The Choice

One of Wisconsin Public Radio’s Summer Reading Picks

“A Sliding Doors thriller with a moral dilemma at its heart. Brilliant.” —Claire Douglas, author of Last Seen Alive

“The Choice, Gillian McAllister’s almost unbearably tense novel, divides its narrative into alternative stories, ‘Sliding Doors’-style, playing out two possible futures in one person’s life. It’s such a fascinating thought, how a moment can change everything….The Choice is less a conventional thriller than a morality tale, a granular exploration of secrecy and guilt—how they corrode, how they poison a psyche—in the manner of Crime and Punishment or The Tell-Tale Heart.” –The New York Times Book Review

“[A] moral thought-provoker. [The Choice] seeks to give readers that glimpse of how differently a life can unfold based on one simple action (or inaction).” –Self

“The suspense of each story line is compelling in this well-written novel, but the weightier value of The Choice is in author Gillian McAllister’s probing questions about morality and responsibility, questions which—like most things related to human nature—have no easy answers.” —Mystery Scene

“[A] smart, ferociously paced novel…The clever, fresh structure…will keep thriller enthusiasts glued to the page as they flip by.” —Booklist (starred review)

“I literally could not put this book down. This isn’t a far-fetched psychological thriller; this is a deeply human novel about a split-second, life-changing decision any woman could find herself having to make. What would I do? I found myself asking, from the very first page. Razor sharp, brilliantly written, and utterly gripping. Highly recommended.” —Rosie Walsh, author of Ghosted

“A terrific premise, delivered with panache.” —Clare Mackintosh, author of After the End

“Assured and gripping.” —Alex Marwood, author of Wicked Girls

“An addictive, exciting and devilishly clever book.” —Holly Seddon, author of Try Not to Breathe