The Choice

Joanna, the protagonist of this uneven thriller from British author McAllister (The Good Sister), is walking home late one night from a London bar, where a man physically forced himself on her, when she hears footsteps behind her on the deserted street. Fearing the man is after her, she turns and pushes him down a flight of outdoor stairs. As he lies face down in a puddle, Joanna hesitates. Does she call for help or run away? The narrative then splits into two possible futures. In the chapters headed Conceal, Joanna flees and faces the consequences of keeping her dark secret, including bearing responsibility for a death. In the alternating Reveal chapters, her life unfolds as if she called for help and the police charge her with a crime. The intriguing setup compensates only in part for a lead without a distinctive character, though the closing chapters and the epilogue do offer some redemption. Others have done a better job with a similar premise. Agent: Felicity Blunt, Curtis Brown (U.K.). (June)