While Leah and McKenna have never meant, they live very similar lives. Both have outstanding careers, beautiful homes and are financially stable. To the outside world, it would seem that they have perfect lives. What no one knows is that they are both victims of abuse - emotional, financial and physical - inflicted by their husbands, which started shortly after their marriages. When Leah spots McKenna at a liquor store, she knows right away that there’s something similar between the two and becomes determined to help her.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller, this is it! I could not put this book down and finished it in two days 🙈 I’m not usually crazy about domestic thrillers but this is a good one! I was really impressed with this debut novel because of how realistic it is. Nora Murphy is an attorney who has background in working with survivors of domestic violence, and her experience translated into her writing. I would definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a good quick read !

Leah and McKenna have very similar lives: they are professionals married to professionals (one a lawyer and the other a doctor). They haven’t been married more than a couple of years. They live in big, tasteful homes in upscale neighborhoods.

And their husbands showed their true colors of being controlling and abusive not very long into their marriages.

Both are trapped.

They don’t know each other, despite not living too far apart. But when Leah sees McKenna in a store, she somehow just recognizes someone much like herself. She follows her home and returns to watch her covertly. And then one night, she intervenes to save the woman who is going through what she herself is experiencing. She can rescue her, do for her what she can’t do for herself.

After the crime is committed, the police can’t work out who the perpetrator is. McKenna had motive, but there’s no evidence, no proof that she could have done it. She just knows she’s finally, gloriously, free. And very grateful.

And maybe she can return the favor.

The Favor is a riveting book that explores how two successful women become victims of abusers. It shows their thoughts, behaviors and experiences. It’s a crime novel, and it brings in the point of view of a sharp detective working the case. It’s impossible for the reader not to empathize with Leah and McKenna and want these two women to be free and stay that way. It’s tightly paced and an excellent read. Bonus is that it could quite easily be one of those books that contains a lot of harsh content, but much like the plot and the pacing, it reins in any excess.

Excellent book! Fabulous debut novel by this Author. Well written, fast paced thriller. Two married women in similar situations and The Favor develops. I don’t want to give anything away so just read the book. I highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

Review posted on Barnes and Noble.

This was such an enjoyable read. Super unique, fast paced, engaging, and short.

I went into this one blind and I recommend you do the same because WOW was I surprised. A MAJOR event takes place pretty shortly into the book and boy did it set the tone for a book I did NOT want to put down!! Maybe the title should have tipped me off (hindsight is 20/20!) but I was completely caught off guard and I loved it.

This was a great book to read with a friend. We had so much fun chatting about what was happening with the characters and theorizing how we would handle it if we ever found ourselves in a similar situation (let's hope we never do!).

I certainly wouldn't say this book is realistic and there were some major flaws that were occasionally hard to overlook (the blood splatter being the biggest one for me - Dexter anyone?! but also HR processes and banking procedures that were just glaringly wrong or implausible). But those problems aside, I absolutely loved this book. It was so different from anything I had ever read and the whole premise was so intriguing.

I could totally see this becoming a made for TV movie on Lifetime and I can promise you it would be a good one!

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy of this stellar debut.

The Favor by Nora Murphy
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This is a debut domestic suspense novel about two women who are living a life they desperately want to change.
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What I liked:
-This story was quick to hook me and I flew through the pages to see how everything ended.
-I loved the multiple POV here. Although the POV of the detective had me hoping that he will appear in more novels from this author. I would love to hear more stories with him and his partner making appearances.
-I wouldn’t say this was an intense story exactly, but I was somehow still on edge while reading it due to my worry for two of the characters.
-I am surprised this is a debut! The story flowed so well for me! I will be eagerly waiting to see what comes next from the author!
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend if you enjoy domestic suspense novels.

📚 Publication Day!!! 📚

For a debut novel, Nora Murphy really hit it out of the park! You have two women, McKenna and Leah. Both are well-educated professionals, both have marriages that look perfect from the outside but both are living in a caged abusive nightmare with little to no hope of escape. Now enters the favor that could set them both free.... I don't want to spoil the plot so I'll stop here.

This book is extremely character driven and the author did a fantastic job of developing these characters. This story is based on abusive relationships, how the victims gets controlled and isolated. So I particularly appreciated that at the end the author provides multiple resources for anyone who is living this reality.

This is a quick, fast paced page-turning thriller that will make a great beach/pool read for the summer. Many reviewers have said this book is along the lines of Stranger on the Train, Behind Closed Doors and Woman in the Window and I totally agree with those comparisons. So if you enjoyed those books, this one will be right up your alley. I'm excited to see future books from this author.

My thanks to Nora Murphy, St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books) and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I strongly recommend adding Nora Murphy to your auto-buy list. The Favor is her debut novel. It is a domestic thriller that is magnificently written. I highly recommend this book.

The Favor is a domestic suspense debut novel which tells the story of two successful women married to equally powerful men. However, they both find themselves trapped in their seemingly perfect lives. It's not a super fast page turner and there's no necessarily any "twists" that you don't see coming. That said, I think it's a solid story that you can enjoy anyway. The subject matter is handled with compassion. Don't miss the author's note.

Check your content warnings.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the electronic advanced copy.

This book is a fast paced thriller! Perfect for summer, beach read, vacation read or just in your own backyard! Well written, great plot and characters I genuinely cared about! Highly recommend this one!

Happy Publication Day! Nora Murphy is a debut author, but I feel like we're going to be hearing her name quite a bit. I really enjoyed The Favor. You figure out what the favor is about halfway through. Getting there is a fun ride. Even when you figure it out, the twists and turns are still fun to navigate. I loved how it ended, I just didn't love how abrupt the ending was. Also, the side storyline of the detective was a little confusing. It made me wonder if there would be another book coming out that focuses on him and his partner. Regardless, this was a great read. I loved how she took the real life problem of domestic violence and told it in a real way. It wasn't sensationalized. It's easy to look in and wonder why someone doesn't leave when they are in that position. But, to read it in this manner, you truly understand. I hope she writes more! I'd love to read whatever is next. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Favor is possibly my favorite debut of the year (at least so far). I found the similarities to Strangers on a Train (one of my favorite movies of all time) to be fascinating. I was riveted to the plot, and both McKenna and Leah are strong women caught in situations beyond their control. Nora Murphy handled the very sensitive topic of domestic violence with both accuracy and compassion.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review!

Link to 5/31/2022 Instagram post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CeOfMlELzB9/

Another great debut this year which reminded me a bit of Strangers on the Train and The Girl on the Train. I got totally sucked into Leah’s and McKenna’s lives and before I knew it I read half the book in one sitting. I enjoyed the author’s writing style, the pacing was good and the characters believable. You could feel the desperation and anticipation through the pages. I literally tasted the vodka, and I don’t drink vodka 😳. There’s going to be a lot of reviews for this one so I suggest just going in blind and enjoying the story. Will definitely recommend and looking forward to her next book. TW: Domestic violence/abuse

I loved this suspense novel from debut author, Nora Murphy. The Favor has often been compared to Gone Girl which is high praise in my opinion and completely fair. The storyline is thought-provoking, and the characters though maddening are created fairly well. I was hoping for a fast-paced thriller, and was worried when the plot line started slow. The initial slow pacing ending up leading to more intrigue, and I was happily surprised when thirty percent into the story the plot quickly changed pace. I can easily say that after you get into the book The Favor becomes a “finish in one sitting type of book.” I will definitely be looking for more from Nora Murphy. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great fast-paced thriller. Part domestic abuse thriller and part psychological thriller it does an amazing job at showing the reader how easily a person can fall victim of abuse no matter position or level of education. The pacing was great and the characters were well developed. Fantastic debut and I'll be looking forward to her next one.

Wow! What an exciting thriller! This one kept me on-edge from the very beginning, all the way to the satisfying conclusion. And then to realize that this is the author's debut novel makes it even more amazing. Nice job, Nora Murphy.

The lives that these women had to live and the happenings inside their houses was gut-wrenching to witness. Sadly, it's a way of life for so many women though. So heartbreaking. How these women escape their fate will rock your world. Strangers who become something much, much more.

I absolutely loved The Favor and cannot recommend it enough! This should be a must-read for all thriller lovers. Wait until you find out what the 'favor' is.

Domestic Abuse at its Finest!

Nora Murphy will keep you turning pages long past your bedtime with her smashing debut, THE FAVOR! A winner out of the gate. I could not tear myself away from this one. A top 2022 debut, she will be an author to follow for years to come. On my list for sure. I cannot wait to see what comes next.

Two women, strangers, have more in common than they know.

Leah Dawson (former lawyer) and McKenna Hawkins (former pediatrician)— are both intelligent, well-educated, and beautiful and live in the same neighborhood in suburban Maryland.

They both live in beautiful homes, drive the best cars, and are married to well-to-do men that are ABUSIVE AND CONTROLLING! Neither have children. They are lonely and want more than anything to escape their miserable lives. They are trapped.

From their lonely trips to the liquor store, they try their best to grab a little happiness with some snacks and alcohol while trying their best to put back some money. Their husbands control their lives, phones, finances, bodies, clothes, food, and minds. They make sure they are isolated and have no friends and family.

Leah sees something in McKenna. She realizes they are in the same situation. She follows her and watches her house. She will be there for her the way she would love for someone to be there for her.

To rescue. To save.

When Leah steps in to save McKenna from harm then McKenna knows she must RETURN THE FAVOR!

Taut, exceptionally smart, addictive, and highly entertaining! I LOVED THIS ONE.

A superb character study and the author gets into the minds of her characters as they come alive on the pages. Wonderfully portrayed, the husbands reminded me of my evil, controlling ex-husband! I was glued to the pages and rooting for these women. For fans of B.A. Paris and Kimberly Belle.

I enjoyed the author's note and wealth of information and resources regarding domestic abuse and family law. The audiobook was exceptional, narrated by Dylan Moore, Leon Nixon, and Sarah Mollo-Christensen.

A special thank you to #MinotaurInfluencers, #netgalley, and #macmillanaudio for digital and audio ARCs to read, listen to, enjoy, and review.

Blog Review:
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: May 31, 2022
My Rating: 5/5 Stars

This is a shorter and very fast paced read that will be perfect for summer reading. 

Leah and McKenna have never met when a random chance encounter starts revealing eerie similarities about their lives. It is a story of oppressive marriages and lives getting smaller and smaller.

Through the plot device of the detective’s POV assumptions about domestic violence are challenged and its occurrence in supposedly well off white collar settings is clearly addressed. Leah and McKenna are respectively a lawyer and doctor, they lead lives of visible privilege. Signs for domestic violence that are not as overt as bruises can be obscured, what does it look like to people in their social circle?
But even with this heavier topic that is handled well this is at its heart a popcorn thriller, you‘ll be captivated and turning the pages: breakneck pace, suspense, danger, and women you’ll care about.

The Favor is a thrilling, suspenseful, quick read and contains a list of resources for suspected abuse at the end as well as a thoughtful afterword which I think added to the novel.

For a first novel, Nora Murphy's The Favor is an impressive debut.

What I liked:
-It was a unique storyline. I'm not sure I've ever read anything similar.
-Very short chapters.
-I wasn't expecting a pivotal moment to happen so early on and was worried it meant the rest of the book would drag, but the level of suspense did not wane for me. I could not turn the pages fast enough.

What I didn't like:
-There was a storyline regarding a character that's comatose throughout the entire book, which ended up being completely irrelevant.
-By now, I'm used to the cleaning person always being portayed by a Latino, but when we are briefly introduced to a minor Latino character, who happens to be a cleaning lady named Maria, I felt more than just mild irritation. I wish writers would take a step back to make sure their unconscious bias isn't feeding into stereotypes. There isn't anything wrong with being a cleaning person but we have other professions as well. It also feels as if this was a way to check off a diversity quota. Latino, check. Black and Asian characters, check.

Despite my gripes, I really enjoyed this novel and it's always a pleasure to buddy read with @booknerd_4ever.

TW: murder, domestic violence, gaslighting

A very good debut of a psychological thriller! We have Leah and McKenna who have similar situations but have never met ala 'Strangers on a Train'. While the story revolves around domestic violence, there are lessons here too. Riveting read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC!

Leah and McKenna - both strong, intelligent, compassionate, caring, driven women. And sadly, both victims of domestic abuse.

Leah is an attorney and McKenna a pediatrician. Both of them worked so hard to get where they are.
Both forced to quite their jobs and are trapped in their homes and in an abusive marriage. They want out, but attempting it could quite literally end up in their death and neither knows what to do.
They have a chance, brief encounter in a local liquor store, and neither knows this will change their lives forever.

Leah senses something there, and follows McKenna home. She keeps watching her discovers that McKenna lives a parallegl life to her own with a control freak husband who verbally and physically brings her down for the slightest thing. Leah has now been banished to the basement in her relationship, and fears for her own life and her mother's, as her husband has eluded to that, should she try to leave.

McKenna can't tell anyone what happens behind closed doors. To make matters worse, her husband wants a baby. He blames her for a prior miscarriage, and made her quit her job to focus on pregnancy. She secretly takes her birth control pills because she doesn't want to bring a child into this madness.

Leah sees something one day at McKenna's home that pushes her over the edge, and does something that will change the lives of both women going forward.

I don't want to give away anything else because it could spoil the story for you. But know that you will find yourself fully invested in the lives of these two women and rooting for them until the end.

I had both audio and ebook and switched between the two to finish this in record time.

Many thanks to NetGally, MacMillan Audio and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me advance copies of audio and ebook in exchange for my honest review.