The Favor by Nora Murphy is a highly recommended psychological thriller.

Leah and McKenna both have abusive spouses and are leading the same horrific existence, although they don't know each other. Leah is the one who first notices McKenna and recognizes someone who is in an abusive relationship. She begins to secretly spy on McKenna and her husband Zach. When she sees an act of violence perpetrated by Zach toward McKenna, Leah intervenes, altering the fate of both women's lives. Which is good because Leah could use someone who is watching her husband, Liam, and his violence toward her.

Leah and McKenna are fully realized characters who will elicit a lot of sympathy. Their situations are clearly very similar, where their husbands are controlling their every move, leaving them basically prisoners in their homes and marriages. they are both well educated professional women who have found themselves not working and living a life of leisure that they don't necessarily want. The husbands, Zach and Liam are less developed as characters, but this works in the situation that Murphy has set up for her heroines. Later in the novel, Detective Jordan Harrison, of the Clarkstown Police, is investigating and in contact with both women.

The Favor has been compared to a feminist retake on Strangers on a Train, so this might be something to keep in mind when choosing to read it. It does provide a portrait of domestic abuse as seen through the lives of two similar women although the comparison could be stretched to encompass more women in different situations. The voices of Leah and McKenna are shared in alternating chapters so the readers will know their thoughts, struggles, and the truth about what has been going on in their marriages. For those who love procedurals, there are elements of one in the narrative as Detective Harrison conducts his investigations.

Once it starts, The Favor never lets up. It is a totally engrossing compelling novel that should hold your attention throughout. There is a plethora of helpful information regarding domestic abuse after the narrative ends in the notes/ acknowledgements. Murphy also makes the point that a woman's success and education doesn't protect her from domestic violence. This is a debut novel, which is an accomplishment in itself.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Macmillian Publishers.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Edelweiss, Google Books, and Amazon.

This was a great domestic thriller about what happens when a person feels trapped by their partner. I was shocked to see it was a debut by Murphy because I thought it was really well done. I liked that McKenna and Leah were both well educated, accomplished women who were put in similar situations - it really attests to the fact that domestic violence can affect anyone. If you like this one I highly recommend Peter Swanson’s The Kind Worth Killing!

Really enjoyed this debut. I loved the mc leading parallel lives yet never having met. But when they do meet its so unique and their connection is astonishing. The wiring is so engaging and the domestic abuse aspect were so well curated.

Thank you to @netgalley and @minotaur_books for my e-arc of THE FAVOR by @noramurphybooks in exchange for an honest review. This one publishes May 31!

TW: domestic abuse, gun violence, shooting, alcohol abuse, miscarriage, emotional abuse

I really enjoyed this twisty, domestic thriller! It shines a light on how difficult domestic abuse really is- and why women feel the need to stay in these kinds of relationships, despite knowing it’s not healthy.

While nothing really surprised me in this book- the reader know what had happened, and who did what, it’s the cops who are trying to figure it out. This book was still unique in how it portrayed broken relationships, power struggles, and being in control.

The men in this book (besides the detective), were complete garbage. Maybe they didn’t deserve what happened to them, but I didn’t feel any remorse over what they did that caused the actions the actions the women took.

Women are strong. Women are in control of their own lives, their future, their job, anything that pertains to them, they are in control of. No man has(or should have) the power to change that, just because it doesn’t fit what they want of women.

If you enjoy domestic thrillers, I recommend this one!

The Favor follows two women, Leah and McKenna, living parallel lives who are strangers. When Leah intervenes on a violent moment between McKenna and her husband, she alters the course of both of their lives. Told in three perspectives, The Favor tackles the nuances of domestic violence. I thought the suspense was done well, but overall I felt like it was missing something.

This was a solid domestic suspense book. I was gripped from the beginning and there’s a huge shocking scene about 30% in that had me like 🤯🤯 but after that I felt like the story became pretty repetitive and predictable and I lost interest.

The author actually does the trope of men gaslighting and controlling women and women being under the influence of substances very well (which if you read a lot of thrillers you know this trope is everywhere and often done so poorly). I think because it was integral to the story but also the alcoholism and powerlessness wasn’t the only trait of these women. They were complicated and smart instead of being defined by their circumstances.

I also really appreciate that the author had experience working with victims of domestic violence and used that to inform her writing of our two MC. The author used trauma in this book with compassion and thoughtfulness.

Read this one if you enjoyed THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN and BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. There are some major trigger warnings so message me or look those up before reading.

McKenna and Leah lead pretty similar lives, their husbands are monsters. Both want out but are too afraid to leave. When a chance encounter, and a bit of an obsession could change each of their lives. Things always happen for a reason, right?

I'm loving these audiobooks. I devoured this in a day. It wasn't a "thriller" but it was an interesting story that I wanted to know the ending to. The book mainly focuses on Leah's and McKenna's POV. Both different women, living very similar heartbreaking lives. I felt so bad for each of them. I just wanted to help them. I don't want to give too much detail away, but there's a third POV and I yelled at that person a few times while reading/listening to the book. I did like both of the woman's characters. You can't help but like them, at least in my opinion.

I really enjoyed the audio. I think the narrators did such a good job. The different narrators helped keep who was who straight.

For this being the author's debut novel I thought she did a great job. She navigated through some heavy topics. I look forward to reading her next books.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for my ebook and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

I will add my instagram link when I share my review.

4.5 Stars!

What a great debut novel from Nora Murphy that was both suspenseful and thought provoking. I could not get it out of my head until I knew the ending!

McKenna and Leah live similar but parallel lives, yet never directly interacting. Until Leah discovers McKenna's secret, and more shockingly, that it feels just like her own. With controlling and abusive husbands, each feels trapped; is it more dangerous to leave, or more dangerous to stay? Until one night, Leah decides to do McKenna a favor that will change her life, leaving McKenna to wonder if she can ever return that favor.

This story drew me into the lives of McKenna and Leah, living with their husbands who control every aspect of who they are and have slowly drained them of their freedom, escalating at times to overt physical harm. I could feel their desperation to get out, and at times their resolve that it may never happen. Until a chance encounter changes the course of their lives. I felt like I could connect with the characters and their story, feel their pain through the words, and was desperate to see the investigation go their way.

TW: Domestic abuse

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press, and Nora Murphy for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! Full review to be posted on my IG: @manis.and.manuscripts on 5/25/22 in honor of pub day the following week!

THE FAVOR by Nora Murphy
Published by St. Martin's Press
Publication date May 31 2022

THE FAVOR was an exciting book about two women whom were strangers to each other but chose to help each other with their own predicaments with their abusive husband's.

I've never read this author before but so enjoyed this book I'm looking forward to more books. The story line was unusual and a bit unbelievable but fun.
I loved the idea of sisterhood.

I liked the perspective of the two women, but I could have done without the detective. I think those portions reduce the enjoyability of this one. I thought the premise was interesting, and I liked the vigilante aspect. I would have liked this to be faster paced.

McKenna and Leah are very well developed characters who are living very similar lives. Nora Murphy is very adept at weaving an intricate tale which a grips the reader and doesn't let go. The ending was everything I hoped it would be. An excellent domestic suspense novel!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an eARC in return for an honest review.

This story follows McKenna, a pediatrician and Leah an attorney. Both women live in nice neighborhoods and have very successful husbands. But that's not all they have in common. During a brief encounter at a liquor store, Leah realizes that McKenna may be in danger. Leah begins watching McKenna from a distance. Can she help McKenna before it's too late?

Trigger warning: domestic violence

This book was really good but at times hard to read. Due to the nature of this book, I had to take breaks from reading it. It took me 11 days but I made it through. It's Dark, suspenseful, and tackles real issues.

Woah. Woah. Woah.

Also, the author's note at the end was perfect and, I felt, added so much to my reading experience - particularly the conversation/notes around how abuse in educated or middle to upper class relationships can present differently than just physical abuse.

Story wise, I appreciated the dual perspective from the women, and then the additional narrator from the detective. I would have LOVED more interaction with the women, but understand why (plotwise) that would be problematic. However, this story of vigilante justice gripped me - I quickly read the book in just a few days - and am absolutely awestruck that this is a debut novel!

Can't wait for more from this new author!

I love when I go into a book blind, and it pays off. I really enjoyed this one and read the first half rather quickly. This is a domestic suspense book with the theme of domestic abuse.

Leah and McKenna are two women who don't know each other, but they are living very similar lives. Both women are in a marriage with abusive men. The women accidentally meet when one of them takes control and a favor is repaid.

I liked how the book went back in time to when they first were married and then back to the present with each woman. The character development for both was wonderful. When the detective got involved and had his own chapters, it slowed down a little for me, but not enough to ruin my enjoyment of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This debut novel is impossible to put down. Leah and McKenna have many things in common although they have never met. Both are attractive successful woman who are married to abusive controlling men. When their paths cross, even though they are strangers they know what the other one is enduring. This book is fast paced and full of suspense. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.

✨ | Book Review | ✨
📖 The Favor - Nora Murphy
Pub. Date - May 31, 2022
Genre - Thriller
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

▼SUMMARY:: McKenna and Leah have never met and are living similar lives - their looks are similar, the live in similar neighborhoods, and they both are living with extremely controlling, and isolating husbands. Their paths meet and Leah feels connected with McKenna - she follows her home and begins to think of herself as McKenna’s protector. She sees something that she can’t let go one night while checking on McKenna and commits an act that will be the most freeing act for them both. It’s now McKenna’s turn to return the favor.

▼REVIEW:: I really enjoyed this debut from Nora Murphy! It kept my attention from the start - I couldn’t stop turning the pages. I had to know what happened next! I really enjoyed the POV of Leah and McKenna. A third POV gets added and the story developed even more making an already hard to put down book, even harder to put down. I really enjoyed this one but there are trigger warnings.

TW:: domestic violence — it’s a large part of this book so if that is something that is difficult for you, I would skip this one.

Leah and McKenna have never met, but they couldn’t be more alike. They’re both under the thumb of an abusive, controlling husband. A chance meeting in a liquor store wraps them together in a way that will be integral to who they becone for the rest of their lives. When Leah sees McKenna and impulsively follows her home, just to see what kind of life she has, she never expects to see something that strikes so close to her own life. She begins to watch McKenna, growing increasingly obsessed, until one night she is witness to an incident and intervenes. Then the tables turn and it’s McKenna turn to return the favor.

This is a solid debut domestic thriller, and the author’s experience with the law and specifically abuse victims really shows to good effect - the characters, storyline, and especially the detective’s POV came across as very believable and authentic. While there was so overall mystery or elements of surprise, I still found it compelling.

Definitely not your typical murder mystery. Told from perspectives of two women in similar situations in life who are strangers. Story unfolds for you to see the favor each does for the other, will they get away with the favor or?? I enjoyed the book and easily connected with the character development and story line. I mean who wouldn’t want to read a book recommended by Shari Lapena and B A Paris!!

Thanks to Netgalley for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

This is a fast paced domestic thriller. Unlike other suspense novels this one isn't a whodunit. It is fairly predictable about what happened, but you can't wait to see whether the police can unravel it. Great characters, well paced, and a worthwhile read. Highly recommended

This is a quick paced suspense thriller invovling spousal abuse, not just with one new wife but two. The author makes it very easy to see how this could happen, even for those watching for it and thinking it could never happen to them. Early one, it's easy to figure out what the favor will be but how the events play out is surprising. Nora Murphy is a new author for me and I will be watching out for more by her. The audio book narration was very well done and I definitely found myself siding with the wives and not on the side of the law.