• Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing this Advance Reading Copy. Expected publication date is May 31, 2022.

Thrilling debut novel. Leah and McKenna seem to have perfect lives, but both are trapped in abusive marriages. One day Leah sees McKenna in a liquor store. She doesn’t know McKenna but she recognizes her as a fellow “trapped” woman and feels an instant connection. Things get a little weird when Leah decides to put McKenna out of her misery. Even though the two women have never met, they will soon be intertwined are in a murder investigation.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: May 31, 2022
Trigger warning: emotional abuse, physical abuse, controlling behaviours
McKenna and Leah are strangers. Although they live in similar neighbourhoods, they have never crossed paths. One is a lawyer, the other is a doctor, both have charming husbands and large houses and everyone around them believes them to have seemingly perfect lives. But that is not at all that the two have in common- both McKenna and Leah are married to men who seem perfect on the outside, but are in fact, manipulative and controlling abusers, a secret the two women have kept from everyone they know. In a twist of fate, McKenna and Leah cross paths one day, seemingly innocuously, and soon, one of their husbands is dead. And then the other. What role, if any, did the women play in the men’s death? Was it a random accident or did the husbands get what they deserved?
“The Favor” is the debut work by author Nora Murphy, and it makes quite the impression. With similarities to “Strangers on a Train” and “Girl on A Train” (even though Murphy’s novel has absolutely no trains in its storyline), “Favor” is gripping, tense and emotionally unrelenting.
Some of the chapters in the novel are told by Leah, some by McKenna, and, towards the end of the novel, some portions are narrated by the investigating detective. The story is told in present day, and in the days leading up to the death of the first husband, slowly building the domestic tension, while readers experience the desperate and heartbreaking relationships of the main characters from every perspective.
McKenna and Leah are both educated, professional women, who married educated, professional men and are indeed the antithesis of the “battered woman” stereotype, which was a smart move on Murphy’s part. Both women elicit feelings of camaraderie, as well as sympathy and there is that creepy realization that these women could in fact be anyone; our neighbours, our friends, ourselves. They are likable characters and of course, I wanted nothing more than their success, even if that meant the untoward demise of their despicable and deplorable husbands.
The story is well-told, and the plot will definitely pull you in from the first page. It is not a novel that will let you go easily, and the dark themes will sit with you long after the story comes to a close. Full of ups and downs, “The Favor” has marked Murphy as an up-and-comer in the domestic suspense genre.

A thrilling debut by Nora Murphy. Very enjoyable and east to read. If you liked Girl on a Train you will enjoy The Favor. Thanks once again to NetGalley for the advanced copy. Looking forward to more from this author.

This is an amazing debut. I was pleasantly surprised by it in fact. I kept turning the pages and the book was highly engaging. A must read.

good story abut 2 women and trying to help each other but not. It kept me in suspense of what would happen. With their intersecting lives by one store . I liked that one saw a way to help another. but they really didn't know one another. Good story.

The Favor by Nora Murphy is a book that stops you in your tracks and demands every ounce of your attention from the first page. The main characters Leah and McKenna are both trapped in abusive marriages to men who are truly terrible in every way. Their stories intertwine in an unexpected way and the action and suspense sustain momentum all the way to the end. This is a book that is begging to be discussed in a book club.

I highly recommend this one for fans of domestic suspense. Look for it from your favorite bookseller May 31, 2022. Thank you to Minotaur Books for the digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The best favors are those you don’t need to ask for….

Leah and McKenna have never met, but they have a great deal in common. Primarily, their abusive husbands.

When the two women incidentally cross paths Leah realizes that McKenna is as trapped as she is. How will both women find a way out of their abusive relationship?

I continually saw great reviews for this book, so after a bout of FOMO I immediately picked it up. Glad to say it’s as good as all the hype!

Domestic suspense reads are among my favorite and this one didn’t disappoint! But let’s bear in mind that behind the fictional characters and scenarios lies a dark reality of abused women.

Nora Murphy did an amazing job of blending the darker themes of abuse into an explosive and gripping fictional thriller.

Looking forward to more from this author.

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press

WOW. Another book that I just could not put down. I stayed up way past my bedtime last night to finish The Favor by Nora Murphy. (out on May 31st)

How do I even describe this? A tense, nerve-wracking, nail-biting story of two women, each suffering from abusive husbands until one does the other a favor...

I think that's really all you need to know.

There is a Goodreads giveaway happening now for this book and I hope you enter to win.

I cannot wait to see what this author writes next.

What's the last book you read that you couldn't put down?

Nora Murphy makes her debut with the compelling thriller The Favor, a fresh take on Strangers On The Train, that's simply un-put-downable. I empathized with main characters Leah and McKenna and rooted for them while they faced escalating violence from handsome, successful, controlling husbands inside their upscale homes in picture-perfect neighborhoods. The author handled the subject of domestic abuse with sensitivity and skill, and added surprising twists I never saw coming. This is a terrific book! Highly recommended. Don't miss this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for providing an ARC to read and review. *NetGalley Top Reviewer.* This review will be posted to https://BaysideBookReviews.com and the Bayside Book Reviews Instagram page on release day.

My thanks to Net Galley and St Martin's press for this really good thriller.

Leah and McKenna do not know each other at all, but have one major thing in common.....controlling abusive husband's they are trying to escape. When something happens to link them together, the police starts asking a lot of questions as to what happened to their spouses.

I really liked this book. Quick easy read and shines a light on domestic violence. My only reason for 4 stars is this is something I've read before. Think a modern retelling of Strangers on a Train. Lots of jumping around between characters perspectives, but a really good book

Leah and McKenna’s lives look perfect, they have successful careers and are married to successful men, a lawyer and a doctor. But just because someones life looks perfect from the outside doesnt mean it is. Both theie husbands are abusing them, and when Leah sees McKenna who seems to be in the same situation as she has been in for months she knows she has to help the other woman. The question is what would you do to save someone else?
I really really loved this book. The author really made me feel for the characters. It may have been a little predictable towards the end of the book but it didnt take anything away from the story. Its crazy to think how anyone can become a victim of domestic violence even someone who is seen as smart and successful. I finished this one in about 2 days it was just that good.

I really like finding new authors to read and especially finding a promising debut novel. This book started really strong for me and I flew through the first half of the novel. It definitely gave me Girl on the Train vibes in the beginning and me hooked on the story. Unfortunately the last half of the book dragged a bit for me and the ending seemed to wrap up a bit quickly and almost too easily. That being said I did enjoy this book and will be adding Nora Murphy to list of authors I will continue to read. I enjoyed her writing and thought the idea of the story was a good one. I would like to thank NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. Two abused women do each other a favor to get out of their scary marriages. This was a fast paced book. Thanks to Net Galley and Nora for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this amazing thriller.

I was thrilled to find a new debut thriller writer in Nora Murphy! I liked this book a lot - def un-put-down-able. It tells the story of two women in the same town both dealing with domestic abuse from their spouses. An event unfolds and the two are irrevocably linked. An excellect thriller by a new author!

This book was SO good!! I couldn’t put it down.

Brief Synopsis:
Leah and McKenna lead similar lives. Parallel lives. Controlled by their husbands. Dangerous to stay but dangerous to leave their husbands. They are strangers. Leah drives by McKennas home and see and feels what McKenna is going through. They have never met but they will when McKenna needs a favor….

My Thoughts:
-This was so fast paced and suspenseful. I couldn’t put it down. I had to know what happened!
- McKenna and Leah are strangers until they are brought together because of their similarities in such a brilliant shocking twist!
-This would make such a great movie.
- If you enjoy a domestic suspenseful thriller with resilient female characters then this book is for you

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for this eArc in exchange for an honest review

I have seen that woman before, but where?

That is the question McKenna asked herself when she saw Leah shoot her husband.

Why would she do that? She did say she is the same as me, but what did that mean?

What it meant is that she was an abused wife too and was happy one of them was safe now, but how did Leah know McKenna was abused?

Leah just knew by the few times she passed her home and from what she saw. That still didn’t explain why she would shoot a stranger.

McKenna was actually relieved and was most likely the prime suspect…the spouse always is.

Then something happens that brings these two women who didn’t know each other together again. What could that be?

Ms. Murphy did an amazing job of keeping you guessing and writing a fantastic thriller. I couldn’t put the book down.

THE FAVOR vividly pictures domestic abuse that these two women are going through and the difficulties of staying in the marriage and the difficulties of leaving no matter what your social status was.

It also addresses to what extremes an abused wife would go to escape, but still keep what really goes on a secret.

Fantastic debut…this is a book thriller fans won’t want to miss. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

This will be a popular book. "Strangers on a Train" mixed with "Girl on the Train". It is nothing new. The author uses the characters' abuse to show how alike they are. It really just made the story lag and feel repetitive. So much of what was exposed in the past chapters could have been explained in the present ones.

I found myself skimming to get through it before just giving up.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Really enjoyable read! Kind of a twist on Strangers on A Train. Clever and easy to read. The two main characters have commonalities, but each character is well thought out and unique.

It’s a testimony to the prowess of the author when, as a reader, I’m cheering for the “bad” guy to win. In this case, two domestic abuse victims each unknown to the other, cross paths as they contemplate their own dire circumstances and how, as educated women, they found themselves in this situation. The Favor is a wonderfully written story that delves into domestic abuse through the very detailed emotions of its victims; how control and isolation precede physical violence and the extreme blow it delivers to self confidence.

McKenna and Leah are two successful women; one is a pediatrician and the other a lawyer. They each meet, date and marry successful, charming men who, by their own admission, have big personalities. Shortly, however, and little by little , their Jekyll and Hyde personalities begin to chip away at the freedoms and lifestyle most married women take for granted. Eventually trapped, they each realize there is no evidence they can produce to prove what is happening to them. The significance of this, that they cannot defend themselves even legally, leads to them being bonded forever.

Thank you NetGalley for introducing me to this author.

Who knows the life of a stranger.....
Lea and Mckenna have never met, yet live similar lives! Through this intense, gripping tale, find out what happens when one woman tries to help stranger..... loved this book! Hard to believe this is a debut novel! Definitely will watch for this author!!!!