It is only through lengthy but natural exposition that we realise what has befallen Hap, about a quarter of the way through the book. Though by that time, after having discovered he is also being pursued by what can best be described as Men In Black for reasons unknown, we are so snowed under with questions, concepts and plot twists that we have far more on our plate to worry about. Spares , Smith's previous novel, was a similar 'one man's quest to find the truth' affair, but to compare further would be unfair. What we have here is an altogether more mature work, with less desire to shock and more emphasis on keeping the reader turning the pages, which Smith does admirably. His previously shown talent for a good plot and deft character is shown to full potential here in a story that contains more twists than any given John Grisham novel has in its little finger.
Characters are equally well-handled.
Hap is an eminently sympathetic man who we cannot help but feel for. Many of his internal dialogues and emotional outbursts will bring on sage nods and murmurs of, 'Yep. The supporting characters are crafted with similar skill, never crossing the line from archetype to stereotype. In an effort to help Smith's work reach the audience it deserves, One of Us is very carefully described as a thriller, with barely any mention of the speculative elements. Even the jacket design is deliberately modern without appearing too 'niche'.