#ATBR2019 Review: The Chain by Adrian McKinty @mulhollandbooks @adrianmckinty @jessmapreviews
The Chain
by Adrian McKinty
Thank you Mulholland Books for these advanced copies.
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Publish Date: July 9, 2019
Hardcover
512 Pages
Standalone
Genres: Thriller, Suspense
You just dropped off your child at the bus stop.
A panicked stranger calls your phone.
Your child has been kidnapped.
The stranger then 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.
My Review:
Remember those chain letters you used to get as a kid? If you broke them then oh the CONSEQUENCES! I always hated them and if the consequences were to actually come to fruition, then lord help my soul... but then my dark mind thinks hey, I'm not dead yet (right?) so maybe they'll come later on... after all, there's no time limit... isn't there?
Now take those a step further -- your child has been kidnapped and in order for you to get her back, you have to now kidnap another child and then put that kid's parents through the same thing you're going through. Could you stomach it? Would there be any other choice?!
This book takes off right at the start and you're in for a high anxiety roller coaster. While I thoroughly enjoyed this read and got through it quickly, it did lack a little substance in character building. I never connected with any of them and needed a little bit more. I also wonder about the realistic portion of Pete's addiction and the epi pen parts of the story line, but hey, this is FICTION, so many things get a pass for me - especially in thrillers. However, on the side of high entertainment and a page turner, well this one is most definitely that through and through.
The thing about The Chain is that once you've completed your mission, you're still a part of it.... and always will be until the day you die. Depending on how you act afterwards will directly determine how long until that day comes. Remember, it's never about the money.. it's about THE CHAIN.
★★★★
Jessica's Review:
Anyone else remember those awful chain emails and messages you would get in comments on MySpace and AIM? The ones with 10 different fonts and each line in a different color. All had some weird story and then it demanded you forward it on to however many people in X amount of time or something would happen (I specifically remember a clown being one of the threats). Well, THE CHAIN by Adrian McKinty takes this idea and adds a dark twist.
Imagine getting a frantic phone call telling you that someone has just kidnapped your child. As if that isn't enough to process, imagine them then telling you that their son or daughter has been kidnapped by someone else. The only way to get your child back? You must kidnap another stranger's child. If you want your child safely released, then you must ensure that the next person does their part. There are simple rules to follow: no cops, you must pay the ransom, and you must kidnap another child. The consequences if you deviate? Your child dies and so do you. Now it's a race against the clock to fulfill your part and continue the chain.
If you're looking for a thriller you want to fly through, then this is the one to add to your summer TBR. While you might not get the in-depth character building, you get plenty of suspense and action to keep you occupied and entertained. I really like this concept and thought it was fairly original for the thriller genre. Yes, we get the kidnap thrillers frequently, but not one that's quite like this. With this being my introduction to McKinty, I'll have to go and pick up more from this author!
4 stars
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