Other People's Lives - Ending Explained & Spoiler Discussion

   🚨 SPOILER WARNING 🚨 🚨 SPOILER WARNING 🚨 🚨 SPOILER WARNING 🚨

This post contains full plot and ending details for Other People's Lives by J.E. Rowney. 

Stop reading now if you haven’t finished the book.

The paranoia builds steadily in the first half. Dr. Thacker showing up at the grocery store and not acknowledging Sophie was one of the most uncomfortable moments — almost scarier than if he had spoken. It egged on her fear that someone really was stalking her.

And then the reveals start: Jonah admits “Jack never went to Arkhangelsk” and I physically gasped. From that point forward, nothing was what it seemed. Jonah wasn’t Jonah at all — he was actually Nick Shelton, one of Jack and Serena’s former coworkers.

The final twist completely floored me: Jack wasn’t dead or missing at all — he’d been locked in a shed, hidden away by Sophie. That revelation hit like a freight train, leaving me both confused and shocked at how much deception had been layered in.

The relief of Jack being freed was the highlight, though it’s hard to shake how horrifying Sophie’s actions were. And while Serena technically helped Sophie trap Nick in the end, I never trusted her. Between Jack, Nick, and even Dr. Thacker, she had too many entanglements — and I couldn’t help but side-eye her choices the whole way through.

By the time the dust settled, my brain felt scrambled, in the best possible thriller way.

Final Thoughts

  • Favorite moment: Jack’s release — finally!

  • Weakest part: Serena felt underdeveloped and untrustworthy.

  • Would I reread? Yes — to trace all the little breadcrumbs I missed the first time.

  • Recommended for: Fans of psychological thrillers who love to be confused, take notes, and even draw their own “mystery map.”


Looking for my spoiler-free thoughts? You can check out my non-spoiler review here.

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