The Chain is a psychological thriller which plays upon the most primal of emotions – that of a parent’s love for their child. Drawing on his childhood in Northern Ireland, where chain letters were rife, for inspiration, Adrian McKinty has taken the concept and run with it, creating a dark read full of pervading menace.

When Rachel Klein’s daughter, Kylie, is kidnapped on her way to school Rachel receives instructions on how to get her back. Firstly, she must pay a ransom and secondly she has to kidnap another child. She must not, under any circumstances, contact the police or authorities – if she does her daughter will be killed. Rachel is a divorced cancer survivor who is trying to start her life anew. She knew she was strong but her resilience is put to the test forcing her into situations she never imagined.

This is a plot driven novel which forces the reader to question whether it is better (or some could say worse) to be the victim or the abuser? It is a clever trick to make Rachel veer from the former to the latter and threw up some interesting and intriguing moral dilemmas. I would have liked a little more characterisation to add depth to the moral conundrums but, the concept is so well executed that I was kept on the edge of my seat. Rachel’s quandry is clear and we watch as she draws up a shortlist of children to kidnap, scopes out places to keep them and works out a plan for abduction.

Thrown into the deep end Rachel is forced to make tricky decisions and brings in her former brother in law, Pete to help her. I enjoyed the dynamic between Rachel and Pete and his love for both Rachel and Kylie is clear to see. It was interesting to see how their personalities changed, how the pressure of the chain affected them and how far they would go. It adds a nice frisson to the book creating some additional tension beyond the initial kidnapping.

I enjoyed how Adrian McKinty plays with emotions and pushes his characters to their limits, it kept me firmly on my toes ensuring that I didn’t quite know how things would develop. It is a pacy, page turner of a book with a great premise and is a wholly entertaining read. I have no doubt that this book is going to be huge and would make a great blockbuster movie; peril, emotional turmoil and characters teetering between good and evil, what more do you want?

Some books are hyped to high heaven without justification, but the excitement surrounding The Chain, written by a multiple award-winning crime writer, is perfectly justifiable as this thriller has a considerable amount of substance to it. I read over 1000 books per year, with the bulk being from the crime thriller genre, but it's a rarity to come across one that I know I will remember for many, many years to come; this is the epitome of unforgettable. I highly doubt that there will be a better book forthcoming to knock The Chain off the top spot as my favourite book of 2019.

It begins by dropping you right into the middle of exciting, fast-paced action that starts the story off in such a captivating fashion; I was gripped and tried so hard to slow my reading speed because this is such a high-quality thriller and there is so much that should be savoured within it. The writing is some of the most compelling I've encountered in a while and I genuinely felt bereft when I reached the end.

It is a thoroughly unnerving and deliciously disturbing read and is so compulsively readable that I effectively cancelled my plans to ensure I had the time to enjoy it. This is as close to my perfect thriller as it gets. The chilling story centres around a family whose child is kidnapped and in order to get them back the parents must kidnap another child and so on and so forth. McKinty has crafted such a claustrophobic and almost stifling atmosphere and it runs the entirety of the novel.

So believe the hype people; it's real and I can guarantee any crime connoisseur will swiftly fall under the author's spell. I don't think it's really possible for me to adequately express just how fantastic The Chain actually is, so I would say — READ IT! The potent mix of incredible plotting, twisty surprises, rapid-fire action and fantastic characterisation. Be warned, though, this is not for the faint-hearted as it is one of the sickest and most twisted books I've picked up in years, and I loved every single second of it.

I am already terribly excited about what's to come in the future; Mr McKinty please don't make us wait too long! Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.

What kind of person kidnaps a child?

Kylie sits at a bus stop on Plum Island it’s just a normal school day, until it isn’t.

Rachel gets a phone call and the world she was beginning to put back together shatters instantly.

Marty, Rachel’s ex – he’s not going to be helpful, anyway he’s away working his new partner, Tammy, says. He’d go to the police and then, well there’d be repercussions and that would be bad.

Pete, Marty’s brother, he’s an ex Marine – he’s seen stuff, he knows stuff and he cares for Kylie but he’s got a problem and that might ruin everything.

What kind of person wouldn’t kidnap a child?

She’s gone and Rachel has to stay strong. Has to do what she is told. Has to get Kylie back. Has to do as she’s told. She has to do something that makes her as bad as the others. She has to do something any mother would do under the circumstances, something no mother would ever dream of having to do, would ever think they could do – doesn’t she?

The Chain

What is this thing that makes you do such heinous things? Who is behind this abhorrent thing that is The Chain?

Operating by fear and anonymity The Chain appears to be the perfect kidnapping business model. The kidnappers are the victims of a previous kidnapping and the ransom is paid by bitcoins. No one knows who The Chain is only that they have become a part of it – another link in The Chain – victim and perpetrator in fear for their children’s lives, their families lives, their own lives.

We follow Rachel and she is a feisty character, determined, smart and likeable. Will she get Kylie back? Will she do as she is told? Does she want to live the rest of her life wondering if The Chain might call upon her again, put her and her family at risk again? What about all the other victims – past, present and future? What can she do? What will she do?

You may not agree with everything Rachel does, you may think you could never do any of this but you cannot, surely, do anything but admire Rachel’s grit and determination. Her plan maybe dangerous, difficult and even downright crazy but along with the ever loyal Pete she knows she has to carry it out.

The Chain knows everything doesn’t it? The Chain manipulates people and situations to it’s own end. What is The Chain doing? Does it know what Rachel is up to?

What happens throughout this book will mess with your head, mess with who and what you thought you were and then have you hoping that you could be as strong, as brave as Rachel but really happy, grateful and relieved that this is not happening to you.

Adrian McKinty has written a hard hitting story that some may find difficult to read but those who do read it will be gripped by this unique thriller.

Thanks

My thanks to Orion for the invite to read an eARC of The Chain by Adrian McKinty via NetGalley

Rachel is due to go to her oncologist having had a call that they want to see her following some blood tests. She is feeling much better and hopes that she is on the road to recovery. What she didn’t expect on the way was a phone call that changed her life. She was told that her daughter Kylie had been kidnapped on her way to school, and that in order to release her she has to do certain things. One of which will be to kidnap the loved one of someone she chooses in order to continue the chain. Her every move is being monitored. She has to find $25,000 before she can start and she will then be given instructions how to continue. Wow! This book hooks you in from the very start, even before you get to know much about the characters, the plot line is so strong. You are not only the victim but forced into being the next perpetrator. Remember getting chain letters which if you didn’t send it on something dreadful was going to happen? Think on a larger scale and read on. A world where we track ourselves through social media minute by minute but maybe not think that there are GPS trackers that can be put in childrens shoes. A tense, brilliantly written read that I couldn’t help reading “just one more chapter” . A very cleverly thought out intriguing plot which is a little dark at times, wonderful characters and one I think will be talked about for a very long time. This would make an excellent film. 5* all the way. “It’s not about the money it’s about the Chain”.
(amazon done- Misfits farm)
(rest of links on publication day)

“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”

The Chain has an elaborate and horrific plot line. Your child has been kidnapped and the only way to get them back is to kidnap another child. How can you do that but then as a mother how can you not? This story really tests the limit of what a parent will do to protect their child and made me question what I would do in this scenario. Could I do the unthinkable to another parent? The answer is not an easy one to give and I guess you really don’t know until you have to make the choice.

The first half of this book was fantastic. I really felt for Rachel and was drawn into her story. I did not want to stop reading. I had to know what Rachel was going to do. I felt like I rode the rollercoaster of emotions with her. Devastation, despair, anger, fear, determination, hopelessness. Parts of it felt unrealistic and far fetched whereas others felt so real and disturbingly simple.

However the second half of the book took a strange turn and didn’t feel in keeping with the first half. Having read the acknowledgments, where the author confirms that this was initially a novella, it makes sense that potentially the original story would have ended just after the half way point. With that in mind though, I’m not sure if I would have been happy with that ending or if the ending we did get was the only acceptable option.

I know this all sounds a little vague but I don’t want to give too much away....

This book had so much potential and although it was a great read, it didn’t quite deliver on that potential. My rating is reflective of the first half of the book which I really loved!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Described by Don Winslow as "Jaws for parents", The Chain involves a scenario that is every parents' worst nightmare and is a no holds barred look at what a parent will do for their child. The book has received a lot of word of mouth being mentioned several times by various writers at Noireland 2019 and on the Two Crime Writers and a Microphone podcast.

The titular chain of McKinty's book is partially based on Mexican exchange kidnappings, in which people offered to take the place of loved ones after they have been kidnapped by Mexican drug cartels. It was also partially inspired by the chain letters McKinty remembers from his schooldays, which frankly terrified us all with their promises of retribution if the chain was broken.

Rachel O' Neill is introduced to us as quite a vulnerable but still resilient character; when we first meet her she's driving to an appointment with her oncologist to check that her breast cancer is in remission. We know she has already been to hell and back but she's about to be tested even more. She receives a phone call telling her that her daughter Kylie has been kidnapped. She must first pay a ransom in Bitcoin and she must also kidnap another child before Kylie can be released. If she alerts the police or tells anyone about it, Kylie is dead. It's an incredibly simple idea yet it is truly terrifying. Rachel soon puts a plan together, recruiting her ex-Marine brother-in-law Pete to help her with the kidnapping. But Pete is now a drug addict, which introduces another layer of danger and unpredictability to the situation. This is a breakneck high concept thriller right from the very first page and the pace never lets up, testing Rachel at every turn.

As with many other recent crime thrillers, The Chain is a comment on the dangers that come with social media, as Rachel finds it incredibly easy to determine when kids will be left alone without their parents as well as intimate details about the children. It's a concept that's all too familiar to those of us with social media accounts and speaks to a very real contemporary anxiety. And with this anxiety comes the thirst for financial gain and a sense of power. As the narrative progresses, we come to understand the origins of the chain and its perpetrators.

The strength of the book is not only the main concept but what McKinty puts Rachel through, from worrying about whether the cancer is back, to worrying about Kylie and whether her kidnappers are treating her well, to worrying about the child that she herself kidnaps, and worrying about how reliable Pete actually is. We're always told to make our characters suffer and to raise the stakes. Here, McKinty offers a masterclass in suspense but all through a gritty reality.

McKinty is a superbly gifted writer and has already won a string of awards including an Edgar Award and a Ned Kelly Award for books in his Sean Duffy series. In these books, which can be described as Belfast noir, his detective, Sean Duffy, is a Catholic navigating his way through The Troubles. The Chain is a very different book to McKinty's previous works as its set in Massachusetts, a location shift that may attract a bigger readership. McKinty's debut, Dead I Well May Be, was published in 2003 so it's fantastic that he has attracted a bigger readership. It was reported a few weeks ago that Paramount made a seven-figure film deal for The Chain so we're going to be hearing a lot more about both the book and the film and deservedly so.

The Chain stays with you long after you've finished it.

Unless you have been living under a rock, don’t have a twitter account or forgot to pay your Broadband bill over the past 6 months you may have missed all the chatter about THE CHAIN the new standalone, thriller by Adrian McKinty. With incredible reviews from all the best crime writers including Stephen King, Val McDermid and Dennis Lehane it was hard to ignore the hype and excitement about this book.

I was fortunate enough to read an early copy in April this year, but wanted to post my review around publication day so YOU can actually buy the book now as today (9th July) is publication day.

This is my first book by Adrian McKinty and I absolutely loved the premise of the book and the fact that everyone was raving about it so as soon as I received my copy I popped it to the top of my pile and started it immediately.

THE CHAIN is a fascinating and thought provoking story about how far we (as parents) are prepared to go to protect our children. Rachel O’Neill is a newly divorced single mum, coping with breast cancer, a useless ex-husband and a 13 year old daughter when she gets a phone call which literally turns her world upside down and inside out. Her daughter has been kidnapped and she needs to pay a ransom PLUS kidnap another child to ensure her daughter’s safety and release and now she’s part of THE CHAIN.

Now, as a parent myself I couldn’t even begin to imagine how Rachel felt but I could totally understand her “mama lioness” taking over – nothing will stop Rachel from getting her daughter back home even if it means going against everything she believes in and crossing lines she would normally avoid . With the help of her ex-brother in law Pete she intends to not only rescue her daughter but break THE CHAIN wide open at any cost.

This is a real roller coaster of a ride, gripping, terrifying and utterly addictive and I highly recommend it to fans of fast-paced thrillers.

This must be one of the most anticipated books of 2019 and I have to say that it’s very deserving of that title! Once my copy of The Chain arrived I became part of its phenomenal journey and that involved me reading it the minute I had it in my grubby little hands! I read it fast and I read it hard….and then regretted it the minute that final page finished! Honestly, you will want to savour The Chain but it’s fast paced, adrenaline rush of a plot runs a turbocharged course and you just have to keep up the momentum at all costs!

The opening chapters start The Chain of events for the reader when a young girl is kidnapped at the bus stop whilst waiting for her bus to school. The kidnappers don’t seem your “hard as nails” organised types especially as they seem very over emotional-a trait that proves difficult when they are stopped by the police. When the young girls mother Rachel answers a call on her phone, little does she know that her actions have now made her part of “The Chain”! To get Kylie released, Rachel has to pay a ransom (so far so typically kidnapping!) but the next part of her forfeit is to kidnap another child and only then will Kylie be released unharmed.

Now the Chain has many links, some stronger than others, but it looks like adding Rachel throws a bit of a spanner in the works! They say that women are like teabags-you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water but Rachel has been thrown into the deep end without a life jacket on!! However, I absolutely loved Rachel! A strong and determined woman who probably felt she wanted to look around for someone else to help her out of this shocking situation but who stood up to the challenge ahead. Without the help of her ex husband, Rachel turns to her brother in law Pete for advice and help but Pete is fighting his own demons…

The Chain has a brilliant premise that is perfectly executed by the author with some cracking plot developments and plenty of compelling characters. A brutal crime thriller full of OMFG moments, it is definitely one that will grab you immediately and refuse to let go so make sure you have plenty of time to devote to it! As a parent it scared the **** out of me and left me wondering just how far the ordinary, law abiding man/woman on the street would go to save their loved one because somewhere out there, someone is waiting to push them to the most extreme and terrifying lengths that they can imagine.

Highly recommended by me!

WOW! I couldn’t put this down and read it in one sitting. It’s a brilliant story that really sucked me in from the off. This has film written all over it. I definitely want more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

Wow! This was a bit intense, all the way through. A new author to me and I was so impressed that I have now added a bunch of his back catalogue to my tbr. What I especially loved about it was that it was nothing like any of the other, many books of this genre that make up the majority of my reading matter these days. Yes, at times it was a bit bonkers but, that aside, it grabbed me from the off and held me tight all the way through, releasing me at the end, totally spent. Harrowing is an understatement.
The Chain of the title refers to the kidnapping of nearest and dearest, children usually for maximum impact. Rachel is drawn into the Chain when her 13yo daughter Kylie is taken from a bus stop on her way to school. She then receives a message giving her implicit instructions. It appears that the people behind the taking of Kylie are themselves victims; their own child also having been taken and they had to take Kylie to get their own child back. Rachel is then told that she must continue the Chain to get her own child back; by taking another. Going to the Police is not an option, breaking the chain likewise, these things are reinforced as once you are part of the Chain, you are in it for life...
Poor Rachel, she's been through the mill and then some recently, she's just about keeping her head above water when her world is rocked. But she's gritty and determined and desperate to get Kylie back safe that, well, you'll have to read for yourself to see what happens there. With her ex pretty much clueless, she turns (with permission) to her brother-in-law to help her. But he has his own problems which he tries to work through to assist. And here's where it gets even more bizarre as the truth of the foundations of the Chain comes to light...
It's a riveting read, one that tugged on my heartstrings throughout. It's high paced and emotional with scant respite for the reader. I literally had to put it down a few times just to get my breath back. The ending did slightly let the side down, and I can't explain due to spoilers, but as the rest was so good I am happy with my decision to go with the full five stars. Especially as the book highlighted my own fears about social media and how much we share. It also had me wondering about what I would do if I was in that situation personally... I gave up thinking about that quite soon as, to be honest, just no, I don't want to go there...!
All in all this was a great read that held my attention right from the off and left me (mostly) satisfied at its conclusion. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

My thanks to Orion Publishing Group for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Chain’ by Adrian McKinty in exchange for an honest review. I was also lucky enough to win a proof copy from the publisher.

Imagine you receive a phone call telling you that a stranger has kidnapped your child. They tell you that you not only have to pay a ransom but kidnap someone else’s child. That family has themselves to kidnap a third child. When this happens your child will be released. If any of this doesn’t go to plan, your child will be killed. If you ever reveal what happened...well you can imagine. A pretty diabolical and twisted version of the chain letter!

There’s been a great deal of buzz about this title for months and I was delighted to be approved to read and review in advance. Even though its high concept premise is quite ‘out there’ (as many conspiracy thrillers are) it is very well plotted with strong characterisations and excellent pacing.

I was also delighted by the inclusion of some place names from the mythos of H.P. Lovecraft.

This novel certainly lived up to its expectations and it is bound to be a huge hit with lovers of crime thrillers. I expect to see it rocketing up the bestseller charts next week. I was literally on the edge of my seat for this rollercoaster of a thriller.

Highly recommended.

The Chain arrived with a lot of endorsements, including praise from the authors Val McDermid and Stephen King. I must admit that up until about 20% in I was in two minds whether to continue as it was good, but not gripping. I persevered, mainly due to the complimentary quotes, and I did find myself becoming more invested. 

What did elements did I enjoy? Firstly, the interesting, and frightening, premise. Someone is forcing parents to find ransom money, and worse, conduct the kidnapping of a child to ensure the safe return of their own kidnapped son or daughter. This creates a network of frantic strangers, each forming a link in the chain, who are relying on each participant feeling just as desperate as them to play by the rules, meet the demands, and avoid involvement from law enforcement. If they all comply then they will avoid a domino effect of violent repercussions. This ensures each parent becomes ruthless and commit acts that they would ordinarily consider incomprehensible driving the plot along at a fast lick.

Secondly, interesting questions are raised by posing such a stark moral dilemma. The loss of a child is the ultimate nightmare but the consequences of becoming complicit, becoming a monster, the very person who will knowingly inflict that pain on the next target causes guilt and psychological scars. McKinty conveys the sense that this nightmare prevents anyone truly breaking free, even if a kidnap victim is released. 

Any negatives? While the author is skilful at conveying the emotions of fear, desperation, panic and revulsion, oddly I did find it hard to feel strongly for the characters as individuals. I felt they were thinly drawn; what mattered was the plot and the route that would lead to the resolution. 

This is a good, pacey read. I enjoyed it, I read it over the course of two days, but I do feel some of the praise is overblown. As a caveat, I am aware that reading The Chain soon after the subtlety of Bitter Orange, in which Claire Fuller crafts a strong sense of Frances' inner voice, has led me to compare the two books rather than judging The Chain purely on its own merits.


I would say it is an ideal read to take on your summer holiday.

The first book I've read from this author. Great book, great idea! I'd never heard of the Mexican concept of exchange kidnappings that influenced this book before, but I'm glad the author had so that they could write this amazing story.

This really invades your idea of what's moralistic. It's not moralistic to kidnap a child, but would you do it if that meant saving your own from certain death? It's quite strange reading about a person doing all these things that I would say I'm not capable of, but... I don't blame her. It really does make you ponder the idea of: are humans capable of anything given the right circumstances? I was definitely holding my breath on the nut allergy scene, my mind also torn just like Rachel's as to the right step to take.

I was very drawn to Pete. I always seem to prefer the most broken ones.

Well written, likeable characters.

This is quite an unnerving book as whilst the scenario seems unrealistic, there are sick and twisted people out there that would do something like this.
Rachel gets a call to say her daughter has been kidnapped, and to get her back she must pay 25,000 dollars and kidnap someone else’s child!
She speaks to the woman who has her daughter and knows this is real as the same thing happened to the kidnapper, and they’re all part of a chain.
It’s quite a shocker really what happens in the story and I really did feel for the parents going through this.
This is a gripping read as you’re desperate to know what happens next and it really had me on the edge of my seat at the end.
Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I have never read an Adrian McKinty book before. Seriously after reading this book I feel like I’ve missed out and will need to catch up on his other boos ASAP!!

Wow this was one addictive read that kept me on the edge of my seat ,desperate to finish it but wanting to saviour every word at the same time.

I have heard about chain letters where you then have to send a copy of the chain letter to numerous people. What if you’re child was kidnapped and the only way to get them back is to kidnap another child!! This chain is relentless and you will never be free from the chain even when you everything they ask you to do.

How far would you go to save you’re child? To save you’re child would you put another family through the hell you are going through?

Loved the original plot and it really made me think what would I do in those circumstances. I love a book that stays in you’re mind after reading it!!

A must read roller coaster of a thriller.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

I’ve heard so many people raving about The Chain, so I was eager to see what it was life. To be honest, I don’t think I “got” it. I can see it being a movie, 100%, but as a book it just didn’t suit me. The premise is great, the writing is good, but I just wasn’t into it as much as I thought I would be! Delighted to see the author getting his recognition though! Much deserved after all this time!

I’d like to thank Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Chain’ by Adrian McKinty in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

When Rachel’s phone rings an unknown voice informs her that her thirteen-year-old daughter Kylie has been kidnapped and the only way she’ll be returned is firstly for Rachel to pay a ransom and secondly that she must kidnaps someone else’s child to keep The Chain running. If she fails to do either, Kylie will be killed. Rachel’s an ordinary woman and she can’t believe this is happening to her – but it is!

‘The Chain’ is a well-written, exciting and incredibly nail-biting thriller with a powerful plot and believable characters – Rachel who’s recovering from cancer and Pete her ex-brother-in-law who has problems of his own. It’s so horrifying that I was afraid to continue reading but couldn’t stop as I had to find out what was happening to Rachel, and as the tension increased I had to remind myself to breathe. There were surprises and a huge twist near the end that was shocking and totally unexpected. This is the first novel I’ve read by Adrian McKinty and it definitely won’t be the last.

Don’t break the chain!

Rachel O’Neill has had a few tough breaks. Her husband, who she supported through law school, has left her for a younger model, and she has fought breast cancer. She lives for her daughter Kylie and is now ready to restart her life. What on earth can go wrong? Well, how about getting a notification that her cancer may be back and a call to tell her that Kylie, her daughter has been kidnapped?

Rachel’s life, for the foreseeable future, is now therefore entirely focused on getting Kylie back alive but it’s not a simple kidnapping and apart from the $25,000 ransom demanded she must do the unthinkable to get her daughter back alive.

In order to enjoy this book, the reader must buy into the premise that a parent will do anything at all for her offspring. Once that hurdle has been jumped what follows in the plot seems entirely logical and plausible. In actuality, many would refuse to cooperate and the kidnappers’ plans would fail dramatically. I admit to having trouble accepting the theory but came around eventually and never came across a “that would never happen” moment.

Despite Rachel’s character being well-drawn I did not warm to her, preferring to relate to Pete, her rather rebellious ex-brother in law. Kylie came across well as a resilient teenager and her father, Matty as a rather shallow individual who was generally pretty ineffectual. The thriller lost a star from me as the characters of the perpetrators were not fully explored and, in addition, I felt that the denouement was rather rushed. However, it’s a good read and one to be recommended.

mr zorg

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Firstly a huge thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book ahead of a lot of other people. Your support is highly appreciated!

When I first heard about The Chain I was instantly intrigued. The blurb sounded like something straight up my street, and not only that - it was also supported by so many big authors! After I got the taste with the sampler, I knew I was hooked and needed to know what happened next with Rachael and Kylie.

The premise of The Chain is incredible. I've mentioned before that scenarios that could happen in real life frighten me. This one was no different.

Without trying to give too much away The Chain follows a group of very sophisticated individuals who basically get parents to kidnap someone else's child in order to save their own, and in turn the operation runs itself.

I really enjoyed Adrian McKinty's writing style, the narrative was scary and gripping, plus the last few chapters had me biting my nails and pulling my hair - GOSH it was intense!

The reason why I'm not giving The Chain a full five stars is that I really wish the author didn't give so much away throughout the book and saved the big reveal for a more shocking effect. I didn't get blown away by the twist and it was a bit disappointing.

The pacing was good, the narrative kept me interested but the lack of surprise left me on the fence. I really wish there were more twists and turns throughout the book.

It'll be a one time read for me, but I would definitely recommend if you'd like a terrifying read about how far parents are willing to go to save their children and have them back.

An absolute masterpiece. The story was dark and gripping and didn't follow usual clichés. It faced facts and, although cold and twisted, said what we all would do in the situation the main character is put in. I couldn't put this book down. You need to read this.