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girlwiththepinkskimask's review
3.0
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
noveldeelights's review
5.0
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!
njwyllie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
megstickz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rucha_s's review
5.0
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!
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!
reece_reads23's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
cheryl59's review
5.0
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.
annarella's review
5.0
A great story and a gripping thriller that kept me on the edge.
It's fast paced, full of twists and turns and the character are well developed and interesting.
The author is an excellent storyteller and this is an excellent story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It's fast paced, full of twists and turns and the character are well developed and interesting.
The author is an excellent storyteller and this is an excellent story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
janpd24's review
4.0
A clever, gripping romp of a thriller, possibly with the discovery of a new character worth following in DI Alex Finn. An interesting cast of characters overall—you think you’re getting some cliches, but then, you end up pleasantly surprised. A perfect crime novel to curl up with on a sunny winter weekend.
Review copy from NetGalley.
Review copy from NetGalley.
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