“We’re all riding on our bubbles, she thinks, we’re all waiting for the blessèd break.”
If there’s one way of amping up a thriller, it’s by throwing some children into the stakes. We don’t have kids here at What We Reading HQ, but we can easily see why anything nefarious happening to them represents the ultimate nightmare for parents anywhere in the world. Which is why we knew we were on to a pulsating, suspenseful and intense tale with Adrian McKinty’s The Chain. Just how pulsating, suspenseful and intense was this Goodreads Award-nominated book? Join us for our The Chain book review to find out!
Date Published: 2019
Author: Adrian McKinty
Genre: Thriller, Crime
Pages: 357
Goodreads Rating: 3.80/5
Premise
Rachel drops her daughter off at the bus stop and sets off on her usual, ordinary routine. And then she receives the phone call that every parent has nightmares about receiving. Someone has kidnapped her daughter, Kylie. To ensure she is returned unharmed, she is told that she must pay a ransom and abduct someone else’s child.
This is the Chain, a nefarious and unending scheme that turns innocent civilians like Rachel into criminals. In the space of one morning, Rachel finds herself faced with impossible moral quandaries and needing to perform acts that previously would have been considered unthinkable. The masterminds behind the Chain know parents will do anything for their children. But, this kidnapping may be just the beginning of an even bigger play for Rachel, these masterminds and their self-running operation.
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What Worked
From the get-go, The Chain is a book that wastes no time in putting the pedal to the metal. You are thrown head-first into this hellish scenario from the first page, and the pacing doesn’t relent, making for a breathless experience. Some of the sequences, especially in the first half of the book, genuinely had us on the edge of our seats, vividly transporting us into the perspectives of
With a premise as unique and chilling as The Chain, it’s impossible not to put yourself in the characters’ shoes and wonder how you would react if you were in their situation. It’s an innovative premise and one that McKinty absolutely nails. What is also quintessential to the success of the book are the characters – all of whom shine throughout. Rachel is one of the most believable and incredible protagonists we’ve read this year, with everything from her capability, dedication and transformation from ordinary civilian to hell-raising badass making her a shining example of how to write a hero.
What’s more, Rachel is backed up by a cast of other main characters who all have their turns in the spotlight. Kylie’s resourcefulness and bravery were great to see, Pete is the embodiment of a nuanced fallen hero, and the masterminds behind the Chain itself are even given a nice amount of layering thanks to several short chapters delving into their lives and backstories throughout.
What Didn’t
For as good as The Chain is (and we think it’s pretty darn good!), the glaring part of it we can see causing a few divides is the structure of it. Whilst the two parts of the book succeed in giving McKinty enough material to keep the pace so searingly quick, we can see why a reader might prefer the first half to the second.
The second half of the book veers more into an ‘action movie’ trope, and things do feel like are heading towards a formula we’ve seen before at a couple of points. It doesn’t have the suspense and psychological torment of the first half.
Overall, we think it works well enough, but it’s something that anyone reading the book is sure to pick up on.
Verdict
The question with mystery-thriller books like The Chain is how much finality you want to give. Do you want to fully delve into the players behind The Chain, their backstories and motivations, and follow the heroes as they attempt to bring it down once and for all? Or does the impact of the book come from the ominous shadow the Chain casts, and how it remains an unbeatable, ever-present mystery?
McKinty’s decision to split the book into two parts seemed an odd one at first for us. However, it works because it satisfies both of those. We enjoyed delving into the lives of those operating the Chain and seeing Rachel’s attempts to bring it down once and for all. But, for those who would rather keep the Chain a mystery, there’s a scintillating read in part one alone.
Overall, The Chain is a thriller that hooks you up from the very first page and never lets you go. It is easily one of the most suspenseful and gripping books we’ve read this year. The pacing is astonishingly delivered, and the characters are all compelling and capable, combining to make McKinty’s work one of the absolute must-reads for any crime thriller fan. Could not recommend it more.
Our Rating: 5/5
Looking For Another Thrilling Read? Check Out Our Book Review Of The Game By Scott Kershaw
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
