This is a fast-paced, gripping read. I ran a positive wire review on the book in the 11 SoCal book sections I edit and would recommend it.

Huge thank you to Net Galley and Mulholland Books for sending me a free copy of this book to review.

5 star review alert! This book is amazing. I’m talking edge-of-your-seat, can’t-put-it-down, fast-paced thriller. My favorite kind. The story begins when 13 year old Kylie is kidnapped in broad daylight from the bus stop by two strangers – a husband and wife. When her mother, Rachel, gets a call from the kidnappers, she is thrown into a vicious cycle; she has become a link to a chain she can never escape from. Rachel, who just found out that her breast cancer has returned, is suddenly faced with the worst moral dilemma a mother can face. Kidnap a child or never see her daughter again.

I have a 13 year old daughter. Throughout this entire book, I was imagining myself in Rachel’s shoes. What would I have done? How would I have handled things? Would my daughter and I have made it out alive? I believe that’s what was so fascinating about this book for me – it truly hit home. Rachel enlists the help of her ex-brother-in-law, Pete, former military, and the two of them hatch a plan to do the unthinkable. The events that transpire afterward are frightening, intense, and downright disturbing.

McKinty did a fantastic job of creating characters who are diverse, complex, and are able to invoke emotion from the reader. I was rooting for Rachel and Pete while simultaneously hating The Chain and wanting to take them down myself. This was just such an amazing book. I read in the afterword that McKinty developed this story after learning about the Mexican concept of exchange kidnappings. In these kidnappings, family members of the victim can offer him or herself as a replacement hostage. He took that idea and mixed it with the idea of the mystical chain letters of the past and out came The Chain. I thought that was a clever and inventive idea.

The Chain was published on July 09, 2019. I absolutely recommend heading to your favorite bookstore and picking up a copy.

Wow. I read a lot of scary/disturbing books - but this one was so tense I almost had to quit reading before I was even halfway through. I’m really glad I continued though and got to see where it would end.

The premise of The Chain is that your child has been abducted - the only way to get her back is to pay ransom and kidnap another child. When that child’s parents pay and abduct another child - yours will be returned to you. But if you even think about breaking the chain - your child will be killed.

This book really makes you question how far you would go if it was your loved one at stake. Lots of moments where I found myself holding my breath.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the early review copy.

Adrian McKinty gave us a unique concept of suspense in The Chain. It was riviting, hard to put down, and a pleasure to get caught up in.

Okay, so I saw a blurb on the cover of this one calling it “Jaws for parents”, which i fucking love because it’s so true...it’s a big, bold edge-of-your-seat popcorn thriller that takes difficult subject matter and turns it into the ultimate beach read. It’s the perfect break from some of the heavier fiction that’s currently circulating (i read it in a couple hours as a break from all the angsty white women of #TheMostFunWeEverHad) and it is the definition of “unputdownable”. And while I’ve seen some mixed reviews on here (I’ll admit the author doesn’t quite stick the landing in the back half of the book), for me this was such a pleasant surprise and for sure exceeded my expectations. Thx to my friends at @littlebrown and @mulhollandbooks for the gifted copy! This one is out now!

Wow this book had me intrigued right from the start it was a fast paced thriller i couldn't put down. As a mother myself this brought forth so much terror in my mind. Its one of my biggest fears and i could really relate to the morther in the story doing everything possible to get her daughter back and living in fear.
I don't want to give much away but it revolves around Rachel a single mother who is recovering from breast cancer. Rachel is suddenly hit with some tough decisions when her 12 year old daughter, Kylie, is abducted from the bus stop. The kidnappers contract Rachel letting her know she is now part of the chain and once you are in the chain you can never get out. Rachel then has to make some of the hardest decisions of her life. Will Rachel be able to rescue kylie? Will they be haunted by the chain forever or will they be able to break free? This is one psychological thriller you need to add to your summer reading list to find out!

I would like to thank Mulholland books and netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

You can also find my review on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BztRruGgbEF/ and goodreads

I absolutely loved this book! Such a unique premise, and so well written! I don’t have children, but I do have tons of nephews and a raging anxiety problem, so this book got me. And I mean, sweating, heart in my throat, furiously swiping on my Kindle got me. Tore through this in one sitting got me.

Such a twisty, unpredictable ride! Highly recommended. 4.5 stars.

What a crazy roller-coaster ride! I mean this in the best possible way by the way.

The story-line goes:

Child is kidnapped
Parent asked to pay ransom
The parent has to kidnap someone else’s kid before their own is released
The Chain must go on

I hope the rules of the chain are clear. They might sound simple enough but of course, they are not. First of all, it’s a nightmare to have your kid kidnapped. Secondly, people just don’t have a load of cash lying around in case of ransom demands. Thirdly, what kind of a person kidnaps kids? Well, most parents would do anything for their kids. That is the position our MC, Rachel, finds herself in.

The Chain has a fast-moving pace. Once the story began, there was no slowing down. The characters have to act fast to get their kids back and my heart was pounding at each move. I love how the tension escalated with each new twist in the chain. I kept wondering whether the victims would win or perhaps the chain would get broken.

The author portrays the character in a manner that will have you sympathizing with them. My heart broke for Rachel and her daughter, Kylie who were caught up in the nightmare. I am still not sure how they were picked but I can’t imagine being forced to participate in something like that. The plotline is terror-filled and masterfully presented. This isn’t the kind of book that you get easily distracted from. It grabbed my attention and held me captive until I turned the last page.

If you are looking for a tightly-plotted, edge-of you sitter kind of thriller then The Chain by Adrian McKinty should be your next read.

This is a must have on your summer reading list. This one made my heart plummet and race and was very addicting. I picked this one just to read the first few pages and found myself not putting it down and finishing it within the day. WHAT A ROLLERCOASTER! A nightmare for any parent really.
I found this thriller to be refreshing and yet still twisty which made for an exciting read! I highly enjoyed this one. I did find this a tad predictable but not enough to not enjoy it, like I said refreshing! The first chapter but really the entire book just pulls you in right away and you won’t want to put it down. Make sure to add this one to your TBRS (to be read soon), you won’t want to miss out on this one.

Fast paced thrill ride. I thought the premise was original but a bit outlandish. I didn’t feel a close enough connection with any of the characters but I did finish this in 2 sittings at the pool. Good fast paced thriller for summer reading!

“Number one: you are not the first and you will certainly not be the last. Number two: remember, it’s not about the money—it’s about The Chain.”

Andrew McKinty’s The Chain is a riveting thriller with a terrifying premise.

The Chain works like this: your child is kidnapped, and the only thing that will ensure their safe release is the payment of a ransom, and for you to then kidnap a child, whose parents must in turn pay a ransom, and kidnap a child. If you fail to comply, your child will die, if your victim’s parents fail to comply, you must kill their child and choose another target, or your child will die. Attempt to inform law enforcement, or in anyway interrupt The Chain and you and your entire family will be the first to die.

Rachel Klein is not an obvious target for this macabre network. She is newly divorced, recently in remission after treatment for breast cancer, and has very little money. When her thirteen year old daughter, Kylie, is abducted, and Rachel receives the chilling instructions as the newest link in The Chain, she balks, as most right-minded people would. What Rachel is being asked to do is unthinkable, but with the life of her beloved daughter at stake, Rachel realises she has no choice.

The first half of the book is an absolute page turner, I raced through it wondering just how far Rachel was willing to go. McKinty skilfully communicates the fear and desperation experienced by victims of The Chain. When the lives of our children are threatened there is very little a parent won’t do to protect them, and it is exactly that primal instinct that the sociopathic minds behind The Chain exploit.

“Be thankful for our mercy and remember that once you are on The Chain, you are on it forever. You are not the first and you will not be the last. We are watching, we are listening; we can come for you at any time.”

The pace slowed somewhat during the second half as Rachel, and Kylie, struggle with the aftermath of their experience, but it ramps up again as Rachel realises the only way she and her daughter will ever escape The Chain, is to expose the diabolical masterminds behind the scheme.

The Chain is an impressive thriller that will get your heart racing and keep the pages turning. Don’t miss being part of The Chain.

DNF @ 40%

While I was intrigued by the premise and the blurbs from critically-acclaimed horror/thriller writers, I found the actual story a bit too outlandish for my tastes. Moreover, I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters.

There is currently a LOT of hype around The Chain by Adrian McKinty. I keep seeing articles on social media about the film rights of a book written by an Uber driver sold for a seven figure sum.

There's actually an interesting note in the back of this book from McKinty about life as a writer. He's got his successful Sean Duffy series under his belt but it's a reminder that many seemingly-successful creatives (authors and the like) don't actually earn much from their craft. Most have other jobs and alternative sources of income. Which makes me feel a bit grumpy about some idiotic athletes who earn gazillions.

But enough of my ranting. Let's get down to it cos this standalone by McKinty is (#spoileralert) certainly worth all of the praise it's getting. I wasn't sure I was going to be enamoured but I was gobsmacked at how 'real' it all felt from the opening lines.

Generally I cringe when the blurb tells me what's going to happen. Like... 'ugh, how tedious we have to go through this when we know what's coming,' kind of thing. And in many ways that's the case. But... what Kylie goes through as a kidnap victim and what her mother Rachel goes through is meticulously detailed by McKinty. It feels incredibly real and we're right there along with Rachel as she's begging for loans, buying a gun and heading onto the Dark Net.

The pace is cracking from the get-go and continues like that until over half-way through the book. It seems unfathomable that these victims or targets can do this, can endure this and then force others to do the same.

Usually I hate knowing 'whodunit'. Here the kidnappings are so random - that we can't really be suspicious of any one character in particular. Well, until later, but I think it's kinda obvious when we 'meet' them.

But we're put into the mind of an unlikeable psychopath quite early and (sort-of) know who is behind it; or at least the 'why'. And I think it's the complete lack of guilt or feelings (neither empathy nor salacious joy) towards anyone involved that makes it harder to comprehend. They're pragmatic... at least initially.

We readers wonder, is The Chain then only about the money? Or is it a game?

"The Chain is largely a self-regulating mechanism that repairs its own broken DNA with only a little nudging from the outside." p 43

"... the more people that are added to The Chain, the more likely it is that there will be a major defection. That's why fear is so important. That's the whole mental component." p 111

McKinty does a great job with character development in the Sean Duffy series and it's the same here. They're far from perfect and Rachel, her ex-husband Marty and brother-in law-Pete are all complex and real. McKinty pulls no punches in giving ex-marine Pete a heroin addiction and even the irresponsible Marty ends up being kinda likeable. Similarly the other kidnappers are painted shades of grey rather than black/white. 

It was almost ironic that the series with which I'm familiar (the Sean Duffy series) is set in Ireland in the 1980s and devoid of technology. Whereas here, the level of complexity in terms of TOR,  the Dark Net, Bitcoins, Wickr apps and Faraday cages was very technical. I didn't understand much of it but that didn't matter as it seemed well researched and all plausible.

My only real complaint (and yes, I know I'm picky) is that the pacing felt teensy bit erratic. Initially it was fabulous, and then there was a bit of a lull as we are taken out of the plot and given some backstory about those behind The Chain. I had thought we'd stay in the past, but McKinty then takes us in and out so we see how/why The Chain was born. Things speed up again towards the end but it felt a little too rushed in the final pages. I had to stop and flick through them again in case I'd missed something.

And on a couple of occasions (more towards the end) it felt McKinty shifts the point of view to some sort of external third party - a bit like an off-stage narrator, foreshadowing impending doom.

Of course that really didn't matter. This is a riveting read. It's well-written in McKinty's easy but eloquent prose; features great characters (the goodies and even the baddies) and offers up a plot that is original and really very clever. (And I kinda felt like it needs a "Please don't try this at home," warning cos we don't want to plant ideas in anyone's head!!!)

4-4.5 stars

A real heart pounding & page turning psychological thriller. As Don Winslow says on the cover “This book is Jaws for parents.”

Terrifying concept

Rachel Klein is 35 years old and recently divorced. She worked two jobs for years to put her ex-husband through law school and then got traded in for a newer model. She has a daughter, Kylie, that she loves dearly, is a breast cancer survivor, and will be starting her first "real" job at a local community college soon.

Then she gets a phone call, part of a devious plan. Kylie has been kidnapped. As soon as she pays a ransom AND kidnaps someone else's child, she will enter into The Chain and eventually Kylie will be released.

This is a tense, hard-driving scary book. This is a terrifying concept. Not only do you become part of the conspiracy when you have to kidnap a child but you must depend on others to do their part.

This author has a devious mind to come up with this tale. Unique and well thought out plot and strong characterizations made this a winner all around to me.

I received this book from Mulholland Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

The Chain. What an elaborate concept...and nightmare! This is the worst version of a chain letter you can possibly imagine...and be apart of!!

This cover caught my attention when I first saw it on NG. Then it was popping up everywhere. It was receiving so much hype and praise, I had to request it.

It’s easy...Follow The Chain and you get your kid back. Pay the ransom. Find another target and kidnap someone. The Chain continues. Each link in The Chain is precious. The Chain has to go on. No police! Whatever you do, <b>Don’t Break The Chain!</b> The Chain has <b>never been successfully broken.</b>

McKinty didn’t waste time. From page one, this is a fast-past thriller, filled with action, tension and fear. I wasn’t sure McKinty could sustain that same emotion throughout the story, but he pulled it off!

It’s Thursday morning and Kylie is sitting at the bus stop. Like a typical 13-year-old, her social media/phone are more interesting than her surroundings. Before she has time to respond, there is a man standing in front of her. He’s wearing a ski mask and pointing a gun at her.

<blockquote>”She knows she shouldn’t have gotten into the vehicle. That’s how girls vanish. That’s how girls vanish every day. If you get in the car it’s over. If you get in the car, you’re lost forever. You don’t get in the vehicle, you turn around and you run, run, run.”</blockquote>

Kylie is thinking about her mom. She doesn’t deserve this. First the cancer, then the divorce, now her daughter is kidnapped. Rachel is on her way to the oncologist. Probably bad news. Her phone rings. It’s an unknown caller.

<blockquote>“Two things you must remember,” a voice says through some kind of speech-distortion machine. “Number one: you are not the first and you will certainly not be the last. Number two: remember, it’s not about the money—it’s about The Chain.”</blockquote>

McKinty is now on my radar and “The Chain”, which is my first read of July, is also a fav read of 2019!

<b>My Rating: </b> 4.5⭐️’s (rounding up 😊)
<b>Published:</b> July 9th 2019 by Mulholland Books
<b>Pages:</b> 368

<b>Recommend:</b> Yes

<b>Excerpts: </b>
<blockquote>“A true predator sometimes kills even when it isn’t hungry.”</blockquote>

Thank you to NetGalley, Mulholland Books and Adrian McKinty for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
#NetGalley #DontBreakTheChain

This book was a fast paced adventure from the very first page. The heroine of the story, Rachel, was a woman with a very real insecurities and flaws, but managed to find the strength to save her daughter. In fact, all of the characters had flaws, which made the book more real.
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One of the downsides of the book for me was I could see the ending coming about Halfway through. It was good, but knowing what was going to happen that early was definitely a downer for me.
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All in all however, this was a terrific read, and I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers. A solid 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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#becauseofreading#review #thechain #mulhollandbooks #thriller #bookreviewer #partner #bookphotography #bookshelf #bookblogger

Chances are, you just got a huge amount of anxiety just from reading that blurb. But hey, don't you worry! Once you start reading the book, you will be consumed with anxiety almost the entire way through! How exciting, right?! 

I actually loved it. I loved being on the edge of my seat and watching how things would play out. The Chain was actually very entertaining and fast moving for me. I thought the plot of the entire story as a whole was well executed, both of them! It was the type of book that I was looking for the moment I picked it up. 

The story-line was something that I have never read before. It was very original not played out or over-exaggerated. I mean seriously think about it-- Victim or abuser? Which one is actually worse? And what if you had to play the role of both? What would you do? Do you even know what you would do? Because I didn't! I kept trying to put myself in both situations and just couldn't even fathom. I would much rather just be the observer as a reader, thank you very much!

The story was riveting. The writing was riveting. The plot was riveting. I thought The Chain as a whole was brilliant. Point blank. If you're looking for a story that will keep your attention, on the edge of your seat, you anxiety cup filled, and still move quick enough to read in one sitting-- then The Chain is for you!

Wicked cool concept! In order to get back your kidnapped loved one, you must kidnap someone else and force their family to kidnap yet another person. Get it? Like one of those horrible chain letters but with much more serious consequences. The book is in two parts. And, had it stopped at the end of part one, I would have given it 5 solid stars. But the second part felt anti-climactic. Mr. McKinty obviously tried very hard to keep the suspense level high, and I'll admit there were some good moments, but it did not live up to the first half. It almost felt like a different book. That being said, this is still an amazingly terrific book about a seriously demented plan of terror.

The Chain - your child has been kidnapped, in order to free your child, you must do what the kidnappers demand and then kidnap another child to keep the chain going.

Interesting premise, frightening at many times, execution failed a bit for me. There is really only so much you can do with this story line, especially once you reach a certain point,

What did work for me:
- the writing was exceptionally sharp
- the plot avoiding meandering off track
- perspectives from multiple characters kept the story feeling fresh and moving forward

Thank you to Mulholland Books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own,