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

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher.  This is my own honest voluntary review.

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.

17 Church Row is a cracking read by James Carol.  I devoured this in one sitting and I wasn't disappointed.  When Ethan and his wife lose a child, it almost breaks them up.  But when the chance to move into a modern property presents itself, is it the change they desperately need?  Or is something more sinister at hand?  4 stars

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.

Frighteningly  Possible.

I do love a good thriller and this one I thought was great. It is brilliantly written to keep you thinking throughout the whole book.

It’s a gripping story regarding house with revolutionary new system which includes higher security which is what attracts this couple. Ethan and Nikki had lost one of their twin daughters Grace and the other, Bella has not spoken since. They therefor want a new start and to keep Bella safe and even though she isn't certain Nikki goes along with this new property after her husband and daughter love it at first sight.

However, even with this new high end technology and integrated security system are they going to be any safer?

Well it becomes very clear not long after the move things are definitely not as they seem and it was great to watch the story unfold especially as there is more than one POV and a mystery Narrator. I think that was the one thing that kept me reading as I was desperate to know who this mystery narrator was and who they were discussing.

I wasn’t overly fond of the actual characters but still found I couldn’t put down.

It’s even more thrilling and slightly terrifying to know that with technology taking over that a house like 17 Church Row may soon be in our very near future.

I definitely would recommend to any readers who enjoy a very plausible thriller.

‘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.

Wowzer. I really enjoyed this book (if enjoyed is the right word!). Dealing with the death of a twin, moving into a house which makes Google Home look like a Commodore 64, and then there's all sorts of freaky shenanigans -like the  TV turning on in the middle of the night showing home videos - and so many suspects - from the creepy computer guy, Katy, the architect Catriona. It kept me up until the wee hours just wanting to have it all wrapped up. Recommended.

17 Church Row tells the story of Nikki and Ethan Rhodes who decide they need a fresh start after the death of their daughter, Grace, three years before. The devastating accident left their other daughter, Bella, Grace’s twin sister, mute and she can only communicate via her tablet; typing in sentences, which are then read in an emotionless voice.

The move from their busy, bustling Bedford Street house in St John’s Wood to a futuristic house in a quiet Kensington cul-de-sac called Church Row is, hopefully, a new start for the family; an opportunity to finally move on and escape the haunting memories of their precious daughter, which still make them anxious and uneasy in their house, reliving the awful past events.

The stunning, one-off house, designed by architect Catriona Fisher, has a virtual assistant called Alice for ‘their comfort and convenience’, who is supposed to help make the family’s lives as easy as possible and keep them all safe and secure. There’s even a panic room! Alice opens and closes doors, adjusts the temperature, makes coffee, orders shopping/food, makes lists, make phone calls, play music/TV programmes, give reminders, etc, etc. Anything you could need really!

There are cameras in most of the rooms, which help Nikki to keep an eye on Bella and make sure she’s safe and she can also ask Alice to locate her daughter. Oddly, Catriona Fisher also uses the cameras to spy on the family, without their knowledge!

Alice follows their every command and, as the next generation in artificial intelligence, is even capable of intelligent thought and can anticipate their needs. She can also learn emotions and speak in a human-like manner with different intonations to her voice. Is it all too good to be true though?! These things generally are! A few minor glitches in the system make Nikki concerned, especially when their housekeeper, Sofia, ends up in hospital after a fall. And from a smooth running system, things start to fall apart and everything turns a bit nasty, in more ways than one!

Interspersed in the chapters are asides from someone called Katy who mentions her father, with whom she seems to have a rather intense relationship. All rather intriguing and we learn more about them as the story progresses.

The concept of Alice was all very eerie and slightly menacing. I didn’t really trust her as she was rather controlling and obtrusive. I find it bad enough when my Alexa listens and butts in, let alone an Alice who is trying to take charge of everything, without asking her owners!

The tragic death of Grace in an accident outside their home was so awful and I particularly felt for her twin, Bella, who basically lost her other half at such a young age. And the constant reminders in Bella for Nikki and Ethan of what Grace would be like were heartbreaking. Nikki’s emotions and feelings of panic were hard to read; the death of a child and constant reminders must be awful.

This well-written book held my interest throughout and had some good twists and turns that I hadn’t seen coming. The concept was intriguing and rather chilling, and I could easily see something similar happening in real life! I don’t really trust those Alexas, Googles or Siris!

This was a thrilling read and I really enjoyed how the rather dark story developed. The ending was particularly nail biting and I was frantically turning the pages to see how it would all be resolved and the loose ends tied up!

I hadn’t heard of James Carol before but I’ve now purchased another of his books, Kiss Me, Kill Me, and will be keeping an eye out for him in future.