Title: The Other Passenger

Author: Louise Candlish

Genre: Thriller/Mystery

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Publication Date: 25th June 2020

Rating: 5/5

Cover:

Summary:

It all happens so quickly. One day you’re living the dream, commuting to work by riverbus with your charismatic neighbour Kit in the seat beside you. The next, Kit hasn’t turned up for the boat and his wife Melia has reported him missing.

When you get off at your stop, the police are waiting. Another passenger saw you and Kit arguing on the boat home the night before and the police say that you had a reason to want him dead. You protest. You and Kit are friends – ask Melia, she’ll vouch for you. And who exactly is this other passenger pointing the finger? What do they know about your lives?

No, whatever danger followed you home last night, you are innocent, totally innocent.

Review:

I was so intrigued by this book as soon as I read about it and it totally lived up to my expectations! The story follows Jamie, who takes the riverbus along the Thames to work every day. He and his wife make a connection with a younger couple who live near them, Kit and Melia, and things get complicated when Kit goes missing. I don’t want to give too much away because there are some fantastic twists and turns but, suffice to say, things are not quite as they seem.

The first thing I found really interesting about The Other Passenger is the riverbus itself. I’ve visited London many times and I’ve never noticed that there are some people who commute via water. The way London is described and seen in a different manner by way of the view from the Thames is a really effective part of the story. The story itself is incredibly compelling. To be honest, Jamie is not a particularly likeable character. In fact, most of the characters are less than exemplary human beings but that is what makes The Other Passenger so good! Candlish takes the device of the unreliable narrator and delivers it with such skill and a wry wit which I absolutely loved. More than once I thought I had figured out exactly what was going on, only to have the rug pulled from under me when certain facts came to light. It made reading this book so much fun and felt like a properly twisty and fraught thriller. Not giving anything away, I will also just say that I thought the ending was particularly well done. I find endings are the most difficult part of a thriller or mystery to get right but this one is pitch perfect in my opinion. I highly recommend The Other Passenger. It is engrossing, sharp, witty and beautifully paced!

I received this e-arc through Netgalley. My review is my own honest opinion.