Please keep me going... Please. It would have been nice if you would have kept the story from the first introduction. I felt it was boring after the 2nd and 3rd chapter. I'd give it 3 stars. I tried.

Fatal Option by Chris Beakey was a book I'd received access to an advanced copy for ages ago, but way back when I didn't know how to access them. Anyway, enough of my problems, that's not why we're here. So, this book. . . I don't remember the last time I read something where my thoughts on each and every character morphed as I read. The event that begins the story is a phone call. Stephen's teenage daughter Sara calls crying. She needs to be picked up right away. Problem is Stephen has been drinking and isn't in any condition to drive, but he hears his daughter's urgent need for help. On the road, he encounters high school teacher Kieran who is looking for his brother Aidan. Something happens on that road that sets in motion a chain of events. So, what exactly happened? But also what happened before? Oh, and there are additional unsolved crimes in the area that may or may not connect to that one night. Y'all, this is just one secret after another after another. Just when you think you know someone something else is revealed. Oh, and then something else. This was one that kept me reading because I just wanted to know who these people really were, and the reality of this one was that everyone had their "stuff" they were carrying, It was quite the chain reaction of choices and consequences!

Fatal Option was all about the trails and tribulations a family goes through under tragic circumstances. It brings to light the question of what would you do under the same circumstances. How far would you go for your family?

There were plenty of twists and turns to keep the readers attention blending in at the right times to make all the connections. This definitely kept you guessing right until the end.

For full review see: https://mybookaddictionreviews.com/

This title was archived before I was approved to read it.

For the most part, this was a fairly solid suspense/thriller. Until the various plots started to get a little out of hand. About halfway through the novel, it started to seem like Beakey was throwing in every storyline he could think of and just hoping things would work themselves out in the end. Which they kind of do, but in that way where everyone just coincidentally ends up in the exact same place at the exact same time so that all of the stories can be wrapped up all at once. So that part was a little ridiculous, and some of the twists came out of nowhere, but it was still a pretty enjoyable read.

I love it when a book goes dark. Especially when it's not expected! Win!
Sometimes it was hard to keep track of the many characters the book was laden with, but it didn't take away too much from the whole of the story.

Secrets, protecting children, choices made that you can't take back.... we've seen this before in other novels but this takes a police procedural into a darker place that I love. Want to know more? You should read the book - I'm afraid to say too much or I'm going to give it all awayyyyyyy

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher for advancing me a copy of “Fatal Option” by Chris Beakey in exchange for an honest review.

Simply amazing. Gripping? Yes. Suspenseful? Yes. A thriller? Yes. Fast Paced? Yes. “Fatal Option” is a must-read. I was hooked right from the start and kept on reading till the very end. The characters were intriguing, each one having his/her place in the story. When I finished, I kept thinking about all that went on. Talk about a novel that’s thought-provoking. I questioned everything including each character and what they did and their behaviour. Would I have done the same thing when I was a teenager? As an adult it's easy to give your opinion, say what's right and what's wrong because it's not happening to you but if you really think about it, put yourself in the exact situation, would your opinion change? I'm not a parent but had I been, would I have done the same thing the father did? There are many subplots the author has added and still, he delivers a well-written novel with substance that flows smoothly. The beginning, middle and end, all of it worked. I don’t want to give anything away so I’ll end my review here.

Very well written!! I love a dark thriller and this was it!!! Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. If you like dark thrillers and wild rides-- this is your kind of book!!!!!!

A real page turner about a father willing to do anything to protect his family and the consequences of those actions. This book is hard to put down once you start reading it!

Fatal Option by Chris Beakey is a very dark and gritty thriller. Different than the heavy police procedural thrillers I've been reading recently (so a very nice change of pace). How far would you go to help your loved ones and at what moral cost?

On the coldest night of the year, Stephen Porter is woken up at midnight by a phone call. His 17-year-old daughter Sara is stranded in a blizzard near the top of a mountain, nowhere near where she told him she was going to be. She's terrified and unable to stop crying as she begs him to come to her rescue. Stephen had just gone to bed after a night of binge drinking - a way of coping with the recent and untimely death of his wife. He can barely stand or see straight, but it's a risk he's willing to take in order to get to his daughter.

High school teacher Kieran O’Shea is also behind the wheel, searching for his autistic younger brother Aidan, who is wandering aimlessly through the storm on that same mountain. Kieran is also terrified—of the voices in his mind, of the possibility that Aidan will be taken from him, and of the certainty that he will soon be arrested for murdering three women.

In a matter of minutes Stephen will encounter Kieran and drive headlong into a collision that will force him to unlock the secret of his wife’s death, avoid prosecution, and protect his children from violence that hits all too close to home.

This book was a lot darker than I expected it to be. You learn that there is a consequence to all of your actions, and the Porter family is slowly learning those consequences. While I did enjoy this book, there was a lot going on and a lot of characters. Sometimes they were hard to keep straight, but otherwise I loved it!

I give this a 4/5 stars!

A big thanks to the author and publisher for a copy in exchange for my honest review!

**This book was reviewed via Netgalley**

Fatal Option, by Chris Beakey, is a whirlwind collision of time, place, and players, where synchronicity is revealed in the obscuration of a ferocious blizzard.

As snows pile high, Stephen Porter is woken in the middle of the night to pick up his daughter whose car has died. Having had a prodigious amount of alcohol earlier that night, Stephen knows he should not drive. When AAA and the police both cannot help, Stephen makes the decision to go retrieve Sara despite the double dangers of ice and alcohol, rather than leave her to freeze or worse in the harsh winter weather. This choice sets off a chain of events that weave together the stories of no less than five different families, and reveal the truth behind a series of tragedies stretching back a decade or more.

Beakey’s fast-paced thriller snared my attention, and kept me up reading long after I should have retired to bed. A good book is a balm to the bittersweet of lost sleep, turning what insomnia makes an irritant into something savoured as time well spent, which Fatal Option surely did. This was a story showcasing both the absolute worst, and best of humanity, and all the gamut in between.

Da Vinci said ‘....everything is connected to everything else.’ This is a story of just how connected we all are. There are no coincidences; there is only synchronicity, and our ability (or not) to read it. The snowstorm is a catalyst that serves to reveal to those involved the truth of this. For some, it offers closure, for others, the astringent sting of new grief, and for yet others….perhaps it's the universe’s way of putting down the rabid dogs among us.

It isn't all about the darker side of life though. For several of our players in this dark drama, the destruction has prompted new growth in positive ways. It has offered second chances, and new beginnings. It is a story of life and love, of death and grief, and ultimately, a story of interconnection, growth, and change.

🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻 Highly recommended if you enjoy suspenseful thrillers/dramas like James Patterson's Alex Cross books, or Jeffrey Deaver’s Lincoln Rhyme novels.

I'm glad I set aside a few hours to read thia as I didn't want to put it down.I have strong views on what Stephen did-even if there is strong danger there is never a reason to drink drive. I'm not a parent, and I appreciate he was in a tricky situation. He did what he thought was best, even if it was going to ruin all their lives which were already fragile by their mother dying.

I loved how his daughter's situation was portrayed, how she was groomed into an inappropriate position, it shows how she was tempted with what she wasn't necessarily getting at home, but she lacked street smarts and wanted to be an adult. Her brother saw snippets of what was going on which did eventually got explained to their father.

It was horrifying and interesting to see how Stephen reacted to what he did. There's no question the guy in question, Kieran, a sleezebag, but I felt a bit sorry for him and the other person involved. Stephen goes to great lengths to cover his tracks, and the panic rose as the police started to hem him in. The end had me needing tissues as I was torn by the moral justice and the effect it had on his children. It goes to show good people can do bad things by accident.

There were so many gripping moments that I'm eagerly looking forward to rereading this. There are parts were awful things nearly happen, but thankfully they don't, although a few unexpected not nice things happen too. I think there is only 1 truly innocent person jn this tale, who I cried for what they suffer. There are some truly evil people in this world and they don't always get what they deserve. I'm looking forward to Chris's next book!

A drunk father (Stephen Porter) gets a phone call late at night from his daughter (Sara) who is stranded in a blizzard. She is secretly visiting a favorite high school teacher. Why? Stephen has lost his wife recently in a mysterious road accident. What makes it mysterious? Sara's dad gets in his car even though he is still drunk to drive. He gets in a collision. What happens to Stephen? A police detective is looking for the murderer who killed a local teacher.

This is a multi-plot story. There are suggestions throughout the novel about what each character has done. It is a novel that kept me wondering what was going to happen next. It is a thriller with a family plot.

This book is well written with a few unusual twists. I would recommend as a good read.

A father struggles as a single parent and connect with his children after his wife is killed in what appears to be an accident. One night his daughter calls during a severe blizzard distressed and begging for a lift home. He can’t help going to her assistance despite having had too much alcohol earlier in the night.
His teenage son and daughter are both struggling to come to terms with their peers, themselves and their family life after the death of their mother.
A local teacher cares for his autistic brother after they survive a traumatic childhood. He is also attracted to one of students.
The local detective in charge of the investigation has to decide between enforcing the law and friendship. Before the case is solved there will be more than one death and relationships will be tested to the max.
From the start I had doubts about the local teacher and if he was hiding something sinister. I swayed between thinking he was a good person struggling with demons or something worse. I had sympathy for the brother and sister and felt all their struggles. I was impressed how they got through some terrible times and to show more maturity than I expected.
Fantastic imagery created by this author. All the characters seemed so real and I felt like I was actually there as the scenes unfolded.
The ending was spectacular and I found my heart was in my mouth going from one person to another, crossing my fingers the wrong person wouldn’t get hurt. In the final pages something is revealed which may surprise and not surprise you.
Although I struggled with the thought of anyone doing the unthinkable and then deliberately covering their tracks I could also imagine the torment they would go through before and after making the wrong decision. I felt great admiration for someone who has the courage to right a wrong after keeping secrets for so long. At least the realization of the price to pay came before it was too late. I just hope I am never in a similar position.
I have to agree with others who say this author really does tell a great story of good people who do the wrong thing.
I can’t recommend this thriller enough. Make sure you put it on your reading list.
A big thank you for the free digital copy of this book provided by the publisher via Netgalley and the review is solely mine.

I received this ARC from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

After an evening of binge drinking, Stephen gets a call from his 17 yr old daughter Sara that she is stranded in a blizzard and needs a ride. No one else can help her, not even the police. So Stephen gets in his car and sets off a chain of events.

We know who the bad guy(s) is throughout the story, the tension is built by the cat and mouse games everyone is playing with everyone else including the police. Everyone is hiding something really awful about themselves. The book has its ebbs and flows which kept me reading to the end but I didn't feel the thriller excitement.

2.5☆ rounded up to 3☆

My friends at Smith Publicity sent me an e-copy of FATAL OPTION (thank you!) so that I could be part of the blog tour on this title.

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This story follows a father, who has already had a lot of pain and distress, as he deals with a life-changing decision he makes one snowy night. He will do anything to protect his two teens, but will he do the right thing?

Here’s the overview from Amazon:

A tragic accident. A family in crisis. And a killer watching every move.

Five months after the mysterious death of his wife, Stephen Porter is pulled from a dreamless sleep by a midnight phone call. His 17-year-old daughter Sara is stranded in a blizzard near the top of a mountain beyond their suburban home. She’s terrified and unable to stop crying as she begs him to come to her rescue.

Unfortunately Stephen went to bed just an hour before after a night of binge drinking. With his blurred vision and unsteady balance he knows it’s dangerously irresponsible to get behind the wheel. But he heads out into the snowstorm to bring Sara home.

High school teacher Kieran O’Shea is also behind the wheel, searching for his autistic younger brother Aidan, who is wandering aimlessly through the storm on that same mountain. Kieran is terrified—of the voices in his mind, that Aidan will be taken from him, and that he may soon be arrested for murdering three women.

In a matter of minutes Stephen will encounter Kieran and drive headlong into a collision that will force him to unlock the secret of his wife’s death, avoid prosecution, and protect his children from violence that hits all too close to home.

***************************************************

I read this book quickly as I wanted to see what would happen. I did find it pretty heavy, though. This story had, among other things, rape, murder, suicide, incest, child abuse (sexual, physical, and emotional), and a serial killer. Just mentioning these things as I know they can be triggers for readers. I did read it to the end, and I liked the ending as I felt it was positive. I felt for the main character as he was just an average joe who was in some bad situations and trying to make the best of it while he was trying to keep his life and his kids’ lives together. I will look for Mr. Beakey’s other titles!

Here’s a bit of info on the novel from Smith and a book trailer:



Fatal Option [February 21, Post Hill Press] is a nail-biting thriller that explores the devastating moral consequences of a dangerous choice. It’s garnered the following praise:
“A sharp, intelligent thriller. Really top-notch.”
– Neely Tucker, Washington Post staff writer & author of Only The Hunted Run
“A wintery tale of violence and redemption, artfully balanced by a touching portrayal of a family in crisis.”
– Peter Swanson, author of The Kind Worth Killing
“Fatal Option grabs you from the first page. Plan to stay up.”
– Kathleen Antrim, former Co-President of International Thriller Writers & author of Capital Offense

If I had to pick just one word to describe Chris Beakey's novel Fatal Option, it would be seedy.

To paraphrase Dr Seuss in The Cat in the Hat, 'I did not like it, not one little bit.'

After abandoning it at 71% (WHY did I bother to read so far....?) I feel quite drained. I could not read one more word.

The characters are all angst-ridden. They are all either alcoholic or drug users or both. I liked none of them. I care about none of them. Fatal Option should come with a health warning 'reading this book may induce depression'.

I am off to find a very large block of chocolate, my 'blankie' and a copy of 'The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh' to restore my equilibrium.

Thank you to Post Hill Press via NetGalley for a digital ARC of Fatal Option by Chris Beakey for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

You know those times in your life, where you think, 'Well things just can't get any worse' and then God damn it they do! Well that is at about that point that Stephen Porter is up to on the night of the blizzard.
The insurance company won't release any monies from his wife's life policy, as it is inconclusive as it whether she committed suicide or not.
The ins and outs of monthly commitments are a disaster.
His son has been badly beaten up at school.
And his has just been woken up with a phone call from his 17 year old daughter begging him to pick her up from the middle of nowhere. She is crying and begging for help.
Now more problems, his daughter lied about where she was going, the blizzard is worse, he is so tired and others could get drunk off his breath he has drunk that much. So here is the Fatal Option. His wife has already died up on those roads in very mysterious circumstances so he can't just leave his daughter there but he really isn't safe to drive, he knows that.
How I loved this story! I just haven't a clue how Chris Beakey could fit so much into a book this size, oh just a minute I do. Each page is packed with gripping stomach churning moments. The ones that every parent just hope and pray they will never have to face. I really took to Stephen Porter straight away, his character was never one that was written to get sympathy, he was just a typical parent stumbling through being a parent the best he could without 'the handbook' that non of us get. I had read the blurb but it didn't prepare me for what was inside the cover. Because wow it is packed with layer after layer of broken peoples stories that all come together piece by piece. My mind was reassessing the situation all the time as it went on, and what I had taken as first impressions of characters were constantly changing.
This is certainly a book that I will remember for a very long time as for all the layers it contained it was never complicated, it had such a very natural flow of all the elements  melting into one that gave me The Fatal Conclusion.