Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I thoroughly enjoyed this, although I don't think it was a suspenseful and thrilling as the authors previous titles, nonetheless still a very good read.

Omg talk about a roller coaster read wow this book kept me on the edge of my seat threw out I just couldn't put it down this writer keeps you hooked and once your hooked your not letting go I found this book thrilling the characters were fantastic and well thought out and the little clues all the way threw keep you guessing until the end this book stays with you long after you close the book this book is well worth the read I promise you wont be disappointed

The worst accident that could happen to parents, happen to the Rhodes family, and they are struggling to move on. They move into a new house, but even that soon seems doesn't feel like a good idea. This was a slow read, but entertaining nevertheless. Recommended.

****Spoilers****

Do you ever worry how much we rely on technology? Or how far away from being human technology is taking us? If you do this book is not for you!!

Ethan and Nikki Rhodes have suffered the loss of one of their daughters and the other is now not talking. In a bid to get away from the memories they decide to move house.

17 Church Row is a state of the art home designed by Katriona Fisher. It is installed with a personal assistant A.L.I.C.E that is designed to meet all your needs even before you know you need them. At first things go well and the family begin to rely on A. L. I. C. E more and more. Matters take a turn for the worst with the unexpected death of the Rhodes' housekeeper and decline rapidly from there.

This is a fast paced novel that had me trying to catch my breath. I think to get on board with the story you have to suspend belief a little bit (I'm saying this in a hope that no AI system would ever be created) but if you can do that it is a very enjoyable read. I appreciate the end as its not a happy ever after and that seemed fitting for this story.

✨✨✨

Couldn't put this book down! It's quite creepy in terms of plot, definitely makes you look at technology in a different light. Really enjoyed it and looking forward to reading more from the author.

Oh my word. Why didn’t I get to this book sooner.

I decided I’d listen to this on audio as I saw it ready to download that day no reserve on it.

I started to listen to it while I was driving somewhere. Then a bit more when preparing our meal and cooking it. I got so caught up in it’s tight plot.

17 Church Row was supposed to have a high security on it. And it did. But what if something was already inside when you’d moved in?

There’s family anguish within the pages of this story. Very sad. But there’s also something very questionable that after read it you will reflect on how eerie this is in our century in history.

It’s gripping.

I loved the atmosphere the tenseness and the way this book questioned our Internet uses.

Another fabulous book by James Carol. I've loved his previous books and this was no different. Great plot, kept me guessing the whole time and an unexpected ending.

Thank you Zaffre and NetGalley for this book
This was my first book by James Carol and won't be my last
It was an easy read which help my attention. It had lots of twists along the way which I didn't see coming.
Definitely recommend this and would like another book by this author please

An unusual premise for this book. The first one I’ve read by this author and I was impressed. Deals with grief, change, and handles these subjects sensitively. Also deals with “Alice”, a kind of sinister Alexa on acid. Thought provoking and entertaining.

This was an easy to read thriller thaylt kept my attention all the way through! Lots of twists and surprises I didn't see coming. Very good, would recommend! Go out and buy this one!

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This book is amazing!
The book starts out with Nikki and Ethan who are buying a new house to move forwards from a tragic accident in which they lost one of their twin daughter's. They buy a modern luxury house with AI intelligence but as soon as they move in they begin to realise the house isnt what it seems and a whole kind of crazy events unfold like dominoes.
I loved how AI was at the heart of this novel and it made me question if technology evolves this much in the future, if things like what occur in this book, could actually happen.

I love James Carol's books, particularly his Jefferson Winters' ones, and I wasn't sure what to expect with 17 Church Row as it seemed, from the blurb, to be very different from his previous books. What enticed me to try it, apart from my respect for his writing, was the creepiness of the concept of the book. The idea that when you feel safest, you might actually be most at risk.
The very idea of losing a child is horrifying enough, but having to cope with the guilt and the ongoing traunma suffered by the remaining sibling must make it so much harder. 17 Church Row is a very human book. The idea of a family trying to protect itself and to escape from the site of their previous trauma is understandable ... but what makes it so addictive is the slow burn as you feel that Nikki is being overwhelmed and her desperation as a mother sinks in.
This is a very real visceral novel that looks at not only the threat of digital technology, but also how these threats can impact on human nature. It raises so many questions regarding just how far would you go to protect your child, or what would you be prepared to sacrifice.
I found 17 Church Row to be well plotted, creepy as hell and extremely though provoking.
Carol, really forces you to relate to each of the main characters, yet he simultaneously creates a mystery which is intriguing and full of twists.

Definately recommended.

Very topical with AI and possibly what the future holds. The story starts with a house move to make a new start after a family tragedy, but this develops into a very sinister view of the downsides of high tech. We have all seen the rise of AI with Alexa and Siri, but it can be used in many ways and for the most part the intelligence is missing. But imagine something different and you may just touch on James Carol's thoughts. He expertly uses the tough times being experienced by the Rhodes family to good effect by using their distraction to penetrate their weakened natural defences. This is a good story but to tell you any more will spoil the plot, so this is your chance to have a peek at an alternative AI future.

A creepy and creative but somewhat unconvincing sci-fi thriller

Devastated after the tragic death three years ago of their four-year-old daughter Grace, Ethan and Nikki Rhodes have struggled with their surviving daughter Bella’s mutism ever since. They think they may finally have a fresh start when they are offered the chance to move into a new house – the state-of-the-art, hyper-secure fortress that is 17 Church Row. The house is designed by a revolutionary architect and has the latest high-tech digital assistant, Alice, an AI capable of learning and adapting to her host family’s needs. Nikki is convinced she finally has a haven in which her daughter can begin to heal. However, after a while the family start to notice some strange occurrences going on in their supposedly secure home – lights turning off when they shouldn't, doors locking when they aren't meant to. Eventually when another tragedy strikes the family, Nikki is forced to question just how safe 17 Church Row is.

This was an interesting set up for a sci-fi thriller that was well-presented and creatively put together. The idea of an intelligent AI controlling a house, whilst not exactly revolutionary, was certainly intriguing and relevant to the current world of technology and its ubiquitous presence in our day to day lives. In a world of smartphones and Alexas that listen to every word we say, the premise of this book is far less of a dystopian futuristic nightmare than a very real possibility for the next couple of decades, and as the reader follows the Rhodes family into danger, the possibility of this one day happening to them is not completely out of the question. Additionally, Nikki’s struggle to cope with the loss of her daughter whilst trying to stay strong for her surviving child was well-written and made you feel empathy for the family. There were a few good twists in the plot and the conclusion provided a real feeling of tension and danger.

Unfortunately, there were quite a few flaws with this book. Although the trauma of losing a child was supposedly meant to give the reader an idea of why Nikki would crave safety and security, I felt that a house run by an AI is such a bad idea that no one in their right minds would volunteer to live in it – in fact, I'm sure there have been multiple films/books already that feature similar plotlines and they’ve all ended in disaster. The family’s decision to move in seemed completely out of the blue and just didn’t make sense to me. The pacing of the story was also a little slow at times and a lot of the characters (Ethan, for example) lacked personality and depth. Finally, I felt that a lot of the storyline was quite predictable and the ending was a bit too far-fetched.

Overall, whilst the premise was clever and interesting, it wasn't original enough or well-executed enough to be an excellent read. However the author is talented and has a great imagination, and it certainly gave me some food for thought.

Daenerys

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.

This book was disturbing to say the least. One of the lines in the book is: "Alice makes Alexa look like a Neanderthal" and that is true. This isn't a read for those who are worried about being spied on by their electronic devices or search engines as this book will definitely make you more paranoid (I'm not saying you're paranoid without good reason). I enjoyed the pacing of the plot as it allows for time to really embed into all the possibilities of what might happen and the probability of what was actually happening. Lots of twists, turns and misdirection add to the complexity and the ending is fitting for the novel as a whole.

After reading this book i am much more aware of using smart technology in the home. Moving home is stressful at the best of times but this book gives this grieving family the worst of time in a house move. When Niki and Ethan decide to move homes after the loss of one of their daughters they choose a unique property to move into. A property wired into an Artificial Intelligence called Alice whose job it is to ensure the house is safe, comfortable and ensure the well being of those who live there. From turning on lights to calling out for pizza she can do it all. Yet should she be able to have such autonomy over the family. When glitches occur in the software its put down to the fact she’s always learning and adapting but is it something more. The story is so cleverly plotted out you just have no idea what exactly is happening if anything at all. The glitches are just glitches , the issues are seen as teething troubles only these teeth turn out to be deadly in every sense of the word. An uncomfortable view on how a computer can grow in intelligence enough to take over every aspect of your life, and incorporate other people into its nefarious plan. A story of revenge, hate, love and death that began with a spark of intelligence. Forget Alexa she’s a nothing compared to what Alice can and does achieve. A fabulous book that builds the suspense gradually up to the totally unexpected, explosive ending. It will send chills down your spine as it portrays a futuristic world where artificial intelligence starts to think and feel for itself as it outgrows its original parameters. Even more terrifying is the knowledge that the technology is out there and what was a tale of fiction could be all too real in the future. Not big brother watching you its big sinister sister.

This was an interesting premise with a family moving into a house set up to anticipate their every need - think Alexa perhaps 20 years from now! Nikki was an interesting character, but sadly the only one for me. I found the conversation sections rather laboured rather than flowing and the ending left one or two of the characters hanging, with no explanations, while the main characters were neatly rounded off.
Two and a half stars for me!
Many thanks to Netgalley/James Carol/Bomier Zaffre for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

While this story line may not be unique, this book definitely is!!! Imagine your life has been forever disrupted, all you want is a little bit of normal, before the accident, before...just before everything changed. Your family agrees to move into a new home that has "smart" integrated into everything. Differing voices tell this story so you'll see the new life as it unfolds and becomes not quite what they expected. This is most definitely a different type of thriller that will absolutely leave you wondering if it could really happen. James Carol wrote a book that will spook every reader.

‘A computer that can think for itself? That’s a little too science fiction, if you ask me.’

Nikki is desperate to move house after the death of one of her children – a new house equals a new start for them all. Their new house has the latest in AI technology built to anticipate their every need – what could possibly go wrong?

17 Church Row is an interesting and prophetic read particularly in an age where many households have Google Home or Alexa to help them out. I liked the slow build of the plot although I could see where it was going in a lot of places. I also liked the build up and speeding up of pace throughout which kept me gripped to see what would happen next. Nikki is a very relatable main character – an overprotective mother dealing with grief of losing her child and who suffers from anxiety.

However, I did find the plot a little bit predictable in places – the flashbacks in particular were written too obviously – you could tell who was narrating them from almost the beginning. This meant the reveal didn’t work quite as well as it could have done but then there’s a twist in the action that I didn’t see coming which kept my interest. In the ARC kindle edition the change in perspective isn’t quite formatted correctly with means that you are jerked out of the story with a truly odd change of tone that you weren’t expecting. There was also a couple of odd things in the tech side of it that I should point out – a computer engineer trying to destroy a computer program by smashing his monitors first isn’t very realistic – monitors have nothing to do with software!

Overall 17 Church Row is a creepy tale of technology gone awry but was a little too predictable in some areas for me. Thank you to NetGalley & Bonnier Books UK – Zaffre for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.