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17 Church Row
For fans of J. P. Delaney's The Girl Before comes a thriller that makes us question our relationship with technology and the lengths we would go to, to keep our family safe.
Three years ago, Ethan and Nikki Rhodes suffered a devastating loss. Their four-year-old daughter Grace was tragically killed when she ran from their garden into the path of a car. Ethan, a radio personality, escapes into work, while Nikki quits her job to care for their remaining child, Grace's twin sister, Bella, who hasn't spoken since that night.
Trying to give the family a fresh start, Ethan moves them to a revolutionary house designed by the world-famous architect, Catriona Fisher. For the Rhodes', this is a life-changing move because a key feature of the house is the state of the art security system that allows them to be completely safe from the outside world within their own home.
But what if what they fear most is actually inside the house? What if 17 Church Row isn't the safe haven that they think it is?
Three years ago, Ethan and Nikki Rhodes suffered a devastating loss. Their four-year-old daughter Grace was tragically killed when she ran from their garden into the path of a car. Ethan, a radio personality, escapes into work, while Nikki quits her job to care for their remaining child, Grace's twin sister, Bella, who hasn't spoken since that night.
Trying to give the family a fresh start, Ethan moves them to a revolutionary house designed by the world-famous architect, Catriona Fisher. For the Rhodes', this is a life-changing move because a key feature of the house is the state of the art security system that allows them to be completely safe from the outside world within their own home.
But what if what they fear most is actually inside the house? What if 17 Church Row isn't the safe haven that they think it is?
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2019
29 people are currently reading
1065 people want to read
About the author
James Carol
22 books278 followersJames Carol was born in Scotland in 1969, where he spent his early years. He moved to England in the eighties and has lived there ever since. At various times he has worked as a guitarist, sound engineer, guitar tutor, journalist, and a horse riding instructor.
The character of Jefferson Winter came about because he wanted to write a series of books that gave him as much freedom as possible. He figured that the more interesting he kept things for himself, the more interesting it would be for the reader.
Although the novels are written as a series, James approaches each book as a stand-alone. Each story is set in a different location, and has a different cast of characters. The beauty of this approach is that the novels can be read out of order.
Broken Dolls, the first Jefferson Winter thriller, will be published in January 2014. This will be followed in the Spring by Presumed Guilty, the first in a series of eBooks set during Winter’s FBI days. Watch Me, the second Jefferson Winter thriller, is scheduled for publication in September 2014.
When he’s not writing, James spends his time training horses and riders. An accomplished guitarist, he relaxes by writing and recording music. He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and two children.
The character of Jefferson Winter came about because he wanted to write a series of books that gave him as much freedom as possible. He figured that the more interesting he kept things for himself, the more interesting it would be for the reader.
Although the novels are written as a series, James approaches each book as a stand-alone. Each story is set in a different location, and has a different cast of characters. The beauty of this approach is that the novels can be read out of order.
Broken Dolls, the first Jefferson Winter thriller, will be published in January 2014. This will be followed in the Spring by Presumed Guilty, the first in a series of eBooks set during Winter’s FBI days. Watch Me, the second Jefferson Winter thriller, is scheduled for publication in September 2014.
When he’s not writing, James spends his time training horses and riders. An accomplished guitarist, he relaxes by writing and recording music. He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and two children.
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November 8, 2020
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Oh my word. Why didn’t I get to this book sooner.
I decided I’d listen to this on audio as I saw it ready to download that day no reserve on it.
I started to listen to it while I was driving somewhere. Then a bit more when preparing our meal and cooking it. I got so caught up in it’s tight plot.
17 Church Row was supposed to have a high security on it. And it did. But what if something was already inside when you’d moved in?
There’s family anguish within the pages of this story. Very sad. But there’s also something very questionable that after read it you will reflect on how eerie this is in our century in history.
It’s gripping.
I loved the atmosphere the tenseness and the way this book questioned our Internet uses.
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Oh my word. Why didn’t I get to this book sooner.
I decided I’d listen to this on audio as I saw it ready to download that day no reserve on it.
I started to listen to it while I was driving somewhere. Then a bit more when preparing our meal and cooking it. I got so caught up in it’s tight plot.
17 Church Row was supposed to have a high security on it. And it did. But what if something was already inside when you’d moved in?
There’s family anguish within the pages of this story. Very sad. But there’s also something very questionable that after read it you will reflect on how eerie this is in our century in history.
It’s gripping.
I loved the atmosphere the tenseness and the way this book questioned our Internet uses.
November 22, 2019
4☆ A gripping & Compulsive Thriller, Where Technology is at the Heart of the Story
17 CHURCH ROW is a Thriller Mystery with a difference. I haven't read anything quiet like this before and I really enjoyed the use of Virtual Assistant making it current and fresh, especially with gadgets like Alexa running your home already!
Ethan and Nikki have just purchased a brand new home on Church Row. But this isn't just any old house, it's run by a virtual assistant called Alice. The technology is state of the art, fresh and modern.
Alice is basically there to do whatever is asked of her, make a cup of tea, turn the lights on and off, open and close doors as there are no handles....the list goes on and on!
Nikki and Ethan have a young child called Bella who is struggling after a terrible accident involving her twin sister. Since that day she hasn't been able to talk only communicating via her tablet.
They are hoping it's the change they all need, even if Nikki isn't so sure.
But was moving to 17 CHURCH ROW really the best thing for the family? Just how far will Alice go?
The story is told by several points of view.
Which was really intriguing as there is a narrative voice who I was eager to find out who's it was.
17 CHURCH ROW is a gripping, creepy and current thriller that could quiet easily become a reality. I have an ALEXA and it certainly got me a lil spooked out. I mean she does control our lights.
It's a story of manipulation, control, grief, bonds, family, protection, technology.
It certainly made me feel on edge and uneasy which I Adore with thrillers.
There are plenty of cleverly plotted twists and turns which I didn't see coming.
It was a chilling and creepy read that ramped up in tension and pace.
So if you are looking for a gripping, compulsive Thriller, where technology is at the heart of the story then you will love 17 CHURCH ROW!
Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours and Bonnier Zaffre for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/1...
17 CHURCH ROW is a Thriller Mystery with a difference. I haven't read anything quiet like this before and I really enjoyed the use of Virtual Assistant making it current and fresh, especially with gadgets like Alexa running your home already!
Ethan and Nikki have just purchased a brand new home on Church Row. But this isn't just any old house, it's run by a virtual assistant called Alice. The technology is state of the art, fresh and modern.
Alice is basically there to do whatever is asked of her, make a cup of tea, turn the lights on and off, open and close doors as there are no handles....the list goes on and on!
Nikki and Ethan have a young child called Bella who is struggling after a terrible accident involving her twin sister. Since that day she hasn't been able to talk only communicating via her tablet.
They are hoping it's the change they all need, even if Nikki isn't so sure.
But was moving to 17 CHURCH ROW really the best thing for the family? Just how far will Alice go?
The story is told by several points of view.
Which was really intriguing as there is a narrative voice who I was eager to find out who's it was.
17 CHURCH ROW is a gripping, creepy and current thriller that could quiet easily become a reality. I have an ALEXA and it certainly got me a lil spooked out. I mean she does control our lights.
It's a story of manipulation, control, grief, bonds, family, protection, technology.
It certainly made me feel on edge and uneasy which I Adore with thrillers.
There are plenty of cleverly plotted twists and turns which I didn't see coming.
It was a chilling and creepy read that ramped up in tension and pace.
So if you are looking for a gripping, compulsive Thriller, where technology is at the heart of the story then you will love 17 CHURCH ROW!
Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours and Bonnier Zaffre for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/1...
August 9, 2019
Wow....just wow and wow again. Omg,this is a absolutely amazing tale that is very relevant and scarily believable when you stop and consider how much of our daily lives are lived online. These days we can hardly do anything without having to go to some website or another,wether it's booking a doctor's appointment,online banking or frantically checking how many likes,shares and comments we have on social media. We are constantly upgrading our internet,enabling it to perform more and more daily tasks. But what if someone went too far and invented a system that was able to upgrade and evolve independently and the system decided that we were inferior beings that it could manipulate and control. That is the premise of this utterly compelling,chilling story of manipulation,control and what a parent is prepared to do to protect their child.
The move to 17 Church Row was supposed to be a fresh start for Ethan and Nikki Rhodes and their young daughter Bella but especially for Nikki,who was still struggling with her devastating grief and guilt over the death,three years previously of Bella's twin sister Grace who died after she ran out in front of a car. Bella hasn't spoken a word since the night of the accident and Nikki and Ethan are hoping that maybe the move will encourage Bella to start talking again.
Their new home is a revolutionary house designed by the world - famous architect Catriona Fisher. The house has a state of the art security system and a AI called Alice who is there for their comfort and convenience.
But what if what they fear most is already inside the house? What if 17 Church Row isn't the safe haven that they think it is?
17 Church Row is mainly voiced by Nikki,a complex character who was understandably a bit overprotective when it came down to Bella's safety. Nikki also suffered from extreme anxiety and panic attacks,something that I also suffer from,a fact that helped me feel a connection with her character. The author's portrayals of how debilitating anxiety can be were spot on and very realistic. The prevailing theme throughout this book was the love between a parent and their child but also between a child and their parent...or so I thought. I was shocked and pleasantly surprised when I found out that I had been mislead and manipulated by this clever authors misdirections. Some of the story was narrated by Catriona Fisher,I had mixed feelings about her character and changed my mind about her a number of times as the story unfolded. There is also another narrator who's chapters are scattered throughout the book,a cold,emotionless,chilling character who's words and attitude gave me chills. There was some technical aspects to this story but they weren't overbearing or very difficult to understand.
I totally and utterly loved this mesmerising,tightly plotted thriller. I was hooked in from the first page and didn't want to put it down. It has a number of unexpected twists,is gripping,intense and keeps the reader guessing and as for the ending,talk about intense and chilling. I would love to watch a film adaptation of this book. Worth far far more than five stars. Very very highly recommended
Many many thanks to Bonnie Zaffre for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
The move to 17 Church Row was supposed to be a fresh start for Ethan and Nikki Rhodes and their young daughter Bella but especially for Nikki,who was still struggling with her devastating grief and guilt over the death,three years previously of Bella's twin sister Grace who died after she ran out in front of a car. Bella hasn't spoken a word since the night of the accident and Nikki and Ethan are hoping that maybe the move will encourage Bella to start talking again.
Their new home is a revolutionary house designed by the world - famous architect Catriona Fisher. The house has a state of the art security system and a AI called Alice who is there for their comfort and convenience.
But what if what they fear most is already inside the house? What if 17 Church Row isn't the safe haven that they think it is?
17 Church Row is mainly voiced by Nikki,a complex character who was understandably a bit overprotective when it came down to Bella's safety. Nikki also suffered from extreme anxiety and panic attacks,something that I also suffer from,a fact that helped me feel a connection with her character. The author's portrayals of how debilitating anxiety can be were spot on and very realistic. The prevailing theme throughout this book was the love between a parent and their child but also between a child and their parent...or so I thought. I was shocked and pleasantly surprised when I found out that I had been mislead and manipulated by this clever authors misdirections. Some of the story was narrated by Catriona Fisher,I had mixed feelings about her character and changed my mind about her a number of times as the story unfolded. There is also another narrator who's chapters are scattered throughout the book,a cold,emotionless,chilling character who's words and attitude gave me chills. There was some technical aspects to this story but they weren't overbearing or very difficult to understand.
I totally and utterly loved this mesmerising,tightly plotted thriller. I was hooked in from the first page and didn't want to put it down. It has a number of unexpected twists,is gripping,intense and keeps the reader guessing and as for the ending,talk about intense and chilling. I would love to watch a film adaptation of this book. Worth far far more than five stars. Very very highly recommended
Many many thanks to Bonnie Zaffre for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
November 10, 2019
Weak and drawn out psycho thriller concerning the future of Artificial Intelligence with pacing issues.
I was intrigued by the premise of 17 Church Row and having read The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney I was fascinated to discover in which direction James Carol would take the idea of a state of the art house. Although it takes over half of the book for its intent to become clear, the crux of the story relates to the next generation in AI (artificial intelligence), with the focal point not a standard virtual assistant (like Alexa) but a virtual assistant designed to anticipate a person’s needs before they even realise they have them. 17 Church Row has Alice, a virtual assistant who according to the architect behind the project “makes Alexa look like a Neanderthal” and uses algorithms to continually improve and enhance performance.
Nikki Rhodes, husband Ethan and seven-year-old Bella are desperate for a brighter future after a car accident outside their home three years earlier took the life of Bella’s twin, Grace. With Bella suffering from PTSD and regressing to selective mutism they desperately need a fresh start and having taken the monumental decision to move from their old home and the memories that it contained, famed radio presenter Ethan sets his sights on 17 Church Row. A revolutionary house designed by world-famous architect, Catriona Fisher, in conjunction with a software engineer who aims to create not just artificial intelligence but actual intelligence that is situated in a quiet Kensington cul-de-sac and behind gates. With all sorts of gizmo’s from doors that slide open when someone is outside and automating most functions without the resident lifting a finger, the clincher for anxious Nikki who is initially reluctant is the basement panic room for ultimate peace of mind. With well concealed cameras allowing the architect to tune into the daily events within the house and the software engineer ironing out the technical glitches as they are experienced by the Rhodes’ in order to enhancing the functionality the story initially felt somewhat aimless.
Firstly although strange things do happen (doors not opening, power outages and security breaches via hacking) the first half meanders and feels fairly directionless. Alongside these glitches which are relatively incidental, the bulk of the story seems to concentrate on worried mum, Nikki, and her hopes for getting Bella to ever speak again three years after she stopped. Contacting Dr Laura Santos, a psychiatrist with skills in treating children affected by trauma, together with the reassuring safety features, Nikki focuses on doing whatever she can to support and protect her remaining daughter.
Disappointingly, however, Bella’s mutism feels like a gimmick and James Carol misses an opportunity by neglecting to delve into the background or bereft Nikki’s emotions and coping mechanisms for her own panic attacks. In the main the narrative in presented from the perspective of Nikki and although I found her lacking in personality it is easy to empathise with her plight. The rest of the cast, including Ethan, lack any depth at all, significantly reducing my interest in not only the Rhodes’ but the fate of the house. But when danger looms can the ultimate virtual assistant of Alice and 17 Church Row keep Bella safe? And what happens when Alice ups the ante, gets a little more feisty and takes on a mind of her own?!
The thriller element of the story only takes off in the second half with an extensive and melodramatic finale and unlike The Girl Before it proved a little too far-fetched for me to take the storyline seriously. Together with a rambling first half that becomes frustrating a drawn out denouement was top-heavy on the artificial intelligence aspect I found it a difficult book to invest in. In contrast to The Girl Before, in which the futuristic technology aspects were accessible and had a believable background, 17 Church Row is an unconvincing attempt at putting a malevolent spin on artificial intelligence. Marketed as a suspense thriller and from reading the premise I had certainly expected the story to have far more of a crime genre feel, but as it stands it feels like a mash-up of a mother’s bond with a traumatised child and a YA science fiction thriller. Overall a hugely disappointing read with pacing issues that needed a tighter plot and could have easily been a hundred pages if only some of the repetition was removed.
I was intrigued by the premise of 17 Church Row and having read The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney I was fascinated to discover in which direction James Carol would take the idea of a state of the art house. Although it takes over half of the book for its intent to become clear, the crux of the story relates to the next generation in AI (artificial intelligence), with the focal point not a standard virtual assistant (like Alexa) but a virtual assistant designed to anticipate a person’s needs before they even realise they have them. 17 Church Row has Alice, a virtual assistant who according to the architect behind the project “makes Alexa look like a Neanderthal” and uses algorithms to continually improve and enhance performance.
Nikki Rhodes, husband Ethan and seven-year-old Bella are desperate for a brighter future after a car accident outside their home three years earlier took the life of Bella’s twin, Grace. With Bella suffering from PTSD and regressing to selective mutism they desperately need a fresh start and having taken the monumental decision to move from their old home and the memories that it contained, famed radio presenter Ethan sets his sights on 17 Church Row. A revolutionary house designed by world-famous architect, Catriona Fisher, in conjunction with a software engineer who aims to create not just artificial intelligence but actual intelligence that is situated in a quiet Kensington cul-de-sac and behind gates. With all sorts of gizmo’s from doors that slide open when someone is outside and automating most functions without the resident lifting a finger, the clincher for anxious Nikki who is initially reluctant is the basement panic room for ultimate peace of mind. With well concealed cameras allowing the architect to tune into the daily events within the house and the software engineer ironing out the technical glitches as they are experienced by the Rhodes’ in order to enhancing the functionality the story initially felt somewhat aimless.
Firstly although strange things do happen (doors not opening, power outages and security breaches via hacking) the first half meanders and feels fairly directionless. Alongside these glitches which are relatively incidental, the bulk of the story seems to concentrate on worried mum, Nikki, and her hopes for getting Bella to ever speak again three years after she stopped. Contacting Dr Laura Santos, a psychiatrist with skills in treating children affected by trauma, together with the reassuring safety features, Nikki focuses on doing whatever she can to support and protect her remaining daughter.
Disappointingly, however, Bella’s mutism feels like a gimmick and James Carol misses an opportunity by neglecting to delve into the background or bereft Nikki’s emotions and coping mechanisms for her own panic attacks. In the main the narrative in presented from the perspective of Nikki and although I found her lacking in personality it is easy to empathise with her plight. The rest of the cast, including Ethan, lack any depth at all, significantly reducing my interest in not only the Rhodes’ but the fate of the house. But when danger looms can the ultimate virtual assistant of Alice and 17 Church Row keep Bella safe? And what happens when Alice ups the ante, gets a little more feisty and takes on a mind of her own?!
The thriller element of the story only takes off in the second half with an extensive and melodramatic finale and unlike The Girl Before it proved a little too far-fetched for me to take the storyline seriously. Together with a rambling first half that becomes frustrating a drawn out denouement was top-heavy on the artificial intelligence aspect I found it a difficult book to invest in. In contrast to The Girl Before, in which the futuristic technology aspects were accessible and had a believable background, 17 Church Row is an unconvincing attempt at putting a malevolent spin on artificial intelligence. Marketed as a suspense thriller and from reading the premise I had certainly expected the story to have far more of a crime genre feel, but as it stands it feels like a mash-up of a mother’s bond with a traumatised child and a YA science fiction thriller. Overall a hugely disappointing read with pacing issues that needed a tighter plot and could have easily been a hundred pages if only some of the repetition was removed.
November 14, 2019
Once they were a happy family of four until three years ago. Ethan and Nikki Rhodes four year old daughter, Grace ran out in front of a car. Grace was Bellas twin sister. Bella has ot spoken since that tragic day. They reluctantly decide it's time to leave the house they are currently living in and move into a very modern home, 17 Church Row. The house is full of modern technology and voice activated gadgets. The house has it's on AI, a personal assistant called Alice. We also get intermittent chapters about someone called Katy whose father had tried to kill her.
I always thought it would be nice to have a voice recognition house where all I had to do was sit in my chair and dish out orders. But after reading this book, I think I've changed my mind. It got to the point that Alice knew what was required from her before she was asked. The story is told from three points of view, the main voice being Nikki. The second person is Catriona Fisher, the designer of 17 Church Row. The third voice is Katy, who we learn that her father had tried to kill her. We do ot learn until much later in the book who Katy is. The dual storyline does work and they both eventually tie up together. There are a few twists throughout the book. It seemed a bit far fetched but I could see some of the events actually happening. The plotline is something different than normal. A well crafted story.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bonnier Books UK and the author James Carol for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I always thought it would be nice to have a voice recognition house where all I had to do was sit in my chair and dish out orders. But after reading this book, I think I've changed my mind. It got to the point that Alice knew what was required from her before she was asked. The story is told from three points of view, the main voice being Nikki. The second person is Catriona Fisher, the designer of 17 Church Row. The third voice is Katy, who we learn that her father had tried to kill her. We do ot learn until much later in the book who Katy is. The dual storyline does work and they both eventually tie up together. There are a few twists throughout the book. It seemed a bit far fetched but I could see some of the events actually happening. The plotline is something different than normal. A well crafted story.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bonnier Books UK and the author James Carol for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2019
My heart went out Nikki, Ethan and Bella, they have suffered a huge loss and have made the hard decision to move house for a brand new start. The new house on 17 Church Row is state of the art. I could easily envision how stunning this house was with all clean lines and space it offers.
The system in the house is pretty revolutionary but something we are probably not that far off having. A system that answers to every beck and call. A house that has no door handles as it knows when to open and close them. Will pop the oven or kettle on when asked. It would make us quite lazy but with how busy a lifestyles most of us have now a days, it certainly held an attraction.
This is a story very much about the bond between parent and child. Through NikkI, we see just how far a parent would go for their child. There are also darker chapters from a voice who we don’t know who it belongs to, showing the other side of a child’s love for their father. These are quite creepy to start with, getting downright scary!
17 Church Row was such a compelling read that I couldn’t put it down. It’s quite futuristic and does make you worry about how much trust we put in technology. A guaranteed page turner of a novel that picks up in pace the further into the story we go. This is an author who seem to always manage to take his stories to another level and make them very different to the vast amount of books out there in the same genre. Another great read.
My thanks to Tracy Fenton, NetGalley and Zaffre Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The system in the house is pretty revolutionary but something we are probably not that far off having. A system that answers to every beck and call. A house that has no door handles as it knows when to open and close them. Will pop the oven or kettle on when asked. It would make us quite lazy but with how busy a lifestyles most of us have now a days, it certainly held an attraction.
This is a story very much about the bond between parent and child. Through NikkI, we see just how far a parent would go for their child. There are also darker chapters from a voice who we don’t know who it belongs to, showing the other side of a child’s love for their father. These are quite creepy to start with, getting downright scary!
17 Church Row was such a compelling read that I couldn’t put it down. It’s quite futuristic and does make you worry about how much trust we put in technology. A guaranteed page turner of a novel that picks up in pace the further into the story we go. This is an author who seem to always manage to take his stories to another level and make them very different to the vast amount of books out there in the same genre. Another great read.
My thanks to Tracy Fenton, NetGalley and Zaffre Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
May 23, 2020
In an attempt to get over the death of Grace, one of their twin daughters, and to help their surviving daughter, Bella, Nikki and Ethan Rhodes move to a new home designed by architect, Catriona Fisher. The running of the entire house is controlled by a talking computer called Alice.
At first I feared it was going to be a re-run of HAL9000 in “2001: A Space Odyssey” or Proteus IV in “Demon Seed” and, for a while it seemed that way with various unexplained malfunctions and accidents. There are also some brief intermittent chapters of flashbacks by a character called Katy, who appears to have an Electra complex.
Then, about halfway through the novel, there are a whole slew of plot twists and I realised I’d been cleverly misdirected by the author all along. This certainly was the highpoint of the novel. The rest followed along a more conventional route but was still quite thrilling, although there was a further unforeseen twist right at the very end.
At first I feared it was going to be a re-run of HAL9000 in “2001: A Space Odyssey” or Proteus IV in “Demon Seed” and, for a while it seemed that way with various unexplained malfunctions and accidents. There are also some brief intermittent chapters of flashbacks by a character called Katy, who appears to have an Electra complex.
Then, about halfway through the novel, there are a whole slew of plot twists and I realised I’d been cleverly misdirected by the author all along. This certainly was the highpoint of the novel. The rest followed along a more conventional route but was still quite thrilling, although there was a further unforeseen twist right at the very end.
November 3, 2019
3.5 stars.
I haven’t read any James Carol books before but I do own “Kiss Me, Kill Me” and I’m fully aware that he is a respected writer with several crime novels already under his belt. “17 Church Row” is a techno thriller like no other and it really does need to be read to be believed. Not so many moons ago, this story would have been classed as futuristic even science fiction. Scarily, now a lot of the story’s premise could be described as very realistic and utterly believable. What the future holds with regards to artificial and even ‘actual’ intelligence is something that is very hard to comprehend and quite scary but with the modern ‘Alexa’ and ‘Siri’ in our households, nothing is unachievable and more and more, robots and AI are taking over manual tasks.
The first half of the book is a slow burn, getting you used to the state of the art house in question with it’s technology and being introduced to the family who have bought it and moved in there. I did feel the emotions Bella’s parents felt due to the accidental death of her sister very palpable and truly understood Nikki’s anguish and panic attacks relating to her feelings of grief. I didn’t particularly like any of the main characters, though I did take to Catriona the architect of the house and thought she played her part in the story well.
This book opens with a superbly intriguing prologue that remains a thread throughout the story and doesn’t become apparent how it entwines itself within the main premise till later in the book and is quite a twist. The denouement is fast paced and I felt it did save the book after a very slow first half. Although a lot of readers may find “17 Church Row” strange or even frightening, I did enjoy reading and appreciated how the author was conveying the message of how AI may take over the function of humans one day in an interesting and well written crime thriller. If you fancy something a bit different, I’d happily recommend this book but if you like your crime mysteries to be traditional and straight forward this may not be for you. Intelligent, chilling and well worth a read!
I haven’t read any James Carol books before but I do own “Kiss Me, Kill Me” and I’m fully aware that he is a respected writer with several crime novels already under his belt. “17 Church Row” is a techno thriller like no other and it really does need to be read to be believed. Not so many moons ago, this story would have been classed as futuristic even science fiction. Scarily, now a lot of the story’s premise could be described as very realistic and utterly believable. What the future holds with regards to artificial and even ‘actual’ intelligence is something that is very hard to comprehend and quite scary but with the modern ‘Alexa’ and ‘Siri’ in our households, nothing is unachievable and more and more, robots and AI are taking over manual tasks.
The first half of the book is a slow burn, getting you used to the state of the art house in question with it’s technology and being introduced to the family who have bought it and moved in there. I did feel the emotions Bella’s parents felt due to the accidental death of her sister very palpable and truly understood Nikki’s anguish and panic attacks relating to her feelings of grief. I didn’t particularly like any of the main characters, though I did take to Catriona the architect of the house and thought she played her part in the story well.
This book opens with a superbly intriguing prologue that remains a thread throughout the story and doesn’t become apparent how it entwines itself within the main premise till later in the book and is quite a twist. The denouement is fast paced and I felt it did save the book after a very slow first half. Although a lot of readers may find “17 Church Row” strange or even frightening, I did enjoy reading and appreciated how the author was conveying the message of how AI may take over the function of humans one day in an interesting and well written crime thriller. If you fancy something a bit different, I’d happily recommend this book but if you like your crime mysteries to be traditional and straight forward this may not be for you. Intelligent, chilling and well worth a read!
December 11, 2019
With liking 17 Church Row front cover and the blurb, very much I needed to read it.
The story started off really exciting with a brand new house, that has everything. Ethan and Nikki Rhodes and their daughter Bella were starting a fresh start in a new house in Church Row.
Nikki and Ethan, daughter Grace was killed in a road accident, this is what made them start a fresh in house designed by renowned architect, Catriona Fisher.
But as Nikki and Ethan lost Grace every time Bella disappears Nikki freaks out, where she is frightened of losing Bella too, which I totally see Nikki's point of view.
There is a lot more within this story, but I don't want to give away too much.
Apart from the fact that Nikki, Ethan and Bella move into a new house and with Nikki becoming paranoid that something would happen to Bella, I didn't really enjoy this book as much as I hoped to have. Normally I am the type of reader who can read anything, but unfortunately I struggle with this one. However I would recommend reading it as so many mixed reviews about 17 Church Row, with lots of readers loving this book.
The story started off really exciting with a brand new house, that has everything. Ethan and Nikki Rhodes and their daughter Bella were starting a fresh start in a new house in Church Row.
Nikki and Ethan, daughter Grace was killed in a road accident, this is what made them start a fresh in house designed by renowned architect, Catriona Fisher.
But as Nikki and Ethan lost Grace every time Bella disappears Nikki freaks out, where she is frightened of losing Bella too, which I totally see Nikki's point of view.
There is a lot more within this story, but I don't want to give away too much.
Apart from the fact that Nikki, Ethan and Bella move into a new house and with Nikki becoming paranoid that something would happen to Bella, I didn't really enjoy this book as much as I hoped to have. Normally I am the type of reader who can read anything, but unfortunately I struggle with this one. However I would recommend reading it as so many mixed reviews about 17 Church Row, with lots of readers loving this book.
January 20, 2020
The story follows Rhodes family, Ethan and Nikki along with their twin daughters are quite content in their lives until one fateful day a tragic accident leaves a hole in their happy lives. Even though three years have pass since the tragedy, the pain is still as fresh and hurtful as it was the moment that they lost a part of their soul.
To put it all behind, they move into a new, high-tech house. Something about this house was odd, apart from no handles on the doors to being fully automated and controlled by an AI called Alice, this house was never going to be home according to Nikki. Still wanting to give it a shot she agreed to start anew.
A home should be your place where you can feel safe and sound. But as the story takes a drastic change, we realize that you must learn to trust your instincts as they are quite powerful in assessing the imminent danger that lurks in the plain sight. Can Nikki distinguish reality from illusions? Time and trust, both are limited and fickle when it comes to saving the people you love.
It can be quite terrifying thing to think that everything was controlled by technology, even the doors and windows of the house that they live in. A house where you can depend on smart technology to make the place secure and danger free. Yes, it does sounds amazing, to be able to keep in touch with latest everything but what happens when you realize that your privacy was invaded by the same thing that you put your trust in. No room or corner is safe and either are you.
17 church row was definitely a good thriller. Clever manipulations and a well written plot, what a book! The story has slow beginning but it quickly ascends to its peak as the Rhodes move into the the state of art security house. Terrifying and most likely a scary experience, this book is definitely a must read for the readers who enjoy this genre. It was fast-paced, intriguing and one hell of a thrilling story. And the ending was unexpected and it gave me chills.
One of the best read of 2020.
To put it all behind, they move into a new, high-tech house. Something about this house was odd, apart from no handles on the doors to being fully automated and controlled by an AI called Alice, this house was never going to be home according to Nikki. Still wanting to give it a shot she agreed to start anew.
A home should be your place where you can feel safe and sound. But as the story takes a drastic change, we realize that you must learn to trust your instincts as they are quite powerful in assessing the imminent danger that lurks in the plain sight. Can Nikki distinguish reality from illusions? Time and trust, both are limited and fickle when it comes to saving the people you love.
It can be quite terrifying thing to think that everything was controlled by technology, even the doors and windows of the house that they live in. A house where you can depend on smart technology to make the place secure and danger free. Yes, it does sounds amazing, to be able to keep in touch with latest everything but what happens when you realize that your privacy was invaded by the same thing that you put your trust in. No room or corner is safe and either are you.
17 church row was definitely a good thriller. Clever manipulations and a well written plot, what a book! The story has slow beginning but it quickly ascends to its peak as the Rhodes move into the the state of art security house. Terrifying and most likely a scary experience, this book is definitely a must read for the readers who enjoy this genre. It was fast-paced, intriguing and one hell of a thrilling story. And the ending was unexpected and it gave me chills.
One of the best read of 2020.
April 18, 2020
I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
This book is amazing!
The book starts out with Nikki and Ethan who are buying a new house to move forwards from a tragic accident in which they lost one of their twin daughter's. They buy a modern luxury house with AI intelligence but as soon as they move in they begin to realise the house isnt what it seems and a whole kind of crazy events unfold like dominoes.
I loved how AI was at the heart of this novel and it made me question if technology evolves this much in the future, if things like what occur in this book, could actually happen.
This book is amazing!
The book starts out with Nikki and Ethan who are buying a new house to move forwards from a tragic accident in which they lost one of their twin daughter's. They buy a modern luxury house with AI intelligence but as soon as they move in they begin to realise the house isnt what it seems and a whole kind of crazy events unfold like dominoes.
I loved how AI was at the heart of this novel and it made me question if technology evolves this much in the future, if things like what occur in this book, could actually happen.
November 13, 2019
You know you’re on to a winner when you are shouting about a book in group message before you have even finished it. Well I have finished it and I’m now going to really shout about it. THIS IS BRILLIANT!
This threw me a real curveball as it’s not the standard thriller I was expecting. It’s techy, with AI sci fi thrown in too. But don’t let that scare you as even this complete technophobe understood it.
This book is mostly about what is left of the Rhodes family as they try and pick up the pieces after the devastating loss of one of their daughters and their move into the latest state of the art smart home. What could possibly go wrong ? Well just imagine Alexa channeling Annie Wilkes and you will get a rough idea.
I loved the Rhodes family especially Nikki, who although she is still in the hellish nightmare that is grief and suffering panic attacks, all she wants is to help Bella who hasn’t spoken a word without her tablet since Grace died.
I sometimes find the faster pace a book has sometimes the plot or characters take a back seat to the action. Not in this case, the timing is perfect but nothing suffers because of it.
I’m sure this was meant to make you question how far AI can go and once that Pandora’s box is open it will be impossible to go back. For this 70’s kid who sees how much has already changed I’m pretty sure we are already on our way there. Alexa please close blog……..
This threw me a real curveball as it’s not the standard thriller I was expecting. It’s techy, with AI sci fi thrown in too. But don’t let that scare you as even this complete technophobe understood it.
This book is mostly about what is left of the Rhodes family as they try and pick up the pieces after the devastating loss of one of their daughters and their move into the latest state of the art smart home. What could possibly go wrong ? Well just imagine Alexa channeling Annie Wilkes and you will get a rough idea.
I loved the Rhodes family especially Nikki, who although she is still in the hellish nightmare that is grief and suffering panic attacks, all she wants is to help Bella who hasn’t spoken a word without her tablet since Grace died.
I sometimes find the faster pace a book has sometimes the plot or characters take a back seat to the action. Not in this case, the timing is perfect but nothing suffers because of it.
I’m sure this was meant to make you question how far AI can go and once that Pandora’s box is open it will be impossible to go back. For this 70’s kid who sees how much has already changed I’m pretty sure we are already on our way there. Alexa please close blog……..
November 22, 2019
Nikki and Ethan had twin girls, but after a tragic accident, little Grace died. Bella who saw the accident has been mute ever since. Nikki has anxiety and doesn’t really feel safe among the memories in their home, so Ethan thinks they should move home for a fresh start for them all.
They find a fantastic house with state of the art security and an AI system that really makes life easy. Bella loves the house and so they move in…..but someone is watching. Is Bella safe? Are any of them?
Oh my, this is a marvellous mix of a family drama, thriller and Sci-fi that has moments of heart pounding tension and Oh the tears too…..a clever plot, which I can’t say much about for fear of spoiling it…….but if you like a claustrophobic thriller, this is a must read.
Thank you to Tracy and Compulsive Readers for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
They find a fantastic house with state of the art security and an AI system that really makes life easy. Bella loves the house and so they move in…..but someone is watching. Is Bella safe? Are any of them?
Oh my, this is a marvellous mix of a family drama, thriller and Sci-fi that has moments of heart pounding tension and Oh the tears too…..a clever plot, which I can’t say much about for fear of spoiling it…….but if you like a claustrophobic thriller, this is a must read.
Thank you to Tracy and Compulsive Readers for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
February 17, 2020
Wow, this book was brilliant! Drew me in from the start with a creepy feeling that things were not going to go well.
A fast paced thriller that lived up to the hype.
A fast paced thriller that lived up to the hype.
February 11, 2020
All of my reviews can be found at https://damppebbles.com/
I received a free eARC of 17 Church Row but that has in no way influenced my review.
I am a huge fan of James Carol’s writing. If Mr Carol writes it, you can guarantee I’ll be reading it as soon as humanly possible. His Jefferson Winter series is absolutely sublime and his standalone novels (of which 17 Church Row is one) are all thrilling, captivating reads. If you’ve never picked up a James Carol novel then you’re really, REALLY missing out.
Nikki Rhodes took her eyes off her twin daughters for only a split second, and that was all it took for tragedy to strike. Nikki knows their lives have changed forever when she hears the screeching of tyres and sees the front door swinging wide open. Learning to rebuild their lives after the loss of Grace is the toughest thing they’ve had to face, but particularly for Bella – Grace’s twin sister – who hasn’t spoken since the accident. When Ethan suggests they move house, leaving behind the painful memories, Nikki doesn’t know what to do for the best. But radio DJ, Ethan has found the perfect house for them – 17 Church Row in Kensington. It’s the house of the future and architect, Catriona is looking to build many, many more. Having a media star like Ethan Rhodes move into her project is a gold mine. You just can’t buy that kind of publicity! 17 Church Row is a futuristic abode decked out with the latest in AI technology. The house is run by ‘Alice’ who can answer to your every whim and is always one step ahead of you. The pain of losing Grace will be with the family forever. Bella is their number one priority now and they have to do everything they can to make her life as happy and as fulfilled as possible. And there’s always the chance that this change of scene could be the catalyst to get Bella to talk again. But what if their new safe haven isn’t as safe and secure as they believe…?
If memory serves I’ve said this before: Woah! If this is the future then I’m locking myself in a library and NEVER, EVER leaving! The last time I said that it was about self-driving cars. I think it’s fair to say I feel the same about self-driving houses! Oh.My.Goodness. This futuristic thriller is one scary read and I’m quite happy in my very normal, very non-AI house – thank you very much! If you had presented 17 Church Row to be me before I read this book I would have bitten your hand off. Modern, sleek, visually stunning. Carol paints a beautiful aesthetic with his words. But I’ve read the book. You can keep your all-singing, all-dancing house!
This is an entertaining thriller and with some interesting characters. I really felt for Nikki who was punishing herself on a daily basis over her daughter’s death. To want to escape the memories but at the same time not feel able to leave them behind, what a tough decision to make. And poor little Bella broke my heart on a number of occasions. I did feel one of the characters was only part of the story to move the plot along – a bit like being a red jerseyed ensign about to embark on your first mission with Captain James T. Kirk to an alien planet. You’ve had a few lines, played a small part and now we all know you’re going to get in in the neck! It wasn’t a huge surprise for me when something questionable happened to them. The architect, Catriona, is also super creepy…yuck!
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I would recommend all of James Carol’s books as they are all brilliant. If you’re in the mood for something a little bit different then this is the book for you. It’s quite terrifying to think this is how we could be living in the future. Quite an eye-opener. And yes, my Alexa is now in the bin….
I chose to read and review an eARC of 17 Church Row. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a free eARC of 17 Church Row but that has in no way influenced my review.
I am a huge fan of James Carol’s writing. If Mr Carol writes it, you can guarantee I’ll be reading it as soon as humanly possible. His Jefferson Winter series is absolutely sublime and his standalone novels (of which 17 Church Row is one) are all thrilling, captivating reads. If you’ve never picked up a James Carol novel then you’re really, REALLY missing out.
Nikki Rhodes took her eyes off her twin daughters for only a split second, and that was all it took for tragedy to strike. Nikki knows their lives have changed forever when she hears the screeching of tyres and sees the front door swinging wide open. Learning to rebuild their lives after the loss of Grace is the toughest thing they’ve had to face, but particularly for Bella – Grace’s twin sister – who hasn’t spoken since the accident. When Ethan suggests they move house, leaving behind the painful memories, Nikki doesn’t know what to do for the best. But radio DJ, Ethan has found the perfect house for them – 17 Church Row in Kensington. It’s the house of the future and architect, Catriona is looking to build many, many more. Having a media star like Ethan Rhodes move into her project is a gold mine. You just can’t buy that kind of publicity! 17 Church Row is a futuristic abode decked out with the latest in AI technology. The house is run by ‘Alice’ who can answer to your every whim and is always one step ahead of you. The pain of losing Grace will be with the family forever. Bella is their number one priority now and they have to do everything they can to make her life as happy and as fulfilled as possible. And there’s always the chance that this change of scene could be the catalyst to get Bella to talk again. But what if their new safe haven isn’t as safe and secure as they believe…?
If memory serves I’ve said this before: Woah! If this is the future then I’m locking myself in a library and NEVER, EVER leaving! The last time I said that it was about self-driving cars. I think it’s fair to say I feel the same about self-driving houses! Oh.My.Goodness. This futuristic thriller is one scary read and I’m quite happy in my very normal, very non-AI house – thank you very much! If you had presented 17 Church Row to be me before I read this book I would have bitten your hand off. Modern, sleek, visually stunning. Carol paints a beautiful aesthetic with his words. But I’ve read the book. You can keep your all-singing, all-dancing house!
This is an entertaining thriller and with some interesting characters. I really felt for Nikki who was punishing herself on a daily basis over her daughter’s death. To want to escape the memories but at the same time not feel able to leave them behind, what a tough decision to make. And poor little Bella broke my heart on a number of occasions. I did feel one of the characters was only part of the story to move the plot along – a bit like being a red jerseyed ensign about to embark on your first mission with Captain James T. Kirk to an alien planet. You’ve had a few lines, played a small part and now we all know you’re going to get in in the neck! It wasn’t a huge surprise for me when something questionable happened to them. The architect, Catriona, is also super creepy…yuck!
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I would recommend all of James Carol’s books as they are all brilliant. If you’re in the mood for something a little bit different then this is the book for you. It’s quite terrifying to think this is how we could be living in the future. Quite an eye-opener. And yes, my Alexa is now in the bin….
I chose to read and review an eARC of 17 Church Row. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
October 9, 2019
If you enjoy thinking about the future and what might be- sit down and enjoy the ride- but hold on! Nikki and Ethan have just moved into their new house 17 Church Row with their daughter. She was one of twins but unfortunately her sister Grace died when they got out of the door. since that time Bella hasn;t spoken a word and only speaks through her electronic pad. 17 Church row has Alice an artificial intelligence system (think a super version of Alexa) which controls everything from power on phone down to doors, light heating and even ordering takeaways and making the coffee. Of course a system is only as good as it’s programme and occasional things go wrong. For me there was a glaring mistake in that Bella told Alice not to tell her parents where she was hiding. After losing a child I would have thought that they would specifically asked Alice only to take certain, if any, instructions from Bella. But then again this is not real life. We get intermittent chapters about Katy whose Father tried to kill her. We don’t know where she fits into the story just glimpses of the relationship she had with her Father. Omg! This drew me in and kept me there. After reading books about automated cars and now houses I really don’t feel comfortable going there. A book to keep you turning and one perhaps to make you think in part of what is not in reality that far away. Stunning.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
January 8, 2020
Mad alexa type computer takes over the running of a house , and the people who live in it.
January 18, 2021
Your home is your safe place. It is the place holding your memories, big and small. Your laughs, your tears, and your sick days have left an echo. A roof makes a house, people make a home.
Tragedy struck the Rhodes’ family, sweeping away one of their twin daughters. Her ghost now inhabits their family home, for better or for worse. How can you move on when every corner you check reminds you of who you’ve lost? But… Is a parent allowed to move on from such a thing? This string plays throughout the novel and my heart danced with it, a sad and melancholic dance in a thick fog, numbed by grief and a feeling of emptiness. The writing drew me in instantly.
Nikki is stuck in a limbo since Grace died. To give themselves a chance to heal, she and husband Ethan decide to move. 17 Church Row looks perfect. Shiny, all glass and light, and most of all, a smart assistant to make the owners’ life easier. What’s not to love?
Call me old-school, but Alexa & co won’t ever set foot in my home. I love how technology allows me to know about every subject, be connected to the entire world, and do my grocery shopping from my couch, but there are limits to the freedom I’m willing to give up on, the freedom needed for an artificial assistant to do what the control freak in me prefers to do herself! Like locking my door. I couldn’t suppress the uneasiness of knowing someone is watching you, even if only to tend to your needs. I talk to myself a lot, and I’d rather no one listened!!! It was easy to put myself in Nikki’s shoes and feel unsettled by the house’s voice’s constant presence. Watching your daughter interact with a computer instead of you is a disturbing image.
I can’t get enough of books exploring the notion of the place taken by technology in our everyday life. The right details gave me a precise image of what the author had created. I even caught myself feeling very curious about the house and Alice, the voice living with Nikki, Ethan, and Bella. Don’t we get used to anything? That doesn’t make it a good thing! Still, I understood Ethan’s need to protect his family with what could be seen as the safest house. Nothing can go wrong if an eye works 24/7 to make sure what’s most precious to you is looked after.
What began as an interesting take on our present soon turned out to be a full horror story. I mean it! My kind of horror. I don’t do zombies. I prefer it when things go terribly and realistically wrong. So wrong you want to close your eyes and pray the bookish gods to spare the characters’ lives. Reading 17 Church Row was immensely compelling and intensely scary.
James Carol has successfully layered his novel with the cold of technology and the heart of what makes us human. Each page narrowed the path between those separate worlds, and twists had my head run wild like a horse during a storm and my heart go up and down as if I were riding the biggest emotional elevator!
The architect behind the house uses the Rhodes’ family as an experiment, goldfish in a (pretty and convenient) bowl. I was both fascinated and horrified. As the tension escalated, my pulse went ride-or-die and hours passed by without me realizing!
17 Church Row is a spooky and dramatic novel that I highly recommend! What does it mean to be home? To be safe?
Tragedy struck the Rhodes’ family, sweeping away one of their twin daughters. Her ghost now inhabits their family home, for better or for worse. How can you move on when every corner you check reminds you of who you’ve lost? But… Is a parent allowed to move on from such a thing? This string plays throughout the novel and my heart danced with it, a sad and melancholic dance in a thick fog, numbed by grief and a feeling of emptiness. The writing drew me in instantly.
Nikki is stuck in a limbo since Grace died. To give themselves a chance to heal, she and husband Ethan decide to move. 17 Church Row looks perfect. Shiny, all glass and light, and most of all, a smart assistant to make the owners’ life easier. What’s not to love?
Call me old-school, but Alexa & co won’t ever set foot in my home. I love how technology allows me to know about every subject, be connected to the entire world, and do my grocery shopping from my couch, but there are limits to the freedom I’m willing to give up on, the freedom needed for an artificial assistant to do what the control freak in me prefers to do herself! Like locking my door. I couldn’t suppress the uneasiness of knowing someone is watching you, even if only to tend to your needs. I talk to myself a lot, and I’d rather no one listened!!! It was easy to put myself in Nikki’s shoes and feel unsettled by the house’s voice’s constant presence. Watching your daughter interact with a computer instead of you is a disturbing image.
I can’t get enough of books exploring the notion of the place taken by technology in our everyday life. The right details gave me a precise image of what the author had created. I even caught myself feeling very curious about the house and Alice, the voice living with Nikki, Ethan, and Bella. Don’t we get used to anything? That doesn’t make it a good thing! Still, I understood Ethan’s need to protect his family with what could be seen as the safest house. Nothing can go wrong if an eye works 24/7 to make sure what’s most precious to you is looked after.
What began as an interesting take on our present soon turned out to be a full horror story. I mean it! My kind of horror. I don’t do zombies. I prefer it when things go terribly and realistically wrong. So wrong you want to close your eyes and pray the bookish gods to spare the characters’ lives. Reading 17 Church Row was immensely compelling and intensely scary.
James Carol has successfully layered his novel with the cold of technology and the heart of what makes us human. Each page narrowed the path between those separate worlds, and twists had my head run wild like a horse during a storm and my heart go up and down as if I were riding the biggest emotional elevator!
The architect behind the house uses the Rhodes’ family as an experiment, goldfish in a (pretty and convenient) bowl. I was both fascinated and horrified. As the tension escalated, my pulse went ride-or-die and hours passed by without me realizing!
17 Church Row is a spooky and dramatic novel that I highly recommend! What does it mean to be home? To be safe?
November 16, 2019
Wow! This book had me gripped from the first page!
Immediately I felt for the characters after having lost one of their daughters in a tragic accident, and having to watch how much their other daughter was struggling with it.
The way it was written made the book super fast pace pretty much from the get go, with lots of short chapters, sometimes switching to different or unknown perspectives!
The general idea behind the story is not particularly new; ‘technology fights back’ etc., BUT I have never seen it done quite like this, and quite this well! I don’t personally own an Alexa, but if I did I certainly wouldn’t trust her anymore!
This book just kept getting more and more intense, right up until the final page. I couldn’t recommend it enough, and thank you to readers first and Zaffre books for sending it to me!
Immediately I felt for the characters after having lost one of their daughters in a tragic accident, and having to watch how much their other daughter was struggling with it.
The way it was written made the book super fast pace pretty much from the get go, with lots of short chapters, sometimes switching to different or unknown perspectives!
The general idea behind the story is not particularly new; ‘technology fights back’ etc., BUT I have never seen it done quite like this, and quite this well! I don’t personally own an Alexa, but if I did I certainly wouldn’t trust her anymore!
This book just kept getting more and more intense, right up until the final page. I couldn’t recommend it enough, and thank you to readers first and Zaffre books for sending it to me!
February 11, 2021
Rarely do you find a book where you are thinking g 5 stars then it jumps the shark in such a disappointing way ...
That’s this book for me. Often we love plot twists, but this one was a boring turn of events and without spoiling the book, I did not care enough. I finished the book, but do not recommend.
That’s this book for me. Often we love plot twists, but this one was a boring turn of events and without spoiling the book, I did not care enough. I finished the book, but do not recommend.
May 31, 2020
Fascinating! As much as love messing around on my laptop or browsing videos on my tablet, I can't help but be wary of the technology behind them. Like how hackers just simply hijack the webcam if they wish. My Alexa also creeps me out a little bit, and compared to the AI in Church Row 17, it's a Neanderthal, as the designer in the book aptly pointed it out.
This story played on all of my fears regarding AI tech very efficiently.
This biok would make a great Black Mirror episode.
This story played on all of my fears regarding AI tech very efficiently.
This biok would make a great Black Mirror episode.
April 2, 2021
Well-coordinated work of household gadgets that will wake you up in the morning,will be brewed perfect coffee according to your taste, will be pulled out a shelf so that you can put street shoes, Not to mention the laundry, cleaning, ordering groceries and the next episode of your favorite TV series, which will turn on without a reminder exactly from the place from which you want to watch. Seems perfect, doesn't it? It only seems so.
An exciting and, in a sense, groundbreaking thriller that combines pulp fiction with science fiction, and the sentimental story "the rich cry too" with innovative technologies. Not that fantastic thrillers are such a rarity, they are known in a lot, there are also excellent quality, but usually in them the universal and fantastic components are in the first place, while the novel by James Carol is primarily a thriller about a maniac. It doesn't matter who it is.
Гадский гаджет
Мне не нужно тела, чтобы влиять на мир, в котором ты живешь.
Когда очень обеспеченная супружеская чета с маленькой дочерью переезжает в новый дом, главная их цель - поскорее оставить в прошлом тягостные воспоминания о смерти второй девочки, сестренки-близнеца Беллы. И надежда на то, что смена обстановки поможет малышке оправиться от последствий психологической травмы. После смерти сестры она перестала разговаривать.
Которая кажется, начинает оправдываться. Искусственный интеллект, координирующий работу нового умного дома, умеет найти с девочкой общий язык. Реплики, адресованные родителям, которые она набирает на планшете, а программа речевого синтеза озвучивает механическим голосом, начинают звучать из встроенных динамиков голосом Беллы.
Только вот, рот девочки по-прежнему остается закрытым. Подделка, даже очень хорошего качества, остается симулякром. А для решения психологических проблем, необходима помощь квалифицированного психолога, желательно специализирующегося на работе с травмами того же рода, какую довелось пережить малышке. Именно такого уже нашла и даже договорилась от имени хозяйки о первом визите Элис.
А кто такая Элис? Так ведь, "мозг" дома. Интеллект, координирующий работу этого чрезвычайно сложно устроенного, способного избавить владельцев от всех бытовых забот, дома. Знаете, как трудно найти хороших слуг? А как неприятно впускать чужака в свой санктум санкторум?
В этом смысле, слаженная работа бытовых гаджетов, которые и утром тебя разбудят, и кофе идеальный по твоему вкусу сварят, и полочку калошницы, чтобы ты могла поставить уличную обувь, выдвинут. Не говоря уж о стирке, уборке, заказе продуктов и очередном эпизоде любимого сериала, который включится без напоминания аккурат с того места, с какого пожелаешь смотреть. Кажется идеальным, правда? Это только кажется.
Захватывающий и, в определенном смысле, новаторский триллер, который совмещает криминальное чтиво с фантастикой, а сентиментальную историю "богатые тоже плачут" с инновационными технологиями. Не то, чтобы фантастические триллеры были такой уж диковинкой, известны во множестве, есть и отменного качества, но обычно в них на первом месте общечеловеческая и фантастическая составляющие, в то время, как роман Джеймса Кэрола прежде всего триллер о маньяке. Неважно, кто им окажется.
Исполнительское мастерство Игоря Князева в аудиоверсии романа несомненно, а женские голоса, которых в книге на порядок больше, чем мужских, и для каждого из них чтец подбирает уникальный тембр, интонацию, манеру говорить - женские голоса превосходны.
Для любителей остросюжетного триллера, в котором найдется место скрытой враждебности, отравлению, членовредительству, киднепингу, отрубанию частей тела с последующим прижиганием на огне кухонной конфорки, доведению до сумасшествия, удушению, взрывам и глобальной угрозе человечеству - "Дом 17 по улице Черч-Роу" must have.
An exciting and, in a sense, groundbreaking thriller that combines pulp fiction with science fiction, and the sentimental story "the rich cry too" with innovative technologies. Not that fantastic thrillers are such a rarity, they are known in a lot, there are also excellent quality, but usually in them the universal and fantastic components are in the first place, while the novel by James Carol is primarily a thriller about a maniac. It doesn't matter who it is.
Гадский гаджет
Мне не нужно тела, чтобы влиять на мир, в котором ты живешь.
Когда очень обеспеченная супружеская чета с маленькой дочерью переезжает в новый дом, главная их цель - поскорее оставить в прошлом тягостные воспоминания о смерти второй девочки, сестренки-близнеца Беллы. И надежда на то, что смена обстановки поможет малышке оправиться от последствий психологической травмы. После смерти сестры она перестала разговаривать.
Которая кажется, начинает оправдываться. Искусственный интеллект, координирующий работу нового умного дома, умеет найти с девочкой общий язык. Реплики, адресованные родителям, которые она набирает на планшете, а программа речевого синтеза озвучивает механическим голосом, начинают звучать из встроенных динамиков голосом Беллы.
Только вот, рот девочки по-прежнему остается закрытым. Подделка, даже очень хорошего качества, остается симулякром. А для решения психологических проблем, необходима помощь квалифицированного психолога, желательно специализирующегося на работе с травмами того же рода, какую довелось пережить малышке. Именно такого уже нашла и даже договорилась от имени хозяйки о первом визите Элис.
А кто такая Элис? Так ведь, "мозг" дома. Интеллект, координирующий работу этого чрезвычайно сложно устроенного, способного избавить владельцев от всех бытовых забот, дома. Знаете, как трудно найти хороших слуг? А как неприятно впускать чужака в свой санктум санкторум?
В этом смысле, слаженная работа бытовых гаджетов, которые и утром тебя разбудят, и кофе идеальный по твоему вкусу сварят, и полочку калошницы, чтобы ты могла поставить уличную обувь, выдвинут. Не говоря уж о стирке, уборке, заказе продуктов и очередном эпизоде любимого сериала, который включится без напоминания аккурат с того места, с какого пожелаешь смотреть. Кажется идеальным, правда? Это только кажется.
Захватывающий и, в определенном смысле, новаторский триллер, который совмещает криминальное чтиво с фантастикой, а сентиментальную историю "богатые тоже плачут" с инновационными технологиями. Не то, чтобы фантастические триллеры были такой уж диковинкой, известны во множестве, есть и отменного качества, но обычно в них на первом месте общечеловеческая и фантастическая составляющие, в то время, как роман Джеймса Кэрола прежде всего триллер о маньяке. Неважно, кто им окажется.
Исполнительское мастерство Игоря Князева в аудиоверсии романа несомненно, а женские голоса, которых в книге на порядок больше, чем мужских, и для каждого из них чтец подбирает уникальный тембр, интонацию, манеру говорить - женские голоса превосходны.
Для любителей остросюжетного триллера, в котором найдется место скрытой враждебности, отравлению, членовредительству, киднепингу, отрубанию частей тела с последующим прижиганием на огне кухонной конфорки, доведению до сумасшествия, удушению, взрывам и глобальной угрозе человечеству - "Дом 17 по улице Черч-Роу" must have.
November 14, 2019
Good grief, remind me never to buy a house with built in AI!
That's what Nikki and Ethan do, with their seven year old daughter, Bella. They're trying to recover from the nightmare of losing Bella's twin, Grace, in an accident a couple of years earlier and moving house is one way of trying to deal with that. From a common or garden home they move to 17 Church Row, a house where the doors have no handles, everything is automated and most importantly there's Katy. Katy is probably the most sophisticated piece of artificial intelligence you could find. She is intuitive and helpful and the family start to rely on her completely.
This is where things start to go a bit awry. I won't go into what happens but it's a stark lesson in the possibilities of computers and what they are capable of. I don't know whether the things that happened in the book could actually happen but I suspect there's much in this book that is possible with the right components and processing power.
It's an intense and exciting storyline, and I thought it was inspired too. These are our modern day nightmares, the idea that computers can turn on us. I'm all for technology but I think I would draw the line at something that did everything for me. It can never be good to give over all control to anybody or anything, can it?
I thought 17 Church Row was a really well plotted story with a twist in the middle that I didn't guess at all. This is very much a plot-driven story rather than a character one (unless you include Katy as she's very much the driving force in this book). I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough whilst reading this dark and clever story.
That's what Nikki and Ethan do, with their seven year old daughter, Bella. They're trying to recover from the nightmare of losing Bella's twin, Grace, in an accident a couple of years earlier and moving house is one way of trying to deal with that. From a common or garden home they move to 17 Church Row, a house where the doors have no handles, everything is automated and most importantly there's Katy. Katy is probably the most sophisticated piece of artificial intelligence you could find. She is intuitive and helpful and the family start to rely on her completely.
This is where things start to go a bit awry. I won't go into what happens but it's a stark lesson in the possibilities of computers and what they are capable of. I don't know whether the things that happened in the book could actually happen but I suspect there's much in this book that is possible with the right components and processing power.
It's an intense and exciting storyline, and I thought it was inspired too. These are our modern day nightmares, the idea that computers can turn on us. I'm all for technology but I think I would draw the line at something that did everything for me. It can never be good to give over all control to anybody or anything, can it?
I thought 17 Church Row was a really well plotted story with a twist in the middle that I didn't guess at all. This is very much a plot-driven story rather than a character one (unless you include Katy as she's very much the driving force in this book). I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough whilst reading this dark and clever story.
February 16, 2020
I love James Carol's books, particularly his Jefferson Winters' ones, and I wasn't sure what to expect with 17 Church Row as it seemed, from the blurb, to be very different from his previous books. What enticed me to try it, apart from my respect for his writing, was the creepiness of the concept of the book. The idea that when you feel safest, you might actually be most at risk.
The very idea of losing a child is horrifying enough, but having to cope with the guilt and the ongoing traunma suffered by the remaining sibling must make it so much harder. 17 Church Row is a very human book. The idea of a family trying to protect itself and to escape from the site of their previous trauma is understandable ... but what makes it so addictive is the slow burn as you feel that Nikki is being overwhelmed and her desperation as a mother sinks in.
This is a very real visceral novel that looks at not only the threat of digital technology, but also how these threats can impact on human nature. It raises so many questions regarding just how far would you go to protect your child, or what would you be prepared to sacrifice.
I found 17 Church Row to be well plotted, creepy as hell and extremely though provoking.
Carol, really forces you to relate to each of the main characters, yet he simultaneously creates a mystery which is intriguing and full of twists.
Definately recommended.
The very idea of losing a child is horrifying enough, but having to cope with the guilt and the ongoing traunma suffered by the remaining sibling must make it so much harder. 17 Church Row is a very human book. The idea of a family trying to protect itself and to escape from the site of their previous trauma is understandable ... but what makes it so addictive is the slow burn as you feel that Nikki is being overwhelmed and her desperation as a mother sinks in.
This is a very real visceral novel that looks at not only the threat of digital technology, but also how these threats can impact on human nature. It raises so many questions regarding just how far would you go to protect your child, or what would you be prepared to sacrifice.
I found 17 Church Row to be well plotted, creepy as hell and extremely though provoking.
Carol, really forces you to relate to each of the main characters, yet he simultaneously creates a mystery which is intriguing and full of twists.
Definately recommended.
October 1, 2020
An ill-thought through thriller.
November 14, 2019
On The Back:
Three years ago, Ethan and Nikki Rhodes suffered a devastating loss. Their four-year-old daughter Grace was tragically killed when she ran from their garden into the path of a car. Ethan, a radio personality, escapes into work, while Nikki quits her job to care for their remaining child, Grace's twin sister, Bella, who hasn't spoken since that night.
Trying to give the family a fresh start, Ethan moves them to a revolutionary house designed by the world-famous architect, Catriona Fisher. For the Rhodes', this is a life-changing move because a key feature of the house is the state of the art security system that allows them to be completely safe from the outside world within their own home.
But what if what they fear most is actually inside the house? What if 17 Church Row isn't the safe haven that they think it is?
.
This book was an enjoyable and pretty quick read, although filled with a fair amount of tragedy.
Everytime something good happened in The Rhodes' lives, it was followed by something bad.
Trying to piece it together was interesting and I think I only managed to work out one part of the jigsaw correctly.
I loved the story behind it, the idea, and it was a really good book, I just felt like something was missing.
I'm also slightly concerned that at one point Nikki was in the gym, watching a 'Richard Attenborough' documentary, featuring leopards. I think Sir David Attenborough would be even more concerned!
I would rate this 3.5 stars, if there was the option for halves, as I feel 3 stars is a bit low but 4 a bit high.
Three years ago, Ethan and Nikki Rhodes suffered a devastating loss. Their four-year-old daughter Grace was tragically killed when she ran from their garden into the path of a car. Ethan, a radio personality, escapes into work, while Nikki quits her job to care for their remaining child, Grace's twin sister, Bella, who hasn't spoken since that night.
Trying to give the family a fresh start, Ethan moves them to a revolutionary house designed by the world-famous architect, Catriona Fisher. For the Rhodes', this is a life-changing move because a key feature of the house is the state of the art security system that allows them to be completely safe from the outside world within their own home.
But what if what they fear most is actually inside the house? What if 17 Church Row isn't the safe haven that they think it is?
.
This book was an enjoyable and pretty quick read, although filled with a fair amount of tragedy.
Everytime something good happened in The Rhodes' lives, it was followed by something bad.
Trying to piece it together was interesting and I think I only managed to work out one part of the jigsaw correctly.
I loved the story behind it, the idea, and it was a really good book, I just felt like something was missing.
I'm also slightly concerned that at one point Nikki was in the gym, watching a 'Richard Attenborough' documentary, featuring leopards. I think Sir David Attenborough would be even more concerned!
I would rate this 3.5 stars, if there was the option for halves, as I feel 3 stars is a bit low but 4 a bit high.
November 15, 2019
*17 Church Row by James Carol REVIEW*
'Three years ago, Ethan and Nikki Rhodes suffered a devastating loss. Their four-year-old daughter Grace was tragically killed when she ran from their garden into the path of a car. Ethan, a radio personality, escapes into work, while Nikki quits her job to care for their remaining child, Grace's twin sister, Bella, who hasn't spoken since that night.
Trying to give the family a fresh start, Ethan moves them to a revolutionary house designed by the world-famous architect, Catriona Fisher. For the Rhodes', this is a life-changing move because a key feature of the house is the state of the art security system that allows them to be completely safe from the outside world within their own home.
But what if what they fear most is actually inside the house? What if 17 Church Row isn't the safe haven that they think it is?'
This book was definitely enjoyable and a quick read 😊
I did find everything that happened a little far fetched but at the same time not! AI is definitely something that we are all investing in, I mean how many people have an Alexa etc in their homes!
But this definitely had Black Mirror vibes!
The ending was a little disappointing but still enjoyed the book and would definitely be interested in reading something else by James Carol in the future!
I would say I noticed a lot of mistakes within the book which i would expect to see in a book that had been proof read and published!
Thank you to @readersfirst and the author for sending me a copy of the book in return for an honest review
'Three years ago, Ethan and Nikki Rhodes suffered a devastating loss. Their four-year-old daughter Grace was tragically killed when she ran from their garden into the path of a car. Ethan, a radio personality, escapes into work, while Nikki quits her job to care for their remaining child, Grace's twin sister, Bella, who hasn't spoken since that night.
Trying to give the family a fresh start, Ethan moves them to a revolutionary house designed by the world-famous architect, Catriona Fisher. For the Rhodes', this is a life-changing move because a key feature of the house is the state of the art security system that allows them to be completely safe from the outside world within their own home.
But what if what they fear most is actually inside the house? What if 17 Church Row isn't the safe haven that they think it is?'
This book was definitely enjoyable and a quick read 😊
I did find everything that happened a little far fetched but at the same time not! AI is definitely something that we are all investing in, I mean how many people have an Alexa etc in their homes!
But this definitely had Black Mirror vibes!
The ending was a little disappointing but still enjoyed the book and would definitely be interested in reading something else by James Carol in the future!
I would say I noticed a lot of mistakes within the book which i would expect to see in a book that had been proof read and published!
Thank you to @readersfirst and the author for sending me a copy of the book in return for an honest review
March 11, 2021
****Spoilers****
Do you ever worry how much we rely on technology? Or how far away from being human technology is taking us? If you do this book is not for you!!
Ethan and Nikki Rhodes have suffered the loss of one of their daughters and the other is now not talking. In a bid to get away from the memories they decide to move house.
17 Church Row is a state of the art home designed by Katriona Fisher. It is installed with a personal assistant A.L.I.C.E that is designed to meet all your needs even before you know you need them. At first things go well and the family begin to rely on A. L. I. C. E more and more. Matters take a turn for the worst with the unexpected death of the Rhodes' housekeeper and decline rapidly from there.
This is a fast paced novel that had me trying to catch my breath. I think to get on board with the story you have to suspend belief a little bit (I'm saying this in a hope that no AI system would ever be created) but if you can do that it is a very enjoyable read. I appreciate the end as its not a happy ever after and that seemed fitting for this story.
✨✨✨
Do you ever worry how much we rely on technology? Or how far away from being human technology is taking us? If you do this book is not for you!!
Ethan and Nikki Rhodes have suffered the loss of one of their daughters and the other is now not talking. In a bid to get away from the memories they decide to move house.
17 Church Row is a state of the art home designed by Katriona Fisher. It is installed with a personal assistant A.L.I.C.E that is designed to meet all your needs even before you know you need them. At first things go well and the family begin to rely on A. L. I. C. E more and more. Matters take a turn for the worst with the unexpected death of the Rhodes' housekeeper and decline rapidly from there.
This is a fast paced novel that had me trying to catch my breath. I think to get on board with the story you have to suspend belief a little bit (I'm saying this in a hope that no AI system would ever be created) but if you can do that it is a very enjoyable read. I appreciate the end as its not a happy ever after and that seemed fitting for this story.
✨✨✨
August 28, 2019
This is a really well crafted storyline that has lots of twists to keep you on your toes with good characters and a plot that is something a bit different. The premise of the story is a house with an artificial intelligence system that seems to be just too good to be true and as the book progresses and the plot thickens it’s not hard to imagine just what can happen when things go wrong and everything goes crazy. It’s definitely a book that grabs you and all in all I enjoyed it a lot, I guess my only niggle was I didn’t like the main character of Nikki so so much but perhaps this was just me.
Overall I can recommend this especially if you enjoy a story of manipulation that is both intense and chilling.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Overall I can recommend this especially if you enjoy a story of manipulation that is both intense and chilling.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 15, 2019
If someone had described the plot of this book to me I wouldn't have been interested but I assumed that because it was written by James Carol it was another of his great crime novels. Having said that, once I started reading I could not put it down. It was so fast paced I raced through it to get to the end and I wasn't disappointed. The epilogue just left me reeling, what a fantastic story. I can't recommend it highly enough.
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