📖 The Favor
✍️ Nora Murphy
🔪 Thriller
#️⃣ 288 pages
🗓️ 03/31/22

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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

Leah and McKenna are perfect strangers, but they have more in common than anyone would think. And no, it’s not a perfect marriage, although their lavish homes, increasingly distant friends and successful, handsome husbands would have you think otherwise. When a chance encounter brings one woman into the other’s life, will it be her saving grace or her undoing?

My short little synopsis above is purposefully vague, because I think you’ll get the most enjoyment out of this novel if you go in mostly blind! I really enjoyed the pacing of this novel, although I will say that I felt like the ending was a little anticlimactic… maybe because there was a constant flow of action throughout. I loved the plot and the character development was so well done - by the end of the book, I cared so deeply for Leah and McKenna and were rooting for them so hard. It blows me away that this was a debut novel and I can’t wait to read more from Nora Murphy!

🤝🏿 Domestic thriller
🤝🏿 Multiple POV
🤝🏿 Investigation storyline
🤝🏿 Range of pacing throughout
🤝🏿 Explores feelings of victimization + guilt
🤝🏿 Mini epilogue
🤝🏿 TW are spoilery - DM me!

#caitsquietplacereviews #caitsquietplace #cqpthrillers #thefavor #stmartinspress #minotaurbooks #netgalley

I can't believe this was a debut! Trigger warning: this book is all about domestic violence.

This book did all the things I want in a thriller - it gripped me from the beginning, made me want to stay up late to read more, and I finished it quickly.

Two women happen to be in line next to each other at the liquor store. Their lives are not intertwined, but eerily similar. When one woman sees signs that the other is headed down a dark path she is all-to familiar with, she decides to do the woman a favor, even though they have never spoken. This favor binds them together, and what was supposed to help a person in need just my backfire on both of them.

Overall, a great, entertaining read!

This book started off a little too “vague for the sake of mystery” for my liking and it became wildly far-fetched, but it was definitely gripping and interesting.
The basic concept/question is: how far would you go for a stranger… a stranger you know is “like you” and struggling.
I don’t know that I believe this book would ever happen in real life- especially with the selfishness of today’s people in a posh, suburb- but I love the idea that this book *could happen. Described as “domestic suspense,” The Favor deals with the all-too-real topic of domestic violence and the general loss of control these women face in their marriages. It’s somewhat vague on the gruesome details, but no less hard to swallow that this is a reality for probably far more people that anyone realizes: maybe even one’s own next door neighbor.
It’s a good, quick read.
TW for fat-shaming, alcoholism, and domestic abuse.

This is a great re-imagining of Strangers on a Train.

Two women are trapped in similar circumstances. And Leah knows what's happening to McKenna, because it's happening to her. Two professional women, slowly losing their personalities and self concept to the controlling and domineering men in their lives. And before they know it, they are trapped. Unless, they can save each other.

There are definite triggers for domestic abuse (psychological and physical) but it is not gratuitous. This debut author skillfully lays out the circumstances that lead to a harrowing state of affairs, and the relentless police officer who tries to unravel the mystery.

I thought having the officer's partner as a comatose sounding board was a little unnecessary device and broke up the flow of the women's stories, but as it was kept to a minimum at the end of the book. I read this in a day and thoroughly enjoyed it. This was a great debut novel by Nora Murphy!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for an advanced reader's copy.

First off, thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for allowing me to review the digital ARC (also HC received)

I really enjoyed this novel, not only was it a great story line and well written, I found the characters to be relatable and I could empathize with them too. It flowed great and easy to get fully engrossed in. I love plots where two people come together in a common theme - this one - MURDER :) Present tense writing with glimpses into the past as we get ot better know our MCs Leah and McKenna. Though they both have some commonalities in their separate lives its beautiful to watch their stories come together as they help each other with their problems.

Highly recommend .

This was an excellent debut novel from Nora Murphy. I couldn't put the book down and counstantly found myself thinking about the characters. Great read! I just reviewed The Favor by Nora Murphy. #NetGalley

I absolutely could not put this book down! It has been my favorite read of 2022 so far.

Leah is shopping when she spots McKenna, a woman who could almost be her. She is inexplicably drawn to this stranger and follows her home.

McKenna was once a pediatrician, but is now a housewife to Zackary, a charming psychologist working in an upscale neighborhood.

In a twist of events, both Leah and McKenna’s husbands end up dead. But who is the killer?

I could barely put this novel down and it was the perfect cure to my “reading hangover.” Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the opportunity to review this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow!!! A possible trigger warning before the book starts seems necessary, but the story of these two women was incredible. The writing was outstanding, the ideas were realistic, and the empathy felt for McKenna and Leah was palpable. A great twist on the thriller genre for sure!

The Favor follows two different women who are in abusive and controlling marriages as they struggle to reclaim their identity and individuality. It was an emotional read for me, seeing the women slowly lose their independence and realizing that anyone could become a victim. The characters were interesting. I loved most of the book except for the ending. It felt too unfinished to me. But I suppose life doesn’t always have neat conclusions either.

I LOVED the concept of this book, and I'm always down for a good thriller. I loved the alternating perspectives, but I didn't feel that the story was all that suspenseful or thrilling. It was pretty straightforward, and once the first "twist" happened, there wasn't much else that happened in the story that I couldn't predict. I also felt that the book became repetitive as it described the abuse each woman faced, which while important to understand for the storyline, became a bit tedious to read. I found myself anxious to just finish this one, which is never a good feeling while reading. Since I enjoyed the concept and the multiple POVs, I'm giving three stars - it was okay, but I don't know that I'd necessarily recommend this one.

4.5 stars

This book grabbed me right from the beginning. Two women, at one time successful in their careers but now carry a secret neither can share.

It wasn’t long before I was engulfed in the story of these 2 women. There is a fair amount of jumping through time to know their past and what transpired to get them in this current situation and to understand what happened and why.

For me it was a pretty quick read, not just because of the short chapters but I was genuinely intrigued. Though it isn’t hard to figure out what is going to happen it’s the ‘what happens next’ question I kept me going.

I really liked the Detective, and fingers crossed that maybe I will see more of him in future books.

This is Nora Murphy's debut, great job, can’t wait to see what comes next.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press for a digital arc in exchange for honest review. You can find The Favor on books shelves May 31, 2022 and it is available for preorder now.

Another page turner guys! Debut novel by Nora Murphy and I will definitely be keeping my eye out for her next book. The synopsis was very vague, so I feel like I went into this one blind. I wasn't too sure what was happening at the very beginning but I was intrigued! The more I read, the faster I read and I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. If you like domestic thrillers you should definitely keep your eye out for this one. I don't want to say too much more about the plot. It's best to just jump in.

I enjoyed this gripping, suspenseful book, and the way the two lead characters’ lives mirrored and intertwined with each other. My only complaint is that the ending was a bit abrupt, and ambiguous. I would have preferred a more definitive outcome. Nonetheless, this is a very entertaining read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really ended up liking this book. It was predictable and I did guess that the other women would kill the ladies husband for her based on the name of the book. I like the back and forth along with the detectives side. I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers.

I could not put this book down and could not stop thinking about it! Leah and Mckenna do not know each other and yet are in very similar situations. Both were successful career women, married to charming men. But as their lives shrink, and their husbands become more controlling, they feel as if there is only one option left.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this book!

Leah and McKenna don’t know each other. Sadly, the two have a lot more in common than they think. While they have never spoken, or even been in the same room together, the recognize the others inner turmoil. They know the other is not married married to a good man.

God I love women supporting other women! I mean, maybe this wasn’t the best way, but for the books purposes it worked. I found both Leah and McKennas storylines held my attention and left me wanting to know more. I just felt for both these women so hard, I can only imagine being in their position. I thought this was a great thriller that had a bit of a different storyline which made it unique.

Wow! Put this one on the top of your list! Leah & McKenna are two bright, educated women who find themselves in the same disastrous marital situations. They don’t know each other, but wow- the favor!! I read this in one sitting!
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Nora Murphy's debut novel 'The Favor' is a frightful suspense that pulls the secrets of domestic violence out of the shadows and into the light. Readers will be stunned to witness the eerily accurate portrayals of two women during different phases of domestic abuse. McKenna has a routine, a script, and leaves no reason for onlookers to believe her life is anything but blissful. Leah has become accustomed to her own routines, hoping to remain as unobtrusive as possible while one day melts into the next. On a standard outing, Leah recognizes something familiar in a stranger, McKenna, and her growing curiosity entices her to find out more. Unbeknownst to McKenna, someone has seen past her façade and into her private life that is about to escalate beyond all expectation.

Readers will be astounded by Murphy's first novel as it unveils the lives of two women and intertwines them in a shocking story that is impossible to put down. She expertly describes the behaviors and habits of both abusers and victims so flawlessly it causes one to wonder: from where does she derive her inspiration? As a practicing attorney, Murphy was immersed with domestic abuse issues during clinical studies in law school. From beginning to end, readers will be overwhelmed with empathy, outrage, hope, and gratification. It is easy to think the direction of this book is obvious, but the shocking sequence of events are truly masterful and make this book one of its kind.

While the theme of domestic abuse is prevalent through this book, I would emphatically encourage apprehensive readers to experience this story. I believe Murphy has used the voices of her characters to shed light on just how hidden the signs of partner violence can be. Domestic abuse can be concealed not only from friends, relatives, and coworkers, but to the abused and abusers themselves. 'The Favor' is a stunning debut novel illuminated by its mind-blowing events, significant theme, and deeply developed characters. Nora Murphy's debut can only be eclipsed by her next book, which I am eagerly awaiting!

I appreciate the both the publisher, St.Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an electronic Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Favor by Nora Murphy
What a fantastic novel. Well written, gr3at story line, characters well described and introduced, we can relate and empathize with these two main characters, this is a book I didn't want to out down. Two strangers lives somehow come together with underlying commonalities, oh and murder.
We are first introduced to Leah, it seems she has a bit of a drinking problem as she frequents a different liquor store every weekday, she notices another woman one day in this particular store and is intrigued, watches her in the line to pay, follows her home, drives around the block and watches from afar as this woman entertains friends in her backyard patio. When Leah makes it back home we become aware that she is having some problems at home. We are then introduced to McKenna who was the woman Leah followed home from the liquor store.
This store is written in the present tense but also touches a bit on the past life's of these two woman. We learn of the abuse they are both suffering and how they each take care of the others problem
Fantastic novel, looking forward to more by this author!

One woman’s obsession turns deadly when she tries to protect another from the life she knows lies ahead. Believable characters who could be your own neighbors bring life to this domestic thriller, even if some of their details feel superfluous, and the end will leave you wondering how much of the story actually happens every day.