C.B. Everett’s locked room mystery, The Other People, pays clear homage to the great Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, directly citing to the author (and/or that work) a total of six times. But, as the idiom goes, “often imitated, never duplicated.” Of the modern twists on the classic, this isn’t one of the best; but Everett’s gore and scene-setting will nonetheless appeal to most horror fans.
Ten characters awaken in an old, gothic house with hidden staircases and dark hallways aplenty. With no inkling or memory of how they’ve gotten there, each finds themself accompanied by familiar possessions and clothing.
Without much pondering of the logistics of how this is possible, the motley crew–featuring a young mother, lesbian stripper, student, retired detective, career woman, and others–assemble in a dining hall where they all receive tailor-made meals. A woman named Amanda appears, who informs them they have twelve hours–which will be tracked on a Fitbit-like bracelet affixed to their wrists–to find a missing young woman who has been buried alive. Amanda also reveals that they all have a connection to a man named Charles Boyd.
Then, alas, Amanda is shot; and they are left to their own devices. Considering the girl they must rescue has been “buried alive,” one would think they might stick together and search the house from bottom to top.
But, of course, they split up. And in horror movies, you know what happens when people split up.
There are fun elements to this one. The pictures near the elevator that change every time a character bites it. (Like, hello. Remember the figurines in And Then There were None?). The methods of death. The digressions of The Beast in the Cellar, to a degree. In general, the camp component makes this one an easy book to knock out over a weekend.
Still, the mystery component is lacking. Certain elements can only be explained by the conclusion that does follow, and this is a let-down.
The Other People reminded me very much of a certain movie that cannot be named because this would immediately give away the twist. (Only hint–eight letters). I will say, however, that in that film–one of my favorites–other endings or alternatives could have made sense. The clues have meaning in retrospect, or via skilled foreshadowing. You don’t see the twist ahead until everything comes together with a rewarding payoff. The same isn’t true here.
Still, while mystery fans may be disappointed, the book has the bones (Get it? Bones!), plot, and action to keep horrorfans entertained. Lots of bodies, creative deaths.
Ultimately, The Other People feels more like a copy of another great story instead of a reinvention. But that doesn’t mean it’s not entertaining.
*Sarah Reida only reviews books she overall recommends. A writer of dark comedy thrillers, she is in the process of revising her sophomore novel. Her debut, Neighborhood Watch, received a Kirkus Star and was honored as an Amazon editorial pick as one of the Best Books of the Year So Far 2024. Join Sarah’s elite group of Instagram followers here.
