The Choice
A kidnap…
Matt Westbrook only turned his back for a moment. But when he looks around, his car – with his three young children inside – has vanished.
A ransom…
Panicked, Matt assumes a car thief has got more than he bargained for, but then he starts to receive text messages: This is a kidnap. If you want to see your children again, you will exchange them for your wife.
A choice…
Matt and his wife Annabelle are horrified. They can’t involve the police, or their children will be killed. Which means they have to choose: Annabelle, or their children. Either option is unthinkable. But one is inevitable. And they have only hours to make their decision…
I read Seven Days a few months ago and really enjoyed it so was pleased to get a copy of The Choice to review. Oh dear, was I disappointed?
Very short chapters that keep you reading but don't allow characters and the story to develop.
First off you leave your children in the car, the car is unlocked but the child locks are on in the back, so Matt thinks they will be OK only they're not, I lost a bit of sympathy there, especially with Matt.
Then when whoever has kidnapped them says don't call the police, they don't. I don't buy that, I think most of us will call the police despite what they say and not various family members who know someone who will help etc.
I felt is all started getting convoluted, I got lost as to who was related to who and what was with those red herrings? They were way to obvious to have been anything else, other than to just show was a wet blanket Matt was.
The dialogue from Annabelle when she was held captive also felt unrealistic.
The ending was also off, you escape and go home happy ever after? No trip to the A&E for a check up, in fact although the children were recommended to have toxicology tests as they were given something to make them sleep, it didn't seem a high priority.
I feel this book was rushed out to keep up with a deadline. Disappointing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for my ARC in return for an honest review.