The Chain by Adrian McKinty

VICTIM.
SURVIVOR.
ABDUCTOR.
CRIMINAL.
YOU WILL BECOME EACH ONE.

YOUR PHONE RINGS.

A STRANGER HAS KIDNAPPED YOUR CHILD.

TO FREE THEM YOU MUST ABDUCT SOMEONE ELSE’S CHILD.

YOUR CHILD WILL BE RELEASED WHEN YOUR VICTIM’S PARENTS KIDNAP ANOTHER CHILD.

IF ANY OF THESE THINGS DON’T HAPPEN:
YOUR CHILD WILL BE KILLED.

YOU ARE NOW PART OF THE CHAIN

My thoughts

What kind of person kidnaps a child?

Kylie sits at a bus stop on Plum Island it’s just a normal school day, until it isn’t.

Rachel gets a phone call and the world she was beginning to put back together shatters instantly.

Marty, Rachel’s ex – he’s not going to be helpful, anyway he’s away working his new partner, Tammy, says. He’d go to the police and then, well there’d be repercussions and that would be bad.

Pete, Marty’s brother, he’s an ex Marine – he’s seen stuff, he knows stuff and he cares for Kylie but he’s got a problem and that might ruin everything.

What kind of person wouldn’t kidnap a child?

She’s gone and Rachel has to stay strong. Has to do what she is told. Has to get Kylie back. Has to do as she’s told. She has to do something that makes her as bad as the others. She has to do something any mother would do under the circumstances, something no mother would ever dream of having to do, would ever think they could do – doesn’t she?

The Chain

What is this thing that makes you do such heinous things? Who is behind this abhorrent thing that is The Chain?

Operating by fear and anonymity The Chain appears to be the perfect kidnapping business model. The kidnappers are the victims of a previous kidnapping and the ransom is paid by bitcoins. No one knows who The Chain is only that they have become a part of it – another link in The Chain – victim and perpetrator in fear for their children’s lives, their families lives, their own lives.

We follow Rachel and she is a feisty character, determined, smart and likeable. Will she get Kylie back? Will she do as she is told? Does she want to live the rest of her life wondering if The Chain might call upon her again, put her and her family at risk again? What about all the other victims – past, present and future? What can she do? What will she do?

You may not agree with everything Rachel does, you may think you could never do any of this but you cannot, surely, do anything but admire Rachel’s grit and determination. Her plan maybe dangerous, difficult and even downright crazy but along with the ever loyal Pete she knows she has to carry it out.

The Chain knows everything doesn’t it? The Chain manipulates people and situations to it’s own end. What is The Chain doing? Does it know what Rachel is up to?

What happens throughout this book will mess with your head, mess with who and what you thought you were and then have you hoping that you could be as strong, as brave as Rachel but really happy, grateful and relieved that this is not happening to you.

Adrian McKinty has written a hard hitting story that some may find difficult to read but those who do read it will be gripped by this unique thriller.

Thanks

My thanks to Orion for the invite to read an eARC of The Chain by Adrian McKinty via NetGalley

Information

Publisher: Orion (9 July 2019)

Buy: AmazonSmileUK Waterstones

Author:

Adrian McKinty was born and grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland during the Troubles of the 1970s and 1980s. His father was a boilermaker and ship’s engineer and his mother a secretary. Adrian went to Oxford University on a full scholarship to study philosophy before emigrating to the United States to become a high school English teacher. His books have won the Edgar Award, the Ned Kelly Award, the Anthony Award, the Barry Award and have been translated into over 20 languages. Adrian is a reviewer and critic for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Irish Times and The Guardian. He lives in New York City with his wife and two children.