Stephen Porter is a single dad trying to raise his children. Having recently moved to the community, Sara and Kenneth are having trouble in school following the death of their mother in an accident that was ruled a suicide. On a snowy night Sara tells her dad she is going to a friend’s house nearby but she heads up the mountain for a romantic tryst with her teacher Kiernan, whose autistic brother Aidan she has been tutoring. The evening turns frightening and tragic when Aidan runs out into the snow. Her car disabled, Sara calls her dad to come get her. Stephen know he has no business driving after he had been drinking but the police cannot go get Sara and she sounded scared so he heads up the mountain in the worsening storm. Involved in a hit and run accident Stephen makes a snap judgment that will have terrible repercussions. With many twists and turns the story evolves until all the main characters are once again on the mountain in the snow for the unexpected climax. I enjoyed the way the story wove several subplots together. It left me pondering how far a good person would go in a bad situation to save the ones he loves.

Intense & riveting are only a couple of words that can accurately describe this book. I read this book straight through without putting it down! Chris Beakey’s sinister plot in Fatal Options will have you wondering what you would do if you were in Stephen Porter’s position. At what lengths would you go to protect & save your children?
Stephen Porter, a recent widower, is awakened in the middle of the night by a frantic phone call from his teenage daughter, Sarah. It is the worst blizzard of the winter & Sarah is stranded on a mountain top, at a place she should not have been. Her vehicle has left her stranded & she desperately wants to get home. Stephen hears his terrified daughter begging to be rescued. Stephen had been in bed for just an hour before the phone call. Earlier that evening he drank heavily while thinking about his late wife’s secrets & supposed suicide. Stephen knows he is in no condition to drive. After several failed attempts at getting his daughter help, Stephen must make a choice. He does what most parents would do, he chooses to try & rescue his daughter.
On this same night, a teacher at Sarah’s school, Kieran O’Shea is searching for his autistic brother, Aidan, who wondered off in the blizzard. Both boys have lived through their own personal hell. Kieran believes he is Aidan’s personal savior & he will do whatever it takes to keep Aidan safe.
Stephen & Kieran’s paths are destined to collide that night. While one man is worried of being arrested for murdering several women, the other man becomes a murderer.
It is not the fear, shame or regret that worries Stephen the most, it’s the retribution from the man who couldn’t save his brother.
This book will keep you in suspense from the first page to the last. The surprising twists & turns will have your heart & mind racing!
Bravo Chris Beakey, you now have an life-long fan!!

A well paced novel exploring the mystery surrounding an apparent suicide, and the turmoil of a family finding their footing under rocky circumstances in a new town. The town's inhabitants are not the easiest to get along with... especially with a killer amongst their midst. This novel had me staying up late at night to find out who and how and had twists that I did not see coming. A thoroughly enjoyable read that I would recommend to lovers of suspense.

We all make choices and we ultimately have to deal with those consequences. This told it in a mesmerizing way. Its boldness and shocking ending left me breathless!
It's fantastic! I read the whole book in one day! And yes, none of my housework got done today!

Very good thriller. Two people out on the same night during a storm looking for loved ones. What follows is a chance meeting between Stephan and Kiera that will embark them upon a journey neither will forget. Suspense abound is found in this book. The author pulls you in and does not let go. I recommend this book if you enjoy suspense. Thank you to the author,publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy the ARC in return for my honest review.

O, what a tangled web we weave...Walter Scott

I liked the way FATAL OPTION STARTED out. Stephen Porter is a father caught between a rock and a hard place. His teenage daughter, Sara, calls, very upset, needing a ride home...during a blizzard.

The major problem is that Stephen had gone to bed after drinking
too much and is still under the influence when Sara calls needing help.

The first part of the story I enjoyed but the story quickly became more and more convoluted. There were twists and turns within secrets and mysteries. I came away feeling that the author just kept piling more and more "stuff" into what could have been a good mystery/thriller.

It's not a terrible book by any means, just not as good as it could have been if it was trimmed way down. Part of MY problem is that I just recently read an excellent mystery/police procedural and this story pales in comparison. I tried reading this based on its own merits but I think it was inevitable that I made comparisons.

So, this is an okay read, not terrible, but there are just too many books out there to settle for reading an "okay" story.

I received this book from Post Hill Press through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review.

This was a very compelling thriller! What happens when you try to cover up an accident and things spiral out of control? This is Stephen's predicament as he attempts to rescue his daughter, Sara in a blizzard. There are many secrets and lies, cover-ups, and complications. It's a novel about loss, reconciliation, hope, and redemption. Perhaps it's what every family fears; what can tear them apart in a matter of a few seconds. I stayed up late to finish it and so glad I did!

Absolute page tuner plays with your feelings and morals have plenty of time on your hands cause once you start to read you will not stop brilliantly written