A gripping novel about two women who don’t know each other but who lead parallel lives. McKenna and Leah are each trapped in their marriages, the way out fraught with danger. From the outside, both look like they have successful, happy lives. The reality is much different. This is a solid suspenseful read. The storyline progresses with ever-increasing tension, with characters that are well fleshed out. I was fully engaged from the beginning. Nora Murphy does an excellent job of entertaining as well as educating. I look forward to more from this new author! Thanks to NetGalley and the author for a chance to provide an honest review.

Wow, what a debut by Nora Murphy! She is one you’re going to want to watch for. This psychological thriller was everything. I finished this in one sitting and have no regrets. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style, and the plot kept me reeled in. Definitely recommend this one.

Two oppressed women in similar circumstances find themselves in unique positions to help one another. As they observe each other from the periphery of one another’s lives, they will fight societal norms that dictate how they should behave. Debut author Nora Murphy does an admirable job of highlighting a serious problem but doesn’t quite give the novel the depth it needs in her first book The Favor.

Leah Dawson spends her days in an alcoholic haze. At one time in her life, she was an up-and-coming lawyer working on all of the important paperwork clients needed to execute their legal matters. A major misunderstanding at work led to her getting fired, and since then Leah has tried to find her solace at the bottom of every vodka bottle she hides.

And she does everything she can to hide them. Her husband, Liam, disapproves of Leah’s drinking. In fact, he disapproves of a lot of things Leah says and does. That’s why she lives in the basement bedroom of their home—that Liam locks from the outside—and he’s still in the master suite. Liam tracks her expenses and her phone and has made it clear that if Leah wants to come back to the bedroom, she needs to get her life together. But how, Leah wonders, can she do that when Liam is the one constantly tearing it apart?

A few streets away in their swanky suburb, McKenna Hawkins is doing her best to recover from a miscarriage. Not that she wants to try for another baby any time soon. Her husband, Zack, who was kind and caring when they were dating, has turned into a different person since they got married. After she lost the baby, McKenna left her job as a pediatrician because Zack wanted her to. In fact, Zack wants McKenna to do a lot of things and makes sure she obeys no matter what her opinion is.

On one of her liquor runs, Leah spots McKenna and is drawn to the woman. She follows her home and discovers that McKenna lives close to her own house. Watching McKenna gives Leah something substantial to do, and she begins to follow her from a distance. Then one night she sees McKenna and Zack together. It’s like watching a mirror reflection of her own life.

In a single moment, Leah changes McKenna’s life forever. She does her the kind of favor that even McKenna’s own family could never do for her. But they’re strangers; they don’t know one another and have never met. Sometimes, Leah thinks, it’s better to accept help from people who don’t know you than it is from those who are closest. Because the closest ones can be those whose betrayal runs the deepest.

Author Nora Murphy tackles a tricky subject: society’s denial that men in upper socioeconomic classes are just as capable of abusing their partners as anyone else. Murphy gives the real-life spouses of these men a voice through Leah and McKenna, setting the scene in a way that may seem familiar to some readers. Immaculate homes and expensive cars don’t mean that life behind closed doors is anywhere close to perfect.

The book fails to give any of the characters any depth, however. Leah and McKenna, while representative of women like them in real life, are simply tragic figures and victims of abuse. Murphy makes the plot more interesting by giving both women high-powered jobs to match their husbands’ professions. When the book begins, though, Leah and McKenna are both out of work, and readers don’t have the chance to watch the women change. They may find it harder to suspend their disbelief and buy into how fast Leah and McKenna buckled under their partners.

Murphy also doesn’t offer any substantial reasons for why Liam and Zack are the way they are. Their controlling natures come across as caricaturish at times rather than as a thoughtful look at how men in high-achieving careers balance their professional charm and their personal boorishness. By the end, the men seem more like stock characters than anything else.

The novel does give McKenna and Leah different enough personal circumstances to make each of their individual stories stand out, which can be difficult to do. Those wanting to read a novel highlighting this under-reported issue but with minimal depth may want to check this one out.

Nora Murphy’s first novel is intense as she delicately tackles domestic violence and all its horror. It emphasizes the difficulty some women find themselves in, unable to leave the abuser as well as showing the unsuspecting progression which takes place as the woman is slowly manipulated into feeling a horrible sense of self-worth.

This is the story of two women who have never met, but unfortunately have so very much in common.

Leah was a successful real estate lawyer happily married to Liam, a trial lawyer. At first glance her life was good, they were happy. Yes, Liam could be quirky, not wanting her to meet with friends or go away for weekends, but they had a pretty stable relationship. Until things gradually began to change. Liam became very possessive of Leah’s time even suggesting she quit her job and stay home and cook and clean explaining he made enough money to continue the lifestyle they had.

But Leah loved her job and continued to ignore Liam’s request. Until she was fired for something she insists she did not do. That is when Liam’s true colors began to show. Leah was unable to get money out of their accounts, had to have dinner prepared when Liam got home, even though he never gave her a specific time, and worst of all he began to verbally abuse her and threatened physical abuse. Trapped in a house she now hates with no money to leave; Leah begins to excessively drink having to squander money away which Liam will not be able to trace. Until one day…

McKenna, a pediatric doctor is married to Zack. They are a happily married professional couple. When McKenna gets pregnant, they are overjoyed! Until she loses the baby and Zack decides it’s because of McKenna’s work as a doctor working with children who are sick. He insists she quit her job and stay home and relax until she gets pregnant again. She reluctantly agrees. And that is when Zack begins to show his true colors to McKenna. As she begins to feel isolated as he tracks her every move, she is afraid to tell anyone for fear he will say she is crazy. She now lives in a house she feels confined in in fear of a husband she now hates. Until one day…

Leah sees McKenna in a store. She feels drawn to her. She wonders what her life is like, envious of her put together look. She decides to follow her home to see the house she lives in. But what she sees horrifies her. And that sets off a series of events neither of them will ever see coming and will change their lives.

Two abused women who don’t know each other but have so much in common live in daily fear of dying at the hands of someone they use to love. How will they survive? How can they continue this way?

This unique thriller sheds light on what abuse looks and feels like and how powerless women can be in these types of situations. It chronicles the process of the abuse and how the abuser is able to gradually trap their prey under a glass where they will have nowhere to go and unable to move. An absolute must read.

Thank you #NetGalley #MinotaurBooks #TheFavor #NoraMurphy for the advanced copy.

The Favor is Nora Murphy's debut novel and a well-written one at that.

Leah & McKenna are complete strangers, living parallel lives under the constant threat of domestic violence. Both are married to men who abuse them both emotionally and physically, who have little by little cut off their ties with family and friends. Both of these women are trapped at home, knowing that trying to escape could be more dangerous than staying.

I would like to reiterate that these two have never met, never had a conversation, nothing! They are complete and total strangers to each other. But one day Leah observes McKenna and her husband fighting. She recognizes the signs of domestic violence that are present in her own life and she sets out to do a favor for McKenna to help her escape the violence.

While this book may be a bit far fetched (they never met), it deals with the harsh realities of domestic violence. It shows that domestic violence knows no boundaries, that highly educated professional women are just as likely to experience domestic violence. This book did a particularly good job of showing how their abusers alienated them from friends/family/coworkers. This was a fast paced domestic suspense and I really enjoyed it.

Entertaining debut thriller! not necessarily an edge of your seat read, but an interesting domestic thriller that i didn't want to put down

This is the definition of “unputdownable”. Fantastic read. Thank you netgalley and publisher for this arc in exchange of an honest review

#The Favor by # Nora Murphy is quite the debut! About two women who have never met. And have all the same trappings of wealth, success and comforts. Once set in motion it's a thriller.....
Thank you for the advance copy,
# Netgalley and # St. Martin's Press

Leah and McKenna - two women living parallel lives. Both accomplished professionals, both abused wives. From page one, Nora Murphy grabbed my attention - by the time I was 10% of the way through the book, I was filled with righteousness anger. The Favor is a taut thriller, and an excellent read.

It is shocking that this book is a debut work. This is a well crafted and interwoven story about Leah and Mackenzie, These women do not know each other but one day Mackenzie is shopping when she catches the interest of Leah, who recognizes her as a similar soul, a women who is enduring domestic abuse. Each of these women are highly educated and successful women in their careers who marry similarly driven and educated men, only to have these men become more and more controlling and manipulative. The description of how the abuse starts and escalates in these situations was incredibly well written. It drew me into it, almost as a situation that I wanted to look away from but couldn’t.
I am incredibly impressed with the writing and story told here. It is compelling and kept me up late to finish the last bit. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a suspenseful story. Be warned that the domestic abusiveness is tough to handle at times, but told respectfully.
I will certainly keep a look out for future work by this author who I expect we will see many great works over the upcoming years.
#TheFavor #NetGalley #StMartinsPress

Out today 5/31 and I would recommend the purchase of this novel by debut author Nora Murphy.

“The Favor” was a roller coaster of emotions about two women who have never met yet both seem from the outside to be living the perfect suburban lives. But are they? Leah quickly identifies that McKenna on the inside may be dealing with all the same dangers inside the home she is. Leah reacts and aids in a situation forcing their worlds to collide.

Gripping tale of domestic violence that makes you realize that not all homes are what they seem and to be careful for what you wish for.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#julesbookshelf #goodreads #arc #netgalley #thefavor #debutauthor #noramurphy #booksofinstagram #stmartinspublishinggroup #macmillanpublishers

Leah Dawson and McKenna Hawkins are strangers, but their lives are very similar. They have picture-perfect careers, homes, and personal lives - or so it would seem. In reality, both women suffer at the hands of their seemingly charming husbands. One day, when Leah stumbles upon McKenna, she sees herself in McKenna’s situation - and vows to save her the way she couldn’t save herself.

The Favor is a gripping, page-turning, tension-building domestic thriller. It’s hard to know what ratchets up the suspense more - the abuse Leah and McKenna suffer or Leah’s growing obsession with McKenna and “saving” her. I could not put this book down - I read it in one sitting!

As a practicing attorney, I have represented victims of domestic violence in restraining order and custody and placement hearings. Nora Murphy is also a practicing attorney with family law experience and that comes through loud and clear in her writing. Her understanding of the nuance of domestic violence and abuse and emotional manipulation is so critical to the success of this story and makes it so much more vivid and real. (Seriously, TW folks.) Not only is this book incredible entertainment but honestly could be an important tool in making the topic more accessible.

Oh wow I loved this book! I was kept in suspense the entire time while reading it of how the two stories came together. It wasn't as much of a dark thriller, but instead a domestic suspense (which I love). I really liked the different POV we get during the book two. In addition, even though the timeline does jump I had no issues following the story. I recommend this one!!

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur/St. Martin's Press, and Nora Murphy for an ARC of this book!**

Hasta la muerta...

Two women, Leah and McKenna, both seem to have it all, living a luxe lifestyle on the arm of a wealthy and handsome man...and are successful and hardworking in their own right. These two have never met, but their stories intertwine in a dark and almost deadly way: both women are trapped in the clutches of a controlling domestic violence situation. Their connections to the outside world slowly dwindle, jobs disappear, and each are subjugated to the controlling and derisive behavior of their husbands, aching to break free but losing all confidence they'll ever be able to break the cycle.

That is until one day, Leah's liquid courage and a bit of brave exploring leads her to McKenna's yard, where she witnesses the ugliness firsthand. Up close and personal, it's too hard to ignore, But what will her next move be? Can she simply stand by and watch her own desperate situation cycle in front of her eyes, yet again...or will she be compelled to take a chance, make a leap, and do a stranger (you guessed it!) a Favor?

Newcomer Nora Murphy is a welcome addition to the world of domestic suspense, and a blurb from Shari Lapena fits in perfectly with her style, her pacing, and the Ugliness Hiding Behind the Veil of Perfection trope that so often pops up in these type of stories. This one IS different from your average domestic tale...in some ways. Having a one sided relationship that slowly morphed into a reciprocal relationship between the two characters kept things exciting and unique. There ARE some overused tropes in this one, however, like the alcoholic tendencies of one of our narrators, so be forewarned. I don't necessarily mind this as a device, but normally I feel it really serves to help the story, and in this case it seemed superfluous.

These quibbles aside, the plot moves along steadily and with ease, although I felt the narrators monologues getting a bit repetitive at times (or perhaps it just felt that way because the characters' stories were so similar?) It didn't hurt my overall experience, but I DID predict the second half of the book shortly after the big first twist happened. Coincidentally, this changed the whole tone of the book for me, and it went from the mystery-thriller-whodunit type vibe to a slower and more serious look at the ins and outs of a domestic violence situation.

I had little familiarity with intimate partner violence prior to reading this book, which coincided with my semi-obsessive viewing of the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial, where many of the same topics were explored, albeit in a real-life setting and WILDLY different circumstances. Of course, this narrative certainly doesn't have any traces of male victims and falls into more of a 'traditional' situation of domestic violence with male perpetrators holding their female partners in a cycle of violence, but Murphy certainly handles the topic carefully and she has done her research as a lawyer who has worked with IPV directly. Her author's note and list of resources at the end are fantastic too, should you or anyone you know need the help.

As a still practicing attorney, I can only imagine the sparks of inspiration that might burst into flame and fuel the roaring and exciting fire behind Murphy's next novel...so get your graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate ready (at least hopefully by NEXT summer!)

4 stars

This is a highly emotional story. It evokes empathy, sadness, and rage in the reader.Leah and McKenna are two women who from the outside should be living perfect lives. Instead they are living nightmares with monsters. They go from being perfect strangers to business partners because of their shared pain. The author tells the story from both their points of view looking back at the action as it happened. This was a great way to be reflective and give perspective.

Happy Publication Day!

Started The Favor yesterday and I can’t put it down! The description has captured the first quarter of the book that I’ve made it though and I cannot wait to see what happens next! There has been incredible character development so far with Leah and I can’t wait to learn more about McKennas life. This seems like such a fascinating peak into the lives of domestic violence survivors, such an intriguing read!

Special thanks to Net Galley for the ARC! Be sure to add this one to your TBR 📚

While Leah and McKenna have never meant, they live very similar lives. Both have outstanding careers, beautiful homes and are financially stable. To the outside world, it would seem that they have perfect lives. What no one knows is that they are both victims of abuse - emotional, financial and physical - inflicted by their husbands, which started shortly after their marriages. When Leah spots McKenna at a liquor store, she knows right away that there’s something similar between the two and becomes determined to help her.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller, this is it! I could not put this book down and finished it in two days 🙈 I’m not usually crazy about domestic thrillers but this is a good one! I was really impressed with this debut novel because of how realistic it is. Nora Murphy is an attorney who has background in working with survivors of domestic violence, and her experience translated into her writing. I would definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a good quick read !

Leah and McKenna have very similar lives: they are professionals married to professionals (one a lawyer and the other a doctor). They haven’t been married more than a couple of years. They live in big, tasteful homes in upscale neighborhoods.

And their husbands showed their true colors of being controlling and abusive not very long into their marriages.

Both are trapped.

They don’t know each other, despite not living too far apart. But when Leah sees McKenna in a store, she somehow just recognizes someone much like herself. She follows her home and returns to watch her covertly. And then one night, she intervenes to save the woman who is going through what she herself is experiencing. She can rescue her, do for her what she can’t do for herself.

After the crime is committed, the police can’t work out who the perpetrator is. McKenna had motive, but there’s no evidence, no proof that she could have done it. She just knows she’s finally, gloriously, free. And very grateful.

And maybe she can return the favor.

The Favor is a riveting book that explores how two successful women become victims of abusers. It shows their thoughts, behaviors and experiences. It’s a crime novel, and it brings in the point of view of a sharp detective working the case. It’s impossible for the reader not to empathize with Leah and McKenna and want these two women to be free and stay that way. It’s tightly paced and an excellent read. Bonus is that it could quite easily be one of those books that contains a lot of harsh content, but much like the plot and the pacing, it reins in any excess.

Excellent book! Fabulous debut novel by this Author. Well written, fast paced thriller. Two married women in similar situations and The Favor develops. I don’t want to give anything away so just read the book. I highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

Review posted on Barnes and Noble.

This was such an enjoyable read. Super unique, fast paced, engaging, and short.

I went into this one blind and I recommend you do the same because WOW was I surprised. A MAJOR event takes place pretty shortly into the book and boy did it set the tone for a book I did NOT want to put down!! Maybe the title should have tipped me off (hindsight is 20/20!) but I was completely caught off guard and I loved it.

This was a great book to read with a friend. We had so much fun chatting about what was happening with the characters and theorizing how we would handle it if we ever found ourselves in a similar situation (let's hope we never do!).

I certainly wouldn't say this book is realistic and there were some major flaws that were occasionally hard to overlook (the blood splatter being the biggest one for me - Dexter anyone?! but also HR processes and banking procedures that were just glaringly wrong or implausible). But those problems aside, I absolutely loved this book. It was so different from anything I had ever read and the whole premise was so intriguing.

I could totally see this becoming a made for TV movie on Lifetime and I can promise you it would be a good one!

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy of this stellar debut.