It can't do any harm to leave your 3 children in the car for 2 minutes while you pop into the shop, Matt was wrong. His children are gone and he is in panic mode!

This is not the real story though - there is a lot of background to Matt and Annabelle and this story is hooking in the unraveling of their past.

You won't be disappointed if you read this book!

I would like to thank HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction, Alex Lake and Netgalley for the advance copy of The Choice, an for giving me this opportunity to give an honest review.

The story starts with Matt going to a local shop then finding when he comes out that his car and children have gone. A few minutes later he received a text saying that they have been kidnapped. Panicked he runs home to tell his wife Annabelle.

This book had me hooked from the beginning. You would think it was one character then another character would come into the story an change your mind. I love the way it had its twists and turns and kept me on my toes as I tried to think who the kidnapper was. It is a fast pacing psychological thriller that kept me wanting to know who the kidnapper was and why this was happening. A great read!

The book was full of twists and turns, and kept me gripped from the beginning until the very end. I really enjoyed the book, and can't wait to read the next one. Recommended.
TB

Lots of complex interesting characters ,good back story and lots of choice for who done it. Not always very believable,exciting,dramatic conclusion.

Unfortunately I was unable to finish this book. I do not feel it’s fair to the author to write a bad review so will not be posting publically about this book

I’ve actually still got Alex Lake’s previous novels on my TBR pile, but now that I’ve read his latest, The Choice, I’m definitely going to be reading them soon. This is such an engrossing read about a family in a desperate situation. It’ll make you think about how you would act if you were to find yourself in a similar scenario. Would you make the same decisions? How would you react?

Matt Westbrook turns his eyes away from his children for a few moments, when he goes into a shop, only to come out minutes later to find his car gone, along with his children. As the horrifying discovery sinks in, he’s soon contacted by the kidnapper who makes a ransom demand. The police aren’t to be involved. Matt is keen to adhere to the kidnapper’s demands, fearing for the lives of his children. But he soon finds himself in an impossible situation when the kidnapper names their price, it isn’t money they’re after; it’s his wife, Annabelle.

You can’t help but feel for Matt throughout this book as he is put in this impossible dilemma. Of course, he desperately wants his children back and for them not to be harmed, but he can’t bear the thought of losing his wife. What I loved about this book is that I had a few different suspects in my mind as I was reading. Alex Lake takes us back to Matt’s university days when he first meets Annabelle. It was in these chapters that kept me thinking about the kidnapper’s possible motives.

Alex Lake also tells part of the novel from the point of view of the perpetrator. The kidnapper’s thoughts are cold and chilling. You can see that they are willing to do anything to achieve their goals, it’s clear to see, as well, that they don’t care at all about the children. It wouldn’t bother them in the slightest if they had to kill them.

Alex Lake keeps the tension turning up a notch. You can really sense that if Matt and Annabelle make one wrong move here, that it will have disastrous consequences. I wanted them to speak to the police, but at the same time, I could also understand why they were wary of doing so. Alex Lake makes their fear feel very real, especially when the kidnapper’s request comes through.

The Choice is a really engrossing read, and I flew through the final chapters, Alex Lake really knows how to heighten the tension. An excellent read!

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is not my usual genre,  however I wanted to take the opportunity to read something from outside my norm. And I am glad I did!! Thank you for  opening up my mind to something totally different. Characters were so well developed that I felt as though I knew them. I love when a book draws you into the story and it feels like you are living it with them.

I enjoy books by this author, and this one was no exception. Though not Alex Lake's best novel, this was still a good book.

I read Seven Days a few months ago and really enjoyed it so was pleased to get a copy of The Choice to review. Oh dear, was I disappointed?
Very short chapters that keep you reading but don't allow characters and the story to develop.
First off you leave your children in the car, the car is unlocked but the child locks are on in the back, so Matt thinks they will be OK only they're not, I lost a bit of sympathy there, especially with Matt.
Then when whoever has kidnapped them says don't call the police, they don't. I don't buy that, I think most of us will call the police despite what they say and not various family members who know someone who will help etc.
I felt is all started getting convoluted, I got lost as to who was related to who and what was with those red herrings? They were way to obvious to have been anything else, other than to just show was a wet blanket Matt was.
The dialogue from Annabelle when she was held captive also felt unrealistic.
The ending was also off, you escape and go home happy ever after? No trip to the A&E for a check up, in fact although the children were recommended to have toxicology tests as they were given something to make them sleep, it didn't seem a high priority.
I feel this book was rushed out to keep up with a deadline. Disappointing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for my ARC in return for an honest review.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really enjoyed this book and had me hooked to the end, liked all the characters and the storyline, would recommend.

Seven Days was one of my top two favourite reads of 2019, a book I recommend to everyone, so when I saw The Choice on Netgalley I jumped on it.

Matt and Annabelle have 3 children. When Matt stops off at the local shop to pick up a few last minute items, he makes the decision to leave the kids in the car and run in to the shop himself. When he returns, the car and the children are gone. Panicking, he thinks the car may have been towed, or the kids messed with the handbrake and it rolled away from its original parking space, but no, it is nowhere to be seen. Soon after, Matt receives a text message claiming that his children have been kidnapped, not to contact the police and to await further instructions. Racing home to Annabelle, he receives another text. The ransom is not money, as Matt and Annabelle expect, but his children in exchange for his wife.

This book started off so strong. The fear, the anxiety, the tension and the disbelief are palpable. It is very easy reading and before I knew it I was more than half way through. However, that is the point at which it lost me....totally.

There are quite a few characters in this one, some I wanted to read more about and others I wondered why there was so much backstory about them as their role in the story didn't warrant such detail. The kidnapper is revealed at about 70% and from then the plot slowed down substantially. It became unbelievable, a bit silly, overly long and totally lost momentum. I skimmed whole chapters as it became predictable and implausible. A real shame as I had been really enjoying it up to that point. I'm giving this book 3 stars based on 4 stars for the first half of the book and 2 stars for the second half.

Literally started this book this morning and couldn’t put it down. Found it a really fast easy read with the short chapters and going from character to character. Loved the switching from one to another as you could really get to know each of them. A firm favourite of mine is the dual storyline going from past to present and getting some good background information. I was enthralled from the word go and couldn’t put it down till I got answers to my questions. I had a few people in the mix of who was behind what but I was kept guessing till the last minute. The way it’s done is very clever as you keep questioning yourself and changing your mind. I did find the last 1/4 of the book could have been a bit more condensed as I was urging it to get back to its fast pace but it’s only a small thing. Would definitely recommend but be warned life will have stop until you finish it because you won’t be able to put it down.

4/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the opportunity to read this ARC and review that was published on the 20th of Aug.

What a simply horrifying situation to find yourself in. Matt leaves his kids in his unlocked car while popping into the shop for a minute and when he turns around the car and the kids are gone.

Worse still there is a ransom and the kidnapper wants his wife Annabelle - or the kids get it.

Leaving Matt and Annabelle to have to make well the only decision that people could make and that is when it gets completely addictive...

We are given short chapters from the kidnappers point of view, giving a startling insight into their mind. But at no point until we are reaching the finale, is the identity of our villain known, much less the motives.

We see key events from Matt and Amanda past, and there are quite a few names that crossed my mind, including the correct answer but I just couldn't work out why for anyone.

From the start I was drawn into Alex Lake's warped mind, and gripping story, as I had the book on my brain even when I wasn't reading. I couldn't get enough of it, trying to see just how things may turn out for Matt and Annabelle.

I loved the various viewpoints, so we were really able to get up close and personal with the key characters, and I do wonder, if this might make parents think twice about leaving their kids unattended in public, as it only takes a second and something can change your life for ever.

Enthralling book that has cemented Alex Lake as one of my favourite psychological thriller writers, and an auto read regardless of blurb in the future.

Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Excellent read! Kept me on the edge of my seat.. fast paced physiological thriller ! Looking forward to the next one !

Sometimes you just know from the first few chapters that a book is going to grab you. It has that air of tension and with short chapters keeps the pace and wanting to turn ever faster to find out what happens.
Matt is picking up a few bits and pieces from a shop on a return journey with his three children in the car. He will only be literally a couple of minutes and leaves the car unlocked, checking on the children as he steps into the shop. When he comes out the car has vanished. He thinks for a moment it's either a prank or he’s parked further down than he first thought. He then receives a text message explaining that the children have been taken, he is not to call the police or they won’t be seen again. Matt races home to his wife Annabel and they receive further instructions. The kidnapper does not want money in exchange for the children- instead they want Annabel.
Back in 2004 as Matt was beginning university he split up with his long standing girlfriend Lindsey. He briefly met Annabel until Lindsey told him that she was pregnant and that they should stay together to do the right thing. We are taken back in alternate chapters to 2004 and the present day situation. If Annabel is exchanged for the children, what then?
A book I wanted to gallop through and was surprised at who the perpetrator was- to me the sign of a well thought out, well written and crafted plot. One terrific read.
(rest of links as part of blog tour)

Such an enjoyable book full of twists and turns. I loved the alternating timelines and it kept me gripped from start to finish. I did guess who was behind it all though before it was revealed.

Once again, another fantastic read from Alex Lake! You've got to give him credit, every single book grabs hold of you with every fibre from beginning to end.

Now I'll admit, in my opinion Seven Days is a hard one to beat, this didnt quite hit the same notes BUT that didnt make it any less brilliant!

I really liked the fact that the author had incorporated the early start of Coronavirus into the story, it made it feel that little bit more relevant.

Part one is fast paced and full to the brim with suspense and sucks you right into the storyline.

Part two sees the book take a slower approach, by now the 'bad character' (no spoilers) has been identified. It's a slower pace but still well paced and suspenseful.

The characters are really well developed with lots of flashbacks into their past and younger lives. They are relatable and likeable the majority of the time which always helps.

All in all a brilliant read that will be sure to have you gripped! Yes in parts there is some predictability and a I was left with a couple of unanswered questions but it's well worth a read and I'll definitely be recommending on.

4*

Huge thanks to netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an early copy of The Choice.

Alex Lake became a name I learned to love ever since I randomly picked Seven Days off my library's shelves. Seven Days, a brilliant thriller with undertones of Room, had me yelling out loud at the characters.

So when The Choice was added to NetGalley, I knew this one was for me.

The summary reminds me a bit of the thriller The Chain. Incidentally, The Chain bored me to the point of falling asleep halfway through. No such thing with The Choice, though! Yay for good news.

Despite not falling asleep, I hesitated for a long time as to how to rate The Choice. This is one of those books where my opinion changed halfway through.

The first part is, quite honestly, very good. There's the nail-biting suspense of knowing what is going to happen to those poor kids, the shocking reveal of what the ransom is. Then there's the reaction of the set of characters, which is very believable. As a whole, most of the characters are really well built, and the multiple flashbacks into their earlier life really helps build them.
Really, the first part is everything we can expect from a good thriller, except, maybe, for some characters that are here for so little time that they're almost useless – though they still needed to be included for a particular plot element, I just regret they disappeared so quickly afterwards.

In addition to all that, the first part has brilliant and chills-inducing insights into the kidnapper's mind. It makes us really fear for what is going to happen, and wonder who in the name of all that is holy could do such a thing.
On that note, the author brilliantly presents us with a set of possible culprits – will you find out who it is?

And then, the second part begins. It starts as soon as the identity of the kidnapper is revealed, and, from then on, the pace of the story really slows down – up until the couple of final scenes which, again, are brilliantly paced and really suspenseful.
From the moment the kidnapper's identity is revealed, however, the book became less gripping. What was a suspenseful read transformed into a set of clichéd tropes, with a really highly clichéd creepy sociopath.
Not that I have anything against sociopaths – I love Hannibal, though not a fan of his diet – but this time around, it felt to me as if the author had read a checklist of how a sociopath thought/acted and ticked off most points.
Sadly, this threw me off a little bit. Thankfully, the final scenes, as I mentioned before, are great, and will make you grip your (e)book a little tighter in fear and anticipation.

All in all, it's a thriller I really enjoyed for its exciting premise and well-constructed narrative.

My thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for a copy of “The Choice” for an honest review.

After reading” Seven Days” by Alex Lake recently and thoroughly enjoying it I couldn’t wait to read this new title.I wasn’t disappointed!
I was hooked by the dilemma of the storyline and was totally gripped throughout the book .This was everything a good psychological thriller should be and a book I will definitely be recommending

Very enjoyable who dunnit! Annabelle and Matt are happy. 3 kids into their marriage and still besotted. When an incident threatens their family they're faced with an unbelievable dilemma. They have to choose between their marriage or their kids. That's an easy choice. But who is doing this and why?