When a mother is targeted by a dangerous group of masterminds, she must commit a crime to save her kidnapped daughter–or risk losing her forever–in this “propulsive and original” award-winning thriller (Stephen King). It’s something parents do every morning: Rachel Klein drops her daughter at the bus stop and heads into her day. But a cell phone call from an unknown number changes … an unknown number changes everything: it’s a woman on the line, informing her that she has Kylie bound and gagged in her back seat, and the only way Rachel will see her again is to follow her instructions exactly: pay a ransom, and find another child to abduct. This is no ordinary kidnapping: the caller is a mother herself, whose son has been taken, and if Rachel doesn’t do as she’s told, the boy will die.
“You are not the first. And you will certainly not be the last.”Rachel is now part of The Chain, an unending and ingenious scheme that turns victims into criminals–and is making someone else very rich in the process. The rules are simple, the moral challenges impossible; find the money fast, find your victim, and then commit a horrible act you’d have thought yourself incapable of just twenty-four hours ago.
But what the masterminds behind The Chain know is that parents will do anything for their children. It turns out that kidnapping is only the beginning.
“McKinty is one of the most striking and most memorable crime voices to emerge on the scene in years. His plots tempt you to read at top speed, but don’t give in: this writing–sharply observant, intelligent and shot through with black humor–should be savored.”
–Tana French
“A masterpiece. You have never read anything quite like The Chain and you will never be able to forget it.” —Don Winslow
“Diabolical, unnerving, and gives a whole new meaning to the word “relentless”. Adrian McKinty just leapt to the top of my list of must-read suspense novelists. He’s the real deal.”
–Dennis Lehane
“Pairing an irresistible concept with a winner protagonist, The Chain promises to be your new addiction once you succumb to the first enticing page.”
–Alafair Burke
“A grade-A-first-rate-edge-of-your-seat thriller. I can’t believe what went through my mind while reading it.” —Attica Locke
This was a fast-paced, suspenseful read, that I found I did not want to put down! The story was original and exciting with characters that were realistic and likable. It is everything you could want in a psychological thriller that keeps you spellbound, until the end! This is a MUST for your TBR list!!!
This book is very original. I haven’t read a book with this particular theme before. It was very interesting and definitely a page turner.
I was engrossed from page 1. The story and characters well developed and empathize with all the tough decisions needed to be made.
This book had one of the scariest premises I’ve ever come across – getting families to kidnap a child in order to save their own child, to keep the chain going. It was a page turner-especially the second half. I saw only one small hiccup in the plotting. When Erik has been so very careful with security, why did he not notice he was being followed? I could suspend disbelief through the whole book and accept the premise, the actions of the characters, and the results of those actions. Except for this one little flaw in Eric’s behavior. But the book goes on and the plot unfolds and a satisfying ending comes along. Well worth a read. Curl up and ignore the outside world. Especially when we are all ordered to remain at home right now.
A taut crime thriller based on an original and irresistible premise. On the edge of your seat stuff.
It wasn’t my favorite.
I have mixed feelings because I tried to love it but hated the way Rachel went from being a meek mom to a pistol-whipping badass in a few chapters.
I guess kidnap will do that.
That said, the concept is brilliant. I mean, BRILLIANT, and the ending was very satisfying.
The breast cancer piece was terribly difficult for me as I have a good friend struggling for her life right now. I acknowledge that this may have affected my experience of this book. I went in knowing cancer was part of the story and I should have known better. (I usually read a book in a day and this took me 4 days…just too hard.)
BOOK REVIEW
-DESCRIPTION-
A child has been kidnapped, the mother recieves an untraceable message that if she wants her daughter back she needs to pay a ransom and kidnap another child. And the chain goes on…
-THOUGHTS-
1. A book where I can relate so much is one that I can get into! And anybody can relate to this. It is a person’s worst nightmare. Having something taken from them and then having to turn around and put that on another person.
2. The writing was easy to read and the book was a page turner.
-RATING-
I recommend this read!
-SIMILAR RECOMMENDED READS-
Dead Girls Club
The Silent Patient
The Perfect Couple
One of the best books of 2019. So engaging, tense and fast-paced that I literally could not put it down.
If you can accept the outlandish premise, this is a suspenseful romp with writing well up to the high standards of the Sean Duffy series.
I really enjoyed this book! It is a realistic plot that has you questioning your own morals and just how far you will go to protect your child.
The story moved quickly making it easy to read. The characters were relatable and the antagonist was absolutely vile.
Definitely a book I’d suggest for those who like thrillers!
#adrianmckinty #thechain #bookstagram #bookreview #5star #lallahbookreview #readinginlallahland
The Chain started off gangbusters, and was quite the wild ride for the first third of the book. Then something happened and it fell off, and became predictable, bloated and clunky. As well, I quickly grew weary of all the whining, indignance and bewilderment.
Regardless, it’s a decent book, if you gloss over the more annoying vocalizations of the players, and don’t mind trading solid character development for neck-breaking action and constant twists. It reads like it was meant to become the next Netflix Original movie, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it show up in my “Top Picks for Donna” list soon.
An excellent read! Could be made into a movie, perhaps?
The Chain is a novel that confirms your worst fears as a parent – what would you do if your child was in danger? How far would you go?
Kylie, Rachel’s daughter, is taken while waiting for the bus. This sets off a series of events, including ransom, and worse – another kidnapping. The Chain cannot be broken.
Rachel is a breast cancer survivor, and she fears that she may be having a relapse. The stress of her daughter missing adds to the cancer stress. Rachel enlists her ex brother-in-law to help her recover Kylie.
The Chain is a fast moving novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I liked the novel, but I thought the last few chapters felt like they were being wrapped up too fast, in order to complete the novel.
#TheChain #AdrianMcKinty
Something truly original.
This one was a page-turner and hard to put down.
Great Thriller! Recommend Reading This Entertaining Never Boring Moment