Jane Bell notices her quiet neighbor next door, James Foster, acting strangely. He destroys his garden, and builds a six-foot wall on top of the already-existing fence, essentially cordoning himself off from the rest of the neighborhood. On the day that Jane’s daughter, Molly, finds a receipt for “fertilizer, nails, electrical wiring,” Jane feels deep down beyond a doubt this man is planning something evil, and given the close proximity of Foster to her home, fears for her children. She calls the police with what she found, only to be dismissed with a “we’ll check it out,” and to her dismay, nothing is done. She goes into the police station to beg for help. Again, she is dismissed by the police. She notices him at the school dressed in black, drawing in a notepad. She looks into James’s window while he is out, and sees there are three bombs set to be placed and a strategic map to the grammar school which her children attend, three circles indicating the three places in the building the bombs will be set. After exhausting all possibilities, she sees him taking in his garbage pail one evening, and in a spur-of-the-moment decision, takes matters into her own hands.

I am currently sitting in stunned silence after finishing the book “The Choice,” by S.J. Ford. I am in awe of the myriad of emotions it made me feel, the inability as a mother to separate myself from feeling every word in it. The story is told from all the different viewpoints, characters alternating between chapters. It is compulsively readable, gripping, suspenseful, and well-written, giving the reader a much to consider. It is provocative, and will inspire gut-wrenching emotion.

I’d like to thank NetGalley, S.J. Ford, and Head of Zeus Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Good concept, poorly executed. Long-winded, repetitive and one-dimensional. The changing character POVs would have been interesting if the characters didn’t all sound the same. I wanted to like it, the most jarring part for me was the writing, lots of awkward turns of phrase and far too many similes jammed in where they just weren’t needed.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an Honest review. The synopsis attracted my attention being a new direction for a mystery novel.

The story is told through the eyes of it's protaganists
The perpetrator, The solicitor, the journalist, the husband and the neighbour. The premise of a suburban housewife taking the law into her own hands as the actual law seems incapable of providing the required help and support. The whole should have been a page turner.

Instead I found it strangely one dimensional and very difficult to plow through. I never really found myself asking what would i have done? Is what Jane did right or wrong? I just never really got hooked by the storyline. In fact for me the most interesting aspect revolved around the journalist and bias in reporting.

The final twist was seriously underwhelming and far from a surprise.

This book will, I am sure, attract many fans. Unfortunately I am not one

S J Ford’s The Choice is an explosive, jaw-dropping and edge of your seat crime thriller readers will not forget in a hurry.

Jane Bell has just killed a man. On 15th January at 4:55 pm, Jane hit a man with her car who had died on the spot. With witnesses, CCTV footage and a signed confession, even the best lawyer in the land would not be able to convince a jury that Jane is innocent. Having taken another person’s life, Jane should be wracked with grief, anguish and remorse yet this ordinary mother feels triumphant and vindicated because James Foster was not an innocent citizen, but a dangerous man who needed to be stopped once and for all.

James Foster had a nefarious plan. He was about to blow up a primary school and kill hundreds of children – including Jane’s kids. It is absolutely unthinkable to ponder what would’ve happened had James not been stopped in time. Murder can never been justified, but was Jane right in killing James? What would anyone have done in such an awful situation? Did Jane do the right thing in eliminating James? Or is she as bad as he was?

In The Choice, S. J Ford has written a complex, multi-layered and thought-provoking thriller that lingered in my mind weeks after I had finished reading it. S. J Ford has penned a nerve-jangling and heart-twisting page-turner where nothing is what it initially seems as readers will be asking themselves what would they have done had they been in Jane’s shoes.

Dark, disturbing and packed with twists and turns that will leave readers reeling, S. J. Ford’s The Choice is a compulsively readable thriller that is simply superb.

What would I have done? For me that’s an easy question and I would have done the same as Jane in her situation. She had already exhausted the option of going to the police who didn’t seem to take her worry seriously and instead were shutting the stable door after the horse had already bolted.

I really liked that the story gives multiple perspectives from Jane herself, her husband Neil, Bill the Detective Inspector, Aneesa the reporter and Simon her defence barrister. They all have an important role to play in both the story and how the public will perceive Jane.

I love a good moral dilemma and this is a cracking one. I found it incredibly easy as a mum to put myself in Jane’s shoes. She’s a very real character who could easily be found in any community. Was she selfish knowing her actions could take her away from her own children? Or is the law wrong punishing someone for doing the right thing and saving innocent lives? Would this book have had the same impact if the threat wasn’t a local primary school? Would Jane have reacted in the same way if her own children weren’t connected? Honestly this book pushed so many thoughts inside my brain it was in danger of overloading.

Like most things in life this is not a black and white case with things coming out that turn it very much a murky grey. The twists and turns were unexpected but I have a feeling the ending will divide opinion. I personally think the author played it perfectly and this would make such a good book club read. I can already imagine the discussions, especially after the epilogue.

Good plot to this book with a strong storyline early on once you know there are two potential perpetrators of a crime. Brisk style with each chapter taking the perspective of a different player which adds to the reader's conflict over who really is the bad guy.

A competent but overlong courtroom thriller. Jane, a loving wife and mother kills her neighbour after discovering he was about to perform a terrible atrocity on her children's school. I feel there were too many points of view, the mother, the husband, the defence barrister, the crusading journalist and even one of the jurors for me to emotionally engage with the narrative. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

The plot was intriguing and on the whole I thought the multi POV thing worked very well. However a few things jarred with me right from the very early chapters. I don’t want to give any of the story away so the only annoying thing I can safely mention is the way Jane spoke about James. He was described as a real odd ball type & practically a recluse From how I understood it she only knew his name because she happened to see it on an envelope. Yet he was James to her as if they were buddies. Maybe a small thing but added to other issues I cannot mention the book was spoiled for me.

Totally hooked straightaway. The kind of book you do not want to put down. I can see this being made into a film. Highly recommended.

The Choice was a compulsive read, offering a moral dilemma that everyone who reads it will have an opinion on.
Our story focuses on Jane Bell, a mother of two. She could probably have gone throughout her life without anyone knowing her name, were it not for her actions on the day our story opens. Jane drove her car into a neighbour, killing him. She admitted her actions, but said she had to do it in order to prevent him from carrying out something truly awful.
Jane and her husband contacted the police and helplines, doing whatever they could to alert them to the perceived threat. Nothing was done. Turning detective, Jane found evidence of three bombs in her neighbour’s home. Bombs she believed he was going to detonate at the local primary school. So, yes, she killed a man…but in so doing, she potentially saved the lives of hundreds of children.
From this very dramatic opening we focus on the different perspectives of people involved in Jane’s trial. A decision has to be made. Did she intend to kill him? Does the perceived threat allow us to label her actions as selfless, protecting others?
This is a decision nobody would like to have to hold in their hands. It challenges your own beliefs and what you hold dear. It is a challenge that could truly impact on future behaviour if it were real.
The varying perspectives offer a fascinating exploration of the scenario. We learn more about the key players, and nothing is quite as straightforward as it might appear. While it seems the jury verdict is obvious, this is never announced and with Jane’s shocking final revelation I really felt the ambiguity of the ending was given a strength that might have otherwise been lacking.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this prior to publication.

This book had a great premise, but spent way too much time setting up and introducing all the characters. The last quarter did pick up.

I read The Choice in a day, not being able to put it down once I began.

A really interesting and compelling storyline. What would you do if you knew hundreds of children would be injured or killed by one person? And that person was your neighbour.

After suspicious behaviour from her neighbour, (James), Jane goes to the police to report her suspicions. But they don't take her seriously.

Terrified for her children's lives and others at their school, Jane is living in constant fear.

So when she's alone in her car and sees him in his driveway, something takes over, and she ploughs straight into him, killing him.

So begins a prosecution for murder.

Jane's barrister will argue it was a form of self-defence, namely, defence of others.

But will the jury agree?

Is Jane a murderer or a hero?

What do you think?

Thank you to @headofzeus for gifting me a copy of The Choice in exchange for an honest review.

The Choice is unlike any book I’ve read before. It centres on Jane who has just knocked down and killed her neighbour James. Her reason for doing so? She found out he had been creating homemade bombs and had plans to attack the local primary school. Despite going to the police with the information she has, they have chosen not to investigate further and so she took action into her own hands. It leaves the reader to consider, if in the same situation, what choice would you make?

This one has multiple POVs which I really enjoyed as it allowed us to see the situation from all angles: the policeman on the case, the lawyer, a journalist, Jane herself etc. I liked how it made us think about the repercussions from that Jane’s actions had and how this could impact on further vigilante movements.
There was also a lot of media attention involved in the case and seeing how the media impacts a case from the other side of investigation was really eye opening, especially how it can influence a jury.

For me it took a while to get fully immersed in the story. I feel it started quite slow but my interest definitely grew once Jane’s trial got going. There were some other plot points thrown in which I also don’t feel added much to the overall story, a romance blooming between two characters and the backstory of the journalist. I feel like it took attention away from the main plot.

Overall, this is a unique thriller which definitely left me thinking what action I would take if I was in Jane’s position.

This was very well written and engaging and I felt very connected to the story. I always enjoy a courtroom drama and this was no exception. It seems that everything is cut and dried from the beginning but it doesn’t make the story any less enjoyable. My only issue is the ending does not feel resolved for me and I absolutely hate that! Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

WOW, A BRILLIANT DEBUT IN THIS GENRE. I thoroughly enjoyed this. It certainly makes you think about what you would do in the main characters position. Is she a hero or a murderer? you have to decide.

Jane Bell has just driven her car into her neighbour James Foster, he was putting his bin out and she aimed her car directly at him, the impact wedged him between her car and the wall behind him, killing him almost instantly when arrested she explains he has home made bombs in his house. She did it to protect all the children and teachers of the school where her children attend.
Would you take one life to save hundreds? That’s the question you have to ask yourself.

The story is told in short chapters, with the points of view of Jane, her husband Neil, the detective who handled the case Bill, a local journalist Aneesa, her defence lawyer Simon and a member of the jury Mary.

The reasons behind Jane’s behaviour that day become clear, James Foster was going to blow up the school that her two children attend with around 300 other children. She has previously contacted the police informing them that he was building bombs, but they weren’t interested, she has contacted other bodies of power but again not interested until something happens. She took her children out of school and nursery but was threatened with prosecution. She saw no other option, that day she did what she did to stop him.

The story is big news, a lot of people rallying round in support of her, others not as supportive. Jane is a quiet, calm and peaceful person, she gets on well with the small amount of friends she has her main friend being Rachel who is very supportive. But now she is in prison awaiting trial, not knowing if she will ever be free to see her children again, they are her life.

This is a brilliantly written book, with believable, likeable characters that you are rooting for. A couple of not so nice characters but they are just doing there jobs.

What I liked about this wasn’t just the build up to the trial, learning about how Jane found out what James was planning, but also the changes in the characters, Neil, Jane’s husband seemed very weak at the beginning but he gradually became stronger as he supported his wife, I got the impression initially that she had to support him a lot. One of the jurors Mary changes over the course of the trial again becoming a more confident person.

If Jane got off, would that open up a can of worms allowing vigilantes to start taking the law into their own hands? But Jane saved all those children, did she want James dead or just to injure him?

This would be a perfect read for a book club opening up some brilliant topics of discussion. If you only read one domestic thriller this year then read this one.

There were parts I never expected which had me in tears. I will be looking out to see what this author comes up with next.

Thank you to #netgalley and #headofzeus for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

Everything you could ever want in a cracking crime thriller!

When Jane Bell drove into her street after dropping her children off, the last thing on her mind was killing someone but, upon seeing her rarely seen neighbour out in the open, she floored the accelerator and killed him. Why would a perfectly nice woman, who lives for her family, suddenly commit a criminal act? That’s the big question . . .

We very quickly discover the circumstances which led to Jane’s actions and, if you’re like me, you will speedily decide whose side you’re on! This is a gripping read from beginning to end, and one it is very hard to tear yourself away from. Whilst it’s easy to put yourself in Jane’s shoes, you also get the opportunity to see things from the perspective of her husband, the police officer in charge of her case, the local journalist covering the story, the lawyer who is representing her in court and, of course, Jane herself. It is, without doubt, a shocking read and one which is ideal for any book club as there are so many angles to consider along with the big question of guilty or not guilty? If you have ever come across the expression ‘the law is an ass’ then this story will will make you ponder upon that very thing; I have often thought there is a difference between following the letter of the law and doing what is right, and S. J. Ford gets right to the heart of that. The Choice is an absolute page-turner and one it’s almost impossible to put down! If you are going to burst into the book world with a stunning novel, then this is the way to do it. An awesome read, one I enjoyed tremendously and which earns my highest recommendation and five fat sparkling stars!

My thanks to the publisher both for my copy via NetGalley and my spot on this tour; this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review.

The Choice blends literary and legal fiction with psychological elements. Told from several interesting viewpoints, many of whom are unreliable protagonists. The main protagonist kills a man she believes is a domestic terrorist. The story explores what led to Jane's action and the legal redress for her alleged crime. Moral justice versus legal justice is a predominant theme here, and it forces the reader to ask, what if it was me?

Creative and plausible, this is an immersive read. The pace slows with detailed narrative at the expense of characterisation, but it's compelling, and you keep turning the pages to find out what happens.

I received a copy of this book from 'Head of Zeus' in return for an honest review.

Shows nothing is black and white and how blurred the lines can be between right and wrong, the legal system, children's services and what each of us would do on a given situation. Shows how influential media can be, and how they have to pick a side and how that can change the outcome. There was a hell of a curve ball in this which really worked as I was concerned it would have a Hollywood ending.

(1.50*)

The Husband. The Lawyer. The Detective. The Journalist. The Murderer.

The Choice by SJ Ford follows Jane Bell who murdered someone. She commits the crime. But it’s all for a reason. Does that reason for the killing make her a hero or is she still a villain??

I was so excited to read the first book ever written by this author. A 400-page debut. This book really caught my eye because of the synopsis. It is following a different type of storyline/concept than I am typically used to — someone doing something bad in order to save another person. Doing something bad, with good intentions. It is not something I usually see in thrillers or the books I steadily read.

To be honest though, I DNFed the book a little under half way — 43% mark, because I just could not get into it how I wanted to. It always takes a while for me to come to terms with DNFing a book and trying to figure out “why” I am not feeling it. But, I personally think for this one, it was just the way it was written. The characters are developed decently but the actual writing style was just boring, it read slow/long because of how much extra details and descriptions were added and I felt were not needed.

Thank you NetGalley and Head of Zeus for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A really good idea for a story, however I struggled to get into the book as for the most part not much happened, it was mostly describing different characters’ perspectives.

The story did pick up towards the end with the trial and I raced through the final 25% of the book, and the ending really made me think.