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
The Chain is every parent’s nightmare, only worse. It’s a fast-paced, easy read, except that the very intriguing plot line is kind of hard to stomach. Overall, it’s a quick, entertaining read.
This was some story. Never read anything like it before. I’m sure there are big name horror authors out there who are envious they didn’t come up with this concept – it’s that good! Since other reviewers gave the details of the story, I won’t but you need to check this out before it’s made into a film. Unforgettable and Highly Recommended!
“The Chain” by Adrian McKinty is about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. This kind of thing does not happen in civilized, safe Massachusetts, and yet there they all are, involved in the complex entanglement that is “The Chain.” The events are non-stop, and each chapter identifies the time to emphasize the frantic pace.
A thirteen-year-old girl does not even notice the man with the gun until he is almost next to her.
“If you scream, struggle, or try to run, I’m going to shoot you. Do you understand?” She nods…“All right. Good. Keep calm. Put this blindfold on. What your mother does in the next twenty-four hours will determine whether you live or die.”
There it is; the terrifying premise of the book, a kidnapping. The only way for a parent to get back a child is to kidnap someone else’s child. “You’re in The Chain now.” No matter what, one must never break the chain. The fear is palatable right from the start and grows on every page. The conspiracy, the psychotic dependence, and, surprisingly, the comradery grow as well. Parents fear each other and yet depend on each other to keep the chain intact and to bring home their children.
Alternating chapters are told from the points of view of the various players so readers observe all sides of the trauma, follow all the clues, and witness all the mistakes. Each parent is not the first in the chain and will not be the last.
Readers are immediately aware of the hidden dangers of social media as parents scour online posts looking for the next victim. They easily find schedules, activities, opportunities, and openings so they can add the next child, the next family, to the chain; so they can get their child back. Unfortunately, “The Chain” will always be there, lurking in the background even after their child is safe at home. “The Chain” will be part of them for the rest of all their lives.
McKinty depicts civilization as a thin, fragile veneer covering the law of the jungle — Better you than me; better your kid than my kid. He turns victims into accomplices and then makes them complicit in the torture of yet more parents. The Chain seems unbreakable, but it is vulnerable because some children are not as compliant as their parents are. The sky is falling because children are poking holes in it, and readers watch as pieces fall all around.
McKinty also makes a book recommendation. The narrative mentions Elizabeth Smart; Smart’s book “My Story” is truly inspiring. One of the children mentions her. “Elisabeth Smart. That was the Mormon girl’s name. In that interview, she had been dignified and calm. She had said that there was always hope in these situations. Her faith had always given her hope.”
“The Chain” It is quite different from McKinty’s Sean Duffy series. It will keep readers turning page after page, and looking over their shoulders. McKinty notes that seventy-seven is the sum of the first eight prime numbers and the atomic number of iridium. It is an ending number. All books should end on the seventy-seventh chapter. They never do, however McKinty does. Readers hope that this is not the end but the beginning of something new for McKinty.
4.5 This really took me out of my comfort zone and I loved that! If you are a parent this is a psychological nightmare. If not it’s still a psychological nightmare in which the author draws you in and doesn’t let you go till the end!
What would a parent do when their child is threatened? As the parents become a link in The Chain their fall into evil is “vertiginous and swift.” The Chain forces people to violate his or her deepest beliefs and principles with the goal of reacquiring their child!
The second half had a few instances were I found things a little unbelievable but it didn’t affect the overall story for me! I also found it hard to grasp that The Chain had continued as long as it did with no outside intervention from law enforcement. The authors goal was to entertain and he accomplished that and I enjoyed this unique story that mirrors those Chain letters that were popular years ago!
Terrifying concept
Rachel Klein is 35 years old and recently divorced. She worked two jobs for years to put her ex-husband through law school and then got traded in for a newer model. She has a daughter, Kylie, that she loves dearly, is a breast cancer survivor, and will be starting her first “real” job at a local community college soon.
Then she gets a phone call, part of a devious plan. Kylie has been kidnapped. As soon as she pays a ransom AND kidnaps someone else’s child, she will enter into The Chain and eventually Kylie will be released.
This is a tense, hard-driving scary book. This is a terrifying concept. Not only do you become part of the conspiracy when you have to kidnap a child but you must depend on others to do their part.
This author has a devious mind to come up with this tale. Unique and well thought out plot and strong characterizations made this a winner all around to me.
I received this book from Mulholland Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
It’s only once in a great while when a high concept this good comes along for a book. I admit I was a skeptic at first and poo-pooed the idea, that it wouldn’t work. And when I first started reading I thought I was correct. Then the book grabbed hold and off. I went on a wild ride. By definition this is a thriller that doesn’t slow down long enough to develop the characters. This is pure high adrenaline storytelling and that’s okay. I have read earlier McKinty novels and really enjoyed the prose, characters and storytelling. He set that all aside in this one. It’s a fast read with plenty of excitement and emotion. The only thing is it is a high concept and for him to do it again it will require another fantastic idea like this one.
I try to read books with more depth and save the fast-paced thrillers as pallet cleansers like ginger does while eating sushi. This one does the job. I started reading and once the story grabbed the rest of the world fell away. You can’t ask for more than that. I thought I bought this book early when it first came out and put it on the TBR pile. Once I started reading I checked the front of the book and found I had a fourth printing. This book must really be selling fast.
If you like thrillers don’t miss this one.
Highly recommend.
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson series.
I was intrigued by the concept of The Chain. At first it’s a standard kidnapping, your child gets kidnapped and you have to pay some ransom money But that’s pretty much where it stops being normal. You also have to kidnap a child and then the people before you who have your child, have to make sure that you pay the money and that you kidnapped a child before they can get their child back. The other thing that I thought was insane about it is once you get your child back you’re not out of The Chain. If someone five families down The Chain goes to the police or talks to reporters then there’s still a risk of blowback and they could kill your whole family.
Also once you’re in The Chain, you’re in it for life. Five years down the road you could be contacted and told that you need to go deliver a message to someone, either verbal or physical. In the book, Rachel, the main character, ends up getting punched in the stomach by some guy who just randomly comes up to her, but The Chain had contacted him and told him to go do it.
There are two parts to the book, and the first party was truly thrilling to me. I don’t have children, but I felt horrified. So I can only imagine how parents would feel. The story moved quickly and it was well written. You could feel the emotion from all the characters. When the first section of the book ended, it could have ended there and I would have enjoyed it. You’re still not sure who the main people behind The Chain were and you still have questions, but I would have been fine with that because it would be even more horrifying not having closure.
Although I didn’t feel the second part of the book was necessary, I did find it interesting how McKinty wrote about the trauma of all of those involved. Rachel’s daughter starts wetting the bed and withdrawing from people. She can’t talk to anyone about it because you’re not supposed to mention anything about The Chain to anyone. Ever. And if she talks to a therapist, they could have been part of The Chain or one of the people who run The Chain, and she would put her whole family, as well as other families in danger of being killed. And then there’s the fact that this girl’s mom had kidnapped another child and the daughter empathizes with the kid because she herself was kidnapped and she knows the terror that she went through. Then to have to face your mom who traumatized another kid, even though you know she did it for you, would have to fill the person with guilt and anger.
The other part that I liked was how McKinty showed how social media is ripe for the picking when it comes to kidnapping children or doing other bad things. People are constantly checking in on social media and you know when the parents aren’t home yet. Very eye opening.
The reason why I gave it four stars instead of five, like I said before if he would have just stopped it after the first part and left me with questions, I would have been fine with that and I think I would have enjoyed it more. But the second part of the book kind of turns into a Hollywood ending. We find out who the people are behind The Chain, including their backstory and the horrific things that happened to them as a child. But to me, I would have been fine not knowing about this. The way that these common people find out who these super smart hacker people are, it was fine. And it was realistic enough, but I didn’t feel like it needed to be there.
And then the very ending of the book was a shoot ‘em up typical ending that you’d see in the movie theater. And for a lot of people they may really enjoy that and find it very fun, but I felt it took away from the horror of the story. But even with that, I would still say definitely read this book. Let me know what you thought. If you enjoyed the whole thing and if you thought the second part of the book really enhanced it. Or if you would have been fine with McKinty ending the book after the first part. I’m interested in knowing, and I will definitely read more books by McKinty.
Never really took off for me.
As a parent and grandparent, the concept of this story is deeply disturbing. My son gave it to me to read because he has a young child and thought it might hit too close to home. While it is upsetting, I didn’t have any problem getting through it. No doubt it will be a movie at some point. As I was reading, I envisioned who would play certain characters.
Have you ever wondered what a Mother (or parent) would do to protect their child? This book explores that question. What if your child was kidnapped and the only way to get them back safe is to follow the exact instructions you are given. What if that meant you must kidnap another child? Could you do it? Very well written, just enough information, characters are flawed and believable. Yes, I checked to see if the book ended with Chapter 77.
I really enjoyed this book. Interesting premise. Fast read.
Smart, fresh, and wickedly clever. The only thing stronger than THE CHAIN is a mother’s love for her child.
Being generous with the 2 stars. The author wrote in his afterword, “Back in 2012 I wrote The Chain as a short story, but thought it had the markings of a novel….” He should have left it as a short story, half of the book is long and drawn out.
Right from the start the reader is pulled into this edge of your seat psychological thriller. The author sets the story on the premise that a parent will do ANYTHING for their child, even putting another parents child at risk.
This booked had me from the beginning, as a mom I put myself in her position and that is what scared me.
This is a terrifying book because it is so realistic and I was reading I kept thinking that this scenario could actually happen to anyone. The main character in this book is a divorced single mom who is already suffering through just finding out that she has breast cancer. Then she becomes a victim of the chain. Kidnappings done by establishing a chain. Do what you’re told or your loved one dies and so will everyone else that you care about. The premise of this book is absolutely horrifying. The action is fast-paced, the characters are flawed and mostly likable (except for the villains, of course). What a compelling book! I highly recommend it to those who love thrillers!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I purchased a copy of this book for my Kindle. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.
The overview of this book states it is a nightmarish story. Wow, was this true! Our main character, Rachel, receives the most horrible phone call a parent can receive: A stranger has kidnapped your child. The “ransom” is to free your child you must abduct someone else’s child. When the next parents abduct another child, your child will be freed. There are more demands than this involved, but this part is the most frightening. If the chain does not continue, your child will be killed. When faced with having your child killed, what choice does a parent have but to comply? Just when the reader believes all is going to be well again, The Chain introduces a new twist. Rachel is smart and brave throughout. Excellent read–highly recommend!
Wow! Blew through this in two days! Great summer read.
A chilling premise leads to an explosive conclusion. McKinty enters the realm of main stream. A New York Times reviewer calls it an existential novel, but my favorite existential work by McKinty is Falling Glass.
The Chain. What an elaborate concept…and nightmare! This is the worst version of a chain letter you can possibly imagine…and be a part of!!
This cover caught my attention when I first saw it on NG. Then it was popping up everywhere. It was receiving so much hype and praise, I had to request it.
It’s easy…Follow The Chain and you get your kid back. Pay the ransom. Find another target and kidnap someone. The Chain continues. Each link in The Chain is precious. The Chain has to go on. No police! Whatever you do, Don’t Break The Chain! The Chain has never been successfully broken.
McKinty didn’t waste time. From page one, this is a fast-past thriller, filled with action, tension and fear. I wasn’t sure McKinty could sustain that same emotion throughout the story, but he pulled it off!
It’s Thursday morning and Kylie is sitting at the bus stop. Like a typical 13-year-old, her social media/phone are more interesting than her surroundings. Before she has time to respond, there is a man standing in front of her. He’s wearing a ski mask and pointing a gun at her.
”She knows she shouldn’t have gotten into the vehicle. That’s how girls vanish. That’s how girls vanish every day. If you get in the car it’s over. If you get in the car, you’re lost forever. You don’t get in the vehicle, you turn around and you run, run, run.”
Kylie is thinking about her mom. She doesn’t deserve this. First the cancer, then the divorce, now her daughter is kidnapped. Rachel is on her way to the oncologist. Probably bad news. Her phone rings. It’s an unknown caller.
“Two things you must remember,” a voice says through some kind of speech-distortion machine. “Number one: you are not the first and you will certainly not be the last. Number two: remember, it’s not about the money—it’s about The Chain.”
McKinty is now on my radar and “The Chain”, which is my first read of July, is also a fav read of 2019!
My Rating: 4.5’s (rounding up )
Published: July 9th 2019 by Mulholland Books
Pages: 368
Recommend: Yes
Excerpts:
“A true predator sometimes kills even when it isn’t hungry.”
Thank you to NetGalley, Mulholland Books and Adrian McKinty for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
#NetGalley #DontBreakTheChain