This is a chilling and atmospheric thriller which draws the reader in right from the start. It’s a simple premise, based on the unknown; can former inhabitants of a property influence the present. The characters are well drawn and it’s easy to relate to their fears. Charlotte Northedge ratchets up the tension which takes the ordinary into the realms of the extraordinary and it makes for chilling reading.

The pace and plotting are well executed; it’s a page turner where it’s difficult to let go because you need to know what happens next. There’s tension and mystery and overall, I thought this was a well developed and very satisfying tale.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

I really enjoyed this, I found it chilling and page-turney and really wanted to know what was going on in this tumble-down house in Suffolk and what was coming next. The sense of dread was well established early on and Jess was constantly anxious in the property. Items were moved or missing, there were unexplained flashes of light from outside, unexpected noises but most of all, she couldn't account for the sense of constantly being watched. There were events that had happened back in London which continued to trouble the family and added to the plague of events in the new place. The pace really flowed and I enjoyed how it all unravelled. There were some hints where you could see how it was going to go but then it twisted about and wasn't what you thought. Great plot, really enjoyed it and would recommend. With thanks to the publisher for an advanced proof.

The overall premise of this novel is London couple with kids move to an "in need of renovation' property in rural Suffolk and get more than they bargained for.

I raced through the first part of this book. It was creepy and unsettling, and there was a real sense of threat for Jess (the main character), who seemed out of depth for all sorts of reasons. She befriends Eve, or Eve befriends her (depending on what perspective we see things from). However, Eve is not all she seems, and in the next section, we do a switcheroo to Eve's view and see what's going on. Once I got to this part, the novel unravelled in the sort of way you might expect and, for me, felt less enjoyable to read. There were a few twists and turns at the end, but these felt a little unnecessary, in my opinion.

Overall, I think if the author had continued with the tension and suspense like that created in the first part, I would have enjoyed it more.

Read as a NetGalley reviewer - thanks for a copy of this book to review.

I really enjoyed this book - 5 *s
The characterization, plot, and setting were very good and made me want to read the book very quickly. I found myself intrigued and drawn into seeing what happened next.

Maple House is intimidating with a foreboding that you know Pete and Jess should not have bought, yet you are glad they did!
I felt all of the emotions - anger, fear, sympathy with the story lines and twists and turns.

Not a predictable ending, which added to the mystery and will look out for more titles by this author

The premise of this book really appealed to me. From the first chapter I was hooked. The author has the ability to layer a story making it a complete page turner. I was desperate to know more and just couldn't stop reading. If you love chilling thrillers that make you think 'gosh what would I do in her position?' This one is for you. Compulsive reading.

I devoured this spine tingling, heart racing novel within a few hours. A very dark, creepy and disturbing read that I couldn't get enough of.
Jess and her husband buy a new house and believe it is going to be a fresh start but all is not as it seems. I loved every minute of this, from the very start I could feel the chills building and several times I had to check the doors were locked and the windows shut. It makes you paranoid and start to question, did I put that there or has it been moved. A skilfully written physcological thriller that really grabs you and doesn't let you go. I implore you too read this book you certainly won't be disappointed.

Jess, Pete and their kids have left their family home in Walthamstow and bought the Maple House, a large, imposing and run-down home in rural Suffolk. It seems that Jess was running away from something - perhaps an intruder she had disturbed in Walthamstow - but something at the Maple House doesn't seem right. Things move, doors that were locked seem to open themselves, and there are glimpses of something in the garden.

This should be a twisty psychological thriller. Sadly, the title rather gives the game away. There is some tension right at the end, and the intrigue of how it al fits together, but the big reveal at the half way point will not surprise anyone.

The novel is initially narrated from Jess's point of view, then switches to Jess's new friend Eve, and then back to Jess. This is all rather reminiscent of Fingersmith (Sarah Waters). It is fun, has some moments of humour as the reader is appalled by people behaving badly, and some of the cameo characters (e.g. the school mums, the architect) are a delight. Jess, though, is a drip and it is hard for the reader to feel any real sympathy for her predicament.

The ending feels rather unsatisfactory - the bit where everyone is supposed to get their just deserts does not quite pan out. I'm undecided whether that is a strength or a weakness.

This is not a perfect book, but there is something about it that is like a literary version of an ear worm. It just keeps popping back into my thoughts. That suggests some pretty good story telling technique at work.

When Pete persuades his wife Jess to move away from London she goes along with his ambitious plans to renovate an old wreck of a house motivated by the thought of a fresh start after a break in at her London home. She and the children, Archie and Rose are still traumatised by the crime but Jess has another reason to get away from her old haunts. However, Jess has not bargained for the amount of work needed or the creepy feelings she has about the Maple House. The mums in the school playground seem wary and Jess feels she will never find a friend. Then she meets Eve who runs a gallery and the two appear to click. Eve has lots of ideas for renovating Jess’s home and Jess and Pete are captivated by her ideas. But nothing is as it seems… This is an enjoyable story if a little predictable in places. However, there are a few twists along the way to add to the suspense. I found the ending a little weak and slightly implausible but overall this was a good read from an author writing her second novel and I shall go back and read her debut.

I loved the start of this book, it was brilliantly written and really gave out a creepy atmospheric feel. Just how much do we know about the people who lived in our houses before us and how much do we really want to know what went on there!
Jess and Pete seem be living the dream, leaving the city and moving to a big country house, in need of renovation. All is not what it seems though, when cracks and leak start appearing and things begin to appear in strange places Jess is really uneasy and not sure who or what is doing all this, she doesn't know who to trust or believe and wants to quit and head back to the city.
This story has lots of layers to it, it looks at relationships from all angles, husband and wife, mother and children, daughter and mother and also at the friendships we try to create.
For me this book is in two halves, the first I thought was fantastic, the scene setting had me on the edge of my seat, was someone messing with Jess or was it supernatural? I had a lot of different guesses, all turned out to be wrong. The second half, which focuses on Evie let it down, it became more obvious and and a little tedious at times..
It is a good psychological read, that will keep you guessing for a while, definitely one to curl up with just maybe not on your in the dark!

Unsettling from the very start, the feeling of someone else's presence or being watched is brilliantly written. O loved that there were so many other stories hidden within the main story and they develop together.
As things become clearer you think you knoe how the story will ens but Charlotte Northedge throws in a curve ball. It doesnt feel like this is the last we will see of the Masters family.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read The People Before.

The People Before follows the story of Jess and her family who have just left London for a new life in the countryside. They’ve bought a big old house that needs a lot of renovation but has plenty of space for the family and lots of garden for the children to explore.

But Jess is feeling cut off from the world now, and with her husband Pete commuting to London for work Jess is struggling to adapt. There is always a new problem with the house and there’s a strong sense that they’re being watched.

The book portrays that awful feeling when you question your life decisions and wonder if you’ve done the right thing. There’s an ominous vibe throughout the book and it plays on your basic fears- what’s happening outside the window when it’s dark and you can’t see out?

There’s a few plot twists to mess with your head, and I was left with unanswered and unsettling questions at the end.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC.

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I was expecting to be gripped by this novel but, sadly, that was not the case. I found it incredibly slow going and I didn't really care about the characters or what was going on. The premise of this book sounded great but the execution just didn't work for me.

I like the initial atmosphere the author creates. The reader can feel Jess, the main character's despair as her chance of a better life disintegrates. Gently paced, the twists when they happen are impactful.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I enjoyed this book although you do have to suspend a bit of critical thinking!

It’s not because it’s bad or because the plot doesn’t work, I just found that the plot moved in ways that didn’t make a huge amount of sense to me and I didn’t feel the back story was enough to make the antagonist act the way she was if that makes sense?

Otherwise it was a good read, I just needed a bit more!

The People Before by Charlotte Northedge is a tense thriller with an unexpected ending!

As if moving away from their social circle in London to an isolated location with two young children wasn't a stressful enough decision for Jess and Pete, they have taken on a property renovation to make things even more difficult for themselves. Jess doesn't get involved with the other mothers at school drop off and collection times as she feels they are secretly talking about her and the house they have bought. Before long however she connects with gallery owner Eve in the nearby town of Ipswich. They strike up a friendship and things begin to improve significantly for Jess.

I felt a good degree of stress in the early stages of this thriller (dealing with builders has never been an easy task for me) but I didn't realise what other challenges Jess and Pete would have in order to get their dream house.

Tense thriller with a good few twists that are neatly resolved in a sense, by the last page.

The beginning of this book was so creepy! Imagine moving to a big old house and thinking you keep seeing shadows shifting, things mysteriously braking, the feeling someone is watching you. this was a great psychological thriller told from 2 points of view and I love when a book flips in the middle, so you see a different side of the story. Well written, evocative, tense, it was a really engrossing, fabulous read.

Great psychological thriller. I couldn’t put the book down. We’ll written. I didn’t want it to finish

Thank you for NetGalley for providing me with this book for review. Absolutely fantastic, what a read, couldn't wait to see how it ended, but still wanted more.

3.5* Readable but not exciting or believable. No real feel of suspense to it.

What I liked about this tale was that it wasn't set in the US or somewhere in the UK that's totally unaccessible by anyone other than the moneyeds, but that's about it. I didn't click with the female lead, who goes on to be revealed as a not-good friend and a cheat, or the male lead who did something utterly unacceptable that caused his child to be traumatised not once but twice, and who ended up revealed as someone weak and unreliable. It felt like they deserved each other, but didn't deserve their kids.

Add in a Mrs Rochester-type who inveigled her way into their lives, with readers seeing what would likely happen, but apparently not the leads themselves, and it began to get less and less believable. It wasn't unreasdable but I began to skim read from around 2/3.

ARC courtesy of Harper Collins and Netgalley for my reading pleasure.

I found this to be quite a slow moving psychological thriller which would probably suit those who enjoy Lisa Jewell novels as I have found those I have read by her to be quite similar in pacing and style to this one.
The main characters were well written but due to their inherent flaws were not particularly likeable people. However, the writing did keep me reading right to the end to find out if I was right about what was happening and happily there was a surprise or two along the way.
In conclusion, I found this to be quite a relaxed book to read, it certainly wasn't the sort that I needed to keep picking up to discover the next part of the story but it also wasn't the sort of book that I could stop reading before finishing. It took me a few more days than other recent reads have but that flaw is in me and the adrenalin junkie reader that I am!