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.

This was an excellent debut suspense novel and the audio performances by all three narrators was as well.

Synopsis:

This is the story of women, oppressed and abused by their husbands. It is heartbreaking what the two main characters are experiencing at the hands of their spouses and you truly feel their fear and isolation. The main characters, Leah and McKenna, are brilliant, successful women who are trapped. Their husbands have methodically taken away their confidence and power, isolating them from their friends and family. A situation that is all to common in real life for many women.

The two women are living parallel lives and when Leah happens to discover McKenna, a stranger she has never met, is a victim in her own home just as she is, she can’t help but take matters in her own hands to end the abuse. If she can’t help herself, at least she can help this woman; do her a favor.

The story is told from three POVs: Leah, McKenna, and the a detective they will both come to know and dread the site of each time he comes to knock upon their doors.

The Favor by Nora Murphy was such a good book about a very difficult subject to read about: Domestic Violence. Every time I read a book about domestic violence, I fall into the trap of wondering WHY these women don't leave. This novel, like many with the same subject matter paint the picture of how and why very well and a seed of empathetic fear is planted. Isn't one of the biggest terrors in life that someone you love most in the world would turn into a monster and imprison you?

I loved the setup of the thriller aspect of the story and how it harkens to an older classic while still remaining unique and fresh. The Favor is a book one can't say too much about the plot without giving away spoilers. I enjoyed the cat and mouse, the edge-of-my-seat thrill, and the characters in the novel. Because of my fear of giving away spoilers, I will stop with my short review at this last comment: The Favor is a book worth reading for many types of readers.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc!

Woa! I could not do anything else but listen to this! I was captivated. I appreciated the narrator differentiating the two women's voices as it was sometimes hard to remember who went with what. I really enjoyed the narrator and audiobook.

Leah and McKenna are married women who don’t know each other. But they have a huge thing in common- their lives aren’t what they seem. No one on the outside knows their husbands are possessive and abusive. Both husbands made sure their wife wouldn’t work and would be confined to the home, living up to their standard. This story was so eye opening. It reminded me of BA Paris’s Behind Closed Doors. You never truly know what’s going on in anyones home.

One of the abusive husbands wind up dead and shortly after so does the other. How is it connected? Are the women involved?

I had to know who did or didn’t do what. These poor women were leading such sad lives. One an educated doctor, the other a prominent attorney yet they were held captive by the person they thought loved them. I can only imagine just how often this happens. Not one ounce of me felt bad when the husbands were murdered. These women were free and it seemed that it was their only way out. I also enjoyed the detective in this case. Soemtimes I had to think about which women was which when reading but that’s only because their lives were similar.

Excellent story by Nora Murphy!

Read this if...you liked “Strangers on a Train.”

Leah and McKenna’s lives are eerily similar although the women are complete strangers. Both are just trying to survive living in abusive relationships with their controlling husbands. No one knows what these women endure behind the doors of their nice houses. One night, Leah witnesses an unsettling argument between McKenna and her husband that feels all too familiar. Sensing that McKenna may be in danger, Leah decides to do what she cannot do for herself and sets off an irreversible chain of events.

I knew about 3 chapters in that I had found a new author I was going to love! This story gave me both “Rear Window” and “Strangers on a Train” vibes. The first half of the book flew by and the while the second half slowed down a bit, it was interesting being in the detective’s mind as he tried to figure these women out. I can’t go into much detail because I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I will say I went back and forth between the audio and ebook because I just had to see how this was all going to end. I was either reading or listening every chance I could get!

I thought Murphy did an accurate job portraying how abusive partners slowly isolate their victims from the rest of the world. They carve away at their lives until their victims can’t possibly imagine leaving their abusers. The author’s note at the end about domestic violence was a thoughtful addition to give more information to readers who may not know as much about it. If you are a fan of domestic suspense, you should definitely check out The Favor!

A big thanks to Netgalley, the author, Macmillan Audio, and Minotaur Books for a gifted ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

🔊Song Pairing: Janie’s Got a Gun - Aerosmith

(This pairing kills me with its perfection)

💭What I thought would happen:

I didn’t even know what genre this book fell in. The cover could have been a bad ad for a tampon commercial for all I knew…

📖What actually happens:

Leah notices a woman in the local liquor store. She reminds Leah of what she used to be, put together, hair is perfection, purchasing various wines for guests and not just a large bottle of vodka…

Leah cannot help but follow the woman to her home and get a glimpse into her life in her perfect home with her perfect husband. It doesn’t take much for Leah to notice that her and Mckenna are the same with no way out.

🗯Thoughts:

⚠️ domestic violence, gun violence

Oh boy was I pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book!! The Last Mrs Parrish meets The Girl on the Train!

I will never grow tired of books about domestic violence as so many women (and men) suffer from a controlling and abusive partner. Such an important issue that needs as much spotlight as possible. The authors note at the end is highly recommended.

I enjoyed both women’s perspective. I wanted them to Thelma and Louise into the sunset (ok maybe not quite, IYKYK)

Overall, a very quick read and a great one to pick up!

Thank you NetGalley, Minotaur Publishing and Nora Murphy for the eARC, audiobook and gifted copy.

Pub date: May 31

I couldn’t understand the audio very well, it was really whispery and I had a hard time understanding it. I think it would be a great book, I just could barely make out what the narrator was saying because the audio was so bad. Still gonna give the book a try, but I couldn’t finish this audiobook.

3.75 stars, rounded up.

I liked this. It is a modern retelling of strangers on the train. I felt the story lacked foundational support at times, but otherwise was easy to read and I became interested and fascinated with both women.

I am glad you added detective chapters. It is interesting to watch him gather the evidence and make sense of it.

Overall, a steady book and somewhat refreshing for the genre. Although I'm a little tired of alcoholic characters. I'm also tired of abusive men and gaslighting but here it wasn't used to move the plot as much as set the stage. I did feel the book lacked support and foundation with McKenna killing Leah's husband. She just goes and does it. She didn't seem to think about it nor was there talks about her feeling an overwhelming sense of debt to Leah? Just a little too superficial.

Thanks netgalley for my ARC.

I really enjoyed this one. I was rooting for both women and I think the reader will feel compassion for both of them as they further understand the position they’re in. I was a bit nervous how it would end but I was pretty satisfied when I turned the last page. This book deals with domestic abuse but in a compassionate way. I appreciated the authors note at the end as well.

A solid debut thriller from Nora Murphy. Fans of Woman in the Window and a Simple Favor should absolutely check this out. Murphy did an excellent job depicting the gaslighting that occurs in abusive relationships, and the multiple POVs added to the suspense. Interestingly, Murphy has a background in law, specializing in domestic violence. Certainly her expertise in this area shines through in this book. This is absolutely worthwhile domestic-suspense read, and the ending is very satisfying and clever.

I read a lot of domestic suspense and really enjoyed Nora Murphy's debut novel. The writing gripped me right away and the story felt so real and raw. I would say the premise reminded me of a mix between Behind Closed Doors, Women in the Window and A Simple Favor.

Leah and McKenna are two strangers who have a lot in common. On the outside, they live the ideal life: high-paying careers, a fancy house, nice cars and a successful partner. Meanwhile, on the inside, they are each trapped, have little freedom and yearn to get away from their controlling husbands. One day, a chance encounter at a liquor store leads to a chain reaction of events that bind these two women together for the rest of their lives.

In the author's note at the end you learn the Nora Murphy is an attorney with a background in violent partners cases. Her strong background knowledge was evident when detailing the psychological and emotional issues these two women went through as a result of the abuse. I appreciate how she highlighted that domestic abuse can happen to anyone and why women who experience domestic violence can get "stuck." While the content was not faint on the heart, I couldn’t put the book down.

If you are an audiobook fan, the narrator was great and easy to follow along with!

Read if interested in:
-Domestic suspense
-Investigative reads
-Real characters
-Small-town vibes
-New beginnings

Leah and Mckenna are both intelligent women with the potential for bright futures. Then they get married, and these two very different women find themselves leading lives that are all too similar. Married to men that appear to be charming and caring to outsiders, the men are actually controlling and violent. When Leah sees McKenna in a store, she recognizes a fellow victim of domestic violence and follows her home. When Leah sees firsthand what McKenna’s “loving” husband is capable of, she decides to take matters into her own hands. I loved this story, it shows how even highly intelligent women can get sucked in by a psychotic, abusive partner. And I really enjoyed seeing that partner get his comeuppance.

This is so disappointing. Although maybe.I should have known from the summary that the plot was going to be far fetched.

For the first 30% McKenna was the best POV. But then even that fell apart. I was really close.to DNFing this book but for some.reason I didn't.

The side plot with the detective and his partner had absolutely no relevance to the main plot at all.

Kudos to .Macmillan for correctly labeling the structure of the book by pov and timelines.