The Other Passenger - Louise Candlish

Mystery

Rating: 7.5/10

I am fairly certain I have used the expression “killer commute” in my day, but this book puts an entirely different connotation behind it!

Jamie has blithely attached himself to a motley new group of friends since he started commuting on the riverboat. But when those friendships permeate other areas of his life, things get complicated.  To say the least!

First day back to the daily grind after the Holiday break, Jamie’s new pal Kit isn’t on board. As he disembarks detectives are waiting to question him and he discovers Kit’s wife has left him several messages. The tale is tautly told, exposing the darker motivations that can be had in relationships both romantic and platonic, and those one has to one’s own ambition and sense of entitlement. 

The author subverts the readers expectations with a simmering decomposing of plot and character that you won’t be able to predict. 

I don’t often throw around terms favoured in books reviews like “Hitchcockian”, but it applies here. Ambivalent characters, misdirection of plot, and more you will just have to discover for yourself. 

My thanks to Net Galley, Atria Books and the author for the advance readers copy.

Book Pairing(s): Dear Wife by Kimberley Belle, His & Hers Alice Feeney, Something In The Water by Catherine Steadmen