The Other Half: You know how they live. This is how they die.

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See you at the station,’ Caius said, stretching his calves. He jogged off down the path until he was out of Matt’s sight and then he slouched home at a crawl. 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. Vassell’s sharply witty debut novel is an enticing blend of frothy social satire and deadly serious detective work.’ Daily Mail An incredible crime debut. The Other Half is the love child of Evelyn Waugh and Susie Steiner, I devoured it. Gripping, funny, enraging and incisive.' – Erin Kelly Or is it "whom"? Detective Caius Beauchamp isn't sure. He's sharply dressed, smart and thoroughly modern --- he discovers Clemmie's body on his early morning jog. As he searches for the dark truth beneath the luxurious life of these London socialites, a wall of staggering wealth and privilege threatens to shut down his investigation before it's even begun. Can Caius peer through the tangled mess of connections in which the other half live --- and die --- before the case is wrenched from his hands?

The next morning the body of a young woman dressed in a ball gown is found on Hampstead Heath. Detective Inspector Caius Beauchamp (no relation) had actually found the body while out jogging and is later assigned to the increasingly complicated case along with his Detective Sergeant, Matthew Cheung. I listened to this novel and typically love when each voice is narrated by a different individual, however, I really struggled with the male narrator in this instance. He was hard to understand and his voice was much lower in volume than the female. I felt like I was constantly adjusting the speed and volume and still never quite got it perfect. I was out for a morning run before I caught my train. Better me than a dog walker. Makes a change from Carol and her diabetic Labrador,’ Caius replied to the shrouded face.

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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 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

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. I really liked the author’s use of “transcripts” to give us the gist of some of the more brutal parts without going into excessive detail. Very clever.An accomplished crime debut that is part mystery and satire, from a writer to watch.' – Steve Cavanagh MY THOUGHTS: Clever, complex, and witty, there's nothing not to love about The Other Half, including the characters. Some I loved, some I vacillated about, and others I intensely disliked. 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.

It’s something else, isn’t it? Thanks, mate. Oh, could you please get someone from your team to bag everything in the bins?’

Success!

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 spoke to the grand pooh-bahh, and as I had the displeasure of finding the young lady so dishevelled, I will postpone my break. It’s probably not a bad thing.’ 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. Reading this felt like alternating between two separate books, the posh tw*ts part and the police procedural part but, again, maybe that was the intention. Two halves. A sinister, erudite, and clever whodunit; a modern story propelled by literary allusions and a sophisticated wit that seem to have sprung from the era of the bright, young things.' – Peter SwansonNell was a complex and interesting character. I didn't understand her love for Rupert, but did commend her for her loyalty and self-awareness. I also liked that she was part of the rich crowd but more relatable. I loved the setting, descriptions of the clothing and glamour, and the overall pretentiousness. The character names alone were pure gold! Thanks also to The Pigeonhole for hosting a group read of this novel allowing for comments to be shared with my fellow Pigeons. Another sweltering month in Charlotte, another boatload of mysteries past and present for overworked, overstressed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. The Other Half is the story of two men, both with what looks like the same surname. Rupert Beauchamp is the heir to a baronetcy and his thirtieth birthday party is a catered-with-butler event at McDonalds in Camden Town. Think Bollinger and cocaine. His surname is pronounced 'Beecham'. Caius Beauchamp is a detective inspector with the Metropolitan police and is bi-racial. His surname is pronounced as you see it. The two encounter each other when Caius, out for a run, stumbles across the body of Clemmie O'Hara, Rupert's girlfriend. Rupert thought that she was being deliberately late for his party. She was dead under a bush.