Leah and McKenna don’t know each other but they have so much in common - they are intelligent, high achieving women living in beautiful houses. They are both married to handsome, upstanding members of the local community. They are also being systematically abused and imprisoned in their marriages, with escalating episodes of violence. All it takes in one chance encounter and one fateful night for their lives to intertwine and change forever.

I enjoyed reading The Favour. Sure, you have to suspend belief for some events in the book but it’s a gripping tense thriller. Reading about Leah and McKenna’s lives is a claustrophobic, and dispiriting at times but I was soon rooting for the women.I enjoyed the three narratives with in the book and found it easy to get immersed in the plot. As well as a spotlight into domestic abuse, The Favour also raises important questions about true justice. It’s a solid addition to the thriller genres and perfect for readers who like domestic and psychological thriller page turners.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. I'd have enjoyed the book more without the perspective of the detective trying to solve the case. His PoV sort of "spoilt" the sense of solidarity that existed between Leah and McKenna as he was an outsider. I won't say any more, except that even though early on in the book you pretty much twig what's going to happen, it's still a gripping read. The psychology of abuse, and gender-based violence is complex and nuanced and difficult to read about, but if I had to read about it, I'm glad this book exists.

(Review copy from NetGalley)

My understanding of domestic violence is limited, but reading this book has given me an insight into it; that’s not to say that it’s a preachy tome, rather it portrays what can happen behind closed doors in an otherwise outwardly happy home.

Despite the seriousness of the situations the book worked well for me as a thriller even though I wasn’t much in doubt as to how the story would pan out.

I thoroughly enjoyed this author’s first novel and highly recommend it.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC

This book might be a bit if a trigger for some people as it deals with domestic violence. So please do beat this in mind if you want to read this book. However this is done really well, I really liked he writing style of this book, I really thought that it was gripping, tense and suspenseful, a really well written book. Well done.

Dark, Claustrophobic…
Dark, claustrophobic psychological suspense with a dangerous sharp edge. Two women married to seemingly perfect spouses. When they cross paths they realise that they actually have something terrifying in common. Hell is a common ground and they’re living it. With themes of domestic and psychological manipulation and abuse, this is hard hitting and rightly so. Tautly plotted and compelling.

This is the story of Leah & McKenna. Leah spots McKenna one day and starts driving by her house watching. Leah soon finds that she has got something very much in common with McKenna. She does something for McKenna that she is unable to do for herself.

This is a story about domestic abuse. It is very telling how easy it was for these women to get into these situations. It really doesn’t matter what your background is or how rich or poor you are. I found the whole story very plausible. When I first started this book I thought it was going to be a modern day version of strangers on a train. It definitely is not that story. The story is told from three points of view Leah’s, McKenna’s & a detective. I really enjoyed this book but makes uncomfortable reading at times.

Taunt and compelling…. Leah and McKenna have never met, but when Leah sees McKenna in a store, she sees so much of herself in the woman that she follows her home, and, later enters her house one night where she sees that McKenna is as much a victim of her husband as Leah is. Loved it!

i wasn't keen on this book at all, i struggled to get into it and couldn't finish it. none of the characters or plot jumped out at me.

I wasn't sure what to make of this book at the beginning but it did get better, the characters were interesting and I did get involved in the story line although I was slightly disappointed with the ending.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for allowing me to read this book.

This was a strange book overall. It started of rather promising but soon became bizarre. The concept of stalking was not justified and I couldn’t relate to any of the characters. It was very disappointing.

A lacklustre and a predictable read. First of all this has been incorrectly marketed as a Strangers on a Train. It’s not!
This follows two women. The story opens with Leah who sees another woman in a wine store and recognises something in her, so she decides to stalk her 🤦🏻‍♀️ Whatta a logic!!! Leah somehow recognises that this woman has an abusive husband and finds it comforting to stalk her 🙄 Then halfway through the book (in the first half we see how both women became trapped in abusive marriages) when McKenna is being threatened and attacked by her husband outta nowhere Leah (who has never spoken to McKenna before) appears from outside the house and shoots the husband dead through the window (is that even possible? 🤔). That’s when the detectives come in and this becomes remotely thriller like.
Listen, domestic violence is a serious issue. Believe me. I’ve experienced it too (my father was violent towards my mother growing up). I get it. However there’s a million thrillers out there based on DV. Some are good. Some are derivative. Unfortunately this was the latter. We see both women’s life unfold, which while tragic and poignant, is also predictable. As a suspense there was hardly any tension and no pace, no gripping factor. This was no page turner. There just wasn’t any suspense. Same old viewpoint. Nothing new is said. No new POV. Everything was obvious. Predictable. Also implausible at times. The ending wrapped up in a disappointing and predictable way. I guess I was expected a novel that touched on important issues while being a good gripping read too.

The favour is a must read for anyone who loves a good thriller!

I felt for Leah and Mckenna, two women who are in the same type of situation and see no escape, until one fateful evening.

This novel is fast paced and tense!

What an absorbing page-turner of a debut! This is domestic psychological thriller at its best. Addictive as well as thought-provoking.

Two women are standing in line at the shops and one watches the other as she feels drawn to her for some reason, so she follows her and becomes fascinated by the life she spies behind the open windows of her home as it mirrors her own. The reader then follows the story written from 3 perspectives; the two wives and the detective who becomes involved. Not going to say anymore about the plot as it would give too much away and it deserves to be read without knowing too much in advance.

Coercive control and domestic abuse has been used in TV and book plots many times before, but not in such a detailed way that the reader can really see exactly why a woman “just can’t leave” and gets trapped in a downward spiral of self-doubt and fear by having to ‘walk on eggshells’ constantly. Nora’s experience as a family lawyer means she gets straight to the heart of the issues that women face stuck in relationships with charming and manipulative narcissists, but it is not only the partners that suffer from their abuse. Parents and siblings of these abusers are also often victims of their behaviour as well.
Some reviewers have commented how it jarred with them that the wives and husbands in this story are too physically and mentally alike, but that is exactly how these people work. They definitely have a ‘type’ they target.

Not only is this a gripping read, but the addition of the author’s notes at the end will make a good starting point for any book club discussion and hopefully will also help any reader recognise the signs of domestic abuse in neighbours or friends.

A psychological thriller based around domestic violence. It started off well but unfortunately the similarities between the two protagonists were so unbelievable that the plot failed to engage me- same physical appearance, similar husbands, same housing, and similar abuse pattern etc. I found a lot of repetitive themes running through it and then the ending I also found unbelievable. Sorry, this one was not for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Pan Macmillan and the author for allowing me to review this e- advance copy.

This book was so good it was suffocating, I felt like i couldn't breathe whilst reading it but in a really good way. It was well written with an intense and compelling storyline and well developed and relatabel characters, This was a fast paced, tense, dark and gripping read that had me on the edge of my seat with twists and unpredictability. A really enjoyable read,

It's quite clear from the description that this will have a strangers on a train vibe but even starting off with that knowledge doesn't take away from the tension and suspense you feel reading this story. The characters are well written and it does show a very realistic depiction of modern day spousal abuse and the struggles, fears and pain that the victims suffer with. Its respectfully written without and shock value added drama and is really just a very true to life story about these victims. And these are women who thought they'd found their happily ever, like so many victims do. They're strong, independant, confident, educated, popular, well loved...... they could be any one of us and to me that is what really makes this story get under your skin so quickly. It starts with a few small comments or mood swings and then escalates to who knows what. I was so invested in these women's journeys and it does have you on the edge of your seat wondering what's going to happen or even if there is any way out for these women. The story is told from 3 different view points which are all really distinct and clear so it never gets blurred of confusing. The time line also shifts a bit to give you the background and a better understanding of what's brought us to the present situation which is also important so you can see the escalation etc. It's just a really enjoyable book that doesn't feel overly dramatic or has had all the bells and whistles added in unnecessarily. The simplicity of the story is what makes it so relatable and enjoyable. I'd absolutely recommend

Two women who both seem to have it all, are in reality, miserable because of their terrible husbands. As each woman tells her story, readers will get swept up in their individual tumultuous lives. Leah and McKenna have never met, but when Leah sees McKenna in a store, she sees so much of herself in the woman that she follows her home, and, later enters her house one night where she sees that McKenna is as much a victim of her husband as Leah is. What these two women do will leave readers gasping even as they try to parse the truth from the lies. A thrilling read