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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I could have read this book in one day if I didn’t have a toddler to keep alive
The Favor is a compelling story about McKenna and Leah. To the outside word, they seem to have everything, Both are sharing their lives with what seem to be the perfect husbands. But looks can be deceiving and one never really knows what goes on behind closed doors. Except Leah does know what goes on behind McKenna's closed door. Leah knows because it happens at her house too.
Despite Leah and McKenna not meeting, The Favor has that really strong "Strangers on a Train" thing going on which unfortunately makes the book rather predictable. That didn't particularly bother me but there were some other things I had issues with. The women's lives read a little like a before and after, but that also means quite a bit of it is somewhat repetitive. Leah and McKenna are almost carbon copies of one another and I think I might have been more invested if they had been markedly different. At some point the author introduces us to a detective. He makes a good tool to move the story along but his chapters are also often on the repetitive side, ultimately breaking the flow.
That said, Nora Murphy's writing is fab. The dangerous situations these women find themselves in are extremely gripping and compelling. It's not at all hard to imagine the fear victims of domestic abuse deal with on a daily basis, even if some of what happens in The Favor required some suspension of disbelief. I could have done with a bit more suspense, a bit more of a thrill but for the most part I liked what I read here.
An addictive and chilling psychological thriller, The Favor highlights the damage caused by domestic abuse, showing how easily manipulation and intimidation can creep into someone's life under the guise of love and before they realise it they've lost everything. Staying is dangerous, leaving could be worse.
Despite Leah and McKenna not meeting, The Favor has that really strong "Strangers on a Train" thing going on which unfortunately makes the book rather predictable. That didn't particularly bother me but there were some other things I had issues with. The women's lives read a little like a before and after, but that also means quite a bit of it is somewhat repetitive. Leah and McKenna are almost carbon copies of one another and I think I might have been more invested if they had been markedly different. At some point the author introduces us to a detective. He makes a good tool to move the story along but his chapters are also often on the repetitive side, ultimately breaking the flow.
That said, Nora Murphy's writing is fab. The dangerous situations these women find themselves in are extremely gripping and compelling. It's not at all hard to imagine the fear victims of domestic abuse deal with on a daily basis, even if some of what happens in The Favor required some suspension of disbelief. I could have done with a bit more suspense, a bit more of a thrill but for the most part I liked what I read here.
An addictive and chilling psychological thriller, The Favor highlights the damage caused by domestic abuse, showing how easily manipulation and intimidation can creep into someone's life under the guise of love and before they realise it they've lost everything. Staying is dangerous, leaving could be worse.
This book has been all over Bookstagram and I was definately intrigued. Once I picked it up I was completely enthralled and couldn't put it down. Despite the dark themes contained, the story was addictive and the characters fascinating. This is a fantastic debut novel from Nora Murphy and I look forward to seeing what she has for us next.
2 women, 2 homes. These women do not know each other but they will soon be connected forever. Leah and McKenna are in the same store at the same time one Friday afternoon, and Leah immediately sees herself in McKenna. She becomes obsessed with watching this woman, and realises that they have more in common than anybody would wish for. These are both intelligent and strong women, who have been controlled and worn down by the men in their lives. One night, Leah will change everything for them both.
This is a page turner that kept me awake way past my bedtime. A domestic suspense novel that is relevant and very well written. I felt the fear of these women, I felt their anger. Nobody knows what they would do in the same position.
An absolute must read for lovers for thrillers. Thanks to MacMillan Australia for sending me an advanced copy to read. Publishes in Australia May 31st
2 women, 2 homes. These women do not know each other but they will soon be connected forever. Leah and McKenna are in the same store at the same time one Friday afternoon, and Leah immediately sees herself in McKenna. She becomes obsessed with watching this woman, and realises that they have more in common than anybody would wish for. These are both intelligent and strong women, who have been controlled and worn down by the men in their lives. One night, Leah will change everything for them both.
This is a page turner that kept me awake way past my bedtime. A domestic suspense novel that is relevant and very well written. I felt the fear of these women, I felt their anger. Nobody knows what they would do in the same position.
An absolute must read for lovers for thrillers. Thanks to MacMillan Australia for sending me an advanced copy to read. Publishes in Australia May 31st
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
dark
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Two women who have never met. Both seemingly leading perfect lives.
The handsome, charming, successful husband. They don't need to work.
But is there more to the story?
Suddenly, one of the husband's gets shot and killed. His wife didn't do it and if she didn't do it, who did?
Gripping novel told in three POVs - McKenna, Leah, and Detective Harrison.
Something is amiss in McKenna and Leah's lives, but what is it? Will they be charged when both their husbands turn up dead - shot in similar styles?
If you like domestic thrillers - this is a book for you!
The handsome, charming, successful husband. They don't need to work.
But is there more to the story?
Suddenly, one of the husband's gets shot and killed. His wife didn't do it and if she didn't do it, who did?
Gripping novel told in three POVs - McKenna, Leah, and Detective Harrison.
Something is amiss in McKenna and Leah's lives, but what is it? Will they be charged when both their husbands turn up dead - shot in similar styles?
If you like domestic thrillers - this is a book for you!
Need a book where you can escape everyday life, participate in vigilante justice vicariously and flip pages furiously? Then this book is for you.
Be forewarned, you will need to suspend belief somewhat. I think I watch too many crime shows to believe that there was no video for any of the situations that happened, but like I said, if you can just sit back and enjoy the ride, you will really enjoy this one.
Dealing with what might be triggers for some including miscarriage and domestic emotional and physical abuse, I think it is important to point those out before I can recommend this read to everyone. I didn't feel like the author abused this platform though, I think she used it to show how easily these type of situations can happen and how easily a woman can feel trapped.
This was a fast-paced thriller. Although I don't believe that violence or murder is the answer, I could appreciate that this was a story and was FICTION. It was one person's look at what could happen in a situation like this. Basically two women who look similar, find that they are living very similar lives. What is seen on the outside in relationships is often not what would be seen on the inside. The author did such a great job of developing the characters - I rooted for some, and despised others. There was one aspect (the detective's partner) that I wish more time was spent on or there was some resolution, but it didn't ruin the story. I am purposely not giving much of a synopsis on this story because I think this is a perfect book to go into blind. Knowing the synopsis almost gives too much away.
Definitely recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy to read and review. Pub date: 5.31.22.
Be forewarned, you will need to suspend belief somewhat. I think I watch too many crime shows to believe that there was no video for any of the situations that happened, but like I said, if you can just sit back and enjoy the ride, you will really enjoy this one.
Dealing with what might be triggers for some including miscarriage and domestic emotional and physical abuse, I think it is important to point those out before I can recommend this read to everyone. I didn't feel like the author abused this platform though, I think she used it to show how easily these type of situations can happen and how easily a woman can feel trapped.
This was a fast-paced thriller. Although I don't believe that violence or murder is the answer, I could appreciate that this was a story and was FICTION. It was one person's look at what could happen in a situation like this. Basically two women who look similar, find that they are living very similar lives. What is seen on the outside in relationships is often not what would be seen on the inside. The author did such a great job of developing the characters - I rooted for some, and despised others. There was one aspect (the detective's partner) that I wish more time was spent on or there was some resolution, but it didn't ruin the story. I am purposely not giving much of a synopsis on this story because I think this is a perfect book to go into blind. Knowing the synopsis almost gives too much away.
Definitely recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy to read and review. Pub date: 5.31.22.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
The Favor reminded me of books like The Therapist by B.A. Paris and a little of The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives by Kristin Miller with their plots against their husbands. In Nora Murphy’s debut novel, main character Leah is a depressed alcoholic who stumbles across McKenna at a local liquor store and finds herself face-to-face with her earlier self. Leah is compelled to follow McKenna home and sees how the relationship between McKenna and her husband is on the same path as her marriage traveled the year before.
Desperate but unable to save herself, Leah is determined to save McKenna, sending them both on a trajectory they can’t stop. The chapters switch between Leah and McKenna’s perspectives jumping from the past to the present as the story unfolds. Both women were successful, ambitious and driven, married to men who were equally successful and charming. As each of their marriages unravel, the husbands increasingly isolate their lives until their abuse inevitably escalates.
I read this on my Kindle app which tells me how long it should take me to read the next chapter based on my reading speed. The interesting thing with this novel is that if the chapters hadn’t been so long (some were approximated to be 20 minutes long), I would’ve easily kept going. It’s so much easier to justify reading the next chapter when they’re only about two to five minutes long and this was definitely a page-turner that I wanted to keep reading, but I would often stop at the 20-minute chapters to pick back up when I had a bigger chunk of time free.
That being said, it was undoubtedly a thrilling page-turner! I understood and sympathized with both Leah and McKenna and rooted for them both. This was only Nora Murphy’s first novel, so I’m really excited to read what comes next from her!
Desperate but unable to save herself, Leah is determined to save McKenna, sending them both on a trajectory they can’t stop. The chapters switch between Leah and McKenna’s perspectives jumping from the past to the present as the story unfolds. Both women were successful, ambitious and driven, married to men who were equally successful and charming. As each of their marriages unravel, the husbands increasingly isolate their lives until their abuse inevitably escalates.
I read this on my Kindle app which tells me how long it should take me to read the next chapter based on my reading speed. The interesting thing with this novel is that if the chapters hadn’t been so long (some were approximated to be 20 minutes long), I would’ve easily kept going. It’s so much easier to justify reading the next chapter when they’re only about two to five minutes long and this was definitely a page-turner that I wanted to keep reading, but I would often stop at the 20-minute chapters to pick back up when I had a bigger chunk of time free.
That being said, it was undoubtedly a thrilling page-turner! I understood and sympathized with both Leah and McKenna and rooted for them both. This was only Nora Murphy’s first novel, so I’m really excited to read what comes next from her!