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Co jeżeli musisz zdecydować, które z twoich dzieci ma żyć, a które umrzeć? Jak to jest, gdy ktoś przystawia ci do skroni pistolet i każe wybierać? Czy skazać na śmierć buntowniczą i niezależną córkę, czy wrażliwego i uległego syna? Które z nich bardziej zasługuje na to, by dalej żyć?
Jeżeli Madeleine nie wykona polecenia, zginie i Annabel, i Aidan. Madeleine wybiera, zaraz potem pada strzał, który na zawsze obciąży jej sumienie.
Gdy po trzech miesiącach budzi się w szpitalu, próbuje poukładać kolejność tamtych zdarzeń i usprawiedliwić swój wybór. Jednak pamięć ją zawodzi i podsuwa coraz inne, często sprzeczne obrazy. Co wydarzyło się naprawdę, a co jest jedynie wytworem jej umysłu?
Jeżeli Madeleine nie wykona polecenia, zginie i Annabel, i Aidan. Madeleine wybiera, zaraz potem pada strzał, który na zawsze obciąży jej sumienie.
Gdy po trzech miesiącach budzi się w szpitalu, próbuje poukładać kolejność tamtych zdarzeń i usprawiedliwić swój wybór. Jednak pamięć ją zawodzi i podsuwa coraz inne, często sprzeczne obrazy. Co wydarzyło się naprawdę, a co jest jedynie wytworem jej umysłu?
352 pages, Paperback
Published June 14, 2017
106 people are currently reading
1667 people want to read
About the author
Samantha King
5 books81 followersSamantha King writes psychological suspense novels and lives in west London with her husband and two young children.
As an English graduate and lifelong bookworm, becoming an author was always Samantha’s dream. This passion for storytelling led her first to a career in publishing, managing a commercial fiction imprint for a global publisher. After fifteen years, she abandoned office life in favour of working from home as a freelance editor for various publishers and literary agents.
Samantha has always loved books that explore the hidden depths of the heart and mind, and she decided to satisfy her growing interest in human psychology by qualifying as a psychotherapist. This deepened her fascination with the hopes and fears that make people tick, which again reawakened her writing ambitions. Working around – and inspired by – a busy family life, she finally sat down and wrote her debut novel, THE PERFECT FAMILY.
Samantha writes in a hut at the end of her garden with a very affectionate Cavachon dog for company, but she keeps in touch with the world through:
Twitter: @SamKingBooks
Facebook: @SamanthaKingBooks
As an English graduate and lifelong bookworm, becoming an author was always Samantha’s dream. This passion for storytelling led her first to a career in publishing, managing a commercial fiction imprint for a global publisher. After fifteen years, she abandoned office life in favour of working from home as a freelance editor for various publishers and literary agents.
Samantha has always loved books that explore the hidden depths of the heart and mind, and she decided to satisfy her growing interest in human psychology by qualifying as a psychotherapist. This deepened her fascination with the hopes and fears that make people tick, which again reawakened her writing ambitions. Working around – and inspired by – a busy family life, she finally sat down and wrote her debut novel, THE PERFECT FAMILY.
Samantha writes in a hut at the end of her garden with a very affectionate Cavachon dog for company, but she keeps in touch with the world through:
Twitter: @SamKingBooks
Facebook: @SamanthaKingBooks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 297 reviews
March 1, 2017
Madeleine Hartley seems to have a perfect life. Married to Dominic Castle, after a whirlwind romance, she gives birth to twins, Annabel and Aidan. Unable to have more children, they are the centre of her world and yet, on their tenth birthday, her life falls apart when an armed man breaks in shortly before their party and demands of her the ultimate choice. One of her children are to be killed and she has to choose which one…
This is a psychological thriller with lots of twists and turns; at points, I felt there were actually too many. Still, this is certainly a roller coaster ride as Maddie attempts to remember what happened before the tragic event. We are introduced to her early life with Dom, his brother Max and Maddie’s best friend, Lucy March. Did Maddie have concerns about her marriage, her closest friend, her children, even before what happened?
It is difficult to review this book without revealing spoilers and I have no wish to do that. Suffice it to say, if you enjoy fast paced books, with lots of plot twists, then you will enjoy this. I did sympathise with Maddie as she attempts to come to terms with events and tries to piece together both her shattered memories and her devastated life. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
This is a psychological thriller with lots of twists and turns; at points, I felt there were actually too many. Still, this is certainly a roller coaster ride as Maddie attempts to remember what happened before the tragic event. We are introduced to her early life with Dom, his brother Max and Maddie’s best friend, Lucy March. Did Maddie have concerns about her marriage, her closest friend, her children, even before what happened?
It is difficult to review this book without revealing spoilers and I have no wish to do that. Suffice it to say, if you enjoy fast paced books, with lots of plot twists, then you will enjoy this. I did sympathise with Maddie as she attempts to come to terms with events and tries to piece together both her shattered memories and her devastated life. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
April 1, 2017
4.5 stars. When an armed man breaks in just before the twins, Annabel and Aiden, 10th birthday party, Madeleine's devastated to learn he wants her to choose which one of the twins is to be killed. Madeleine has not spoken since that awful day and she keeps getting flashbacks of that day and a few days before it.
Wow. This is quite a difficult subject to read. The first few chapters are quite hard going. The author manages to maintain the tension and pace throughout the book, though it is a bit slow to start. There are twists and turns to keep your interest and an ending I never saw coming. This is a lovely written book. Once you start it you will find it hard to put down. I devoured this book in a day. Highly recommend.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Little Brown Book Group UK and the author Samantha King for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. This is quite a difficult subject to read. The first few chapters are quite hard going. The author manages to maintain the tension and pace throughout the book, though it is a bit slow to start. There are twists and turns to keep your interest and an ending I never saw coming. This is a lovely written book. Once you start it you will find it hard to put down. I devoured this book in a day. Highly recommend.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Little Brown Book Group UK and the author Samantha King for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2019
This book was quite the roller coaster ride, lots of twists and turns.....
Madeline really was the perfect on reliable narrator.... in the beginning I just knew something was not as it seemed, however I did not see reality coming.... don't want to spoil anything for anybody, but the premise of this book really made you think..... could you ever choose which of your children should live and which of your children should die, what a horrible place ever to find yourself in.... just the thought of it gives me the chills.... if you like psychological thrillers, I would recommend this one, plenty of twists and twisted characters....
Madeline really was the perfect on reliable narrator.... in the beginning I just knew something was not as it seemed, however I did not see reality coming.... don't want to spoil anything for anybody, but the premise of this book really made you think..... could you ever choose which of your children should live and which of your children should die, what a horrible place ever to find yourself in.... just the thought of it gives me the chills.... if you like psychological thrillers, I would recommend this one, plenty of twists and twisted characters....
April 18, 2017
My children used to worry about the sort of books I read. There is definitely a theme running through the ones I favour, mainly of missing and/or murdered children. I tried to explain to them that by reading these books it was a way of reconciling my own fears of something happening to them something I don’t they they really understood until they became mother’s themselves! So as soon as I saw the blurb for The Choice I knew I HAD to read it. Not only does it play on my biggest fear of having to choose between my children, the children that Maddie has to chose between are TWINS and everyone knows how much I LOVE books featuring twins!
I used to have a recurring nightmare where I was in a lifeboat in the middle of a storm. My girls were all in the water and I knew I only had time and space to rescue one of them. I hated that dream and thankfully it doesn’t visit me so often now that they are all grown up with children of their own. But, at the time, it was one that disturbed me more than any other nightmare I had and I still get shivers thinking about it now. Which was why I totally got the parental fears that drove Samantha King to write this book. And what an amazing job she has done! It’s so hard to believe it’s her debut novel as she handles such an emotive subject with an arduous intensity from the very first page. The fierceness of a mother’s guilt is instantly recognisable in her narrative and I found myself back in my own personal nightmare once more.
This is a cleverly plotted, unputdownable page turner that will have you awake till the very small hours desperately awaiting answers as to who made Maddie choose between her 10 year old twins but also, more importantly, why? There were so many unique and breathtakingly wonderful twists and turns here that I take my hat off to the author! And did I mention it’s A DEBUT! I would pre order her next book without even reading the blurb on the strength of The Choice and I do hope we don’t have long to wait as Samantha King is definitely an up and coming bestselling author to watch out for.
I devoured The Choice very quickly indeed, in awe of its innovative, gripping storyline and jaw dropping finale. It hit just the right level of spine chilling intrigue for me and I loved it. Just brilliant from start to finish!
I used to have a recurring nightmare where I was in a lifeboat in the middle of a storm. My girls were all in the water and I knew I only had time and space to rescue one of them. I hated that dream and thankfully it doesn’t visit me so often now that they are all grown up with children of their own. But, at the time, it was one that disturbed me more than any other nightmare I had and I still get shivers thinking about it now. Which was why I totally got the parental fears that drove Samantha King to write this book. And what an amazing job she has done! It’s so hard to believe it’s her debut novel as she handles such an emotive subject with an arduous intensity from the very first page. The fierceness of a mother’s guilt is instantly recognisable in her narrative and I found myself back in my own personal nightmare once more.
This is a cleverly plotted, unputdownable page turner that will have you awake till the very small hours desperately awaiting answers as to who made Maddie choose between her 10 year old twins but also, more importantly, why? There were so many unique and breathtakingly wonderful twists and turns here that I take my hat off to the author! And did I mention it’s A DEBUT! I would pre order her next book without even reading the blurb on the strength of The Choice and I do hope we don’t have long to wait as Samantha King is definitely an up and coming bestselling author to watch out for.
I devoured The Choice very quickly indeed, in awe of its innovative, gripping storyline and jaw dropping finale. It hit just the right level of spine chilling intrigue for me and I loved it. Just brilliant from start to finish!
November 27, 2017
Man könnte meinen, dass Maddie ein perfektes Leben führt. Sie ist verheiratet und hat zwei wunderbare Zwillinge. Zum Geburtstag der Zwillinge steht plötzlich ein Mann vor der Tür, der sie vor eine grausame Entscheidung stellt - sie muss sich für eines ihrer Kinder entscheiden.
'Sag, wer stirbt' ist der Debütroman der Autorin und spielt in England. Die Story ist in mehrere Teile aufgeteilt, so dass man nicht gleich zu Beginn, die auf dem Klappentext beschriebene Szene zu lesen bekommt. Man rollt die Story gewissermaßen von hinten auf, denn das Buch beginnt damit, dass Maddie aus dem Koma aufwacht und sich nur schemenhaft an die Ereignisse erinnern kann. Die erste Hälfte des Buches ist quasi ein ellenlanger innerer Monolog von Maddie, die sich fragt, was nun eigentlich geschehen ist und sich außerdem mit großen Schuldgefühlen plagt, da sie sich offensichtlich tatsächlich für eines ihrer Kinder entschieden hat. Hat sie dieses Kind schon immer bevorzugt? Warum genau hat sie dieses Kind gewählt? Solche Fragen geistern ihr durch den Kopf, während sie versucht zu realisieren, was wirklich geschehen ist.
Bis zur Hälfte des Buches war ich daher etwas resigniert, da mir diese ganzen Gedankengänge von Maddie irgendwann zu viel und vor allem zu langatmig wurden. Dann jedoch nahm die Geschichte durch einen Twist extrem an Fahrt auf, so dass ich durch die letzte Hälfte nur so durchgerauscht bin. Der Schreibstil der Autorin war außerdem sehr flüssig, so dass ich eben auch in den längeren Passagen am Ball bleiben konnte.
'Sag, wer stirbt' ist definitiv eine Geschichte, die ich so noch nicht gelesen habe. Wäre der Beginn nicht so monoton und langatmig gewesen, wäre es ein Kandidat für 5 Sterne gewesen, so jedoch musste ich einen Stern abziehen.
'Sag, wer stirbt' ist der Debütroman der Autorin und spielt in England. Die Story ist in mehrere Teile aufgeteilt, so dass man nicht gleich zu Beginn, die auf dem Klappentext beschriebene Szene zu lesen bekommt. Man rollt die Story gewissermaßen von hinten auf, denn das Buch beginnt damit, dass Maddie aus dem Koma aufwacht und sich nur schemenhaft an die Ereignisse erinnern kann. Die erste Hälfte des Buches ist quasi ein ellenlanger innerer Monolog von Maddie, die sich fragt, was nun eigentlich geschehen ist und sich außerdem mit großen Schuldgefühlen plagt, da sie sich offensichtlich tatsächlich für eines ihrer Kinder entschieden hat. Hat sie dieses Kind schon immer bevorzugt? Warum genau hat sie dieses Kind gewählt? Solche Fragen geistern ihr durch den Kopf, während sie versucht zu realisieren, was wirklich geschehen ist.
Bis zur Hälfte des Buches war ich daher etwas resigniert, da mir diese ganzen Gedankengänge von Maddie irgendwann zu viel und vor allem zu langatmig wurden. Dann jedoch nahm die Geschichte durch einen Twist extrem an Fahrt auf, so dass ich durch die letzte Hälfte nur so durchgerauscht bin. Der Schreibstil der Autorin war außerdem sehr flüssig, so dass ich eben auch in den längeren Passagen am Ball bleiben konnte.
'Sag, wer stirbt' ist definitiv eine Geschichte, die ich so noch nicht gelesen habe. Wäre der Beginn nicht so monoton und langatmig gewesen, wäre es ein Kandidat für 5 Sterne gewesen, so jedoch musste ich einen Stern abziehen.
January 23, 2018
2-2,5*
Ich hab einfach was ganz anderes erwartet & was dann war, hat mich nicht umgehauen. Die meisten Plottwists waren für mich eher ziemlich vorhersehbar, obwohl sie gleichzeitig auch ein bisschen absurd waren.
Das Ende war dann auch noch irgendwie sehr kitschig & zu viel Happy End.
Der Schreibstil war allerdings ok.
Leider für mich ein enttäuschendes Buch, hatte mich sehr darauf gefreut..
Ich hab einfach was ganz anderes erwartet & was dann war, hat mich nicht umgehauen. Die meisten Plottwists waren für mich eher ziemlich vorhersehbar, obwohl sie gleichzeitig auch ein bisschen absurd waren.
Das Ende war dann auch noch irgendwie sehr kitschig & zu viel Happy End.
Der Schreibstil war allerdings ok.
Leider für mich ein enttäuschendes Buch, hatte mich sehr darauf gefreut..
August 26, 2017
Beautifully written and gripping 'The Choice' is a sterling debut novel from Samantha King. As you read you can feel tension crackling in the air and you just want to keep going until you find out what had really happened.
Samantha King created a complex but believable character in Maddie. As the story develops we learn and understand more of her and her choices. Everything she does, any decision she makes, it's all driven by her love for her children.
'The Choice' is emotional and full of twists and turns and I highly recommend it.
Samantha King created a complex but believable character in Maddie. As the story develops we learn and understand more of her and her choices. Everything she does, any decision she makes, it's all driven by her love for her children.
'The Choice' is emotional and full of twists and turns and I highly recommend it.
February 6, 2017
Blimey The Choice is one of those TOTALLY addictive reads that you do basically in one sitting and I read this in two great big gulps.
The premise is brilliantly compelling – could you choose between your children, give absolutely no choice and only moments to do it? This is the question that faces Madeleine and in that moment and the aftermath lies a gripping and enthralling read.
A beautifully twisted tale with a satisfying and heart stopping conclusion, The Choice manages to be many things during the telling and is thought provoking at the same time as being really rather entertaining (I know, sounds difficult considering the subject matter but that is the beauty of fiction)
I liked how Sam King layered her characters, showed them at all their levels and with them driving the narrative, even as told through Madeleine’s eyes this is less about the twist in the tale but more about the facets of human nature and the idiocies of personality that gets them all there.
Overall a really really excellent psychological thriller. Recommended.
The premise is brilliantly compelling – could you choose between your children, give absolutely no choice and only moments to do it? This is the question that faces Madeleine and in that moment and the aftermath lies a gripping and enthralling read.
A beautifully twisted tale with a satisfying and heart stopping conclusion, The Choice manages to be many things during the telling and is thought provoking at the same time as being really rather entertaining (I know, sounds difficult considering the subject matter but that is the beauty of fiction)
I liked how Sam King layered her characters, showed them at all their levels and with them driving the narrative, even as told through Madeleine’s eyes this is less about the twist in the tale but more about the facets of human nature and the idiocies of personality that gets them all there.
Overall a really really excellent psychological thriller. Recommended.
July 3, 2017
The story is all over the place, and the twists are painfully obvious very early on. After endless pages of repetitive thinking and worrying, the end was really rushed. It reads like a self published novel, not something a publisher actually paid money for and (presumably) a professional editor had a hand in.
August 15, 2017
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There I was, happily reading along, Part One going well, enough so that I was totally gripped. Yes, there were strange things happening and things that didn't really add up, but I knew that everything would come together by the end. And then I started Part Two...and bam! Wow, a twist right there that I didn't see coming.
That's how this book went along, and I enjoyed it. By the end of Part Two, there's another twist, which unfortunately for me, I did see coming, but a twist nonetheless. I love books with twists and it's one of the reasons that I'm such a fan of psychological thrillers. For me, the more twists and turns, the better. This book had a number of them, which made me very happy.
On the slightly negative side, there were parts that tended to be a little slow, and Madeleine's pain and longing for her child did feature heavily in the story, perhaps a little too heavily at times. Yes, I understood her pain, but the frequent comments about the emotional pain, physical longing and desire to hold and cuddle her child, were perhaps a little overplayed. Then again, the author was trying to show the reader the absolute turmoil that the main character was going through, so perhaps those scenes could be justified.
Also, this isn't a book in which a lot actually happens. Part One is pretty strong, with a fair amount of action, and thrilling aspects. But then it seems to slow down and the rest of the book tends to creep along. I can't say that it ever totally lost my interest, but towards the end I was looking forward to reading some more explosive scenes. Did they come? Sort of. The pace picked up towards the end but I can't say it rocketed forward. By the end of the book, I felt that I'd been entertained, but I also felt so-so about the read. It was never fully explained exactly why a specific character acted the way that they did, and I felt that I'd been left hanging slightly. The change in their nature from the first page to the last, remains a mystery.
Despite my criticisms, I did enjoy this book. I liked the twists and turns, the suspense and the wondering: who was the man that arrived at the front door on the day of the twins birthday, who was the man referred to in the diary, and so on. There was enough in this story to keep me engaged. It's worth reading if you can get your hands on a copy.
My Rating: * * *
Publication Date: June 2017 (South Africa)
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Format: Trade Paperback
Source: My own purchased copy.
There I was, happily reading along, Part One going well, enough so that I was totally gripped. Yes, there were strange things happening and things that didn't really add up, but I knew that everything would come together by the end. And then I started Part Two...and bam! Wow, a twist right there that I didn't see coming.
That's how this book went along, and I enjoyed it. By the end of Part Two, there's another twist, which unfortunately for me, I did see coming, but a twist nonetheless. I love books with twists and it's one of the reasons that I'm such a fan of psychological thrillers. For me, the more twists and turns, the better. This book had a number of them, which made me very happy.
On the slightly negative side, there were parts that tended to be a little slow, and Madeleine's pain and longing for her child did feature heavily in the story, perhaps a little too heavily at times. Yes, I understood her pain, but the frequent comments about the emotional pain, physical longing and desire to hold and cuddle her child, were perhaps a little overplayed. Then again, the author was trying to show the reader the absolute turmoil that the main character was going through, so perhaps those scenes could be justified.
Also, this isn't a book in which a lot actually happens. Part One is pretty strong, with a fair amount of action, and thrilling aspects. But then it seems to slow down and the rest of the book tends to creep along. I can't say that it ever totally lost my interest, but towards the end I was looking forward to reading some more explosive scenes. Did they come? Sort of. The pace picked up towards the end but I can't say it rocketed forward. By the end of the book, I felt that I'd been entertained, but I also felt so-so about the read. It was never fully explained exactly why a specific character acted the way that they did, and I felt that I'd been left hanging slightly. The change in their nature from the first page to the last, remains a mystery.
Despite my criticisms, I did enjoy this book. I liked the twists and turns, the suspense and the wondering: who was the man that arrived at the front door on the day of the twins birthday, who was the man referred to in the diary, and so on. There was enough in this story to keep me engaged. It's worth reading if you can get your hands on a copy.
My Rating: * * *
Publication Date: June 2017 (South Africa)
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Format: Trade Paperback
Source: My own purchased copy.
April 19, 2017
4.5 Stars
Every time I thought I had got to grips with this story, it picked me up and threw me off balance into a different direction. I am reeling from everything.
It's weird as for most of Part 1, I was thinking about giving up reading this, as I thought I had everything figured out and I just didn't feel that bothered, but I was in a forgiving mood and thought I would read on a small bit more, and then part 2 kicked in and I could barely put it down from then on.
A parent's worst nightmare must be for one of your children to die. For Maddie its even worse when she is forced to pick which of her twins will live and which will die from a crazed gunman at their front door. And then we see how she is having to deal with the consequences of her decision and that fateful day.
That is pretty much all I can say about the plot, as the book takes you onto a tremendous journey, but given we only have Maddie's point of view and from the start she seems rather unreliable, its so hard to know what to believe and what not to.
There are many facets to this story and they are all incredibly gripping, and although I wasn't keen on part 1 it was vital information so that you felt more keenly for all the characters later on in the book. There are twists and turns galore and I was left gasping for breath a few times.
All the layers of this story have been put together in a very clever way, so although at all times you will be guessing and completely sure you know what will happen next, I can assure you, you are probably wrong!
The Choice is the first book I've read by Samantha King, and I am incredibly impressed. I found myself drawn into the story and the majority of the book was a very fast read and addictive.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Piatkus for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Every time I thought I had got to grips with this story, it picked me up and threw me off balance into a different direction. I am reeling from everything.
It's weird as for most of Part 1, I was thinking about giving up reading this, as I thought I had everything figured out and I just didn't feel that bothered, but I was in a forgiving mood and thought I would read on a small bit more, and then part 2 kicked in and I could barely put it down from then on.
A parent's worst nightmare must be for one of your children to die. For Maddie its even worse when she is forced to pick which of her twins will live and which will die from a crazed gunman at their front door. And then we see how she is having to deal with the consequences of her decision and that fateful day.
That is pretty much all I can say about the plot, as the book takes you onto a tremendous journey, but given we only have Maddie's point of view and from the start she seems rather unreliable, its so hard to know what to believe and what not to.
There are many facets to this story and they are all incredibly gripping, and although I wasn't keen on part 1 it was vital information so that you felt more keenly for all the characters later on in the book. There are twists and turns galore and I was left gasping for breath a few times.
All the layers of this story have been put together in a very clever way, so although at all times you will be guessing and completely sure you know what will happen next, I can assure you, you are probably wrong!
The Choice is the first book I've read by Samantha King, and I am incredibly impressed. I found myself drawn into the story and the majority of the book was a very fast read and addictive.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Piatkus for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
November 18, 2017
Four and a half stars
For Madeleine her twins Annabel and Aidan are her world. It is their tenth birthday when a knock at the door reveals a masked person and Maddie’s whole world is shattered. Maddie is asked to make a choice no-one should ever be asked to make as a killer asks her to choose. One child will live. The other will die. The choice is made but that is not the end of it. Guilt eats away at Maddie. And then the reader comes to part two and there is a twist that sheds a bit different light on events. Or does it? Where does the truth lie?
At one stage in part two Maddie feels ’constantly panicky and paranoid.’ Reading this story I spent a lot of time feeling much like Maddie did, my heart beating at an alarming rate and my breath catching in my throat. Tension exists throughout and I reached the point where I resented anything that took me away from reading.
This is a book that had me riveted from the first page and produced a lot of different emotions at times. My heart just went out to Maddie. I thought it was well written, despite the fact that some things were repeated a bit and an ending that seemed a little rushed. They are the only little things that stopped this from being a 5 star read.
I love it when a book grips you from the beginning and doesn’t let go till the end. The speed with which I powered through it shows how riveted I was. This is a debut novel and the author has done a great job. I will be interested to read what she writes next.
For Madeleine her twins Annabel and Aidan are her world. It is their tenth birthday when a knock at the door reveals a masked person and Maddie’s whole world is shattered. Maddie is asked to make a choice no-one should ever be asked to make as a killer asks her to choose. One child will live. The other will die. The choice is made but that is not the end of it. Guilt eats away at Maddie. And then the reader comes to part two and there is a twist that sheds a bit different light on events. Or does it? Where does the truth lie?
At one stage in part two Maddie feels ’constantly panicky and paranoid.’ Reading this story I spent a lot of time feeling much like Maddie did, my heart beating at an alarming rate and my breath catching in my throat. Tension exists throughout and I reached the point where I resented anything that took me away from reading.
This is a book that had me riveted from the first page and produced a lot of different emotions at times. My heart just went out to Maddie. I thought it was well written, despite the fact that some things were repeated a bit and an ending that seemed a little rushed. They are the only little things that stopped this from being a 5 star read.
I love it when a book grips you from the beginning and doesn’t let go till the end. The speed with which I powered through it shows how riveted I was. This is a debut novel and the author has done a great job. I will be interested to read what she writes next.
July 26, 2019
3,5 ster. Voor een debuut zeker geen slecht boek. Helaas wel enigzins voorspelbaar wat mij betreft. Daarnaast erg veel beschrijvingen en weinig conversaties, wat dan weer wel goed pastte in de verhaallijn, maar het heeft er zeker in het begin voor gezorgd dat ik er moeilijk in kon komen.
December 22, 2016
I've read some brilliant books this year and this is up there with the best. A taunt, beautifully written psychological thriller about a mother made to choose between her ten-year-old twins when a gunman turns up at their door. I don't want to say too much about it as to do so would spoil it, I think. But I can see it being huge for 2017. A really, really great read with lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Despite finishing it a few days ago I'm still thinking about the characters and the plot. Very clever, very compelling. Highly recommended!
July 24, 2023
Madeline is busy getting ready for her twins 10th birthday party, a knock at the door takes this from a happy day to a nightmare, when a gunman forces her to make a decision, which child will live and which one will die!!!
This book gave me goosebumps, I loved how the tension is kept throughout the book until it's nail biting finale.
A must read book that I cannot stop talking about - just brilliant!!
This book gave me goosebumps, I loved how the tension is kept throughout the book until it's nail biting finale.
A must read book that I cannot stop talking about - just brilliant!!
April 22, 2017
As a mother, I really can't think of anything more terrifying than being made to make a choice between which of my children should live or die. I mean, how do you even do that? It's easy to say I wouldn't do this or that, but really, in such a situation who the hell knows what we would do? It's beyond my own imagination.
The Choice tackles this dilemma, when on the day of her twins tenth birthday, a masked gunman forces their way into Maddie's home and demands she choose which of her twins should be spared. It's a shocking and brutal opening, leaving the reader in utter, heart-stopping, horror before switching to three months later, when a grieving, disorientated and mentally broken Maddie is trying to piece together what happened that day.
It quickly becomes apparent that not everything is as it seems, as through a series of flashbacks and dream like states, the reader becomes as disorientated and confused as the fragile Maddie. I thought the way Samantha King portrayed her seemingly tenuous grip on reality was superb. And then when the massive shocker of a twist came, it made it only more impressive. I seriously had not been expecting it at all. I had no bloody idea where this book was going. It was so crazily twisty and gripping, I got thumb ache from pressing the next page button on my kindle so quickly.
Samantha King's writing is extremely engaging and convincing, with the whole book written from Maddie's perspective. I could feel her confusion, fear and consuming guilt. Yet there's a niggling feeling of is it real? Who do we trust? trickling through this story and is maintained right until the end. The Choice is fascinating as it explores parental favouritism between siblings and the effect of resentment and envy into adulthood. But there are many other themes running throughout, covering some uncomfortable topics, all of which interconnect and build to result in a catastrophic result.
If I had one tiny complaint, then I felt the ending seemed a bit rushed and maybe an epilogue chapter would have just rounded it off. That's just me though, I like closure! Other than that small niggle, I thought The Choice was excellent. It had me gripped from beginning to end and with twists at every turn, it was an adrenaline-fueled, heart-pumping roller coaster of a ride. If you're a fan of great psychological thrillers, then you won't be disappointed by this one.
The Choice tackles this dilemma, when on the day of her twins tenth birthday, a masked gunman forces their way into Maddie's home and demands she choose which of her twins should be spared. It's a shocking and brutal opening, leaving the reader in utter, heart-stopping, horror before switching to three months later, when a grieving, disorientated and mentally broken Maddie is trying to piece together what happened that day.
It quickly becomes apparent that not everything is as it seems, as through a series of flashbacks and dream like states, the reader becomes as disorientated and confused as the fragile Maddie. I thought the way Samantha King portrayed her seemingly tenuous grip on reality was superb. And then when the massive shocker of a twist came, it made it only more impressive. I seriously had not been expecting it at all. I had no bloody idea where this book was going. It was so crazily twisty and gripping, I got thumb ache from pressing the next page button on my kindle so quickly.
Samantha King's writing is extremely engaging and convincing, with the whole book written from Maddie's perspective. I could feel her confusion, fear and consuming guilt. Yet there's a niggling feeling of is it real? Who do we trust? trickling through this story and is maintained right until the end. The Choice is fascinating as it explores parental favouritism between siblings and the effect of resentment and envy into adulthood. But there are many other themes running throughout, covering some uncomfortable topics, all of which interconnect and build to result in a catastrophic result.
If I had one tiny complaint, then I felt the ending seemed a bit rushed and maybe an epilogue chapter would have just rounded it off. That's just me though, I like closure! Other than that small niggle, I thought The Choice was excellent. It had me gripped from beginning to end and with twists at every turn, it was an adrenaline-fueled, heart-pumping roller coaster of a ride. If you're a fan of great psychological thrillers, then you won't be disappointed by this one.
February 19, 2017
This book had a lot of promise and I was excited to read it when offered a copy of it however it didn't live up to expectations for me unfortunately. I found it extremely repetitive and going nowhere to the point where I considered putting it on my DNF pile a couple of times.
Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2017
Obvious from the start
Way too long drawn out
Ridiculous and hard to feel any empathy for the main character
Found it quite difficult to finish
Way too long drawn out
Ridiculous and hard to feel any empathy for the main character
Found it quite difficult to finish
August 29, 2017
This book didn't really deliver the promised story. It was very repetitive and the ending was quick and abrupt.
January 1, 2018
Een goeie om ff lekker mee te beginnen.. leest redelijk makkelijk weg, waarschijnlijk was de kater de enige reden waarom het me nog 8 uur kostte.
January 23, 2021
Personalmente odio i mariti violenti. Mi fanno schifo a prescindere. E come secondo non capirò mai le mogli succubi dei mariti. Quelli che ti picchiano e poi ti chiedono scusa e continuano così e tu sei succube e non riesci a ribellarti. (Meglio soli che mal accompagnati). . Tuttavia .
Ho odiato Dom[inic] si dalla prima pagina. Sin dall'inizio 🤦♀️
Il motivo per cui ho sospettato .
Il motivo per cui però ho dato 2☆ è che la prima parte è troppo incasinata per i miei gusti e poi Maddie
Poi c'è la fine .
Ultimo capitolo .
Troppo per me da sopportare. La pesantezza di 48 capitoli. 🤦♀️
Ho odiato Dom[inic] si dalla prima pagina. Sin dall'inizio 🤦♀️
Il motivo per cui ho sospettato .
Il motivo per cui però ho dato 2☆ è che la prima parte è troppo incasinata per i miei gusti e poi Maddie
Poi c'è la fine .
Ultimo capitolo .
Troppo per me da sopportare. La pesantezza di 48 capitoli. 🤦♀️
May 4, 2021
The first section had me quite confused and I found it hard to follow and wondered where we were going with this story. I was in two minds whether to continue or not but from midway on I was hooked and glad I stuck with it.
September 3, 2017
This book was different and I sort of new where it was going but I liked reading the twists in the story that proved me right!
August 21, 2025
Нищо особено. Целият сюжет е лошо изграден върху нереални ситуации и събития. Вглъбяването в размислите на главната героиня и безкрайните й размишления доста ме напрегнаха. Краят също е доста нереалистичен и не подхожда на трилър, за какъвто се има тази книга.
December 29, 2017
ABSOLUTELY HAS SPOILERS AHEAD. It's okay, this one sucks.
This is one of the messiest books I have ever read. I don't understand how it got this way either because the basic premise (woman picks which child gets killed when a psycho breaks into her house) is good. Not very original but certainly a solid basis for a thriller. Unfortunately the book isn't actually about that.
Okay, so the best way to explain the plot of this book is to summarize each of the three parts separately because really, they're a different story:
Part 1-A woman struggles to live with the guilt she feels for choosing one of her children to die. Unfortunately she can't talk (because none of this is real) which means she doesn't actually have any interesting interactions with anyone. Instead we get internal monologuing interspersed with flashbacks.
Part 2-A woman wakes up from a coma. *gasp* None of part 1 was real! Nothing much happens here until we build up to the 'twist' that her daughter isn't actually dead because the weird choice scenario didn't happen like she imagined it in her coma dream (see what I mean about messy?). This twist is entirely obvious due to no one mentioning her daughter's death at all during this whole section.
Part 3-The main character is kidnapped by her husband who was the masked gunman (again, this is painfully obvious). A vague and badly paced showdown occurs. The woman lives with her two children, the end.
The biggest theme of this book is 'missed opportunities'. So part 1 has the main character be mute as an attempt at foreshadowing the fact that she's not really there/it's some weird coma dream. I as a reader don't care about this however because where is the premise offered by the blurb? I expected a book dealing with the main character's guilt at being forced to choose which child to die, an examination of why she chose that child and MOST IMPORTANTLY, other peoples' reactions to it! What would her husband say to her? Her surviving child? Her friends? All of this is completely lost for the sake of a twist which means that none of it matters anyway.
Similarly, by having the twist at the end of part 2 be so incredibly obvious, it unfortunately means that none of this section really matters either. None of her thoughts about her dead daughter are valid because her daughter isn't dead. So now we're two thirds of the way through the book and nothing so far matters.
It's really sad because there is some good stuff in this book. Not the pacing or plotting because that's always awful, but the actual style of writing isn't terrible. The characters as well are believable and had the potential to be compelling. I like the story of the romance between her and her husband, even if I hate the way it's revealed. And again, that initial seed of the idea could have made for a really good thriller. Instead, we just have the worst kind of mess.
This is one of the messiest books I have ever read. I don't understand how it got this way either because the basic premise (woman picks which child gets killed when a psycho breaks into her house) is good. Not very original but certainly a solid basis for a thriller. Unfortunately the book isn't actually about that.
Okay, so the best way to explain the plot of this book is to summarize each of the three parts separately because really, they're a different story:
Part 1-A woman struggles to live with the guilt she feels for choosing one of her children to die. Unfortunately she can't talk (because none of this is real) which means she doesn't actually have any interesting interactions with anyone. Instead we get internal monologuing interspersed with flashbacks.
Part 2-A woman wakes up from a coma. *gasp* None of part 1 was real! Nothing much happens here until we build up to the 'twist' that her daughter isn't actually dead because the weird choice scenario didn't happen like she imagined it in her coma dream (see what I mean about messy?). This twist is entirely obvious due to no one mentioning her daughter's death at all during this whole section.
Part 3-The main character is kidnapped by her husband who was the masked gunman (again, this is painfully obvious). A vague and badly paced showdown occurs. The woman lives with her two children, the end.
The biggest theme of this book is 'missed opportunities'. So part 1 has the main character be mute as an attempt at foreshadowing the fact that she's not really there/it's some weird coma dream. I as a reader don't care about this however because where is the premise offered by the blurb? I expected a book dealing with the main character's guilt at being forced to choose which child to die, an examination of why she chose that child and MOST IMPORTANTLY, other peoples' reactions to it! What would her husband say to her? Her surviving child? Her friends? All of this is completely lost for the sake of a twist which means that none of it matters anyway.
Similarly, by having the twist at the end of part 2 be so incredibly obvious, it unfortunately means that none of this section really matters either. None of her thoughts about her dead daughter are valid because her daughter isn't dead. So now we're two thirds of the way through the book and nothing so far matters.
It's really sad because there is some good stuff in this book. Not the pacing or plotting because that's always awful, but the actual style of writing isn't terrible. The characters as well are believable and had the potential to be compelling. I like the story of the romance between her and her husband, even if I hate the way it's revealed. And again, that initial seed of the idea could have made for a really good thriller. Instead, we just have the worst kind of mess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2017
I had seen a bit of a buzz building about the debut novel from Samantha King - so was eager to see if it lived up to expectations.
It's fair to say, it exceeded them.
From the first chapter - where my jaw dropped at the powerful predicament mother of two Maddie found herself in - to the last, emotional page - this book grabbed my attention entirely.
The premise of the book is every mother's worst nightmare. A gunman storms into your house, grabs both your children, forces you to choose which one to save and which one to watch die.
As the book begins, Maddie, traumatised deeply by her experience, struggles to come to terms with her choice - she struggles to connect with her husband, or her surviving child. She feels like a ghost on the edge of a life that was once so familiar - and feels as if she will never be able to recover from the awful trauma which visited her house on her twins' tenth birthday.
It's hard to review this book without giving away any twists and turns - because this book twists and turns like no other. Just when you think you have an idea of what's going on, or when you think one situation is resolved, things inevitably take another twist.
All the while, we are in the head of Maddie - a woman broken by her experience, who doesn't remember large chunks of her life before or after the shooting.
This book had me gripped entirely - forsaking TV viewing for two nights to gobble it up and find out what had happened and how Maddie would cope with what she has been through.
While the thrust of this book is indeed a thriller - and one which Samantha King delivers in spades, it is her writing of a mother's love, and the daily interaction of Maddie and her children before the shooting that gives this book the real grip factor. You are with her as she makes her decision. You are with her after. You see the love she made sure her babies never doubted and it grabs you by the heart and makes this an emotional rollercoaster of a read.
I highly recommend this book - it is an exceptional debut and I'm very much looking forward to seeing Samantha King's career as a writer progress.
A first class, gripping triumph of a book.
It's fair to say, it exceeded them.
From the first chapter - where my jaw dropped at the powerful predicament mother of two Maddie found herself in - to the last, emotional page - this book grabbed my attention entirely.
The premise of the book is every mother's worst nightmare. A gunman storms into your house, grabs both your children, forces you to choose which one to save and which one to watch die.
As the book begins, Maddie, traumatised deeply by her experience, struggles to come to terms with her choice - she struggles to connect with her husband, or her surviving child. She feels like a ghost on the edge of a life that was once so familiar - and feels as if she will never be able to recover from the awful trauma which visited her house on her twins' tenth birthday.
It's hard to review this book without giving away any twists and turns - because this book twists and turns like no other. Just when you think you have an idea of what's going on, or when you think one situation is resolved, things inevitably take another twist.
All the while, we are in the head of Maddie - a woman broken by her experience, who doesn't remember large chunks of her life before or after the shooting.
This book had me gripped entirely - forsaking TV viewing for two nights to gobble it up and find out what had happened and how Maddie would cope with what she has been through.
While the thrust of this book is indeed a thriller - and one which Samantha King delivers in spades, it is her writing of a mother's love, and the daily interaction of Maddie and her children before the shooting that gives this book the real grip factor. You are with her as she makes her decision. You are with her after. You see the love she made sure her babies never doubted and it grabs you by the heart and makes this an emotional rollercoaster of a read.
I highly recommend this book - it is an exceptional debut and I'm very much looking forward to seeing Samantha King's career as a writer progress.
A first class, gripping triumph of a book.
December 24, 2016
Thank you net galley and the publishers for the absolute privilege to read this copy in exchange for an honest review.
The description alone was harrowing but once I overcame this I was absolutely enthralled by this novel.
Maddie is faced with the hardest decision of her life when she has to choose which of her twin children must die. The aftermath is traumatic and heartbreaking. She is left unable to communicate with her husband and remaining child. What unfolds after this left me speechless.
I was describing the first few chapters to a friend as hard going but today I described the book as one of the best I have read. A definite amazing piece of work up there with Clare Macintosh, Shari Lapena, BA Parris and Paula Hawkins. There needs to be more buzz about this book and I will be recommending this to my book club on release date.
The description alone was harrowing but once I overcame this I was absolutely enthralled by this novel.
Maddie is faced with the hardest decision of her life when she has to choose which of her twin children must die. The aftermath is traumatic and heartbreaking. She is left unable to communicate with her husband and remaining child. What unfolds after this left me speechless.
I was describing the first few chapters to a friend as hard going but today I described the book as one of the best I have read. A definite amazing piece of work up there with Clare Macintosh, Shari Lapena, BA Parris and Paula Hawkins. There needs to be more buzz about this book and I will be recommending this to my book club on release date.
March 17, 2017
I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
The premise of this psychological thriller was excellent - a mother forced to choose between her twins when a masked gunman arrives in their home. The book centres round the build up to the event and the aftermath, particularly the trauma to Madrid the mother due to her guilt in having to make the most awful choice. This was quite harrowing to read.
The character of Maddie was great and well portrayed. But somehow In the first half of the book I found it hard work as the pace and build up was a bit slow, which lessened the impact for me. The second half had a bit more of a punch especially as the story started to twist and turn.
A gripping read. 4 ****
The premise of this psychological thriller was excellent - a mother forced to choose between her twins when a masked gunman arrives in their home. The book centres round the build up to the event and the aftermath, particularly the trauma to Madrid the mother due to her guilt in having to make the most awful choice. This was quite harrowing to read.
The character of Maddie was great and well portrayed. But somehow In the first half of the book I found it hard work as the pace and build up was a bit slow, which lessened the impact for me. The second half had a bit more of a punch especially as the story started to twist and turn.
A gripping read. 4 ****
May 4, 2022
В списъка ми за четене беше от дълго време, а очакванията ми, съдейки по анотацията, бяха за много добър съспенс. Обаче се изпариха още на първите две-три глави. Това е поредният чик-трилър, в който са засегнати темите за домашното насилие и отчасти педофилията. Чете се бързо, но не защото четивото е увлекателно и те човърка отвътре какво ще се случи по-нататък, ами заради лековатия стил на писане. Лично мен историята наистина не ме впечатли, даже в даден момент нямах търпение да я приключа и да започна следващата книга. Не бих я препоръчал на хора, които си падат по трилъри и не давам повече от две звезди. :))
December 30, 2017
The story was good and I can see why they chose that title for it at the begining but towards the end I felt that it wasnt what I had expected. Why call it that? I didnt really enjoy it towards the end as much as I did at the begining and the middle of the story.
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