The Other Half by CharlotteVassellisan incredibly accomplished debut – the writing is pin-sharp and skewers class and pretension with hilarious precision.The plot is complex but well handled, and the characters – especially the protagonist Caius – are brilliant and so well realised. I really hope this is a series, because I can’t wait to read more!Vassellisa unique and much-needed voice in crime fiction, and sure to be a new favourite for many!” —Cailean Steed, author of Home I loved this book and I'd like to thank the publishers for letting Bookbag have a review copy. I can't wait to read what Charlotte Vassell writes next.

I received a complimentary copy of this ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to Anchor Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read this novel. Pub. Date: November 21, 2023. Here comes my favourite himbo,’ said Matt, Caius’s DS. He was looking Caius up and down with some amusement. ‘What are you wearing? I was worried that I would look a bit informal This was a fun read. I honestly hope that this is going to be developed into a series. I want more of Caius - his team and his personal life. He's a refreshing gem. And I am sure Charlotte Vassell can dream up plenty more aristocratic prats to write about and entertain us with. This is Made in Chelsea meets Agatha, it has definite shades of the Queen of Crime with tangled webs, plot twists, red herrings and all that jazz. Maybe Caius will become the 21st-century Poirot! The ending is a good blend of the dramatic with the OTT ridiculous, which is great fun and highly entertaining. Methinks this is a winner and a new talent has emerged on the scene, well played Charlotte Vassell. Applause from the sidelines. A perfectly modern whodunnit.”—Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author of I Will Find You

Charlotte Vassell

The Other Half is a book that centres on a group of rich, entitled people doing mostly rich, entitled things. Did I, therefore, feel some satisfaction that one of them was murdered? I may be horrible but yes, yes I did... The other half of the title resonates throughout as Caius and Matty wade their way through upper-class entitlement and that is done satirically on point and of course we have the duality of the capital with the haves a lot versus the haves very little. There is a racist element too, it takes a few swipes at Insta self-improvement twaddle (me not necessarily the author!). There’s a very clever literary and Greek mythology element in addition which I thoroughly enjoy. I also mustn’t forget an interesting archaeological and drugs element, which has yet to be fully resolved, hopefully in book 2?? I’ve my fingers crossed. An accomplished crime debut that is part mystery and satire, from a writer to watch.' – Steve Cavanagh

Throughout this read I was rooting for Nell, whom I quite liked except for her abysmal taste in men. Alex. And of course for Caius, who is extremely likeable. As many other reviewers have noted, the opening chapter of The Other Half is a slog! I almost gave up and it is unusual for me to be so disinterested in a book right away. The characters were so pompous and annoying but, more than that, it felt like the author had swallowed a thesaurus! It was a first for me to have to look up so many words in a single chapter and it was tedious! It felt gratuitous as well (triumvirate instead of trio, really???) and some of the words didn’t even seem to be used correctly (haemophilic flowers, I’m sorry, pardon?). But, as I read on, I realised that was maybe the whole point… how the “other half” live, speak, behave.I didn't connect with the humor either and I believe I'm a fairly funny individual with the ability to see the humor in almost everything. Everything...but this story. DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Faber and Faber via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

I will admit that it took a short while until I realised that this novel was going to be somewhat different to the usual style of whodunnit. I find that crime fiction and especially police procedurals tend to be quite serious even if there is some banter between police detectives. Brilliantly compulsive storytelling and in a completely repellent milieu. I could not stop reading this book.' – Denise Mina Vassell’s sharply witty debut novel is an enticing blend of frothy social satire and deadly serious detective work.’ Daily MailThis is an amazing debut and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for further releases from Charlotte Vassell! It does get better--what saved the novel for me was the banter between the three detectives, as they investigate the death of an influencer. I'm not sure I believed in Caius as a person--he seemed to be too consciously a collection of oxymoronic traits--but that might settle out, since this seems to be projected as a series.

I’m so in awe of the energy, wit and pure intelligence behind this brilliant series. Charlotte Vassell is a vital, vivacious new voice in crime, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be publishing her debut at Faber.’ The most richly accomplished of the brothers’ pairings to date—and given Connelly’s high standards, that’s saying a lot. Rupert is at the centre of this story; titled and entitled, he is obscenely wealthy, misogynistic, and manipulative. His girlfriend (I use this word loosely, perhaps limpet might be a more apt description) Clemmie, has a token job at an art gallery, and is an 'influencer'. She desperately wants to marry Rupert for the title and the country pile he will inherit when his grandfather dies. Rupert is enamoured with Nell, who is considered 'unsuitable'. Alex also loves Nell, who has just parted ways with Caspar. There are various other double and triple-barreled surnamed characters, and women named Minty and . . . well, you get the picture. Everyone is connected to everyone through schools, blood and godparents. There's no six degrees of separation here. The story follows the lives of some real upper class twits with excellent names like Rupert and Minty and Hereward. Excellent eye rolling fodder at how the other half lives. However all is not that rosy in paradise as the body of a girl is found mutilated by, of all good fortune, the DI who then takes on the case. Murderers can be so inconsiderate towards the police. I’m really looking forward to all the foaming tweets about closing the park for forty-eight hours.’The misogynistic whiff--the men predators, the women victims--overwhelmed what charm that Rupert (the possible villain) might have been intended to have. I sighed every time he turned up, as he was more predictable than intriguing, and the ending left me absolutely cold. I have to say Charlotte Vassell has absolutely stunned me with her debut. So often a book gets hyped and I expect so much that it's always a let down but not this time. I read it in 2 sittings, struggling all the time to put it down when tiredness overtook me last night. Harry Bosch and the Lincoln Lawyer team up to exonerate a woman who’s already served five years for killing her ex-husband. The detective, Caius Beauchamp was very well done, with his pretentious leanings and conspicuous consumption. I enjoyed him even when he came off as tedious. Beauchamp's DS, Matt, was also a good character. The third officer, whose name escapes me at the moment (which is a shame because she was the only woman in the group), was a good character as well. It’s the characters that really make this book and I’d love to see a TV series based on these detectives.’ 5* review