There was just something about the cover and its contrast that caught my eye when I first saw it, and as soon as I read the blurb I was sold. There is no doubt that the premise of The Victim is simply fascinating; a story where we follow two alternative storylines based on the decision of the main character Gem to fight or surrender during an attack in the first chapters. This is without doubt an unique concept and one that will also make you wonder what you would do yourself in a similar situation... And you will soon realize that there is a reason you won't find solid advice on the matter, as there seems to be no clear correct answer as to what you should do as every perp and situation is unique. It was very interesting to see the consequences of both choices for Gem, not only the direct consequences but also how her life was changed afterwards.

Like I said, this concept of having two alternative storylines, one where Gem surrendered and one where Gem decided to fight, definitely makes for an unique read. I do have to say that things can get quite confusing as we not only have to keep apart two different versions of Gem's story, but also what happens to other characters after her decision to fight or surrender. While at all times it is specified which storyline you are currently reading, it is kind of hard to keep track of which event belongs to what storyline and all that information might be a little too much to juggle at one time. I myself definitely wish I would have thought to take notes when I started reading, because it would have been easier to keep both versions apart that way. As you can imagine, this confusion and difficulty to separate and follow both alternative storylines did take away some of the reading pleasure for me. I can't say I wasn't a fan of the main characters either, and Gem started to frustrate me after a while... I did think that the suspect was an interesting character and I enjoyed finding out more about his past and motive. Did I think certain aspects of the plot and especially the ending were not all that credible? Yes. Did I end up having mixed thoughts about The Victim? Also yes. But I can't deny it's a very original concept and fans of the thriller genre will most likely find themselves intrigued.

Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of The Victim.

On the one hand, this concept sounds interesting, a Sliding Doors twist on the crime genre.

But its extremely difficult to pull off and the way the story is structured made it a confusing read for me.

PR professional Gem Golding is attacked by a thug in a parking lot when she stops at a convenience store to buy aspirin for her headache.

The narrative suddenly splits into two multi-verse arcs; one where Gem submits to her attacker and another where she fights back.

These two separate storylines happen simultaneously and readers are pulled along on both tangents, following Gem's recovering from the ordeal and the two detectives tasked to the investigation.

The thing is, the narratives are culled together with subheadings having to remind readers what multiverse we are in.

A better idea would have to split both arcs into two separate parts entirely, not group them together.

The next problem was how much I disliked Gem. There was something so whiny and doormat-y about her.

It didn't help that I had no idea why she and her douchebag boyfriend, Drew, were together in the first place.

I saw no common interests between them nor was there any exposition as to why or how they hooked up. And if there was, I must have missed it in the varying timelines.

Next, the author must love PR or worked in PR or owed a bet to someone because he states nearly a half dozen times Gem's cool job in PR and how she has struggled to rise to top in her industry; how vital and important she is in her firm because she is an executive and how proud her single mother is that her only child works in the glamorous world of PR.

Okay, we get it. Gem loves her job. Too bad she's unlikable.

Then, the bad guy, Norton. Is he just a basic thug or is he a delusional nutter? Or both?

Which works if we had exposition about his disposition earlier but his sudden fixation on Gem as the future love of his life seems out of left field.

I would have understood his fixation if he was just angry that she had escaped his clutches in the 'fight' arc and he payback but to add sexual violence and obsession to the mix was phony and unnecessary.

There were a couple of twists, all of which I saw coming, but only because I read so many of these types of books so that's not the author's fault.

This was an okay read but I didn't like any of the characters.

Well this was a shame. I was looking forward to this one because having an author follow the two possible paths a potential car jacking victim could go sounded so intriguing. Too bad that Manning didn't just focus on the main protagonist and added in POVs from so many people. Also I got so confused after a while if I was following Gem as survivor or Gem as warrior.

"The Victim" follows Gem Golding. Gem stops on her way home to get some painkillers and is accosted by a carjacker. Gem reels wondering if she should fight back or should she just acquiesce with the carjacker's demands. We get at the decision point and from there Manning follows Gem's life if she given in or if she had fought back.

At first I really liked the book. I liked Gem and understood why she was so focused on not being seen as a victim (in either timeline) and getting back to her job. I wish that Manning had stayed more focused on her since the whole point of the book was Gem and how her life was impacted. Manning then shows the different timelines for the same people (her boyfriend, the carjacker, the detectives, the reporter, and others) who follow if Gem was a victim or a survivor.

There was way too much going on and I had to keep going back and forth in my Kindle to make sure I was reading it correctly if Gem was a victim or survivor. After a while I just gave up and started to feel frustrated because it was hard to follow what was going on. Manning should have stripped out the other characters. We focused way too much on the carjacker who apparently went to how to be a serial killer school.

The writing was okay, but I think the scattered shot approach to everyone didn't work real well. I was disappointed in the conclusion of one of the story-lines (Gem as a survivor) and think that Manning should have followed up with an epilogue on both of those story-lines. However, I don't think it mattered to him much, since as I said, Gem wasn't really the focus as she should have been.

The flow was up and down throughout. Following so many people and different story-lines depending on which version of Gem we were with in the book was just confusing and definitely impacted what was going on. It didn't help that we had subplots going on with the detectives and carjacker and reporter as well. The boyfriend POVs don't really count considering how short they were.

The ending was a meh to one story-line with Gem and a "I guess" to the other one following her.

Buttefly effect crossed with sliding doors tihis is certainly a book that will promote discussion in a book club!
Although a slightly juveinile writing style that kept me one step removed from the victom the story is compelling and you find yourself reading "one more chapter" to see what will happen.

Fight or Flight - something we have all considered in the "what if it happened to me" scenario. I am sure we have all thought about how we would react so it is interesting to see how the narrator portrays both options.

The main character, Gem , is carjacked.. What happens after the carjacking is determined by how she responds to the attack. Athrilling read and one I highly recommend for anyone who loves a "what if" story!

I would like to thank NetGalley for advanced copy received in exchange for a candid review - look out for the book on 6 August!

I was reading this book for inclusion in our subscription box and was quite excited about it until the last few pages, which, without spoiling the book, absolutely ruined it for me. It's too bad because otherwise it was a good, interestingly told book. The different points of view were interesting.

I really fell into this book. We're given 2 versions of the story, alternating each chapter between Fight and Surrender. Ultimately, however, it seems it really doesn't matter what choice is made (so if you're looking for advice, look elsewhere).

The two different versions of the same story can be frustrating at times. I don't normally make notes for myself while reading, but with this book you almost have to. Some of the events that happen in each timeline are so similar or happen in slightly different ways, which is challenging to keep track of when the timeline switches with each chapter. Though, one thing I did enjoy about this structure, is the timing of certain events happening either in tandem or juxtaposed between the timelines.

Both versions of this story could stand on their own as separate novels, though I (surprisingly) found myself preferring the Surrender chapters more.

All in all, a fun thriller with a few twists I saw coming and some turns that I didn't!

A fresh, innovative, thought-provoking psycho-thriller with intensity, grit and edge. A riveting and artful study in the consequences of choice. This one is not to be missed!

#TheVictim #WhatWouldYouDo #ConsequencesOfChoice #MaxManning #NetGalley

I come to really enjoy books from Max Manning and get excited when I get approved to read them and give them an honest review...

And this book was great I managed to get through this book in almost record-breaking time, Its a such a good twist of the story reminded me of the film sliding doors.
On a few occasions, I had to backtrack as I forgot who I was reading about the victim or the fighter ... but that's more my fault not stopping on chapters ...

It was really interesting to read about both sides of the story and how each life almost plays out in similar ways with a few twists but I won't say no more its one of those books you must read yourself especially if you are a fan of previous boos from the same author or love a new spin on a good thriller.

“Victims of crime react in one of three ways. Fight. Flight. Or Freeze. All are instinctive and the freeze response is the most primitive. Nobody should feel shame or be blamed for an instinctive response they have no control over.”

Gem is carjacked.

What happens after the carjacking is determined by how she responds to the attack.

In the even numbered chapters, Gem is the victim. SURRENDER

In the odd numbered chapters, an alternate version of events is told, where Gem fights off her attacker. FIGHT

But, if you surrender, must you remain a victim? And, if you fight, does that mean that you won’t feel like a victim after the attack? And, what if a coin toss decides your fate, whether or not you resist or submit?

A “sliding doors” story with lots of thought provoking questions that would probably be a great book for book clubs to read and discuss.

But, I had to reread several chapters because some events in the “Surrender” chapters felt like victories, and some events in the “Fight” chapters felt like defeats which made things a bit confusing.

Despite the violent crimes being committed, I think the format kept me emotionally disconnected from the victim.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Max Manning for the digital ARC received in exchange for a candid review. If the premise seems intriguing to you, look for this title on Aug. 6, 2019!

I loved this story. The Victim is a sort of speculative fiction story. It's narrated in divergent story lines based on a choice one woman makes. The main character is the victim of a carjacking one night. The choice is fight back or go along with the carjacking? The results of each choice are played out. I find it fascinating to consider how one little thing can change the course of a life. This reminds me of the butterfly effect where one thing causes ripples effects that are far reaching into other people's lives. The story is well written and complex. You really have to pay attention so as not to get confused with the dual perspectives. I highly recommend for anyone who enjoy a unique and engrossing story. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Victim is a thriller that takes us down two different paths of the possibilities when Gem Golding is attacked during a car jacking. She can either surrender, or she can fight back. Each of those scenarios and their consequences are played out through this book. I thought the concept of parallel timelines was unique, but it was difficult for me at times to keep track of which timeline I was reading, and what had happened previously. Overall, a fun read that gets you thinking about how every decision you make can totally alter the course of your life.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for this ARC!

The Victim by Max Manning is a psychological thriller following Gem Golding as she is violently attacked during a carjacking. She has two chooses: surrender or fight back. This book will take you down both of those paths and the life that comes after the two choices.

This book is so unique in the way that one character becomes both a victim and warrior. The book follows one event where the main character makes two different choices which puts her on two different timelines. It's something I've personally never seen before and it's an interesting little writing trick.

The writing trick of creating two separate timelines is good and bad. For one, it's more interesting. If you were to read just one of the two outcomes this novel would not be nearly as attention grabbing. However, it would be a lot less confusing. It was hard for me to keep track of which timeline I was reading. Thankfully, the chapters have it clearly labeled for you, but that still didn't stop me from getting mixed up.

The author did something really brave and unique by creating two different timelines, but the plotline itself is good too. I didn't really find anything else that really stood out as wonderful, but nothing else was terrible either. If you like a good thriller and think you can read two different timelines simultaneously without becoming confused, than give this book a try.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.

Loved this. A Sliding Door concept. How there can be two different outcomes of an experience, in this case carjacking. Some readers seemed to find it difficult going back and forth but I found it quite easy. All in all a great read.

Max Manning has given us another edge-of-your-seat thriller. Gem Golding has to make a life-altering decision one night when she is carjacked. She can choose to fight her attacker, a cold blooded psychopath, or submit to him. Manning alternates chapters with the consequences of these two decisions in a groundbreaking literacy feat.

I loved that Manning took on this technique of the two outcomes of a decision. I found it to be original and refreshing. With that said, I did find myself confused at times, especially towards the end, because I couldn’t remember what had happened in which scenario. I think part of this was because I read the book over several days, instead of in one straight sitting. I would also recommend reading a print version rather than an ebook because you may want to flip back and forth at times.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Max Manning for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I retesting read, but quite hard to follow. I get that the author was trying to show what happens with making different choices, but maybe not the best way to write this book.

The Victim by Max Manning was a bit hard to follow for me, but I enjoyed the story either way. The plot went back and forth between different points of view and kept me wondering up until the very end.

Title: The Victim

Author: Max Manning

Length: 300 pages

Publisher: Source Books

Genre: Crime Fiction, Thriller

Publishing date: August 6, 2019

My rating: 4/5

Summary:

The book is about an incident where the protagonist Gem makes a choice and what would have happened had she chosen a different route. The journey of both the choices available to Gem and the of the antagonist Norton.

My Take:

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this beautiful crime fiction book.

The story starts with a thrilling scene of a Carjacking. It does give you an adrenaline rush while describing the events. One can completely empathise with the character of Gem and would abhor Norton, the antagonist. The characterization is brilliant and the history of every character brings depth in them.

The plot is great. If you’ve read Jeffrey Archer’s Heads you Win, you wouldn’t find this book confusing as just like Archer’s book, this book has two parallel plots based on the choices made by them. While I would say the ending of this book is more precise than Archer’s book.

The thrilling moments are there but I craved for more. I thoroughly enjoyed the narratives from Gem’s and Nortan’s perspectives and got a bit bored when the investigation part was covered, nevertheless it was critical for the story to move ahead.

The cover of the book is also apt for the story. I would not say that the revelation blew my mind as I could predict the same.

A great book for people who love reading crime fictions.

Thank you netgalley for an ARC of The Victim for my honest review.
What if you were carjacked.? Would you fight back or submit? These are the questions faced by Gem Golding. She stops at a convenience store late one night. She is confronted by a carjacker and must decide is she will go along with his demands or fight back. This book shows what happens with each of her decisions.

The alternating chapters involve one storyline if she submits and surrenders and the other storyline if she is a warrior and fights back. But which is the right choice? We find out there is no easy answer and it’s not always your choice even if you think it is. The decision creates ripples through other lives.

The concept of this book is really good. There is a lot of action and twists and turns. However, the story became confusing. It was hard to keep straight the facts of the story for both storylines.

When faced with the choice between giving in to your fate or fighting back the choice is yours to make. Gem Golding finds herself in this position as she is car jacked and faced with her two options. Playing out how the outcomes of each could pan out she must decide on her own fate. Love the morals that you always have a choice and it really is up to you to make a move and decide your fate.

The Victim is a psychological thriller that follows Gem Golding, an ambitious, young public relations officer who has everything she has ever wanted in life, a successful career, a doting boyfriend. Her life is thrown upside down when she makes an innocent stop one night at a quickie mart to get some painkillers and a carjacker approaches her and tries to take her vehicle. She gets into an altercation with the carjacker and the assault ends with her ending up in the hospital.

In the wake of her experience, Gem’s stable life starts to fall apart. She develops a paranoia that the attacker is following her, and her boyfriend who had long wanted for her to be a stay at home wife. He seizes on her newfound vulnerability to push his agenda that she needs to get a job that has better hours or better yet, she should just stay home, and take care of the house. Initially, Gem believes that she is just feeling vulnerable and that she just needs to get back in control of her life. It soon becomes apparent; however, that the carjacker has taken a personal obsession to Gem. The cops tasked with apprehending Gem’s carjacker soon realize that this is no ordinary petty criminal, they are dealing with an increasing dangerous psychopath. The body count rises when Gem’s boyfriend is targeted by the carjacker and he is killed. The case takes on fresh urgency as the body count rises and the vicious nature of the suspect becomes more and more apparent.

The story is fast paced, and told through the eyes of all the parties involved. This allows us as the reader to get an omnipotent perspective. There are a few different angles of storylines that develop, and they involve the same characters, so it did lead me to be slightly confused. Overall, I enjoyed the story. The story has enough surprises to keep me interested. The staging and characters are sufficiently creepy.