Book Review: THOSE PEOPLE by Louise Candlish

Title: THOSE PEOPLE

Author: Louise Candlish
Publisher: Berkley Publishing
Read: April 2019

Expected publication: 11 June 2019

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Book Description:

Lowland Way is the suburban dream. The houses are beautiful, the neighbors get along, and the kids play together on weekends.

But when Darren and Jodie move into the house on the corner, they donʼt follow the rules. They blast music at all hours, begin an unsightly renovation, and run a used-car business from their yard. It doesn't take long for an all-out war to start brewing.

Then, early one Saturday, a horrific death shocks the street. As police search for witnesses, accusations start flying--and everyone has something to hide.

My musings:

Holy moly, what a hell of a ride this book was! I really enjoyed the fictional neighbourhood Candlish conjured up in her last novel OUR HOUSE, but she has taken it one step further this time and really ratcheted up the tension here.

“Those people” is a term that refers to Darren and Jodie, the new hellish neighbours in No 1 Lowland Way. We have made an effort, the other residents will say. But to be honest, they never even tried to fit in, did they? Rude Darren with his loud music and junk cars lined up all the way down the street, whose hostility even jeopardises the “play outside Sunday” scheme that has made this neighbourhood one of the most desirable in this part of the city. Jodie, his partner, who scowls and gets abusive when she is being confronted with the other neighbours’ requests to conform to the high standards of Lowland Way. It doesn’t take long until they have brought down the tone of the whole street. House prices are already plummeting. Marriages are on the brink. And soon someone will be dead ....

I really enjoy slow burning, character driven books based on interpersonal relationships, and this one really delivered all that and more! It was such an entertaining read, which may not be the proper word for a tale of conflict and tension. It made for that sort of gloating feeling you get when you are confronted by a bunch of dysfunctional characters and instantly a) feel better about yourself; and b) believe your own life look pretty normal in comparison.

What drives respectable people to take the plunge into the world of crime and corruption? Murder, even? If you have ever wondered this, then you are in for a treat. The slow and steady unravelling of a whole neighbourhood because of two unlikeable misfits is like watching a forest-fire take hold – you know it is not going to end well. I loved the way Candlish exposes the deepest darkest corners of our characters’ minds, right down to the unexpected finale. Apart from creating the “bad neighbours” from hell, she also isn’t afraid to highlight the hypocrisies and double standard of the wealthy – and slightly arrogant - residents of Lowland Way when things don’t go their way. But who am I to judge? Our neighbourhood quibbles (“That blasted dog from No 10 is barking again!”) sound perfectly harmless in the face of Darren’s exploits. I particularly enjoyed the different POVs from all the residents that are involved in this giant conflict – it made for some interesting perspectives, and the excerpts from the police statements break up the story nicely. 

Summary:

Those People is a book for readers who enjoy slow burning, character driven books that slowly and deliciously unravel – sit by with a glass of wine in hand and watch it all go to sh**. If you are a reader who wants action, then you may find this one a bit slow to take off. However, Candlish draws her characters well and with great skill, which made this a joy to read for me. I soon found myself utterly consumed by the situation, and I couldn’t wait to find out how it would all play out. Another original and entertaining read from the author – what a great movie this one would make! I really look forward to see what she comes up with next.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Berkley Publishing for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.