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Substitute
8 hours, 16 minutes
Three people live. Three people die. You make the choice.
Like any mother, Chrissie wants to protect her family. She would do anything to keep them safe. So when a mysterious stranger turns up at her door, offering to prevent the deaths of the people she loves, it sounds too good to be true. The only problem: she must choose someone to die in their place. A substitute.
When her daughter Holly has a terrible accident, Chrissie has no option but to enter the programme. In that horrifying moment, she would do anything to save her. But even after Holly makes a miraculous recovery, Chrissie is convinced it’s just a coincidence. After all, who can really control the laws of life and death?
But as the dangers to her family escalate and her chosen substitutes begin to disappear, Chrissie finds herself in an underworld of hidden laboratories and secretive doctors. And the consequences of playing by their rules are far deadlier than she ever imagined…
Three people live. Three people die. You make the choice.
Like any mother, Chrissie wants to protect her family. She would do anything to keep them safe. So when a mysterious stranger turns up at her door, offering to prevent the deaths of the people she loves, it sounds too good to be true. The only problem: she must choose someone to die in their place. A substitute.
When her daughter Holly has a terrible accident, Chrissie has no option but to enter the programme. In that horrifying moment, she would do anything to save her. But even after Holly makes a miraculous recovery, Chrissie is convinced it’s just a coincidence. After all, who can really control the laws of life and death?
But as the dangers to her family escalate and her chosen substitutes begin to disappear, Chrissie finds herself in an underworld of hidden laboratories and secretive doctors. And the consequences of playing by their rules are far deadlier than she ever imagined…
Audible Audio
First published August 12, 2021
636 people are currently reading
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About the author
Susi Holliday
15 books330 followersLibrarian Note: Also writes under the name S.J.I. Holliday.
Susi (S.J.I.) Holliday grew up near Edinburgh and spent many years working in her family’s newsagent and pub before studying microbiology and statistics at university. She has worked as a statistician in the pharmaceutical industry for 20 years, but it was on a 6-month round-the-world-trip that she took with her husband several years ago that she rediscovered her passion for writing.
You can find out more at www.sjiholliday.com, or on Twitter and Facebook @SJIHolliday.
Susi (S.J.I.) Holliday grew up near Edinburgh and spent many years working in her family’s newsagent and pub before studying microbiology and statistics at university. She has worked as a statistician in the pharmaceutical industry for 20 years, but it was on a 6-month round-the-world-trip that she took with her husband several years ago that she rediscovered her passion for writing.
You can find out more at www.sjiholliday.com, or on Twitter and Facebook @SJIHolliday.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
July 26, 2021
Chrissie Tate answers a persistent banging on the door to find Joseph Marshall on her doorstep. He asked her if she’s experienced grief. She shuts the door in confusion but a few days later she’s intrigued enough to contact him and he makes an extraordinary offer. Who is he? What is he up to? Who does he work for? We learn the truth by narratives that link and connect from 1980 to now and it is told by Chrissie, her estranged father Michael who is a scientist and by Joseph.
This novel has a really good, if a somewhat twisted premise and what develops is very different which for me is a major plus with so many similar books on the market. It’s very easy to read, in fact you lap it up because you want to know and understand what is going on and why. In places it definitely sends shivers down the spine as there are ethics involved especially in the earlier narratives. There’s a mash up of genres with a good sci-fi element, it’s part thriller and there’s a good conspiracy covert thread to the storyline with secretive agencies and this works well in a complex plot, which by the same token is easy to follow because it’s well written. I especially like the conundrum and moral dilemma part of the storytelling which involves all three of the central protagonists. Chrissie is a good central character and she hangs the whole story together. She’s clearly struggling, she’s got a lot to come to terms with from the past but she’s also very likeable. The triple narrative and dual timelines works well, it’s clever and you are able to piece together the jigsaw of the plot and get a clear picture. On occasions I find the dialogue a bit saccharine especially when Holly, Chrissie’s daughter features but maybe it’s true to life and how some people would talk to little ones.
Overall, this is just a bit different and thus it makes for good escapist reading. Clever title too!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Amazon Publishing UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This novel has a really good, if a somewhat twisted premise and what develops is very different which for me is a major plus with so many similar books on the market. It’s very easy to read, in fact you lap it up because you want to know and understand what is going on and why. In places it definitely sends shivers down the spine as there are ethics involved especially in the earlier narratives. There’s a mash up of genres with a good sci-fi element, it’s part thriller and there’s a good conspiracy covert thread to the storyline with secretive agencies and this works well in a complex plot, which by the same token is easy to follow because it’s well written. I especially like the conundrum and moral dilemma part of the storytelling which involves all three of the central protagonists. Chrissie is a good central character and she hangs the whole story together. She’s clearly struggling, she’s got a lot to come to terms with from the past but she’s also very likeable. The triple narrative and dual timelines works well, it’s clever and you are able to piece together the jigsaw of the plot and get a clear picture. On occasions I find the dialogue a bit saccharine especially when Holly, Chrissie’s daughter features but maybe it’s true to life and how some people would talk to little ones.
Overall, this is just a bit different and thus it makes for good escapist reading. Clever title too!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Amazon Publishing UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
August 13, 2021
SUBSTITUTE is a medical /Sci Fi/ techno thriller by bestselling author Susi Holliday. This book blew me away and messed with my mind! I just couldn't put this book down!
The story is told on two time-frames. In the NOW, Chrissie Tate, the wife of Nathan and mother of three-year-old Holly and best friend Wendy, has a family to care for. One day Chrissie is approached by Joseph, a door-to-door solicitor who asks her if she had ever experienced grief. If so, he said that he could stop her from having to suffer it ever again.
But there was one condition. She must list 3 people that she wants to save, and 3 people who will die in their place. A substitute.
But what kind of a scam was this?
When her daughter Holly has a terrible accident, Chrissie has no option but to enter the program. In that horrifying moment, she would do anything to save her. But even after Holly makes a miraculous recovery, Chrissie is convinced it’s just a coincidence.
But nothing is as it seems…I won’t comment any further for risk of spoilers.
Substitute is an outstanding techno-thriller that had me on the edge of my seat right up to the shocking ending. I definitely recommend it; it is disturbing, thought-provoking and completely addictive.
Many thanks to the author and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
The story is told on two time-frames. In the NOW, Chrissie Tate, the wife of Nathan and mother of three-year-old Holly and best friend Wendy, has a family to care for. One day Chrissie is approached by Joseph, a door-to-door solicitor who asks her if she had ever experienced grief. If so, he said that he could stop her from having to suffer it ever again.
But there was one condition. She must list 3 people that she wants to save, and 3 people who will die in their place. A substitute.
But what kind of a scam was this?
When her daughter Holly has a terrible accident, Chrissie has no option but to enter the program. In that horrifying moment, she would do anything to save her. But even after Holly makes a miraculous recovery, Chrissie is convinced it’s just a coincidence.
But nothing is as it seems…I won’t comment any further for risk of spoilers.
Substitute is an outstanding techno-thriller that had me on the edge of my seat right up to the shocking ending. I definitely recommend it; it is disturbing, thought-provoking and completely addictive.
Many thanks to the author and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
February 27, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Substitute.
The premise was super intriguing so I was disappointed that it didn't meet my expectations, but that's on me.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
First, I didn't like Chrissie; I found her irritating.
I understand she was still mourning the loss of her mother but she kept mentioning it on every other page.
Second, when she discovers her husband is a cheating scumbag, her reaction is dulled, indifferent, and the author just glosses over that startling revelation.
Third, when the stranger proposes the shocking proposal to Chrissie, she practically jumps on the idea. She doesn't think about it, she doesn't consider this stranger sitting in her kitchen is creepy, she just automatically arrives at the conclusion that she should accept this out of the blue proposal.
Not weird at all.
Fourth (and the worst offender), there were wayyy too many cliches; her husband is cheating on her with her BFF; Chrissie doesn't call the cops when a strange man visits her because, naturally, she's had postpartum depression and she's concerned no one will believe her if she explains the crazy offer the stranger told her.
This trend needs to stop where the main character's mental illness, namely depression, can be used against her or make her sound crazy or unreliable. I'm over it.
Sadly, the cliches don't end there because, naturally, Chrissie has a guy friend she likes and who comes through for her when she calls him after shutting him out for four years.
In the end, Chrissie and this guy is a couple, she makes amends with her dad, her daughter is safe and sound, and all is right with the world.
Fifth, the story was hard to suspend disbelief when I figured out who Joseph was.
The characters were mostly one dimensional with little character development; I didn't like or sympathize with anyone.
After a few chapters, even Holly got on my nerves.
The writing was okay but this was too corny for me.
The premise was super intriguing so I was disappointed that it didn't meet my expectations, but that's on me.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
First, I didn't like Chrissie; I found her irritating.
I understand she was still mourning the loss of her mother but she kept mentioning it on every other page.
Second, when she discovers her husband is a cheating scumbag, her reaction is dulled, indifferent, and the author just glosses over that startling revelation.
Third, when the stranger proposes the shocking proposal to Chrissie, she practically jumps on the idea. She doesn't think about it, she doesn't consider this stranger sitting in her kitchen is creepy, she just automatically arrives at the conclusion that she should accept this out of the blue proposal.
Not weird at all.
Fourth (and the worst offender), there were wayyy too many cliches; her husband is cheating on her with her BFF; Chrissie doesn't call the cops when a strange man visits her because, naturally, she's had postpartum depression and she's concerned no one will believe her if she explains the crazy offer the stranger told her.
This trend needs to stop where the main character's mental illness, namely depression, can be used against her or make her sound crazy or unreliable. I'm over it.
Sadly, the cliches don't end there because, naturally, Chrissie has a guy friend she likes and who comes through for her when she calls him after shutting him out for four years.
In the end, Chrissie and this guy is a couple, she makes amends with her dad, her daughter is safe and sound, and all is right with the world.
Fifth, the story was hard to suspend disbelief when I figured out who Joseph was.
The characters were mostly one dimensional with little character development; I didn't like or sympathize with anyone.
After a few chapters, even Holly got on my nerves.
The writing was okay but this was too corny for me.
August 12, 2021
Chrissie has a good husband, even if he is absent a lot because of work. Her daughter, Holly, is the light of her life. She would do anything to keep them safe.
A stranger appears on her doorstep who offers her the chance of protecting the people she loves .. to prevent them from dying prematurely.
The hook .. she has to list 3 people that she wants to save ... and three people who will die in their place.
Book Blurb: When her daughter Holly has a terrible accident, Chrissie has no option but to enter the program. In that horrifying moment, she would do anything to save her. But even after Holly makes a miraculous recovery, Chrissie is convinced it’s just a coincidence.
But is it?
Part mystery, part crime fiction, part science fiction, this is well written with a unique story line. The characters are solidly drawn. There are twists and turns that lead to an unexpected, surprising conclusion.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this technothriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
A stranger appears on her doorstep who offers her the chance of protecting the people she loves .. to prevent them from dying prematurely.
The hook .. she has to list 3 people that she wants to save ... and three people who will die in their place.
Book Blurb: When her daughter Holly has a terrible accident, Chrissie has no option but to enter the program. In that horrifying moment, she would do anything to save her. But even after Holly makes a miraculous recovery, Chrissie is convinced it’s just a coincidence.
But is it?
Part mystery, part crime fiction, part science fiction, this is well written with a unique story line. The characters are solidly drawn. There are twists and turns that lead to an unexpected, surprising conclusion.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this technothriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
August 9, 2021
This is a darkly twisted, thought provoking, page turner of a thriller, with a hint of science fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed the easy to follow plot, the mix of characters, and the challenging places this story took my mind to and the questions it raised. I was so excited to see Susi Holliday had a new book out, having loved a few of her previous novels. This one definitely didn't disappoint. The Substitute is a thrilling read I highly recommend.
August 11, 2021
I love Susi Holliday's writing so I was thrilled to receive a copy of her latest book, Substitute. As with all of Susi's books, Substitute carried a dark and creepy edge that left me clicking the kindle pages long into the night. I love a book which centers around a moral dilemma, but Substitute brought so much more to the table. It's a real twisting of genres that will blow your mind.
August 18, 2021
What if you could save your loved ones from dying? We all wish we could have a magic button that would automatically save the people we love. In Susi Holliday’s new novel, Substitute, she explores just that, and it is a thoroughly entertaining, clever story. But it isn’t quite as straightforward as just saving someone you love. For you to save them, you must choose someone to die in their place.
Substitute is a highly engaging thriller which blends with science fiction so well. We meet Chrissie, who is still grieving for her mother who died several years earlier. Although her husband can’t seem to understand why she is still getting upset. She is approached by a stranger who asks if she would like to take part in a new programme. She doesn’t take this proposition all that seriously at first and eventually signs up, thinking it’s all just hypothetical. But it becomes clear that Chrissie wasn’t just randomly selected to take part. There is something far darker going on behind the scenes here.
Susi Holliday’s premise is such an interesting one. It had me thinking, what would I do if I was in Chrissie’s position. Would I be able to decide who lives and who dies so I can protect the ones I love? It did make me wonder if perhaps there is something similar in development somewhere around the world and that thought gave me chills. Given everything that’s happened in the past year, it doesn’t seem quite outside the realms of possibility anymore.
I loved the two different strands in this story. As we meet Chrissie in the present, we are also taken back to 1980 where we meet two scientists, Edward, and Michael. They are in the process of developing something extraordinary which Michael believes will benefit the world hugely.
I loved how Susi Holliday gradually revealed more about her characters and I could begin to see why they were involved in what was happening here. It is so cleverly put together. There are some tense scenes as we begin to understand why Chrissie has been selected to take part in this programme. It made for such gripping reading and the last line right at the end gave me chills.
This if my favourite book by Susi to date and I flew through it. If you love a mix of science fiction and a psychological thriller then this is the book for you. I highly, highly recommend it!
Substitute is a highly engaging thriller which blends with science fiction so well. We meet Chrissie, who is still grieving for her mother who died several years earlier. Although her husband can’t seem to understand why she is still getting upset. She is approached by a stranger who asks if she would like to take part in a new programme. She doesn’t take this proposition all that seriously at first and eventually signs up, thinking it’s all just hypothetical. But it becomes clear that Chrissie wasn’t just randomly selected to take part. There is something far darker going on behind the scenes here.
Susi Holliday’s premise is such an interesting one. It had me thinking, what would I do if I was in Chrissie’s position. Would I be able to decide who lives and who dies so I can protect the ones I love? It did make me wonder if perhaps there is something similar in development somewhere around the world and that thought gave me chills. Given everything that’s happened in the past year, it doesn’t seem quite outside the realms of possibility anymore.
I loved the two different strands in this story. As we meet Chrissie in the present, we are also taken back to 1980 where we meet two scientists, Edward, and Michael. They are in the process of developing something extraordinary which Michael believes will benefit the world hugely.
I loved how Susi Holliday gradually revealed more about her characters and I could begin to see why they were involved in what was happening here. It is so cleverly put together. There are some tense scenes as we begin to understand why Chrissie has been selected to take part in this programme. It made for such gripping reading and the last line right at the end gave me chills.
This if my favourite book by Susi to date and I flew through it. If you love a mix of science fiction and a psychological thriller then this is the book for you. I highly, highly recommend it!
July 25, 2021
This is my third book by Susie Holliday and I’ve enjoyed all. The Lingering was a paranormal suspense story set in an abandoned lunatic asylum taken over by a cult and Violet a travel adventure with a serial killer on the Trans-Siberian Express, and now The Substitute; one might consider first two homages to Stephen King and Patricia Highsmith. Now Substitute could be classed as a medical thriller - Michael Crichton territory, but strongly reminiscent of the great 19th-century classics Frankenstein and Jeckyll & Hyde. The story is told on two time-lines. In the contemporary frame, Chrissie Tate is approached by Joseph, a door-to-door solicitor with an offer too-good-to-be-true - a future without grief. As the wife of Nathan, the mother of three-year-old Holly, and the best friend of Wendy, Chrissie has people to care for. Joseph offers the miracle cure for three loved ones, but with the proviso that Chrissie must name three others to take their place.
In the backstory, set in 1980, two medical researchers, Michael and Edward, discover a substance they call Cellregenix, which when injected can apparently bring mice back from the dead. They have also developed a killer compound, T78473Y, that induces a massive heart attack. Michael is cautious and ethical, but Edward is careless and flamboyant, and eager to try their discovery on human subjects. And then the Ministry of Defence takes over their project and surrounds it with a veil of secrecy.
Though I couldn’t imagine just how Cellregenix is supposed to work, Susie Holliday’s previous experience in the pharmaceutical sector provides enough background detail to make Michael and Edward believable boffins. As we follow Chrissie’s family situation, we are also drawn into an emotionally fraught domestic drama. Gradually Holliday reveals the connections between the generations, and that the child Holly carries a dangerous biological inheritance. Substitute is an exciting blend of different genres presenting intriguing moral and ethical issues, a book I found impossible to put down.
I am most grateful to the author for a gratis copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
In the backstory, set in 1980, two medical researchers, Michael and Edward, discover a substance they call Cellregenix, which when injected can apparently bring mice back from the dead. They have also developed a killer compound, T78473Y, that induces a massive heart attack. Michael is cautious and ethical, but Edward is careless and flamboyant, and eager to try their discovery on human subjects. And then the Ministry of Defence takes over their project and surrounds it with a veil of secrecy.
Though I couldn’t imagine just how Cellregenix is supposed to work, Susie Holliday’s previous experience in the pharmaceutical sector provides enough background detail to make Michael and Edward believable boffins. As we follow Chrissie’s family situation, we are also drawn into an emotionally fraught domestic drama. Gradually Holliday reveals the connections between the generations, and that the child Holly carries a dangerous biological inheritance. Substitute is an exciting blend of different genres presenting intriguing moral and ethical issues, a book I found impossible to put down.
I am most grateful to the author for a gratis copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
January 20, 2024
One day, a complete stranger knocks on Chrissie's door. He offers her an awkward bargain. All she has to do is name three people who she's closest to and three people she despises. He promises, in case of a deadly accident, the loved ones named will be brought back to life, at the expense of those on her hate list. Soon enough, she learns how fragile life is when her daughter and close friend have near-death incidents. What could've been an intriguing mystery turns out to be marred by lack of highly developed characters or even one character I could give a shit about. Sadly formulaic with huge potential squandered.
May 13, 2021
Clever premise, page turner and typically Holliday creepy cool.
Excellent. Review for publication.
Excellent. Review for publication.
August 12, 2021
My Review
Mmmmm how to narrow it down to 3 people…. Only kidding I’m not a complete sociopath.
It starts with Joseph Marshall, very wrongly being mistaken for a door to door seller or a Jehovah witness, knocking on Chrissie’s door and then asking her a question through her letterbox. Have you ever experienced grief?
Using a dual timeline it also takes the reader back to the eighties and two researchers making a discovery.
What happened between then and now to bring him to her door is a story that will thrill, excite and demand not to be pushed into a genre box. Is it a thriller, sci-fi, dystopian, medical or a combination of them all? Talking of boxes there was a film called The Box that this book immediately made me think of. If you’ve seen it you will know why, only this is better. This time it’s not money that is the incentive but your loved ones. No better motive than that is there.
This has a complex but strangely easy to read plot and characters that are wholly believable. Some are questionable with wonky ethics but in my opinion just because the technology is there it doesn’t mean you have to use it. So who is worse the ones that discover it or the ones that use it to their advantage? This has been the book that has pushed more questions from my brain than the poor little thing can cope with. It would make a terrific book club read and I can only imagine the fascinating conversations about what they would do and if they did who they would pick. Have you chosen your three?
I love books with original concepts, ones that push the boundaries of rational thought and make me question my own moral compass. Wow did this book do that and then some.
Mmmmm how to narrow it down to 3 people…. Only kidding I’m not a complete sociopath.
It starts with Joseph Marshall, very wrongly being mistaken for a door to door seller or a Jehovah witness, knocking on Chrissie’s door and then asking her a question through her letterbox. Have you ever experienced grief?
Using a dual timeline it also takes the reader back to the eighties and two researchers making a discovery.
What happened between then and now to bring him to her door is a story that will thrill, excite and demand not to be pushed into a genre box. Is it a thriller, sci-fi, dystopian, medical or a combination of them all? Talking of boxes there was a film called The Box that this book immediately made me think of. If you’ve seen it you will know why, only this is better. This time it’s not money that is the incentive but your loved ones. No better motive than that is there.
This has a complex but strangely easy to read plot and characters that are wholly believable. Some are questionable with wonky ethics but in my opinion just because the technology is there it doesn’t mean you have to use it. So who is worse the ones that discover it or the ones that use it to their advantage? This has been the book that has pushed more questions from my brain than the poor little thing can cope with. It would make a terrific book club read and I can only imagine the fascinating conversations about what they would do and if they did who they would pick. Have you chosen your three?
I love books with original concepts, ones that push the boundaries of rational thought and make me question my own moral compass. Wow did this book do that and then some.
August 11, 2021
Oh I really enjoyed this book. I usually only read ebooks at particular times of the day so it's the sign of a good book when I sneak in extra reading when I can, which is what happened with Substitute. I just couldn't put it down!
It's all very mysterious when a stranger knocks on Chrissie's door and tells her that she never needs to experience grief again. Chrissie only has to choose 3 people to die in place of her chosen 3 loved ones if something happens to them. Thinking that there's no way this strange man can do what he's promising, Chrissie sees no harm in giving him 3 names to live and 3 to die. Until there's an accident...
Oh my goodness, what a scorching plot! I just couldn't tear my eyes away from the page, devouring every single word as quickly as I could as I raced towards the heart-pounding conclusion. I've only read a couple of her books but Susi Holliday has really outdone herself with the brilliant Substitute.
Incredibly imaginative but also scarily possible, Substitute is an outstanding techno-thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. I definitely recommend it; it's disturbing, twisty and completely addictive. An easy 5 stars from me!
Many thanks to Susi Holliday for sending me a digital ARC to read and review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
It's all very mysterious when a stranger knocks on Chrissie's door and tells her that she never needs to experience grief again. Chrissie only has to choose 3 people to die in place of her chosen 3 loved ones if something happens to them. Thinking that there's no way this strange man can do what he's promising, Chrissie sees no harm in giving him 3 names to live and 3 to die. Until there's an accident...
Oh my goodness, what a scorching plot! I just couldn't tear my eyes away from the page, devouring every single word as quickly as I could as I raced towards the heart-pounding conclusion. I've only read a couple of her books but Susi Holliday has really outdone herself with the brilliant Substitute.
Incredibly imaginative but also scarily possible, Substitute is an outstanding techno-thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. I definitely recommend it; it's disturbing, twisty and completely addictive. An easy 5 stars from me!
Many thanks to Susi Holliday for sending me a digital ARC to read and review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
August 12, 2021
Having read Susi’s last book I was looking forward to Substitute very much and had high hopes. Well they were definitely met and exceeded!
A stranger, who for some reason knows her full name, knocks on her door asking Chrissie has she ever experienced grief. He then offers her the chance to never have to experience grief again. Of course she has but doesn’t want to tell this strange man anything about her life. She closes the door and finds he has dropped his business card through her letterbox.
Her daughter has an almost fatal accident in the playground and this preys on her mind. When she finds the business card in the recycling she picks it out and emails Joseph Marshall. And waits. Not for long as her doorbell goes soon after and she just knows it is him. She lets him in wondering what she is doing. He could be anyone. She makes him a cup of tea. He asks her to choose three people she would like to save from death. And three people who must die in their place. She goes along with it, not for a minute expecting it will actually work.
Then her friend almost dies in a car accident.
Told over a dual timeline from Chrissie and Joseph in the present and by Michael in the 1980 section where he is working with his partner Edward in a lab to develop a form of cell regeneration. Bringing mice back to life. Hoping it will work on humans. The stuff of science fiction - but is it?
I read this book in a day I just couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended.
A stranger, who for some reason knows her full name, knocks on her door asking Chrissie has she ever experienced grief. He then offers her the chance to never have to experience grief again. Of course she has but doesn’t want to tell this strange man anything about her life. She closes the door and finds he has dropped his business card through her letterbox.
Her daughter has an almost fatal accident in the playground and this preys on her mind. When she finds the business card in the recycling she picks it out and emails Joseph Marshall. And waits. Not for long as her doorbell goes soon after and she just knows it is him. She lets him in wondering what she is doing. He could be anyone. She makes him a cup of tea. He asks her to choose three people she would like to save from death. And three people who must die in their place. She goes along with it, not for a minute expecting it will actually work.
Then her friend almost dies in a car accident.
Told over a dual timeline from Chrissie and Joseph in the present and by Michael in the 1980 section where he is working with his partner Edward in a lab to develop a form of cell regeneration. Bringing mice back to life. Hoping it will work on humans. The stuff of science fiction - but is it?
I read this book in a day I just couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended.
July 30, 2021
Like any mother, Chrissie wants to protect her family. She would do anything to keep them safe. So when a mysterious stranger turns up at her door, offering to prevent the deaths of the people she loves, it sounds too good to be true. The only problem: she must choose someone to die in their place. A substitute.
Firstly you have to read this as it is the most twisted and chilling book I have read for a long time. Would agree to this situation after thinking about it for such a short time? Chrissie does and this is where her nightmare begins.. This is a very twisted tale but wow it held my attention and I was just dying to know how it was all going to turn out. the book was very well written and totally draws you in from the first pages. I loved this book and have also found a new author to add to me list Highly recommended, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Firstly you have to read this as it is the most twisted and chilling book I have read for a long time. Would agree to this situation after thinking about it for such a short time? Chrissie does and this is where her nightmare begins.. This is a very twisted tale but wow it held my attention and I was just dying to know how it was all going to turn out. the book was very well written and totally draws you in from the first pages. I loved this book and have also found a new author to add to me list Highly recommended, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. I'll post that review upon publication.
As a preview, this is my favorite thriller of Summer '21 so far. If you're considering it, I recommend queuing. Details to follow in early August!
Updated 8/12/21
4 stars
This is my favorite thriller of Summer '21 so far!
Chrissie, the m.c., is mom to a charming and moderately precocious three-year-old named Holly, wife to a seemingly detached fellow who sends out some shady vibes from the jump, and friend to Wendy, who helps out with Holly and keeps up Chrissie's spirits after a tough postpartum bout. While Chrissie works a bit on the side, these three individuals take up the bulk of her focus, and her life seems fairly typical though not quite ideal. This all changes when a strange individual approaches her with an even stranger proposition: save three people in your life if they so happen to meet an untimely demise. Like any deal with the devil scenario, there is a catch: that folks who agree to this bargain must also select three "substitutes," who will die in the place of the saved loved ones.
Obviously, this through line alone is enough to make for a fun thriller premise, but there is so much more to get excited about here. Chrissie meets twists and turns head on, and like any good heroine in this genre, her past turns out to be more important than she initially thinks possible. There are also some intriguing twists relating to science (nothing too detailed, which may actually frustrate/remove some believability from the read overall for certain readers) and morality. The ancillary characters also enhance the drama in their own fun ways.
Folks who enjoy a "would you rather..." scenario, a Hawthornesque science takes us too far from nature in a dangerous way theme, and/or just a nicely paced thriller will find this one satisfying. I did find Chrissie's propensity for self-blame and convenient forgiveness a bit tough to stomach at times, but she's still a solid star set in an intriguing premise. Bring this one to the beach!
As a preview, this is my favorite thriller of Summer '21 so far. If you're considering it, I recommend queuing. Details to follow in early August!
Updated 8/12/21
4 stars
This is my favorite thriller of Summer '21 so far!
Chrissie, the m.c., is mom to a charming and moderately precocious three-year-old named Holly, wife to a seemingly detached fellow who sends out some shady vibes from the jump, and friend to Wendy, who helps out with Holly and keeps up Chrissie's spirits after a tough postpartum bout. While Chrissie works a bit on the side, these three individuals take up the bulk of her focus, and her life seems fairly typical though not quite ideal. This all changes when a strange individual approaches her with an even stranger proposition: save three people in your life if they so happen to meet an untimely demise. Like any deal with the devil scenario, there is a catch: that folks who agree to this bargain must also select three "substitutes," who will die in the place of the saved loved ones.
Obviously, this through line alone is enough to make for a fun thriller premise, but there is so much more to get excited about here. Chrissie meets twists and turns head on, and like any good heroine in this genre, her past turns out to be more important than she initially thinks possible. There are also some intriguing twists relating to science (nothing too detailed, which may actually frustrate/remove some believability from the read overall for certain readers) and morality. The ancillary characters also enhance the drama in their own fun ways.
Folks who enjoy a "would you rather..." scenario, a Hawthornesque science takes us too far from nature in a dangerous way theme, and/or just a nicely paced thriller will find this one satisfying. I did find Chrissie's propensity for self-blame and convenient forgiveness a bit tough to stomach at times, but she's still a solid star set in an intriguing premise. Bring this one to the beach!
December 26, 2022
This was such an incredible read. It was so out there, filled with an incredible strange and scientific concept that I found it so hard to put down. I have never really been one into science but this book had me hooked needing to know more.
Absolutely fascinating storyline.
Absolutely fascinating storyline.
December 7, 2022
Could not get into this one at all. Such an interesting premise but the execution fell flat and I was bored for the entirety of it. The only positive was the narrator of the audiobook.
August 17, 2021
When I read the blurb for this book I was really intrigued by the premise of the story and the moral questions it might throw up. You can choose to save 3 people but you must choose 3 others to take their place. Who would you choose and is there ever a right choice?
The story is quite slow moving and nothing really happens until well over half way through the book. I don’t know if it’s intentional or not but I didn’t like any of the characters in this book which is unusual for me.
Without giving spoilers away, I personally found a lot of it predictable and slightly lacklustre. It was such an amazing premise but the execution did not follow through.
It also ends abruptly with a contrived Happy Ever After which is not something you see in many thrillers.
Having said all that, I did enjoy reading it and it was easy to read, I just wanted more. More depth, more story, more character development.
Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for the advanced reader’s copy.
The story is quite slow moving and nothing really happens until well over half way through the book. I don’t know if it’s intentional or not but I didn’t like any of the characters in this book which is unusual for me.
Without giving spoilers away, I personally found a lot of it predictable and slightly lacklustre. It was such an amazing premise but the execution did not follow through.
It also ends abruptly with a contrived Happy Ever After which is not something you see in many thrillers.
Having said all that, I did enjoy reading it and it was easy to read, I just wanted more. More depth, more story, more character development.
Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for the advanced reader’s copy.
August 10, 2021
I have been a massive fan of this author for quite a few years now. Her Banktoun trilogy remains one of my favourite crime series ever, and her standalone novels have all been thrilling and original.
Substitute is another tense and quite chilling story from this really talented author. She takes one simple but very complex question and puts it to her main character, and as readers, we too will contemplate just what we might do in similar circumstances.
Chrissie opens her front door to a man she doesn't recognise. Her knows her full name and he asks her if she's ever experienced grief. These words alone send Chrissie into a panic. She's spent many years grieving for her mother, and in a way, for her father who she is estranged from. The recent birth of her daughter Holly triggered the PTSD that her mother's death created and she's really struggling.
Vulnerable and scared, Chrissie then signs up to an experiment that the stranger describes to her. She can prevent the deaths of three people of her choice. In repayment she must choose three people to die in their place.
Most of us would turn and run when presented with such an idea, and in fact, two other women that Joseph Marshall; the man at the door, has approached have done just that. However Chrissie is damaged and frightened. She fears loss most of all, her life has been ruined by tragic loss and now that she's a mother, she is determined to protect her daughter, at any cost.
The author takes us back to summer 1980, where we meet Michael, a scientist working on what could be a world changing drug. However, Michael is uneasy about how the project is progressing. His colleague and friend Edward seems to be swayed more by money and fame, than by science and the involvement of suits from the MoD increasingly worry him.
This is a cleverly structured story that gradually gives up its secrets. Skipping back and forth from Chrissie's present-day predicament to the ongoing work of Michael, we slowly but surely realise just why Chrissie was selected to take part.
Substitute is clever. It's a techo-thriller, filled with science and also with single-minded people who will stop at nothing to create what they want. The author sensitivity examines the effects of grief and trauma, and how a damaged, flawed mind will impact on decisions made, with sometimes shattering effects.
The most frightening thing about this story is how plausible it is. How many of us really know what is being created in secret labs around the world? How do we know just how far governments will go to achieve their aims?
Once more, Susi Holliday has produced a book that will thrill and keep the reader on their toes. Highly recommended from me.
Substitute is another tense and quite chilling story from this really talented author. She takes one simple but very complex question and puts it to her main character, and as readers, we too will contemplate just what we might do in similar circumstances.
Chrissie opens her front door to a man she doesn't recognise. Her knows her full name and he asks her if she's ever experienced grief. These words alone send Chrissie into a panic. She's spent many years grieving for her mother, and in a way, for her father who she is estranged from. The recent birth of her daughter Holly triggered the PTSD that her mother's death created and she's really struggling.
Vulnerable and scared, Chrissie then signs up to an experiment that the stranger describes to her. She can prevent the deaths of three people of her choice. In repayment she must choose three people to die in their place.
Most of us would turn and run when presented with such an idea, and in fact, two other women that Joseph Marshall; the man at the door, has approached have done just that. However Chrissie is damaged and frightened. She fears loss most of all, her life has been ruined by tragic loss and now that she's a mother, she is determined to protect her daughter, at any cost.
The author takes us back to summer 1980, where we meet Michael, a scientist working on what could be a world changing drug. However, Michael is uneasy about how the project is progressing. His colleague and friend Edward seems to be swayed more by money and fame, than by science and the involvement of suits from the MoD increasingly worry him.
This is a cleverly structured story that gradually gives up its secrets. Skipping back and forth from Chrissie's present-day predicament to the ongoing work of Michael, we slowly but surely realise just why Chrissie was selected to take part.
Substitute is clever. It's a techo-thriller, filled with science and also with single-minded people who will stop at nothing to create what they want. The author sensitivity examines the effects of grief and trauma, and how a damaged, flawed mind will impact on decisions made, with sometimes shattering effects.
The most frightening thing about this story is how plausible it is. How many of us really know what is being created in secret labs around the world? How do we know just how far governments will go to achieve their aims?
Once more, Susi Holliday has produced a book that will thrill and keep the reader on their toes. Highly recommended from me.
August 12, 2021
Who would be your three? Despite what happens during the course of Substitute, I'm sure many readers will be asking themselves that question. We all want to protect our loved ones but given the choice would we also be prepared to let somebody else die in their place? You could choose people who'd done you wrong in the past or perhaps somebody with not much time left anyway...
Chrissie understandably initially turns away the mysterious stranger, Joseph who claims he can prevent her from feeling grief ever again - as does another woman he also approaches. Most people probably would, dismissing him as a crank but then her small daughter, Holly has a frightening accident. It's clear that although her mother died twenty years ago, she still hasn't properly processed her loss; being pregnant with Holly triggered PTSD and as she lies awake in bed with tears running down her cheeks, thinking about how her mum would have loved Holly and whether she would cope if she lost any more of her loved ones, it's not surprising that her vulnerability opens her to the possibility of protecting them - and herself. Chrissie consequently reconsiders her decision, even after she learns more about the implications of what she is agreeing to, and reluctantly makes her choices. (I'm not sure I approve of one of her substitutes but I'll leave you to discover why...!)
Joseph is a puzzling character and as the novel progresses it becomes increasingly intriguing to try to figure out what his agenda really is. What does he gain from her signing up to the programme and who is he anyway? The chapters alternate between between Chrissie in the present day as she begins to understand the true burden of her decision and Michael in the 1980s and '90s. He is a scientist who is on the verge of a remarkable breakthrough but unfortunately not everybody is as ethical as he is. His concerns are dismissed as others push for ever more dubious research and the implications as to their eventual intentions are horribly believable. As with other scientific discoveries in the past, he comes to regret his part in the development of something he once believed could have brought real benefit to humankind. Although readers have to accept that the invention of such a drug is plausible, these chapters are scarily realistic; who knows what conversations and decisions take place at the highest level, whether for money and fame, to protect the great and good or to gain a dangerous advantage in conflict?
Both storylines are equally gripping and unsettlingly suspenseful, and there are shocking revelations in the past and present as the strands are gradually drawn together for a heart-stopping, emotional conclusion. Substitute is an unbearably tense thriller but it's also a thought-provoking exploration of grief, ambition and the moral principles. Susi Holliday writes such creepy, compelling, original thrillers and the dystopic, genre-defying Substitute is no exception - I loved it!
Chrissie understandably initially turns away the mysterious stranger, Joseph who claims he can prevent her from feeling grief ever again - as does another woman he also approaches. Most people probably would, dismissing him as a crank but then her small daughter, Holly has a frightening accident. It's clear that although her mother died twenty years ago, she still hasn't properly processed her loss; being pregnant with Holly triggered PTSD and as she lies awake in bed with tears running down her cheeks, thinking about how her mum would have loved Holly and whether she would cope if she lost any more of her loved ones, it's not surprising that her vulnerability opens her to the possibility of protecting them - and herself. Chrissie consequently reconsiders her decision, even after she learns more about the implications of what she is agreeing to, and reluctantly makes her choices. (I'm not sure I approve of one of her substitutes but I'll leave you to discover why...!)
Joseph is a puzzling character and as the novel progresses it becomes increasingly intriguing to try to figure out what his agenda really is. What does he gain from her signing up to the programme and who is he anyway? The chapters alternate between between Chrissie in the present day as she begins to understand the true burden of her decision and Michael in the 1980s and '90s. He is a scientist who is on the verge of a remarkable breakthrough but unfortunately not everybody is as ethical as he is. His concerns are dismissed as others push for ever more dubious research and the implications as to their eventual intentions are horribly believable. As with other scientific discoveries in the past, he comes to regret his part in the development of something he once believed could have brought real benefit to humankind. Although readers have to accept that the invention of such a drug is plausible, these chapters are scarily realistic; who knows what conversations and decisions take place at the highest level, whether for money and fame, to protect the great and good or to gain a dangerous advantage in conflict?
Both storylines are equally gripping and unsettlingly suspenseful, and there are shocking revelations in the past and present as the strands are gradually drawn together for a heart-stopping, emotional conclusion. Substitute is an unbearably tense thriller but it's also a thought-provoking exploration of grief, ambition and the moral principles. Susi Holliday writes such creepy, compelling, original thrillers and the dystopic, genre-defying Substitute is no exception - I loved it!
August 30, 2021
My thanks to The Book Club on Facebook Reviewer Group (TBConFB) for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
I gave this a 4 stars or 8/10.
This was an interesting premise for a story. Swapping people for others in order to protect those that we love, who wouldn't if faced with this choice take the person offering that choice up? It sure would be a dilemma and a half.
When a stranger turns up at Chrissie's door one day offering to stop people that she loves from dying, but in return she has to choose someone to die instead. A substitute that will die instead of that loved one! As a parent Chrissie would do anything to protect her family, they are her life. It's not long before Chrissie becomes entangled in the programme, following an accident to her daughter. As her daughter improves and begins to recover well. Chrissie assumes it's coincidental, no one can control life and death or can they?
All is not as it seems in this story, their are greater things at play than Chrissie could ever imagine. As she becomes aware of what is happening and things begin to be revealed, secrets from the past merge with the present and danger surrounds her.
This was a great read and I was glad to have had the chance to read it. If you ever come across it, do yourself a favour and grab it with both hands. I am sure that you will soon be immersed among the twisted mind of this Author as she weaves her magic and draws you in.
I gave this a 4 stars or 8/10.
This was an interesting premise for a story. Swapping people for others in order to protect those that we love, who wouldn't if faced with this choice take the person offering that choice up? It sure would be a dilemma and a half.
When a stranger turns up at Chrissie's door one day offering to stop people that she loves from dying, but in return she has to choose someone to die instead. A substitute that will die instead of that loved one! As a parent Chrissie would do anything to protect her family, they are her life. It's not long before Chrissie becomes entangled in the programme, following an accident to her daughter. As her daughter improves and begins to recover well. Chrissie assumes it's coincidental, no one can control life and death or can they?
All is not as it seems in this story, their are greater things at play than Chrissie could ever imagine. As she becomes aware of what is happening and things begin to be revealed, secrets from the past merge with the present and danger surrounds her.
This was a great read and I was glad to have had the chance to read it. If you ever come across it, do yourself a favour and grab it with both hands. I am sure that you will soon be immersed among the twisted mind of this Author as she weaves her magic and draws you in.
September 5, 2022
*This review is based on the audiobook.*
My first book by the author and it was just ok. It actually felt to me that the build-up was more enjoyable than the actual outcome. I mean it wasn't terrible, I have just way better executed books than this.
None of the characters were particularly likeable, especially Chrissie, although I felt we were possibly supposed to be rooting for her.
There was a twist concerning Joseph that I didn't see coming but up until that point I was a bit confused who everyone was, the dual timeline made it a bit difficult to keep track.
I've gave bonus point for the audiobook being narrated by Esther Wane, who is my absolute favourite narrator and could listen to her read the telephone book.
Could have been better.
My first book by the author and it was just ok. It actually felt to me that the build-up was more enjoyable than the actual outcome. I mean it wasn't terrible, I have just way better executed books than this.
None of the characters were particularly likeable, especially Chrissie, although I felt we were possibly supposed to be rooting for her.
There was a twist concerning Joseph that I didn't see coming but up until that point I was a bit confused who everyone was, the dual timeline made it a bit difficult to keep track.
I've gave bonus point for the audiobook being narrated by Esther Wane, who is my absolute favourite narrator and could listen to her read the telephone book.
Could have been better.
July 29, 2022
DNF 30%
Just couldn’t get on with it…the characters were all cliche and the plot wasn’t that great.
Just couldn’t get on with it…the characters were all cliche and the plot wasn’t that great.
August 16, 2022
3/5 ⭐️
I liked up to 60%, I was enjoying it and then it kinda took a turn and I was like eeehhh
I liked up to 60%, I was enjoying it and then it kinda took a turn and I was like eeehhh
May 12, 2024
Really enjoyed the concept. Made me question what I would do in the same situation.
November 2, 2021
I watched Paradise Hills not too long ago, so based on the title “substitute” that is what I was expecting for a plot. Wrong!
A main character with her head not so far up her own behind would have been better but the science and ethical dilemmas kept me interested.
Anyone who doesn’t want to read about animal research can skip over those pages and still enjoy the book as I did.
A main character with her head not so far up her own behind would have been better but the science and ethical dilemmas kept me interested.
Anyone who doesn’t want to read about animal research can skip over those pages and still enjoy the book as I did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2022
Ratty child called holly. Die
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2021
Lovely twisty tale with fabulous characters. The story is carefully drawn out, with each twist and new detail revealed. It is only right at the very end you find it all out. An enjoyable book I found difficult to put down.
August 24, 2021
Well-written and entertaining but IMHO it didn't quite reach its full potential. Most, if not all, plot twists were annoyingly predictable and I missed that speculative, techno vibe I love so much.
January 8, 2022
Rounded up to 3.5 stars.
The Substitute is a sort of dystopian based thriller mixed with domestic thriller. The book’s protagonist, Chrissie Tate, is faced in the very start of the novel with a very odd, very unbelievable... and very disturbing choice.
A man shows up at her home one day who she presumes to be selling something she doesn’t want. Well, he is selling something... in essence. But does she actually want it? In interest of not spoiling the book, I’ll let that question hang. What the man is proposing is a hell of a tempting offer: what if you never had to experience grief again in your life?
Knowing her fair share of debilitating grief, and thus causing her to worry herself sick about her three-year-old daughter’s safety, Chrissie is rightly in disbelief of the preposterousness of the entire offer, but at the same time, can’t help but feel that if it WERE legitimate, if she actually could save her loved ones... well, wouldn’t she do so in a heartbeat?
Only once she accepts, there’s a catch. While she can save three loved ones (she chooses her daughter, then husband, then best friend) - she is forced to make “substitutes” - I.e., “a kill list” - people who will die in order to take the place of her loved ones that were supposed to have died instead. Chrissie quickly starts doubting everything about the program, and starts calling the man, leaving voicemails and stating she wants to opt out.
Only when she goes out for a night with her best friend, and, both of them intoxicated, she drives home and crashes into a barrier cement plaster that kills her best friend - only, it doesn’t. She remembers the pager that the man gave her if this ever were to happen, and soon finds herself in a very odd clinic, being told her best friend is in just the other room, and she needs to press the button again NOW if she wants to save her. And so she does.
Everything accelerates rather quickly from there, and we get to read flashbacks into the 1980s about the scientists who developed the drug - the “regenerating drug”, that is, which had the ability to bring anyone back to life, provided they got to them in time. It becomes clear that there is something very shady and personal going on with this soon (well, that’s not exactly shocking, lol) and how big is this experiment, actually? How much of it has to do with just Chrissie?
As interesting and original as the premise of the story was, I just didn’t find Chrissie to be that likable or relatable of a character. She’s always highly frenzied and neurotic, and very... well, weak. She basically can’t function without a man to help prop her up (kinda upsetting given the author is obviously female). I understand the character had gone through postpartum depression, but I prefer my MCs to at least be strong, especially if they’re female. I don’t have that many other gripes with the character not being overly likable.
Also, I feel like once the story picked up the pace, it kind of dragged out unnecessarily. Even though the chapters and pages themselves weren’t long at all, it still seems like the book could have been at least 50-75 pages shorter, and it would have still included the same details, but given it a much better, more impactful ending.
The Substitute is a sort of dystopian based thriller mixed with domestic thriller. The book’s protagonist, Chrissie Tate, is faced in the very start of the novel with a very odd, very unbelievable... and very disturbing choice.
A man shows up at her home one day who she presumes to be selling something she doesn’t want. Well, he is selling something... in essence. But does she actually want it? In interest of not spoiling the book, I’ll let that question hang. What the man is proposing is a hell of a tempting offer: what if you never had to experience grief again in your life?
Knowing her fair share of debilitating grief, and thus causing her to worry herself sick about her three-year-old daughter’s safety, Chrissie is rightly in disbelief of the preposterousness of the entire offer, but at the same time, can’t help but feel that if it WERE legitimate, if she actually could save her loved ones... well, wouldn’t she do so in a heartbeat?
Only once she accepts, there’s a catch. While she can save three loved ones (she chooses her daughter, then husband, then best friend) - she is forced to make “substitutes” - I.e., “a kill list” - people who will die in order to take the place of her loved ones that were supposed to have died instead. Chrissie quickly starts doubting everything about the program, and starts calling the man, leaving voicemails and stating she wants to opt out.
Only when she goes out for a night with her best friend, and, both of them intoxicated, she drives home and crashes into a barrier cement plaster that kills her best friend - only, it doesn’t. She remembers the pager that the man gave her if this ever were to happen, and soon finds herself in a very odd clinic, being told her best friend is in just the other room, and she needs to press the button again NOW if she wants to save her. And so she does.
Everything accelerates rather quickly from there, and we get to read flashbacks into the 1980s about the scientists who developed the drug - the “regenerating drug”, that is, which had the ability to bring anyone back to life, provided they got to them in time. It becomes clear that there is something very shady and personal going on with this soon (well, that’s not exactly shocking, lol) and how big is this experiment, actually? How much of it has to do with just Chrissie?
As interesting and original as the premise of the story was, I just didn’t find Chrissie to be that likable or relatable of a character. She’s always highly frenzied and neurotic, and very... well, weak. She basically can’t function without a man to help prop her up (kinda upsetting given the author is obviously female). I understand the character had gone through postpartum depression, but I prefer my MCs to at least be strong, especially if they’re female. I don’t have that many other gripes with the character not being overly likable.
Also, I feel like once the story picked up the pace, it kind of dragged out unnecessarily. Even though the chapters and pages themselves weren’t long at all, it still seems like the book could have been at least 50-75 pages shorter, and it would have still included the same details, but given it a much better, more impactful ending.
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