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DI Alex Finn #2
The Killing Choice
'Leave your daughter with me, or I will kill you both.'
It felt like any other evening before Karl and his daughter were ambushed by a figure in a blank mask. A knife is put to her throat, and Karl is forced to make an impossible decision. Stay and die, or walk away and take this thug's word that they will both will live.
Should he trust a villain and leave his daughter with a knife at her throat? Could he ever live with himself if he did?
It's not long before more seemingly unconnected and innocent people across London are offered a deal in exchange for their life. More blood is spilled, more families shattered, and more people are left to suffer with the consequences of their decisions.
It felt like any other evening before Karl and his daughter were ambushed by a figure in a blank mask. A knife is put to her throat, and Karl is forced to make an impossible decision. Stay and die, or walk away and take this thug's word that they will both will live.
Should he trust a villain and leave his daughter with a knife at her throat? Could he ever live with himself if he did?
It's not long before more seemingly unconnected and innocent people across London are offered a deal in exchange for their life. More blood is spilled, more families shattered, and more people are left to suffer with the consequences of their decisions.
329 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2021
95 people are currently reading
451 people want to read
About the author
Will Shindler
12 books123 followersWill Shindler has been a Broadcast Journalist for the BBC for over twenty-five years, spending a decade working in television drama as a scriptwriter on Born and Bred, The Bill and Doctors.
You can currently find him every weekday on the radio reading the news headlines, whilst writing crime novels in the afternoon. Will has previously worked as a television presenter for HTV, a sports reporter for BBC Radio Five Live, and one of the stadium presenters at the London Olympics.
His debut novel, The Burning Men, will be published by Hodder.
You can currently find him every weekday on the radio reading the news headlines, whilst writing crime novels in the afternoon. Will has previously worked as a television presenter for HTV, a sports reporter for BBC Radio Five Live, and one of the stadium presenters at the London Olympics.
His debut novel, The Burning Men, will be published by Hodder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
December 10, 2020
*4.5 stars *
What could be more natural, than a father and daughter meeting up for a little bonding time, and heading for one of their favourite Indian curry houses after work?
Karl Suleman and his daughter Leah take a short cut through Crystal Palace Dinosaur Park, London, looking forward to their meal, when they’re suddenly ambushed by someone wearing a mirrored mask. The knife wielding stranger gives Karl a choice - walk away and leave Leah to be raped, and they will both survive, or stay and Karl will die. Leah urges her father to leave, that way they will both survive. But Leah doesn’t survive. Karl hears her scream and immediately runs back, but she’s already dead, and her killer gone. Karl now has to deal with the consequences of his decision, and sadly, this won’t be the last time this monster strikes, putting others in this unbearable position.
DI Alex Finn and his team are in charge of the investigation. For DI Finn, facing life without his wife Karin a year earlier, is a huge loss, and the resulting grief and its repercussions that this investigation generates will affect him badly. DC Mattie Paulsen has events in her own past, that weigh her down, and won’t allow her to connect with anyone else in her work, and only barely in her private life. However, the whole team pulls together to resolve these horrendous attacks on seemingly unconnected victims, looking for the link that somehow ties them all together, ultimately leading to the the killer.
This is a whip sharp police procedural, the second in the series, following the brilliant ‘The Burning Men’, though it can be read as a stand-alone. The vivid characterisations are hugely insightful, it’s extremely tense, and full of twists, and it’s definitely a story that will draw you in. Some emotional, yet gripping scenes, are written with great sensitivity, and make this one a must read.
* Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
What could be more natural, than a father and daughter meeting up for a little bonding time, and heading for one of their favourite Indian curry houses after work?
Karl Suleman and his daughter Leah take a short cut through Crystal Palace Dinosaur Park, London, looking forward to their meal, when they’re suddenly ambushed by someone wearing a mirrored mask. The knife wielding stranger gives Karl a choice - walk away and leave Leah to be raped, and they will both survive, or stay and Karl will die. Leah urges her father to leave, that way they will both survive. But Leah doesn’t survive. Karl hears her scream and immediately runs back, but she’s already dead, and her killer gone. Karl now has to deal with the consequences of his decision, and sadly, this won’t be the last time this monster strikes, putting others in this unbearable position.
DI Alex Finn and his team are in charge of the investigation. For DI Finn, facing life without his wife Karin a year earlier, is a huge loss, and the resulting grief and its repercussions that this investigation generates will affect him badly. DC Mattie Paulsen has events in her own past, that weigh her down, and won’t allow her to connect with anyone else in her work, and only barely in her private life. However, the whole team pulls together to resolve these horrendous attacks on seemingly unconnected victims, looking for the link that somehow ties them all together, ultimately leading to the the killer.
This is a whip sharp police procedural, the second in the series, following the brilliant ‘The Burning Men’, though it can be read as a stand-alone. The vivid characterisations are hugely insightful, it’s extremely tense, and full of twists, and it’s definitely a story that will draw you in. Some emotional, yet gripping scenes, are written with great sensitivity, and make this one a must read.
* Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
December 6, 2020
Will Shindler follows up his brilliant The Burning Men, featuring DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen, with this terrific addition to the London based crime series. Finn is still deeply mired in grief for his dead wife, Karin, and refusing to seek help despite the problems arising at work. Everyone else can see what he will not acknowledge and are feeling the effects, he is burying himself in work, he is the first person in at work at Cedar House and the last to leave. To his astonishment, a friend of his wife's gets in touch, someone he was not that keen on, Cally Hunter, she had received a letter from Karin 11 months after her death, and knowing Alex and his shortcomings, Karin wanted Cally to provide the support she knows he will need. Alex is about to found himself in a complex and challenging murder case that is going to demand all of his attention, despite becoming acutely self aware that he really does need help.
Karl Suleman meets his daughter, Leah, at the Crystal Palace Dinosaur Park, on their way to have dinner at a Indian restaurant, when they are ambushed by a mirrored mask wearing young man wielding a zombie knife. To their consternation, the stranger offers Karl a choice, leave and allow Leah to be raped, and both he and his daughter will survive. Urged on by Leah, Karl makes the fateful decision to leave, only to shortly hear her screams as she is murdered. Life as he knew it goes down the pan for Karl, he is a mass of grief and guilt, and to exacerbate matters, his wife is an emotional wreck of a woman who will not forgive him leaving Leah in her moment of need. Furthermore, he finds himself in the eye of a media storm, slap bang in the middle of the court of public opinion and being harshly judged. The fiendish killer continues to murder as others find themselves at the harrowing end of a killing choice and what is the connection with the Hope Estate and Hayden Simms, with a younger brother, Michael, estranged from his father after the loss of his mother?
This is a twisted and well plotted crime story from Shindler, there is oodles of suspense and tension, and it had me glued to the pages until the terrifying and thrilling finale. One of the best things I like about this series is the attention to detail given to the characters and what is happening in their personal lives, such as Mattie's father, Christer, approaching close to the point where his dementia will need the family to come together and decide what their response should be. Mattie finds herself challenged when she takes on the role of Family Liaison Officer and what happens when she chases a drug dealer has her questioning herself. This is a wonderful crime series that is both entertaining and engaging, and I look forward to the next in the series. Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.
Karl Suleman meets his daughter, Leah, at the Crystal Palace Dinosaur Park, on their way to have dinner at a Indian restaurant, when they are ambushed by a mirrored mask wearing young man wielding a zombie knife. To their consternation, the stranger offers Karl a choice, leave and allow Leah to be raped, and both he and his daughter will survive. Urged on by Leah, Karl makes the fateful decision to leave, only to shortly hear her screams as she is murdered. Life as he knew it goes down the pan for Karl, he is a mass of grief and guilt, and to exacerbate matters, his wife is an emotional wreck of a woman who will not forgive him leaving Leah in her moment of need. Furthermore, he finds himself in the eye of a media storm, slap bang in the middle of the court of public opinion and being harshly judged. The fiendish killer continues to murder as others find themselves at the harrowing end of a killing choice and what is the connection with the Hope Estate and Hayden Simms, with a younger brother, Michael, estranged from his father after the loss of his mother?
This is a twisted and well plotted crime story from Shindler, there is oodles of suspense and tension, and it had me glued to the pages until the terrifying and thrilling finale. One of the best things I like about this series is the attention to detail given to the characters and what is happening in their personal lives, such as Mattie's father, Christer, approaching close to the point where his dementia will need the family to come together and decide what their response should be. Mattie finds herself challenged when she takes on the role of Family Liaison Officer and what happens when she chases a drug dealer has her questioning herself. This is a wonderful crime series that is both entertaining and engaging, and I look forward to the next in the series. Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.
August 19, 2022
3 Honda Civic Reliable stars.
SYNOPSIS
A masked killer is making people choose between their loved one and their own lives. Are these attacks personal, or that of a mad man? DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen are on da case!!
MY OPINION
This is a Honda Civic Reliable police procedural. Tbh police procedural is my fave genre. I still love my thrillz, but it's rare that a citizens gone rogue story can keep my eyes from rolling into the back of my head. I need that realism of the detectives doing the detecting.
I liked the overarching question: what would you do if forced to choose between a loved one and your own life? Will Shindler did a good job showing different sides of the argument: abandoning your loved one is a coward's move and you can't judge someone's actions during a fight or flight moment. Personally, if my man abandons me during an attack I WILL be coming back in the afterlife to haunt the absolute shit outta him. There's no way you're gonna humiliate me AND let me die. Let me die with dignity at least you bum ass bish.
The only part that rubbed me the wrong way was the detective saying he automatically assumed the killer's gender "even though experience taught him otherwise." Pardon lmao. Men overwhelmingly commit more violent crimes than women. Period. This is not the time to be Feminist Ally of the Year. I don't need representation within the murderer community, tysm.
Other than that, this was solid. It just wasn't bangerlicious. It went in circles a bit with the detectives avoiding the very obvious red thread to artificially bolster the suspense. I did like the ending though, it wrapped up nicely but not too conveniently. I sincerely hope Finn doesn't shack up with his dead wife's bestie Cally tho. Once again, my mans does this and I'm haunting him and his mom.
PROS AND CONS
PROS: honda civvy reliable, thought-provoking premise, decent success, well-written and distinct characters, solid ending
CONS: just missing that WOOOOOWWWW factor but nothing major
SYNOPSIS
A masked killer is making people choose between their loved one and their own lives. Are these attacks personal, or that of a mad man? DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen are on da case!!
MY OPINION
This is a Honda Civic Reliable police procedural. Tbh police procedural is my fave genre. I still love my thrillz, but it's rare that a citizens gone rogue story can keep my eyes from rolling into the back of my head. I need that realism of the detectives doing the detecting.
I liked the overarching question: what would you do if forced to choose between a loved one and your own life? Will Shindler did a good job showing different sides of the argument: abandoning your loved one is a coward's move and you can't judge someone's actions during a fight or flight moment. Personally, if my man abandons me during an attack I WILL be coming back in the afterlife to haunt the absolute shit outta him. There's no way you're gonna humiliate me AND let me die. Let me die with dignity at least you bum ass bish.
The only part that rubbed me the wrong way was the detective saying he automatically assumed the killer's gender "even though experience taught him otherwise." Pardon lmao. Men overwhelmingly commit more violent crimes than women. Period. This is not the time to be Feminist Ally of the Year. I don't need representation within the murderer community, tysm.
Other than that, this was solid. It just wasn't bangerlicious. It went in circles a bit with the detectives avoiding the very obvious red thread to artificially bolster the suspense. I did like the ending though, it wrapped up nicely but not too conveniently. I sincerely hope Finn doesn't shack up with his dead wife's bestie Cally tho. Once again, my mans does this and I'm haunting him and his mom.
PROS AND CONS
PROS: honda civvy reliable, thought-provoking premise, decent success, well-written and distinct characters, solid ending
CONS: just missing that WOOOOOWWWW factor but nothing major
January 29, 2021
3.5 stars
When I received this & realized it was book #2, I thought ok…going to do this properly for once. So I grabbed the first in the series & read it before tackling this one. It was definitely the right move as it helped me understand the MC & his current situation.
Alex Finn is a driven DI with the Met who has just been handed a nightmare of a case. Seemingly random people are approached by a killer who forces them to make a horrific choice between themselves & a loved one. One of you will die. Pick. Right now. (*gulp*)
Chilling, brutal & sensational…it’s the kind of case that will be extremely high profile. And there are those who wonder if he’s up to the task. Finn recently lost his wife & it’s obvious he’s not doing well. He’s always been a private man but sleepless nights & the weight of grief are beginning to crack his normally cool facade.
Colleagues DS Jackie Ojo & DC Mattie Paulson are there to work the case & watch his back. As the investigations progress, all Finn & his team come up with are more questions. Add in some violence & drug running at a local council estate & it’s not long before the brass begin to wonder if Finn is truly fit for the job.
In addition to the homicides, there are several side stories dealing with the private lives of some of the characters & there’s a common theme. Family….you can’t pick ‘em, you can’t (usually) kill them. But there’s no denying how complex those relationships can be & how easily they push your buttons.
I’m afraid I’m going to be the outlier here & call this a “good” book. I know some consider this damning with faint praise but it’s not. It means I enjoyed it & would recommend to others. It’s well written with interesting characters & a sense of place. Despite the nature of the crimes, I wouldn’t classify it as gritty, mostly due to the cast who are straight arrows. Finn & his boss Skegman come across as more “real” whereas Jackie & Mattie fare less well. I read a lot of police procedurals so maybe my expectations are different. Familiar tropes (the troubled MC, budget cuts, pressure for results, conflict between personal life & the job) help propel the story but I guess I was waiting for something new or surprising.
There are some glowing reviews out there so please give those a look as differences in opinion are probably due to personal taste. As with all series, you’re bound to appreciate some books more than others. I really enjoyed The Burning Men & that’s enough to make me pick up the next one so I can check in with Finn & his crew.
When I received this & realized it was book #2, I thought ok…going to do this properly for once. So I grabbed the first in the series & read it before tackling this one. It was definitely the right move as it helped me understand the MC & his current situation.
Alex Finn is a driven DI with the Met who has just been handed a nightmare of a case. Seemingly random people are approached by a killer who forces them to make a horrific choice between themselves & a loved one. One of you will die. Pick. Right now. (*gulp*)
Chilling, brutal & sensational…it’s the kind of case that will be extremely high profile. And there are those who wonder if he’s up to the task. Finn recently lost his wife & it’s obvious he’s not doing well. He’s always been a private man but sleepless nights & the weight of grief are beginning to crack his normally cool facade.
Colleagues DS Jackie Ojo & DC Mattie Paulson are there to work the case & watch his back. As the investigations progress, all Finn & his team come up with are more questions. Add in some violence & drug running at a local council estate & it’s not long before the brass begin to wonder if Finn is truly fit for the job.
In addition to the homicides, there are several side stories dealing with the private lives of some of the characters & there’s a common theme. Family….you can’t pick ‘em, you can’t (usually) kill them. But there’s no denying how complex those relationships can be & how easily they push your buttons.
I’m afraid I’m going to be the outlier here & call this a “good” book. I know some consider this damning with faint praise but it’s not. It means I enjoyed it & would recommend to others. It’s well written with interesting characters & a sense of place. Despite the nature of the crimes, I wouldn’t classify it as gritty, mostly due to the cast who are straight arrows. Finn & his boss Skegman come across as more “real” whereas Jackie & Mattie fare less well. I read a lot of police procedurals so maybe my expectations are different. Familiar tropes (the troubled MC, budget cuts, pressure for results, conflict between personal life & the job) help propel the story but I guess I was waiting for something new or surprising.
There are some glowing reviews out there so please give those a look as differences in opinion are probably due to personal taste. As with all series, you’re bound to appreciate some books more than others. I really enjoyed The Burning Men & that’s enough to make me pick up the next one so I can check in with Finn & his crew.
September 16, 2020
Karl Suleman and daughter Leah meet after work at the Crystal Palace Dinosaur Park and intend to go for a meal together. Out of nowhere they are accosted by a person wearing a mirror mask carrying a zombie knife. Karl is given a stark illusion of a choice, a Catch 22 and his split decision led to Leah’s vicious murder in cold blood. DI Alex Finn and his able team investigate.
This is the second of this really good series in which one of the greatest strengths lies in the terrific police team whose characters are so well fleshed out they feel real. One of the central themes of this is grief which is exemplified by Finn who is in deep grief for wife Karin, however, other characters suffer grief too. Finn is not the easiest character to like, he’s a control freak, he can be terse and cool and his grief deepens these traits which makes for interesting reading as his actions causes tension in the team. Karin may no longer be alive but you feel her presence and hear her voice through Finn and feel as though she is watching over him. DI Mattie Paulsen is a great character too, she’s very likeable though she has her flaws and she too feels grief as the story unfolds. This case is puzzling as it seems to link to gangs and drugs and the notorious Hope Estate and Karl Suleman becomes a puzzle too as the mystery deepens around him. The case worsens becoming very enthralling and gripping reading. There is a further victim and the team is stretched to find links between them. It’s twisty, dark, there are secrets, lies with buried guilt and shame and bitter revenge. When the killer is apprehended it is breathtaking and very tense.
Overall, this is a well written thriller with a good plot which is very well paced. At times it’s emotional and at others it’s shocking.
4-5 stars.
With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC in return for an honest review.
This is the second of this really good series in which one of the greatest strengths lies in the terrific police team whose characters are so well fleshed out they feel real. One of the central themes of this is grief which is exemplified by Finn who is in deep grief for wife Karin, however, other characters suffer grief too. Finn is not the easiest character to like, he’s a control freak, he can be terse and cool and his grief deepens these traits which makes for interesting reading as his actions causes tension in the team. Karin may no longer be alive but you feel her presence and hear her voice through Finn and feel as though she is watching over him. DI Mattie Paulsen is a great character too, she’s very likeable though she has her flaws and she too feels grief as the story unfolds. This case is puzzling as it seems to link to gangs and drugs and the notorious Hope Estate and Karl Suleman becomes a puzzle too as the mystery deepens around him. The case worsens becoming very enthralling and gripping reading. There is a further victim and the team is stretched to find links between them. It’s twisty, dark, there are secrets, lies with buried guilt and shame and bitter revenge. When the killer is apprehended it is breathtaking and very tense.
Overall, this is a well written thriller with a good plot which is very well paced. At times it’s emotional and at others it’s shocking.
4-5 stars.
With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC in return for an honest review.
March 7, 2021
I regret I am likely to be in the minority here for my low to average rating. This was a well-constructed police procedural with incidents that should engage me more and raise feelings of tension and suspense. It was not as compelling as I expected from its description, and I found it tedious. The story revolves around a unique set of murders with a puzzling motive. A person is given the choice of saving themselves by walking away and a family member dies or everyone is killed. This victimized the person who walked away leaving them traumatized with guilt and bereavement. They suffer from thoughts of what other choices they could have made. The blame is unbearable.
There have been two separate encounters with a young masked killer, each leaving a loved family member dead. There was also a suicide by a man who walked away to get help. He was convinced in doing so his daughter's life would be saved as he had been told and he felt he was doing the right thing. His wife and media blamed him for running away and his unbearable remorse led to his death.
The book was full of human misery and emotional pain. The two lead detectives were defined by their anguish, anxiety and worry. They had a very complicated and difficult case to resolve. There was a young drug dealer who became a potential victim and given a terrible choice and then victimized further.
It is apparent to Detective Alex Finn that the killer shows much planning, rage, and hatred towards three very different victims. There seems to be no connection between them but he feels to solve the case he must find a common thread in their past. All the while, he is having anxiety attacks and periods of grief. I did not find the characters compelling and was unable to engage with them.
There were a large number of characters involved. Sometimes a person was referred to by only their first name and other times by their last name. This was confusing at first and made it seem like I was dealing with double the number of characters. I thought the solution to the case was satisfying and clever. The perpetrator and their motive were unexpected, but by that time I no longer cared very much. 2.5 to 3 stars.
There have been two separate encounters with a young masked killer, each leaving a loved family member dead. There was also a suicide by a man who walked away to get help. He was convinced in doing so his daughter's life would be saved as he had been told and he felt he was doing the right thing. His wife and media blamed him for running away and his unbearable remorse led to his death.
The book was full of human misery and emotional pain. The two lead detectives were defined by their anguish, anxiety and worry. They had a very complicated and difficult case to resolve. There was a young drug dealer who became a potential victim and given a terrible choice and then victimized further.
It is apparent to Detective Alex Finn that the killer shows much planning, rage, and hatred towards three very different victims. There seems to be no connection between them but he feels to solve the case he must find a common thread in their past. All the while, he is having anxiety attacks and periods of grief. I did not find the characters compelling and was unable to engage with them.
There were a large number of characters involved. Sometimes a person was referred to by only their first name and other times by their last name. This was confusing at first and made it seem like I was dealing with double the number of characters. I thought the solution to the case was satisfying and clever. The perpetrator and their motive were unexpected, but by that time I no longer cared very much. 2.5 to 3 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2021
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
The Killing Choice opens with a father and daughter, Karl and Leah Suleman meeting in a park in London before heading off for a curry. The pair are set upon by a knife-wielding man wearing a mask who gives them an ultimatum. Karl is to leave him and Leah alone whilst he rapes her, or he kills them both. Leah tells Karl to go that way they both get to live, however, the masked man had no intention of raping Leah, he was going to kill her all along.
DI Alex Finn is the man in charge of the murder investigation along with his team. All avenues are being looked at and investigated but the team is at a loss as to why nothing was taken, and Leah wasn’t attacked, just killed. Plus, they can’t seem to get their heads around why Karl left his daughter.
With the murderer now taunting Karl and claiming other victims too in a similar fashion, the hunt is on to catch a ruthless killer before more families are destroyed.
This is a book that will get under your skin as you not only try to work out who the killer is and their motive but also why his targets react the way they do. Karl’s decision to leave his daughter is played out in the media and he is judged just like I the reader did. Being a parent I know for a fact that I would never leave my child alone with a violent man, knife or no knife, so trying to understand Karl’s reasonings made my head hurt and although he had lost a daughter I found it difficult to like him.
The plot becomes very twisty as more families are devastated by this person. Could these seemingly innocent and unconnected victims really be connected in some way? Is this a person looking for revenge or someone just on the edge randomly killing people?
The writing is superb and whilst I enjoyed Will Shindler’s first book (and the first DI Alex Finn novel), The Burning Men. The whole scenario, characters, and scenery had me loving this one far more. It is not only thrilling it is a conundrum too that will have you trying to fit all the pieces together. Plus DI Finn is a flawed detective whose wife had just died in the first book and comes across as having survivor’s guilt which he has to work through as well as missing his wife and trying to move on.
The Killing Choice opens with a father and daughter, Karl and Leah Suleman meeting in a park in London before heading off for a curry. The pair are set upon by a knife-wielding man wearing a mask who gives them an ultimatum. Karl is to leave him and Leah alone whilst he rapes her, or he kills them both. Leah tells Karl to go that way they both get to live, however, the masked man had no intention of raping Leah, he was going to kill her all along.
DI Alex Finn is the man in charge of the murder investigation along with his team. All avenues are being looked at and investigated but the team is at a loss as to why nothing was taken, and Leah wasn’t attacked, just killed. Plus, they can’t seem to get their heads around why Karl left his daughter.
With the murderer now taunting Karl and claiming other victims too in a similar fashion, the hunt is on to catch a ruthless killer before more families are destroyed.
This is a book that will get under your skin as you not only try to work out who the killer is and their motive but also why his targets react the way they do. Karl’s decision to leave his daughter is played out in the media and he is judged just like I the reader did. Being a parent I know for a fact that I would never leave my child alone with a violent man, knife or no knife, so trying to understand Karl’s reasonings made my head hurt and although he had lost a daughter I found it difficult to like him.
The plot becomes very twisty as more families are devastated by this person. Could these seemingly innocent and unconnected victims really be connected in some way? Is this a person looking for revenge or someone just on the edge randomly killing people?
The writing is superb and whilst I enjoyed Will Shindler’s first book (and the first DI Alex Finn novel), The Burning Men. The whole scenario, characters, and scenery had me loving this one far more. It is not only thrilling it is a conundrum too that will have you trying to fit all the pieces together. Plus DI Finn is a flawed detective whose wife had just died in the first book and comes across as having survivor’s guilt which he has to work through as well as missing his wife and trying to move on.
December 28, 2020
One evening, in a park near Chrystal Palace in London, Karl Suleman and his daughter Leah are on their way for an Indian when they’re stopped by a masked figure. He gives them the choice: they die both or he rapes the daughter. Lea begs her dad to run but things go awry and Leah is killed. The press jumps onto this story and Karl is not only eaten by guilt and haunted by the press, but he receives taunting and threatening messages from the killer as well. On the surface, this looks like a random killing, but DI Alex Finn feels that something doesn’t quite fit. Was it the father who was targeted, or was it his daughter? Then, a second killing where the victim has to choose between her mother and her partner happens. At first sight, there’s no connection between the people involved. Parallel with those cases runs a third story about a reluctant drug-dealer who has a broken relationship with his dad.
Although this book is part of a series it works well as a standalone. It did pique my interest to read more though. It’s a police procedural of high quality but counts as a psychological thriller as well. I requested it because so many of my GR friends were really positive about it and I’m very glad that I did. So, thank you all.
There’s one main theme in this book and that’s grief and bereavement. How it affects people and how everybody mourns their own way. The amount of love you have for a person cannot be measured by the length or the intensity of your mourning, regardless of what some people think. Alex still grieves for his wife, the two victims/survivors are riddled by guilt from their choice as well as survivors guilt and in the end, even the killer’s motive lies in that corner. Finn has a hard time since his wife died nearly a year ago and spends more time in his office than is physically advisable and hardly any sleeping in his bed. He has good people around him that try to pull him back into the real world, but that’s not always appreciated by him.
The Alzheimer of DC Mattie Paulsen’s father also features prominently. I don’t know if this is a trend but over the last year, I’ve come repeatedly across this difficult issue.
The premise of a killer giving his victims a choice is very original and interesting. Nobody can say what they would do in such a situation until it presents itself. Everybody can be a bigmouth and claim such and such but truth is that you can’t know what you’ll do. Flight or fight? And what if that fight turns out to lead to an even worse fate?
As happens in reality, the police investigation leads in several directions that later turn out to be false and they make costly mistakes in the assessment of situations. They’re not portrayed as flawless superheroes but as human beings with their strong and weak points alike.
There was a whole fishmarket of red herrings but I figured out the end game not long before the cops and was really taken by the twist. What a little b*** the killer turned out to be.
I thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the free ARC they provided and this is my honest, unbiased review of it.
Although this book is part of a series it works well as a standalone. It did pique my interest to read more though. It’s a police procedural of high quality but counts as a psychological thriller as well. I requested it because so many of my GR friends were really positive about it and I’m very glad that I did. So, thank you all.
There’s one main theme in this book and that’s grief and bereavement. How it affects people and how everybody mourns their own way. The amount of love you have for a person cannot be measured by the length or the intensity of your mourning, regardless of what some people think. Alex still grieves for his wife, the two victims/survivors are riddled by guilt from their choice as well as survivors guilt and in the end, even the killer’s motive lies in that corner. Finn has a hard time since his wife died nearly a year ago and spends more time in his office than is physically advisable and hardly any sleeping in his bed. He has good people around him that try to pull him back into the real world, but that’s not always appreciated by him.
The Alzheimer of DC Mattie Paulsen’s father also features prominently. I don’t know if this is a trend but over the last year, I’ve come repeatedly across this difficult issue.
The premise of a killer giving his victims a choice is very original and interesting. Nobody can say what they would do in such a situation until it presents itself. Everybody can be a bigmouth and claim such and such but truth is that you can’t know what you’ll do. Flight or fight? And what if that fight turns out to lead to an even worse fate?
As happens in reality, the police investigation leads in several directions that later turn out to be false and they make costly mistakes in the assessment of situations. They’re not portrayed as flawless superheroes but as human beings with their strong and weak points alike.
There was a whole fishmarket of red herrings but I figured out the end game not long before the cops and was really taken by the twist. What a little b*** the killer turned out to be.
I thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the free ARC they provided and this is my honest, unbiased review of it.
April 3, 2025
Will Shindler adds to this series, sure to capture the attention of the reader. DI Alex Finn returns with another great police procedural where a killer is acting in confusing ways. After an attack leaves a young woman dead, DI Finn and his team try to piece the crime together. As they forge ahead, the police discover that someone is playing games and piling bodies up all the while. This will take effort and determination, which DI Finn has to offer while focusing all his attention on the list of suspects. Shindler impresses once more with this story and has me eager to keep reading.
While meeting for a meal on a Friday night, Karl Suleman and his twenty-something daughter, Leah, are confronted by someone in a mask. The demand is that Karl is to walk away or die. While he defies the odds of any parent, Karl rushes off to get help. Leah’s screams soon fill the air and her lifeless body is discovered by a panicked Karl.
When DI Finn and his team arrive at the scene, they are flummoxed to hear of Karl’s choice. The investigation opens and truths that have been kept quiet rise to the surface, both about Karl and the purported suspect. As DI Finn works to get answers, more people are offered odd choices to save their lives. Who is doing this and why are these people being targeted?
As more blood is shed and families are shattered, DI Finn works with DC Mattie Paulsen try to get ahead of the speculation. They cannot help but wonder if there is a missing someone on the suspect list and whether that link could prove to be the key to everything. It is a race against time and a killer who has a sadistic game to play. Shindler evokes an intense sense of curiosity in this wonderful follow-up novel!
I enjoy police procedurals of all types, particularly those who are fast-moving and unique in their approaches. Will Shindler constructs a solid narrative that proves intense and easy to follow. The story leaves the reader wondering and forces them to flip pages for answers. Shindler develops characters to direct the story in great ways and has me eager to see what backstory emerges and how this will help with development. DI Finn has shared some key points from his past, while leaving the reader to wonder a great deal more, as does DC Mattie Paulsen. Plot points keep the story from being too predictable, yet alluring enough that the reader wants to stay attuned to all that is revealed. Will Shindler has me ready to find the next novel and all that it has to offer.
Kudos, Mr. Shindler, for another great police procedural!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
While meeting for a meal on a Friday night, Karl Suleman and his twenty-something daughter, Leah, are confronted by someone in a mask. The demand is that Karl is to walk away or die. While he defies the odds of any parent, Karl rushes off to get help. Leah’s screams soon fill the air and her lifeless body is discovered by a panicked Karl.
When DI Finn and his team arrive at the scene, they are flummoxed to hear of Karl’s choice. The investigation opens and truths that have been kept quiet rise to the surface, both about Karl and the purported suspect. As DI Finn works to get answers, more people are offered odd choices to save their lives. Who is doing this and why are these people being targeted?
As more blood is shed and families are shattered, DI Finn works with DC Mattie Paulsen try to get ahead of the speculation. They cannot help but wonder if there is a missing someone on the suspect list and whether that link could prove to be the key to everything. It is a race against time and a killer who has a sadistic game to play. Shindler evokes an intense sense of curiosity in this wonderful follow-up novel!
I enjoy police procedurals of all types, particularly those who are fast-moving and unique in their approaches. Will Shindler constructs a solid narrative that proves intense and easy to follow. The story leaves the reader wondering and forces them to flip pages for answers. Shindler develops characters to direct the story in great ways and has me eager to see what backstory emerges and how this will help with development. DI Finn has shared some key points from his past, while leaving the reader to wonder a great deal more, as does DC Mattie Paulsen. Plot points keep the story from being too predictable, yet alluring enough that the reader wants to stay attuned to all that is revealed. Will Shindler has me ready to find the next novel and all that it has to offer.
Kudos, Mr. Shindler, for another great police procedural!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
January 31, 2021
4.5 stars rounded doen to 4
DI Alex Finn #2
Karl and his daugter Leah were ambushed by someone wearing a mirror mask at knife point. karl is forced to make an impossible choice: stay and die or leave Leah behind and take the thugs word that they both will live.
Finn and Paulson are invesigating two similar murders. A rapist is making the fathers of girls choose whether to walk away and leave their daughters or both of them will die. Leah tried to persuade her dad to run, but things went wrong and Leah was killed. Not only is Karl beinh haunted by the press and frowning in guilt, he's also recieving threatening messages from the killer. I thought the first book, The Burning Men was a great read but this book is better. There's plenty of twists in this intriguing plotline where all of the characters are flawed. This is a cleverly written story that had me gripped. This book could be read as a standalone.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HodderStoughton and the author #WillShindler for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DI Alex Finn #2
Karl and his daugter Leah were ambushed by someone wearing a mirror mask at knife point. karl is forced to make an impossible choice: stay and die or leave Leah behind and take the thugs word that they both will live.
Finn and Paulson are invesigating two similar murders. A rapist is making the fathers of girls choose whether to walk away and leave their daughters or both of them will die. Leah tried to persuade her dad to run, but things went wrong and Leah was killed. Not only is Karl beinh haunted by the press and frowning in guilt, he's also recieving threatening messages from the killer. I thought the first book, The Burning Men was a great read but this book is better. There's plenty of twists in this intriguing plotline where all of the characters are flawed. This is a cleverly written story that had me gripped. This book could be read as a standalone.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HodderStoughton and the author #WillShindler for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2021
The Killing Choice is the second instalment in the Detective Inspector Alex Finn and Detective Constable Mattie Paulsen series, set in London. It felt like any other evening before Karl Suleman and his daughter, Leah, who were out on a father/daughter date night at a London restaurant were ambushed by a figure in a blank mask armed with a zombie knife. It isn't really as unexpected as knife crime should be given London is the capital of such crime, but this is no ordinary stabbing. A knife is put to Leah’s throat, and Karl is forced to make an impossible decision. Stay and they both die, or walk away and take this thug’s word that they will both live once he's had his wicked way with Leah and raped her. Should he trust a villain and leave his daughter with a knife at her throat? Could he ever live with himself if he did? His daughter urges him to leave and so he runs despite the overwhelming confliction and desperately searches for help before the faceless figure can maul her. Karl has trouble accepting what he did that day, as does his wife, but this is exactly what the emotional terrorist wants; for his victims to feel endless guilt, to tear themselves apart from the inside out and for it to rip their families to shreds, too - relentlessly asking the question - what if? Ruminating on the choice he was offered and the decision he made, the inner turmoil repeats over and over destroying a little part of him each time. And that's before considering the killer had been lying.
It’s not long before more seemingly unconnected and innocent people across London are offered a deal in exchange for their life. More blood is spilled, more families shattered, and more people are left to suffer with the consequences of their decisions. DI Finn, DC Paulsen and DS Jackie Ojo investigate and wonder if these strange and brutal crimes are somehow related to a turf war with rival drugs gangs but there's no concrete evidence. Can they discover what links the chosen victims before the violence rages out of control? This is a riveting, terrifying and refreshingly original thriller and one that has you asking yourself what you would do if you were given an almost impossible choice like this. This is no ordinary killing spree as the serial killer seems to get off on people's terror, indecision and knowing that the victim will play the question and answer they made that day over and over until it quite possibly destroys them. It's sick, unsettling and deeply disturbing and one of the most scintillating crime reads of the past few years. This is a fast-moving, twisty read but it also considers deeper topics such as love, grief and mental health. Protagonist Finn’s work is now being impacted by the death of his wife, Karin, 11 months earlier and his struggle to cope is all too real. This is a complex, captivating and compulsive multilayered thriller offering so much more than your average crime novel. Highly recommended.
It’s not long before more seemingly unconnected and innocent people across London are offered a deal in exchange for their life. More blood is spilled, more families shattered, and more people are left to suffer with the consequences of their decisions. DI Finn, DC Paulsen and DS Jackie Ojo investigate and wonder if these strange and brutal crimes are somehow related to a turf war with rival drugs gangs but there's no concrete evidence. Can they discover what links the chosen victims before the violence rages out of control? This is a riveting, terrifying and refreshingly original thriller and one that has you asking yourself what you would do if you were given an almost impossible choice like this. This is no ordinary killing spree as the serial killer seems to get off on people's terror, indecision and knowing that the victim will play the question and answer they made that day over and over until it quite possibly destroys them. It's sick, unsettling and deeply disturbing and one of the most scintillating crime reads of the past few years. This is a fast-moving, twisty read but it also considers deeper topics such as love, grief and mental health. Protagonist Finn’s work is now being impacted by the death of his wife, Karin, 11 months earlier and his struggle to cope is all too real. This is a complex, captivating and compulsive multilayered thriller offering so much more than your average crime novel. Highly recommended.
February 16, 2021
The DI Alex Finn series was brought to my attention at a time when I had decided I really and truly did not need a new series in my life. But I made an exception for The Burning Men because I had a good feeling about it. I still really don’t need another crime series in my life but I’m so glad I made room for this one because that good feeling I had about Will Shindler’s debut has only been consolidated by this second book.
I’m beginning to think Will Shindler is an author who seems to delight in coming up with the most cruel and unusual punishments for his characters. Last time there was a lot of fire. This time, it’s all about making a choice. An absolutely impossible choice. And one with devastating consequences.
The Killing Choice begins with Karl and Leah Suleman walking in Crystal Palace Park. What starts out as a normal evening of catching up quickly turns into a nightmare when father and daughter find themselves “face to face” with a figure in a mask. With a knife to his throat, Karl is forced to make an impossible decision. Stay and die, or walk away and believe the figure when they say this is the only way both Karl and Leah will live to see another day.
Karl may be the first person to be confronted with this masked figure, but he won’t be the last. But why was he ambushed like this? Is it a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time or are people being targeted especially? DI Alex Finn thinks the “why” will lead him to the “who” but when it looks as if there are no connecting threads at all, where do you even begin to investigate?
This is a case that very much centres around grief. If you’ve read the previous book, then you know DI Alex Finn is grieving a massive loss himself. Not very well either, I might add. Being knee-deep in an investigation as harrowing and devastating as this one isn’t helping. Will he finally ask for help? Then there’s Karl, who has to live with the decision he made. Who is scrutinised and hounded by everyone from the media to his own wife. As a reader, I found myself transported right to that very moment where Karl makes his choice and the soul searching began. Because what would I do? What would you do when you get a split second, a mere snap of the fingers, to make a decision that could potentially change the rest of your life? And not in a good way. When all is said and done, would you still be able to live with yourself?
As you can see, there is so much more going on than just solving a brutal crime and this story about grief, loss and revenge had me glued to the pages. With a few red herrings dotted around, I couldn’t at all figure out what was going on. Even that reveal was somewhat heartbreaking. Don’t you just hate it when you almost feel sympathy for a perpetrator?
The Killing Choice is an immensely gripping, thought-provoking and compelling second instalment in the DI Alex Finn series and I can’t wait for book three! Clear a space on your shelves for this one!
I’m beginning to think Will Shindler is an author who seems to delight in coming up with the most cruel and unusual punishments for his characters. Last time there was a lot of fire. This time, it’s all about making a choice. An absolutely impossible choice. And one with devastating consequences.
The Killing Choice begins with Karl and Leah Suleman walking in Crystal Palace Park. What starts out as a normal evening of catching up quickly turns into a nightmare when father and daughter find themselves “face to face” with a figure in a mask. With a knife to his throat, Karl is forced to make an impossible decision. Stay and die, or walk away and believe the figure when they say this is the only way both Karl and Leah will live to see another day.
Karl may be the first person to be confronted with this masked figure, but he won’t be the last. But why was he ambushed like this? Is it a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time or are people being targeted especially? DI Alex Finn thinks the “why” will lead him to the “who” but when it looks as if there are no connecting threads at all, where do you even begin to investigate?
This is a case that very much centres around grief. If you’ve read the previous book, then you know DI Alex Finn is grieving a massive loss himself. Not very well either, I might add. Being knee-deep in an investigation as harrowing and devastating as this one isn’t helping. Will he finally ask for help? Then there’s Karl, who has to live with the decision he made. Who is scrutinised and hounded by everyone from the media to his own wife. As a reader, I found myself transported right to that very moment where Karl makes his choice and the soul searching began. Because what would I do? What would you do when you get a split second, a mere snap of the fingers, to make a decision that could potentially change the rest of your life? And not in a good way. When all is said and done, would you still be able to live with yourself?
As you can see, there is so much more going on than just solving a brutal crime and this story about grief, loss and revenge had me glued to the pages. With a few red herrings dotted around, I couldn’t at all figure out what was going on. Even that reveal was somewhat heartbreaking. Don’t you just hate it when you almost feel sympathy for a perpetrator?
The Killing Choice is an immensely gripping, thought-provoking and compelling second instalment in the DI Alex Finn series and I can’t wait for book three! Clear a space on your shelves for this one!
February 19, 2021
My word, this story has a twisted premise, with random people being forced at knifepoint to make a horrendous decision that none of us could ever contemplate.
Karl and his daughter Leah meet at London’s Crystal Palace dinosaur park one evening on their way to dinner. But before they can leave the park they are accosted by someone wearing a mask and carrying a large knife. Karl is faced with a terrible choice and life will never be the same again. Sadly Karl will not be the only one.
It is nearly a year since DI Alex Finn lost his wife Karin and he is still going through the grieving process. First in the office and the last to leave, he feels himself that his state of mind is affecting the way he does his job and although his team have his back, his struggles haven’t gone unnoticed. However he won’t accept that he needs help and it takes another tragedy to make him realise that he needs to practice what he preaches. Finn still comes over as a troubled soul. His grief aside, he is not naturally a people person and is getting too comfortable with his solitary existence.
DC Mattie Paulsen makes a return appearance, this time with more focus on her personal life which is causing a distraction from her professional duties. She is still trying to fit in with the rest of the team and is difficult to get to know but she works well with Finn and the two of them appear to have reached an understanding.
The plot is a multi layered one that leads into other aspects of criminal activity involving drugs and violent crime that Finn also has to investigate. His instinct tells him that to solve this spate of vicious knife crime he must follow a certain tract but with little in the way of hard evidence he has a hard time trying to persuade his superiors to trust his judgement.
This is the second in the series and is another excellent read. Moral dilemmas, media intrusion, grief and guilt as well as having to deal with the consequences of actions – all are bound up in a fast paced and cleverly plotted story that is both tense and exciting with the various strands being pulled together to reach a dramatic conclusion. I loved it and couldn’t read it quickly enough. There are so many crime series but this one, whilst fairly new to the crime scene, deserves its place amongst the best. There is a book 3, ‘The Hunting Ground’, coming next year. I can’t wait!
Karl and his daughter Leah meet at London’s Crystal Palace dinosaur park one evening on their way to dinner. But before they can leave the park they are accosted by someone wearing a mask and carrying a large knife. Karl is faced with a terrible choice and life will never be the same again. Sadly Karl will not be the only one.
It is nearly a year since DI Alex Finn lost his wife Karin and he is still going through the grieving process. First in the office and the last to leave, he feels himself that his state of mind is affecting the way he does his job and although his team have his back, his struggles haven’t gone unnoticed. However he won’t accept that he needs help and it takes another tragedy to make him realise that he needs to practice what he preaches. Finn still comes over as a troubled soul. His grief aside, he is not naturally a people person and is getting too comfortable with his solitary existence.
DC Mattie Paulsen makes a return appearance, this time with more focus on her personal life which is causing a distraction from her professional duties. She is still trying to fit in with the rest of the team and is difficult to get to know but she works well with Finn and the two of them appear to have reached an understanding.
The plot is a multi layered one that leads into other aspects of criminal activity involving drugs and violent crime that Finn also has to investigate. His instinct tells him that to solve this spate of vicious knife crime he must follow a certain tract but with little in the way of hard evidence he has a hard time trying to persuade his superiors to trust his judgement.
This is the second in the series and is another excellent read. Moral dilemmas, media intrusion, grief and guilt as well as having to deal with the consequences of actions – all are bound up in a fast paced and cleverly plotted story that is both tense and exciting with the various strands being pulled together to reach a dramatic conclusion. I loved it and couldn’t read it quickly enough. There are so many crime series but this one, whilst fairly new to the crime scene, deserves its place amongst the best. There is a book 3, ‘The Hunting Ground’, coming next year. I can’t wait!
January 20, 2021
This is a scorcher of a book (pun intended). If you enjoyed the first book in the series, The Burning Men, then you will LOVE The Killing Choice. The author's experience as a screenwriter really shines through, and he writes with gritty realism that will immediately suck you into the story. A fast-paced pulse pounding read, I thoroughly enjoyed this latest book in the series, I couldn't put it down.
February 17, 2021
I read, reviewed and loved Will’s debut novel, featuring Detective Inspector Alex Finn, called ‘The Burning Men’ and I literally couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of his second book. Well ladies and gents the wait is over, because ‘The Killing Choice’ was released on 11th February 2021. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Killing Choice’ but more about that in a bit.
I fell under this book’s spell the moment I picked it up and read the synopsis. It seemed lie the book had developed a hold over me and it was a hold that I wasn’t willing to break. I picked up my copy of the book only intending to read a couple of chapters to make a start on the story. That was fatal because I ended up becoming so wrapped up in the story that I read more like a dozen chapters in one go. I found ‘The Killing Choice’ to be an addictive read and my copy was certainly well travelled as I took it everywhere with me. I couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story in case I missed out on a vital clue or piece of evidence. It got to the stage where I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough in my desperation to find out how the story concluded, whether Finn made it to the end of the book in one piece and if the perpetrator was apprehended. I found this to be a superb read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘The Killing Choice’ is superbly written. Will certainly knows how to instantly grab your attention and draw you into a complex story and investigation. For me, the story started with a bang and in such a way that will stick fresh in my memory for a long time to come. The story hit the ground running and maintained a fast pace throughout. There were several twists and turns to this story- none of which I saw coming. Reading ‘The Killing Choice’ was much like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with moments that left me speechless (a rare occurrence).
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Killing Choice’ and I would have no hesitation in recommending the book to other readers. I can’t wait to read more of Will’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I fell under this book’s spell the moment I picked it up and read the synopsis. It seemed lie the book had developed a hold over me and it was a hold that I wasn’t willing to break. I picked up my copy of the book only intending to read a couple of chapters to make a start on the story. That was fatal because I ended up becoming so wrapped up in the story that I read more like a dozen chapters in one go. I found ‘The Killing Choice’ to be an addictive read and my copy was certainly well travelled as I took it everywhere with me. I couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story in case I missed out on a vital clue or piece of evidence. It got to the stage where I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough in my desperation to find out how the story concluded, whether Finn made it to the end of the book in one piece and if the perpetrator was apprehended. I found this to be a superb read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘The Killing Choice’ is superbly written. Will certainly knows how to instantly grab your attention and draw you into a complex story and investigation. For me, the story started with a bang and in such a way that will stick fresh in my memory for a long time to come. The story hit the ground running and maintained a fast pace throughout. There were several twists and turns to this story- none of which I saw coming. Reading ‘The Killing Choice’ was much like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with moments that left me speechless (a rare occurrence).
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Killing Choice’ and I would have no hesitation in recommending the book to other readers. I can’t wait to read more of Will’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
August 19, 2022
Super unsure of my opinion on crime books. It’s like *convoluted and insane method of serial murder interlaced with multiply lines of enquiry* and then the whole thing is figured out in the space of half a chapter and then it’s the end. I enjoyed some twists and turns but idk if it’s enough to say I enjoyed the book. Perhaps I shouldn’t think too hard about it - after all I did just buy it to have something to read on the train…
Note: A man will literally put his head in the way of a loaded gun instead of going to therapy.
Note 2: If a woman is a villain and did something wrong (murder) no she didn’t
Note: A man will literally put his head in the way of a loaded gun instead of going to therapy.
Note 2: If a woman is a villain and did something wrong (murder) no she didn’t
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2021
The Killing Choice is the second in the DI Alex Finn series, following on from The Burning Man. It can happily be read as a stand-alone, though I’d urge you to read The Burning Man as there will be character progression cross the series and it’s always good to get in early. I believe this is a series that will stand the test of time as the characters are grounded in reality and Shindler’s sense of place is excellent.
Karl Suleman and his daughter Leah are on their way to a father/daughter date night at a London restaurant when they are ambushed by a lone figure with a strange, faceless visor, who is armed with a zombie knife. London is of course, the capital of knife crime and when the masked figure gives Karl a choice – leave and I’ll rape your daughter or stay and I will kill you both, Karl looks at his daughter who urges him to go and so he runs, looking for help in the hope that he can get it for Leah before the masked figure does his worst.
Haunted with guilt, Karl has difficulty coming to terms with the choice he was offered and the decision he made. Nor can his wife understand it. DI Alex Finn and his colleagues DC Mattie Paulson and DS Jackie Ojo investigate. Is this case somehow related to the problems they have been having with rival County lines drugs gangs which are prevalent on the housing estates in their patch? Turf wars are reaching new heights and violence is spilling into the streets.
Then another family is targeted and another choice is offered. DI Alex Finn is struggling. Though his team has his back, he knows he’s not operating at his best and worse, his boss knows it too. Struggling with the death of his wife Karin, Finn’s thinking is clouded and he knows he should be spotting connections between the victims and their families but he just can’t get his head in the right space to think clearly.
Mattie Paulson takes more of a role in this book and it’s good to understand a bit more about the team and its individual players. She has her own troubled past and now new family troubles to deal with and we see her trying to deal with these family issues at the same time as she is trying out a new aspect of the job; being a family liaison officer where she can’t allow her emotions to come into play. Mattie’s always been a bit of a loner and this job is not really in her comfort zone. The press is having a field day, passing judgement on Karl for making his choice and Mattie who is not really comfortable where she isn’t wanted, finds herself second guessing her own actions and wondering what she could have done differently.
Paulsen and Finn have each other’s backs, but both find themselves struggling somewhat in a story that is all about family and the choices we make and how easy we all find it to pass judgement on others.
Meanwhile, in the South East London Hope Estate the drug wars continue and as Finn struggles to see what connection with drugs if any there might be, another struggle is playing out between Isaiah Sims and his sons Hayden and Michael.
Shindler paces the book really well enabling the tension to build as the murders continue and the team, desperate to stop them, search for answers while not seeing or understanding where the connection and motivation lies.
Verdict: Well plotted with nicely drawn characters who feel believable, this is a tense and twisting novel that strikes just the right balance between plot and character, resulting in a well-honed book that captures the imagination and holds attention. Most enjoyable.
Karl Suleman and his daughter Leah are on their way to a father/daughter date night at a London restaurant when they are ambushed by a lone figure with a strange, faceless visor, who is armed with a zombie knife. London is of course, the capital of knife crime and when the masked figure gives Karl a choice – leave and I’ll rape your daughter or stay and I will kill you both, Karl looks at his daughter who urges him to go and so he runs, looking for help in the hope that he can get it for Leah before the masked figure does his worst.
Haunted with guilt, Karl has difficulty coming to terms with the choice he was offered and the decision he made. Nor can his wife understand it. DI Alex Finn and his colleagues DC Mattie Paulson and DS Jackie Ojo investigate. Is this case somehow related to the problems they have been having with rival County lines drugs gangs which are prevalent on the housing estates in their patch? Turf wars are reaching new heights and violence is spilling into the streets.
Then another family is targeted and another choice is offered. DI Alex Finn is struggling. Though his team has his back, he knows he’s not operating at his best and worse, his boss knows it too. Struggling with the death of his wife Karin, Finn’s thinking is clouded and he knows he should be spotting connections between the victims and their families but he just can’t get his head in the right space to think clearly.
Mattie Paulson takes more of a role in this book and it’s good to understand a bit more about the team and its individual players. She has her own troubled past and now new family troubles to deal with and we see her trying to deal with these family issues at the same time as she is trying out a new aspect of the job; being a family liaison officer where she can’t allow her emotions to come into play. Mattie’s always been a bit of a loner and this job is not really in her comfort zone. The press is having a field day, passing judgement on Karl for making his choice and Mattie who is not really comfortable where she isn’t wanted, finds herself second guessing her own actions and wondering what she could have done differently.
Paulsen and Finn have each other’s backs, but both find themselves struggling somewhat in a story that is all about family and the choices we make and how easy we all find it to pass judgement on others.
Meanwhile, in the South East London Hope Estate the drug wars continue and as Finn struggles to see what connection with drugs if any there might be, another struggle is playing out between Isaiah Sims and his sons Hayden and Michael.
Shindler paces the book really well enabling the tension to build as the murders continue and the team, desperate to stop them, search for answers while not seeing or understanding where the connection and motivation lies.
Verdict: Well plotted with nicely drawn characters who feel believable, this is a tense and twisting novel that strikes just the right balance between plot and character, resulting in a well-honed book that captures the imagination and holds attention. Most enjoyable.
February 14, 2021
A series of very strange murders has DI Finn and his team stumped. They know the same killer is involved but what do the victims have in common. It will take a lot of man hours before the slightest link can be found.
This is an original if slightly convoluted plot which kept me rapt for several hours and delivered a conclusion that left me stunned. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book
This is an original if slightly convoluted plot which kept me rapt for several hours and delivered a conclusion that left me stunned. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book
January 31, 2022
3.5 stars - because I guessed correctly 🙄
But it is a good read
But it is a good read
February 3, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and The Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review
It's official. I'm hooked. I've just added another detective series to my list. I loved this so much. The second outing for DI Alex Finn was a blinder and that's even with, in my opinion, an obvious flaw in the plot. Page turning, jaw dropping, full of tension. Kept me guessing, for both the suspect and motive, until the end. And captured the essence of London perfectly. As long as they keep coming, I'll keep reading them.
It's official. I'm hooked. I've just added another detective series to my list. I loved this so much. The second outing for DI Alex Finn was a blinder and that's even with, in my opinion, an obvious flaw in the plot. Page turning, jaw dropping, full of tension. Kept me guessing, for both the suspect and motive, until the end. And captured the essence of London perfectly. As long as they keep coming, I'll keep reading them.
September 7, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy of The Killing Choice, the second novel to feature DI Alex Finn of The Met.
Karl Suleman is offered a choice by a knife wielding attacker, either walk away and his daughter would be unharmed or stay and be killed along with her. The killer lied and Leah Suleman died. Karl won’t be the only one offered the same choice and it is up to DI Alex Finn and DS Mattie Paulsen to understand the motive and find a killer.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Killing Choice which is a sharp police procedural with an interesting plot. It is not a long novel so nothing is wasted and at the same time manages to make quite a few points about various issues, mostly the nature of love and grief.
The novel is told from various points of view, on the investigative side Finn and Paulsen and on the other, the victims or choosers to be more specific and an unenthusiastic drug dealer, Hayden Sims. How Hayden fits in isn’t clear until the end of the novel but I didn’t think that mattered as I found his story compelling on its own with his dysfunctional relationship with his father (arising from grief over the death of his mother), his ambivalence about Greg dealing and his love for his brother and girlfriend. It seems to encapsulate the life of a young man on a rough estate. I thought the Karl Suleman situation was extremely well done with his reaction and the reactions of the media. He was placed in an impossible situation. Finn is not handling the death of his wife 11 months earlier well and it’s starting to affect his work. This is an evocative picture of a man trying to struggle on but essentially rudderless. For a relatively short novel it packs a punch and offers a surprisingly intimate and nuanced picture of the characters.
The plot is good enough with a strong if not highly original premise. I like the wide pool of possibilities always present in stranger killings and the gradual narrowing down of motives and links as the novel progresses. There are the usual disagreements about strategy but the main thread relies on Finn’s intuition. By about half way through I had guessed the killer’s identity, mostly, I think, by the way the character is written rather than by any strong deductive reasoning. The motive escaped me.
I found the storytelling compulsive, being readable, spare and to the point. The reveals are spaced evenly, leaving the reader wanting more.
The Killing Choice is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Karl Suleman is offered a choice by a knife wielding attacker, either walk away and his daughter would be unharmed or stay and be killed along with her. The killer lied and Leah Suleman died. Karl won’t be the only one offered the same choice and it is up to DI Alex Finn and DS Mattie Paulsen to understand the motive and find a killer.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Killing Choice which is a sharp police procedural with an interesting plot. It is not a long novel so nothing is wasted and at the same time manages to make quite a few points about various issues, mostly the nature of love and grief.
The novel is told from various points of view, on the investigative side Finn and Paulsen and on the other, the victims or choosers to be more specific and an unenthusiastic drug dealer, Hayden Sims. How Hayden fits in isn’t clear until the end of the novel but I didn’t think that mattered as I found his story compelling on its own with his dysfunctional relationship with his father (arising from grief over the death of his mother), his ambivalence about Greg dealing and his love for his brother and girlfriend. It seems to encapsulate the life of a young man on a rough estate. I thought the Karl Suleman situation was extremely well done with his reaction and the reactions of the media. He was placed in an impossible situation. Finn is not handling the death of his wife 11 months earlier well and it’s starting to affect his work. This is an evocative picture of a man trying to struggle on but essentially rudderless. For a relatively short novel it packs a punch and offers a surprisingly intimate and nuanced picture of the characters.
The plot is good enough with a strong if not highly original premise. I like the wide pool of possibilities always present in stranger killings and the gradual narrowing down of motives and links as the novel progresses. There are the usual disagreements about strategy but the main thread relies on Finn’s intuition. By about half way through I had guessed the killer’s identity, mostly, I think, by the way the character is written rather than by any strong deductive reasoning. The motive escaped me.
I found the storytelling compulsive, being readable, spare and to the point. The reveals are spaced evenly, leaving the reader wanting more.
The Killing Choice is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
January 2, 2021
I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book, I really enjoyed it. It had a great storyline that was fast paced and had lots of different threads all needing to be tied up at the end, well written would definitely recommend.
August 14, 2022
I really enjoyed Will Schindler’s first book The Burning Men and was excited to see what was next and in the Killing Choice he has certainly produced another thrilling read. When Karl and his daughter Leah meet up to go to dinner they did not expect to end the evening the way they did. They are held at knifepoint and Karl has to make the heart-breaking choice of leaving his daughter with their attacker or both of them die. It’s not a choice anyone would want to make.
DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen are called in to investigate what happened and if this was just some random attack or if it is linked to the family themselves. There is certainly something that Karl is hiding, and his attitude is not helping the feeling that somehow it is linked back to him. Although there is nothing much to like about him, you can still feel his sense of guilt that he made the wrong choice and that is something he will have to live with. When another attack takes place the pressure is on Finn and Paulsen to find out who is committing the murders and if they are linked in anyway. The attacks may be horrific, but they are all played out off scene and it is only the readers imagination from the aftermath that give the sense of what took place.
There are certainly a lot of twists and misdirection’s in this book and at first it is hard to see why one particular strand is there but as the investigation progresses it all slowly becomes a little clearer as the motive is finally revealed and while you may work out the why, the who is really not so easy, and you only truly work it out at the same time as Alex.
Alex and Mattie are characters that bounce off each other. As much as they are different they are very much the same. Both are quite insular and have issues with opening up to others when they are struggling. Alex is clearly still not over the death of his wife and Mattie is trying to cope with the fact that her father is suffering with Alzheimer’s which can lead to distractions and some dubious choices that could have dramatic consequences.
Will Schindler has managed again to create a set of characters that you may not like the more you know them (with the exception of Finn and Paulsen) but for some reason you will still want to know what happens to them. I am now looking forward to reading the next in the series to find out if Alex and Mattie have managed to make peace with themselves and what they will encounter next
DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen are called in to investigate what happened and if this was just some random attack or if it is linked to the family themselves. There is certainly something that Karl is hiding, and his attitude is not helping the feeling that somehow it is linked back to him. Although there is nothing much to like about him, you can still feel his sense of guilt that he made the wrong choice and that is something he will have to live with. When another attack takes place the pressure is on Finn and Paulsen to find out who is committing the murders and if they are linked in anyway. The attacks may be horrific, but they are all played out off scene and it is only the readers imagination from the aftermath that give the sense of what took place.
There are certainly a lot of twists and misdirection’s in this book and at first it is hard to see why one particular strand is there but as the investigation progresses it all slowly becomes a little clearer as the motive is finally revealed and while you may work out the why, the who is really not so easy, and you only truly work it out at the same time as Alex.
Alex and Mattie are characters that bounce off each other. As much as they are different they are very much the same. Both are quite insular and have issues with opening up to others when they are struggling. Alex is clearly still not over the death of his wife and Mattie is trying to cope with the fact that her father is suffering with Alzheimer’s which can lead to distractions and some dubious choices that could have dramatic consequences.
Will Schindler has managed again to create a set of characters that you may not like the more you know them (with the exception of Finn and Paulsen) but for some reason you will still want to know what happens to them. I am now looking forward to reading the next in the series to find out if Alex and Mattie have managed to make peace with themselves and what they will encounter next
November 22, 2024
This is the second book in the DI Alex Finn series and it is brilliant, revealing more about the main character and also one of his newer up and coming detectives Mattie. I would suggest read ting the first book as it does give some great background on the two main characters of this story and this is very helpful for what is in this book.
Finn has been struggling since the death of his wife, those who know him can see he is not coping but with a new investigation to deal with things are just about balancing with him, but there are tells. Mattie is given a new role as a FLO, family Liaison Officer and she is supposed to be working with another colleague, but he is already snowed under so she is working more on her own initiative but reporting to Finn.
The title for this book is great as it implies there is a choice to be had and my goodness what a choice those involved are given. The death of yourself or your loved one. for Karl he decided to try to get help, but was it the right decision? With the media and social media hounding the police for more information. Another case suddenly appears with no apparent link or motive.
This is a case that is full of twists and turns, unexpected revelations, while nothing makes sense at the time, the behind the scenes work by the police trudges along. There is no clear reason for the attacks and this makes sense by the time things are beginning to come clear later in the book.
Along with Finn's problems, Mattie also has family drama to deal with. One of the down sides of being involved in a complex case is that you have to make decisions and she soon discovers that juggling family, relationships and a heavy case load does have its drawbacks.
This book was fabulous, I am not sure what I enjoyed more, the case or getting to know more about Mattie and Finn as they deal with their own personal lives.
This is a brilliant book in the series and it follows on from the first book, The Burning Man so well. Looking forward to the next one. If you are a fan of police procedurals, crime, thriller and detective investigations then this is one to have a look at. I would definitely recommend it.
Finn has been struggling since the death of his wife, those who know him can see he is not coping but with a new investigation to deal with things are just about balancing with him, but there are tells. Mattie is given a new role as a FLO, family Liaison Officer and she is supposed to be working with another colleague, but he is already snowed under so she is working more on her own initiative but reporting to Finn.
The title for this book is great as it implies there is a choice to be had and my goodness what a choice those involved are given. The death of yourself or your loved one. for Karl he decided to try to get help, but was it the right decision? With the media and social media hounding the police for more information. Another case suddenly appears with no apparent link or motive.
This is a case that is full of twists and turns, unexpected revelations, while nothing makes sense at the time, the behind the scenes work by the police trudges along. There is no clear reason for the attacks and this makes sense by the time things are beginning to come clear later in the book.
Along with Finn's problems, Mattie also has family drama to deal with. One of the down sides of being involved in a complex case is that you have to make decisions and she soon discovers that juggling family, relationships and a heavy case load does have its drawbacks.
This book was fabulous, I am not sure what I enjoyed more, the case or getting to know more about Mattie and Finn as they deal with their own personal lives.
This is a brilliant book in the series and it follows on from the first book, The Burning Man so well. Looking forward to the next one. If you are a fan of police procedurals, crime, thriller and detective investigations then this is one to have a look at. I would definitely recommend it.
February 9, 2021
Last year I really enjoyed Will Shindler’s debut novel, The Burning Men, so when I was invited to join the blog tour for this second novel, I accepted without thinking twice about it. In The Burning Men, we were introduced to DI Alex Finn and his new colleague, DC Mattie Paulsen, but, if you haven’t read it, you can easily read The Killing Choice as a stand-alone, although I highly recommend you give The Burning Men a read.
The Killing Choice starts with Karl Suleman and his daughter Leah on their weekly father-daughter dinner when they are stopped by someone in a mask and with a knife who gives them a choice: if Karl leaves, both he and his daughter will survive; if Karl stays, they will both die. What would you do? Karl’s choice ends tragically and while he is condemned by the media and the public, and, most of all, by his wife, DI Alex Finn and his team investigate.
The Killing Choice is a gripping and suspenseful police procedural that shows on one side the police in a race against time trying to stop a killer before he hits again while, at the same time, they are facing personal problems; on the other side, the victims of what seems to be random attacks that leaves them feeling guilty and helpless.
In this second novel we learn more about the two leading detectives. A year after the death of his wife Karin, DI Alex Finn is still grieving. He buries himself into work, arriving first thing in the morning and leaving late at night. When one of her oldest friends tells him that Karin asked her to keep an eye on him, he may be ready to acknowledge that he needs help.
DC Mattie Paulsen is facing problems both on the professional and personal side: she feels frustrated that, after a year, she still must prove herself to DI Finn and this may put her in danger. On the personal side, she receives bad news from her parents that affect her deeply.
The Killing Choice is a story of revenge, guilt, choice, and grief that poses the question: would you risk your life to protect the person you love? Twisty and intense it shows the author’s deep knowledge of police procedure and it will leave you on the edge of your seat. I am already looking forward to the next installment of this must-read series!
The Killing Choice starts with Karl Suleman and his daughter Leah on their weekly father-daughter dinner when they are stopped by someone in a mask and with a knife who gives them a choice: if Karl leaves, both he and his daughter will survive; if Karl stays, they will both die. What would you do? Karl’s choice ends tragically and while he is condemned by the media and the public, and, most of all, by his wife, DI Alex Finn and his team investigate.
The Killing Choice is a gripping and suspenseful police procedural that shows on one side the police in a race against time trying to stop a killer before he hits again while, at the same time, they are facing personal problems; on the other side, the victims of what seems to be random attacks that leaves them feeling guilty and helpless.
In this second novel we learn more about the two leading detectives. A year after the death of his wife Karin, DI Alex Finn is still grieving. He buries himself into work, arriving first thing in the morning and leaving late at night. When one of her oldest friends tells him that Karin asked her to keep an eye on him, he may be ready to acknowledge that he needs help.
DC Mattie Paulsen is facing problems both on the professional and personal side: she feels frustrated that, after a year, she still must prove herself to DI Finn and this may put her in danger. On the personal side, she receives bad news from her parents that affect her deeply.
The Killing Choice is a story of revenge, guilt, choice, and grief that poses the question: would you risk your life to protect the person you love? Twisty and intense it shows the author’s deep knowledge of police procedure and it will leave you on the edge of your seat. I am already looking forward to the next installment of this must-read series!
May 4, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up. Will Shindler is a talented author with an excellent turn of phrase. But, while this had an original plot, I did have to suspend disbelief a touch too much, with the killer’s methods veering a little too much towards the convoluted and unnecessary style of a cartoon villain.
May 24, 2021
Wow what a great read ! This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last! This is book 2 in the DI Alex Finn series , i will be definitely looking out for more in this series
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review
June 18, 2023
Couldn't put it down ever, even read a bit during my breaks at work which I never do!
February 4, 2021
The Killing Choice
I’d like to thanks Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for my copy of the ARC. I typically do book reviews where I have 3 sections, covering Summary, What I Loved and What could have been better. For this book however, I am skipping the last section altogether as this genuinely was one of those books where it is hard work to actually find a fault.
Summary
The book opens in London with Karl Suleman walking with his daughter at dusk through a park, on a mostly empty lane, when they encounter a deathly figure in a faceless mask. Presented with a life or death choice, Karl struggles with the repercussions of what he has to do and very soon, we find many other innocent people across London offered with a similar ‘Live or Die’ choice.
DI Alex Finn, along with this trusted crew, must race against time to link together all these seemingly unconnected events and find the killer before the unthinkable happens. This time however, smart as he is, Alex might be playing with fire himself.
Review
Will Shindler weaves a gripping story with his fast-paced narrative that keeps you on the edge. Set mainly in south east London, the book is very authentic in creating the London vibe and it is obvious that the author has done his research. The plot is neat, does not waffle and the attention to detail is beyond excellent.
I especially like how Will Shindler did not lay all the cards on the table and kept me on the edge of my seat right until the very end.
I’d also like to take a moment to highlight that the characters – all of them – were very well etched out. The author goes into just enough depth into each of their background without wandering away from the plot.
Final Words: With ‘The killing Choice’ Will Shindler has presented us with gripping, fast paced thriller, that will have you hooked from the first page, right until the very end. I’d definitely be looking to read more of Alex Finn!
Full review on the blog: https://betweenpages.me/2021/02/04/bo...
I’d like to thanks Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for my copy of the ARC. I typically do book reviews where I have 3 sections, covering Summary, What I Loved and What could have been better. For this book however, I am skipping the last section altogether as this genuinely was one of those books where it is hard work to actually find a fault.
Summary
The book opens in London with Karl Suleman walking with his daughter at dusk through a park, on a mostly empty lane, when they encounter a deathly figure in a faceless mask. Presented with a life or death choice, Karl struggles with the repercussions of what he has to do and very soon, we find many other innocent people across London offered with a similar ‘Live or Die’ choice.
DI Alex Finn, along with this trusted crew, must race against time to link together all these seemingly unconnected events and find the killer before the unthinkable happens. This time however, smart as he is, Alex might be playing with fire himself.
Review
Will Shindler weaves a gripping story with his fast-paced narrative that keeps you on the edge. Set mainly in south east London, the book is very authentic in creating the London vibe and it is obvious that the author has done his research. The plot is neat, does not waffle and the attention to detail is beyond excellent.
I especially like how Will Shindler did not lay all the cards on the table and kept me on the edge of my seat right until the very end.
I’d also like to take a moment to highlight that the characters – all of them – were very well etched out. The author goes into just enough depth into each of their background without wandering away from the plot.
Final Words: With ‘The killing Choice’ Will Shindler has presented us with gripping, fast paced thriller, that will have you hooked from the first page, right until the very end. I’d definitely be looking to read more of Alex Finn!
Full review on the blog: https://betweenpages.me/2021/02/04/bo...
February 13, 2021
I was looking forward to reading this book and it didn’t let me down.
I got my answer about Walker from the first book.
I really like Finn and his team. I feel so sad when reading about Finn and his grief about his wife death.
This story was very very good, a real page turner. Once I started I couldn’t put it down and read until I had finished at 4am.
The story kept me guessing and I only knew who the killer was once it was revealed. While I was reading I kept thinking about the choice the killer gave his victims and it had me thinking....what would I do. Karl explains it so well, you only had seconds to choose. I felt so sorry for Karl. He didn’t sound like a nice man but I still felt for him. I didn’t blame him for his actions after that night one bit and his wife didn’t or wouldn’t help him either. Saying that about his wife you couldn’t blame her either. She was married to him for over 20 years and she had her reasons. Excellent story and characters.
Book 3 is out next year and I have already preordered it....can’t wait.
I got my answer about Walker from the first book.
I really like Finn and his team. I feel so sad when reading about Finn and his grief about his wife death.
This story was very very good, a real page turner. Once I started I couldn’t put it down and read until I had finished at 4am.
The story kept me guessing and I only knew who the killer was once it was revealed. While I was reading I kept thinking about the choice the killer gave his victims and it had me thinking....what would I do. Karl explains it so well, you only had seconds to choose. I felt so sorry for Karl. He didn’t sound like a nice man but I still felt for him. I didn’t blame him for his actions after that night one bit and his wife didn’t or wouldn’t help him either. Saying that about his wife you couldn’t blame her either. She was married to him for over 20 years and she had her reasons. Excellent story and characters.
Book 3 is out next year and I have already preordered it....can’t wait.
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