THE CHAIN by Adrian McKinty RELEASE DATE: July 9, 2019 For every child kidnapped, another must be taken. SUSPENSE | The novel is at its best when its focus narrows, with punishing clarity, on the emotional intensity of its central predicament. Letters From The Light author Shel Calopa: Dystopia Now? . Number of Pages: 384. Choose Expedited Shipping at checkout for delivery by, Learn how to enable JavaScript on your browser, Best Mystery Nominees->2020 Macavity Awards, Best Thriller Nominees->2020 Barry Awards, October 2020 Barnes & Noble Monthly Picks, House of Spies (Gabriel Allon Series #17), The English Girl (Gabriel Allon Series #13), The English Spy (Gabriel Allon Series #15), Natchez Burning (Natchez Burning Trilogy #1) (Penn Cage Series #4), The Bone Tree (Natchez Burning Trilogy #2) (Penn Cage Series #5), Desolation Mountain (Cork O'Connor Series #17), Windigo Island (Cork O'Connor Series #14). STEPHEN KING, McKinty is one of the most striking and most memorable crime voices to emerge on the scene in years. Please share your thoughts in the comments!More information on The Chain by Adrian McKinty https. 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. 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. Liam McIlvanney, writing in the Irish Times, singled out McKinty's lyrical prose style as the defining characteristic of the Duffy series. Any parents reading this book will be tempted to find a version of the surveillance gizmo that McKinty writes about, and stick it immediately in their kids footwear. Magazine Subscribers (How to Find Your Reader Number), POLICE AT THE STATION AND THEY DON'T LOOK FRIENDLY. A perfect example of a summer beach read. In his 2019 novel The Chain, Adrian McKinty digs into the depths of just how far a parent will go to protect their child. 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.) At times, the characters and the emotional core of the events are almost obscured by such quick maneuvering through the weighty plot. Lisa Jewell. Adrian McKinty's novel "The Chain" makes readers wonder how much evil they might be pushed toward. 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 Dont Look Friendly, 2017, etc.) TO FREE THEM YOU MUST ABDUCT SOMEONE ELSE'S CHILD. But when little Kylie finds a wrench in the room where shes chained, the outcome is just surprising enough to heighten interest, not kill it. We learn Kylies kidnapping is just the latest in a horrifyingly effective ransom scheme, wherein parents are tasked with taking a child hostage in order for their own child to be released. I have also since read McKintys second blockbuster action-thriller The Island. YOUR CHILD WILL BE KILLED. She cant do this, she must do this, she is now a completely different person who has done this. BOOK RATING:The Story 4 / 5 ; The Writing 3 / 5 Overall 3.5, OR listen to the audiobook FREE with Audibles Trial (check eligibility). 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. Alongside these, McKinty wrote the three books in his Lighthouse Trilogy, a series of science fiction young adult novels set in New York City, his native Ireland, and the fictional planet Altair. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. See the full list. Try AbeBooks Description VICTIM. A STRANGER HAS KIDNAPPED YOUR CHILD. I can't believe what went through my mind while reading itthe things I might be willing to do to save my child. Agent: Shane Salerno, Story Factory. ATTICA LOCKE, Diabolically gripping. Its free and takes less than 10 seconds! 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards. Darn it. I raced to the end of the book and then went back to see how Adrian McKinty pulled it all off. Entertaining and definitely a page turner but probably not a book you want to analyze to death as it does have some problems along the way. SUSPENSE | Once he sets up the idea that each set of parents with a kidnapped child must kidnap some other, random young victim or know that The Whatever will kill their kid, find them where they live, inflict unspeakable misery and never go away, his book becomes much more reasonable. I can't believe what went through my mind while reading it--the things I might be willing to do to save my child. Hes the real deal., A grade-A-first-rate-edge-of-your-seat thriller. "Bestselling author Dervla McTiernan"My God! Learn more and receive a FREE set of personalized book recommendations! [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. This is the eleventh book I have read (well, almost read) by Adrian McKinty. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. This information may be used to tailor the advertising provided to website viewers. It's a ride I won't soon forget. In 2019 after giving up writing Adrian had a global hit with his standalone novel The Chain. Okay, I will start to bidding with five stars, I think I heard five hundred stars! You wont shake it for a long time. Is McKinty up to the task, though, for well over 300 pages? SUSPENSE | There are breakneck thrillers and then there's The Chain. What would you do to save your kids? Adrian McKinty just leapt to the top of my list of must-read suspense novelists. 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. It just doesn't get any better than this. 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 . Reasonable shipping cost. The woman on the line tells Rachel she has kidnapped her daughter. His father was a boilermaker and ships engineer and his mother a secretary. 3.5 w sumie cakiem dobry krymina z wtkiem sensacyjnym. If they dont, the child will die. Pairing an irresistible concept with a winner protagonist, The Chain promises to be your new addiction once you succumb to the first enticing page. The scheme brings to light a spectrum of humanity ranging from unimaginable viciousness to well, Rachel thinks she knows her own nature until this storys onslaught of terrible choices hits her. 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. . Find out more >>. Reviews & Interviews; Publisher: Mulholland Books Year: 2019 Synopsis: YOUR PHONE RINGS. A powerhouse of a novel for the Irish-turned-American author, McKintys pulse-pounding thrill ride is definitely all its cracked up to be. 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. When Rachel (and her brother-in-law, Pete, a military veteran who helps her along the way) settles on a target, things inevitably go wrong, and McKinty stretches the bounds of belief in the plots progression. Her brain tells her to run, but she doesn't make the correct split-second decision, and she is taken at gunpoint. Rachel's 13-year-old daughter Kylie was waiting at the bus stop while she headed to a doctor's appointment. Anyone can read what you share. IF ANY OF THESE THINGS DONT HAPPEN: The kind that threatened you with plagues and curses if you didnt strictly follow their instructions? The rules are simple: find the money, find your victim, and then commit a horrible act youd have thought yourself incapable of just 24 hours ago. Shes driving to Boston one day to see her doctor when she gets a call from an unidentified woman who sounds upset. Divorced teacher Rachel Klein, a cancer survivor, lives on Massachusettss Plum Island with her 13-year-old daughter, Kylie. Do yourself a favor and skip this predictable yawner. McKinty has been an especially astute observer of class in fiction. And the seemingly inescapable web of guilt and lies, is highly plausible and thus compelling. Your child is kidnapped and to get them back you must kidnap someone else's child and tell his/her parents that they need to kidnap a child to get their own back and so the Chain keeps going. Your child will be released when your victim's parents kidnap another child. Otherwise The Chain will be broken. How? The Chain has a simple-sounding premise: What if a kidnapping ring used the tactics of a chain letter? One evening, driving in her car, Rachel O'Neill gets a phone call. SUSPENSE, by Which could easily have happened with a premise like this. The Chain is an exceptionally good thriller. His father was a boilermaker and ship's engineer and his mother a secretary. And maybe thats the problem. Sometimes, though, it feels as though it moves a little too fast. To McKinty's great credit, he can make readers wonder at any point whether the ground may fall beneath their feet and how much evil they might be pushed toward. 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. No law enforcement, no politicians, no journalists. Read it that way and it's a thriller on more levels than one. January 25, 2023; Tagged film, miscommunication trope, romance, romantic comedy, single parent. But then a phone call changes everything. 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 McKintys 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., The Chain is 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. The Chain sounds like the kind of horrifying crime ring that might prey on wealthy businesspeople in far-off places ravaged by drugs or gangs. Adrian McKinty, author of such tremendous books like the Michael Forsythe trilogy (start with #1, Dead I Well May Be), has crafted a . GENERAL SCIENCE FICTION | Learn how to enable JavaScript on your browser, Buy One, Get One 50% Off Books for All Ages. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from, Motherhood meets the sci-fi surreal in Helen Phillips brilliant, Looking for a mind-bending summer read? McKintys admiration for Winslow is apparent in the psychopathic behavior he injects into some of The Chains power players, in the long reach of Mexican drug cartels, in the presence of a highly sympathetic major character whos gotten hooked on hard drugs, and in the basic decency of the books central family. KIDNAPPER. Thrillers, at least in terms of premise, dont get much more psychologically rich than The Chain, the buzzy new novel from Adrian McKinty (the Sean Duffy series). Adrian McKinty 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. One of the finest novels ever produced in the genre. In 'The Chain,' McKinty hooks the motif up to a power supply, connects it to wi-fi and plunges it into the Dark Web. Truly a nail-biter that will pull you in from start to finish. He set that all aside in this one. She has a brother-in-law, a former Marine officer who at first glance looks as though he might possess the "particular set of skills" that will be required to come through this situation until his flaws come to light. The Chain cannot be broken or the childrenher child, her Kyliewill be executed. 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. He grew up reading science fiction and crime novels by the likes of Ursula Le Guin, J G Ballard and Jim Thompson. The Chain cannot be broken or the childrenher child, her Kyliewill be executed. His plots tempt you to read at top speed, but dont give in: this writing sharply observant, intelligent and shot through with black humor should be savored. That darkness and corruption dwell behind the shiny, happy faade of middle-class life is a common enough theme in American storytelling. RELEASE DATE: June 16, 2020. We catch glimpses of them. [22] Some reviewers have criticised the explicit use of violence in his novels. Lucy reviews new thriller novel THE CHAIN by Adrian McKinty. ", "A masterpiece. Adrian McKinty is an Irish novelist. Adrian McKinty's 'The Chain' is the thrilling page-turner of the summer July 8, 2019. As the novel progresses, Laurel becomes increasingly determined to learn what happened to Ellie, especially after discovering an odd connection between Poppys mother and her daughter even as her relationship with Floyd is becoming more serious. The author at times seems to be at war with the demands of his genre: A sort of cruelly, engrossingly simple story of parental desperation bumps up against corny crime staples larger conspiracies, literal shadowy figures, the occasional red herring. He has been shortlisted for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger and the Grand Prix de Littrature Policire. "Daniel Woodrell, author of Winter's Bone "I read this book in one long dark night of the soul. She must pay a ransom and kidnap another familys child, and then that family must do the same for her daughter to be released. This nightmarish story is incredibly propulsive and original. Adrian McKinty steps on the gas early in this pulse-pounding, nerve-shredding, high-octane tale and he doesn't let up. Rachel is an ordinary woman, but over the coming days she will be pushed beyond ordinary limits to save her daughter. It's something parents do every morning: Rachel Klein drops her daughter at the bus stop and heads into her day. So by the second page of The Chain, the man with the gun has forced the girl with the Instagram into a car where his accomplice is waiting. I have been very busy and unable to read a lot lately, but I have been wanting to read this one for a while, so I decided to give it a try. She's disarmed by Floyds charm, but when she meets his young daughter, Poppy, Laurel is startled by her resemblance to Ellie. 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. Read reviews and buy The Island - by Adrian McKinty at Target. . This is up there with Marathon Man and The Silence of the Lambs. All Rights Reserved. Firstly, the story concept is an absolute cracker. To McKintys great credit, he can make readers wonder at any point whether the ground may fall beneath their feet and how much evil they might be pushed toward. The Characters: Rachel, her daughter Kylie . That darkness and corruption dwell behind the shiny, happy faade of middle-class life is a common enough theme in American storytelling. Trouble signing in? ABDUCTOR. Her brain tells her to run, but she doesnt make the correct split-second decision, and she is taken at gunpoint. The depth of characterisation I have come to expect from McKinty was absent. That may be a little less sexy for some readers, but something about the scheme is as absurd as it is menacing. Terrific. For every child kidnapped, another must be taken. Mr. McKinty, what have you done? 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). And then, in the moments where McKinty gives readers a breather, Who would do this? Since the clients do most of the work themselves, one criminal says, what it turns out to be is the goddamn Uber of kidnapping., To Save Her Abducted Daughter, This Heroine Has to Kidnap a New Victim, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/09/books/review-chain-adrian-mckinty.html. Indeed, the novel does double duty as a survival manual, packed full of good advicefor instance, try not to get wounded, for injury turns you from a giver to a taker. The latter part of the book tilts toward decryption and computer science, because as any thriller reader knows, saving her daughter wont be enough; Rachel will have to get to the bottom of whatever this crime ring is too. "Ian Rankin, internationally bestselling author of In a House of Lies"McKinty has 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. (Shed been in remission for a year.) 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. 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. Read More Letters From The Light author Shel Calopa: Dystopia Now? "Mark Billingham, author of The Killing Habit"The Chain does for parenting what Gone Girl did for marriage; a breakneck narrative and a chilling concept make this a must-read thriller. [5] In 2000, he relocated to Denver, Colorado to become a high school English teacher.[3]. [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. March 2011 by Bantam Books Torrie's Rating: The Plot (Goodreads): [] Read More. At that point, an angry Rachel and Pete, ignoring warnings to continue to remain silent and do nothing, go on the offensive to track down the people responsible for the kidnapping chain, culminating in a violent confrontation in a marshy area south of Plum Island. https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/. The very definition of a page-turner. He's the real deal. Two pages later, the two kidnappers are stopped by a New Hampshire state trooper and of course have to kill him, because The Chain has also been sold as a movie. Only when Rachel is a victim, a perpetrator, has herself driven someone else to commit a kidnapping and has had to accept that she might have to kill a child to save her own, only then will Rachel's daughter be released. latest thriller moves at a brisk pace even as she plays with narrative structure: The book is split into three sections, including a first one which alternates chapters between the time of Ellies disappearance and the present and a second section that begins as Laurel and Floyd meet. In a book like The Chain, you have no choice but to pray for the worst. Categories: 5.0. The Detective Up Late was published in Germany with the new title Cold Water in 2019, and Hang On St Christopher the following year under the title Alter Hund, neue Tricks (Old Dog, New Tricks) [73]. The fourth of five children, he grew up in the Victoria area of Carrickfergus, County Antrim. Breath-taking, breakneck, brilliant. Dark and unsettling, this novels end arrives abruptly even as readers are still moving at a breakneck speed. You have never read anything quite like THE CHAIN and you will never be able to forget it. The psychopathy of The Chain perpetrators and the ease with which they toy with their victims, the self-inflicted nature of that torture is chilling. Max Brooks. Adrian McKinty's The Chain is the rare thriller that's not only fiendishly clever but also powerfully empathetic, . Just brilliant. Thats how girls vanish. Thats how Patterson books sound, too. Current price is $16.99, Original price is $18.99. The Chain: The Award-Winning Suspense Thriller of the Year Hardcover - 9 July 2019 by McKinty (Author), Adrian (Author) 8,287 ratings Editors' pick Hand selected reads See all formats and editions Kindle Edition 2.99 Read with Our Free App Audiobook 0.00 Free with your Audible trial Hardcover Far fetched and contrived would be the two words that immediately come to mind. 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.