The Chain in Aussie Readers

Aug 19, 2019 Josh rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own, crime, audio_books, read_2019

Promoted heavily (at least by the twitter folk I follow anyway) as Jaws for parents, The Chain is every parent's nightmare and certainly fits the 'Jaws for parents' analogy.

Using a clever take on kidnapping, The Chain turns everyday parents into ruthless criminals who'd do anything to protect their love-ones, in turn, providing the mastermind behind the Chain complete anonymity ultimately rendering law enforcement null and void. From the depths of a mothers despair and out of pure desperation, ...more

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Jul 07, 2019 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-are, netgalley-reviews

“Number one: you are not the first and you will certainly not be the last. Number two: remember, it’s not about the money—it’s about The Chain.”

Andrew McKinty’s The Chain is a riveting thriller with a terrifying premise.

The Chain works like this: your child is kidnapped, and the only thing that will ensure their safe release is the payment of a ransom, and for you to then kidnap a child, whose parents must in turn pay a ransom, and kidnap a child. If you fail to comply, your child will die, if “Number one: you are not the first and you will certainly not be the last. Number two: remember, it’s not about the money—it’s about The Chain.”

Andrew McKinty’s The Chain is a riveting thriller with a terrifying premise.

The Chain works like this: your child is kidnapped, and the only thing that will ensure their safe release is the payment of a ransom, and for you to then kidnap a child, whose parents must in turn pay a ransom, and kidnap a child. If you fail to comply, your child will die, if your victim’s parents fail to comply, you must kill their child and choose another target, or your child will die. Attempt to inform law enforcement, or in anyway interrupt The Chain and you and your entire family will be the first to die.

Rachel Klein is not an obvious target for this macabre network. She is newly divorced, recently in remission after treatment for breast cancer, and has very little money. When her thirteen year old daughter, Kylie, is abducted, and Rachel receives the chilling instructions as the newest link in The Chain, she balks, as most right-minded people would. What Rachel is being asked to do is unthinkable, but with the life of her beloved daughter at stake, Rachel realises she has no choice.

The first half of the book is an absolute page turner, I raced through it wondering just how far Rachel was willing to go. McKinty skilfully communicates the fear and desperation experienced by victims of The Chain. When the lives of our children are threatened there is very little a parent won’t do to protect them, and it is exactly that primal instinct that the sociopathic minds behind The Chain exploit.

“Be thankful for our mercy and remember that once you are on The Chain, you are on it forever. You are not the first and you will not be the last. We are watching, we are listening; we can come for you at any time.”

The pace slowed somewhat during the second half as Rachel, and Kylie, struggle with the aftermath of their experience, but it ramps up again as Rachel realises the only way she and her daughter will ever escape The Chain, is to expose the diabolical masterminds behind the scheme.

The Chain is an impressive thriller that will get your heart racing and keep the pages turning. Don’t miss being part of The Chain. ...more

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Jul 17, 2019 Kathy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, crime-thriller, favorite-covers, highly-recommend, psychological-thriller

The Chain is the first Adrian McKinty book I've read. It won't be the last. The word "unique" is often tossed out to describe a storyline or the way a story is told, but that word should be reserved for those rare occasions in which the story fills that word up to its full potential. The Chain is as worthy as a book gets to claim the word "unique." It gives readers something they've never had before. Wow! That's quite the accomplisment. And, so Adrian McKinty has created a brilliant story that y The Chain is the first Adrian McKinty book I've read. It won't be the last. The word "unique" is often tossed out to describe a storyline or the way a story is told, but that word should be reserved for those rare occasions in which the story fills that word up to its full potential. The Chain is as worthy as a book gets to claim the word "unique." It gives readers something they've never had before. Wow! That's quite the accomplisment. And, so Adrian McKinty has created a brilliant story that you haven't read anywhere else, with characters who show us what doing the impossible looks like, and a writing style that builds the suspense to perfection. All the hype you've heard about The Chain is true. It is that special book.

Rachel Klein has already survived breast cancer once, and there are indications that she may not be through with that battle yet. She thinks it's the toughest fight she will ever face. It's not. After dropping her thirteen-year-old daughter Kylie off at the bus stop, Rachel is on her way to her oncologist, but she doesn't get there. She receives a phone call that will set her straight on what is worse than cancer. The person calling reveals that she has kidnapped Kylie, and to get her daughter back, Rachel must follow the rules of depositing $25,000 in bitcoin into an account and kidnap another child to suffer the same experience as Kylie. The woman calling has a son who was kidnapped. Everyone having their child returned depends on the next person following the "rules" and not involving the police. It's called The Chain and Rachel is now a link in it. If she fails to follow the rules, Kylie will be killed. If the person whose child Rachel will kidnap fails to follow the rules, Kylie will be killed. Rachel will follow the rules. There is nothing she wouldn't do to protect her child and have her returned. This premise is what keeps The Chain going, and it is what will keep Rachel doing the impossible until the impossible goes deeper than the imagination can fathom.

The Chain is going to be on so many "Best" lists for 2019 that it might be interesting to make a list of the lists. I know it's already on my "Favorite Reads of 2019" list. Adrian McKinty has written what all authors dream of writing, an unforgettable book.

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Jul 31, 2019 Donna rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019, suspenseful, plot_driven, compelling, kidnapping

Throw all the superlatives you want at this one for they are justified.

High octane, psychological thriller. Flawed characters. Suspense. Terror. Violence. Relentless.

Truly and utterly evil.

I take my hat off to you, Mr McKinty. I love your work ... though I love Sean Duffy the most.

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Jul 07, 2019 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it really liked it

“Number one: you are not the first and you will certainly not be the last. Number two: remember, it’s not about the money—it’s about The Chain.”

Andrew McKinty’s The Chain is a riveting thriller with a terrifying premise.

The Chain works like this: your child is kidnapped, and the only thing that will ensure their safe release is the payment of a ransom, and for you to then kidnap a child, whose parents must in turn pay a ransom, and kidnap a child. If you fail to comply, your child will die, if “Number one: you are not the first and you will certainly not be the last. Number two: remember, it’s not about the money—it’s about The Chain.”

Andrew McKinty’s The Chain is a riveting thriller with a terrifying premise.

The Chain works like this: your child is kidnapped, and the only thing that will ensure their safe release is the payment of a ransom, and for you to then kidnap a child, whose parents must in turn pay a ransom, and kidnap a child. If you fail to comply, your child will die, if your victim’s parents fail to comply, you must kill their child and choose another target, or your child will die. Attempt to inform law enforcement, or in anyway interrupt The Chain and you and your entire family will be the first to die.

Rachel Klein is not an obvious target for this macabre network. She is newly divorced, recently in remission after treatment for breast cancer, and has very little money. When her thirteen year old daughter, Kylie, is abducted, and Rachel receives the chilling instructions as the newest link in The Chain, she balks, as most right-minded people would. What Rachel is being asked to do is unthinkable, but with the life of her beloved daughter at stake, Rachel realises she has no choice.

The first half of the book is an absolute page turner, I raced through it wondering just how far Rachel was willing to go. McKinty skilfully communicates the fear and desperation experienced by victims of The Chain. When the lives of our children are threatened there is very little a parent won’t do to protect them, and it is exactly that primal instinct that the sociopathic minds behind The Chain exploit.

“Be thankful for our mercy and remember that once you are on The Chain, you are on it forever. You are not the first and you will not be the last. We are watching, we are listening; we can come for you at any time.”

The pace slowed somewhat during the second half as Rachel, and Kylie, struggle with the aftermath of their experience, but it ramps up again as Rachel realises the only way she and her daughter will ever escape The Chain, is to expose the diabolical masterminds behind the scheme.

The Chain is an impressive thriller that will get your heart racing and keep the pages turning. Don’t miss being part of The Chain. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 20, 2023 Tien rated it really liked it

Shelves: thriller, arc, subdue-the-shelf, mm-23

We've all had those spammy chain letters but this one really takes the cake. It is a Chain but it's the Chain involving lives. Vulnerable lives. Children's lives. Again and again, it's showed that parents will do everything for the safety of their children until one or more realised that even as their child is safely at home, s/he is not safe in her head. The threat never goes away and there's only one thing to do but at what cost?

I've read and enjoyed author's police procedural series, Sean Duf ...more

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Nov 26, 2019 Rina rated it liked it

The premise of this book was very intriguing - chain kidnapping, and how people would do terrible thing to save their own kids, including endangering other people’s kids (humans could be very selfish that way!).

What was lacking for me was character developments. The evolution of Rachel’s courage was really good, and I could see a lot of focus and efforts went into telling this side of the story. I understood Rachel had to be cold and strong while in the thick of it, but it felt disjointed to som ...more

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Jul 16, 2019 John rated it really liked it

Adrian McKinty has written a very addictive thriller here. In an environment that is saturated with thrillers 'The Chain' offers a storyline was both interesting and unique. I would have like maybe a little more character development but having said that the characters (in particular the villain) were compelling and relatable.

One of the best features of this book the meditation on personal morality and the power of love. Is there any justifiable excuse to commit a crime? Can love override person ...more

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Mar 24, 2021 Joanne rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I read this at the recommendation of a couple of authors I turn to when I am looking for a complete diversion. This provided that diversion. A psychological thriller, it is every family's worst nightmare. The two-part structure was a bit problematic for me, but I don't see how it might have been done otherwise. There is still lots happening in the second half, and lots of suspense, but it's almost an entirely different story. After reading this one, you might become much more careful about what ...more

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Jul 26, 2019 Tango rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The premise of this book is quite interesting, in order to save your own kidnapped child you have to kidnap one yourself, even though the execution was a bit clunky at times. I'm not sure why, but some of the writing grated on me. Despite that the story is interesting and he keeps the momentum going. The writing actually gets better in the second half of the book, although I felt there were certain questions raised that really didn't get answered. This is more a three and a half stars for me. ...more

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