In Choose by D.C. Mallery, Grover Hanson (Grove) is trying to rebuild his life in Carson City after serving in Vietnam. Instead, he finds himself battling frightening memory gaps and discovering strange handwritten messages telling him to “Choose.” He works quietly at a casino, trying not to draw attention to himself, but things become dangerous when he meets two young women and ends up at a party controlled by a local crime boss. After he suffocates one of the women during a blackout, Grove runs to San Francisco and lives under a different name, where he searches for answers through doctors and self-reflection. At the same time, Kelso Kollen, a woman from his past, begins struggling with the same unsettling compulsions he faces. As their lives drift back together again, the pressure builds. What is driving them to kill, and why?

Choose by D.C.Mallery is a riveting horror story that really made me realize how frightening it can be to lose faith in your own mind. It blends psychological elements with a crime story and supernatural events. Grove’s panic feels real, especially as he tries to understand what's happening to him. Meanwhile, Kelso’s identical circumstances expand the story into something bigger than Grove's trauma. The pacing is deliberate, revealing the apprehension these characters have throughout the book. The settings are gritty and authentic, adding chilling suspense to the mysterious events that Grove and Kelso encounter. The main themes are about control, identity, and the fear of becoming a threat to others. As such, I think this book will appeal to readers who appreciate slow-building thrillers that keep one guessing until the very end. Highly recommended.

It is 1975. Twenty-five-year-old Grover ‘Grove’ Hanson, a sound mixer at a casino in Carson City, Nevada, has no idea why he has a note in his hand with the word “Choose”, yet he somehow understands its meaning. He was supposed to choose someone. For what? And how? He had no clue. When a singer invites him and two girls he had just met, Mindy and Misty, to an after-party at notorious mobster Joey Cavallini’s residence, he accepts, not knowing what awaits him. Realizing Cavallini’s intentions, Grove locks himself in a room with the girls to protect them from the mobster. However, he ends up killing one of them, thanks to an evil entity inside him. As he goes on the run, he leaves behind a pile of bodies and law enforcement authorities hot on his trail. Only one woman, from his naive past, holds the truth about the evil inside him and can perhaps end his suffering, but he believes she died a long time ago. Can Grove be saved? Find out in Choose by D C Mallery.

If you are looking for a gripping noir horror novel flavored with supernatural and psychological thrills, action, suspense, and an unravelling backstory, Choose by D C Mallery is a must-read. Balancing cinematic depictions with authentic, grounded, and gritty conversations that shift from light-hearted to tense, Mallery introduced me to the troubled world of a fascinating, dynamic cast. The plot twists and pervasive atmosphere of dread kept me on the edge of my seat. Mallery weaves together the mundanity of 1970s American life with moments of supernatural manifestations, making the horror jarring and the storyline heart-pounding. One minute, I was watching Grove or Kelso trying to live ordinary lives. The next thing, either of them would be lost in the depths of the evil entity, deceiving and killing. I found the condescending, arrogant, and morally bankrupt Jerry, who fancied himself a ladies' man, a hilarious character, and I enjoyed his scenes. I loved this book.

Choose by D. C. Mallery is centered around Grover “Grove” Hanson, whose life is overshadowed by a malevolent force. Outwardly, he appears to be an ordinary man trying to rebuild his life. But inwardly, he's battling an uncontrollable evil presence. Grove experiences strange blackouts, and when he awakes from this state, he finds slanted, left-handed notes written in his handwriting. One of these notes tells him to "choose.” During one such mysterious blackout, Grove kills a woman and goes on the run. His story alternates with Kelso's, a woman from his past, who shares the same condition he has. Eventually, it is revealed that a demonic entity, with a twisted agenda, is controlling them both. It forces Grove and Kelso to choose their next victims. Will they ultimately regain control of their bodies, or will this entity destroy any trace of humanity left in them?

Choose by D. C. Mallery is a gripping horror story that blends drama, suspense, and the supernatural. It explores themes like mercy killings, guilt, accountability, compulsive urges, and the agonizing decisions that the main characters must live with. Although this novel isn't for the faint of heart, I'm impressed by how skillfully the author merges real-life experiences with otherworldly forces. Grove's and Kelso's complex journeys made me reflect on the concept of right and wrong. Mallery’s sharp writing does a great job of drawing you into the story and putting you right beside the characters. People who prefer light horror stories may find this book a little intense. But readers who love books like The Shining, Bird Box, and Sharp Objects—or stories will linger long after the last page—will enjoy this novel. Very highly recommended.

It started with blackouts; one moment, he is actively involved in some chore, and the next, there is nothing but the same scribbled word asking him to make a choice. Grove Hanson initially ignores it. As the headaches intensify, an entity within him makes itself known, urging him to do the unthinkable. Paranoia takes hold as the bodies pile up, until the disturbed man understands that the answers to his terrifying questions lie in his past—a relationship with his beautiful neighbor, Kelso Kollen, holds the key. Only time will tell if he can save himself before it consumes him in Choose by D.C. Mallery.

In D.C. Mallery's Choose, Grove's origin story highlights how he and Kelso became friends, providing background for his soliloquy about why he believes his problem has a practical solution. The author employs a similar approach for Kelso, but reverses the style, starting from her present and working backward to her past. This unique storytelling method introduces strategically placed clues that attentive readers will notice. The dialogue is sharp, shifting from casual when Grove interacts with others to unsettling as he tries to reason with the entity. What makes the narrative so compelling is the author's realistic portrayal of both Grove's and Kelso's different reactions to feeling trapped in their own bodies during critical moments. The writing style mixes focus on small details with a quick pace and dialogue filled with innuendo, gradually building suspense as readers piece together the clues. Mallery combines romance and gore into a thrilling narrative that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end.