characters, and sometimes they said things that were upsetting. Without spoiling anything, just know that some remarks made by characters and the characters themselves may make you uncomfortable at times, but the author doesn’t let anything terrible happen… besides death of course.

Overall, if you like thrillers, mysteries, and twisty stories, this one is worth a try!

Thank you to Atria books for my copy of THE OTHER PEOPLE. This one is out March 25.

I sadly, couldn't get into this one. I should have looked at other reviews before requesting it. I have such a hard time when I hate all the characters in a book. It's just too much work. It's like hanging out with people you don't like and makes reading become less fun for me. This book will put you in a slump if you let it.

If you’ve been following me for any amount of time, you know I love and adore a locked room setting. Everett hits that mark with ten strangers waking up in a house they have no knowledge of ever arriving at. There’s a strange woman who tells them they’ve all been brought here to find a missing woman who has 12 hours to live.

Murder. Mystery. Mayhem.

Everett lets readers bond with some of the characters more than others, but even the one’s I didn’t get to spend as much time with drew me in and left me wanting to know their story. While they all certainly weren’t likable, that didn’t stop me from being intrigued about their fate because you know everyone isn’t making it out alive.

There’s a really intriguing twist at the end of this one that I thought was very well executed. I had a lot of guesses based on some hints, but I didn’t guess this one!

I’m honestly shocked by how divisive the reviews are for this book. I saw several that said people DNF’d but there was no explanation. For me everything worked, but if you want to take the cautious route because of others, snag a copy from your library and give it a go!

And Then There Were None....with a twist? Sure.

10 strangers in a country house, one by one....people start to die. Who is killing everyone?

Well, because these were some of the worst people......I can see WHY they were picked.

It's been done 100 times and 100 times it's been done better.

Thanks to netGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

DNF @ 20% | I'd heard enough about this book (especially the ending) that I had to give it a try but unfortunately I put it down before I reached the much-talked about ending. Why I put it down: 1) The characters. There were two many of them and they were too unlikeable. I can deal with unlikeable characters, but these felt extreme and I couldn't tell them apart. 2) Over the top drama. This read like satire even though (I'm fairly certain) it wasn't. I've been told the ending makes it all make sense, but I just couldn't read 95% of a book I wasn't enjoying to get to the last 5% and trust that it would redeem it.

Buckle up and get ready for the ride of your life!

This story is…*chef’s kiss*. Easily adding it to my favorites!

When 10 seemingly strangers wake up in eerily unfamiliar yet familiar rooms in a giant old house, they must figure out who brought them there and for what purpose. A surprise dinner guest that evening reveals that they are on the hunt for a serial killer holding a young woman and it is their job to find her.

Attempting to mesh these very different personalities proves hard for them to agree on a plan and work together. The house is very well secured and impossible to escape. Fingers begin to point and blame is cast when guests begin dropping like flies. Will they find the young woman before time runs out? Who’s responsible for this terrifying adventure? Who is the beast in the cellar?!

There are twists and turns and “Easter eggs” throughout the entire story. But I can pretty much guarantee it’s not the twist you’re expecting! Not your typical whodunnit, this story takes you somewhere you were never expecting to go…. just like the guests.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

A group of strangers wake up in a mansion and they had no clue how they got there. The mansion was locked up and they had 12 hours to find this girl or she dies. I thought that with all the characters happening in this story it was kinda confusing. This book gave off Agatha Christie vibes to me which isn't bad. the story line was good I was engaged the entire time and the twist at the end is so good.

A crazy whodunit that had me on the edge of my seat. The Other People had all of the elements of a spooky mystery novel with a slight horror element. Set in an old gothic manor, ten strangers are tasked with finding a missing girl before twelve hours is up. One by one, the strangers start to be killed off by someone in the house… but who?

I love when authors pay homage to stories from the past and here Everett clearly gives a nod to Agatha Christie. I do think that is the only similarity you should know before going in because comparing it to any other novel or movie may ruin the surprise twist at the end. Going into the book blind makes the ending that much creepier.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, even finishing it in a day. It was gruesome in detail, just enough to creep me out but keep me invested in the story. I had a sort of morbid curiosity while reading this book always wanting to know how the next person would be eliminated.

While I did like the twist at the end and didn’t see it coming until right before the reveal, I was thoroughly confused at some points even questioning a paranormal element because there were a lot of logistical things that did not make sense. If you get caught up in the details too much, this thriller may not be for you. A solid chunk of this plot bounces around a lot and tends to gloss over details.

Thank you to Atria Books for a finished copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.75 ⭐️This book felt like a wild ride through a murder doll house.

- classic whodunnit murder mystery with a twist I’ve never seen done with this specific type of story at the end!
- feels inspired by Agatha Christie “and then there were none”

The story centers around 10 strangers that wake up in a house and have no idea why they are there or how they got there. They all have a Fitbit type thing on their wrist that is counting down time which they are tasked to locate a missing girl in that time frame!

I want to highlight that throughout the book I was captivated and wanted to figure out all the clues! I liked the multiple POVs we got which added a lot of depth to the story!

However, I also found something’s the characters did throughout the story very unreasonable. I found myself specifically saying “why would they be doing a thing like that at a time like this” a lot throughout the story.

The ending did get me a little “ ohhh that makes so much sense!! That’s crazzzyy” but also felt like I wanted more at the same time?

the characters are a lot and I feel like the beast in the basement does a good job of helping us understand a little more through out the story but also found the beast a little annoying at times where he would chime in and I didn’t want “his/her” input. (This could just be a me thing tho)

I do want to add that the ending reminded me a few movies that I really did enjoy!!

Overall the suspense was there and the mystery was there and I really did enjoy the book and the twist at the end was good enough for me!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC 🤗

We have ourselves a bestseller here, folks!

The Other People, plunges ten strangers into a terrifying and claustrophobic nightmare. They awaken within an old, locked house, stripped of their memories of how they arrived. Their only means of escape is to unravel the mystery of a missing young woman. However, their investigation is tragically interrupted by a deadly killer stalking the house, systematically eliminating them one by one.

The narrative focuses on the growing panic and distrust among the strangers as they struggle to understand their predicament. They grapple with a multitude of questions: Who are they? Why have they been chosen for this macabre game? What is the connection to the missing girl? And what sinister presence resides in the cellar?

As the body count rises, the strangers are forced to confront their own hidden agendas and pasts, revealing that appearances can be deceiving. The central theme of "can you trust the other people?" becomes increasingly urgent as they race against time to solve the mystery and survive the night.

This is a mind bending, instant bestseller. CB Everett will have readers buzzing long after concluding, but don't take my word for it, check out this teaser :

Ten strangers.

An old dark house.

A killer picking them off one by one.

And a missing girl who’s running out of time…

And then there was one.

Ten strangers wake up inside an old, locked house. They have no recollection of how they got there. In order to escape, they have to solve the disappearance of a young woman. But a killer also stalks the halls of the house and soon the body count starts to rise. Who are these strangers? Why were they chosen? Why would someone want to kill them? And who—or what—lurks in the cellar?

Forget what you think you know.

Because while you can trust yourself, can you really trust The Other People?

This one took me way longer to finish than it should have, and I think it's because the characters were just so darn unlikeable. While there is a twist in the end, it's one I've seen a few times before. To be honest, I'm kinda mad that this is the path the storyline took. I felt the characters were one dimensional. However, given what was going on in the story it makes sense (which also makes me mad LOL). Part locked room, part WTF is going on here and a whole lotta eye rolling happening in these pages.

No. No. No. This is not Shutter Island or anything like it. If I was Dennis Lehane I would be annoyed that this was being compared to Shutter Island. I think it much more resembled The Last House on Needless Street but wasn't as well done. This was dreadfully boring with characters you didn't like or care about. It didn't really make sense from the beginning. I will give a bonus star for TRYING with the ending but it wasn't executed great and it didn't make up for the boring rest of the book.

As a fan of Shutter Island, I devoured this and loved every second of it. I definitely couldn’t have predicted the ending and it had a very satisfying reveal

Rating 3.5, rounded up! That ending was absolutely stunning! While the multiple points of view made it a bit challenging to follow at times, it was definitely worth it. Ten strangers wake up in a locked house, and one of them is a killer – what a gripping storyline! If you're a fan of mystery and thrillers, this book is a must-read!

DNF ~47%

Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me. There were too many characters who all seemed too similar. Every time that I thought I was getting into the story, I would lose interest quickly. This one wasn't right for me.

Sometimes the only person you can trust is yourself

Ten people wake up in a strange locked house in the country. They are strangers to one another and none has any memory of how they got to the house in the first place. If they wish to get out of the house they have to solve the disappearance of a young woman...and are only being given twelve hours to do so. If that isn't stressful enough, someone is killing them off one by one, making it more imperative to get to the bottom of what is going on. Under the circumstances its almost impossible to trust any of the others in the group. Who are these people being subjected to such a terrifying scenario? How and why were they chosen? And is there even more going on than they realize?
Given its remote location and small group of suspects, its hard not to think of the classic Agatha Christie novel, "And Then There Were None", but this is not your average locked room mystery. The reader is drawn into the madness on the very first page and kept in its grip till the end. The characters run the gamut from inexperienced and scared to pretty sleazy, and the narration from the varied perspectives including an unknown entity in the basement is intriguing though a bit distracting at times. Its hard to say too much about the plot without giving away the various twists its contains including its ending, which didn't surprise me as much as it evidently did some other reviewers. I also was looking for more answers than I felt were given, which left me feeling less than completely satisfied. Overall its a fast-paced psychological thriller with an eerie atmospheric vibe with a dark tone that might be enjoyed by readers of Ruth Ware, John Marrs and Gillian Flynn. My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me access a copy to this unconventional tale in exchange for my honest review.

6/10 i found this book decent. it wasn’t very well written, but the concept was cool. i found it hard to get into, i started it 3 separate times and it was confusing, but not in a way that made me want to read more. the characters are all very 2 dimensional.

📚 PUB WEEK BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Other People By C. B. Everett
Publication Date: March 25, 2025
Publisher: Atria Books

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this #gifted e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

The Other People is a captivating psychological whodunnit thriller with unhinged vibes and a twisty ending that will knock your socks off!

Told from the perspective of multiple POVs in alternating chapters, this book had its claws in me immediately and was unputdownable until its mystery was solved in its final pages. From the start, there was a sense of dark foreboding. However, Everett's witty writing also elicited laugh-out-loud chuckles from me every time a chapter was told from the perspective of The Beast in the Cellar, who reminded me of the biting wit in Alan Cumming's hosting of The Traitors. The condescendingly sarcastic humor from this character balanced out the darkness in the rest of the book and made it SUCH an enjoyable read for me.

A group of strangers,who awaken in a locked old mansion with no memory of how they got there, find themselves in a race against time to stop a serial killer. And did I mention they're also being killed one at a time? This book is in the same realm as Agatha Christie, Knives Out, Clue -- any clever whodunnit you can think of. I thought the writing in this book was brilliant, intelligent, and suspensefully ominous; the alternating bits of humor made for such a fun read.

I have to be completely honest and say the overall rating on GoodReads came as a shock to me after I finished. I'm not quite sure if I read the same book as everybody else, but The Other People was the type of whodunnit thriller I love to read. Give me multiple potential suspects and an incredibly twisty ending, and I'm a big fan. If you're a fan of whodunnit mysteries, I think you'll really enjoy this book too. This was a wildly enjoyable read for me and I would highly recommend you pick it up! Out now!

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