Leah Dawson and McKenna Hawkins have a few things in common they just do not know it. They are both professional women one a doctor and one a lawyer. They come from well to do households you not surprising as Mckenna is married a to a top-notch divorce attorney and Mckenna married to a doctor. On a chance meeting while Leah was visiting one of the liquor stores she purchases a jug of vodka from she notices a lady standing in line that is remarkably similar to herself when she was a few years younger. There is something that draws her to this woman to the point that she follows her home. Yeah I know really it is what you call a stalker. Both of these women live in affluent neighborhoods seem to have it all going for them but there is one thing they both have that is a secret from friends and family and that is controlling and abusive husbands the type who do not you physical violence or vary little because that will leave marks and evidence but they control every aspect of their lives. They have never had this conversation while Leah watches Mckenna's house she sees all the signs and knows what is going on because she is experiencing the same things. This book makes you ask how far would you go to help a stranger if you could relate to their situation. The first thirty percent of this book was a little slow in developing, it felt like plodding through mud and i wondered if it would get any better but it does even though a little predictable. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for an ARC for a fair and honest review.

This book is about domestic abuse. It has an interesting plot twist of how two women get their freedom back without actually planning it just acting on instinct. It is also interesting watching the detective try to determine what actually happened and how he ultimately feels about it.

This book had an interesting premise but ultimately wasn’t for me. I liked getting the point of view of both women but didn’t connect with either of them. They both felt very one dimensional and under developed. Fans of Behind Closed Doors or the Girl on the Train should read this book. I thought it had promise but ultimately fell flat and wasn’t as well executed as other books in this genre.

Wow what a un putdownable read. Fast paced psychological thriller about domestic abuse between
two Female protagonists who intersect in a coincidental way.
The Authors notes and acknowledgments had a lot of useful information and resources about abusive relationships and insights to the book. My first read from this Author and certainly won't be my last.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and the Author, Nora Murphy for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#TheFavor:⁣
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“I felt knocked down by sadness, by a sense of helplessness, and, mostly, by shame. It was like a thrashing ocean wave had picked me up and slammed me onto the firm sand, thrusting the air out of my lungs. I let myself cry. It was like a little gift. I so rarely acknowledged or felt permitted to express my emotions.”⁣
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Initial thought: What kind of favor do they owe? ⁣
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Review: The Favor is a maddening, but real look into domestic violence. Two very similar wives in a similar situation, just begging for a way out. This was a quick read that I couldn’t tear away from. I wanted everything to work out and wanted them to be free.⁣
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Some of the plot does stretch reality, and some of it can be fixed logically in real life. But sadly, some instances very real. The escalation of the domestic violence is portrayed accurately. The subtle comments, gradual isolation, then the escalation of physical violence, all very real. ⁣
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I really enjoyed the audio from @macmillan.audio. The cast was so distinct that I didn’t have to wonder which character was speaking. The timelines did kind of throw me while listening, but I kind of was able to keep track. I will say the very last chapter confused the heck out of me. I felt like the last part was just tacked on, and I missed something. I ended up having to go back the last three chapters to make sure I didn’t miss a thing. I then realized what it was (xoxo physical copy) and it made sense. Some things are hard to transfer to audio, and that was one instance it rang true.⁣
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Overall, a solid thriller of wondering what is going to happen next. It kept my interest, and I found myself cheering for them. Thank you @minotaur_books and @macmillan.audio for the gifted copies. The Favor is out 5/31.⁣
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QOTD: You just committed the perfect murder (bravo!) Where are you going to go to start your life over?

Leah Dawson and McKenna Hawkins live in beautiful homes in an upscale neighborhood. They are both well-educated, career-oriented and married to charming, successful men. The women do not know one another but they are living similar lives. What they have in common is not their seemingly perfect lives. They are both in abusive marriages. They are both trapped. Leah and Liam are attorneys. McKenna’s husband Zachary is a psychiatrist. She is a pediatrician. While living separate and difficult lives, the two women eventually discover that they share the same pain. Once their lives intersect, will they be able to help one another?

Nora Murphy’s impressive debut is a fast-paced book that had me completely invested in the lives of these two women. It is a relatively short (under 300 pages) book which was perfect as you’ll be anxious to learn what happens once Leah lets McKenna know that they are living the same nightmare. The Favor is a very effective domestic thriller but also shines a light on how abused women suffer in silence. It is well-written, thoughtful and unsettling. I recommend it.

I really loved the idea of this book & two women helping each other. It’s terrifying to think about how common it must be for people to live like this & have nobody know about it. It’s easy to say that you’ll never become a victim of DV, but this book shows you it can happen to anybody.

I was rooting for both of the women & I’m happy with how things turned out for them, but I wasn’t super happy with the ending of this book. The book just seemed to randomly end. After everything they went though, I felt like they needed more.

This is my first book by Nora Murphy and it won't be the last. This is the tale of two abused women who stumble upon a way to help each other...by murdering each other's husbands. I don't think that was a spoiler since it was the opening scene in the book. The plot line was so fascinating that I ignored the improbability of it actually working in real life. This is a really enjoyable read. Highly recommended.

The Favor was a bit difficult for me to get into at first, but I was completely invested by the end (and actually didn’t want it to end)! I would love a sequel!

Two women living similar lives become intertwined in two murder investigations having never really even met each other. It was really hard to remember which woman was which for a while - because their lives really were THAT similar.

I thought this was going to turn into a stalking plot, but it ended up being so much more. I thought the storyline was original, and it made me empathize with the murderers. The suspense of the question, “is someone going to get caught” practically had me on the edge of my seat near the end.

I enjoyed the perspectives of each woman as well as the detective on the case. Each point of view offered a little more insight in the case.

I thought the ending was perfect, but, as I said before, I want more!

Although I found some of this book predictable, I really enjoyed it. This was a psychological thriller that kept me engaged. That characters were amazing - their dynamic with others, their growth, their inner dialogue. They felt like people that could live next door. I was engaged through the entire story and couldn’t wait to read more at the end of the day. Anyone looking for an engaging thriller, definitely give this one a try!

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

The Favor started out well for me, and I was interested in Leah’s character and why she was in the position she was. Even she was questioning her actions, so what was going on?

Adding the dual perspective with McKenna felt interesting as you knew they were similar but how was this going to bring them together?

This book is about domestic abuse and control, so please be mindful of trigger warnings. The dynamic in this regard had so much potential but I felt like the author kept just telling us about it versus showing us.

Spoilers going forward as I don’t know how to share why I didn’t like this book without them -

Unfortunately, it went downhill for me after about a third. I did finish, hoping to be surprised, but I wasn’t, it was just repetitive and slow. It lacked any real tension and suspense. It felt like the author tried to reveal plot points from different perspectives to keep it fresh, but it took away from the surprise and build up.

After about 60%, it kind of felt like what else can happen at this point, because both of the major events had occurred, except make it feel like Leah and McKenna would get caught, but they didn’t and honestly it never felt like they would. Since we as the reader already knew what happened, it felt like we were watching the detective struggle to solve this case and ultimately, just fail.

The added point of view of the detective midway felt promising, but honestly some of his interrogations and dialogue felt so unnatural and weird for a person in his position. I also did not understand the subplot with his partner being in a coma. I thought maybe it would give him a sympathetic perspective towards Leah and McKenna, but apparently not!

There were so many plot holes with the disposal of the gun, the gun in the backyard but undiscovered by the cops and the bank transactions and forged signatures.

Ultimately, this was not the book for me, but I can see by other rave reviews it has an audience who enjoyed the ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am very picky when it comes to thriller/suspense books. This was a fantastic, twisty, creepy read! Leah and McKenna are the main characters in the book and immediately you get a sense of who they are. There was ZERO PREDICTABILITY in this book which I loved even more. And the ending... well, you'll just have to read for yourself! It is not disappointing.

A highly recommended thriller/suspense book that would be a good pick for a book club. I look forward to reading more fantastic books by this author in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley, Nora Murphy, and St Martin's Press Minotaur Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 5/31/22

this was not really my cup of tea …

I’m super into suspense and mysteries, but this was just a race to find out how these two women can literally get away with murder.

🚨 BIG trigger warning for gaslighting and domestic violence!! 🚨

the writing style that nora murphy adapted, bouncing around three different POVs, was absolutely fantastic. it kept the storyline moving at a quick pace without forcing the suspense, and it definitely felt natural to me!

however, the plot line itself never really amounted to anything. if you’re a fan of suspenseful movies where the entire story is how someone is going to get away with doing something bad for the right reasons, you’ll probably scoop this one up in an instant and love it!

I, on the other hand, found the dialogue and plot to be extremely repetitive without adding additional meaning to the story as a whole.

I would definitely read other books by this author, and I thank netgalley and minotaur books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 😊

this one’s out on tuesday!!

rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: ontario riesling

The Favor by Nora Murphy is a stunning debut novel that grips you on the first page and doesn't let go. Abuse, gaslighting and vigilante justice are just a few of the themes running through this novel, although by the end you will be cheering for the women who take their lives into their own hands and mete out justice as they see right. An incredible novel that will stay with you long after you've finished.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Leah and McKenna are living parallel lives without knowing it. Both are in unhealthy relationships with controlling husbands. Their lives become intertwined without them knowing it. The POV from Leah and McKenna is essential for this book because you need to hear from both women. I had a hard time putting this book down. It’s one of those books that makes you wish the bad guys get away.

The Favor by Nora Murphy is a domestic suspense novel in which staying is dangerous but leaving could be much worse. Leah and McKenna have never met but they lead parallel lives. On the outside, it would seem that they have it all. All the trappings of success, wealth, and marital bliss. But in fact, they are hopelessly trapped. Leah and McKenna don’t accidentally meet, discuss their common issues and devise a plan. Leah understands that what is hidden behind closed doors can be much more dangerous than outside in the real world. What is supposed to be a safe haven is actually a prison. Driving past McKenna’s house one night, Leah watches a scene she knows all too well. She watches and waits until one night, she decides to intervene. What Leah doesn’t know is that her actions will lead to a chain of events that threatens their lives and their freedom.
With Strangers on a Train (1951) and The Girl on The Train (2015) vibes, The Favor is a gripping novel about abuse, alcoholism, as well as compassion and what happens when a woman is pushed to the limit and takes matters into their own hands. From the opening scene to the finale, this book gripped me and would not let go. It is powerful, suspenseful and horrifying as readers will witness psychological abuse and gaslighting as two controlling men break down their wives. Leah and McKenna aren’t stupid women. They are well educated with well respected jobs. And yet they are trapped. Slowly but surely, they find themselves in a prison with no hope of getting free. The Favor will keep readers on the edge of their seats as Ms. Murphy takes us back and forth from the present into the past to witness the slow descent into abuse and the fight back. I highly recommend The Favor!

The Favor is available May 31, 2022 in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook.

A chance encounter in a liquor store leads to murder in this story of two women abused by their spouses. Leah and Liam were so happy when they first married. Both attorneys, they worked hard but Liam wanted something different- he wanted Leah home 24/7 and he made that happen. Now she's living in their basement and drinking, a lot. McKenna and Zachary are both physicians and they too had a glorious start to married life until their goals diverged after McKenna had a miscarriage which he blamed on her work as a pediatrician. She's trapped at home as well, except for small trips to local stores. They tell their story in alternating chapters, with the detective assigned to investigate Zachery's murder piping in periodically. Know that these are privileged, highly educated women who had control taken from them and found themselves unable to leave. It's a thoughtful look at the issue with an implausible result. Although set in the Maryland suburbs of DC, the only local color is the traffic (oh DMV traffic!). Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. It's a page turner.

This is an excellent audiobook. The voice narration was very well done.

The story will draw you right in. The MCs are 2 women who are dealing with domestic violence, which most of the time isn’t physically abusive but is 1,000% emotionally abusive.

I found myself reacting like “oh hell no!” during some of the scenes. Especially in regards to work, that part about the check. Shew. Not cool.

I also liked it because it took place in Maryland, in several areas that I frequent. Some of which were down the street from my office downtown.

I liked the lack of a relationship between the main characters too. You don’t see that in many novel that have similar plots.

The pacing and character development were great.

I definitely recommend checking this one out. It’s a quick read. It would also make a decent movie.

Nora Murphy knocks it out of the park in this debut novel with intriguing characterization and excellent story building. Readers are catapulted into the destructive and manipulative agonies of domestic abuse while Murphy creatively builds an ere of perpetual unease. The heightened tension and complex storyline keeps readers glued to the pages from beginning to end. Fantastic read. Highly recommended.

Thank you to #Netgalley and @minotaur_books for the ARC of #TheFavor which was read and reviewed voluntarily.

#bookfluence #tbrstacks

I love a good gripping domestic abuse story. And this one doesn’t disappoint. Reminded me of The Women on the Train, with good twists.

Leah is a lawyer and McKenna is a pediatrician. Both are hard worker who are trapped in marriages that they want out of. That is because home life isn’t safe. They meet unexpectedly getting liquor one day and soon become two women that can call a favor upon. And with favors, comes watchful eyes.

It was thrilling and I enjoyed the story. The complexity of these characters and the raw emotions I felt. How women can go day to day hiding little facts about themselves. Murphy has a way of writing to make you feel and understand the characters.