The Favor is a domestic suspense book that goes into psychological abuse in well off couples. Harder to pinpoint, the psychological aspect makes for a tense storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was an enjoyable domestic suspense novel that had me on the edge of my seat from the get-go. AN enjoyable, quick read.

I really wanted to love “The Favor” - and it was good!! - but fell just short of that 5 star rating. There was one plot point I could not get past. I did still really like it and thought it was a cool & interesting twist on some common thriller tropes.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

While this book started strong and had several plot twists to keep me reading, it becomes predictable fairly early on. Not a lot of suspense for what is supposed to be a domestic suspense novel. I did like the ending and how the favor was given. It was a solid 3 star thriller.

I really enjoyed this one. The alcoholic woman troupe is one of my favorites (even if it does get overplayed), but always love the drama that comes from it!

What a phenomenal debut by Nora Murphy!! In a version of Strangers on the Train, two women from different lives connect for this domestic suspense. Looking forward to seeing what she does next

📖 Book Review 📖

🎧📱 "The Favor" by Nora Murphy

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Backlog of Netgalley

 With 2024 coming I have made a New Year’s Resolution to get through my Netgalley backlog, prioritize reading more ARCS, and post the reviews on publishing day.

So here is a @netgalley ARC from earlier in 2023.

A debut thriller, about 2 strangers, Leah and McKenna, leading eerily similar lives. They both are married to great, charismatic and successful men, have a nice houses in safe neighborhoods and both drive a nice, almost identical car. But look closer at these women, with no social life, and spend many days and nights drinking alone at home. The story reads like a set of dominos falling- each lined up nicely and falling down into place. The author's note at the end of the book really shed light on how the author’s background as an attorney helped her really put into words what domestic violence can be like. She showed it can happen to anyone, and many men play the long game, gradually, carefully taking away one freedom after another. Both of these women were educated, of a higher economic background and when the abuse was finally physical, they were “stuck” with no money, no access, and no one to turn to. I will definitely look for more books written by Nora Murphy. My dislikes were the story was almost too perfectly lined up- the dominos fell just right.

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I did not upload the book before it was archived, so I cannot review this book on Netgalley or other platforms.

I really wanted to like this book the plot seemed really intriguing but I found the characters easy to mix up and the time jumping kept confusing me. This story follows two women who lead very similar lives suffering from abuse. One of the women show up to help the other leading to life changing decisions. I don’t want to say to much more to avoid spoilers but this was for the most part a pretty good thriller.
My main issues as I said above was the Povs were confusing to me the two females were very similar and they would switch back and forth on timelines too so I really struggled with that. I also really kept forgetting the police POV every time and would have to stop and think where am I then remember oh that’s right there is a police POV.I do think the story was unique and would pick up more from this author in the future there were just some tropes and things in this book that I am not a fan of. I would say if you are a fan of unreliable narrator main female character with alcohol problem. This character trope just frustrates me but I know a lot really enjoy this I would say similar vibes to The girl on the Train. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

It took me a while to get to this book, and it’s a new author for me. It was interesting and a fast reading book. Reminded me of the movie “ Stranger on a Train”, so I was fairly sure. Inknew where this was headed. But the ending chapters kept me on my toes…I don’t know what ending I expected, but I was happy with the one the author chose. .Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martins Press and Nora Murphy for this ARC.
My reviews can be seen on Amazon, Goodreads, Twitter, and discussed with all my book clubs off and on line.

This one wasn't for me. Though the writing was good, I just couldn't get into the story. There was just too much of the "I married the perfect man" and "he had politician hair"... While I did feel bad for the women involved, I'm just not a fan of "he was so perfect and rich" and then the guy being a complete douche. And BOTH husband's were like that. And of course there had to be problems woth getting pregnant and one is an alcoholic... just a no from me.

I'd like to read something else from the although, though. The writing itself was good, but this story didn't vibe for me.

This was a great debut as well as overall domestic thriller. The story was well written, executed amazingly, great pacing and satisfying ending!

This book was good, but not great. It started off strong and I was instantly hooked. But then it quickly lost steam and my interest.

The major issue for me here is that this book is billed, in part, as a thriller when it’s clearly a mix between a mystery and domestic fiction. In that regard, with the more appropriate genre-labeling, it’s a fine book. It’s not terribly fast-paced or novel, but it’s good.

What I did like was the way the author handled domestic abuse and the portrayal of the survivors, both of which I thought were done well. And, for domestic fiction, it was an interesting character study.

I don’t need every mystery to have a major, shocking twist - but this one has no twists at all, so it kind of fell flat for me.

It was good, but not great. It’s not one I am likely to recall much about in a few months.

Overall I enjoyed it however I wouldn't say it's a thriller.

It was a fast paced easy read for me. Definitely felt more a long the lines of a suspense and something to help showcase how abuse happens and the impact it can have.

I think the first half was pretty great while the ball was dropped in the second half.

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Nora Murphy for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.

While I enjoyed reading the book, I couldn't help but feel that it lacked the wow factor that I was hoping for. The plot was intriguing, but it felt all too familiar, almost like a retelling of Strangers on a Train, but with female characters. Despite this, I found myself invested in the story and curious to see how it would all unfold. The writing was solid, and the characters were well-developed, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something missing. Overall, it was a fine read, but not one that I would consider amazing.

Kept my attention. A fast paced book about marriage and controlling abusive husbands. About surviving and living through domestic abuse. Makes you feel like each character within the story and shows how something needs to be done to end it. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy.

This was a fantastic debut by the author. This is a well written and plotted about 2 woman, 2 towns away, essentially living the same life. They meet by chance one afternoon at a liquor store. Leah and McKenna are alike in many ways. This is told in alternate POV's which I thoroughly enjoyed. I am still in awe that this was a debut. Nora Murphy will be an author to watch!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

𝘼 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙚𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙨𝙪𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙝 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙥𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨.

📍 Read if you like:
• Domestic Suspense
• Strong Women
• Multiple Perspectives
• Unputdownable Reads

This was a fast-paced suspenseful novel about two women and the domestic abuse they’ve had to experience.

The beginning is a bit slow as it brings the stories of both women into focus: Leah and McKenna.

I do highly recommend going into this book not knowing too much. I had a great experience that way, it was sitting on my NetGalley TBR for quite a while to the point where I forgot what it was about. I just heard incredible things about it and I’m glad I ended up enjoying it too.

It’s always tough reading about domestic abuse in books, but I think it was done so well in this “thriller”. I loved how both women were portrayed and how they helped each other get out of those situations.

It’s your classic story, there are so many books and movies out there with a similar premise. However, I just had an entertaining time reading this book. There was so much tension.

The story expresses the thought of “nothing everything on the outside is the same as the inside”. Things happen behind closed doors that many people don’t see.

This was such a suspenseful novel and I’m glad I loved it as much as I did. Some themes were tougher to read about, but I loved both women in this story. Highly recommend!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!

•𝗧𝗪/𝗖𝗪: Domestic abuse, gaslighting, alcoholism, miscarriage

3.5 stars

Leah Dawson, a lawyer, and McKenna Hawkins, a pediatrician, are well-educated women who never imagined they would be the victims of domestic abuse. However both women find themselves in toxic marriages, and they don't see a way out.

Leah's husband Liam is a successful attorney, and McKenna's spouse Zackary is a flourishing psychiatrist. During the courtship period both men seem ideal: handsome, thoughtful, caring, successful; etc.

After Leah and Liam marry, however, Liam proceeds to isolate his wife from her family and friends; gets Leah fired from her job; relegates Leah to a locked bedroom in the basement; tracks Leah's activities; limits Leah's access to money; and finally becomes violent. To cope with the terrible situation Leah drinks vodka all day long, and there's barely a moment when she's completely sober.

McKenna and Zachary's union follows a similar path. After McKenna suffers a miscarriage early in the marriage, Zachary - whose self-image requires 'the perfect family' - segregates McKenna from her friends and relatives; makes McKenna quit her job; installs an app to track McKenna's phone; takes complete charge of the couple's finances; and so on - supposedly to insure a successful pregnancy next time.

Leah and McKenna each think about divorce, but they know their attractive, successful, husbands - who are well-liked in the outside world - can 'gaslight' people to make their wives look bad (if not crazy). Moreover, the men have the resources to make divorce proceedings extremely difficult. In addition, Liam shows his wife a gun, and threatens to kill Leah's mother if Leah leaves him.

Though both couples live in the same Maryland suburb, Leah and McKenna don't know each other. Serendipitously, however, Leah is making her usual liquor store run when she happens to see McKenna in the same shop. Leah - who's puffy and disheveled from drinking - notes that McKenna, who's svelte, well-dressed, blonde, and blue-eyed, looks like a previous incarnation of Leah herself.....in her happier days.

Leah impulsively decides to follow McKenna home, and she parks where she can see into McKenna's house. This activity becomes an obsession for Leah, and she repeatedly spies on the other woman. To make a long story short, Leah - who knows the signs of domestic abuse from her own sorry situation - notes that McKenna is being bullied by Zachary..... and Leah impetuously takes action.

That's all I can say without major spoilers.

At the end of the book the author Nora Murphy - who's a family law attorney - notes that domestic abuse is endemic, and not confined to people of low socioeconomic status. Murphy observes, "abuse also occurs in many relationships marked by high levels of education and affluence....For these types of relationships, financial and psychological abuse may be more common than physical abuse, sexual abuse, or stalking. Thus it may be more hidden, more difficult to prove." Thus springs the idea for this book.

The story is a fast-moving page-turner, recommended to fans of domestic thrillers.

Thanks to Netgalley, Nora Murphy, and Minotaur Books for a copy of the novel.

This story is very well written. Hard to believe this is Nora Murphy‘a debut novel.

Leah and McKenna are relatable and their husbands forgettable, but their actions are not. The story was smooth and flowing. A definite must read if you enjoy domestic thrillers.