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Killer Choice
The electrifying debut thriller that asks the question: To save the one you love, is there any price you wouldn’t pay?
His wife is sick.
He needs $200,000 to save her.
A mysterious man offers to give him the money with just one catch: He has to murder someone to get it.
Gary Foster’s life is finally heading in the right direction. After years of trying, his wife, Beth, is pregnant, and he recently opened a business with his brother. But one phone call changes everything....
After collapsing suddenly, Beth has been rushed to the hospital. Tests reveal a devastating diagnosis: an inoperable brain tumor. Their only hope is an expensive experimental treatment available abroad, with a cost that’s out of their reach. And Beth’s time is running out....
Then a strange man approaches Gary and offers the money he needs, on one condition: that he kill someone, no questions asked. End one life to save another.
In this nail-biting debut novel of domestic suspense, one man makes a choice that forces him to confront the darkest reaches of his soul and betray those closest to him. As he’s swept up in a nightmare of escalating violence, he must question his own morality—and determine just how far he’s willing to go to save the woman he loves.
His wife is sick.
He needs $200,000 to save her.
A mysterious man offers to give him the money with just one catch: He has to murder someone to get it.
Gary Foster’s life is finally heading in the right direction. After years of trying, his wife, Beth, is pregnant, and he recently opened a business with his brother. But one phone call changes everything....
After collapsing suddenly, Beth has been rushed to the hospital. Tests reveal a devastating diagnosis: an inoperable brain tumor. Their only hope is an expensive experimental treatment available abroad, with a cost that’s out of their reach. And Beth’s time is running out....
Then a strange man approaches Gary and offers the money he needs, on one condition: that he kill someone, no questions asked. End one life to save another.
In this nail-biting debut novel of domestic suspense, one man makes a choice that forces him to confront the darkest reaches of his soul and betray those closest to him. As he’s swept up in a nightmare of escalating violence, he must question his own morality—and determine just how far he’s willing to go to save the woman he loves.
344 pages, Hardcover
First published January 30, 2018
About the author
Tom Hunt
2 books115 followersAuthor of KILLER CHOICE and ONE FATAL MISTAKE. Born and raised in Iowa, always a Hawkeye, live in NYC now.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
January 30, 2018
I received a free advance copy of this for review from the publisher.
Gary and Beth Foster are a nice couple who truly love each other, and their idea of a good time is playing Scrabble or watching Netflix. They don’t have a lot of money, but they’re happy just being together. Now that Beth has finally gotten pregnant after years of trying they feel like things couldn’t get any better. Which is exactly the point when life tends to kick nice people in the junk.
After Beth collapses while out shopping she’s quickly diagnosed with a particularly nasty brain tumor that will barely allow her to give birth before dying, but there’s a new procedure in Europe that might extend her life for years. Unfortunately, it will cost them $200,000 to try it, and they don’t have anywhere near that kind of cash. As hope begins to fade Gary receives a phone call with an offer for him to earn all the money they need. The catch is that he’ll have to murder someone to get it.
This debut novel from Tom Hunt is the kind of high concept hook that has put many a book on the best seller list and sold a lot of tickets to movies, and there’s a reason for that – it works. Or at least it works when there’s some talent behind the idea, and there’s definitely talent here. Hunt’s got a way of laying it all out in the straight forward fashion that many a crime writer has, and he’s also got the knack of making that style compelling.
There’s two things that really stood out for me. First, is that there’s a good amount of time spent on the efforts that are done by Beth and Gary with the help of their friends and family to come up with the money. They put pleas on the internet, hold events like hot dog dinners, and tell their story to the media all as part of the desperate fundraising only to realize that after all that it's not even close to being enough. It’s a bleak portrait of how Americans often have to resort to glorified begging to get medical treatment.
The other part is the story of Otto, the man asking Gary to commit a murder for hire. Otto is a ex-con who runs a pawn shop as a front for his real business of dealing drugs, and he’s got a huge problem that has made him desperate enough to try and use an average guy as a killer. We get Otto’s story told in parallel, and his criminal underworld couldn’t be more different than Gary’s suburban life. The contrast between the two is well done and underlines the desperate measures that both men feel driven to even if they have nothing else in common. On the downside Gary’s bland niceness is too much at times, and his hand wringing about the morality of murder does get a little old after a while. It was never enough to completely take me out of the story though.
What seems like an airplane read on the surface takes turns that ultimately make me think of this of outright noir. It’s solid crime story, and I’ll certainly check out what Tom Hunt does next.
Gary and Beth Foster are a nice couple who truly love each other, and their idea of a good time is playing Scrabble or watching Netflix. They don’t have a lot of money, but they’re happy just being together. Now that Beth has finally gotten pregnant after years of trying they feel like things couldn’t get any better. Which is exactly the point when life tends to kick nice people in the junk.
After Beth collapses while out shopping she’s quickly diagnosed with a particularly nasty brain tumor that will barely allow her to give birth before dying, but there’s a new procedure in Europe that might extend her life for years. Unfortunately, it will cost them $200,000 to try it, and they don’t have anywhere near that kind of cash. As hope begins to fade Gary receives a phone call with an offer for him to earn all the money they need. The catch is that he’ll have to murder someone to get it.
This debut novel from Tom Hunt is the kind of high concept hook that has put many a book on the best seller list and sold a lot of tickets to movies, and there’s a reason for that – it works. Or at least it works when there’s some talent behind the idea, and there’s definitely talent here. Hunt’s got a way of laying it all out in the straight forward fashion that many a crime writer has, and he’s also got the knack of making that style compelling.
There’s two things that really stood out for me. First, is that there’s a good amount of time spent on the efforts that are done by Beth and Gary with the help of their friends and family to come up with the money. They put pleas on the internet, hold events like hot dog dinners, and tell their story to the media all as part of the desperate fundraising only to realize that after all that it's not even close to being enough. It’s a bleak portrait of how Americans often have to resort to glorified begging to get medical treatment.
The other part is the story of Otto, the man asking Gary to commit a murder for hire. Otto is a ex-con who runs a pawn shop as a front for his real business of dealing drugs, and he’s got a huge problem that has made him desperate enough to try and use an average guy as a killer. We get Otto’s story told in parallel, and his criminal underworld couldn’t be more different than Gary’s suburban life. The contrast between the two is well done and underlines the desperate measures that both men feel driven to even if they have nothing else in common. On the downside Gary’s bland niceness is too much at times, and his hand wringing about the morality of murder does get a little old after a while. It was never enough to completely take me out of the story though.
What seems like an airplane read on the surface takes turns that ultimately make me think of this of outright noir. It’s solid crime story, and I’ll certainly check out what Tom Hunt does next.
December 19, 2017
DNF This novel began so slowly I wanted to give up early on, but I did my best to persevere. The other problem was that I wasn’t being pulled into the characters’ points of view. From Gary’s perspective, I should have been sad and stressed and emotionally wrought. I wasn’t. From Otto’s perspective I should have felt truly terrified—instead, I couldn’t care less if Otto was tortured and beheaded like it appeared might happen to him. When the plot finally got going, it was ridiculous (Gary could have found another way to solve his dilemma--any sort of GoFundMe-type thing would work), so I officially gave up.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.
For more of my reviews, please visit: http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.
For more of my reviews, please visit: http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
September 29, 2017
Gary Foster and his wife Beth had been trying for years to become parents and have a baby and just when they didn't think it would happen Beth became pregnant. Gary also has his career just where he wants it having just opened a business with his brother with things going well for them. One phone call however changes all of the good for Gary when he's told his wife was brought into the hospital having suffered a seizure. After many tests it's found Beth has a tumor and her outlook is not good at all.
After meeting with doctors to see if anything can be done for Beth it's found that her only hope of surviving the tumor is an experimental treatment that will cost the couple 200k. Gary and Beth are devastated but decide to do whatever they can to raise the money to help save Beth's life. When Gary is contacted by an unknown man that offers to pay the entire sum that the couple needs in exchange for killing a man he is immediately against the idea but as Gary struggles with the idea of losing Beth the offer looks better and better.
Killer Choice by Tom Hunt was an extremely fast paced thriller of a read that gave me more than I bargained for when picking this one up. I found the idea of just how far would you go to save the one that you love quite compelling but this book went beyond what I expect of it to in regards to that question at a very fast rate that kept me quite entertained throughout reading.
The story is mostly told from Gary's point of view but there were some others involved in the telling as well. Gary is pretty much your average Joe and he and his wife are a pretty normal couple that are hit with some horrible news so I couldn't help but feel for them. The action is non stop in the story and seemed pretty realistic for the most part although I did question a little detail here and there. Overall though I think readers should enjoy this one and would recommend checking it out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Edelweiss.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
After meeting with doctors to see if anything can be done for Beth it's found that her only hope of surviving the tumor is an experimental treatment that will cost the couple 200k. Gary and Beth are devastated but decide to do whatever they can to raise the money to help save Beth's life. When Gary is contacted by an unknown man that offers to pay the entire sum that the couple needs in exchange for killing a man he is immediately against the idea but as Gary struggles with the idea of losing Beth the offer looks better and better.
Killer Choice by Tom Hunt was an extremely fast paced thriller of a read that gave me more than I bargained for when picking this one up. I found the idea of just how far would you go to save the one that you love quite compelling but this book went beyond what I expect of it to in regards to that question at a very fast rate that kept me quite entertained throughout reading.
The story is mostly told from Gary's point of view but there were some others involved in the telling as well. Gary is pretty much your average Joe and he and his wife are a pretty normal couple that are hit with some horrible news so I couldn't help but feel for them. The action is non stop in the story and seemed pretty realistic for the most part although I did question a little detail here and there. Overall though I think readers should enjoy this one and would recommend checking it out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Edelweiss.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
November 16, 2017
Thrilling and completely engrossing... is this really the first book Tom Hunt has written, or at least published? It doesn't read like a debut! He's definitely one to watch! It's a page turner, absolutely filled with action. It certainly grabs on to you and won't let go. I planned to get it started before bed and ended up reading half of it right then... oops.
"Tick tock, tick tock..."
That is the time bomb that is in his beautiful wife's head. Gary and Beth are just a normal couple in love. They've been married for years. They have a baby on the way. They spend their nights watching Neflix and trying to beat each other in Scrabble. Normalcy goes out the window when Beth collapses to the ground out of nowhere one day. She has a brain tumor... and her chances of survival are slim to none. She'll only get worse.
After the usual treatments fail, her doctor encourages them to look into treatments that are more cutting edge. One in particular seems particularly promising, but it's in Germany... experimental... not covered by insurance... and will run them about 200,000 dollars. It might as well be a million.
Lots of friends and family are eager to help, including Gary's brother and business partner, but they don't have much to give. They aren't even close to their goal when Gary gets an unusual phone call. A man wants to give him all of the money he needs to attempt to save his wife. All the squeaky clean Gary has to do is: kill a man.
How far would we go to save the life of the most important person to us? Is taking the life of a not so nice man okay if it saves his lovely wife, future mother to their little boy? This is an exciting read that calls the average person's morality into question. I had a hard time putting it down. I'm giving it a 4.5 out of 5 and will round it up. Great book and certainly worth the read for thriller lovers.
"Tick tock, tick tock..."
That is the time bomb that is in his beautiful wife's head. Gary and Beth are just a normal couple in love. They've been married for years. They have a baby on the way. They spend their nights watching Neflix and trying to beat each other in Scrabble. Normalcy goes out the window when Beth collapses to the ground out of nowhere one day. She has a brain tumor... and her chances of survival are slim to none. She'll only get worse.
After the usual treatments fail, her doctor encourages them to look into treatments that are more cutting edge. One in particular seems particularly promising, but it's in Germany... experimental... not covered by insurance... and will run them about 200,000 dollars. It might as well be a million.
Lots of friends and family are eager to help, including Gary's brother and business partner, but they don't have much to give. They aren't even close to their goal when Gary gets an unusual phone call. A man wants to give him all of the money he needs to attempt to save his wife. All the squeaky clean Gary has to do is: kill a man.
How far would we go to save the life of the most important person to us? Is taking the life of a not so nice man okay if it saves his lovely wife, future mother to their little boy? This is an exciting read that calls the average person's morality into question. I had a hard time putting it down. I'm giving it a 4.5 out of 5 and will round it up. Great book and certainly worth the read for thriller lovers.
January 29, 2018
Gary Foster is running out of time. His pregnant wife Beth has been diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. Her chances of survival are slim but her doctor advises them about an experimental procedure in Germany. This treatment is not covered by insurance and the Fosters lack the funds to pay for it. They have embarked on a fundraiser with hopes of starting treatment quickly. Unfortunately, they remain way short of their goal and the outlook appears bleak for Beth and their unborn baby.
A local stranger comes to Gary’s rescue. He has read about their financial problems and offers him a deal. Commit a murder and the money for Beth’s treatment is his. Gary is left with a tough decision and little time to deliberate.
This is a debut novel by Tom Hunt. Killer Choice is a fast-paced novel with escalating tensions. I look forward to more books by this author.
A local stranger comes to Gary’s rescue. He has read about their financial problems and offers him a deal. Commit a murder and the money for Beth’s treatment is his. Gary is left with a tough decision and little time to deliberate.
This is a debut novel by Tom Hunt. Killer Choice is a fast-paced novel with escalating tensions. I look forward to more books by this author.
February 27, 2018
So just recently I was grumbling and being a Debbie Downer by 2 starring a buzz book that's got a lot of people excited. It doesn't have "Girl" in the title, but it does have "Woman" and the waitlist at my library is already pretty long. I expect this book's popularity is only going to increase exponentially as summer approaches. You might already have this book on hold yourself, or have added it to your teetering TBR pile. I'm not going to judge you. Much. No really. ::cough::
Today I'm going to recommend you pick up Tom Hunt's Killer Choice instead. I had way more fun reading it because it's one of those tightly plotted suspense thrillers with an irresistible hook where the pages practically turn themselves. We're introduced to middle America all around good guy Gary Foster whose life suddenly spirals into desperate circumstances. His pregnant wife Beth, who he is madly in love with, has been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. They need 200,000 dollars to get her the miracle treatment she needs.
Just when you think life can't get any shittier or more scary, in walks a menacing tattooed stranger, with a shaved head calling himself Shamrock. Shamrock wants Gary to kill someone, and in exchange for that dirty deed, he will give Gary the 200,000 dollars needed to maybe save his wife. Whatever will Good Guy Gary do? What's that saying? -- oh yeah, lie down with the devil and wake up in hell. Generally decent people finding themselves morally compromised is one of my favourite noir tropes. I usually can't get enough of it in any story but this one we're presented with here is particularly well-executed.
On the flip side of Gary's ordeal pulling him towards the edge of the abyss, is Shamrock's -- or Otto as we will come to know him. Otto is *not* a good guy and is basically living a Mirror Universe life that's the polar opposite from Good Guy Gary's. But in his own way Otto's found himself ensnared in circumstances just as desperate, driving him to make choices he thought he would never make.
The collision course that both these men are on and how far it will take them is straight up compelling reading. For a debut novel this is very strong and I can't wait to see what the author does next.
Today I'm going to recommend you pick up Tom Hunt's Killer Choice instead. I had way more fun reading it because it's one of those tightly plotted suspense thrillers with an irresistible hook where the pages practically turn themselves. We're introduced to middle America all around good guy Gary Foster whose life suddenly spirals into desperate circumstances. His pregnant wife Beth, who he is madly in love with, has been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. They need 200,000 dollars to get her the miracle treatment she needs.
Just when you think life can't get any shittier or more scary, in walks a menacing tattooed stranger, with a shaved head calling himself Shamrock. Shamrock wants Gary to kill someone, and in exchange for that dirty deed, he will give Gary the 200,000 dollars needed to maybe save his wife. Whatever will Good Guy Gary do? What's that saying? -- oh yeah, lie down with the devil and wake up in hell. Generally decent people finding themselves morally compromised is one of my favourite noir tropes. I usually can't get enough of it in any story but this one we're presented with here is particularly well-executed.
On the flip side of Gary's ordeal pulling him towards the edge of the abyss, is Shamrock's -- or Otto as we will come to know him. Otto is *not* a good guy and is basically living a Mirror Universe life that's the polar opposite from Good Guy Gary's. But in his own way Otto's found himself ensnared in circumstances just as desperate, driving him to make choices he thought he would never make.
The collision course that both these men are on and how far it will take them is straight up compelling reading. For a debut novel this is very strong and I can't wait to see what the author does next.
February 5, 2018
I love books about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, the idea that far fetched scenarios could actually happen to an average Joe is both scary and fascinating. Killer Choice reminded me of a David Bell novel with more of an action thriller vibe, but Hunt’s protagonist was reminiscent of some of Bell’s leads, so fans of his work should definitely add this to their TBR.
The pacing of this was spot on, you immediately dive into the story with little time spent on background information though everything you absolutely need to know is shared. Gary faces a question that’s been asked many times before, how far would you go to save a loved one? There was a uniqueness to this though, it definitely wasn’t as straightforward as I assumed it would be, the entire book isn’t based on what decision Gary makes, instead there were many twists and turns that I never saw coming.
This is an excellent debut from a very solid writer, Hunt truly has skills and I’ll be curious to see what he has in store in the future. I devoured this one, I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next and though things seemed a little implausible, I was throughly entertained and didn’t care at all. This would make a great movie, there’s a nice balance between intense action and sedate family life that would appeal to a variety of people.
Killer Choice in three words: Explosive, Fervent and Tense.
The pacing of this was spot on, you immediately dive into the story with little time spent on background information though everything you absolutely need to know is shared. Gary faces a question that’s been asked many times before, how far would you go to save a loved one? There was a uniqueness to this though, it definitely wasn’t as straightforward as I assumed it would be, the entire book isn’t based on what decision Gary makes, instead there were many twists and turns that I never saw coming.
This is an excellent debut from a very solid writer, Hunt truly has skills and I’ll be curious to see what he has in store in the future. I devoured this one, I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next and though things seemed a little implausible, I was throughly entertained and didn’t care at all. This would make a great movie, there’s a nice balance between intense action and sedate family life that would appeal to a variety of people.
Killer Choice in three words: Explosive, Fervent and Tense.
January 21, 2018
Fast paced. Great read! 4.5 Stars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love when a book surprises you. I picked up this suspense novel expecting to put in a lot of hours basking in the details and basically muddling through.
However, this one totally was the opposite. Very fast-paced and written in such a way that I literally flew through the book. I was finished with it in about three hours because I just couldn’t wait to find out what happened.
In this crazy plot that the author develops, we are asked question – what would we do if we had to make the ultimate decision to save a life while taking a life.
Many of us may know right now the answer to that. More of us will probably vacillate and have a hard time making a decision or just not make a decision at all.
The author brings us through the stress and anxiety the characters feel. Uncomfortable situations. Violence and agony. Lies and deceit. And then the ugly truth.
You think you know the answer and how this will end up. But you are probably wrong.
A highly engaging, fast moving story that is a bit shocking, gritty, and even a bit too out there to be true. Or is it?
What would you do?
*copy received for review consideration
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love when a book surprises you. I picked up this suspense novel expecting to put in a lot of hours basking in the details and basically muddling through.
However, this one totally was the opposite. Very fast-paced and written in such a way that I literally flew through the book. I was finished with it in about three hours because I just couldn’t wait to find out what happened.
In this crazy plot that the author develops, we are asked question – what would we do if we had to make the ultimate decision to save a life while taking a life.
Many of us may know right now the answer to that. More of us will probably vacillate and have a hard time making a decision or just not make a decision at all.
The author brings us through the stress and anxiety the characters feel. Uncomfortable situations. Violence and agony. Lies and deceit. And then the ugly truth.
You think you know the answer and how this will end up. But you are probably wrong.
A highly engaging, fast moving story that is a bit shocking, gritty, and even a bit too out there to be true. Or is it?
What would you do?
*copy received for review consideration
January 2, 2018
Quick: Roll up your pantlegs - it's too late to save your shoes!
I can't count how many times I've said that over the years. And I'm betting I said it at least half a dozen times during the couple of days it took to read this book. At issue, you see, is that only a ton of money - $200,000, to be exact - will save Gary Foster's wife Beth from dying (or more correctly, give her a chance of not dying as soon as she otherwise will). Beth, who's pregnant with their long-hoped-for child, has been diagnosed with a gioblastoma - the same type of brain cancer that took the life of the son of former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife and currently threatens the life of Arizona Sen. John McCain - making this a timely topic.
But alas, there's no treatment except via an experimental drug found only in Germany; while there are no guarantees, so far the trials have shown positive results. The only drawback? The exorbitant cost. Gary and Beth try everything they can think of to raise the money, but no matter what they do, it's just not enough. Enter a shady character named Otto, who somehow learns about their dilemma and contacts Gary with an offer he can't refuse: Want the money? Commit murder.
And from that point on, any sympathy I had for Gary pretty much went out the window. I had to wonder if the Fosters were subjected to the current TV commercial for one of those miracle drugs that proclaims, "Who wouldn't want the chance to live longer?" Well, don't be ridiculous; we all would. But at what cost? I know for certain I wouldn't kill someone else to get a drug that might or might not work; and if I were the patient, I also know for certain I would never try to make my husband feel guilty for not doing more to help, as Beth did at one early-on point. And right then, I pretty much stopped feeling sorry for her as well.
As one might suspect, nothing is as simple as it appears - but many of the obstacles in Gary's quest for serious cash stem from what I'd call plain old stupidity. Who in his right mind would agree to the strict terms Otto sets forth, especially when not accompanied by a hefty down payment at the very least? But agree Gary does, and from that point on no matter how fast he shovels, the mud just keeps getting deeper as new turns of events stand between him and the money he so desperately wants. Meanwhile, almost as an afterthought, we learn that the outdoor apparel shop Gary and his brother Rod operate is in serious financial trouble. But honestly, since Rod is a reformed screw-up and I just can't warm up to Gary or Beth, I found it hard to care.
There's no shortage of action, which held my attention throughout as I tried my best to figure out how the whole escapade would end. Not quite so happily, though, I also wrestled with a few other inconsistencies. Wouldn't Beth, for instance, balk at taking an experimental drug without knowing it wouldn't harm her baby? And why did an event venue operator who claimed to have no open dates for months to come offer, just a few days later, a date only two weeks away? Hmmm, guess a few folks bailed, eh?
Oh well, I'll never know. Regardless, overall this is a fast-paced adventure that I read almost in a single sitting - with, as I mentioned early on, a timely topic. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Killer Choice by Tom Hunt (Berkley, January 2018); 352 pp.
I can't count how many times I've said that over the years. And I'm betting I said it at least half a dozen times during the couple of days it took to read this book. At issue, you see, is that only a ton of money - $200,000, to be exact - will save Gary Foster's wife Beth from dying (or more correctly, give her a chance of not dying as soon as she otherwise will). Beth, who's pregnant with their long-hoped-for child, has been diagnosed with a gioblastoma - the same type of brain cancer that took the life of the son of former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife and currently threatens the life of Arizona Sen. John McCain - making this a timely topic.
But alas, there's no treatment except via an experimental drug found only in Germany; while there are no guarantees, so far the trials have shown positive results. The only drawback? The exorbitant cost. Gary and Beth try everything they can think of to raise the money, but no matter what they do, it's just not enough. Enter a shady character named Otto, who somehow learns about their dilemma and contacts Gary with an offer he can't refuse: Want the money? Commit murder.
And from that point on, any sympathy I had for Gary pretty much went out the window. I had to wonder if the Fosters were subjected to the current TV commercial for one of those miracle drugs that proclaims, "Who wouldn't want the chance to live longer?" Well, don't be ridiculous; we all would. But at what cost? I know for certain I wouldn't kill someone else to get a drug that might or might not work; and if I were the patient, I also know for certain I would never try to make my husband feel guilty for not doing more to help, as Beth did at one early-on point. And right then, I pretty much stopped feeling sorry for her as well.
As one might suspect, nothing is as simple as it appears - but many of the obstacles in Gary's quest for serious cash stem from what I'd call plain old stupidity. Who in his right mind would agree to the strict terms Otto sets forth, especially when not accompanied by a hefty down payment at the very least? But agree Gary does, and from that point on no matter how fast he shovels, the mud just keeps getting deeper as new turns of events stand between him and the money he so desperately wants. Meanwhile, almost as an afterthought, we learn that the outdoor apparel shop Gary and his brother Rod operate is in serious financial trouble. But honestly, since Rod is a reformed screw-up and I just can't warm up to Gary or Beth, I found it hard to care.
There's no shortage of action, which held my attention throughout as I tried my best to figure out how the whole escapade would end. Not quite so happily, though, I also wrestled with a few other inconsistencies. Wouldn't Beth, for instance, balk at taking an experimental drug without knowing it wouldn't harm her baby? And why did an event venue operator who claimed to have no open dates for months to come offer, just a few days later, a date only two weeks away? Hmmm, guess a few folks bailed, eh?
Oh well, I'll never know. Regardless, overall this is a fast-paced adventure that I read almost in a single sitting - with, as I mentioned early on, a timely topic. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Killer Choice by Tom Hunt (Berkley, January 2018); 352 pp.
December 13, 2018
Killer Choice by Tom Hunt
Would you kill a stranger for the money to possibly save your spouse with an uninsured medical procedure? That is the storyline.
The book was very different from many of the books I have read lately. I am by design to help my own writing only reading the biggest and most successful authors. I am hoping to learn from their writing. The book was recommended to me so I read it. But Killer Choice was the first novel for Tom Hunt.
It was easy to read and interesting. It kept pulling me along. I also felt the storyline was simple and transparent. But I kept reading. Before I knew it I was over halfway through the book and still reading. Then I was done and had to sit back and think about it.
It was good.
For me, there was only one real surprise besides the ending. There were no complicated plot twists, which isn’t necessarily bad. There were a couple of small speed bumps, but nothing too bad. I won’t spoil the ending for you, but I am curious as to why more reviewers made no mention of it. It does not have a typical ending. The ending was a surprise.
Would you kill a stranger for the money to possibly save your spouse with an uninsured medical procedure? That is the storyline.
The book was very different from many of the books I have read lately. I am by design to help my own writing only reading the biggest and most successful authors. I am hoping to learn from their writing. The book was recommended to me so I read it. But Killer Choice was the first novel for Tom Hunt.
It was easy to read and interesting. It kept pulling me along. I also felt the storyline was simple and transparent. But I kept reading. Before I knew it I was over halfway through the book and still reading. Then I was done and had to sit back and think about it.
It was good.
For me, there was only one real surprise besides the ending. There were no complicated plot twists, which isn’t necessarily bad. There were a couple of small speed bumps, but nothing too bad. I won’t spoil the ending for you, but I am curious as to why more reviewers made no mention of it. It does not have a typical ending. The ending was a surprise.
November 13, 2019
Definitely had to suspend disbelief on this one! This was a solid story, but I suppose I expected a big twist at the end, which I did not receive, so i'm putting my rating right in the middle at a solid 3 star rating. I think the pacing was swift, and I was intrigued throughout, which was great. I felt that some of the actions of the main protagonist were incredibly stupid, and I found myself yelling at him in frustration at times, which is a great thing. Had the ending been a bit more believable or twisted (I realize you can't have both, so one or the other would have sufficed!), this would have been a 4 Star rating for sure. I'm going to keep my eye on Hunt's other releases, as I felt a Harlan Coben type of vibe from his writing. I'd recommend this to most thriller fans!
August 25, 2018
Gary Foster seems to have it all ... his wife is pregnant, business is doing well. What could go wrong?
Sadly, his wife is hospitalized with a brain tumor. It will only cost $200,00 to save her life ..money that he doesn't have and doesn't know how to get. And because the treatment is experimental, will it even work?
Someone else comes up with a solution. This anonymous man will give Gary the money he needs ... but it comes with conditions. Gary must kill someone, no questions asked. End one life to save another.
So what will he do?
This is a debut crime novel by this author. The story premise sounded promising, but it was rather a slow start. There are some twists and turns with a surprise ending. Not altogether realistic, but that is why they call it fiction.
Many thanks to the author / Berkley Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Sadly, his wife is hospitalized with a brain tumor. It will only cost $200,00 to save her life ..money that he doesn't have and doesn't know how to get. And because the treatment is experimental, will it even work?
Someone else comes up with a solution. This anonymous man will give Gary the money he needs ... but it comes with conditions. Gary must kill someone, no questions asked. End one life to save another.
So what will he do?
This is a debut crime novel by this author. The story premise sounded promising, but it was rather a slow start. There are some twists and turns with a surprise ending. Not altogether realistic, but that is why they call it fiction.
Many thanks to the author / Berkley Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
September 19, 2021
This book was a solid read. It would be unfair to give it lower than a 3* review as I did want to keep reading to find out what happened. But the whole way through I was shouting at Gary in my head. I knew what was going to happen before it happened and there was no surprise for me. It wasn’t a bad book but compared to other books that I have given 3* to it didn’t seem fair!
I’m not sure I would recommend and I wouldn’t go out of my way to read another book by this author.
I’m not sure I would recommend and I wouldn’t go out of my way to read another book by this author.
January 30, 2018
It comes down to the age old question - exactly how far would you go for the one you love? Told strictly through Gary's point of view - we see how he goes from high hopes of finally expecting a baby with his wife.. to potentially losing her. His wife.. who he's known for more than half his life. His rock. He can't imagine life without her and he'll do anything to make sure he doesn't lose her. Enter an opportunity that could potentially solve everything... but at what cost?
I love it when a debut novel delivers! This was an extremely fast read for me. Yes, I know.. I read fast and I read a lot but sometimes you just get glued to that story line and this one really sucked me in! Gary really goes through quite a bit. You never quite know exactly how far you would go for someone until you're put in that predicament. There were a few times that I was like, "uh uh! Oh no you didn't! GARY!!!!" Towards the end he reminded me of Walter White - doing anything at the expense of anyone. PHEW!
I do wish there were a few things - while the book focused on everything Gary did to get to the point that he did. The beginning and aftermath I would've liked to have seen fleshed out a bit. They felt a tad bit rushed. I wanted to see more into the relationships he had with the people surrounding him. Make me feel a little more empathetic to his cause.
I love it when a debut novel gets my panties in a bunch. This one certainly had me shaking my head a few time in a disturbingly good way. I can only see Tom Hunt's work getting better with each novel and I look forward to seeing where he goes. Count me in for the Hunt!!
Thank you to Berkley for this amazing copy! My pleasure to review this and be a part of the tour. <3
3.5 stars rounded to 4.
I love it when a debut novel delivers! This was an extremely fast read for me. Yes, I know.. I read fast and I read a lot but sometimes you just get glued to that story line and this one really sucked me in! Gary really goes through quite a bit. You never quite know exactly how far you would go for someone until you're put in that predicament. There were a few times that I was like, "uh uh! Oh no you didn't! GARY!!!!" Towards the end he reminded me of Walter White - doing anything at the expense of anyone. PHEW!
I do wish there were a few things - while the book focused on everything Gary did to get to the point that he did. The beginning and aftermath I would've liked to have seen fleshed out a bit. They felt a tad bit rushed. I wanted to see more into the relationships he had with the people surrounding him. Make me feel a little more empathetic to his cause.
I love it when a debut novel gets my panties in a bunch. This one certainly had me shaking my head a few time in a disturbingly good way. I can only see Tom Hunt's work getting better with each novel and I look forward to seeing where he goes. Count me in for the Hunt!!
Thank you to Berkley for this amazing copy! My pleasure to review this and be a part of the tour. <3
3.5 stars rounded to 4.
August 28, 2017
Tom Hunt's KILLER CHOICE is a thrilling, masterful debut. Yes, the plot moves quickly and furiously, with twists and turns until the very last pages. But the book's real strengths are its rich characters and vivid writing. This is a fast, powerful, agonizing read, impossible to put down once started, and it marks the start of what will certainly be an impressive career.
February 19, 2021
HUNTING for fast-paced thrillers with many twists/turns?
If so, author TOM HUNT has two books for you. I just finished listening to Tom Hunt's "KILLER CHOICE" and "ONE FATAL MISTAKE" and both books were impossible-to-put-down.
"KILLER CHOICE" was my favorite of the two. In "KILLER CHOICE", the protagonist Gary's pregnant wife is diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer. Gary's wife's oncology team tells him that his wife's only life-saving treatment option would cost $200K and was not covered by insurance. Gary and his wife set up a GoFundMe page with no success. At the same time, Gary receives a phone call from a man with an enticing offer: the man will pay Gary $200K if he agrees to kill a police officer who is allegedly a "dirty cop".
Both KILLER CHOICE" and 'ONE FATAL MISTAKE" showcase protagonists with deep moral dilemmas. Both books focus on what happens when "bad" decisions are made by "good" people, due to extenuating circumstances beyond their control. Yes, some of the events/actions in both books had credibility issues and were not very plausible. But overall, both books were great reads.
I listened to the audio version of both books. Ray Porter's narration of KILLER CHOICE was outstanding and probably the reason why I liked KILLER CHOICE the best.
I look forward to listening to this author's future books.
If so, author TOM HUNT has two books for you. I just finished listening to Tom Hunt's "KILLER CHOICE" and "ONE FATAL MISTAKE" and both books were impossible-to-put-down.
"KILLER CHOICE" was my favorite of the two. In "KILLER CHOICE", the protagonist Gary's pregnant wife is diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer. Gary's wife's oncology team tells him that his wife's only life-saving treatment option would cost $200K and was not covered by insurance. Gary and his wife set up a GoFundMe page with no success. At the same time, Gary receives a phone call from a man with an enticing offer: the man will pay Gary $200K if he agrees to kill a police officer who is allegedly a "dirty cop".
Both KILLER CHOICE" and 'ONE FATAL MISTAKE" showcase protagonists with deep moral dilemmas. Both books focus on what happens when "bad" decisions are made by "good" people, due to extenuating circumstances beyond their control. Yes, some of the events/actions in both books had credibility issues and were not very plausible. But overall, both books were great reads.
I listened to the audio version of both books. Ray Porter's narration of KILLER CHOICE was outstanding and probably the reason why I liked KILLER CHOICE the best.
I look forward to listening to this author's future books.
January 23, 2018
What a debut. All I have to say about Killer Choice is that you are making the right choice when you pick up a copy of this book! I can't wait to read what Mr. Hunt comes out with next. Instant chemistry.
After getting to know Gary and Beth and their situation, the reader really feels for them. It is hard to say if I would not do the same thing if I was in Gary's shoes. If so, I probably would be just as horrible a liar as him. He really was not fooling anyone but yet I still was cheering for him. He was gullible but kind hearted at the same time. Oh, and I just loved Beth. She drew on strength.
This book had good characters that were likable as well as a solid storyline that moved at a nice pace. You have to check this book out.
After getting to know Gary and Beth and their situation, the reader really feels for them. It is hard to say if I would not do the same thing if I was in Gary's shoes. If so, I probably would be just as horrible a liar as him. He really was not fooling anyone but yet I still was cheering for him. He was gullible but kind hearted at the same time. Oh, and I just loved Beth. She drew on strength.
This book had good characters that were likable as well as a solid storyline that moved at a nice pace. You have to check this book out.
April 13, 2018
With a nod to Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train, Killer Choice asks the question just how far would you go to save the person you love? Gary is living the American dream with the love of his life Beth. After many years of infertility they are finally expecting a baby which will complete there dream of happiness. Unexpectedly Beth suffers a medical complication and finds out she has a cancerous brain tumor that will kill her shortly unless they can afford $200,000 for experimental medical treatment in Germany. Out of options to pay for the treatment Gary receives an offer for the money. All he has to do is kill a complete stranger.
This was great story. While the writing wasn't the most elegant, Patricia Highsmith wrote a timeless classic with Stranger on a Train, this book nevertheless has it's own merits. The book keeps you strapped in on a nerve wracking ride that never let's up. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next and I could never predict which way the story was going to go. There were quite a few surprises in store. The whole time I was asking myself would I do if this happened to me and the suspenseful plot kept me glued to the pages. Tom Hunt kept me wrapped up in his crazy thrill ride until the last page.
This was great story. While the writing wasn't the most elegant, Patricia Highsmith wrote a timeless classic with Stranger on a Train, this book nevertheless has it's own merits. The book keeps you strapped in on a nerve wracking ride that never let's up. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next and I could never predict which way the story was going to go. There were quite a few surprises in store. The whole time I was asking myself would I do if this happened to me and the suspenseful plot kept me glued to the pages. Tom Hunt kept me wrapped up in his crazy thrill ride until the last page.
November 15, 2017
Gary and Beth are happily married and happily pregnant after having tried so long for a baby that they had nearly given up hope. All seems to be going well until suddenly and unexpectedly Beth collapses. After a trip to the emergency room they are given devastating news. Beth has an inoperable tumor and may have less than a year to live. Her only hope of survival is a costly experimental treatment that they can not afford.
Meanwhile a shady character named Otto has caught the eye of a crooked cop and wants to be rid of him permanently. He hatches a plan to have the cop murdered by someone who has no connection to him so that he will never be a suspect. When Otto sees an article about Gary and Beth's dire situation he decides to take advantage of their desperate need for money.
This was a fast paced, suspenseful, action packed thriller with a lot of heart. There were a couple of things that irked me, having to do with police procedure and cash that I won't go into so as not to spoil the story but overall I enjoyed it.
3.75 out of 5 stars rounded up to 4
I received an advance copy for review.
Meanwhile a shady character named Otto has caught the eye of a crooked cop and wants to be rid of him permanently. He hatches a plan to have the cop murdered by someone who has no connection to him so that he will never be a suspect. When Otto sees an article about Gary and Beth's dire situation he decides to take advantage of their desperate need for money.
This was a fast paced, suspenseful, action packed thriller with a lot of heart. There were a couple of things that irked me, having to do with police procedure and cash that I won't go into so as not to spoil the story but overall I enjoyed it.
3.75 out of 5 stars rounded up to 4
I received an advance copy for review.
February 3, 2018
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Beth has glioblastoma, the same kind of cancer as John McCain has and Beau Biden had. But for Beth there is a cure, she just needs to have her baby, fly to Germany and have $200,000 to pay for the clinical trial care and other expenses. Beth and her friends start a funding page and calling friends and family. Her husband Gary receives a phone call offering him the full amount but he has to kill someone. Yes, it is a Killer Choice, but he decides to do it.
There was something just really off to me about Gary. Yes, he wanted to do anything to save his wife, and clearly, he was not thinking straight, but the way he accepted the offer and carried the act out just didn’t hold water for me. He came across to me as a very weak individual. He rubbed me the wrong way from the start and by the finish I really disliked this character.
The plot follows the murder and the aftermath. The viewpoint shifts between Gary and Otto, the drug dealer. After a slow start, the story picks up the pace but to me, some of it was pretty predictable. There was one moment I was totally shocked by an occurrence and near the end, things got pretty exciting.
Beth’s part is the story was minimal and never really delved into her treatment or the birth of her child. There could have been added drama here. She never became real to me. Maybe as a woman reading this story I need more of this to become engaged by her character.
Hunt has been compared to Harlan Coben, I am a huge fan of Harlan Coben, so I truly expected to love this story, but for me, it just missed the mark.
Beth has glioblastoma, the same kind of cancer as John McCain has and Beau Biden had. But for Beth there is a cure, she just needs to have her baby, fly to Germany and have $200,000 to pay for the clinical trial care and other expenses. Beth and her friends start a funding page and calling friends and family. Her husband Gary receives a phone call offering him the full amount but he has to kill someone. Yes, it is a Killer Choice, but he decides to do it.
There was something just really off to me about Gary. Yes, he wanted to do anything to save his wife, and clearly, he was not thinking straight, but the way he accepted the offer and carried the act out just didn’t hold water for me. He came across to me as a very weak individual. He rubbed me the wrong way from the start and by the finish I really disliked this character.
The plot follows the murder and the aftermath. The viewpoint shifts between Gary and Otto, the drug dealer. After a slow start, the story picks up the pace but to me, some of it was pretty predictable. There was one moment I was totally shocked by an occurrence and near the end, things got pretty exciting.
Beth’s part is the story was minimal and never really delved into her treatment or the birth of her child. There could have been added drama here. She never became real to me. Maybe as a woman reading this story I need more of this to become engaged by her character.
Hunt has been compared to Harlan Coben, I am a huge fan of Harlan Coben, so I truly expected to love this story, but for me, it just missed the mark.
October 27, 2017
This one is definitely a page-turner! Goodness, I don't think I got anything done while reading it, just the basics until I finished the book. Beth and Gary have been married a while, soulmates and best friends. They have tried for a while to have children and finally Beth is pregnant. Then Gary gets a call that Beth collapsed and is in hospital. She is seriously ill with a brain tumour and the only hope is a revolutionary kind of treatment in Germany, but the total cost is $200,000. They do start fund raising but that moves slowly, Beth is due to give birth in a month and after that the treatment should start. Then Gary gets a phone call, he is offered the $200,000 but has to kill someone for it. I will divulge no more but it gets fascinating from here. How far will Gary go to save Beth's life? Could he become a killer? I will say that I started out liking Gary but liked him less and less as the book went on. This is a great and fast action read!
September 6, 2017
Was given this book as an ARC through NetGalley. Where do I begin. Gary's wife is pregnant, passes out and at the hospital finds out she is dying from a brain tumor. He needs $200,000 to save her through a clinical trial in Germany but in order to get the money he needs to kill someone. Would you do it? I battled with this question throughout the book.
This is a page turner as the story gets more involved, the people get more intriguing. The more Gary lies the deeper he gets buried in this web. This book is not due out until January 2018 so make sure it is on your TBR list.
I was trying to decide between a 4 star or 5 star rating because of the ending.....not exactly what I was expecting....but then again is Mr Hunt thinking of a sequel????
This is a page turner as the story gets more involved, the people get more intriguing. The more Gary lies the deeper he gets buried in this web. This book is not due out until January 2018 so make sure it is on your TBR list.
I was trying to decide between a 4 star or 5 star rating because of the ending.....not exactly what I was expecting....but then again is Mr Hunt thinking of a sequel????
September 25, 2017
Killer Choice, by Tom Hunt is one of those books I really didn’t want to put down until the end.
I will say that it was hard for me to get behind some of the choices our main character made in this book. He quickly went from a sympathetic character to a man defined more by weakness than anything else. I actually ended up really disliking him by the end of the book.
I think, though, that the author gives us some real ethical conundrums and each reader may react a bit differently to Gary.
But it’s a fast and extremely suspenseful read. I really wanted to know if Gary and Beth would make it out of all this okay.
A solid thriller!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
I will say that it was hard for me to get behind some of the choices our main character made in this book. He quickly went from a sympathetic character to a man defined more by weakness than anything else. I actually ended up really disliking him by the end of the book.
I think, though, that the author gives us some real ethical conundrums and each reader may react a bit differently to Gary.
But it’s a fast and extremely suspenseful read. I really wanted to know if Gary and Beth would make it out of all this okay.
A solid thriller!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
August 26, 2017
I Could not put it down! Love that i won this on a giveaway and this is a new author for me I will be reading more from him!
My Review
http://shannonbooks197.livejournal.co...
My Review
http://shannonbooks197.livejournal.co...
January 19, 2018
“Wouldn’t killing a bad person to save a good person be somewhat justifiable?”
What would you do if you were given the choice to murder someone to save the one you loved? Even if the person to be murdered deserved it? Does anyone really deserve death over being a bad human being? These are questions I seriously contemplated while reading. It goes against everything I believe in—but there is the whole “wanting to save the one I love” aspect.
Gary and his wife, Beth, find out that she has an inoperable brain tumor that’s growing. They don’t have much time, much less wait for a miracle to happen. They are then presented with a new drug that could potentially save her life. But since it’s still in the trials and all the way in Germany, the treatments aren’t covered by insurance. They would need $200,000 if they were to qualify.
That is where Otto comes in. He’s a small business owner—among other things—at a pawn shop. He contacts Gary with that question and gives him time to think on it. But not too much time...he doesn’t have much time. Everywhere he looks, he owes money. Hiring someone unknown to murder is just one of the many problems in his life.
There’s so much going on and I don’t even know where to begin! The book sucks you in from the first page with its simplistic and highly engaging writing. Leaving the reader wanting more. Wondering what Gary will do. It gets crazy and in the end, I’m left with satisfaction and awe. I think this is a great debut that will thrill readers who like books that make you think.
*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What would you do if you were given the choice to murder someone to save the one you loved? Even if the person to be murdered deserved it? Does anyone really deserve death over being a bad human being? These are questions I seriously contemplated while reading. It goes against everything I believe in—but there is the whole “wanting to save the one I love” aspect.
Gary and his wife, Beth, find out that she has an inoperable brain tumor that’s growing. They don’t have much time, much less wait for a miracle to happen. They are then presented with a new drug that could potentially save her life. But since it’s still in the trials and all the way in Germany, the treatments aren’t covered by insurance. They would need $200,000 if they were to qualify.
That is where Otto comes in. He’s a small business owner—among other things—at a pawn shop. He contacts Gary with that question and gives him time to think on it. But not too much time...he doesn’t have much time. Everywhere he looks, he owes money. Hiring someone unknown to murder is just one of the many problems in his life.
There’s so much going on and I don’t even know where to begin! The book sucks you in from the first page with its simplistic and highly engaging writing. Leaving the reader wanting more. Wondering what Gary will do. It gets crazy and in the end, I’m left with satisfaction and awe. I think this is a great debut that will thrill readers who like books that make you think.
*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 6, 2023
Novel received courtesy of Goodreads First Reads Giveaway
The premise behind this novel was intriguing. How far would you go to save someone you love? This novel answers that question for Gary Foster. Gary's wife Beth, 6 months pregnant, collapses and is taken to the hospital. There, she is quickly diagnosed with untreatable, incurable brain cancer. Her only hope is to join a medical trial happening in Germany. Insurance doesn't cover the trial so they try to raise the $200,000 the treatment will cost. It's a long way to $200,000 when people are donating $20 a time. Gary and Beth get the word out as well as they can advertising online and by word of mouth but they're only able to raise a small fraction of what they need.
Gary gets a phone call from someone he doesn't know telling him that he will receive $200,000 if he murders someone. While Gary goes back and forth about what to do, Beth's condition worsens. He agrees to do the murder in exchange for the money. That's just the beginning of terrible things that happen.
I can see this being turned into a movie. I don't think I've seen one with this premise. I enjoyed the book but I hated Gary by the end of it. He became less and less likable as he continued down the road he chose. The characters were well-written and believable. The descriptions of both sides of town were spot on as well. Overall, a well written, slightly stressful read.
The premise behind this novel was intriguing. How far would you go to save someone you love? This novel answers that question for Gary Foster. Gary's wife Beth, 6 months pregnant, collapses and is taken to the hospital. There, she is quickly diagnosed with untreatable, incurable brain cancer. Her only hope is to join a medical trial happening in Germany. Insurance doesn't cover the trial so they try to raise the $200,000 the treatment will cost. It's a long way to $200,000 when people are donating $20 a time. Gary and Beth get the word out as well as they can advertising online and by word of mouth but they're only able to raise a small fraction of what they need.
Gary gets a phone call from someone he doesn't know telling him that he will receive $200,000 if he murders someone. While Gary goes back and forth about what to do, Beth's condition worsens. He agrees to do the murder in exchange for the money. That's just the beginning of terrible things that happen.
I can see this being turned into a movie. I don't think I've seen one with this premise. I enjoyed the book but I hated Gary by the end of it. He became less and less likable as he continued down the road he chose. The characters were well-written and believable. The descriptions of both sides of town were spot on as well. Overall, a well written, slightly stressful read.
February 7, 2018
How do I describe Killer Choice, a book that’s both good and bad at the same time? The writing was good. Everything that happens was bad. I would call this an afterschool special. Or better yet a fable. It’s one of those situations where at the end someone would say to you, “What’s the moral of the story?” And that moral would be not to try and change destiny no matter how much you want to. If you are faced with insurmountable odds, just hope that things will work out on their own because choices have consequences. And some of those consequences can be really, really bad.
I don’t want to give it all away so I’ll try to sum it up. Gary and his wife Beth have been together for twenty years. They are expecting their first child. Beth collapses and soon finds out that she has an inoperable brain tumor that will likely kill her in the not so distant future. There is an experimental trial in Germany that would cost $200,000 that they don’t have. Gary and Beth set up a GO FUND ME type of website to raise money. They do a video and news spot to get the word out but that just doesn’t seem like it will be enough. And then Gary gets approached with an offer that he should refuse. He can make $200,000. All he has to do is murder a cop. And he does. Everything else that happens after that is a lesson in bad choices for everyone involved. There is no happy ending. Gary and his family’s life will never be the same.
I so hoped that there would be a point in Killer Choice where the good guy lives happily ever after. That’s not exactly what happens. In essence, tragedy happens. I just won’t tell you for whom the bell tolls. It was depressing and I understand why everything happened the way that it did. There’s a message. You have to read it to get it. It’s painful but realistic.
**Received a copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed the book.**
I don’t want to give it all away so I’ll try to sum it up. Gary and his wife Beth have been together for twenty years. They are expecting their first child. Beth collapses and soon finds out that she has an inoperable brain tumor that will likely kill her in the not so distant future. There is an experimental trial in Germany that would cost $200,000 that they don’t have. Gary and Beth set up a GO FUND ME type of website to raise money. They do a video and news spot to get the word out but that just doesn’t seem like it will be enough. And then Gary gets approached with an offer that he should refuse. He can make $200,000. All he has to do is murder a cop. And he does. Everything else that happens after that is a lesson in bad choices for everyone involved. There is no happy ending. Gary and his family’s life will never be the same.
I so hoped that there would be a point in Killer Choice where the good guy lives happily ever after. That’s not exactly what happens. In essence, tragedy happens. I just won’t tell you for whom the bell tolls. It was depressing and I understand why everything happened the way that it did. There’s a message. You have to read it to get it. It’s painful but realistic.
**Received a copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed the book.**
November 17, 2021
Gary and his wife Beth are deeply in love, with a baby on the way. Then, Beth collapses, and they receive the devastating news that she has a brain tumour, inoperable. Their only hope is a very expensive experimental treatment abroad - but they are struggling to raise the money. Then Gary receives a call from a strange man - he'll pay for Beth's treatment, he just wants one thing in return - for Gary to murder someone. With Beth rapidly deteriorating, Gary has a choice - will he end one life to save another?..
I liked this book, it had some good parts, some really shocking parts. The only thing that puts the book down for me, is the feeling that something is missing. I read the book, but didn't feel the gripping sensation of having to keep reading. This book has took me a few days, which is longer than usual, especially when the book itself isn't that long.
Don't get me wrong, I'd definitely say give this book a try! We all like different, just because this didn't feel the best to me, it could be someone else's absolute amazing.
I liked this book, it had some good parts, some really shocking parts. The only thing that puts the book down for me, is the feeling that something is missing. I read the book, but didn't feel the gripping sensation of having to keep reading. This book has took me a few days, which is longer than usual, especially when the book itself isn't that long.
Don't get me wrong, I'd definitely say give this book a try! We all like different, just because this didn't feel the best to me, it could be someone else's absolute amazing.
February 16, 2018
Gary & Beth Foster have been married for nearly twenty years. They are perfect for each other & are both excited for the birth of their first child. One day Beth collapses & is rushed to the hospital. After a day of testing, they're both told that Beth has a brain inoperable brain tumor. It is news no body wants to hear. With the help from Beth's doctor, they find a trial that Beth qualifies for but it is in Europe & experimental. Which boils down to mean they will have to pay 100% out-of-pocket in order for Beth to participate. In an effort to not lose hope, they both work to raise the funds needed to make the trial a reality. They exhaust all possibilities & only come up with a small portion of what is needed. One day Gary receives a call on his cell phone from a mysterious man claiming he can help with the funds needed for Beth's treatment. When Gary meets the man, he is told that the whole sum of money is his as long as he kills a man. Gary's immediate reaction is to say no, but the man decides to give him a couple of days to think about. Gary ultimately decides that a life with Beth is worse than killing one bad man. Thus starts the whirlwind of events that start to unravel their lives. Will Gary get away with murder? Or will he have to pay the price for taking a man's life?
This was a good suspense thriller with a lot of twists & turns. I found myself rooting for Gary even after he had taken a life. The story is moving & makes you ask questions like, "what would I do in those shoes?"
I voluntarily reviewed a Net Galley copy of this book.
This was a good suspense thriller with a lot of twists & turns. I found myself rooting for Gary even after he had taken a life. The story is moving & makes you ask questions like, "what would I do in those shoes?"
I voluntarily reviewed a Net Galley copy of this book.
January 2, 2020
Vienas dienas grāmata. No rīta sāku, vakarā izlasīju.
Dīvaini, ka grāmatas nosaukums ir Killera izvēle, ja pateicību ierakstā tā nosaukta par Nāvējošo izvēli, kas daudz precīzāk raksturo visu romānu.
It kā patukšs trilleris, kā jau daudz Kontinenta ražojumi, bet galvenais jautājums patiesi nopietns - uz ko tu būtu gatavs, lai glābtu mīļoto cilvēku? Skumji, ka jāizdara šāda izvēle, jo nevar padarīt par nebijušu to, kas izdarīts, lai cik cēlu mērķu vārdā tas arī netiktu darīts.
Manas izjūtas pēc pēdējās lapas aizvēršanas ir pretrunīgas. Un es nepiekrītu, ka mērķis attaisno līdzekļus. Jo atgūt savu dvēseli pēc slepkavības nav iespējams.
Dīvaini, ka grāmatas nosaukums ir Killera izvēle, ja pateicību ierakstā tā nosaukta par Nāvējošo izvēli, kas daudz precīzāk raksturo visu romānu.
It kā patukšs trilleris, kā jau daudz Kontinenta ražojumi, bet galvenais jautājums patiesi nopietns - uz ko tu būtu gatavs, lai glābtu mīļoto cilvēku? Skumji, ka jāizdara šāda izvēle, jo nevar padarīt par nebijušu to, kas izdarīts, lai cik cēlu mērķu vārdā tas arī netiktu darīts.
Manas izjūtas pēc pēdējās lapas aizvēršanas ir pretrunīgas. Un es nepiekrītu, ka mērķis attaisno līdzekļus. Jo atgūt savu dvēseli pēc slepkavības nav iespējams.
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