The Favor
By Nora Murphy

Such an amazing debut novel!
This is a domestic thriller which was a fast-paced story!
These characters were amazingly developed.
The Favor is highly addictive and is the definition of a page turner.
The first 25% of the book was incredibly strong, with a great opening.
This was highly entertaining and very enjoyable.
The suspense builds up through out this book before the twists is revealed.
Such wonderful writing, an engaging story line and one that was absolutely hard to put down and kept me eagerly turning the pages and wanting more.

Genre• Mystery|Thriller
Expected Pub Date• May 31, 2022

Quality Of Writing• 5
Plot Development• 5
Characterization• 5
Ease Of Reading• 5
Enjoyability• 5
Overall Rating• 5

Minotaur Books,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review closer to pub date.

“The Favor” is a debut novel by Nora Murphy. If you take Hitchcock’s “Strangers on a Train” but have the strangers never plan their crimes, add in domestic abuse, and add in controlling partners - you have this book.

As “Strangers on a Train” is one of my favourite Hitchcock movies, I liked the set up for this book a lot. In fact, I found the plot of this book right up my alley - how would this be pulled off when neither person knew the other (yes, they’d seen each other, but didn’t know each other). This also, again, shows that what’s presented publicly isn’t always what’s real behind closed doors. I did like that the author included a list of resources for those in domestic abuse situations in various places around the world.

I felt sympathy for both main female characters - Leah and McKenna - and wished they both had left, but understood why they didn’t (and that both were aware of their situations yet felt they couldn’t leave I found even more heartbreaking). While I believe that the detective’s side was interesting and necessary to move the plot along, I really didn’t care for the backstory about his usual partner - maybe I missed why it was important to include it, but it just didn’t work at moving the plot along. I also really liked that the boss of one of the main characters apologized and was willing to rectify the situation afterwards; it doesn’t always happen. In a rather odd way, I did like some of the police procedures - including the scene about wanting warrants but not getting them all (thank you judge!).

The Favor by Nora Murphy Well written domestic suspense thriller that is reminiscent of Strangers on a Train. Interesting premise with a notable climax and both Leah and McKenna's stories are flawlessly interwoven.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Leah and McKenna have a lot in common, even though they have never met. One, a lawyer, and one a doctor who are both married to successful men. Once upon a time, they both seemed destined to enjoy two happily ever after endings. But fairytales often have a darker side, don't they? One that is often well hidden.
We meet them after their careers are just distant memories. After the joy of sharing their days with their partners, now are full of landmines where one wrong word could lead to disastrous consequences. Isolated from their friends, families, and their money, each is just trying to survive what comes next.
The story is told from McKenna and Leah's perspectives, both in the past and in the present. Also, there is one other narrator who I won't name because it will give away a major plot point. The Favor crept up on me with the dread of not knowing whether either woman could escape their situation. Leah is the first person to recognize that McKenna is just another version of herself. Her obsession will change everything for both.
Beautifully written and heartbreaking with the tension escalating page by page. I truly had no idea how this would end, but I held my breath and kept my fingers crossed that these women could finally get the happily ever after they deserved.

It all works, but has considerably less emotional resonance than I believe was intended. Still, not a bad read and, though a touch unresolved, something to think about.

Holy debut!! Nora Murphy is brilliant! The Favor is captivating, thrilling, and gripping. 🥃😱

McKenna and Leah have never met but have more in common than they know. They’re intelligent, young wives to professional, charming men; beautiful couples on the verge of having babies and indulging in life. But, one would never guess that their husbands are also controlling and abusive. They’re constantly planning and just trying to keep the peace within their homes, feeling trapped and small. They don’t know each other, but they’re about to be the only ones that can save one another. 😱

Th is is an amazing debut novel! I was pulling for McKenna and Leah on every page and full on raging at the husbands. The author does a fantastic job writing it from multiple POVs. It wrapped up a little quickly when I just wanted to know more and more! A hard book to put down.

A tremendous thank you to @noramurphy and @netgalley for the digital ARC.

TW: Domestic violence

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 *chef’s kiss* All the JAZZ hands for this one 🙌🏼

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Favor by Nora Murphy is a gripping domestic thriller that will appeal to fans of B.A. Paris and Ruth Ware. The story revolves around Leah and McKenna, two women going through similar situations. One night, when Leah is driving past McKenna's house, she sees something through the window. McKenna's husband reminds her of her own. But will Leah decide to intervene? Even though she and McKenna are complete strangers?

Here is a thrilling excerpt from the Prologue:

"I thought it would make more noise.
Afterward, I ran quickly, but not too quickly, back to the car, my eyes down, trained on the wet darkness of the tall grass, taking each step carefully. I couldn’t afford to fall. I couldn’t afford to drop the gun. It was too dark, and I wouldn’t be able to locate it if I did. When I reached the car, I peeled off a rubber glove to open the door, then slid the gun beneath the driver’s seat before removing the other glove. I felt eerily calm. I felt, strangely, nothing. It had to be done. It was simple.
...
I gripped the wheel at ten and two, and drove home carefully, like the law-abiding citizen I no longer was."

Overall, The Favor is a captivating domestic thriller that I could not put down. The book is actually a bit scarier than the synopsis makes it seems. I made the mistake of reading this before bedtime, and it gave me nightmares. Some people might enjoy that though. If I had to complain about 1 thing, I would say that the ending didn't have any twists or action. I still enjoyed reading this book though, and the straightforward plot will appeal to many. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of domestic thrillers, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in May!

<b>It had to be done.</b>

Leah and McKenna are living parallel lives, just blocks from each other, even though they never met. They look alike, drive similar cars and both have abusive spouses that are slowly destroying each of them, day by day. Eventually, there may be nothing left of each woman. Their spouses may go too far.

Instead, one of the women goes too far - beyond the point of return.

This thriller is fast-paced, with the narrative slipping from both past and present in Leah and McKenna’s POV. I found the different types of abuse each women suffered (in silence) to be well thought out and gently presented to the reader and the afterward by the author to be extremely informative and helpful.

As an aside, I personally found out about a close friends violent domestic physical and sexual abuse that went on for years (even during a time I was living with them) and was completely shocked at the lengths these partners will go through to truly put out a front for all parties.

Trigger warning for major domestic abuse, gaslighting, physical and metal abuse.

#TheFavor #NetGalley
Awesome. I can't believe it's a debut.
Leah and McKenna have never met, though they have parallel lives. They don’t—ever—find themselves in the same train carriage or meet accidentally at the gym or the coffee shop. They don’t—ever—discuss their problems and find common ground. They don’t—ever—acknowledge to each other that although their lives have all the trappings of success, wealth and happiness, they are, in fact, trapped. Because Leah understands that what’s inside a home can be more dangerous than what’s outside. Driving past McKenna’s house one night, she sees what she knows only too well from her own marriage: McKenna’s “perfect” husband is not what he seems. Leah decides to keep watch over McKenna, until one night, she intervenes, and sets into motion events that will change both their lives forever.
Leah and McKenna have never met. But they will.
Wow. This was really really amazing. I loved the amazingly written characters and suspense. Recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me an advanced copy.

Leah and McKenna have never met before. But somehow they are living similar lives. They are both involved in a domestic situation where they feel “trapped”! In both cases the abuse is hidden inside the home and invisible to the outside world. Money and power play a key role in this charade.

One night Leah is driving by McKenna’s house and gets a feeling that McKenna’s husband is not what he seems. She has a keen eye for this based on her own marriage. She decides to keep an eye on McKenna. Will she have to intervene?

An amazing debut by new author, Nora Murphy. I am a fan of domestic suspense/thriller and THE FAVOR pushes this genre to the next level. The writing was great and kept me guessing and highly engaged from start to finish. I highly recommend THE FAVOR and will be looking forward to any new books by Nora Murphy in the future.

TW - Domestic Abuse

Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

This book’s plot absolutely resembles Strangers on a train meets Girl on the train with additional domestic abuse and psychological thriller elements.
And interestingly it doesn’t take place on a train!

But Leah and McKenna were intelligent, strong, caring woman, so easy to resonate with!

They were just the victims of abusive, controlling partners who verbally and physically harassed them.

Leah is a talented, aspiring lawyer and McKenna is a brilliant pediatrician. Both of them worked so hard to achieve their goals, trapped in a marriage, trying to find a way out. Their fates crossed at a liquor store where Leah always stops by each particular day of the week and McKenna coincidentally stops by buying wine for treating her neighbors even though she’s forbidden to drink.

Leah can sense the similarities between she and McKenna, finding herself follow her to the house.

She thinks McKenna lives the early stage of her own life but when she sees McKenna’s control freak husband Zachary she understands something is wrong with him just like her own husband Liam who watches her each step, forcing her to live at the basement of the house and from some reason something truly bad happened to Leah during their only ten months long marriage that turned her into jobless alcoholic but we don’t know what it is! But we understand that her husband threats to kill her mother if she tries to leave him.

And poor McKenna also suffers financially, couldn’t say a word to her brother about what’s happening behind the close doors. And she secretly keeps taking her birth control pills even though the bastard she’s married forcing her to conceive a baby.

Watching them outside of their home becomes a habit for Leah but one day she sees something shocking… something pushes her out of her comfort zone… something forces her to take an action…

I’m stopping her not to give much away. I already gave big clues when I mentioned two books’ plots have resemblances with this story.

I read it in one sit! The characterization is spotless! The pacing was perfectly balanced, unputdownable, riveting. I loved this book! I loved the conclusion!

I was thinking about giving four stars but I decided to give more because of powerful messages the author gave and I also advise you to read the author more which made me round up 4.5 stars to 5!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Minotaur Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Stand, run, or hide.

"It was like she was my friend, my ally."

Leah and McKenna have a lot in common, but they are complete strangers. One of them has a grand idea, and becomes a little obsessed with following the other one.

McKenna's neighborhood has streets named after fruit. She lives on Apple Blossom Lane. Leah begins watching McKenna from a distance, parking on Pear Tree Circle, she sees her husband come in, due to the open curtains and wall of windows. He brings an air of unease, and she can feel the tension rise as she watches on. She knows this feeling well. They seem to have similar lives, both women playing roles.

Leah and McKenna are educated, professional, intelligent and sophisticated. How is it they can't seem to break away?

The writing grabbed me from the start! The obsessive nature of the characters had me on edge much of the time. One scene was truly a shockeroo that made me blink twice and reread it! I think I was rooting for the wrong person, but it was hard not to.

Some Stranger on the Train vibes mixed with a bit of Behind Closed Doors.

The story deals with abusive relationships which I normally steer away from, but this one pulled me in. The author's note at the end reminded me of how common it really is and how much these women need support.

𝑰 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒚, 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒘-𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒏𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒔.

This was a debut? I finished this book days ago, and this haunting story is still in my head. Part STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, a dash of THE KIND WORTH KILLING, and finish it off with a few scenes from Sleeping with the Enemy, and you have the masterpiece called THE FAVOR.

Be forewarned...this is a story about vigilante justice, but also be aware that you will cheer so hard for the perpetrator. I should also mention that domestic violence is a huge, overshadowing topic, so proceed with caution.

Leah and McKenna have never met, even though they have parallel lives. With that opening sentence of the blurb, I was already intrigued. As a self-professed people watcher, I always wonder what goes on behind closed doors. These women look remarkably alike . They live in similar homes and are facing similar problems...husbands who are increasingly becoming more and more controlling, isolating, and violent. After a chance encounter in a liquor store, Leah becomes obsessed with McKenna. She designates herself her protector, follows her home, and checks up on her. Then one night she sees something that pushes her over the edge, and she commits an act that will set these two women not on the collision course of disaster that you would expect, but on a course that will set them both free. All Leah needs now is for McKenna to return the favor.

I could NOT put this book down, even during the times when it became too intense to read because I had to know the resolution. This is definitely a book I will read again, and it's a stark reminder of the horror that can go on behind those closed doors. I am forever grateful to the publisher for sending this one my way. Releases May 31st from Minotaur Books. Do whatever you can to get an early copy of this one!

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved this one. Very fast paced, had me turning pages as I tore through it – I had to see how it would end. The characters were well rounded and the narrative felt believable. Gave me chills. Solid five

Nora Murphy's The Favor was an interesting twist on the domestic abuse genre. Sharp, engaging writing, and a propulsive plot. I did find that the second half was a little slower, as it focused more on the police work than the crime itself. But it was a satisfying read overall.

I'm not sure how to summarize the plot without giving too much away here. Simply, Leah and McKenna have never met, yet they lead very similar lives. And when their paths do finally cross, it's deadly and upends them completely.

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press for giving me a chance to read this and review through their Bookstagram influencer program. It was a pleasure and I'd definitely recommend this one. I'll also be on the lookout for more from this author.

Told from the dual perspectives of Leah and McKenna, both housewives of seemingly perfect husbands, The Favor tells the story of what happens behind closed doors.

I thought the premise of this book was very promising and I was completely hooked for the first half. I'm not a fan of police procedurals, so while I understand the necessity of the detective's chapters, the second half just wasn't my cup of tea.

Enthralling and captivating details how two similar but not familiar women are confined in their abusive relationships. And one detective determined to find the truth.

This book is the best roller I’ve read in a long time. It’s a story of two women and the fate that connects them. Both are stories are perfectly interweaved until the stunning climax. I just finished reading this book and I can’t wait to read it again.