Reviews with content warning for Addiction - The Chain

I found this book on a best of the year list, so my hopes were pretty high. I did like it, but it was underwhelming for me. I found it hard to get into, as it essentially cold opens with a kidnapping. I struggled to car for the 2 people I had just met who were now being victimized by The Chain.

As it went on, I got more and more invested. I liked the story, the writing, and the flow of part 1. It was pretty predictable, and I wanted something more shocking to happen, to prove the fear of The Chain was worth all this emotional investment I put into the book. The ending of part 1 was pleasant, it was fine. I would have been ok with ending the entire book there.

But then we have Part 2. The start of part 2 is extremely jarring, the mood is different, it's just not as good. I figured out the "who-dun-it" pretty quick here, and once again the ending wasn't shocking. For this book to have been a best thriller of the year is really surprising, as I think any die hard reader of thrillers would have figured it out pretty quickly.

I did like it, and I read it very quickly. It was easy to follow, and I didn't find myself skimming the pages. It was a fun read.

Content Warnings

jasreadsbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I stared reading this book a few months prior to 2020 ending, being busy with uni work I kept having to put it down. However, after restarting the book last night, I was frantically engaged in the story line and have now finished the book the a yearning for more information of the story - perhaps a prequal. What was the book called you ask? That ate up so much of my time in the past 24 hours? what was the book that has inspired me to stating writing blog posts again, to share my recommendations of the tales I have recently read?

The Chain by Adrian Mckinty

'your phone rings...

a stranger has kidnapped your child

to free them you must abduct someone else's child

your child will be released when your victims parents kidnap another child

If any of these things don't happen:

your child will be killed'

Okay, may not seem like the most enjoyable read with the kidnappings and all, but this

book will insight a truly troubling physiological thriller. Following Rachel and her ex-husband in law, Petes, journey to save Kylie and exit the chain forever.

I wont go into detail, as I think its best going into this book knowing as little as possible. But through out the second part of the book I felt my self piecing the story together and my jaw literally dropping when what I had suspected for several pages was revealed.

I mentioned wanting a prequal in my first paragraph, I think it would be a great adventure looking into the previous families in 'the chain' as it's an interesting feature to look as humanity as a whole and how we would act in these inhumane situations.

Enjoy if you choose to read it :)

Content Warnings

hunterp's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

nancydrew's review against another edition

Go to review page

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

1.0

Insipid, plot driven piece. Plot line after plot line written like a film script with sentences like, she looked left, she enters room, etc. Novelist wrote in afterword that when he told his agent his idea for this novel, she dropped whatever was in her hand and commanded him to write the book. Hmmmm

Content Warnings

keen's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

What a rollercoaster. There were times I was screaming quietly into the night at scenes that had me going "How will the characters get out of this??" I'm impressed by all the detail that went into locations and what different characters would know based on their culture, age, and life experiences. Seriously, as a 19 year old, I'm impressed with how well a 13-year-old girl was written and how I was cheering her on. There were a few moments I went "I wish I was as cool as her when I was her age." There were parts of the book I had to repeatedly look up while saying to myself, "This seems familiar," before realizing I was a fool. Lovecraft fans should expect to see some small references here and there.

Content Warnings

lanidon's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional tense medium-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This is a perfectly fine thriller. It's not going to stick with me or anything, but I'm glad I read it. I can't even think of anything I would change about it. It's just fine. If you can't handle harm to kids, don't read this. Otherwise, sure go ahead. Sometimes you need a medium good book and boy is this one

Content Warnings

bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

More...