DEADLY CHOICE by S. Lee Manning

 4* Well orchestrated; apparently - yet not - slightly predictable; with a satisfying ending, though some suspension of disbelief is needed. Loved the author's plotting, dovetailing and imagination, and Dem stance.

I was in 2 minds about this book because the author is new to me and not very well known and yet I was attracted by the blurb and the inkling that she's a Dem and not happy at the direction the USA is taking in regards reproductive freedom. I'm a Brit but follow US politics and the madness of the Republicans is unfathomable to me, so I was really interested to see where the author would take this.

Hats off to her. She crafted a believable tale that had me turning page after page. Patricia was an amazing woman and I was rooting for her being able to carry out her revenge and still not end up apprehended. I loved where the author had her ending up, and Lizzie/Lysette's slightly shady background was the perfect explanation for making it happen. And I believed in the HEA Patricia seemed to be making for herself and 2 others, and the tribute paid to Ashley via their actions.

On top of Patricia, Lizzie and Murphy were strong females too. Each was slightly mysterious and they dovetailed well. I'd have liked to know more about their pasts and what led them to each other and what their future entails. I must admit that what Lizzie did to be able to find and rescue Isabella and Nina was a bit too 'shades of grey' for me, but kudos to her for her machinations and taking control and keeping herself out of danger. 

Isabella was another decent character and I'm so glad that things went well for her and Nina despite the traumatic experiences they had at the hands of the cultists - only in America, specifically in Republicans' Texas, a place I fell in love with along with Bobby Ewing and Dallas, but will never visit because of its Trumpism. That aspect was done scarily well and I'm kind of glad the author went there. Hopefully this book gets marketed well and reaches the right audiences to open minds. American Reps are a seriously scary lot! 

It's not a perfect book. Too many characters who should have made financial restitution were offed too conveniently. The scene in the McMansion had me eye rolling, but hey, the collusion between adults and kids kept the wolves (the authorities) from Patricia's door. I really would have liked to see justice for David, Asley's widower, but at the same time, I think he found his own justice and/or revenge with Lizzie and Murphy. I was a bit sad at Ethan's loss, as he'd been a wonderful friend to Isabella - I've read about similar characters and plotting in novels since the overturning of Roe v Wade. It's not unimaginable, the lengths people will need to go to to save their lives. Hopefully things will change for the better in November. 

There was quite a bit of telling but not really showing, which meant that Lizzie remained too much of an unknown and a little unlikable. There's mention of a guy in her past that she might have fallen for on a 'mission', and at the end of the book I realised that he's an established creation of the author's, with his own series. Might be worth checking out. There was filler at times, especially with the scene where Isabella gets freed and at the McMansion; an editor really needs to weed some of it out, but overall this was an engrossing and addictive read, and kudos to the author for going there. 

ARC courtesy of BookSirens and the author for my reading pleasure.



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