Janet K. Shawgo

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review

“I think he is going to kill me or have me killed,” Charlie told her.

A Change in Destiny: Dark Choices was the story of how a woman can find herself in an abusive relationship and the dark choices that can come up because of it, with some serendipitous circumstances helping out along the way. Charlie lost her parents and then her relationship with her fiance broke off, leaving her feeling vulnerable. Even with her close relationship with her twin sister, Jon, a good friend to Charlie and her ex-fiance moves in and within the year they are married. Coming from a high society banking family, Jon soon reveals what's under his suave mask and Charlie finds herself slowly being isolated as Jon tries to ruin her relationship with her sister, friends, and colleagues.

She knew as an investigator there were no perfect crimes.

Charlie's an investigator for the Houston medical examiner, she has friends in law enforcement, is very good friends with the state attorney, and has a sizable inheritance from her deceased parents. I thought it was mindful to show how a woman who seemingly has all the outs and backbone, still could find herself into an abusive relationship; it could happen to anyone. The story relays multiple povs, so readers get more of a surrounding view of the world and it gets going right away with a quick look at the present before going back six months and showing why Charlie is now at a pig farm.

Now the games begin.

I'm not sure I'd tag this as mystery or thriller, the reader is let in on every aspect of the whys and hows. This also read kind of dry to me, there wasn't much emotion coming from out characters, when Charlie straightforward tells her sister what she plans to do, it's all so matter-of-fact for such a heavy dangerous situation. I would tag this a procedural story, as Charlie's knowledge from her job comes into play at times and it becomes a story of steps Charlie systematically takes to come out from under her husband's thumb, without consequences. The serendipitous part comes in when, Charlie's ex-fiancé who works for the FBI shows up, and Jon, along with his father and bank, are served warrants and are now under investigation for bank fraud. It brings some attention Charlie wasn't expecting at first but ultimately works, I think, for her betterment. The investigation brings in more procedural story telling, almost no emotion from Charlie and her ex in the FBI worked into the story.

I've read/watched my fair share of true crime and horror movies, so I can't say I was personally surprised or horrified by some of the events, but this was a story I enjoyed taking the journey. I would have liked a little less of Charlie Scooby Doo dumping it all on her sister how she was going to get rid of her abusive husband problem and rather went more of an engaging mystery/thriller slow revealing. The ending jumps some time with enough divulging to give readers an answer to Charlie's fate. If you don't mind less emotional and more procedural (with pigs in the mix!), this could be one to pick up.… (meer)

This book did not work for me. The characters didn't read like people. I was getting nothing at all from the twins and only play-up stereotypical abuser from Jon.
The plot and the pacing bored me. Not much happened and there was no tension. Charlie’s plot was done pretty early, Brian couldn’t really get anywhere where with his investigation, obviously, and Jon’s illegal activities weren’t a mystery or compelling either, so what was happening? There was never a point where I felt the tension of wondering how things would play out or worrying for any character. It was just a straightforward, bland walk-through of an investigation doomed to go nowhere and suspects waiting around to get there.
Plus there was a lot of dialogue and some scenes that felt like space filler, not contributing to the plot or the characters or anything else, just there to be there.
… (meer)

A Change in Destiny: Dark Choices by Janet K. Shawgo

Charlie and Dani are (twin) sister with a special bond. Charlie is married to an abusive Husband, when she learns he wants her dead for her inheritance, she looks for help in Dani.

Add to the mix Charlie's ex-fiance an FBI agent digging around. Life is about to take a dark turn for the sisters, while they try to stay one step ahead of the law.

The story moves at a fast pace with two very likable leading women. Suspeseful, intense, compelling, and edge-of-your-seat moments. I was hooked from the first page.

Overall I found A Change in Destiny: Dark Choices quite enjoyable. I highly recommend to those who enjoy a good thriller/suspense.… (meer)