The 3rd Option

by Ben A. Sharpton

Allan Chappel enrolled in seminary to change the world, but people lied and people died, and he turned in his clerical collar for an office cubicle. Now, years later, the ghosts of his past are back to haunt him, and they're uglier and more powerful than before. When the offices of a new medical think tank called Inc.Ubator are destroyed in a fiery blast, Allan finds himself the prime suspect and the target of an international manhunt. Forced into hiding, he sets out to find the terrorists responsible and clear his name. But his quest for answers only leads to more questions: What were the researchers at Inc.Ubator hiding? And who was willing to spill blood to keep their work a secret? Allan must stay alive long enough to untwist the truth. Unfortunately, the forces opposing him will stop at nothing to prevent the release of the 3rd Option.

NEWS! THE 3rd OPTION is a finalist in the 2013 ForeWord Reviews Book Of The Year contest in the Action and Adventure category.

176 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2013

About the author

“Tell stories.” It's one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received. Stories inspire people to grow and expand their horizons. They entertain. They challenge. They comfort. Simply put, they make life much better.
I’ve been telling stories all my life. When I worked with youth years ago, I told stories that helped them understand, learn and develop. Later, as a corporate training manager I used stories to demonstrate examples, to encourage better business practices and to stimulate learning. As an online college professor I found stories to be instrumental in challenging people to think and comprehend.
Today I continue to tell stories. You’ll find them in my nonfiction curriculum books and all of my award-winning novels. My hope is you’ll enjoy my stories and share them with your friends.
Then, tell your own stories. It’s a great piece of advice.

Reviews

[Martha Bryce · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Third Option
Pro Life or Pro Choice is one of the most divisive arguments in the U.S. today. There are very few people who have not taken a strong stance on one side or the other. Ben Sharpton, in his exciting novel, The Third Option, presents an intriguing possibility. What if there were a third option? An option that promoted both a woman's right to choose as well as offering a way to prevent the termination of the fetus would certainly have a huge ripple effect. Allan Chappel, the protagonist of this international thriller is a former seminarian who applies for a position with a medical think tank and finds himself victimized in a terrorist bombing and then embroiled in an international manhunt. To survive, Chappel must uncover exactly what the think tank was researching and the reason he has become a target. The Third Option is both intriguing and well written. Enjoy it!

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

In January 2024 I read the new edition - and loved it even more than my first read. Reflecting the newest social and political elements into the story helps step this out of a "fictional setting" into our real world. The good things from the prior edition are unchanged - the new things just make it better.

Loved this book and the imaginative story! I enjoyed the intrigue, the premise, the international travel and the discovery. It could be real, this third option, and the power and money struggles behind that could, indeed, create the outcomes the author conceives in this book.

I was drawn into the book, and wanted to both know the end of the story as well as not have any ending at all. The characters were likable, if meant to be, and hated, if meant to be. I enjoy an author who makes the descriptions vivid enough for me to see; reading this book was like watching a 3-d movie of my own casting, with the costuming, scenery and dialog provided by clever Mr. Sharpton.

Well done. Thoroughly enjoyable, thoroughly worth the read.

[M. Sikes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! I was hooked,lined,and sunk from the get go. I found myself not wanting to finish this suspenseful, edge of my seat, thought provoking novel. THE 3RD OPTION would make a paramount movie! If I were to wish more from this read, it would be that it was too short. As I said, I didn't want it to end!The third option,as Ben relays at the end of this incredible read, is possibly an option we should all incorporate into our everyday lives...enabling each of us to make the most informed and respectful decisions in our global world! Now, I can only patiently await Ben's next book and hope it's soon on all our horizons!

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel. It is a short quick read that brings together a heated debate of pro life versus pro choice.

It is suspenseful, and a very gripping novel. Sharpton is able to show how a powerful person/speaker can get the masses to follow without considering the options and choices. It shows how people can get drawn into a cause and loose themselves while thinking that they are doing the right thing. The book is a great story but it has a deeper meaning.

I can definitely recommend this one.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received the paper back edition free via Goodreads.
A very interesting book that looks at a 3rd option to pro-life or pro-choice. The science seemed very possible, I liked the characters and the story.
A couple of times in the book there were situations that worked out in ways that I could never see happening like, easily talking down a crazed killer with just a few words.
But hey, it's fiction and I really enjoyed the book.
This would be an excellent choice for a book club selection.

[John Bradford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. Taut, engrossing thriller. Very entertaining for fans of thrillers.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Among the action and mystery of the plot, Sharpton manages to raise some questions and make the reader think. Overall, a very enjoyable and fast read.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book centers around an extremely polrazing topic that of abortion and the morality of the procedure. The right to life vs the right to choose and the terrible things that are done in the name of a cause. It is so very relevant to the way our country (US) is right now. Polarized. I’m not quite sure how I feel about this book. I mean if you set aside the underlying issue it’s a complex and emotional thriller story. But it’s hard to set those issues aside. And while I don’t feel the need to express my personal views in a book review I don’t know how something like what’s described within wouldn’t be just as polarizing as abortion is. This was a little too real for my liking in all honesty. I prefer my books to be a bit more of escapism than what at times felt like the opening of a debate that’s been raging for decades. Is the story writing good most definitely would I recommend this book, I don’t know. 3.5/5 for story telling.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Hailey Mitchell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! I was super excited for this as the cover and the plot summary sounded really good!

I thought this was a super interesting book and premise overall. Spoiler alert - it definitely brings some of the hot topics to the stage like abortion and overturning Roe vs Wade. My big issue with this - is I literally didn’t know what the 3rd Option was until more than half way through the book. You really don’t find anything about what truly happened until WAYY far into the book. I think there was way too much story telling for the mystery and I would have enjoyed more of the science and the story of the research. Last night I literally texted a friend and was like it’s fine, but I’m still not really sure what it is about and I’m over half way through.

A fine book - but I probably wouldn’t recommend and I definitely wouldn’t read again.

Overall - 2.5/5

[Tracie Crane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read that makes you think about the plot long after you are done reading the book.

A medical thriller that touches on one of the biggest political hot buttons our country never seems to move past. The main character, Allan, thinks he has a chance to help make the world a better place when he receives a job offer from a friend. As Allan reports for work on his first day the building explodes, luckily, he survives but now law enforcement thinks he is the bomber.

Fast paced thriller that is finished way too soon.

Thank you to Booksirens and Ben A Sharpton for the gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.

[LaWanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is part suspense, part futuristic. I say futuristic because I could see this happening one day. The main character sometimes got on my nerves but overall the story was well written and had the perfect amount of suspense to it. If you like reading about touchy subjects and like suspense, you should give this one a try.
I did recieve this as an ARC, but my these are my own opinions.


BEWARE! Slight spoiler:


Trigger warning: If you have issues with infant death, please be cautioned. I wanted to give a warning in case anyone was triggered by infant death.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey there! If you're into heart-pounding thrillers with a tech-savvy twist, The 3rd Option is your next must-read! Imagine diving headfirst into a world where cutting-edge medical innovations collide with international intrigue. This book had me flipping pages faster than my coffee gets cold (and that's saying something). This book is a rollercoaster of adrenaline-pumping action and mind-bending revelations. Trust me, you won't want to miss out on this wild ride!

[Abigail L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 3rd Option is an emotional thriller that blends high-stakes intrigue with cutting-edge medical technology. As Allan navigates through a complex web of corporate espionage and political maneuvering, the novel keeps you on the edge of your seat with its suspenseful twists and turns. It's a thrilling ride from start to finish, filled with unexpected revelations that kept me hooked until the very end.

[Bob Ayres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every so often a work of fiction speaks uniquely to the heart of a divisive societal issue. Such is the case with The 3rd Option authored by Ben A. Sharpton. This fast-moving novel offers a surprising paradigm shift from the usual "pro-life, pro-choice" dichotomy within a storyline of an underlying violence, greed, and deceit.

[Catherine Victor Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant fast paced read with a very strong message about choice that is extremely relevant in today's world. the pro-lif/ po-choice debate is one which is very close to my heart a only very recently divided my country in a heated debate and it got ugly. what is there was a 3rd option?
Action packed, this short read is sure to thrill and trigger feelings in most people.

[Robbie Savoie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an adrenaline rush from start to finish, good read.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read written by Ben Sharpton; I can’t wait to read more of his books.

She has written a good stand-alone book. The story is about Allen trying to clear his name.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read. Thrilling sci-fi story dealing with alternatives to abortion. Definitely gives one something to think about in this age of scientific miracles.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow a controversial but very interesting read! This book is so good it is action packed and if you’re like me and Love a good cat and mouse game Then you’ll definitely love this book you would think because of his seminary background that would be the reason for his actions but he is more at stake than just his prior reputation in the end of the book is sad but also good they have many twist and turns. Ben Sharpton sure knows how to keep you invested. I do want to say if you have any triggers that involve the death of babies don’t read this book although it is respectfully done it’s still there and although I didn’t have a problem with it I just wanted to give those a heads up if you do. This was a great book and one I definitely highly recommend. please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Nancy LiPetri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This suspenseful thriller is action-packed from the very start, and thought-provoking throughout. No matter which side of the pro-choice/pro-life debate you’re on, you’ll find yourself considering the merits—and drawbacks—of a 3rd option. Various characters reveal differing and interesting perspectives on a complicated topic and its divisive role in today’s American culture and politics. The author entertains and enlightens with this fast-paced tale that will leave you breathless…and thinking long after the hopeful conclusion. I give it 5 stars for bravely and creatively addressing a sizzling-hot topic.

[Yvensong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm wavering between 3 1/2 stars and 4. Four stars because it was well-written with an interesting concept. Three and a half stars because of a few nit-picky things that bothered me.

This suspenseful novel is fast-paced and packed full of action.

One of the real winning points for me was how the author handled the pro-choice/pro-life issue. The author could have easily used his story to push an agenda leaning toward one side or the other. Instead, he took a middle approach, maybe not a perfect approach, but at least one that didn't make this reader feel beaten over the head with his moral beliefs.

I would have liked to have seen a little deeper character development of the MC and Carole. In many suspense novels character development tends to be overlooked for the sake of the action and thriller aspects, but I think this story could have even been more powerful with a deeper sense of why the characters got so involved.

I enjoyed the story and thank the author for providing me with a copy of the book to review.

[Roberta Marquez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just terrible...........there are very few books that once I start I cannot finish, but I just could not do this one.

I really don't like saying that about a book that I have chosen to read, but there is it.

Sorry Mr Sharpton..

[Kristen N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come

[Michell · Rating 4 out of 5]

*First Reads winner*