Holy shit this was incredible. Not only did this domestic thriller keep me on the edge of my seat from start to finish, but it also touched on a very heavy subject and handled it delicately but in such a raw and powerful way. This is very empowering for women who have or are experiencing some form of domestic abuse. I loved the authors note at the end especially. It was a bit predictable given the description but I loved the different POVs and jumping around the timeline. It wasn't too confusing and made things much more exciting and dramatic. This was one of the best I've read this year and I can't wait for more from Nora Murphy. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Leah Dawson (former lawyer) and McKenna Hawkins (former pediatrician) don't actually know one another but they have plenty in common. They are smart women living in close proximity to one another who have left their professional careers and they are both in abusive relationships being married to controlling, manipulative men (but only behind closed doors). One day Leah witnesses something troubling at McKenna's home and decides to protect the woman since she couldn't do it for herself. The women then become linked for life, but when a detective becomes involved will he be able to figure out how/why? Can McKenna ever repay the favor to Leah?

I appreciated the way to story showed how women can find themselves in these abusive relationships. It's not always just about physical abuse, instead it can be the little things day by day, breaking down the psyche, stripping away a sense of self worth outside the relationship. Ultimately I never got fully invested in either of the main characters beyond rooting for them to get out of their toxic relationships. Sometimes the different perspectives rehashing the same events made the book feel a bit repetitive in places and I didn't really get that sense of increasing tension that I enjoy from thrillers. There are no big shocks/twists, I was just along for the ride.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listener's copy of The Favor for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

This was such an interesting read! Leah and McKenna are living parallel lives, separately. That's all I'm going to say about it because this is one to go into blind.

At the beginning of this book I had a little trouble keeping up with the points of view and which characters belonged in each section, but I figured that out pretty quickly as the story moved on.

Once its going, the story is really going, and its tough to stop reading it.

I had the second half of the book guessed pretty quickly after the first half, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the book, but this won't be one I pick up again.

That being said, I do love this cover, as soon as I saw it I was drawn in and I knew this was one I needed to read.

The audio narrator almost ruined the book for me.

I did enjoy this storyline, but also felt it was far-fetched and predictable (like I have read this watching through the window storyline too many times). Example: SO- Leah RANDOMLY sees Makenna and just starts following her because they look similar and they then HAPPEN to have the exact same story? While I enjoyed the uniting of women and defending domestic abuse the way it happened was just so unbelievable that it kind of ruined the rest of the story. Keeping a woman trapped in the basement was a good twist- but I felt there could have just been MORE?

The Author’s Note at the end hands down saves the book. Shining light on statistics- especially of those including minorities was WONDERFUL.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for allowing me the chance to read this book in advance for an honest review.

It's always exciting reading a debut title from a new writer. So, when the publisher teased me with "A gripping debut domestic suspense novel, Nora Murphy's thrilling The Favor explores with compassion and depth what can happen when women pushed to the limit take matters into their own hands," I was ready to step into Nora Murphy's world. I listened to the audio version by Dylan Moore, Leon Nixon and Sarah Mollo-Christensen. They did a super job connecting me with Murphy's characters, Leah, McKenna and Detective Harrison.

What would you do if you saw another woman on the street and knew she was like you, she was living a paralell life to yours, one of terror at the hands of her husband? This is that story. Leah and McKenna have never met or spoken with each other. They are both intelligent women, one a lawyer and the other a doctor. One day Leah sees McKenna, she follows her and watches her, thinking "that was me." Only, she quickly realizes "that is me." Instinctively, she reacts to "save" McKenna and that puts both women on a path they cannot turn back from.

The subject of this story may be difficult for those who have suffered at the hands of someone close to them. Murphy addresses domestic abuse sensitively. This isnt your typical abuse tale, man did me wrong gaslight story. The men in the story aren't important. Murphy is about giving the women a voice and a path to finding their inner strength.

The Favor has surprises and I was on the edge of my seat rooting for Leah and McKenna not sure if there would be a positive outcome for either of them. Murphy has woven a clever tale. Her use of parallel stories, empasizes the reality that what goes on behind your neighbors door may not be the pretty successful life you believe it to be. I appreciate that the author shares her background and resources for those who might need it.

Thank you NetGalley, Nora Murphy and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to a gripping fictional tale.

I really loved this book and it kept me gripped and guessing. The parallel lives these two women are living are so compelling- the antithesis to who we think would fall prey to an abusive relationship. One doctor, one lawyer, both seemingly stuck in marriages that will only end in death - and luckily they do. This book is fresh thriller with three narrators, including the perspective of the detective tasked with solving the murders and struggling to connect the dots between these two not so grieving widows.
Very enjoyable, fast paced book. Excellent narrators.

By Nora Murphy

🎧 Thanks to @minotaur_books @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for sending me this audiobook yesterday! I had to set everything aside and read it immediately and I’m so glad I did. Congrats to @noramurphybooks for a stellar debut novel, this one was truly unputdownable.

📖 The Favor starts off allowing the reader a peek into two affluent women’s lives, with eerily similar stories of domestic violence. Both women are somewhat recently married, lead successful careers, and are fortunate to have beautiful homes and financial stability. But they also have been enduring similar emotional and physical abuse, including gradual social isolation, and loss of financial control since being married. They don’t know each other, but after a chance meeting the one woman
recognizes the signs of abuse in the other and takes it upon herself to help her.

🌟 This story was incredibly well written and the author does such an excellent job portraying domestic violence in an accurate but sensitive way. Murphy helps offer the reader a lens on domestic abuse as to why one can’t “just leave” and tells each woman’s story in such a way that it can’t help but evoke empathy from the reader on each woman’s situation. And I appreciated that the author includes resources at the end for help if you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence.

🎧 The narration was provided by Dylan Moore, Leon Nixon, and Sarah Mollo-Christensen and lent to a full cast experience, which is my favorite kind of audiobook. Thanks again to the publisher and author for a fantastic read.

🎧📖BOOK REVIEW📖🎧

The book blurb describes this one perfectly!

“A gripping debut domestic suspense novel, 'The Favor' explores with compassion and depth what can happen when women pushed to the limit take matters into their own hands.”

Leah and McKenna don’t know each other but they are living similar lives with carbon-copy husbands. Both women are smart, well-educated professionals that fell in love with an impostor. A man impersonating the husband they want. But these men may have bit off more than they bargained for!

This story is engaging because it’s something that happens too often. It was predictable in many ways but still entertaining. This debut author is one I’ll watch out for in the future. Her writing is fantastic and I’m excited to see what she comes up with next.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for providing this ARC through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

#thefavor #noramurphy #netgalley #minotaurbooks #edelweiss #macmillanaudion #advancedreadingcopy #honestreview #usreviewer #bookstagrammer #mustread #justfinishedreading #thrilleraddict #bookaddict #booklover #debutauthor#psychologicalthriller #bookworm #fortheloveofbooks #booklover #thrillersofinstagram

Loved the audio - different voices for the three main narrators; just makes it so much more suspenseful, enjoyable and addicting.
Leah married Liam a few months - yet her life has taken a major nosedive. She explains her process of purchasing alcohol, rotating stores to ensure with the hope to remain forgettable. Leah searches the shelves for her must haves, a beautiful young woman catching her eye. Following her, Leah's interest heightens. Especially when discovering her house is minutes from her own. Large windows facing a quiet road, allowing Leah to watch.
With Leah's days empty - no longer holding a job as a lawyer, Leah becomes obsessed with McKenna.
Learning more about her life, Leah sees her own marriage - the escalation of McKenna's husband abuse. Taking Liam's gun, Leah kills Zachary - McKenna in utter confusion.
This is an excellent book detailing the use of gaslighting, isolating - terrifying in the reality of this abuse. Both McKenna and Leah desperate to escape, understanding their marriages are not normal - nor acceptable. But who will believe them? Both unemployed - how can they ever afford to leave.
Well done.

I was really impressed with this debut by Nora Murphy - The Favor. It features Leah and McKenna - two well educated women with something in common - they are both married to controlling and abusive husbands. They don't know one another but a chance encounter brings them together in a way that will change their lives forever. I listened to the audio version of this book over the course of a couple of days. While I did figure out the direction the story was going to take - I still thoroughly enjoyed listening and seeing how the author would get us there. I think she did an excellent job describing these women and their abusive relationships. I actually became so invested in the story and felt such sympathy for both Leah and McKenna. The narration of the audiobook was good for the most part - I did feel like one of the female narrators was a bit monotone in parts of the story.. .Thank you MacMillan audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book reminds of an updated version of Strangers on a Train. It is a great book. I really liked the women, they're husbands angered me so much. I must admit I had thoughts about domestic abuse that were stated in this book. People don't know things unless they are in that situation, it's easy to be on the outside making judgments. This book is well worth the listen. I think this th3e authors first full; length novel and it's one my favorite for this year so far.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book early! However, this was not one of my favorite "thrillers" at all because there was no mystery or suspense. You know the whole time who did what and why so there wasn't a lot of motivation to keep reading. The book tells the story of 2 women who are both victims of domestic abuse. Their stories are eerily similar and they live just streets away from each other (making the story even more dull). One couple is husband/wife doctors; the other husband/wife lawyers. Both women have stopped working and are being controlled by their husbands. We get the POV of each woman as well as one of the detectives investigating things and it just became very repetitive and felt like we were going in circles alot. The only unknown in this book is if the police were going to figure out what was going on. The ending feels pretty unrealistic and the whole thing required a lot of suspension of disbelief. Overall, I've read much better.

SPOILERS AHEAD:
One killed the others husband when she saw him about to hit her. Then the other killed the others husband to return the favor. Both women got away with it.

This was a good, quick thriller. The narrator was great and I felt like you definitely got sucked into the story and wanted to know what was going to happen, The premise is similar to Strangers on a Train but has some good twists that you won't see.

Writing reviews for thrillers is tricky! I say too much, and I spoil it or ruin the suspense and tension, yet I want to say enough to entice you to want to read it, right? Okay, let's see if I can tempt you.

Leah and McKenna are two women trapped in horrible, abusive marriages, and they seem to be living parallel lives. They have never met - but their lives will soon collide.

When Leah spots a woman at a liquor store, she wonders if she's just like her. Leah follows her and begins to watch McKenna and her husband. Seeing tell-tale signs, Leah decides to "protect" McKenna in ways she can't help herself.

First, let me say this about 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫; it's a slow, rolling boil. While it wasn't difficult to guess what was coming and how these women's lives would eventually intersect, the tension in their homes made me continue to flip the pages. This is a story about domestic abuse, how it isn't always physical, but it can be verbal, mental, and controlling.

Don't come looking for huge twists and reveals, but you’ll feel the apprehension and strain. So, did I convince you to check out this taut, thrilling debut?

Thank you @stmartinspress and @minotaur_books for the gifted copies. I shared my extra copy with @booksandcoffeemx - check out her review.

🎧 I listened to the audiobook from @macmillan.audio which was fantastic as you hear both women's POVs.

The Favor is a riveting #domesticthriller that is both compelling and at times quite difficult to read, due to the nature of the subject matter - domestic violence. The author does an amazing job of showing how abusers use manipulation, gaslighting, isolation, threats, fear and ultimately violence to control their victims.

The book follows the lives of two women, Leah and McKenna who are living parallel lives of domestic abuse committed by their professional well to do husbands. It's told from Leah and McKenna's perspectives in the present tense and also through the timeline when each of the women's abuse began and its escalation.The women's lives converge as each one of them makes a choice that leads to deadly consequences.

I couldn’t help but feel angry as I listened/read how these women suffered at the hands of their abusers. I had quite a visceral response - I felt their fear and tension realizing that though this may be fiction it is an all too real situation faced by millions of women. I know these women - we all do.

A wild ride from start to finish, I loved this book! This is one of those stories that pulls you in since the first chapter and won’t let you go until the very end. A fantastic debut from this author.

A wild ride from start to finish, I loved this book! This is one of those stories that pulls you in since the first chapter and won’t let you go until the very end. A fantastic debut from this author.

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.

The fantastic narrators only added to the suspense and drama. The narration is perfect!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review!

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

Wow! Absolutely blown away by how wonderful this book was. I love the dynamics of of both the FMCS with each other. The way they come together was incredible. I love to
Read a book of women looking out for other women. Taking care of each other when their husbands DONT.
Beware of trigger warnings!!

More a book of domestic suspense, as opposed to a mystery thriller. The murder happens right from the jump, and there’s no question about who the murderer is. It is not a mystery you are trying to solve by any means. It’s more the direction the life takes after the murder, the way society forces women to take their abuse into their own hands. How do you can’t rely on law-enforcement or anyone else in some situations.
The reality is so true that it’s painful to read. But I think this book needs to be read. Always remember you never know what’s going on behind that pretty exterior, that everything can be so different than it seems behind closed doors.

Leah and McKenna are living parallel lives despite having never met. Both of them are highly educated and had their dream career and marriage until their perfect husband reveals their true color. Leah and McKenna don't have a way to get out of their miserable marriage. Events of a night becomes an intervention of sought that can help them with solving their problems.

Debut novel, The Favor by Nora Murphy was painful to read about the Leah and McKenna's life and how being educated and independent doesn't not mean anything in an abusive marriage. Even though the domestic thriller had a lot of potential, the solving of the mystery was weak. I wish the investigation part was fleshed out a little more. That said, I definitely feel this would make a great mini series if they have a non linear story telling format.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC of The Favor.