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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i started this book three times. and each time i ran into the same problem. it's simply implausible. the main character goes from a meek and mild mommy to a gun totin' bad ass in the course of a few hours. really? i used to think Adrian McKinty was the bomb.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Finally glad I got round to reading this book and surprised I meant I should read it in just one day! The story is incredibly fast pace which made it both gripping and very enjoyable.
Something I really enjoyed about the fast pace writing style is how key bits of information are woven throughout the story in a way that was subtle enough to maintain a balance and mystery without giving away too much on.
Something I really enjoyed about the fast pace writing style is how key bits of information are woven throughout the story in a way that was subtle enough to maintain a balance and mystery without giving away too much on.
Whilst I didn’t think there was anything overly special about the characters themselves, the emotional reactions and interactions they had were very very realistic particularly the PTSD signs in part two of the book.
My only criticisms with this book is that I didn’t care for the romance subplot between Rachel and Pete as it felt a bit incestuous - even though they aren’t related… the fact that the possible pregnancy at the end would lead to a baby being both a half-sibling and cousin of Kylie left me feeling grossed out by it.
In the second half of this book, I also found it a bit difficult to navigate the plot as the story divers from backstory of the chain to present day. Had this been written in a clear way I think I would’ve enjoyed the backstory element a lot more.
In the second half of this book, I also found it a bit difficult to navigate the plot as the story divers from backstory of the chain to present day. Had this been written in a clear way I think I would’ve enjoyed the backstory element a lot more.
Truthfully the final chain reveal was a bit predictable given the foreshadowing and multiple POVs before however i didn't mind this so much as it created a sense of tension knowing the 'villains' before one of the main POVs.
Overall Part one on its own could have easily been a 5 star read (excluding the romance) but the ending writing style felt a bit more clunk. That being said the plot itself was really interesting and can see myself recommending this read and rereading in future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Kidnapping
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer
Minor: Vomit
This story had an excellent hook, but oh boy...it deflates fast around the halfway point. The mystery disappears and so does most of the tension. Seems like the author couldn't commit to how nasty he wanted the story to be and the writing at parts seemed really lazy.
"The Chain is a metaphor for..." You don't need to spell that out.
"Having served its Chekhovian purpose" You don't need to explain which literary devices you think you're trying to use.
3 stars for a good idea and readability.
"The Chain is a metaphor for..." You don't need to spell that out.
"Having served its Chekhovian purpose" You don't need to explain which literary devices you think you're trying to use.
3 stars for a good idea and readability.
This is my first time reading anything by McKinty, but I'd say it's a solid first impression. I picked up this book rather randomly at a local bookstore where I live, where they sell three English paperbacks for the price of two, so I on occasion pick out three books that for one reason or another grab my attention. In the case of this novel, it was the tagline: "The only way to get your child back is to kidnap another child."
The novel wastes no time, throwing you right into the scenario from the very first page. But this is unquestionably a deliberate choice (as opposed to lazy and/or impatient writing), and this approach proves to be quite an effective one, as we are just as unprepared for what's going on, and learn all the bits and pieces of the situation at the same time as the main character. One phone call changes her entire world, and we are there to witness the initial panic, the desperation, and her grasping for solutions.
This initial suspense is a surefire way to make this a book where you plan to spend a little moment just reading perhaps the first couple of chapters, but suddenly you are over a hundred pages in because you haven't been able to put it down.
The few comments I could offer in terms of constructive criticism are trivial and nitpicky at best. While it makes sense on one hand, as the main character Rachel has a background in philosophy, it still somewhat became a bit, shall we say, noticeable how she seemed to always have some sort of quote at the ready in the back of her mind to fit the various scenarios she found herself in. Had it been handled slightly differently than it was, it could have easily come across as a bit pretentious, as if the author wanted to show off his repertoire of quotes.
Also, a few plot points became a tad convenient to keep the story going, such as the use of someone's Facebook profile to almost perfectly keep track of their every move over the course of a day. But I suppose this is the kind of thriller where you have to suspend your disbelief to some degree; while I maintain that some things were "convenient," it never came across as full-on deus ex machina.
Another thing I could comment on is that the first half of the story is the strongest part in my opinion. This is the part that started with a blast, and the intensity never let up. Rachel was faced with an impossible scenario, and the fear, the paranoia, and the desperation were all turned up to 11. When the story started to evolve halfway through, some of that intensity dwindled, although I will say that the writing was just as good throughout the entire story.
Simply put, a strong thriller story that I have no problem imagining could become a movie one day. McKinty himself seems to be hoping for that too, judging from a moment in the book that almost broke the fourth wall (to the degree that literature can do so; that in and of itself is a TV/movie term)
The novel wastes no time, throwing you right into the scenario from the very first page. But this is unquestionably a deliberate choice (as opposed to lazy and/or impatient writing), and this approach proves to be quite an effective one, as we are just as unprepared for what's going on, and learn all the bits and pieces of the situation at the same time as the main character. One phone call changes her entire world, and we are there to witness the initial panic, the desperation, and her grasping for solutions.
This initial suspense is a surefire way to make this a book where you plan to spend a little moment just reading perhaps the first couple of chapters, but suddenly you are over a hundred pages in because you haven't been able to put it down.
The few comments I could offer in terms of constructive criticism are trivial and nitpicky at best. While it makes sense on one hand, as the main character Rachel has a background in philosophy, it still somewhat became a bit, shall we say, noticeable how she seemed to always have some sort of quote at the ready in the back of her mind to fit the various scenarios she found herself in. Had it been handled slightly differently than it was, it could have easily come across as a bit pretentious, as if the author wanted to show off his repertoire of quotes.
Also, a few plot points became a tad convenient to keep the story going, such as the use of someone's Facebook profile to almost perfectly keep track of their every move over the course of a day. But I suppose this is the kind of thriller where you have to suspend your disbelief to some degree; while I maintain that some things were "convenient," it never came across as full-on deus ex machina.
Another thing I could comment on is that the first half of the story is the strongest part in my opinion. This is the part that started with a blast, and the intensity never let up. Rachel was faced with an impossible scenario, and the fear, the paranoia, and the desperation were all turned up to 11. When the story started to evolve halfway through, some of that intensity dwindled, although I will say that the writing was just as good throughout the entire story.
Simply put, a strong thriller story that I have no problem imagining could become a movie one day. McKinty himself seems to be hoping for that too, judging from a moment in the book that almost broke the fourth wall (to the degree that literature can do so; that in and of itself is a TV/movie term)
The Chain by Adrian McKinty--Devastating and fast-paced, this book is about a woman on the brink of losing everything. Her cancer has returned, and her daughter has been kidnapped by a mysterious group that asks her to pay a ransom and kidnap another child, continuing The Chain. These are rich characters, despite the extremely action-packed premise. The ending isn't wholly satisfying, but the ride there is a delight. Thumbs up.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced