What It's About: Leah and McKenna live similar lives - trapped and unhappy in their marriages. They have never met each other but soon they will cross paths, after one of them decides to intervene and this changes everything.


My thoughts: This was an entertaining and a suspense-filled story right from the beginning. We see the story unfolds through the POV of Leah and McKenna and later on Detective Jordan Harrison. I have to say that the storytelling was really good. It was intense and there was so much tension between the characters. I could feel both Leah and McKenna's desperation and their constant fear in their toxic marriages. It was heartbreaking.

Although parts of the plot did feel a bit familiar, it was the author's own spin that kept me reading this book. But what didn't quite work for me personally was the jumpy timeline. I find them confusing and distracting. The story did slow down midway. Overall, I think this was a good debut!



Pub. Date: May 31st, 2022

***Thank you Minotaur Books, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this gifted reading copy. All opinions expressed are my own.***

Leah, who had been a successful attorney, has spiraled downward into alcoholism and self loathing as the result of fear of her husband. McKenna, a pediatrician, has given up her work and stays home, also fearful of her husband. Leah sees McKenna in the supermarket. Recognizing McKenna as someone she used to be, Leah becomes obsessed with her. Soon we have a plot that is somewhat familiar from a past popular film.

Told in alternating timelines and POVs, it took me a while to decide I liked this psychological thriller. An interesting plot line and well written, I didn’t like any of the characters. Despite their controlling, abusive husbands, these women were of some means and had resources, yet immobilized by their inaction and inability to get out of their situations. Yet, I do realize this is reflective of some real life experiences.

Domestic abuse is an important subject. Unfortunately, I’m not sure that with the wishful thinking solution, anything could be learned from this book to help women in this situation. There is, though, a list of resources in the author’s note at the end.

When both McKenna and Leah got married they thought their respective husbands were almost too good to be true. Both were successful, loving and attentive. But soon for both women they learn that their husbands were far different then they first appeared. When one night Leah observes what really goes on in McKennas marriage she decides she has to help this poor women. What happens next starts a chain of events. Told both in present days and flash backs the story of both McKenna and Leah is unfortunately all too common but The Favor is written so well that it gave a voice to those that may not have one.

It’s not often that I find myself rooting for the murderer in a story. When two women who have never met become drawn into the same murder investigation, each one knows she has to keep her mouth shut about the events that have occurred.

The detective on the case is on the right track, but he can’t prove his theory. There’s also the fact that his partner is lying comatose in a hospital bed and her injury strangely parallels the murder cases he is investigating.

Great summer beach read that readers can plow right through! I highly recommend.
Be advised that domestic abuse (mental and physical) is central to the story.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to give my honest review.

4.5 stars

The Favor by Nora Murphy is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin’s Press (and in particular Danielle Prielipp) and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Leah cannot understand how she ended up being a victim of spousal abuse.  She is too intelligent, too bright to have ended up in this position.  She's an educated, strong woman.  She's a lawyer for heaven's sake!  But things have changed.  Leah is trapped in a loveless marriage with Liam, and she's afraid to leave.

McKenna cannot understand how she ended up being a victim of spousal abuse.  She is too intelligent, too bright to have ended up in this position.  She's an educated, strong woman.  She's a doctor for heaven's sake!  But things have changed.  McKenna is trapped in a loveless marriage with Zack, and she's afraid to leave.

Neither Leah nor McKenna have ever met, but their circumstances are very similar.  When Leah notices that there is a woman who looks like she is in a similar situation, she thinks maybe she can help.  She can't do anything about her own life, but she is intent on helping this stranger.


My Opinions:
For a debut novel, I was more than pleasantly surprised.  As well, for such a sensitive topic of domestic abuse, the author handled everything very well, getting her points across without getting into heavy theatrics.

The book was a little like Strangers on the Train, but that's okay too.   The plot was really good.  Yes, it was a little predictable, but that didn't detract from the story or journey.

I love a book where you cheer for the bad guys....and that is definitely who I was rooting for in this book.  The writing was exceptional, pulling me in from the start, and keeping me enthralled right to the end.

I totally enjoyed this book...and I can't wait to find out where Nora Murphy takes us next!

Here's hoping your next read is 5 stars !!!

This follows Leah and McKenna two very intelligent, beautiful women who don't know each other. They happen to shop at the same liquor store one evening, but other than that their paths have never crossed. Unbeknownst to either of them, their lives are more similar that they can ever know. They both are married to very charming, handsome, successful men who on the outside appear to be the perfect husbands. Behind closed doors McKenna and Leah know differently. Very quickly their lives are about to become entangled in a way neither of them expected.

I found this to be more of a police procedural as Detective Harrison tries to uncover the truth as opposed to a thriller. There really aren't any big twists and turns that you would expect from a thriller, and the guilty party is known to the reader all along.

If you are triggered by domestic abuse, verbal abuse, alcoholism, and the mention of miscarriage I'd stay away from this one.

While I enjoyed this book and thought it was well written, the abusive husband trope is not something I enjoy reading as a preference. That is a heavy focus of this book. I thought the author did a very good job discussing the topic of coercive control when it comes to abuse and how very well educated women become victims in abusive relationships. They are slowly manipulated into believing they have no other choice and o one would believe them if they claimed their husbands were abusive. Unfortunately this is a very real problem. As an outsider looking in, it is easy to say "why didn't she just leave?", but it isn't that easy as Detective Harrison uncovers through his investigation of both women as suspects. I've seen several reviews almost victim shaming the two main characters for not leaving sooner or drinking too much to cope with the terror they face every day. This too is a very real problem that women face in reality. Battered and abused women don't deserve your criticism, they deserve your kindness and support.

Overall, this is a solid debut from the author. You can tell that her experience as a lawyer specializing in domestic violence aided in crafting this novel. While Leah and McKenna were fictional, the author's note goes on to explain the harsh reality that real women face daily.

Holy cow - this one was a wild ride. TW for domestic abuse - the gaslighting and control was so vivid.

Excellent tale of two women living parallel lives who have never met until they do. And then they are tied together forever.

Leah Dawson, a lawyer married to hotshot family law & divorce attorney, Liam, and McKenna Hawkins, a pediatrician married to respected psychiatrist, Zachary, both seem to have idyllic lives with their relatively new husbands. They have successful careers, beautiful homes and financial stability. They don’t know each other, but their lives are remarkably similar - right down to the emotional and physical abuse, coercion, social isolation, lack of financial control, and stripping of identity that both husbands start inflicting on them shortly after marriage. When Leah sees McKenna in a liquor store one day, she recognizes the signs of her own situation and becomes obsessed with helping her, unbeknownst to McKenna.

The question is: How far will Leah go to help this stranger?

I’m leaving it there, as far as the plot goes, as that’s just the beginning. Suffice it to say, as the story unfolds, it’s clever, intriguing, and frankly infuriating to see what these two women experience, but it’s also, dare I say, fun to watch how author Nora Murphy weaves their stories together to a satisfying conclusion. Not condoning how some things went down, but I was pulling for these two at every moment! Yes, you have to suspend a pretty healthy amount of disbelief, and I was mildly annoyed at the chapters with Detective Jordan Harrison, who came off too cocky for my taste, but it was a small price to pay for a compelling debut that tackles an issue that should be given more attention.

Do yourself a favor and read this! Also make sure to read the Author’s Note, as Murphy includes resources and information pertaining to domestic violence for those who may personally need it or know someone who does.

★★★★

Thanks to St. Martins Press, NetGalley and author Nora Murphy for this ARC. I’ve given my opinions freely and honestly. It’s due to be published on May 31, 2022.

***********************************************************************************************
Some facts on domestic violence:
According to NCADV, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in three women and one in four men in the U.S. have experienced physical violence from their intimate partner, such as pushing, shoving and slapping, and one in four women and one in nine men have endured a severe form like beating, burning or strangling. That doesn’t even account for emotional abuse, sexual violence or stalking, nor does it reflect statistics globally where domestic violence is endemic and often unseen.

For more statistics visit: https://ncadv.org/STATISTICS

For resources visit: https://ncadv.org/resources

"A gripping debut domestic suspense novel, The Favor explores with compassion and depth what can happen when women pushed to the limit take matters into their own hands."

A true statement! This story was captivating as it shed light into a side of domestic abuse that is often not talked about--abuse can come in many shapes and forms and can happen even to the unlikeliest of victims.

What I enjoyed the most was that although Leah and McKenna's story is fictional, the events, emotions and underlying themes of domestic abuse resonated as if I were reading a true account of their lives.

All in all, a fantastic debut for Nora Murphy and a gripping story that will leave an impression on you for days to come.

Love a debut novel that ends up being excellent!

Leah and McKenna, are total strangers, both are intelligent, independent, strong and successful women. Until they aren't.

Leah, a once successful lawyer, notices McKenna at the liquor store one day and something piques her interest about her. Leah follows McKenna home. wanting to know more about her While watching McKenna from afar Leah notices some things that are akin to her own life and she becomes obsessed. Regularly sitting outside of McKenna's home observing from a distance. Soon the women's live are connected in ways neither of them ever expected.

I loved the pacing of this story, I was engaged the entire time. The characters were intriguing and they make you root for an outcome you probably normally wouldn't hope for! The ending isn't particularly shocking or crazy but I would say it is completely satisfying. This was a great debut novel by Nora Murphy.

This would be a fun book for your summer book clubs - it will give you tons of things to discuss!

This is a well-crafted thriller about two wealthy, professional young women who are suffering through abuse in their marriages, feeling there is no way out...until someone does them a favor. I won't say more about the plot, not wanting to risk spoilers, but suffice it to say, it is a compulsive page-turner.

I received an arc of this new thriller from the publisher vis NetGalley in exchange for honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity. I will look forward to reading more from this author.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Thank you Minotaur Books for the chance to read and review this ARC!

Leah and McKenna have more in common than they know, despite never having met. They live very similar lives, spending their days as the "perfect" stay at home wives of successful men. Even their secrets are similar. When their paths cross by chance, Leah can't help but be intrigued by McKenna, who gives off the same mysterious energy she does. She makes it a habit of gathering information about McKenna, until she can't keep her distance any longer. Being trapped is never comfortable, no matter how it looks to those on the outside. It's only those on the inside that truly know what the perfect wives are going through...

I really enjoyed this book! I thought both Leah and McKenna were likeable characters that you wanted to root for. Reading this book could be difficult at times-- before reading you should know that this book is centered around domestic violence and can be descriptive at times. The realism makes it even harder. However, the story moved quickly and kept me interested from start to finish. Only reason it isn't 5 stars is that I found parts of it a bit predictable-- I saw where things where going from early on but I still enjoyed the journey there. We're given some background information on the detective investigating the case throughout the book as well, and I didn't find this entirely necessary. Overall, this was a quick read for me and one that you should definitely keep your eye on!

CW: domestic violence

The Favor a great crisscross of plots. Leah and McKenna are a lawyer and a doctor. Both are married and carry dark secrets. Their husbands are abusive and although the women are successful, they are both trapped. How can each extricate herself from her dangerous situation?
Sometimes when the situation presents itself you have to act.
It’s a fast paced read and will keep readers on the edge of their seats to discover what the favor is.

Pub day: 5-31-2022

This one started strong with the first chapter causing immense intrigue. The alternating perspectives gave real insight into the characters and really made me think about how we never know what’s going on in someone else life, behind closed doors.

This is a quick read with an interesting view of what domestic abuse can look like and how it can truly happen to anyone. There was some repetition in phrasing and a few cheesy lines that didn’t quite fit the intensity of the story, but overall, I enjoyed this ride.

⚠️ abuse, alcoholism

Thank you Minotaur Books for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review!

(Will be posting on insta and goodreads in a few days)

Devious, alluring, and intense!

The Favor is a riveting, character-driven thriller that immerses you into the lives of two strangers, Leah and McKenna, as their eerily similar worlds intersect, unravel, and collide while anxiously surviving day-by-day dangerous, controlling, troubling marriages.

The writing is brisk and precise. The characters are complex, troubled, and resolved. And the plot unravels quickly into an unnerving tale of secrets, power, control, deception, jealousy, obsession, domestic abuse, unlikely friendships, and murder.

Overall, The Favor is an addictive, twisty, brilliant debut by Murphy that delves into all the emotional and psychological damage caused by domestic abuse and highlights just how easily intimidation, manipulation, and dominance can often be masked as love.

The perfect life with the perfect wife, at least that is the perception. 2 women, Leah and McKenna who never met but have so much in common. An all too real look inside the seemingly perfect life! This hit home as I have been trapped with a controlling man and could empathize with the women. Though I did not get to the degree that they had been hurt, I still knew the struggles of being called several times a day and losing the life I once knew. These women standing up for each other was amazing! They did it for each other because they knew the struggles. They each knew they could not do the same for themselves! The writing of the book told from the pov of McKenna, Leah and the detective kept me engaged. I was very pleased even down to the last page! These women were strangers but heroes for one another! Highly Recommend!
Thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

Leah and McKenna have never met, though they have parallel lives. They both are victims of spousal abuse. Leah sees McKenna in line one day at the store and recognizes herself in her. She follows her home and begins to watch her. Sure enough, she soon sees what she expects to see. Leah knows she can’t save herself, but perhaps she can save McKenna.
McKenna was a pediatrician and Leah was an attorney before they married their respective husbands, and then they both were forced to leave their careers because of those husbands. There was physical and mental abuse, and a lot of gaslighting. Just be forewarned if domestic violence is a trigger. This had sort of a "Strangers on a train" vibe to it, I thought. I was a little disappointed that this wasn't more suspenseful, but altogether this was a good debut novel.

The premise of The Favor is not new. It brings to mind the old book/movie Strangers on a Train (minus the crazy Bruno Antony) or the more recent Behind Closed Doors, The Girl on the Train, and many others. But debut author Nora Murphy has taken that familiar premise and skillfully created a tense, disturbing, fast-paced story of two women, different but the same, that will keep you on the edge of your seat from first page to last and make you think about it long after the end.

Leah has a routine, has to have a routine to keep her sanity, because there is no escape from her prison. And one day Leah just happens to see McKenna and something nags at her, enough of a nag to compel her to follow McKenna home. What she sees in McKenna’s upscale home makes her realize that nagging feeling is recognition. McKenna is her! As she was not that long ago, and because Leah knows exactly what will become of McKenna she is driven to do something. Something unspeakable and dangerous. But necessary.

Domestic abuse doesn’t always mean only physical violence or even any violence at all. It’s not always living in a shack with a brute in a torn t-shirt. It could be that one day you’re you – strong, confident, a successful professional woman, leading a full life with family, friends and your wonderful husband – and then one day you realize you’ve disappeared. You’re insecure, uncomfortable outside your home, separated from your work and social circle. How on earth did that happen?

People recognize people that are like them. That are going through the same trauma they have gone through or are still going through. It’s subtle, it’s kind of unexplainable, but it happens. And it happened when Leah saw McKenna.

Author Murphy weaves the lives of these two women together with random intersections and Interactions. Leah is scared, controlled, suffering alcoholic blackouts and feels any escape is impossible, but after recognizing herself in McKenna she becomes determined to stop what happened to her from happening to McKenna; it turns out her inner strength and cleverness have not been totally erased after all. It’s fascinating to see McKenna’s dawning realization of what might have just happened, and her warring inner thoughts about what she could – should? – do.

The Favor is unsettling but gripping, very well written with a complex plot and a couple of husbands you love to hate. You don’t have to have experienced domestic abuse firsthand to feel the fear or to want to make these husbands stop, now! Thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing an advance reader copy of The Favor via NetGalley for my honest review. It was frightening, thrilling and completely satisfying and Nora Murphy is a new author to watch. All opinions are my own.

Good book with a solid storyline. I liked the main characters well enough. A few slower parts that were over quickly. I definitely appreciated the twists in the plot.

Several domestic suspense novels have been written about domestic violence so I must admit I was a bit leery of this one. But this was good! Fast-paced, quick read that kept my attention. Main characters you sympathize with, care about, and want to see end up with their lives back. I’ve read quite a few novels recently with themes of female empowerment and I love them! Highly recommend this read - not a new premise but this one does add a unique twist to the tale and is handled very well by this debut author. The Favor is out on May 31.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.