A debut novel by Murphy- this fast paced domestic suspense thriller was great! I enjoyed the flow of the plot and how the author made her two MCs similar in many ways, allowing them to relate to each other. I couldn’t put it down! Some moments made me feel so nervous and tense! This was also a short read for me so I recommend it for readers who want something to read in a sitting! :) I enjoyed the author’s writing style and look forward to reading more of her books in the future!

The favor is one of those books you can't stop reading cause you need to know what happens next. It's told mostly from mckenna's and Leah's point of view. Two strangers who have very similar lives who happen to live very close to each other. Would you do a favor for someone you have never met?

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this digital arc. All opinions are my own.

While it's obviously a work of fiction I do appreciate the complexities of domestic abuse tackled within the story.
The author did a great job keeping me hooked in the story making it a quick fast pace gripping read.
A fantastic page turner that held my attention till the very last page.

I am simultaneously intrigued and horrified when I read domestic thrillers like The Favor.

Leah and McKenna are mirror images of each other. Strong, career-driven women who found themselves in an abusive relationship and no way out. A series of coincidences leads Leah to McKenna’s door. If she can’t save herself, maybe she can save someone else? But what will be the price, and what events will be triggered along the way? I imagine that Murphy was subtly inspired by Strangers on a Train while drafting this tale, and I do not think readers will be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

As always Nora Murphy gives you a thrilling edge of your seat read. The mystery that can't be solved always keep me engaged while reading her work.

Leaving would be dangerous. Staying could be worse.

Leah and McKenna don’t know each other, but they live very similar lives. They both live in nice houses in safe neighborhoods, drive nice cars, and have successful husbands. But what can be seen on the outside is very different on the inside of their so-called perfect lives.

This was a fast-paced domestic thriller that was filled with suspense. It’s best to go into this one as blind as possible so I’ll try not to give anything away. While reading this debut novel, I could feel the tension and stress in Leah and McKenna’s lives. Although I could see where the story was going, the writing kept me reading to see how it would end.

This suspenseful novel will have you rooting for these ladies and hopeful that things won’t end badly for both of them.

TW: spousal abuse

Thank you St. Martin’s Press Minotaur Books and NetGalley for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up

This book kept me up all night wanting to read, know and see just how these characters stories would end! This definitely has elements of Strangers on A Train but it is it’s own story as well. Leah and McKenna do not know each other, and to the outside world it seems they have it all. Perfect husbands, perfect careers and it’s all a perfect lie. I couldn’t put this book down! Do yourself a favor and read this!

Domestic abuse is not often spoken of much in many circles. The Favor takes this theme and draws together two strangers dealing with spousal abuse and creates a secret comraderie through murder.

I enjoyed cozying up with the novel and listening to the audiobook. Both are equally captivating and held my interest. There is a slow build in the beginning as the women and their situations are brought into focus. As things escalate it is extremely hard to pull away. I found myself engrossed by the circumstances and had to know the final outcome. I hesitated when the cop came on board. His narrative was almost filler to me if it wasn't involving the two main characters. No worries, he does fit the plot but not everything with this portions was needed in my readerish opinion. Honestly, I probably just really enjoyed the strength and plot of the two ladies more than anything.

The novel is narrated by Dylan Moore, Leon Nixon and Sarah Mollo-Christensen. That's right, it's like having a full cast in your eyes as everything plays out. Each narrator brongs their unique level of emotion to the characters they represent. It's one of my favorite aspects of the audiobook.

Thank you Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the gifted digital and audio copies for review. All thoughts are my own. True raring 3.5/5.

The Favor is definitely a fast-paced page-turner, a must for a good thriller. The reason I gave it 3 stars instead of 4 is because some of the plot was too unbelievable to me and took me out of it a bit. Overall, I liked it but didn't love it.

I am a library associate and received an advance copy from #NetGalley. Opinions are my own.

I absolutely love this book! Two women helping each other yet never asking for that help! Both married men who are controlling and abusive. Both not knowing how to fix their lives. This book was very satisfying. Am I vague enough? Well, I can't give the book away.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Nora Murphy for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

This novel starts off with a bang - literally! After the first little bit, I worried this novel would fizzle out or drag on, but it was fairly entertaining and unique! I loved the idea of two people doing each other a favor without knowing one another or even having to ask!

A fantastic debut - I did not want to stop reading this book until I got to the very end! The Favor by Nora Murphy is a enthralling domestic thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. A big Thank you to the author, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy. With a brilliantly plotted, dark, emotionally intense and unnerving storyline about two smart, successful woman who have never met before, and yet they are both leading similar lives. Both woman are in extremely distressing relationships and frantically wanting to find a way out. But can one of the woman help the other one survive the nightmare that they have both been living through? A highly addictive contemporary novel that is perfect for summer reading! You will definitely want to add this one to your book list.
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Synopsis: Leaving would be dangerous. Staying could be worse.

Leah and McKenna have never met, though they have parallel lives.

They don't―ever―find themselves in the same train carriage or meet accidentally at the gym or the coffee shop.

They don't―ever―discuss their problems and find common ground.

They don't―ever―acknowledge to each other that although their lives have all the trappings of success, wealth and happiness, they are, in fact, trapped.

Leah understands that what's inside a home can be far more dangerous than what's outside. So when she notices someone else who may be starting down the same path she's on, she pays attention. She watches over McKenna from afar. Until one night she sees more than she bargained for. Leah knows she can't save herself, but perhaps she can save McKenna.

Leah and McKenna have never met. But they will.

When you find someone who’s life mirrors your own, how far would you go to protect them the way you’d like to be protected? The mystery of two seemingly perfect lives unfold and things come full circle when their actions and consequences collide. An intriguing mystery with a plot that keeps a steady pace and characters that you can only feel sympathy for, I’d recommend for a light read.

Would you try to save someone you’ve never met if you thought they were in a bad situation, a situation similar to your own? None of can really know what we would do until we are in such a position. But I would like to think I would do something rather than nothing. This is a great story about two women - two strangers - who are both in bad marriages. What will they do to help each other?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.

This is a great book, it caught my attention right from the start! I read it very quickly and look forward to reading more of Nora Murphy’s books!

Abusive husband who presented themselves differently to win the love of a woman. Strong women reduced to shamed girls with no self esteem. Classic real life.

It too me a very long time to read this book. It just wasn’t for me. There was nothing wrong with the story but it didn’t click for me. But my brain kept playing a song from the musical Chicago while reading it. At about the 83% mark I was more invested in how it would end

I will definitely pick up another book by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy.

This book deals with domestic abuse and at times it is hard to read. Overall though I really liked the story. Leah and McKenna have never met but bizarrely become connected when Leah shoots and kills McKenna’s husband to save her from his abuse. Both women are well educated and were independent career woman before they became their husband’s victims. I think this was an important and cautionary story about how domestic abuse really is behind closed doors. You will have to read this one to learn why it is called The Favor.

I really enjoyed this domestic suspense novel. I see that the author, Nora Murphy, is also an attorney and I think that added a very realistic element to her first novel, The Favor.

In this novel we meet two women: Leah and McKenna.

Leah first spots McKenna during one of her weekly liquor store runs. She's drawn to this woman because she sees so much of her former self in her. McKenna is polished, poised, and put together, grabbing a couple of essentials for entertaining. Leah is grabbing the vodka she needs to get through her days. She doesn't know what compels her to follow McKenna back to her house, maybe it's desire for the kind of life she used to have. She was successful, fit, fun, and happy. Now she's unemployed, depressed, out of shape, and drinking far too much.

Leah can't seem to stop watching McKenna. And it's during this surveillance that she witnesses the first indication that something is not right in McKenna's marriage. Now she recognizes even more of herself in McKenna.

What lengths will Leah go to to help McKenna? And in saving McKenna can she somehow save herself?

I love that this novel was so realistic. The premise of domestic violence is prevalent - it happens where you "least expect" it because abusers can be so good at hiding it. Abuse is cemented with manipulation and gaslighting. I didn't feel like it had any particular "surprise twists" that some thrillers will but it was suspenseful, realistic, and captured my attention. I was rooting for all of the characters! I definitely look forward to whatever Nora Murphy puts out next.

I ADORED The Favor by Nora Murphy. Two women in similar situations, both trapped, both fighting for survival in their own way. I loved how the past was slowly revealed alongside the present. The writing itself was perfection. I finished the book, thoroughly satisfied, and excited to see what else the author had written--was shocked to see it is her debut! Can't wait for what's next by Nora Murphy.

Leah is tired and feels downtrodden and drinks way too much. While she is once again at the liquor store, she happens to see a beautiful young woman who reminds her of herself not that long ago. Leah can't take her eyes off this woman and finds her following her home wondering what kind of life she is living could be similar to her own. Leah was a practicing lawyer but hasn't worked in over a year so she has almost all the free time in the world to follow her new obsession.

McKenna is a pediatrician who also stopped working and has everything anyone could want in life but looks can be deceiving. McKenna has no idea someone is watching her since she has her own troubles to deal with. Soon their will be a tragic event that neither woman could have foreseen that will bring the two together in a way they could have never imagined while sill not knowing one another. A dogged detective will haunt these two woman looking for a connection that he can never find because McKenna and Leah have never met even though their lives are uniquely and deeply intertwined forever by an unexpected FAVOR!

This was a very enjoyable and entertaining read with the reminiscent flavor of the old movie "Strangers on a train" which I have always loved. Although there were some similarities this book carries itself very well with the terrific writing and storytelling that is heartbreaking at times and I just wanted to see these woman gain their identities back. The story covers some dark topics that could be uncomfortable for many readers who have had any similar problems as these woman. This was a character driven novel and I thoroughly enjoyed the complex story. I can't believe this was Nora Murphy's first book debut since it was so well-written and intriguing and I will definitely be looking forward to her other books in the future.

I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I highly recommend and have given this book a rating of 4 INTRIGUING 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!