I did enjoy this. I apologise as i forgot to review it nearer the time and would struggle to write a proper review later down the line. Note to self. Review books after reading!

Matt and Anabelle's three kids get kidnapped. Soon a ransom is demanded. But it is not money. The kidnapper wants something else...
The choice Matt and his wife face is unthinkable. And they don't have long to make a decision.


The premise of this book gripped me instantly, and as I loved ''7 Days'' by this author, I was excited to read it.
It was an enjoyable book. The plot was gripping and intriguing.
However, I found that on the whole, this was a book below what you'd expect from a seasoned author like Alex Lake.
The dialogue was really unrealistic, and the short chapters were often ending very abruptly for the story to be continued by another narrator.
Also, the ''past'' chapters ended halfway through the book, which I think made for a chaotic read.
The twist was good, and I didn't see it coming, but from then on, the story went downhill, and the ending fell flat for me.
Overall, it was an enjoyable and quick read. It didn't deliver on its promise, but it kept me gripped, so I give it 3 stars.

Matt Westbrook is driving home with his three children in the car, he decides to stop at a shop as his wife Annabelle needs some groceries. He quickly leaves the children in the car, as he will only be gone a minute. Unbeknown to him someone is watching and when he leaves the shop his car and the children have disappeared!!!

The kidnapper texts him with an ultimatum, he can have his children back if his wife takes their place. Why did he not take his wife if that’s who he was after? No that would be too simple, and this book has a more complex and twisting plot than that!!

This story is told through the present day and back in the past when Annabelle and Matt were at university.

I loved the fast pace of this book and at times my heart was going like the clappers as the kidnapper was identified.

Another great book from this author. I will be looking forward to her next one.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

Ok, so someone kidnaps your kids and the kidnapper then contacts you to let you know what the ransom is. They then tell you that the ransom isn't money or jewels or anything like that, what they actually want is your partner/Husband/Wife! You have to make the choice whether to sacrifice their life for your kids! Now, if your other half is anything like mine than I know exactly what you're thinking, the kidnapper wouldn't have even had the chance to finish their sentence before you shout "You can have the ransom"! Ha ha...
And this is the situation that Matt finds himself in when his kids are taken and the kidnapper wants to swap them for his wife Annabelle. The book isn't really about this choice as I'm pretty sure most, if not all, parents would definitely put their children's lives before their own. No, the book is about WHY they were given that choice. What led to the kidnapping, why does the kidnapper want Annabelle, and what are they going to do with her?
The book starts with a bang, right at the point of the kidnapping and just grabbed my attention right from the start. We get to go back and learn about Matt and Annabelle's lives before they met, when they met and how their lives have gone over the years. What I loved about this book is that we are gradually introduced to several potential suspects and given reasons why they might want to hurt the couple, which really got my mind spinning trying to figure out who the kidnapper was.
I definitely enjoyed this book more than I thought I would and highly recommend it.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 - 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲

I started reading this when I couldn't sleep (again) last night & got sucked straight into it. 15% in I'd kinda worked out who the kidnapper was (hence is why 4 stars), but the story was still compelling & there were things I needed to know, so had to keep reading! This was fast paced, action packed, full of thrill & unexpected twists along the way.

Many thanks to Netgalley for my ARC in return for my honest review

𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 4 ⭐ 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

A kidnap…
Matt Westbrook only turned his back for a moment. But when he looks around, his car – with his three young children inside – has vanished.


A ransom…
Panicked, Matt assumes a car thief has got more than he bargained for, but then he starts to receive text messages: This is a kidnap. If you want to see your children again, you will exchange them for your wife.


A choice…
Matt and his wife Annabelle are horrified. They can’t involve the police, or their children will be killed. Which means they have to choose: Annabelle, or their children. Either option is unthinkable. But one is inevitable. And they have only hours to make their decision…


This book hooked me from the very first page. I loved the short chapters in the book, told from different perspectives. I don’t know why, but I just find books so much easier to get into when they have shorter chapters.

The book takes us on a real journey and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

I must admit that when I found out who the kidnapper was, I was slightly disappointed as it seemed so obvious, but it did not spoil the book.

This book is highly recommended for anyone who loves a thriller.

I loved a lot about this book especially Matt and Annabelle and how their characters remained consistent throughout and not changing to suit the plot. The story starts with a bang and ends in an exciting few scenes but once we find out who the kidnapper is it seemed to fall a bit flat for a while. I can’t say much mor3 or I would be revealing the plot and I did still really enjoy it. It’s a fairly quick read and every time I put it down I was wanting to get back to it so that’s a big plus.
Not my first Alex Lake and definitely not my last.

What a choice!
Your children have been kidnapped and the ransom is your wife.
Not as straight forward as I thought it would be and it kept me guessing up until the reveal. The story passes between the past and the present and I actually enjoyed both parts.
Quick and easy read.

Fantastic book, fast paced I was gripped from the start. I loved the back story and the way it keeps you guessing, I did suspect the kidnapper and was pleased I was right. A thoroughly enjoyable read, well recommended 5*****

Wow what a read! Compelling, gripping, fast paced and although I knew who the kidnapper was about 150 pages in, this didn't matter because the how, what, where, when and why still needed to be explored! Really enjoyed this and will definitely look out for more books by Alex Lake.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers and the author for the privilege to read this book for my honest opinion

Matt needs a quick pit stop at a local shop for some supplies, he’s not in there for more than a few mins, he leaves his three children in the car, but they will be safe right? No need to worry... until he returns and finds the car and his children gone. A highly suspenseful story which follows the ups, downs, love, loss, panic, anxiety and literally everything in between.

The premise of this book is really good, so exciting. That moment Matt walked out of the shop to find his car and children gone was gripping. But it kinda fell flat from there. I just felt we didn't get enough internal emotion from the characters. They are going through hell! Turmoil! And yet the conversation felt like writing, it didn't feel authentic, and so I couldn't sympathise with them enough. Sorry! I do appreciate the chance to read the book.

Could you do it? I’d happily hand over my husband personally (especially if he was as dumb as these characters).

The plot annoyed me, if these were logical, sensible characters then they’d be no book. Call the police and get your kids back....but no these characters know better.

The coronavirus parts were unneeded. It took me straight out of the story and adds absolutely nothing.

Honestly I have nothing nice to say about this book, I hated it. It tries to be clever but uses lazy and uncreative writing. It falls flat and I can’t think of a single person I’d recommend to read The Captive!

Hated it. 1 star.

Another great story from Alex Lake. It is gripping from the very start. I loved it. Highly recommended

I really enjoyed the story and it was incredibly well written. I liked the characters and three was enough red herrings so it took me a while to figure out who the culprit was.
The only negative is that I felt the ending was rushed. After all that build up it had not given enough of an ending.

I abso-bloody-lutely loved it! Prepare yourself to stay up late reading this one, as you won’t be able to put it down! The outcome completely threw me as well, I did not expect it AT all which I love in a thriller. Alex writes so cleverly, making you think the story is going in one direction, when in fact you actually have no idea where it’s going.  His writing has you gripped from the get go.
 The story is told from various points of view, and also flits between the past and present. Everything links together seamlessly, I wasn’t left confused at any point like I have been reading other books written from multiple POV. Highly recommend, I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed!

kidnap…
Matt Westbrook only turned his back for a moment. But when he looks around, his car – with his three young children inside – has vanished.


A ransom…
Panicked, Matt assumes a car thief has got more than he bargained for, but then he starts to receive text messages: This is a kidnap. If you want to see your children again, you will exchange them for your wife.


A choice…
Matt and his wife Annabelle are horrified. They can’t involve the police, or their children will be killed. Which means they have to choose: Annabelle, or their children. Either option is unthinkable. But one is inevitable. And they have only hours to make their decision…


This book hooked me from the very first page. I loved the short chapters in the book, told from different perspectives. I don’t know why, but I just find books so much easier to get into when they have shorter chapters.

The book takes us on a real journey and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

I must admit that when I found out who the kidnapper was, I was slightly disappointed as it seemed so obvious, but it did not spoil the book.

This book is highly recommended for anyone who loves a thriller.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins, Harper Fiction for the arc of The Choice by Alex Lake.

This was a sensational book, a quick read for me, i read within 24 hours as it was so good this was an amazing read and book, I recommend for all for whom is wanting to read or fans of Alex Lake's other books. This was brilliantly written and a great one.

5 stars for this!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I read Seven Days by the author not that long ago and it was such a stand out read for me so i was equally as excited to read The Choice and what a concept this is, horrific may i add but brilliant too.

Matt only left his children for minutes whilst he popped in the shop, it was minutes where he couldnt see them if that, but when he goes out of the shop his car with the three children has gone. At first glimpse it seems like someone stole the car with the children happening to be inside but when he receives a message it soon becomes clear - its a kidnapping.

Panicked, shaken and distraught he heads home to his wife, but then the ransom comes through - Annabelle, Matts wife - and now they have to choose, they only have a matter of time to make a decision but if they dont, they wont see the children again, but that means never seeing his wife again.

Oh - this was something else, it was just so tense and gripping, it literally all happens straight away and the pace does not slow, its all action from that very first moment. The characters were going through so much and you could really feel the emotion and tension in the writing - every word was powerful, it was heart wrenching, tense and so much more.

I didnt expect the outcomes at all and it really did take me on a journey, i can't rave about this enough, i have literally told every person i have seen recently who i know reads. "Oh, i have just finished this amazing book..." I really think if you need a tense thriller to pull you out a reading slump, this is the one!.

I absolutely love this book! A modern day thriller which turns one innocent decision into The Choice of a lifetime...
Annabelle Westbrook is nursing a cold, waiting at home for her family. The country is in the midst of a new virus and husband Matt Westbrook has popped to the shops in search of some last minute groceries. There's no reason to take the kids into the shop with him for the sake of a few minutes, they'll be alright in the car while he runs in... He's quickly running back out again; the car has gone. Along with the children. Matt panics and comes up with every possible scenario he can think of - but the answer comes soon enough, in the form of a ransom.
When Matt turns up at home on his own, Annabelle can't quite grasp what he is telling her. But things are not as simple as they seem. As they rack their brains for answers, knowing calling the police is not an option, they must decide whether they can go through with the kidnapper's request; a trade - the children will be returned in exchange for Annabelle!
I loved the style of writing and how the story unravels with different timelines and narrators. Glimpses into the couples' past offer up plenty of suspects. I had my suspicions about a few of the characters, especially when it turned out to be quite a personal attack on the family. With some innovative ideas and plenty of suspense, I couldn't put it down until I knew how it would end. A stand out 2020 psychological thriller.