A little bit later in the day than planned, I’m delighted to share my book review of brilliant police procedural thriller The Killing Choice (DI Alex Finn 2) by Will Shindler. Thank you as always to Jenny Platt and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.
About the book:
‘Leave your daughter with me, or I will kill you both’
It felt like a normal Friday evening before Karl and his daughter Leah were ambushed by a figure in a blank mask. At knife point, Karl is forced to make an impossible choice. Stay and die, or walk away from Leah and take this thug’s word that they both will live.
Should Karl trust a villain and leave his daughter with a knife at her throat? Could he ever live with himself if he did?
It’s not long before more seemingly unconnected and innocent people across London are offered a deal in exchange for their life. More blood is spilled, more families shattered, and more people are left to suffer with the consequences of their decisions.
DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen must hunt for a killer that appears to have no face, no motive and no conscience before more victims are forced to make their choice.
This is second in Will Shindler’s Finn and Paulsen series – a British detective series that ranks with Mark Billingham, M.J. Arlidge and Stuart MacBride.
About the author:
Will Shindler has been a Broadcast Journalist for the BBC for over twenty-five years, spending a decade working in television drama as a scriptwriter on Born and Bred, The Bill and Doctors. His time on these leading prime time dramas has given him a rich grounding in authentic police procedure, powerful character development and gripping narratives.
He currently combines reading the news on BBC Radio London with writing crime novels and has previously worked as a television presenter for HTV, a sports reporter for BBC Radio Five Live, and one of the stadium presenters at the London Olympics. The Burning Men is his first novel.
My Review:
The Killing Choice is the second in Will Shindler’s DI Alex Finn series that began with The Burning Men, which was one of my favourite reads of 2020. This time DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen are on the hunt for a killer unlike any they have ever come across before. A killer with no face, no motive and no conscience, who forces their victims to make an impossible choice. One that will either change their lives forever… or leave them dead.
The Killing Choice is a brilliantly written, complex and well plotted read that kept me guessing throughout. It begins with a moral dilemma none of us would ever want to be faced with, but most would be adamant there’s no way they would do what Karl did if given the choice. But the truth of the matter is, when actually confronted by a faceless assailant with a knife, what would you do? Fight or flight? Not as easy a decision as you might think.
As with The Burning Men, I loved everything about this book! Alex is still struggling to come to terms with the death of his wife, his grief palpable as he continues to bury himself in his work rather than try to deal with the huge emotional void Karin’s death has left in his life. His work colleague Mattie Paulson, a DC with a hard exterior and somewhat difficult past, is also going through a hard time in her personal life, which leaves her struggling to cope and wondering if she’s up to the job in hand.
What follows is a thriller that is as character driven as it is exciting, which makes for a mesmerising read. Will Shindler’s writing is top notch, his previous life as a scriptwriter shining through with every word. In fact, I could easily imagine DI Alex Finn in his own Sunday night detective drama, taking his place alongside legendary TV detectives such as Vera Stanhope. How wonderful would that be?
The Killing Choice is an impressive thriller that once started I did not want to put down. With twists, turns and surprises throughout, it is a book that kept me guessing right up until the final, thrilling denouement. With a strong plot and a cast of memorable characters, this second outing for DI Alex Finn is every bit as good as the first and has left me eagerly awaiting more.
A gripping police procedural thriller that I would highly recommend, I can’t wait to see what Will Shindler has in store for these wonderful characters in the future.
The Killing Choice (DI Alex Finn 2) by Will Shindler is available to purchase from February 11th: Amazon UK
Check out what these other lovely bloggers have to say about this book:
Cal Turner Reviews 