What a story! This was a page-turner that I was not expecting. Two women living within minutes of each other experiencing similar domestic violence. Even though the two do not become friends, they do have a strange relationship with each. They both provide a life-changing favor that gives each the freedom that they were only dreaming about. This book provides a glimpse behind the closed doors of what seems like perfect marriages to their family and friends.

There are many trauma triggers in this book.

Thank you for the gifted copy @minotaur_books, @stmartinspress, and @noramurphybooks.

Well that was crazy! I enjoyed this bc it was fast paced and interesting. It made me sad for these women to live these lives but then see how it all turned out was a bit nuts! A great fun thriller! Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for review

Wow. First book. I will be watching for the next book by this author.

This was catchy from the first page. I loved every minute of this book. The will they, won't they.

Read it. You won't be disappointed!

#netgalley

The premise of the book grabbed me as soon as I read the summary! I hope to read more by this author!

A welcomed twist on the typical domestic thriller. Leah and McKenna both live with abusive husbands and are struggling to deal with their lives. They've never actually met, but fate brings the two women together. I won't say more because I don't want to spoil anything, but fans of B.A. Paris and Shari LaPena will enjoy this. Looking forward to Nora Murphy's next book!

Thrillers, mainly psychological thrillers, are some of my favorite books. I love having my mind messed with by the book (not so much in real life, though). So, any invites that publishers send me that are immediately accepted. The Favor was one of those invites.

The Favor had an exciting plotline. Leah is a lawyer becoming an alcoholic after getting fired from her job. She sees McKenna at her favorite liquor store and immediately feels a connection with her. Following her home, Leah realizes that McKenna is in a similar situation because she is married to an abusive spouse. Leah starts stalking McKenna, and one night does the unthinkable. That starts off a series of events that will affect Leah and McKenna for the rest of their lives. Will Leah and McKenna be able to get away with what they did? Or will the police tie everything together?

I am going to throw a content warning up. Usually, I don’t give warnings, but I will in this case. Sexual (spousal rape), physical, emotional, and psychological abuse are featured. There is talk of and scenes of domestic violence. So, if you are triggered by this (and honestly, who wouldn’t be), I highly recommend not reading this book.

Leah was a hot mess. I felt awful for her when Liam started alienating her from her family, friends, and finally, her job. I didn’t blame her for turning to alcohol to dull the pain. But, when she witnessed what McKenna was going through, she decided to act. It was after helping McKenna that her true colors started to show. She was probably the strongest person in the book.

I liked McKenna, and my heart broke for her. She had it so much worse than Leah. Those scenes with her husband (the one where he found her birth control broke my heart). What broke it even more, was that she knew what she felt that she couldn’t get out. But, like Leah, she was a powerful woman.

I liked Jordan but felt that his character was almost added in as an afterthought. I got why the author included him-she wanted a view from the police’s POV. Still, I was not too fond of it. It served as a distraction to me.

The plotline with Leah and McKenna was wonderfully written. I was kept on the edge of my seat, wondering if the police would catch them. I was also wondering if McKenna would return the favor for Leah.

The plotline with Leah, McKenna, and Jordan kept me glued to the book. I spent the book wondering what Jordan knew and who he would arrest for Liam and Zachary’s murders.

The psychological thriller angle of The Favor was well written. I loved not knowing where this book would take me and with whom.

The end of The Favor was a complete surprise. But it was the twist in the epilogue that got me!!

I would recommend The Favor to anyone over 21. There is language, violence, and sexual situations. There are also scenes of domestic violence.

I enjoyed this book. I don’t have time to read prior to publication. Definitely recommend.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

If you only read one domestic thriller this summer make sure it is this! I could not put this down you will be up late reading. If you like psycho crazy husband books you will love this!

Two women in nearby neighborhoods in Maryland deal with domestic abuse in The Favor, a debut thriller by Nora Murphy, published May 31. Leah Dawson and McKenna Hawkins, who do not know each other, have learned that staying with their abuser is dangerous although leaving could be worst based on their husband’s threats.

Leah has become a drunk as she self-medicates to soothe her problems, while McKenna lives in constant fear about everything she does as her husband has double downed on controlling her since she had a miscarriage. Zack has made her quit her job as a pediatrician so she can focus on being healthy enough to carry a baby to full term, which means no wine, no chips, no friends over to enjoy their new patio. Leah’s husband Liam has done something underhanded, causing Leah to be fired from her job as a lawyer.

When Leah encounters McKenna at a local liquor store, something triggers her to follow McKenna home, which is one neighborhood away from Leah’s. Through observation of McKenna’s home over several days, Leah notes that McKenna is living a similar life with an abusive husband much like Leah’s spouse, a prominent divorce lawyer. Leah keeps visiting McKenna’s neighborhood and watches what goes on in her house from the road behind. One night, Leah intervenes when McKenna’s psychiatrist husband is abusing McKenna.

McKenna immediately comes under suspicion about Zack’s fate though she had nothing to do with it. But the night before, someone had called the police about them having a domestic problem. Zach schmoozes with the police, and eventually forces McKenna outside to talk with them to say nothing is wrong.

Jordan Harrison, the detective on the case, is haunted by the last domestic violence case he and his partner Mallory Cole caught, a case that left her with a gunshot from which she has not recovered. Readers will be burning the midnight oil and then some as both women are pitted against the police as investigators try to solve deadly crimes in this otherwise quiet suburb.

Nora Murphy attended law school in Washington D.C. then worked as a judicial law clerk before transitioning to private practice. During law school, she studied the issues facing survivors of “intimate partner violence.” She lives with her family in Maryland.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting July 12, 2022.

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

Thank you St Martins Press, Nora Murphy, and Netgalley for this book in exchange for an honest review. I liked the storyline. It draws you in quickly and made me want to keep listening to find out what happens. Very well written book. A strong 🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating from me!

Fantastic debut!

Even though I could guess where this was going, I couldn't stop myself from rooting for these women to succeed.

The book begins with Leah going on her regular alcohol shopping when she sees a woman that resembles an earlier version of herself. She is not sure why, but she decides to follow McKenna Hawkins to her home. When she gets there, she sees McKenna enjoying her time outside with friends until her husband shows up. Leah can tell that McKenna's body immediately stiffens. She knows why. She can recognize the signs after all Leah has been living the same nightmare since she married her successful husband.

Leah will return night after night to see McKenna until she can't avoid interfering.

I thought The Favor was captivating. I couldn't stop myself from wanting to read/listen to one more chapter. It's terribly sad that so many find themselves in a domestic abuse situation. In this case, both were very successful women, one a lawyer, the other a pediatrician who lost themselves by being first isolated and then told over and over how unworthy they were. Not many are as lucky as these were.

The narrators Dylan Moore, Leon Nixon, and Sarah Mollo-Christensen portrayed these characters just as interesting as the story was.

One more thing I should bring up is that I would be very interested in seeing Detective Jordan Harrison and his partner in a future book.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

In this gripping debut, Nora Murphy introduces us to two flawed women who are living a life of torture. In the public eye, these women were successful in careers, living in a beautiful community, and had everything they could ever want. Slowly, their husbands isolated and took from them the things that meant most in order to completely control their wives. It was difficult to read about, but it was a reminder that we never know what is happening behind closed doors.

Told in the alternating voices of Leah, McKenna, and Detective Harrison, and flipping between past and present, there is a lot going on and it takes focus to keep track of it all. The emotion of the characters and the storyline made me want to keep reading. I needed to know if there was going to be a good outcome for the women.

I think this book would lead to a lot of discussions of “What would you do?” and would be a great choice for book clubs.

Trigger Warning: Domestic Violence

Review of The Favor by Nora Murphy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have seen mixed reviews on this one but I personally enjoyed it very much. I thought it was somewhat unique (yes I know there is at least one other book and a movie with a similar premise but still..) and interesting. I liked the strong women in this one. They may seem weak at times but I truly believe overall they are strong. And not to overstep but that’s the perspective I believe the author was likely trying to convey. I will definitely read more from her in the future.

Quick synopsis: Leah is an alcoholic and one day comes upon a woman that she feels a connection to. Leah doesn’t know her but she follows her home and looking in the window strongly suspects the woman is in an abusive marriage. And Leah would know. The stranger is named McKenna and Leah becomes obsessed. The two women don’t know each other but soon they will have a forever bond.

Thank you @netgalley and @minotaur for an ecopy of this one. It’s out now!

Leah and McKenna have never met. Leah sees McKenna in a liquor store one afternoon and is so intrigued because they look alike that she follows her home, realizing that they live near each other. She watches as McKenna is having wine with some friends and relaxing and then noticeably tenses when her husband arrives home. Leah senses that they not only look alike but are victims of controlling, abuse husbands. She knows the signs. She rushes home to her own husband and her life but can't shake the similarities between herself and McKenna, even though she doesn't know her name. Where there is a murder in the neighborhood, Detective Harrison is called in to investigate. He has little to go one until there is another murder under similar circumstances. Are these murders tied to these two couples or not?

I was worried that this would be another thriller with an unreliable woman narrator with a drinking problem. I ended up really enjoying it and it was just entertaining.

If you are looking for a psychological plot with a twisty ending, this isn’t the one. This book is set in the backdrop of domestic violence which surprisingly is prevalent in the society today.

Leah and McKenna, both accomplished and highly educated in their respective fields fall victims to domestic violence by their respective husbands. Their paths cross at a store where Leah finds some connection with McKenna and follows her. The rest of the story unfolds what is happening in their homes through different timelines and their POV, including the POV of the detective.

This plot and the author’s note made me realize that domestic violence is prevalent in every economic level of the society, irrespective of the educational background and job positions. Nora Murphy in her debut has written a strong plot and through this fiction piece makes us aware of the common violence in the society that we overlook or are not aware.

I thank Minotaur books as well as netgalley for the ecopy and finished book that was sent to me.

A psychological domestic thriller delivered by a debut author that was amazing! A great page turner that keeps you engaged with twists and turns throughout. I cannot wait to read whatever Nora comes out with next!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC !

From my blog: Always With a Book

There have been some pretty amazing debuts this year and I am thrilled to say this one from Nora Murphy is definitely one of them. Right from the beginning I was captivated and that never let up…and that is all due to the writing!

There are many books out there that deal with domestic abuse, but none that handle it like this. I loved the way the characters, Leah and McKenna were developed and how they played off each other. It was so clever to have them help each other, yet never meet each other. This is the type of book that just grabs you and you find yourself silently rooting for them without even realizing it.

Be prepared to be totally consumed with this book once you start it. The pace is pitch-perfect with just the right amount of suspense thrown in, and the perspectives we get here are just so eye-opening. Telling the story from the point of view of the abused is what really sets this apart and when you read the author’s note it really makes it all the more impactful. As I already stated, this debut really stood out for me and I see big things coming for this author…I’ll be eagerly awaiting her next book!

Leah Dawson has worked hard and she’s now a lawyer, she meets her future husband Liam whose now a well known divorce attorney, on the outside they appear to have it all. But once Leah marries Liam she sees a different side to him and how far he will go to control her.
McKenna Hawkins is a pediatrician married to psychiatrist Zachary. They look like the perfect couple. Just like Leah once she’s married Zachary shows a darker side.
These two woman don’t know each-other and have never met. One day Leah spots McKenna at the local liquor store. Leah knows there’s something familiar about McKenna and she realizes she sees herself in her, and when she follows McKenna home and watches, she sees that they share a similar home life , right down to the physical and emotional abuse. Leah makes it her mission to help McKenna and soon one night turns both their worlds upside down. How far is Leah willing to go to help this woman she doesn’t even know? As the story line unfolds you see how you truly don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors. Emotional abuse is a hidden abuse. I truly enjoyed the story and felt horrible for these woman’s home life, it opens your eyes. Trigger warning abuse both physical and emotional. This was a great fast read!

The book I started my vacation with and the one that helped pass the time waiting at Toronto Pearson and flying from Toronto to Cuba. Do you read while flying? It’s the perfect time for me to read.✈️

The Favor has an interesting premise. Two women cross paths - they don’t know each other but they can sense that they are in similar situations - in abusive relationships that they need to escape. When Leah sees something at Makenna’s house - it pushes her to make a drastic decision. One that will change both their lives and although Leah doesn’t expect anything, Makenna repays the favor.😳

Although loved by many, this book was just ok for me. The first part was good but it became too far-fetched. There were portions where I was so engaged and others where it lagged. If you’re looking for a domestic drama, this may be for you.⭐️⭐️⭐️

I appreciate @netgalley providing a copy for review.