With a central concept that is born from every parent’s worst nightmare, The Chain is a brutally effective thriller that gets underneath the skin of the reader as it blurs the line between victim and abuser. By taking the idea of chain letters and sprinkling a bit of “dark web” magic, Adrian McKinty creates a situation that seems wildly fantastic yet unsettlingly plausible at the time. When single mum Rachel O’Neill discovers her thirteen year-old daughter Kylie has been abducted, she finds herself entangled in The Chain – a vicious sequence of criminality that requires those within it to kidnap children to ensure the safety of their own child. The simplistic notion of having to kidnap a child to rescue your own child – a perverse “pay it forward” – is chilling to the bone, and with the advent of untraceable cellphones and dark web internet connections, ever more realistic.

From the outset, McKinty’s novel dives headfirst into its conceit and the result is a frenzied kidnapping by a pair of amateurs that is overflowing with tension. The fact that the people committing these crimes are inexperienced and sloppy simply increases the suspense as the reader is torn between wanting them to succeed, yet being disgusted by their willingness to perpetuate The Chain. The initial few chapters are intense and breathe fresh life into the kidnap genre, much like the much-parodied but extremely iconic kidnapping in the original Taken. The prose is snappy and easy to devour, resulting in a fast-paced and relentless experience as Rachel is inducted into The Chain and given her own challenges to complete.

The novel is split into two parts, and there is a noticeable change in tone between the two halves. The initial half deals primarily with Rachel and Kylie’s experience with The Chain, whilst the second deals with the aftermath and expands the viewpoint to include other characters. McKinty does a fantastic job at conveying the heartache of a mother in an impossible situation, and it naturally invites readers to question whether they would do the unthinkable to save their own child. With such an emotive core, it is easy for readers to become invested in the story and its characters and McKinty deals with the realities of such a trauma to make it even more resonant for readers.

One aspect I particularly enjoyed was the complexity of the characters and their motivations, and how Rachel is positioned as both the heroine of her own story and the villain for the parents of the child she is forced to kidnap. It’s a delicious duality and Rachel struggles with her own feelings about the lengths she would go to in order to get Kylie back. McKinty digs deep into the character, and really puts her through her paces throughout the novel – both physically and mentally. She is a wonderful protagonist and even though she is forced into the role of a kidnapper, it is difficult to root against her.

The Chain is one of those books that begs to be made into a film, and while one of the major twists was a bit predictable, McKinty manages to maintain the tension and suspense through multiple key moments. One scene that had me holding my breath whilst reading was when Rachel was attempting to prevent a kidnapped child from dying of an anaphylactic reaction whilst hiding from a policeman patrolling the abandoned property she has turned into a makeshift cell. It was fantastically tense, and there are so many “spinning plates” that Rachel has to juggle to ensure her daughter’s safe return that it seems that anything can go wrong at any time.

With a chilling premise that will haunt parents for months after reading, The Chain is a thriller unlike any I have read before. Gripping from the outset and unsettlingly feasible, it is a terrifying glimpse at the dangers of digital anonymity and the influence of emotional blackmail. McKinty’s writing lives up to the promise of this fantastic concept, and I propose we start a new “chain” as readers - Read it, Love it and Pass it on.

The blurb:

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 victim's parents kidnap another child.

If any of these things don't happen: your child will be killed

You are now part of the chain.

This book gave me a hell of a ride. I couldn't help thinking what if this happened to me? Would I be able to kidnap somebody else's child and get that child's parents to kidnap another child? How would I cope with it if I couldn't do it, and my child was killed? A very scary but enjoyable read. 5*

You just dropped off your child at the bus stop. A panicked stranger calls your phone. Your child has been kidnapped, and the stranger explains that their child has also been kidnapped, by a completely different stranger. The only way to get your child back is to kidnap another child within 24 hours. Your child will be released only when the next victim's parents kidnap yet another child, and most importantly, the stranger explains, if you don't kidnap a child, or if the next parents don't kidnap a child, your child will be murdered. You are now part of The Chain.

I loved the idea behind this story. It sounded intreuging and I couldn't wait to get stuck in. The Chain is brilliantly written with an excellent story line that drags you right into those pages.
This was an easy to follow story with some brilliant characters.
​This is the first book I have read by this author and I think it's safe to say it won't be the last one. This book leaves you thinking about it, long after you have finished reading it.

“This isn’t about money, it’s about The Chain” and so begins Rachel Klein’s nightmare. She gets a phone call saying that her 13 year old daughter has been kidnapped and unless she continues The Chain by kidnapping someone else’s child, her daughter will die.

The synopsis is simple but this book is anything but. It’s a book which questions how far people will go to save the ones they love. It’s nerve shreddingly tense throughout and my goodness, this author has a real knack for placing people in seemingly impossible situations where there doesn’t seem to be anyway out. The Chain itself is terrifying, it has a character of its own and it’s tentacles seem to spread far and wide. Rachel is trapped into a corner, but sometimes a trapped animal is the most dangerous animal of all.

This is a really smart book. It’s brilliantly written and the second act was really interesting and not what I expected at all. It deals with trauma in a very interesting way and the characters felt like real people. They’re resourceful but in a way that makes sense and feels realistic rather than them behaving fantastically beyond their skill set. This is a book that’s certain to provoke many ‘What would you do?’ conversations and if you want to be a part of that then I’d really recommend grabbing hold of a copy of this book as soon as possible. Gripping, thrilling and a white knuckle ride of a book.

I received a ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair review.

Simply phenomenal. I couldn't put this down!

The characters are incredibly relateable - they're not larger than life, they're not some distant 'them'; they're like your next door neighbour, the guy across the street, YOU - and the events of the story and the reactions are exactly that. It should have been far fetched. It should have required a huge suspension of disbelief. But in fact, every scenario is horribly, chillingly plausible, the fear so real I could actually taste it.

A brilliantly fresh concept for a thriller, executed with intelligence and insight, this book is a must read.

This summer, it's not about the money - it's about The Chain.

Good to see McKinty getting some kudos at last, after years of producing brilliant but not widely recognised crime thrillers. Appreciate this is his break into the mainstream but left me feeling a bit flat. Good concept but fell prey to predictable turns in the plot and the schmaltzy Hollywood ending. Hope it makes him mega bucks though as he's a nice guy- no more Uber driving ever!

This book needs a seat belt because it blasts off at some serious speed. The opening chapters are shocking and the principle of The Chain is completely unique and deeply unsettling. Rachel Klein is a divorced single mother, with a 13-year-old daughter, Kylie. She has just been appointed to a new job and hopes that her life can take a step forward, especially with her battle against breast cancer being in remission for a year. Then the ultimate horror is just about to unfold.

“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.”

The stranger explains that Kylie has been kidnapped and that there will be a call shortly that she must be ready for. The second call comes from an anxious woman who explains there are a number of parts and instructions that must be followed exactly or Kylie dies. First Rachel must pay twenty-five thousand dollars in ransom through a bitcoin exchange on the dark web or Kylie dies. For the second part, the woman explains that she has kidnapped Kylie so her son could be released. Her instruction is to kidnap someone to replace her daughter on The Chain, or Kylie dies. If Rachel breaks the rules her daughter will die and the kidnappers will move to another target or their own son will die. What a terrifying concept – I was stunned and impressed, shocked and fascinated, and afraid.

The heart-racing terror looms constantly and the abject fear of failing drives family members forward. They must also face the distressing undertaking of carrying this out on another child and family. The ever-watching Chain will approve the targets because they must believe the families will be totally committed to the task and not break one of the fundamental rules by contacting the police. It’s all about the chain! The diversity of personalities is impressive and the emotional conflict Rachel has between trying to rescue her own child and not wishing to harm another is superbly executed. We watch the wonderfully crafted transition from being a victim to a criminal. There is no escape from the decision, no easy way out, you will need to accept the consequences.

This is such a wicked plot, which is masterfully developed by incorporating the distress, the twists, and the frantic and terrifying steps Rachel must face. Not everything goes according to plan and the mistakes and challenges feel real and heighten the anguish. Rachel eventually considers not only saving her daughter but how she can make another transition to the punisher, and destroy The Chain. We can argue it's about preventing untold suffering for other families, but it's really about revenge, closure and the removal of a threat.

Adrian McKinty is an author from my home town but this is the first book of his I’ve read – not going to be the last, I’m proud to say. What is remarkable about this novel is the pace and content that comes from every nail-biting page. I would highly recommend this book and I’d like to thank Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

I found The Chain quite hard to get into, not because it wasn't good but because it would be my worst nightmare. Once I was over this issue I found I enjoyed it.

Her daughter is kidnapped and she not on,y has to pay the ransom but also do the unthinkable, kidnap someone else's child so as not to break the chain.
But, most parents would do anything for their child - even the unthinkable. I thought the idea for the story was interesting as was the after effects - but not too sure about the ending,

The love of a parent for their children knows no boundaries and they would do anything to protect them, as Adrian McKinty shows in his new novel. Rachel O’Neill is a woman in her thirties, recently divorced, and with a thirteen-year-old daughter, Kylie. After a year of chemotherapy, it seemed that her cancer had regressed, but suddenly her oncologist wants to see her and she is on her way to her office when she receives the call every parent fears: her daughter has been kidnapped. But this is not a normal kidnapping because now Rachel is part of the Chain and to have Kylie back she has to kidnap another child. How far is Rachel willing to go to save her daughter? Will she have her back? And will she break the Chain?

This was a rollercoaster of a read. Adrian McKinty created a cast of fascinating and multi-layered characters. We see a good woman turning into an unwilling criminal, forced to push away all her doubts and fears to get her daughter back. On the other side, there is Kylie. For a thirteen-year-old girl she is quite resourceful and smart, fighting to stay strong and find a way out of her imprisonment. Then there is Pete, Rachel’s former brother-in-law, a troubled ex-military who has his own demons to fight while he helps Rachel to get Kylie’s back. There are the other parents in the Chain who, like Rachel, show a darker side when it comes to their children’s safety. And, last but not least, the creators of the Chain. Through flashbacks we see how they came to be and I found their story dark, suspenseful, and a bit creepy.

Adrian McKinty wrote a terrifying story that captures two women trying to survive, an evil and ingenious plan that pushes people to their limit, and it also shows how much people share on social media making their life completely public and vulnerable. One of the most-talked books of the summer, THE CHAIN is a riveting and addictive read not to miss!

I was really looking forward to reading this. There has been lots of hype about The Chain, but I tried to go into it with no expectations.

The premise is fantastic. Single mum Rachel's teenage daughter Kylie is snatched off the street. She receives a phone call telling her she needs to kidnap a child herself, and when that child's parents kidnap a further victim, then Kylie will be released. There is also a ransom to be paid by each family. If she deviates from her instructions, or tries to break the chain, Kylie will die.

I remember the whole thing around chain letters back in the day. Personally, I didn't worry about breaking the chain, but I know plenty did. But when it involves children? Woah, that's a whole different ball game.

I think this is probably a book you read differently, depending on whether you're a parent or not. I am a parent, and I think I would do pretty much anything for my kids. But in a scenario like this? Murder? This book certainly makes us question what we would actually be willing to do for those we love.

I really felt for Rachel, and the predicament she finds herself in. It's interesting how quickly she settles into what she needs to do - things that a day or two earlier she would have found horrific. Unsure that Kylie's dad Marty would help without going to the police, she calls on ex brother-in-law Pete for support.

She has to research her own potential targets, and whilst this is, of course, a work of fiction, I think there's a definite warning here about over sharing information on social media.

There are two distinct halves to this book. At the beginning, it mainly focuses on Rachel and her frenzied actions trying to get Kylie back. The pace is fast and punchy. The second half starts slower as we learn a bit more about the entity that is The Chain. But again, the pace speeds up as we head for the explosive finale.

There were tons of things I really liked about this book - original, interesting, sinister, dark, fast paced, intriguing, full of jeopardy and thrills. But it left me with unanswered questions which I would love to have answered. But a great read, regardless.

The premise behind the book is so simple, so fiendish and so diabolical that it is mindblowing.

It starts with Rachel and Kylie;single parent Rachel is on her way to find out just how bad her cancer diagnosis is when she gets an unknown phonecall. Kylie has been snatched from a bus stop and both are now part of The Chain.

In order to get Kylie back, first Rachel must pay a set figure ransom, and then choose her own target to kidnap. No police, no one else is to be involved, as soon as the ransom is paid and the next child is kidnapped, the original caller will get her child back and Rachel is one step closer to getting Kylie. As soon as her target is set and they complete their ends of the bargain, Kylie will be released.

Ominous warnings are given about a family who refused to do what they were told, a warning shot across Rachel's bow is given in the form of an assault as well as a reminder that if someone tries to break the chain, it doesn't just affect you. It can back as far as 7 levels before restarting again.

Absolutely fiendish, covering all their tracks, lying, cheating and casting aside all moral codes, this makes monsters out of the people we are meant to see as heroes-the people who would and will and have done anything to secure the release of their child are exposing their weak spot,their Achilles Heel, the very reason that people like James Bond and Bruce Wayne avoid romantic entanglements and reproducing.

It's a diabolical notion-the one thing you'd do to save your child is risk another's life.

But what happens when the person you pick has a terminal illness and quite literally nothing to lose?

Rachel is a person you immediately side with, she has been dealt a particularly shitty hand from life but then she does something so awful that you find it hard to be empathic. She engages her ex-vet brother in law to help her-with The Chain's permission-in placing another set of parents in exactly the same predicament that she is in.

The name of the book is perfect,it is up to the reader to decide whether a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link or whether combined strength outsrips the reason it was made. Can a chain hold you tight in position and trap you or possibly save a life?

Who started The Chain and why?

And what happens when as Rachel is building her link, Kylie is quite literally, dismantling hers in the place where she is being held captive?

What will be the repercussions if she manages to escape before Rachel fulfils her end of the bargain?

Every player in the game is chosen at random which on the one hand makes it hard to track the other links down, but on the other means you are dealing with very unpredictable players...

Full of morally dubious decision making that leaves you on the edge of your seat, totally believable and best consumed solo-no cheating on this one with any side books!-'The Chain' is deservedly being shouted about for very, very good reasons.

And if you get through it without playing some Fleetwood Mac I would be very surpised.

A brilliant book, disturbing but addictive. I’ve never read one like this before. Highly recommended

Many thanks to Netgalley and Adrian McKinty fir the copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

This is a first for me from this author and I have to say and very good first. The plot is unique and very well delivered. Rachel's daughter is kidnapped from a bus stop near their home, soon after Rachel gets a call to tell her not to break the chain at any cost. To get her daughter back she must kidnap another child and carrie the chain on. With the help from her ex brother in law she set about blowing the whole chain apart.
I really enjoyed all the characters and their parts in the story, the best being when Rachel talks about the big brother state we live in, however not controlled by the government, but controlled by us and how we use social media.

Loved, loved this book. Could not stop thinking "what if this happened to me". Just what would you do. Made my heart beat faster and stayed with me even when I put the book down. Such believable characters you can't help rooting for. One you must read.

Oh my goodness, what an adrenaline rush! I read this in a few hours and I think I must have held my breath for the whole time. A fantastic, sinister premise that builds to an absolute crescendo.

A couple of twists and turns that weren’t a total surprise, but an excellent thriller nonetheless and I will seek out more from this author.

Rachel gets a call to say her daughter, Kylie, has been kidnapped and to save her life Rachel must pay a ransom and kidnap someone else and get them to do the same before her daughter will be released.
She is now part of the chain and if she goes to the police or tells anyone her whole family will die.
Rachel gets together the ransom but will need help with the kidnapping. The chain agrees that she can ask her ex brother-in-law Pete.
Together she and Pete find potential targets but they have to choose carefully. Whoever they pick has to have the money to pay the ransom and be strong enough to cope with taking another child.
Once you are part of The Chain you can never escape but it’s worth it to get your child back..isn’t it?
Good plot and characters and an explosive ending, well worth a read.

As soon as I read the blurb of The Chain by Adrian McKinty I knew I had to read it, so when Orion Books offered a sneak peek of the first few chapters on Netgalley I jumped at the chance. And I was not disappointed! Those first few chapters made me desperate to read more, so I was over the moon to be invited on to the blog tour for what has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year so far.

And wow, did this book deliver! Once started I could not put it down, the tension building to breaking point as I found myself swept up in a gripping and nail biting thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

The first part of The Chain is a fast paced and relentless race against time as Rachel finds herself in every mother’s worst nightmare. Her 13 year old daughter has been kidnapped, abducted from the bus stop on her way to school. Rachel is now part of ‘The Chain’, a deadly game that could end in the death of her daughter if she doesn’t do exactly what she is told.

What follows is a horrifying but gripping story that explores exactly how far a parent would go to protect their child. It’s a moral dilemma that, as a parent and grandparent, I hope never to have to face, but every instinct tells me I would do exactly what Rachel did, even though it would go against everything in me to do so. But a mother’s love for her child is all encompassing and, as much as I’d like to think otherwise, I know I would do anything to ensure the safety of my children and grandchildren. So, for me, everything that happens in The Chain is all too plausible, which makes it an even more terrifying and disturbing read.

Although the pace slows down somewhat in the second part of the book, it is still incredibly tense as Rachel tries to come to terms with what’s happened and the devastating part she played, terrified that something will happen to draw her back into ‘The Chain’ once again. On top of everything else, Rachel is also having to deal with the reoccurrence of the breast cancer she has already beaten once. Feeling increasingly fragile as the story gathers pace, she must once again summon every bit of strength she has to bring this brilliant and compelling thriller to its shocking conclusion.

Adrian McKinty has written a complex and tightly plotted thriller that will keep you enthralled throughout. It’s fast paced, gripping, and is a story that will stay with you long after the final page has been turned. As unique as it is unforgettable, The Chain is a psychological thriller unlike any other and is one I would highly recommend.

An original concept this book is action packed and leaves you questioning how things will be brought to an end. I have to say that I was slightly disappointed with the ending but it’s difficult to see which other direction it could have gone.
Rachel answers her phone to be told that her daughter has been kidnapped. She must not only pay a ransom but must kidnap someone else’s child only then will her daughter be released. If she does not comply her child will be killed. If she involves the police her child will be killed. She is now part of a chain.
A worthwhile read, fast paced but not a lot to keep you guessing.

Do not start The Chain just before bedtime. Or before an important appointment. Or before anything that might require you to put the book down before you finish. Because once you are in The Chain there is no way out. You have to see it through to the bitter end.

The plot concept here was an immediate hook. I’m old enough to remember the old-fashioned, paper, chain letters that used to do the rounds, and the thought of applying that to a child’s life was totally horrifying and mesmerising in equal parts. I’m not sure it would work in reality, as I just couldn’t see myself, or many people I know, being able to follow through successfully with what is required, no matter how motivated or willing we might be. Personally I think I would be the ‘weakest link’ almost immediately and any chain that came my way would grind to a sad little halt.

Luckily for the story, Rachel is made of far sterner stuff than me, and I was cheering her on as she tackled her part in ‘The Chain’ in order to protect her family and attempt to retrieve her child. That part of the plot takes us about halfway through the story, and then the plot and tone change.

Because the true, invidious effect of The Chain on its victims and perpetrators only becomes clear once the immediate action is over. There’s no escaping The Chain. And if you can’t ever be free of it, forget about it, or tell anyone about it, then how can you possibly heal or move on?

Rachel has a simple solution: tug on The Chain until it snaps! The second half of the plot takes us deeper into action/thriller territory as Rachel – assisted by her brother-in-law, Pete – attempts to turn The Chain on its creator, with unexpected results. Interspersed with this, the reader gets insight into the origins of The Chain and its creator, and therefore can see the train coming before Rachel even realises she’s found the tracks!

This is a simple and tersely-written thriller, with such a gripping plot-hook that I just couldn’t stop reading until the last page. I would recommend it to thriller fans looking for a quick, easy read, with plenty of suspense.



“Do you know what this is?” the man asks.
“It’s a gun,” Kylie says.
“It’s a gun pointed at your heart. If you scream or 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. And when…if we do let you go, we don’t want you to be able to identify us.

– Adrian McKinty, The Chain

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog