3.5 stars, rounded up
This political thriller initially drew me in because it involves a different set of bad guys; not the usual Russians and Chinese. It’s a very plucked from the headlines kind of story. But then, it veers in a totally different direction, with more of a sci fi flair. I was actually disappointed that the initial subplot got dropped and never really returned.
Palmer Knight is a tv correspondent covering the questionable death of a US Senator. Meanwhile, Amnity Jones is a lawyer, who’s moved back to Ohio to care for a mother with cancer. She gets embroiled in trying to uncover a medical mystery. You’d think these two stories wouldn’t intersect, but they do.
This story is all about moving the plot forward. There’s not much in the way of character development, possibly because of the number of characters. And I was surprised the story didn’t veer back and forth between the two main characters. Instead, Amity’s story takes up most of the first half until Palmer returns for the last portion.
The book does raise some interesting questions about the slippery slope of short cutting rules for a supposed ”righteous cause”, about whether the ends justify the means. The title was actually brilliant, as what would appear to be a simple choice was anything but.
This was fun entertainment and I would read other books by this author.
My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group/ GP Putnam for an advance copy of this book.

If you like political thrillers, you’ll live this one.!

David Pepper’s new thriller is a compelling read with some twists and turns even I didn’t expect. Pepper writes with the confidence of someone who’s an insider. He also knows how to write thrillers. He uses short chapters, like scenes from a movie, to quickly move the story along and heighten the suspense. I loved Amity Jones’s character. She demonstrated fearlessness and forged ahead, in spite of her personal troubles. All in all, a good read which not only raises some interesting questions but places the characters in real danger.

Palmer Knight, a fast-rising TV news correspondent, is sent to cover a mysterious death of a senator who jumps from a cliff in Maine,. Army veteran and former Supreme Court, Amity Jones, finds herself enmeshed in a political conspiracy and ultimately into Palmer's investigation of the senator's death. This is a political book that did not disappoint. It it a medical research of what to do to save a loved one. It is a plot that takes us on a roller coaster ride as we weave through a conspiracy to figure out who is behind the death. If you like political thrillers then you will love to read this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and P.G. Putnam Sons for a copy for an honest review.

A reporter is looking into the death of a Senator, and the mystery surrounding it.
A lawyer is looking for information about a miraculous cancer recovery.
You have not only these two mysteries, but you also know these stories will intersect, so you have that mystery too.

This was a really fun read. However, it had a few too many sub plots and characters for me. I kept having to stop and think "wait, who is this person" and "what is this story again?" I am sure it was my old brain, but I struggled to keep the flow with too much going on.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review. .

Having taught health law, this book, while fiction was really too far off what has happened to different groups. I thought the author did a great job of building intrigue and suspense. The change in points of view can be a little confusing but an in intense read none the less! Thanks for the ARC!

A cure for cancer? At what price?
A Senator battling cancer jumps to his death in Maine.
Amity Jones is a lawyer who used to clerk for a Supreme Court Justice and stepped away to care for her mother who is battling cancer and not wining. Their young neighbor seems to be wining the battle against his cancer because some van comes to his home once a week for secret treatments. Amity tries to learn more and uncovers a special treatment that is available only for special people. What will she do to save her mother? How is this special treatment connected to the Senator? What will those responsible do to protect their secret? What will the members of Congress and people in leadership positions do to protect their secrets? Will the doctors connected kill to save lives?

Amity teams up with Palmer Knight, a reporter with access to DC insiders, to follow the trail and learn the truth.

This is a page turner. It kept me guessing what would happen next and who else is involved. The plot is unique and interesting. Some of the key characters are well developed, some are not which is a bit frustrating at times but overall it is well worth the read.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

This political thriller is fast-paced and has a lot of interesting characters. The plot twists kept the suspense going at a smooth pace and did not stray from the storyline. However, some parts of the story were undeveloped, for example, the vagrant who was shot outside the pub. This left some questions; was it somebody from Blackwood's team? How was this relevant to the story? The ending was well written in uncovering the truth but maybe an epilogue could've been included to explain what happened to the characters at the end, like Dr. Neena Vora. Overall, this book was an interesting read. I have already recommended this to all my friends to read when it releases in August.

An intriguing political thrilled by David Pepper, "A Simple Choice" delivers with drama, action and mystery.

A Simple Choice has a large cast of characters, but primarily followers reporter Palmer Knight and attorney Amity Jones. Palmer is uncovering a conspiracy behind a Maine senators mysterious death, while Amity is somewhat innocently seeking information behind a neighbors seemingly miraculous cancer recovery, while her mother still struggles with her diagnosis. These two issues on the surface could not be more different -- yet as A Simple Choice unfolds, we discover how they are related to each other, as well as to a corrupt government endeavor.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Simple Choice and look forward to reading David Pepper again.

Interesting but somewhat confusing novel about two characters, Amity Jones and Palmer Know who manage to uncover a medical mystery, along with a political mystery that seems completely unrelated but turns out it is one and the same.... The chapters alternate between the point of view of young lawyer Amity, and CNN reporter Palmer who is currently working on unravelling an intricate government conspiracy. The story was interesting but also confusing with the many scene changes and sub-plots going on parallel to the main story. Long book but ended quickly without tying up all the ends! Need an epilogue to fill in the final pieces. I did like the ethical dilemma presented throughout the story. Definitely kept me interested!

If you love political thrillers and are a fan of Tom Clancy, you will enjoy A Simple Choice. It does have short chapters so it was for a quick read. The book did tell the story from multiple POVs so at times it was a little hard to keep with all of the characters. Lots of twists that I often did not see coming. The book started really strong, but at times it felt slow in certain parts with the changing of the POVs.

Thank you to Netgalley for a digital ARC of this book I enjoyed it!

This book has short chapters and many POV. It begins with the death of a prominent senator in Maine. Palmer Knight of CNN begins to investigate and receives a hot tip that the Saudi Arabians may be involved.

It then takes you to Ohio to Amity Jones who is helping to take care of her mother who is very ill with cancer. When a local resident makes a miraculous recovery from cancer, Amity begins her pursuit to figure out the how in hopes that the same can be done for her mother.

It’s a fun ride to see how all of this connects together and there are unexpected twists and turns along the way.

I rate this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A thriller in the spirit of Tom Clancy, I liked the additions of a law clerk and politics to the intrigue. Great if you like those types of books!

This was my first political thriller and I enjoyed it. The multiple points of view were interesting, and I really liked how it all came together. The book started off strong with a mysterious suicide and I was dying to figure out why! Although there were a lot of characters and it got a little difficult to keep up with all of them, this was a fast paced read and very fun.

This book has a lot of things I really like. Political intrigue, a reporter protagonist, and tons of suspense. Very well done and worth the read.

I received an ARC of this upcoming novel through NetGalley. In “A Simple Choice”, two characters uncover a medical mystery and a political mystery that are seemingly unrelated but end up tying together. Short, sometimes choppy chapters alternate between the point of view of a young lawyer and a young CNN reporter working to unravel a complex conspiracy. Interesting and though-provoking, but sometimes confusing.

The book was nice. I tried very hard to like it. The characters and subject matter was interesting but I just couldn't get excited about the book. At times, the dialogue seemed forced.

A thought-provoking political conspiracy and medical mystery. The beginning showed much promise but the writing felt fragmented with too many characters and sub-plots to follow, making it difficult to find a steady rhythm. While I liked the concept, the execution of the story is challenging.

Two stars – it was ok.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and David Pepper for the electronic ARC.
Expected publish date: August 2022
#NetGalley #ASimpleChoice

The title may indicate simplicity of plot, but that’s anything but fact! The plot was not only complex but convoluted. The number of characters was enormous, with more appearing with every chapter. The complicity of the senators involved with the lack of medical standards was, I guess, central to the main plot. Yes, there were so many sub-plots going on, I had the feeling I was at a 3 ring circus where every time I was about to see something significant, here came the clowns.
This book had great potential, but there was just too much extraneous stuff in motion.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, Penguin Group Putnam, in exchange for an honest review.
Note to publisher: the capital of Tennessee is Nashville, not Knoxville as cited in Loc 2002.

A Simple Choice by David Pepper is a superb read with an engrossing plot and vibrant characters. Well worth the read!

This has all of the qualities of a good thriller, including fast pacing, interesting characters, and a good premise. Recommended to fans of the genre.

I really appreciate the free ARC for review!!