To get her daughter back alive, Rachel must not only pay a ransom, but also do the unthinkable: Take someone else's child, and assume the role of kidnapper herself. Beneath its surface of high-speed thrills. It was with high expectations that I embarked on Adrian McKintysThe Chain. Guys. Behind the scheme is a sociopathic monster collecting a ransom for each child in the Chain. His father was a boilermaker and ship's engineer and his mother a secretary. 4.9. If they dont, the child will die. What an elaborate conceptand nightmare! This is the eleventh book I have read (well, almost read) by Adrian McKinty. Read more >>. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author ofThe Black Widowcomes the thrilling newsummerblockbuster featuring legendary spy, assassin and art restorer Gabriel Allon. That, or lose their own children forever. Hang on tight, because once you start this book, you cant stop youll be caught in THE CHAIN. . Her brain tells her to run, but she doesn't make the correct split-second decision, and she is taken at gunpoint. However, this storys execution fell short of my expectations. One of the finest novels ever produced in the genre. I raced to the end of the book and then went back to see how Adrian McKinty pulled it all off. This is pure high adrenaline storytelling and thats okay. How closely can we be tracked? You Save 11%. In the third section, Jewell alternates narrators and moments in time: The narrator switches to alternating first-person points of view (told by Poppys mother and Floyd) interspersed with third-person narration of Ellies experiences and Laurels discoveries in the present. [29], Two more Sean Duffy novels to be published by Blackstone Publishing[70][71], On a blog post dated July 15, 2021 on his oficcial site, McKinty explains that the 7th Sean Duffy novel (The Detective Up Late) may be out in late 2022. Reviews & Interviews; Publisher: Mulholland Books Year: 2019 Synopsis: YOUR PHONE RINGS. SURVIVOR. Seriously after reading this book I feel like Ive missed out and will need to catch up on his other boos ASAP!! Terrific. TANA FRENCH, A masterpiece. A woman has Kylie bound and gagged in her back seat, and the only way Rachel will ever see her again is if she pays a ransom and kidnaps another child. He states that The Detective Up Late is in fact finished and Book 8 (Hang On St Christopher) is pretty much done, and that early versions of these two novels have already appeared in German language editions. She must pay a ransom and kidnap another familys child, and then that family must do the same for her daughter to be released. Darn it. In a late-night phone call, Salerno persuaded McKinty to write what would become The Chain. It had better go off. The stand-alone thriller was inspired by the chain letters of his youth and contemporary reports of hostage exchanges. It's a ride I won't soon forget. ]. But McKinty waits until the last third of the book to reveal who created The Chain, and how they run it, day-to-day. Fortunately, her daughter Kylie is made of stern stuff, and as Rachel moves from task to task at the behest of The Chain, she finds out what stuff she herself is made of, too. Its a fast read with plenty of excitement and emotion. A perfect example of a summer beach read. Current price is $16.99, Original price is $18.99. What I do care about is terrible and unnecessarily pretentious writing, men who insist on writing women despite seemingly never having met a women in their lives, and enormous plot holes you could drive a burning trunk through. Readers wont be able to put this thriller down. TO FREE THEM YOU MUST ABDUCT SOMEONE ELSE'S CHILD. SUSPENSE, by When The Chain chooses her, it's as though she has opened the door of her car in a supermarket parking lot and found herself stepping into hell. EMAIL NEWSLETTER: We email our website newsletter containing latest book reviews, giveaways and author interviews to subscribers no more frequently than fortnightly. Detailed seller ratings. ABDUCTOR. Emotional chords are woven tightly to the plot. The Chain. You won't shake it for a long time. One of the finest novels ever produced in the genre. "Booklist (starred review)"The Chain has all the hallmarks of a monster hit, including a terrifying premise that had me wondering: Is this actually happening somewhere right now? You think this is hitting rock bottom and surely Rachel has experienced all the bad luck possible? Ten years later, Ellies remains and her backpack are found, though the police are unable to determine the reasons for her disappearance and death. RELEASE DATE: June 16, 2020. Expect the buzz to build quickly for this onethink The Woman in the Window for 2019. Adrian McKinty has written a novel that's nail-biting, smart, and convincing, with a plot-jolting twist that readers of Gone Girl will love. The Chain has a simple-sounding premise: What if a kidnapping ring used the tactics of a chain letter? In 2019, the author made this comment about that novel: "It didnt sell very well, but it ended up getting the best reviews of my career. What comes next is clunky and a little didactic, making the story bigger than it needs to be, but at least were in the hands of someone who knows how to finish things off with one last irresistible sprint into darkness. [28], In 2016, The Guardian included book 5 of the Sean Duffy series, Rain Dogs, about the investigation of a death at Carrickfergus Castle, in their "The best recent thrillers" coverage. Anyone can read what you share. At the peak of the action, discordant notes pop out: A revolver with a safety catch; a Massachusetts colloquialism that doesn't ring quite true. The Book: The Chain by Adrain McKinty, 2019. Reasonable shipping cost. A volcanic eruption is quite another, for, as the journalist who does a framing voice-over narration for Brooks latest puts it, when Mount Rainier popped its cork, it was the psychological aspect, the hyperbole-fueled hysteria that had ended up killing the most people. Maybe, but the sasquatches whom the volcano displaced contributed to the statistics, too, if only out of self-defense. [5] In 2000, he relocated to Denver, Colorado to become a high school English teacher.[3]. Its only once in a great while when a high concept this good comes along for a book. Adrian is a reviewer and critic for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Irish Times and The Guardian. But these are just tiny bumps, loose pebbles on the rails of an otherwise thunderous ride into the darkest, most fearful reaches of a parent's mind. The morning starts like any other. Buy "The Chain" on Amazon He would like you to realize that what youre reading is existentialism in action, with Rachel defining herself moment by moment with each choice she makes. "[25], His novel The Dead Yard was selected by Publishers Weekly as one of the 12 Best Novels of 2006. Learn more and receive a FREE set of personalized book recommendations! "I have this Forrest Gump-ian way of touching something and it becomes a hit!" That may be a little less sexy for some readers, but something about the scheme is as absurd as it is menacing. Until last week, one of McKintys best-known phrases was less approachable than that, and came from a Tom Waits song: Police at the Station and They Dont Look Friendly. That was the title of one of his many fine, non-best-selling books part of his Belfast-set Detective Sean Duffy series, which had won him esteem, an Edgar Award and a following too small to save him from driving an Uber to make ends meet. GENERAL SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | Best known for his outstanding Sean Duffy series, set during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, McKinty has also written several gripping stand-alones, of which this one is the best yet; in fact, it may well be the biggest thriller of the summer . The characters and their actions seemed stupid and to say I did not connect to the writing would be an understatement. "Stephen King"You have never read anything quite like The Chain and you will never be able to forget it. . The Chain by Adrian McKinty. And how far into the darkness she is prepared to go. "David Lagercrantz, author of The Girl in the Spider's Web and The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye (Continuing Stieg Larsson's Millennium Series). Lisa Jewell She's disarmed by Floyds charm, but when she meets his young daughter, Poppy, Laurel is startled by her resemblance to Ellie. . Some scoffing is in order when the disguised, disembodied voice of The Chain recommends antiquated gimmicks like burner phones, the dark web and Bitcoin as the basics of this operation. Her mind races. Adrian McKinty's 'The Chain' is the thrilling page-turner of the summer July 8, 2019. by The parent added to the Chain in McKintys telling is Rachel, an academically minded single mother whose breast cancer is resurfacing. I have also since read McKintys second blockbuster action-thriller The Island. Adrian's . Subscribe or feel free to browse our newsletter archives. . STEPHEN KING, McKinty is one of the most striking and most memorable crime voices to emerge on the scene in years. Pairing an irresistible concept with a winner protagonist, The Chain promises to be your new addiction once you succumb to the first enticing page. She can't do this, she must do this, she is now a completely different person who has done this. In 2019 after giving up writing Adrian had a global hit with his standalone novel The Chain. The woman tells Rachel that she has kidnapped Kylie, and the only way to get Kylie back is for Rachel to kidnap another child. He's the real deal. [8], He also began working as a writer and reviewer for a number of publications including The Guardian,[9] The Sydney Morning Herald,[10] The Washington Post,[11] The Independent,[12] The Australian,[13] The Irish Times[14] and Harpers. Hope you enjoy browsing my book reviews & following my reading adventures. Adrian McKinty has never written a book I have not loved, and this intense, dark psychological thriller is just brilliant with its killer and diabolical premise of the chain. Firstly, the story concept is an absolute cracker. He writes with confidence, heart, and style to spare. McKinty was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1968. Adrian McKinty steps on the gas early in this pulse-pounding, nerve-shredding, high-octane tale and he doesn't let up. The answer was always, distressingly, yes. 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. Adrian McKinty just leapt to the top of my list of must-read suspense novelists. Accurate description. Uh-oh, it looks like your Internet Explorer is out of date. I have read earlier McKinty novels and really enjoyed the prose, characters and storytelling. [2] He is a winner of the Edgar Award, the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award, the Macavity Award, the Ned Kelly Award, the Barry Award, the Audie Award, the Anthony Award and the International Thriller Writers Award. We arewell, ask Bigfoot, as Brooks does in this delightful yarn, following on his bestseller World War Z (2006). The Chain scared the hell out of me but I could not put it down! I can't believe what went through my mind while reading it--the things I might be willing to do to save my child. After Ellies funeral, Laurel begins a relationship with Floyd, a man she meets in a cafe. Because the chain always uppercased as The Chain, as if it had magic powers isnt as silly or one-note as it initially sounds. Adrian McKinty was born and grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland during the Troubles of the 1970s and 1980s. Police at the Station and They Don't Look Friendly: A Detective Sean Duffy Novel: 6 : McKinty, Adrian: Amazon.com.mx: Libros It turns out that kidnapping is only the beginning. Your purchase helps support NPR programming. takes what at first seems like a fantastical scenario and imbues it with all the terror, stress, trauma, and messiness of reality. The Chain is diabolical, unnerving, and gives a whole new meaning to the word 'relentless.'. She cant do this, she must do this, she is now a completely different person who has done this. Adrian McKinty "Don Winslow, New York Times bestselling author of The Cartel and The Force"Rachel Knight's daughter has been abducted, and the only way Rachel can save her is to add another kidnapped child to the terrifying chain. CRIMINAL. In his 2019 novel The Chain, Adrian McKinty digs into the depths of just how far a parent will go to protect their child. Some scoffing is in order when the disguised, disembodied voice of The Chain recommends antiquated gimmicks like burner phones, the dark web and Bitcoin as the basics of this operation. The Chain, Adrian McKintys unashamedly commercial new stand-alone thriller, features a chilling plot and seems written for the big screen. Pre-publication book reviews and features keeping readers and industry But something far worse is to hit her and Kylie. Beautifully written. And he brings that experience and talent fully to bear upon the reader with. And I bet I won't be the only one. But a cell phone call from 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 . He has been shortlisted for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger and the Grand Prix de Littrature Policire. "John Katzenbach, #1 internationally bestselling author of The Analyst"Just when you think every single plot has been done along comes something new. [3] The book was followed by two sequels in what would become to be known as the Michael Forsythe Trilogy. Divorced teacher Rachel Klein, a cancer survivor, lives on Massachusettss Plum Island with her 13-year-old daughter, Kylie. The fourth of five children, he grew up in the Victoria area of Carrickfergus, County Antrim. One evening, driving in her car, Rachel O'Neill gets a phone call. DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate (and affiliate with a range of other retailers) I earn from qualifying purchases. [McKinty] has proven a dozen times over that he knows how to write people enduring long-term trauma of terrorism, occupation, and kidnapping without cheapening the reality of it. RELEASE DATE: July 9, 2019. Buy "The Chain" on IndieBound. Adrian went to Oxford University on a full scholarship to study philosophy before emigrating to the United States to become a high school English teacher. Hooking readers into her moral doubts and trial by fire is done very deliberately. I admit I was a skeptic at first and poo-pooed the idea, that it wouldnt work. And because McKinty hangs on to his wit and literacy even under duress Where McKinty succeeds, in a book that feels heavily worked over to ensure no tangents detract from main events, is in making sure the premise isnt the main event. "Lou Berney, author of November Road"Starting The Chain is like climbing aboard a runaway train. Hang on tight, because once you start this book, you can't stop-like the characters in the story, you'll be caught in The Chain. It was also a book I swore I'd never read, because it sounded too scary. Otherwise The Chain will be broken. I have never read an Adrian McKinty book before. * My receiving a copy from the publisherfor review purposes did not impact the expression of my honest opinions. Janet Maslin, "Here's an Existential Thriller:Pass It On. Inspired by the "exchange kidnappings" that take place in Mexico and the old-school chain letters of his childhood, crime novelist McKinty (Police at the Station and They Don't Look Friendly, 2017, etc.) I really wanted to read this, swoon & write a glowing review. MEG GARDINER, THE CHAIN is the rare thriller thats not only fiendishly clever but also powerfully empathetic, with both hair-raising twists and complex, fully-realized characters., VIEW MORE at ravencrimereads.wordpress.com, VIEW MORE at thebeachreader.wordpress.com, VIEW MORE at thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress.com, VIEW MORE at lipsquidbookblog.wordpress.com, VIEW MORE at emmathelittlebookworm.wordpress.com, all web content Adrian McKinty and The Story Factory, 2023. all rights reserved, Pairing an irresistible concept with a winner protagonist, THE CHAIN promises to be your new addiction once you succumb to the first enticing page.. [18], Patrick Anderson of the Washington Post has praised McKinty as a leading light of the "new wave" of Irish crime novelists along with Ken Bruen, Declan Hughes and John Connolly. EXCLUSIVE: In a seven-figure deal, Universal Pictures has optioned The Chain, the 2019 bestselling novel by Adrian McKinty. Copyright 2023 Kirkus Media LLC. It must stick to certain rules, including the one McKinty identifies as Chekhovian (and didnt have to, in this genre): Is there a gun? You have never read anything quite like The Chain and you will never be able to forget it. Where McKinty succeeds, in a book that feels heavily worked over to ensure no tangents detract from main events, is in making sure the premise isnt the main event. This book reviews site hosts advertising banners and links served by various third-party advertising networks who use cookies to record the performance of that advertising including impressions/ clicks/ actions taken by users of this website, including IP address/ geographic location/ referral page etc. Brooks places the epicenter of the Bigfoot war in a high-tech hideaway populated by the kind of people you might find in a Jurassic Park franchise: the schmo who doesnt know how to do much of anything but tries anyway, the well-intentioned bleeding heart, the know-it-all intellectual who turns out to know the wrong things, the immigrant with a tough backstory and an instinct for survival. It's Taken for mothers. If any of these things don't happen, your child will be killed. I got shortlisted for an Edgar, won a couple of awards, and so then that set me on that path for the next six years of reluctantly, kind of being dragged into writing about Northern Ireland in the 1980s". It took four countries, three continents, a couple of careers, philosophy studies at Oxford, serious writing awards and major gonna-make-you-a-star-kid machinations in several fields of endeavor to yield this opening sentence from Adrian McKinty: Shes sitting at the bus stop checking the likes on her Instagram feed and doesnt even notice the man with the gun until hes almost next to her.. Breath-taking, breakneck, brilliant. ATTICA LOCKE, Diabolically gripping. Rachel is an ordinary woman, but over the coming days she will be pushed beyond ordinary limits to save her daughter. In desperation, Rachel and her retired military brother-in-law, Pete ONeill, eventually kidnap a random child to win her daughters release. The Chain - by Adrian McKinty (Paperback) $11.99When purchased online In Stock Add to cart About this item Specifications Dimensions (Overall): 8.2 Inches (H) x 5.4 Inch (W) x 1 Inch (D) Weight: .75 Pounds Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up Number of Pages: 368 Format: Paperback Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres Sub-Genre: Thrillers . Its free and takes less than 10 seconds! "Attica Locke, author of the Edgar Award-winning Bluebird, Bluebird"Diabolically gripping. The Chain Author: Adrian McKinty Published: July 9, 2019 352 Pages. The suspense. The caller is a mother herself, whose son has also been abducted, and if Rachel doesnt do exactly as shes told, both children will die. It's called the Chain, and it's a Ponzi scheme from hell. Rachel Klein drops her daughter, Kylie, at the bus stop and heads into her day. #Giveaway, In The Morning Ill Be Gone by Adrian McKinty, Review: Stirring humanity, FLATLAND A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin Abbott, Book Review, Trust by Chris Hammer (Martin Scarsden #3), Book Review + Giveaway, UPRISING by Nic Low, Book Review: Candid walk through history, Booklover Hub, 100+ Authors Seeking Book Reviewers, Aussie Author Reading Challenge 2021, Booklover Book Reviews, Aussie Author Reading Challenge 2020: Championing Australian writers & book reviews. And as brilliant The Chain is a superb construct; it's a self-perpetuating, self-disciplining system that relies on fact that the vast majority of kidnappings are resolved quickly, bloodlessly and profitably. #audies #underdog #blackstoneaudio #mystery", "Rowling's Galbraith makes book shortlist", "Announcing the 2016 Ned Kelly Award Shortlists | Australian Crime Writers Association", "Mystery Fanfare: CWA Dagger Award Longlists", http://bouchercon2017.com/anthony-awards/, "Crime writers Jane Harper and Adrian McKinty win Ned Kelly Award for best novel", "Shotsmag Confidential: CWA Dagger Longlists", "The best books of 2017 - the Boston Globe", "2019 Thriller Awards International Thriller Writers", "Belfast author Adrian McKinty wins major crime fiction prize", "Shotsmag Confidential: CWA Dagger Awards 2020 Longlists Announced", "2022 Thriller Awards International Thriller Writers", "Ned Kelly Awards Australian Crime Writers Association", "New Adrian McKinty Sean Duffy Novel Out in Fall of 2021 Deadly Pleasures", "the psychopathology of everyday life - Adrian McKinty's blog", "Alter Hund, neue Tricks. Rachel is now part of a terrifying scheme The Chain. Taking up our resources, our time to care for you. Brooks presents a case for making room for Bigfoot in the world while peppering his narrative with timely social criticism about bad behavior on the human side of the conflict: The explosion of Rainier might have been better forecast had the president not slashed the budget of the U.S. Geological Survey, leading to immediate suspension of the National Volcano Early Warning System, and theres always someone around looking to monetize the natural disaster and the sasquatch-y onslaught that follows. Brilliant. See the full list. It just doesn't get any better than this. ", Adrian McKinty is one of the most striking and most memorable crime voices to emerge on the scene in years. $7.98 . Adrian McKinty. The Chain : Adrian McKinty : 9781409189589 Share The Chain : The Award-Winning Suspense Thriller of the Year 3.8 (89,187 ratings by Goodreads) Hardback English By (author) Adrian McKinty List price: US$15.67 Currently unavailable Add to wishlist AbeBooks may have this title (opens in new window). In the end, what makes The Chain so frighteningand why it works so well as a thrilleris that all of Rachel's actions remain completely relatable, even as she whipsaws between terror and determination, morphing from victim to perpetrator. Her mother, Rachel, then receives a call that she is now part of The Chain. Description 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). (Shed been in remission for a year.) At once a commentary on social media, greed, revenge, love, and true evil, and written with an almost lyrical quality, this book will have readers searching for more McKinty titles to devour. BOOKLOVER HUB: The Booklover Hub provides another channel for authors and indie publishers to make a connection with a book reviewer. And then, in the moments where McKinty gives readers a breather, Who would do this? Were glad you found a book that interests you! Adrian McKinty was born and grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, during the Troubles of the 1970s and 1980s. [15], McKinty quit writing in 2017 after being evicted from his rented house, citing a lack of income from his novels, and instead took work as an Uber driver and a bartender. [18], The stand-alone thriller was inspired by the chain letters of his youth and contemporary reports of hostage exchanges. An original premise, relentless pacing, and strong female characters lift this nail-biter from Edgar winner McKinty (the Sean Duffy series), which takes a no-holds-barred look at how far a parent will go to protect her child. In the meantime, I urge readers to check out this highly talented authors far superiorback catalogue. Try AbeBooks Description VICTIM. The Chain . Retrieve credentials. The Chain by Adrian McKinty is worthy of the hype its getting. In his Sean Duffy series of police procedurals, he writes with a dry humor that often tips into hilarity, but there's none of that here. It is no surprise to me that Don Winslows agent sent McKinty a $10,000 advance on hearing it, and that The Chain has been sold to 36 countries and scored McKinty a seven-figure movie deal with Paramount, all pre-release. On a Thursday morning, 7:55am, a teenage girl, Kylie, is sitting at the bus stop checking the likes on her Instagram feed, when a man wearing a black ski . Brooks is a pro at building suspense even if it plays out in some rather spectacularly yucky episodes, one involving a short spear that takes its name from the sucking sound of pulling it out of the dead mans heart and lungs. Grossness aside, it puts you right there on the scene. Thirteen-year-old Kylie is waiting for the school bus on Plum Island, Massachusetts, when a man and a woman pull up wearing ski masks. If Rachel doesnt follow the program, Kylie will die. It's something parents do every morning: Rachel Klein drops her daughter at the bus stop and heads into her day.