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The Favor
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.
"A thrilling debut—I couldn’t put it down!"—Shari Lapena, #1 internationally bestselling author of Not a Happy Family and The Couple Next Door
Leaving would be dangerous. Staying could be worse.
Leah and McKenna have never met, though they have parallel lives.
They don’t—ever—find themselves in the same train carriage or meet accidentally at the gym or the coffee shop.
They don’t—ever—discuss their problems and find common ground.
They don’t—ever—acknowledge to each other that although their lives have all the trappings of success, wealth and happiness, they are, in fact, trapped.
Leah understands that what’s inside a home can be far more dangerous than what’s outside. So when she notices someone else who may be starting down the same path she’s on, she pays attention. She watches over McKenna from afar. Until one night she sees more than she bargained for. Leah knows she can’t save herself, but perhaps she can save McKenna.
Leah and McKenna have never met. But they will.
"A thrilling debut—I couldn’t put it down!"—Shari Lapena, #1 internationally bestselling author of Not a Happy Family and The Couple Next Door
Leaving would be dangerous. Staying could be worse.
Leah and McKenna have never met, though they have parallel lives.
They don’t—ever—find themselves in the same train carriage or meet accidentally at the gym or the coffee shop.
They don’t—ever—discuss their problems and find common ground.
They don’t—ever—acknowledge to each other that although their lives have all the trappings of success, wealth and happiness, they are, in fact, trapped.
Leah understands that what’s inside a home can be far more dangerous than what’s outside. So when she notices someone else who may be starting down the same path she’s on, she pays attention. She watches over McKenna from afar. Until one night she sees more than she bargained for. Leah knows she can’t save herself, but perhaps she can save McKenna.
Leah and McKenna have never met. But they will.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2022
528 people are currently reading
46138 people want to read
About the author
Nora Murphy
7 books610 followersNora Murphy is the author of The Favor and The New Mother. A practicing attorney, Nora resides in Maryland with her husband, three sons, and four rescue pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,681 reviews
November 22, 2025
I LOVE discovering a debut from a promising new author! And, with “The Favor”- I have done just that! ❤️
Leah and McKenna have never met, though they are leading parallel lives.
Both are intelligent, educated, accomplished women, who have SOMEHOW lost their sense of self worth after getting married.
In this story, they won’t find themselves in the same train carriage and they don’t meet accidentally at the gym or the coffee shop.
But, one day, Leah sees McKenna in a liquor shop, and recognizes an earlier version of herself, and she feels compelled to follow her.
And, then to return again to the other woman’s home on another night.
What she witnesses is something she knows only too well from her own marriage: McKenna’s husband isn’t as “charming “ as he seems.
And, when Leah, decides to intervene, the two will finally meet.
“I AM SOMEONE LIKE YOU”
Now the two women are forever linked.
But is the link one that our Detective can figure out?
I found the writing to be immediately engaging, and the insights into domestic abuse were spot on! (resources provided)
I know! I know!
Many of you are tired of reading about abusive, controlling husbands, gaslighting and women who cope by becoming addicted to alcohol and/or drugs-but this is a serious problem that can paralyze women from all walks of life. And, what sets this story apart from the others is the quality of the writing. I was flipping the pages late into the night!
The men is this story were interchangeable-but that didn’t really matter because this story is about the women.
And, I was rooting for them every step of the way!
4+
I cannot wait to read what Nora Murphy writes next!
NOW AVAILABLE!
This was a buddy read with my friend Susan! Be sure to read her always insightful review!
Thank You to Minotaur for my gifted copy! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Leah and McKenna have never met, though they are leading parallel lives.
Both are intelligent, educated, accomplished women, who have SOMEHOW lost their sense of self worth after getting married.
In this story, they won’t find themselves in the same train carriage and they don’t meet accidentally at the gym or the coffee shop.
But, one day, Leah sees McKenna in a liquor shop, and recognizes an earlier version of herself, and she feels compelled to follow her.
And, then to return again to the other woman’s home on another night.
What she witnesses is something she knows only too well from her own marriage: McKenna’s husband isn’t as “charming “ as he seems.
And, when Leah, decides to intervene, the two will finally meet.
“I AM SOMEONE LIKE YOU”
Now the two women are forever linked.
But is the link one that our Detective can figure out?
I found the writing to be immediately engaging, and the insights into domestic abuse were spot on! (resources provided)
I know! I know!
Many of you are tired of reading about abusive, controlling husbands, gaslighting and women who cope by becoming addicted to alcohol and/or drugs-but this is a serious problem that can paralyze women from all walks of life. And, what sets this story apart from the others is the quality of the writing. I was flipping the pages late into the night!
The men is this story were interchangeable-but that didn’t really matter because this story is about the women.
And, I was rooting for them every step of the way!
4+
I cannot wait to read what Nora Murphy writes next!
NOW AVAILABLE!
This was a buddy read with my friend Susan! Be sure to read her always insightful review!
Thank You to Minotaur for my gifted copy! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
March 16, 2023
This book’s plot absolutely resembles Strangers on a train meets Girl on the train with additional domestic abuse and psychological thriller elements.
And interestingly it doesn’t take place on a train!
But Leah and McKenna were intelligent, strong, caring woman, so easy to resonate with!
They were just the victims of abusive, controlling partners who verbally and physically harassed them.
Leah is a talented, aspiring lawyer and McKenna is a brilliant pediatrician. Both of them worked so hard to achieve their goals, trapped in a marriage, trying to find a way out. Their fates crossed at a liquor store where Leah always stops by each particular day of the week and McKenna coincidentally stops by buying wine for treating her neighbors even though she’s forbidden to drink.
Leah can sense the similarities between she and McKenna, finding herself follow her to the house.
She thinks McKenna lives the early stage of her own life but when she sees McKenna’s control freak husband Zachary she understands something is wrong with him just like her own husband Liam who watches her each step, forcing her to live at the basement of the house and from some reason something truly bad happened to Leah during their only ten months long marriage that turned her into jobless alcoholic but we don’t know what it is! But we understand that her husband threats to kill her mother if she tries to leave him.
And poor McKenna also suffers financially, couldn’t say a word to her brother about what’s happening behind the close doors. And she secretly keeps taking her birth control pills even though the bastard she’s married forcing her to conceive a baby.
Watching them outside of their home becomes a habit for Leah but one day she sees something shocking… something pushes her out of her comfort zone… something forces her to take an action…
I’m stopping her not to give much away. I already gave big clues when I mentioned two books’ plots have resemblances with this story.
I read it in one sit! The characterization is spotless! The pacing was perfectly balanced, unputdownable, riveting. I loved this book! I loved the conclusion!
I was thinking about giving four stars but I decided to give more because of powerful messages the author gave and I also advise you to read the author more which made me round up 4.5 stars to 5!
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Minotaur Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
And interestingly it doesn’t take place on a train!
But Leah and McKenna were intelligent, strong, caring woman, so easy to resonate with!
They were just the victims of abusive, controlling partners who verbally and physically harassed them.
Leah is a talented, aspiring lawyer and McKenna is a brilliant pediatrician. Both of them worked so hard to achieve their goals, trapped in a marriage, trying to find a way out. Their fates crossed at a liquor store where Leah always stops by each particular day of the week and McKenna coincidentally stops by buying wine for treating her neighbors even though she’s forbidden to drink.
Leah can sense the similarities between she and McKenna, finding herself follow her to the house.
She thinks McKenna lives the early stage of her own life but when she sees McKenna’s control freak husband Zachary she understands something is wrong with him just like her own husband Liam who watches her each step, forcing her to live at the basement of the house and from some reason something truly bad happened to Leah during their only ten months long marriage that turned her into jobless alcoholic but we don’t know what it is! But we understand that her husband threats to kill her mother if she tries to leave him.
And poor McKenna also suffers financially, couldn’t say a word to her brother about what’s happening behind the close doors. And she secretly keeps taking her birth control pills even though the bastard she’s married forcing her to conceive a baby.
Watching them outside of their home becomes a habit for Leah but one day she sees something shocking… something pushes her out of her comfort zone… something forces her to take an action…
I’m stopping her not to give much away. I already gave big clues when I mentioned two books’ plots have resemblances with this story.
I read it in one sit! The characterization is spotless! The pacing was perfectly balanced, unputdownable, riveting. I loved this book! I loved the conclusion!
I was thinking about giving four stars but I decided to give more because of powerful messages the author gave and I also advise you to read the author more which made me round up 4.5 stars to 5!
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Minotaur Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
January 24, 2022
Stand, run, or hide.
"It was like she was my friend, my ally."
Leah and McKenna have a lot in common, but they are complete strangers. One of them has a grand idea, and becomes a little obsessed with following the other one.
McKenna's neighborhood has streets named after fruit. She lives on Apple Blossom Lane. Leah begins watching McKenna from a distance, parking on Pear Tree Circle, she sees her husband come in, due to the open curtains and wall of windows. He brings an air of unease, and she can feel the tension rise as she watches on. She knows this feeling well. They seem to have similar lives, both women playing roles.
Leah and McKenna are educated, professional, intelligent and sophisticated. How is it they can't seem to break away?
The writing grabbed me from the start! The obsessive nature of the characters had me on edge much of the time. One scene was truly a shockeroo that made me blink twice and reread it! I think I was rooting for the wrong person, but it was hard not to.
Some Stranger on the Train vibes mixed with a bit of Behind Closed Doors.
The story deals with abusive relationships which I normally steer away from, but this one pulled me in. The author's note at the end reminded me of how common it really is and how much these women need support.
Thanks to SMP influencers program for my copy. OUT June 14, 2022
"It was like she was my friend, my ally."
Leah and McKenna have a lot in common, but they are complete strangers. One of them has a grand idea, and becomes a little obsessed with following the other one.
McKenna's neighborhood has streets named after fruit. She lives on Apple Blossom Lane. Leah begins watching McKenna from a distance, parking on Pear Tree Circle, she sees her husband come in, due to the open curtains and wall of windows. He brings an air of unease, and she can feel the tension rise as she watches on. She knows this feeling well. They seem to have similar lives, both women playing roles.
Leah and McKenna are educated, professional, intelligent and sophisticated. How is it they can't seem to break away?
The writing grabbed me from the start! The obsessive nature of the characters had me on edge much of the time. One scene was truly a shockeroo that made me blink twice and reread it! I think I was rooting for the wrong person, but it was hard not to.
Some Stranger on the Train vibes mixed with a bit of Behind Closed Doors.
The story deals with abusive relationships which I normally steer away from, but this one pulled me in. The author's note at the end reminded me of how common it really is and how much these women need support.
Thanks to SMP influencers program for my copy. OUT June 14, 2022
June 12, 2022
“I’m someone like you.”
3.5 stars
The Favoris a psychological thriller about two women with seemingly picture-perfect lives who trade an unsolicited “favor” that changes the trajectory of their lives.
Leah and McKenna seem to have ideal lives. Both women are married to highly successful men and have put their careers on hold to support their husband’s wishes. But what goes on behind closed doors reveals all is not what it seems. A chance sighting results in an obsession that leads to murder.
The plot mirrors Strangers on a Train with a few other novels mixed in.
Narrated by Leah, McKenna, and Jordan, the detective conducting a murder investigation, Leah and McKenna were somewhat interchangeable, but that didn’t really bother me as there was enough detail to set them apart. Leah was a bit darker and had a stronger voice, whereas McKenna's character felt like an afterthought. Jordan’s character is a little corny and cliched--I could have done without his chapters.
The timeline alternates between the past and the present, filling the reader in on how Leah and McKenna, two smart, successful women, became trapped in their marriages.
The Favor is more of a plot-driven vs. character-driven novel. It’s easy to read and hooked me from the start. I could have used a bit more background and depth to the characters and their situations, but at the same time, I was captivated. I was left with a few unanswered questions and had to slightly suspend my disbelief, but overall, this was a solid debut with a page-turning plot!
3.5 stars
The Favoris a psychological thriller about two women with seemingly picture-perfect lives who trade an unsolicited “favor” that changes the trajectory of their lives.
Leah and McKenna seem to have ideal lives. Both women are married to highly successful men and have put their careers on hold to support their husband’s wishes. But what goes on behind closed doors reveals all is not what it seems. A chance sighting results in an obsession that leads to murder.
The plot mirrors Strangers on a Train with a few other novels mixed in.
Narrated by Leah, McKenna, and Jordan, the detective conducting a murder investigation, Leah and McKenna were somewhat interchangeable, but that didn’t really bother me as there was enough detail to set them apart. Leah was a bit darker and had a stronger voice, whereas McKenna's character felt like an afterthought. Jordan’s character is a little corny and cliched--I could have done without his chapters.
The timeline alternates between the past and the present, filling the reader in on how Leah and McKenna, two smart, successful women, became trapped in their marriages.
The Favor is more of a plot-driven vs. character-driven novel. It’s easy to read and hooked me from the start. I could have used a bit more background and depth to the characters and their situations, but at the same time, I was captivated. I was left with a few unanswered questions and had to slightly suspend my disbelief, but overall, this was a solid debut with a page-turning plot!
May 25, 2022
Leah Dawson, a lawyer married to hotshot family law & divorce attorney, Liam, and McKenna Hawkins, a pediatrician married to respected psychiatrist, Zachary, both seem to have idyllic lives with their relatively new husbands. They have successful careers, beautiful homes and financial stability. They don’t know each other, but their lives are remarkably similar - right down to the emotional and physical abuse, coercion, social isolation, lack of financial control, and stripping of identity that both husbands start inflicting on them shortly after marriage. When Leah sees McKenna in a liquor store one day, she recognizes the signs of her own situation and becomes obsessed with helping her, unbeknownst to McKenna.
The question is: How far will Leah go to help this stranger?
I’m leaving it there, as far as the plot goes, as that’s just the beginning. Suffice it to say, as the story unfolds, it’s clever, intriguing, and frankly infuriating to see what these two women experience, but it’s also, dare I say, fun to watch how author Nora Murphy weaves their stories together to a satisfying conclusion. Not condoning how some things went down, but I was pulling for these two at every moment! Yes, you have to suspend a pretty healthy amount of disbelief, and I was mildly annoyed at the chapters with Detective Jordan Harrison, who came off too cocky for my taste, but it was a small price to pay for a compelling debut that tackles an issue that should be given more attention.
Do yourself a favor and read this! Also make sure to read the Author’s Note, as Murphy includes resources and information pertaining to domestic violence for those who may personally need it or know someone who does.
★★★★
Thanks to St. Martins Press, NetGalley and author Nora Murphy for this ARC. I’ve given my opinions freely and honestly. It’s due to be published on May 31, 2022.
**********************************************************************************************
Some facts on domestic violence:
According to NCADV, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in three women and one in four men in the U.S. have experienced physical violence from their intimate partner, such as pushing, shoving and slapping, and one in four women and one in nine men have endured a severe form like beating, burning or strangling. That doesn’t even account for emotional abuse, sexual violence or stalking, nor does it reflect statistics globally where domestic violence is endemic and often unseen.
For more domestic violence statistics visit: Statistics
For domestic violence resources visit: Resources
The question is: How far will Leah go to help this stranger?
I’m leaving it there, as far as the plot goes, as that’s just the beginning. Suffice it to say, as the story unfolds, it’s clever, intriguing, and frankly infuriating to see what these two women experience, but it’s also, dare I say, fun to watch how author Nora Murphy weaves their stories together to a satisfying conclusion. Not condoning how some things went down, but I was pulling for these two at every moment! Yes, you have to suspend a pretty healthy amount of disbelief, and I was mildly annoyed at the chapters with Detective Jordan Harrison, who came off too cocky for my taste, but it was a small price to pay for a compelling debut that tackles an issue that should be given more attention.
Do yourself a favor and read this! Also make sure to read the Author’s Note, as Murphy includes resources and information pertaining to domestic violence for those who may personally need it or know someone who does.
★★★★
Thanks to St. Martins Press, NetGalley and author Nora Murphy for this ARC. I’ve given my opinions freely and honestly. It’s due to be published on May 31, 2022.
**********************************************************************************************
Some facts on domestic violence:
According to NCADV, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in three women and one in four men in the U.S. have experienced physical violence from their intimate partner, such as pushing, shoving and slapping, and one in four women and one in nine men have endured a severe form like beating, burning or strangling. That doesn’t even account for emotional abuse, sexual violence or stalking, nor does it reflect statistics globally where domestic violence is endemic and often unseen.
For more domestic violence statistics visit: Statistics
For domestic violence resources visit: Resources
June 6, 2022
4.5*****
A psychological domestic thriller delivered by a debut author with enough talent to convince me Nora Murphy is one to watch!!!! This is not just another book about wives being abused by controlling husbands and succumbing to their demise with alcohol. The writing is incredible and I wanted to finish it in one day! The description of the book doesn't give anything away other than the two women do not know each other.
Leah and McKenna have never met, but they live parallel lives with "perfect" husbands. They have both left their jobs recently and feel trapped within their homes. They are accomplished women: One is a doctor; One is an attorney. Their husbands are just as successful: One is a doctor; One is an attorney. They are both professional abusers....husbands that are professionals but abuse their wives either physically, emotionally or both. They both have violated the relevant professional code of ethics.
I was confused at first, when Leah sees McKenna in a liquor store and stops in her tracks with the thoughts "It was like seeing myself." So the guess work was out when Leah began following her home, parking down the street and watching from her backyard. She sees and instinctively knows that they have similar home environments by watching the couple's interactions. They become linked in a most unusual way in which a detective tries to connect the dots.
There are so many fantastic reviews that if I can't convince you to read it maybe they can!!
The unfortunate reality is that many women and men suffer physical and mental abuse and can't find a way out of it. There are links for help at the end of her book. Staying is not an option. :(
Thank you Netgalley and St Martins books for this copy in exchange for my honest review.
A psychological domestic thriller delivered by a debut author with enough talent to convince me Nora Murphy is one to watch!!!! This is not just another book about wives being abused by controlling husbands and succumbing to their demise with alcohol. The writing is incredible and I wanted to finish it in one day! The description of the book doesn't give anything away other than the two women do not know each other.
Leah and McKenna have never met, but they live parallel lives with "perfect" husbands. They have both left their jobs recently and feel trapped within their homes. They are accomplished women: One is a doctor; One is an attorney. Their husbands are just as successful: One is a doctor; One is an attorney. They are both professional abusers....husbands that are professionals but abuse their wives either physically, emotionally or both. They both have violated the relevant professional code of ethics.
I was confused at first, when Leah sees McKenna in a liquor store and stops in her tracks with the thoughts "It was like seeing myself." So the guess work was out when Leah began following her home, parking down the street and watching from her backyard. She sees and instinctively knows that they have similar home environments by watching the couple's interactions. They become linked in a most unusual way in which a detective tries to connect the dots.
There are so many fantastic reviews that if I can't convince you to read it maybe they can!!
The unfortunate reality is that many women and men suffer physical and mental abuse and can't find a way out of it. There are links for help at the end of her book. Staying is not an option. :(
Thank you Netgalley and St Martins books for this copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 7, 2022
Leaving would be Dangerous.
Staying could be worse.
Leah knows an abused woman - mentally or physically - when she sees one because she is one. So, when she sees a woman at the liquor store, she knows they live similar lives. She knows the slump of her shoulders. She knows her darting eyes. She knows she needs help. They haven’t met, but they will…
The Favour was a super tense thriller about two women in very similar situations. I haven't read a good domestic suspense/thriller in a while so this was a welcome change. Both women have incredibly stressful storylines and I enjoyed reading their different points of view thoroughly. I really felt for both women as their situations unfolded. Some of the scenes made me so mad, I just wanted to reach into the pages and pull the characters out. I was rooting for them from page one. I do think the less you know going into this one, the more exciting it is so I will stop there.
Nora Murphy has crafted a fast-paced story that has everything I want in a thriller novel. I'm so impressed that this is her debut. I thought the writing and character development were excellent. Her background working with survivors of domestic violence (DV) translated so well into her writing. I thought she addressed the DV aspects with great care and thoughtfulness. I’m looking forward to reading what she comes up with next.
A huge thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for gifting me a finished copy of The Favour to read and review. Publication day is 31 May 2022.
Staying could be worse.
Leah knows an abused woman - mentally or physically - when she sees one because she is one. So, when she sees a woman at the liquor store, she knows they live similar lives. She knows the slump of her shoulders. She knows her darting eyes. She knows she needs help. They haven’t met, but they will…
The Favour was a super tense thriller about two women in very similar situations. I haven't read a good domestic suspense/thriller in a while so this was a welcome change. Both women have incredibly stressful storylines and I enjoyed reading their different points of view thoroughly. I really felt for both women as their situations unfolded. Some of the scenes made me so mad, I just wanted to reach into the pages and pull the characters out. I was rooting for them from page one. I do think the less you know going into this one, the more exciting it is so I will stop there.
Nora Murphy has crafted a fast-paced story that has everything I want in a thriller novel. I'm so impressed that this is her debut. I thought the writing and character development were excellent. Her background working with survivors of domestic violence (DV) translated so well into her writing. I thought she addressed the DV aspects with great care and thoughtfulness. I’m looking forward to reading what she comes up with next.
A huge thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for gifting me a finished copy of The Favour to read and review. Publication day is 31 May 2022.
May 19, 2022
Leah, a formerly successful lawyer, spots McKenna at the local liquor store. She can tell just by looking at her that her life is similar to her own. The hunched shoulders, the nervous darting eyes. She decides to follow her home where she will observe her without her knowledge. What she witnesses through the patio windows is just what she had expected. McKenna lives under the thumb of her abusive husband and it's only a matter of time when he hurts her once and for all.
These two women don't know each other but they will soon enough because a favor between strangers should always be repaid.
Not too shabby for a debut novel. This book brings to mind a few other little novels you may or may not have heard of (😉) like The Girl on the Train, The Woman in the Window, or the less known but still amazing Looker. You have an inebriated, unreliable female narrator thatstalks obsesses over another person and/or family in an effort to help them or so they believe. If you have grown weary with that particular plot device then move along, nothing to see here. If you're still willing to give it a chance then this is a great one. Other authors have tried to do this and they just don't get it right or the writing is so amateur that it doesn't work. Not the case here. My only complaint is that this drags a little in the middle. While the end doesn't wallop you with any shocking twists or reveals it's still plenty satisfying.
Murphy's insights into domestic abuse are spot on, her writing was engaging, and her character development really allowed me to be front and center in the minds of these two women. This up-and-coming author is one that I will keep my eye on. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my complimentary copy.
These two women don't know each other but they will soon enough because a favor between strangers should always be repaid.
Not too shabby for a debut novel. This book brings to mind a few other little novels you may or may not have heard of (😉) like The Girl on the Train, The Woman in the Window, or the less known but still amazing Looker. You have an inebriated, unreliable female narrator that
Murphy's insights into domestic abuse are spot on, her writing was engaging, and her character development really allowed me to be front and center in the minds of these two women. This up-and-coming author is one that I will keep my eye on. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my complimentary copy.
March 31, 2022
The best favors are those you don’t need to ask for….
Leah and McKenna have never met, but they have a great deal in common. Primarily, their abusive husbands.
When the two women incidentally cross paths Leah realizes that McKenna is as trapped as she is. How will both women find a way out of their abusive relationships?
I continually saw great reviews for this book, so after a bout of FOMO I immediately picked it up. Glad to say it’s as good as all the hype!
Domestic suspense reads are among my favorite and this one didn’t disappoint! But let’s bear in mind that behind the fictional characters and scenarios lies a dark reality of abused women.
Nora Murphy did an amazing job of blending the darker themes of abuse into an explosive and gripping fictional thriller.
Looking forward to more from this author.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press
Leah and McKenna have never met, but they have a great deal in common. Primarily, their abusive husbands.
When the two women incidentally cross paths Leah realizes that McKenna is as trapped as she is. How will both women find a way out of their abusive relationships?
I continually saw great reviews for this book, so after a bout of FOMO I immediately picked it up. Glad to say it’s as good as all the hype!
Domestic suspense reads are among my favorite and this one didn’t disappoint! But let’s bear in mind that behind the fictional characters and scenarios lies a dark reality of abused women.
Nora Murphy did an amazing job of blending the darker themes of abuse into an explosive and gripping fictional thriller.
Looking forward to more from this author.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press
June 15, 2022
3.5 rounded up!
“We were guilty. But we were also victims. We were survivors.”
Two highly educated and professionally accomplished women – Leah and McKenna – married to equally educated and accomplished men , no financial worries and homeowners in respectable neighborhoods- what more could a woman want? But the truth behind their picture-perfect lives is not what any woman would dream her life to be.
On her routine liquor run, Leah notices McKenna and sees through her polished exterior or rather sees herself reflected in McKenna’s demeanor. On an impulse, Leah follows McKenna home – and as she repeats her trips to McKenna's neighborhood, her suspicions are confirmed. McKenna is in an abusive marriage similar to her own. Leah,unable to help herself, feels compelled to help McKenna – as a favor. What follows is a sequence of events that changes their lives irrevocably. The larger part of the narrative is shared by Leah and McKenna with a few segments narrated by a third character who is introduced later in the story. The narrative switches between the past and present detailing the lives of both Leah and McKenna- their courtship and subsequent marriage with their respective spouses and the present state of their lives , their professional accomplishments and the circumstances under which they are forced to quit their respective jobs and how despite not ever knowing each other in the past and hardly ever interacting with one another in the present, they become involved in each other's lives.
Fast-paced, with an engaging narrative and well – fleshed out characters, Nora Murphy’s The Favor is an impressive debut! However, you need to suspend disbelief quite a bit to fully enjoy the story. If you don’t overthink it, the plot will definitely pull you in from the very first page!
The author, who is a practicing attorney, uses her professional experience in dealing with survivors of intimate partner violence in her insightful and vivid depiction of the various manifestations of abuse – humiliation, manipulation, coercion, and ultimately physical assault. In her note at the end of the book, she makes a valid point that domestic violence and spousal abuse are not limited to families lacking in education or financial stability and are not uncommon among couples from more educated or affluent backgrounds. That is an important message. In her note, the author states,”Intimate partner violence can debilitate us. Our friends. Our sisters. Our mothers. Our daughters. Our neighbors. Or, a stranger, just as Leah was to Mckenna, and McKenna to Leah. We must understand them. We must support each other. We must support ourselves.”
I switched between the e-book and the audio narration with this one. Dylan Moore, Leon Nixon and Sarah Mollo-Christensen brilliantly brought these characters to life through their superb narration.
“We were guilty. But we were also victims. We were survivors.”
Two highly educated and professionally accomplished women – Leah and McKenna – married to equally educated and accomplished men , no financial worries and homeowners in respectable neighborhoods- what more could a woman want? But the truth behind their picture-perfect lives is not what any woman would dream her life to be.
On her routine liquor run, Leah notices McKenna and sees through her polished exterior or rather sees herself reflected in McKenna’s demeanor. On an impulse, Leah follows McKenna home – and as she repeats her trips to McKenna's neighborhood, her suspicions are confirmed. McKenna is in an abusive marriage similar to her own. Leah,unable to help herself, feels compelled to help McKenna – as a favor. What follows is a sequence of events that changes their lives irrevocably. The larger part of the narrative is shared by Leah and McKenna with a few segments narrated by a third character who is introduced later in the story. The narrative switches between the past and present detailing the lives of both Leah and McKenna- their courtship and subsequent marriage with their respective spouses and the present state of their lives , their professional accomplishments and the circumstances under which they are forced to quit their respective jobs and how despite not ever knowing each other in the past and hardly ever interacting with one another in the present, they become involved in each other's lives.
Fast-paced, with an engaging narrative and well – fleshed out characters, Nora Murphy’s The Favor is an impressive debut! However, you need to suspend disbelief quite a bit to fully enjoy the story. If you don’t overthink it, the plot will definitely pull you in from the very first page!
The author, who is a practicing attorney, uses her professional experience in dealing with survivors of intimate partner violence in her insightful and vivid depiction of the various manifestations of abuse – humiliation, manipulation, coercion, and ultimately physical assault. In her note at the end of the book, she makes a valid point that domestic violence and spousal abuse are not limited to families lacking in education or financial stability and are not uncommon among couples from more educated or affluent backgrounds. That is an important message. In her note, the author states,”Intimate partner violence can debilitate us. Our friends. Our sisters. Our mothers. Our daughters. Our neighbors. Or, a stranger, just as Leah was to Mckenna, and McKenna to Leah. We must understand them. We must support each other. We must support ourselves.”
I switched between the e-book and the audio narration with this one. Dylan Moore, Leon Nixon and Sarah Mollo-Christensen brilliantly brought these characters to life through their superb narration.
February 7, 2022
Actions already speak the truth.
And mindless excuses are like the rocks that suffocate the breath of that truth.
Nora Murphy creates a raw and a revealing journey into the lives of two separate women who bear the imprint of coercive control in their marriages. Neither even knew of each other's existence much less the awareness that they seemed to be living parallel lives. And like all things in the Universe, paths will transect when all the stars are aligned.
From the address at the curb, Dr. McKenna Hawkins and her husband, Dr. Zack Hawkins, are doing well for themselves. They live in an upscale neighborhood with a sprawling home and two newer vehicles in the driveway. There's not a smudge on that shiny front door. But once you cross that threshold, you'd be entering into the chill given off by that relationship. There's always more than what meets the eye in fact.
Leah Dawson finds herself at a new liquor store every few days. Her eyes easily recognize the Grey Goose vodka label situated on the shelf in her favorite aisle. She can't afford to leave a trail these days. So Leah plays a game with herself and pays with cash. She's lost her job at a Baltimore law firm under unfortunate circumstances. Her trial lawyer husband, Liam, looks at her with disgust these days......and that forces her to drink all the more......to blur out her severe unhappiness with booze at the ready.
Nora Murphy will set the stage with McKenna and Leah front and center. We will be awestruck by the riveting changes that will be about to unfold in their lives. Pain drifts in the air and we readers can't help but inhale it in gulps. Murphy makes us privy to behind doors conversations and intense interactions within these separate marriages. We nod our heads as we acknowledge the "get-away" scheme that resides in our own heads is not so easily implemented. The voice within that states "I would never tolerate that" seems to fade in a whisper. The preconceived notions that we have about outward appearances of relationships arches the eyebrow.
I'll hold onto the storyline itself. Just laying the foundation here should open up the need to know. The author's Acknowledgements at the end of this novel should greatly inform us. Domestic Abuse just doesn't happen to the uneducated and the have not's. Professionals are even better at the confining game of control and have even more tricks up their sleeves. Bottom line, physical and mental control crosses all lines.....all lines. Nora Murphy, through her fictional novel, presents pockets of real life in The Favor. Sideline some of the fiction, but let the light of truth appear.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books) and to Nora Murphy for the opportunity.
And mindless excuses are like the rocks that suffocate the breath of that truth.
Nora Murphy creates a raw and a revealing journey into the lives of two separate women who bear the imprint of coercive control in their marriages. Neither even knew of each other's existence much less the awareness that they seemed to be living parallel lives. And like all things in the Universe, paths will transect when all the stars are aligned.
From the address at the curb, Dr. McKenna Hawkins and her husband, Dr. Zack Hawkins, are doing well for themselves. They live in an upscale neighborhood with a sprawling home and two newer vehicles in the driveway. There's not a smudge on that shiny front door. But once you cross that threshold, you'd be entering into the chill given off by that relationship. There's always more than what meets the eye in fact.
Leah Dawson finds herself at a new liquor store every few days. Her eyes easily recognize the Grey Goose vodka label situated on the shelf in her favorite aisle. She can't afford to leave a trail these days. So Leah plays a game with herself and pays with cash. She's lost her job at a Baltimore law firm under unfortunate circumstances. Her trial lawyer husband, Liam, looks at her with disgust these days......and that forces her to drink all the more......to blur out her severe unhappiness with booze at the ready.
Nora Murphy will set the stage with McKenna and Leah front and center. We will be awestruck by the riveting changes that will be about to unfold in their lives. Pain drifts in the air and we readers can't help but inhale it in gulps. Murphy makes us privy to behind doors conversations and intense interactions within these separate marriages. We nod our heads as we acknowledge the "get-away" scheme that resides in our own heads is not so easily implemented. The voice within that states "I would never tolerate that" seems to fade in a whisper. The preconceived notions that we have about outward appearances of relationships arches the eyebrow.
I'll hold onto the storyline itself. Just laying the foundation here should open up the need to know. The author's Acknowledgements at the end of this novel should greatly inform us. Domestic Abuse just doesn't happen to the uneducated and the have not's. Professionals are even better at the confining game of control and have even more tricks up their sleeves. Bottom line, physical and mental control crosses all lines.....all lines. Nora Murphy, through her fictional novel, presents pockets of real life in The Favor. Sideline some of the fiction, but let the light of truth appear.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books) and to Nora Murphy for the opportunity.
January 29, 2022
Turnabout is Fair Play.
As a psychological thriller centering around domestic abuse, you may think there’s nothing new to add. However, the writer’s agenda in The Favor is not only to thrill, but to impart information.
A promising debut telling the story of Leah and McKenna, two successful and enterprising women with a bright future earned and laid out in front of them. The book demonstrates how easily they fell victim to their controlling, dangerous husbands and the mental hi-jinks involved with leaving them. It’s not as easy as it would seem.
I always read and appreciate author notes and Nora Murphy provided not just insight, but Help Lines for those who may want them. A point taken was that abuse can happen across all societal and economic levels and it happens so gradually, that a trap is laid without the victim realizing it. Important for future reference and recognizing situations for what they are.
Reading and discussing with friends adds to my enjoyment and my experience here was no exception. Jayme and I cruised through this together and were aligned in our thoughts - so no dissension regarding how wonderful this book was!
Thank you to Nora Murphy, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for my advance reader’s copy. Expected publication May 31,2022
As a psychological thriller centering around domestic abuse, you may think there’s nothing new to add. However, the writer’s agenda in The Favor is not only to thrill, but to impart information.
A promising debut telling the story of Leah and McKenna, two successful and enterprising women with a bright future earned and laid out in front of them. The book demonstrates how easily they fell victim to their controlling, dangerous husbands and the mental hi-jinks involved with leaving them. It’s not as easy as it would seem.
I always read and appreciate author notes and Nora Murphy provided not just insight, but Help Lines for those who may want them. A point taken was that abuse can happen across all societal and economic levels and it happens so gradually, that a trap is laid without the victim realizing it. Important for future reference and recognizing situations for what they are.
Reading and discussing with friends adds to my enjoyment and my experience here was no exception. Jayme and I cruised through this together and were aligned in our thoughts - so no dissension regarding how wonderful this book was!
Thank you to Nora Murphy, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for my advance reader’s copy. Expected publication May 31,2022
June 2, 2022
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur/St. Martin's Press, and Nora Murphy for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 5.31!!**
Hasta la muerta...
Two women, Leah and McKenna, both seem to have it all, living a luxe lifestyle on the arm of a wealthy and handsome man...and are successful and hardworking in their own right. These two have never met, but their stories intertwine in a dark and almost deadly way: both women are trapped in the clutches of a controlling domestic violence situation. Their connections to the outside world slowly dwindle, jobs disappear, and each are subjugated to the controlling and derisive behavior of their husbands, aching to break free but losing all confidence they'll ever be able to break the cycle.
That is until one day, Leah's liquid courage and a bit of brave exploring leads her to McKenna's yard, where she witnesses the ugliness firsthand. Up close and personal, it's too hard to ignore, But what will her next move be? Can she simply stand by and watch her own desperate situation cycle in front of her eyes, yet again...or will she be compelled to take a chance, make a leap, and do a stranger (you guessed it!) a Favor?
Newcomer Nora Murphy is a welcome addition to the world of domestic suspense, and a blurb from Shari Lapena fits in perfectly with her style, her pacing, and the Ugliness Hiding Behind the Veil of Perfection trope that so often pops up in these type of stories. This one IS different from your average domestic tale...in some ways. Having a one sided relationship that slowly morphed into a reciprocal relationship between the two characters kept things exciting and unique. There ARE some overused tropes in this one, however, like the alcoholic tendencies of one of our narrators, so be forewarned. I don't necessarily mind this as a device, but normally I feel it really serves to help the story, and in this case it seemed superfluous.
These quibbles aside, the plot moves along steadily and with ease, although I felt the narrators monologues getting a bit repetitive at times (or perhaps it just felt that way because the characters' stories were so similar?) It didn't hurt my overall experience, but I DID predict the second half of the book shortly after the big first twist happened. Coincidentally, this changed the whole tone of the book for me, and it went from the mystery-thriller-whodunit type vibe to a slower and more serious look at the ins and outs of a domestic violence situation.
I had little familiarity with intimate partner violence prior to reading this book, which coincided with my semi-obsessive viewing of the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial, where many of the same topics were explored, albeit in a real-life setting and WILDLY different circumstances. Of course, this narrative certainly doesn't have any traces of male victims and falls into more of a 'traditional' situation of domestic violence with male perpetrators holding their female partners in a cycle of violence, but Murphy certainly handles the topic carefully and she has done her research as a lawyer who has worked with IPV directly. Her author's note and list of resources at the end are fantastic too, should you or anyone you know need the help.
As a still practicing attorney, I can only imagine the sparks of inspiration that might burst into flame and fuel the roaring and exciting fire behind Murphy's next novel...so get your graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate ready (at least hopefully by NEXT summer!) 😉 🔥 🍫
4 stars
Hasta la muerta...
Two women, Leah and McKenna, both seem to have it all, living a luxe lifestyle on the arm of a wealthy and handsome man...and are successful and hardworking in their own right. These two have never met, but their stories intertwine in a dark and almost deadly way: both women are trapped in the clutches of a controlling domestic violence situation. Their connections to the outside world slowly dwindle, jobs disappear, and each are subjugated to the controlling and derisive behavior of their husbands, aching to break free but losing all confidence they'll ever be able to break the cycle.
That is until one day, Leah's liquid courage and a bit of brave exploring leads her to McKenna's yard, where she witnesses the ugliness firsthand. Up close and personal, it's too hard to ignore, But what will her next move be? Can she simply stand by and watch her own desperate situation cycle in front of her eyes, yet again...or will she be compelled to take a chance, make a leap, and do a stranger (you guessed it!) a Favor?
Newcomer Nora Murphy is a welcome addition to the world of domestic suspense, and a blurb from Shari Lapena fits in perfectly with her style, her pacing, and the Ugliness Hiding Behind the Veil of Perfection trope that so often pops up in these type of stories. This one IS different from your average domestic tale...in some ways. Having a one sided relationship that slowly morphed into a reciprocal relationship between the two characters kept things exciting and unique. There ARE some overused tropes in this one, however, like the alcoholic tendencies of one of our narrators, so be forewarned. I don't necessarily mind this as a device, but normally I feel it really serves to help the story, and in this case it seemed superfluous.
These quibbles aside, the plot moves along steadily and with ease, although I felt the narrators monologues getting a bit repetitive at times (or perhaps it just felt that way because the characters' stories were so similar?) It didn't hurt my overall experience, but I DID predict the second half of the book shortly after the big first twist happened. Coincidentally, this changed the whole tone of the book for me, and it went from the mystery-thriller-whodunit type vibe to a slower and more serious look at the ins and outs of a domestic violence situation.
I had little familiarity with intimate partner violence prior to reading this book, which coincided with my semi-obsessive viewing of the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial, where many of the same topics were explored, albeit in a real-life setting and WILDLY different circumstances. Of course, this narrative certainly doesn't have any traces of male victims and falls into more of a 'traditional' situation of domestic violence with male perpetrators holding their female partners in a cycle of violence, but Murphy certainly handles the topic carefully and she has done her research as a lawyer who has worked with IPV directly. Her author's note and list of resources at the end are fantastic too, should you or anyone you know need the help.
As a still practicing attorney, I can only imagine the sparks of inspiration that might burst into flame and fuel the roaring and exciting fire behind Murphy's next novel...so get your graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate ready (at least hopefully by NEXT summer!) 😉 🔥 🍫
4 stars
May 18, 2022
"I'm in control, never gonna stop
Control, to get what I want
Control, I like to have a lot
Control, now I'm all grown up" -Control - Janet Jackson
Two Women. Similar circumstances. Two Perfect husbands. Control.
I listened to the audiobook today while doing a long drive and enjoyed every second of it! Two women, Leah and McKenna, are married to Jerk 1 and Jerk 2 respectively, they have something in common, have never met and yet....
This was a great listen and I loved how things unfolded. I found myself rooting for the two women, booing, and hissing at other characters, and thoroughly enjoying myself. This book deals with very difficult subjects - domestic abuse being one and the author addresses that in the author's note. I also appreciated that she showed that this can happen to anyone and how it may start gradually and evolve from there.
I enjoyed the narrators and enjoyed the detective in this book. I thought his narrator did a great job.
I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next.
Addictive, hard to stop reading/listening and thought provoking.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Control, to get what I want
Control, I like to have a lot
Control, now I'm all grown up" -Control - Janet Jackson
Two Women. Similar circumstances. Two Perfect husbands. Control.
I listened to the audiobook today while doing a long drive and enjoyed every second of it! Two women, Leah and McKenna, are married to Jerk 1 and Jerk 2 respectively, they have something in common, have never met and yet....
This was a great listen and I loved how things unfolded. I found myself rooting for the two women, booing, and hissing at other characters, and thoroughly enjoying myself. This book deals with very difficult subjects - domestic abuse being one and the author addresses that in the author's note. I also appreciated that she showed that this can happen to anyone and how it may start gradually and evolve from there.
I enjoyed the narrators and enjoyed the detective in this book. I thought his narrator did a great job.
I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next.
Addictive, hard to stop reading/listening and thought provoking.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
February 27, 2022
WOW – I mean wow. I started this book and flipped pages wildly until I finished only hours after picking it up. Anyone who has read a book about abusive controlling husbands might expect the tense claustrophobic suspense of Behind Closed Doors or any number of other similar books, but controlling abusive husbands is where the similarity ends. The Favor, a debut novel by Murphy, is a super quick read, a little different from the heart pounding suspense thriller that I often enjoy. I should caveat that anyone who is familiar with a 1951 Hitchcock film based on a book by Highsmith (my favorite duo combo) will know how the book will play out practically from chapter one. This did not diminish my enjoyment by even an iota. The difference between the noir film and this book is the motivation of the characters. No verbal contract between two strangers, but rather recognition, fear, and an unspoken empathy is what motivates. I’ve already given too much away, and I hope this won’t detract from a reader’s pleasure so I will limit the description to the above and add only that the police procedural aspect was equally entertaining as a Detective endeavors to unravel the mystery behind the murder of two men, husbands of two women who live in the same community, with no apparent connection between them, other than the similar circumstances of their widowhood.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Nora Murphy for a thoroughly enjoyable ARC of The Favor! I will be looking for more books by this author in the future.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Nora Murphy for a thoroughly enjoyable ARC of The Favor! I will be looking for more books by this author in the future.
April 27, 2022
Trigger warning for domestic violence. I devoured this book in one setting. The domestic violence scenes were hard to read but the plot twist kept me hooked. I enjoyed the writing style and I am interested in what this author comes up with next.
Leah and McKenna are two strangers who with one decision become entangled in each others lives. They both are victims of domestic violence by their seemingly perfect husbands. Leah passes McKenna’s house and witnesses one of the acts committed by her husband. She becomes determined to protect McKenna as she knows all to well what she is going through.
One night Leah decides to intervene and hopes that maybe one day, McKenna will return the favor.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Leah and McKenna are two strangers who with one decision become entangled in each others lives. They both are victims of domestic violence by their seemingly perfect husbands. Leah passes McKenna’s house and witnesses one of the acts committed by her husband. She becomes determined to protect McKenna as she knows all to well what she is going through.
One night Leah decides to intervene and hopes that maybe one day, McKenna will return the favor.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
June 6, 2022
An exciting and gripping domestic suspense novel!
I really enjoyed "The Favor" and flew through the story in just a few sittings. Great characters with an intriguing storyline. I liked that the story was told from multiple viewpoints.
A terrific debut! This well written novel has me excited to read more from Nora Murphy!
I really enjoyed "The Favor" and flew through the story in just a few sittings. Great characters with an intriguing storyline. I liked that the story was told from multiple viewpoints.
A terrific debut! This well written novel has me excited to read more from Nora Murphy!
June 7, 2022
3.5 stars - a good read
Leah and McKenna lock eyes in a liquor store one day, and something clicks. It’s one abused woman recognizing herself in the other woman. Leah discovers they live in the same neighborhood and sees something through McKenna’s window one day that pushes her over the edge. What will Leah do, and will McKenna repay the favor?
The writing and pacing were good, but there were a lot of plot holes and the need to suspend disbelief. Although I usually enjoy the addition of a police procedural in a thriller, I didn’t find the chapters from the police detective added anything to the story.
Once again, we have a MC who is an educated, intelligent, professional woman whose narrative is fueled by massive amounts of alcohol. I’m officially done with this trope. As well as domestic abuse stories.
The epilogue gives information about domestic abuse, which I applaud, but references only women who are abused. We need to acknowledge that men can be, and are, abused as well, both physically and psychologically. It may look different, but it IS abuse, and can break a man psychologically, just as it does a woman.. My feelings about this are quite strong due to a situation in my own family.
All in all, a solid debut. Despite my few quibbles, I did enjoy the listen. What bothered me may not bother others, and it’s worth the read. I look forward to seeing what the author does next.
* I received the digital audio of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
Leah and McKenna lock eyes in a liquor store one day, and something clicks. It’s one abused woman recognizing herself in the other woman. Leah discovers they live in the same neighborhood and sees something through McKenna’s window one day that pushes her over the edge. What will Leah do, and will McKenna repay the favor?
The writing and pacing were good, but there were a lot of plot holes and the need to suspend disbelief. Although I usually enjoy the addition of a police procedural in a thriller, I didn’t find the chapters from the police detective added anything to the story.
Once again, we have a MC who is an educated, intelligent, professional woman whose narrative is fueled by massive amounts of alcohol. I’m officially done with this trope. As well as domestic abuse stories.
The epilogue gives information about domestic abuse, which I applaud, but references only women who are abused. We need to acknowledge that men can be, and are, abused as well, both physically and psychologically. It may look different, but it IS abuse, and can break a man psychologically, just as it does a woman.. My feelings about this are quite strong due to a situation in my own family.
All in all, a solid debut. Despite my few quibbles, I did enjoy the listen. What bothered me may not bother others, and it’s worth the read. I look forward to seeing what the author does next.
* I received the digital audio of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
June 20, 2022
Leah is tired and feels downtrodden and drinks way too much. While she is once again at the liquor store, she happens to see a beautiful young woman who reminds her of herself not that long ago. Leah can't take her eyes off this woman and finds her following her home wondering what kind of life she is living could be similar to her own. Leah was a practicing lawyer but hasn't worked in over a year so she has almost all the free time in the world to follow her new obsession.
McKenna is a pediatrician who also stopped working and has everything anyone could want in life but looks can be deceiving. McKenna has no idea someone is watching her since she has her own troubles to deal with. Soon their will be a tragic event that neither woman could have foreseen that will bring the two together in a way they could have never imagined while sill not knowing one another. A dogged detective will haunt these two woman looking for a connection that he can never find because McKenna and Leah have never met even though their lives are uniquely and deeply intertwined forever by an unexpected FAVOR!
This was a very enjoyable and entertaining read with the reminiscent flavor of the old movie "Strangers on a train" which I have always loved. Although there were some similarities this book carries itself very well with the terrific writing and storytelling that is heartbreaking at times and I just wanted to see these woman gain their identities back. The story covers some dark topics that could be uncomfortable for many readers who have had any similar problems as these woman. This was a character driven novel and I thoroughly enjoyed the complex story. I can't believe this was Nora Murphy's first book debut since it was so well-written and intriguing and I will definitely be looking forward to her other books in the future.
I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I highly recommend and have given this book a rating of 4 INTRIGUING 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
McKenna is a pediatrician who also stopped working and has everything anyone could want in life but looks can be deceiving. McKenna has no idea someone is watching her since she has her own troubles to deal with. Soon their will be a tragic event that neither woman could have foreseen that will bring the two together in a way they could have never imagined while sill not knowing one another. A dogged detective will haunt these two woman looking for a connection that he can never find because McKenna and Leah have never met even though their lives are uniquely and deeply intertwined forever by an unexpected FAVOR!
This was a very enjoyable and entertaining read with the reminiscent flavor of the old movie "Strangers on a train" which I have always loved. Although there were some similarities this book carries itself very well with the terrific writing and storytelling that is heartbreaking at times and I just wanted to see these woman gain their identities back. The story covers some dark topics that could be uncomfortable for many readers who have had any similar problems as these woman. This was a character driven novel and I thoroughly enjoyed the complex story. I can't believe this was Nora Murphy's first book debut since it was so well-written and intriguing and I will definitely be looking forward to her other books in the future.
I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I highly recommend and have given this book a rating of 4 INTRIGUING 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
October 6, 2024
3.5 🌟
The Favourite by Nora Murphy is a psychological drama that I liked but did not love, it was dramatic at times & enjoyable it had its good moments but the thing that I did’t like was the POV of Jordan he was not that interesting in his pursuit of the truth. Now I liked the POV of Leah & McKenna both had interesting story lines that I enjoyed.
LEAVING WOULD BE DANGEROUS STAYING COULD BE WORSE!!
Leah & McKenna didn’t know each other but they lived parallel lives both were married to successful business men they seemed to be happy on the outside but behind closed doors things were different.
McKenna was an obstetrician & Leah was a lawyer making their way in life, things start to spiral out of control when both Liam Leah’s husband& then Zac McKenna’s husband are murdered!
I won’t go any further let’s just say this was a gripping end that I sort of expected.
the characters were well written & why happens in this novel happens every day in life I listened to the audio version which was narrated by multiple narrators the thing that annoyed me was that the audio kept jumping so had to work out what each character was saying a strong 3.5 star rating.
The Favourite by Nora Murphy is a psychological drama that I liked but did not love, it was dramatic at times & enjoyable it had its good moments but the thing that I did’t like was the POV of Jordan he was not that interesting in his pursuit of the truth. Now I liked the POV of Leah & McKenna both had interesting story lines that I enjoyed.
LEAVING WOULD BE DANGEROUS STAYING COULD BE WORSE!!
Leah & McKenna didn’t know each other but they lived parallel lives both were married to successful business men they seemed to be happy on the outside but behind closed doors things were different.
McKenna was an obstetrician & Leah was a lawyer making their way in life, things start to spiral out of control when both Liam Leah’s husband& then Zac McKenna’s husband are murdered!
I won’t go any further let’s just say this was a gripping end that I sort of expected.
the characters were well written & why happens in this novel happens every day in life I listened to the audio version which was narrated by multiple narrators the thing that annoyed me was that the audio kept jumping so had to work out what each character was saying a strong 3.5 star rating.
June 13, 2022
Incredibly fast paced book, I plowed through this in a day!
It's the story about two women--Leah and McKenna. We know from the beginning that Leah has a pretty serious problem with alcohol. She sees McKenna at a liquor store and feels like there is something familiar about her, so Leah decides to follow her to see. Where the book goes from here is both familiar and shocking, with some interesting twists and a very fast-paced plot.
Yes, this book is about intimate partner violence, and it gets very real and difficult to read at times. But stick with it, the payoff is great and quite satisfying. The author offers resources in the back and that was very appreciated and helpful. I listened to part of this as an audiobook, and the multiple narrators captured the personalities of the characters.
This is a taut, tense domestic suspense novel that will have you turning pages quickly to find out what will happen.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
It's the story about two women--Leah and McKenna. We know from the beginning that Leah has a pretty serious problem with alcohol. She sees McKenna at a liquor store and feels like there is something familiar about her, so Leah decides to follow her to see. Where the book goes from here is both familiar and shocking, with some interesting twists and a very fast-paced plot.
Yes, this book is about intimate partner violence, and it gets very real and difficult to read at times. But stick with it, the payoff is great and quite satisfying. The author offers resources in the back and that was very appreciated and helpful. I listened to part of this as an audiobook, and the multiple narrators captured the personalities of the characters.
This is a taut, tense domestic suspense novel that will have you turning pages quickly to find out what will happen.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
February 20, 2022
Nora Murphy is the kind of talented, exciting new author that makes the inner frustrated writer in me a little jealous. I so enjoyed this book, which is both thrilling and impactful with an important and urgent social message.
We read a lot of domestic thrillers these days with a lot of abusive men, but not all of them are realistic or have a deep understanding of the dynamics and pain of domestic violence. Nora Murphy, I have learned, is an attorney with a background in intimate partner violence cases. This explains the excellent character development and sensitive depiction of the psychological and emotional issues women experience in relationships with violent partners throughout this book.
But more than being accurate, urgent and important, this book is also a good old fashioned scary thriller. It is Strangers on the Train meets A Simple Favor or a reverse Gone Girl (which is much more my speed than Gone Girl, tbh). In this book, two women in remarkably similar circumstances meet by chance, and realize they have a lot in common - particularly their abusive husbands. Since no one else is protecting McKenna from the abuse of her successful, well-regarded husband, Leah decides to keep an eye on McKenna in case she needs help.
The character development and the plotting are both superb, and the book has a sense of claustrophobia that really puts you in the shoes of the women who are trapped in these relationships. The psychological and emotional development of the characters give you a lot to think about while also scaring you.
I love a thriller that also has a little something to say about our society — but says it well through the characters without getting preachy. This book perfectly fits the bill. It will scare you and break your heart a little, while helping you understand well why women in these situations often feel they can’t leave, and cannot depend on the police to keep them safe.
A very impressive first effort from Nora Murphy. She has gained a new fan in me. Can’t wait to see what she writes next! 4 plus shiny stars.
Thanks to Minotaur, NetGalley, and the author for the great ARC.
We read a lot of domestic thrillers these days with a lot of abusive men, but not all of them are realistic or have a deep understanding of the dynamics and pain of domestic violence. Nora Murphy, I have learned, is an attorney with a background in intimate partner violence cases. This explains the excellent character development and sensitive depiction of the psychological and emotional issues women experience in relationships with violent partners throughout this book.
But more than being accurate, urgent and important, this book is also a good old fashioned scary thriller. It is Strangers on the Train meets A Simple Favor or a reverse Gone Girl (which is much more my speed than Gone Girl, tbh). In this book, two women in remarkably similar circumstances meet by chance, and realize they have a lot in common - particularly their abusive husbands. Since no one else is protecting McKenna from the abuse of her successful, well-regarded husband, Leah decides to keep an eye on McKenna in case she needs help.
The character development and the plotting are both superb, and the book has a sense of claustrophobia that really puts you in the shoes of the women who are trapped in these relationships. The psychological and emotional development of the characters give you a lot to think about while also scaring you.
I love a thriller that also has a little something to say about our society — but says it well through the characters without getting preachy. This book perfectly fits the bill. It will scare you and break your heart a little, while helping you understand well why women in these situations often feel they can’t leave, and cannot depend on the police to keep them safe.
A very impressive first effort from Nora Murphy. She has gained a new fan in me. Can’t wait to see what she writes next! 4 plus shiny stars.
Thanks to Minotaur, NetGalley, and the author for the great ARC.
September 21, 2022
Do yourself favor, don’t expect this book to be a thriller!
Leah and McKenna are living parallel lives. Although they have never met, they do each other a “favor” in order to save the other woman from being a victim of domestic abuse.
When both abusive husbands are murdered, will the detective on the case be able to prove who pulled the trigger?
This book is Nora Murphy’s debut, which I decided to read after seeing many glowing reviews. I would describe it as fitting into the domestic genre, but it is definitely missing the suspense and the thrills.
What you see is what you get, as there are no surprises or twists in this one!
However, Nora Murphy does a fantastic job of giving a voice to the victims of domestic abuse. Her characters are both well-educated, successful women, with high powered jobs. Still, they still find themselves trapped In marriages where they are being controlled by their husbands.
McKenna and Leah are purposely described with similar appearances and comparable lifestyles, so at times it is difficult to tell them apart from each other. While this may be the author’s point that they are interchangeable, it makes it difficult for the reader.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Dylan Moore, Leon Nixon and Sarah Mollo-Christensen. Unfortunately, I really did not care for any of the readers’ narrations. For this reason, I recommend reading the hard copy instead.
This book is a good representation of domestic abuse and does shine light on very important issues. If you are in the mood to to read a fictional book on this topic, The Favor may be the right book for you!
2.5/5 rounded up
Leah and McKenna are living parallel lives. Although they have never met, they do each other a “favor” in order to save the other woman from being a victim of domestic abuse.
When both abusive husbands are murdered, will the detective on the case be able to prove who pulled the trigger?
This book is Nora Murphy’s debut, which I decided to read after seeing many glowing reviews. I would describe it as fitting into the domestic genre, but it is definitely missing the suspense and the thrills.
What you see is what you get, as there are no surprises or twists in this one!
However, Nora Murphy does a fantastic job of giving a voice to the victims of domestic abuse. Her characters are both well-educated, successful women, with high powered jobs. Still, they still find themselves trapped In marriages where they are being controlled by their husbands.
McKenna and Leah are purposely described with similar appearances and comparable lifestyles, so at times it is difficult to tell them apart from each other. While this may be the author’s point that they are interchangeable, it makes it difficult for the reader.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Dylan Moore, Leon Nixon and Sarah Mollo-Christensen. Unfortunately, I really did not care for any of the readers’ narrations. For this reason, I recommend reading the hard copy instead.
This book is a good representation of domestic abuse and does shine light on very important issues. If you are in the mood to to read a fictional book on this topic, The Favor may be the right book for you!
2.5/5 rounded up
May 21, 2023
3.5 stars
Leah Dawson, a lawyer.....
.....and McKenna Hawkins, a pediatrician, are well-educated women who never imagined they would be the victims of domestic abuse.
However both women find themselves in toxic marriages, and they don't see a way out.
Leah's husband Liam is a successful attorney.....
.....and McKenna's spouse Zackary is a flourishing psychiatrist. During the courtship period both men seem ideal: handsome, thoughtful, caring, successful; etc.
After Leah and Liam marry, however, Liam proceeds to isolate his wife from her family and friends; gets Leah fired from her job; relegates Leah to a locked bedroom in the basement; tracks Leah's activities; limits Leah's access to money; and finally becomes violent.
To cope with the terrible situation Leah drinks vodka all day long, and there's barely a moment when she's completely sober.
McKenna and Zachary's union follows a similar path. After McKenna suffers a miscarriage early in the marriage, Zachary - whose self-image requires 'the perfect family' - segregates McKenna from her friends and relatives; makes McKenna quit her job; installs an app to track McKenna's phone; takes complete charge of the couple's finances; and so on - supposedly to insure a successful pregnancy next time.
Leah and McKenna each think about divorce, but they know their attractive, successful, husbands - who are well-liked in the outside world - can 'gaslight' people to make their wives look bad (if not crazy). Moreover, the men have the resources to make divorce proceedings extremely difficult. In addition, Liam shows his wife a gun, and threatens to kill Leah's mother if Leah leaves him.
Though both couples live in the same Maryland suburb, Leah and McKenna don't know each other. Serendipitously, however, Leah is making her usual liquor store run when she happens to see McKenna in the same shop. Leah - who's puffy and disheveled from drinking - notes that McKenna, who's svelte, well-dressed, blonde, and blue-eyed, looks like a previous incarnation of Leah herself.....in her happier days.
Leah impulsively decides to follow McKenna home, and she parks where she can see into McKenna's house. This activity becomes an obsession for Leah, and she repeatedly spies on the other woman.
To make a long story short, Leah - who knows the signs of domestic abuse from her own sorry situation - notes that McKenna is being bullied by Zachary..... and Leah impetuously takes action.
That's all I can say without major spoilers.
At the end of the book the author Nora Murphy - who's a family law attorney - notes that domestic abuse is endemic, and not confined to people of low socioeconomic status. Murphy observes, "abuse also occurs in many relationships marked by high levels of education and affluence....For these types of relationships, financial and psychological abuse may be more common than physical abuse, sexual abuse, or stalking. Thus it may be more hidden, more difficult to prove." Thus springs the idea for this book.
The story is a fast-moving page-turner, recommended to fans of domestic thrillers.
Thanks to Netgalley, Nora Murphy, and Minotaur Books for a copy of the novel.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
May 18, 2022
I'm someone like you.
Two professional women. Leah is a lawyer and McKenna is a pediatrician. Both are married to professional men. Leah's husband, Liam, is also a lawyer. McKenna's husband, Zack, is a psychiatrist. Leah and McKenna have something in common. They are both virtually prisoners in their own homes. This new release shines a light into the dark corners of domestic abuse. Watch the cockroaches scatter when you read this one. It is frustrating at times as the two women struggle under their invisible (for the most part) bonds. There is a third perspective from Detective Jordan Harrison which gives some great insights into police procedural techniques and adds a thrill level of cat-and-mouse suspense. This title may not be what you expect, but it will keep you turning the pages to find out about "The Favor."
I hoped she would see I had returned the favor.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Two professional women. Leah is a lawyer and McKenna is a pediatrician. Both are married to professional men. Leah's husband, Liam, is also a lawyer. McKenna's husband, Zack, is a psychiatrist. Leah and McKenna have something in common. They are both virtually prisoners in their own homes. This new release shines a light into the dark corners of domestic abuse. Watch the cockroaches scatter when you read this one. It is frustrating at times as the two women struggle under their invisible (for the most part) bonds. There is a third perspective from Detective Jordan Harrison which gives some great insights into police procedural techniques and adds a thrill level of cat-and-mouse suspense. This title may not be what you expect, but it will keep you turning the pages to find out about "The Favor."
I hoped she would see I had returned the favor.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2024
4.5⭐
Genre ~ domestic suspense
Setting ~ not sure
Publication date ~ May 31, 2022
Page Count ~ 290 (26 chapters)
Audio length ~ 11 hours 15 minutes
Narrators ~ Dylan Moore, Leon Nixon, Sarah Mollo-Christensen
POV ~ multiple
Featuring ~ debut, flashbacks, domestic abuse/violence, excessive alcohol assumption as a coping mechanism, miscarriage
Two strangers living similar lives with prominent, manipulating, controlling and abusive husbands. The similarities don't end there ~ they look similar, they both drive a Lexus and they both live in mcmansions. This leads to some repetitiveness, but still gives the story some uniqueness.
Both couples are successful ~ 2 lawyers and 2 doctors, which just goes to show that domestic violence can happen to, and be done by, anyone.
As one woman watches the other she just knows she needs to help this woman, a woman she doesn't even know and only glimpsed once in a store. She just had a feeling about what was going on in her life, since it seems similar to her own.
It was a great way to first read through Leah's eyes as she watched the abuse happen and then through McKenna's eyes as she lived through it...and then visa versa.
Told in mostly in dual pov's of Leah and McKenna with some flashbacks to the past. There are some chapters told by the detective, Jordan Harrison, that kept me glued to my kindle to see how the investigative side went. I liked that each chapter gave us the date, so we could easily follow along with the timeline.
There wasn't really a mystery because the big shebang happened earlier in the book than I thought it would. The detective was a great character and I liked how his partners story weaved itself into the murder investigations.
I'm impressed with this domestic suspense debut. It was fast paced, intense and well written. I had a feeling it would all play out exactly as it did and I was pleased with the conclusion. I can't wait to get my hands on what Nora writes next!
I liked the added author's note at the end that gave facts and resources on DV.
*Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Nora Murphy and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ domestic suspense
Setting ~ not sure
Publication date ~ May 31, 2022
Page Count ~ 290 (26 chapters)
Audio length ~ 11 hours 15 minutes
Narrators ~ Dylan Moore, Leon Nixon, Sarah Mollo-Christensen
POV ~ multiple
Featuring ~ debut, flashbacks, domestic abuse/violence, excessive alcohol assumption as a coping mechanism, miscarriage
Two strangers living similar lives with prominent, manipulating, controlling and abusive husbands. The similarities don't end there ~ they look similar, they both drive a Lexus and they both live in mcmansions. This leads to some repetitiveness, but still gives the story some uniqueness.
Both couples are successful ~ 2 lawyers and 2 doctors, which just goes to show that domestic violence can happen to, and be done by, anyone.
As one woman watches the other she just knows she needs to help this woman, a woman she doesn't even know and only glimpsed once in a store. She just had a feeling about what was going on in her life, since it seems similar to her own.
It was a great way to first read through Leah's eyes as she watched the abuse happen and then through McKenna's eyes as she lived through it...and then visa versa.
Told in mostly in dual pov's of Leah and McKenna with some flashbacks to the past. There are some chapters told by the detective, Jordan Harrison, that kept me glued to my kindle to see how the investigative side went. I liked that each chapter gave us the date, so we could easily follow along with the timeline.
There wasn't really a mystery because the big shebang happened earlier in the book than I thought it would. The detective was a great character and I liked how his partners story weaved itself into the murder investigations.
I'm impressed with this domestic suspense debut. It was fast paced, intense and well written. I had a feeling it would all play out exactly as it did and I was pleased with the conclusion. I can't wait to get my hands on what Nora writes next!
I liked the added author's note at the end that gave facts and resources on DV.
*Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Nora Murphy and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
June 1, 2022
4 will you do me a favor stars - now available
I really enjoyed this debut novel and read it in one sitting! There are two main characters in this one – Leah and McKenna. Their lives are similar, and they end up intersecting in a very interesting manner!
Both women are bright and educated but have found themselves in difficult and dangerous relationships. They are isolated and truly cut off from family, friends, and any sort of support.
One day Leah sees McKenna in the liquor and is struck by their similarities. On a whim, she decides to follow McKenna and discovers that they have more in common than looks.
This is where the book takes an interesting turn, and I don’t want to give away any clues. I will say that this is one of the rare times where I’m not rooting for the police to figure it all out.
I think that this would make an excellent book club book and would make for some great discussion. I will watch for the next book by this author!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the copy of this one to read and review.
I really enjoyed this debut novel and read it in one sitting! There are two main characters in this one – Leah and McKenna. Their lives are similar, and they end up intersecting in a very interesting manner!
Both women are bright and educated but have found themselves in difficult and dangerous relationships. They are isolated and truly cut off from family, friends, and any sort of support.
One day Leah sees McKenna in the liquor and is struck by their similarities. On a whim, she decides to follow McKenna and discovers that they have more in common than looks.
This is where the book takes an interesting turn, and I don’t want to give away any clues. I will say that this is one of the rare times where I’m not rooting for the police to figure it all out.
I think that this would make an excellent book club book and would make for some great discussion. I will watch for the next book by this author!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the copy of this one to read and review.
August 26, 2022
This debut is an extremely entertaining domestic thriller that brings selflessness to a whole new level. McKenna and Leah have never met, but have much in common in their mirrored lives. The plot has an original spin that took a twist that was unexpected and very satisfying. ” There is something so powerful about the kindness that comes from a person you have never met.” This belief is the driving force that underlies this gripping debut. I look forward to reading future books by this author. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my copy.
January 24, 2022
Early reviews for this domestic suspense thriller are glowing, and for the first half of the book, I was in total agreement; but the second half fizzled out for me and took it down from being an all-the-stars read to a middle-of-the-pack read.
The premise was promising. Leah and McKenna have never met but somehow they have parallel lives - they have similar looks and are both intelligent, successful women, who live in similar neighborhoods, drive similar Lexus SUVs, etc., etc. Oh, and they both have controlling, abusive husbands. After a chance encounter in a local liquor store, Leah becomes obsessed with McKenna and follows her home, and what she sees makes her keep coming back to keep an eye on her. During her watch one night, she sees something that pushes her over the edge, and she commits an act that will set the two women on a collision course that changes both of their lives forever.
I thought the book started out strong - although I've said it before, I am not a fan of seemingly intelligent, successful women protagonists who are constantly under the influence of alcohol, drugs, etc., with memory lapses. It's such an overused trope. Still, the first half showed a lot of promise, as the plot was fast-paced, with alternating POVs from both past and present of Leah and McKenna. The women were so similar (and so much is made of that fact) that I was certain there was a diabolical twist - but there's not. Also, while I sympathized with each woman, I can't really say that I connected with either one of them for some reason. The second half of the book though was where the wheels fell off for me, as it was rather predictable with certain events that you could see coming but just didn't ring true. Also, the second half delves more into the police detective investigating the murder, and while I get that the detective was useful in moving the plot along, the book started becoming more of a police procedural, which was unnecessary and weakened the overall plot in my opinion. Although the ultimate theme was powerful, there were no real twists or surprises in the end and it all just fell a bit flat.
Even with the flaws, it is still a solid debut from Murphy. Her author notes at the end are powerful and an important reminder of how common domestic abuse really is and how those in the middle of it need support.
The premise was promising. Leah and McKenna have never met but somehow they have parallel lives - they have similar looks and are both intelligent, successful women, who live in similar neighborhoods, drive similar Lexus SUVs, etc., etc. Oh, and they both have controlling, abusive husbands. After a chance encounter in a local liquor store, Leah becomes obsessed with McKenna and follows her home, and what she sees makes her keep coming back to keep an eye on her. During her watch one night, she sees something that pushes her over the edge, and she commits an act that will set the two women on a collision course that changes both of their lives forever.
I thought the book started out strong - although I've said it before, I am not a fan of seemingly intelligent, successful women protagonists who are constantly under the influence of alcohol, drugs, etc., with memory lapses. It's such an overused trope. Still, the first half showed a lot of promise, as the plot was fast-paced, with alternating POVs from both past and present of Leah and McKenna. The women were so similar (and so much is made of that fact) that I was certain there was a diabolical twist - but there's not. Also, while I sympathized with each woman, I can't really say that I connected with either one of them for some reason. The second half of the book though was where the wheels fell off for me, as it was rather predictable with certain events that you could see coming but just didn't ring true. Also, the second half delves more into the police detective investigating the murder, and while I get that the detective was useful in moving the plot along, the book started becoming more of a police procedural, which was unnecessary and weakened the overall plot in my opinion. Although the ultimate theme was powerful, there were no real twists or surprises in the end and it all just fell a bit flat.
Even with the flaws, it is still a solid debut from Murphy. Her author notes at the end are powerful and an important reminder of how common domestic abuse really is and how those in the middle of it need support.
June 26, 2022
Two women from different families and who has never met find themselves in similar abusive and controlling relationships. The events that play off simultaneously will keep you in your seat and turning page after page. I really liked this one, it was gripping until the end.
**major trigger warnings for domestic and psychological abuse.
**major trigger warnings for domestic and psychological abuse.
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