What do you know about the people that lived in the house before you? This book was sinister and unsettling from the start. Moving from the city to the country seemed idyllic for Jess and her husband. It was only after Jess felt like there was unwelcome presence did she begin to think something was very wrong.
This is a great read which had me gripped from the first to last page.

I adored Charlotte's first novel The House Guest and her second carried that same sense of mystery and intrigue throughout as the layers were expertly revealed and the point of view suddenly slipped from jess to Eve and the whole picture of the novel comes to light. I read this novel in two sittings and flew through it!

An impressive psychological thriller which makes for intriguing and compelling reading with twists I never saw coming.
Jess, Pete and their two children have moved from Walthamstow to renovate Maple House in rural Suffolk, which is spooky and creepy. Does it hold unfinished business? Nothing is what it first seems and I liked how the families's secrets and their real reasons for moving out of London slowly unravel.
An excellent read.

I really enjoyed "The People Before" by Charlotte Northedge. She seems to be able to capture the atmosphere just right: the sense of uncomfortableness, being watched and not fitting in. Slightly similar to "Magpie" in that you see the same story from different perspectives and you are pulled one way and then the other. Full of calculating and selfish characters, this book is just great!

Jess and Pete purchase the ramshackle Maple House in the Suffolk countryside hoping for a new start with their two children far away from the trouble they’ve experienced in London. At first, they plan to renovate Maple House, add an addition and make it a show house. They quickly learn that it won’t be easy. Pipes leak, the heating system needs an overhaul and every room must be cleaned and painted. Oh, and there was a murder and a local legend tells the tale of a baby killer who may or may not be haunting Maple House. With Pete commuting to the city and putting in extra hours to pay for the renovations, Jess is lonely and finding it hard to make friends. Enter Eve, a local gallery owner and artist, who charms Jess and her family. Is she the caring, supportive woman she seems to be or does she have other plans?

The People Before is both creepy and compelling. Charlotte Northedge builds layers of suspense so well that you can almost feel the chilly presence in the corner of the room. The story is told alternately by Jess and Eve. You see how differently each perceives certain events. The conclusion is surprising and inevitable. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and Charlotte Northedge for this ARC.

The synopsis: Jess and Pete buy a big old house in a remote spot in the country. It’s creepy, but what’s going on? (The book blurb is better but this is my version 😂)

🤯😱What a spine tingling, hair raising beaut of a book. The first few chapters set this book up beautifully, playing into the readers mind and fears, using nature to exacerbate what is already there. You can imagine looking out into the night and feeling the fear. We have all been there. As adults, we rationalise that the likelihood of something or someone being out there is minimal, but what if there is?

🤔The first half of this book left me jumping between different theories - is it the husband? the friend? her own madness? someone else? supernatural? the neighbour?

✍🏽This book is written brilliantly, hooking the reader in to experience the emotions along with the characters.

📕 The one thing I’m not sure about is the cover… I like the picture in the circle but not sure about the white cover. Maybe it’s better in real life?!

Wonderfully atmospheric, The People Before builds on the themes of alienation, social capital and messy, misunderstood families that sparkled in Northedge's debut. Properly, discomfortingly chilling from the off, nothing is ever quite what it seems to be in this game of psychological cat and mouse. A perfect autumnal read.

Creepy, claustrophobic, and thrilling.

This is a pacy thriller, great plot and characters and it will give you a few scary minutes.

Read it in one and loved it.

An eerie and dark read in which Jess and her family buy the rather creepy Maple House in Suffolk. As with all creepy houses, it has a tainted past. The People Before has all the ingredients needed for a suspenseful story. It’s filled with the necessary twists, lies and deceit which makes for a good thriller.

This is the author's first book and I look forward to reading more.
Thank you to NetGalley HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and review this spooky thriller 📚

Jess and Pete move from London to Suffolk. They aim to renovate an old house. With Pete working away, Jess makes friends with Evie and becomes close to her. But there are strange noises in the house, things moving around and being broken. The family feels threatened, is it to do with the past?
Amazing addictive read! Absolutely loved it! I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next, so many secrets!
Edge of your seat novel from an amazing author.

This was a very twisty book that was full of anxiety throughout. The plot was intriguing and the atmosphere was well rendered – Maple House being the epicentre of the book, and almost a character in itself. I enjoyed the flick of POVs and found it generally very well written. A v good thriller and one I would recommend.

A dark and creepy read that was absolutely gripping. It was full of atmosphere and unpredictability. I loved it and devoured it incredibly quickly.