Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Chain by Adrian McKinty

17 reviews

gwenswoons's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Holy fuck this was so good. It’s been a while since I have read a thriller so totally addictive and masterfully crafted and I could NOT get enough. This was in the category of The Last Housewife and others like that for me, just totally gripping faves I will remember for a long time! I found myself listening to it for hours at home — I’m usually an audiobook reader on my  drives to commute to and from work, and on regular longer drives in and out of town, so when I can’t stop listening even at home I know I’m totally absorbed.

I’m so impressed by a book that both makes its characters do terrible things and makes us root for them anyway. The villain characters are SO FUN in addition to being monstrous and I thought all of the self-referential philosophical and academic nuggets just added to the humor.

January LaVoy is completely amazing narrating the audio — I have loved her work many times before but the disguised voice and all the different characters in this one were SO great and so scary.

It’s so fantastic and also truly grisly. Every possible trigger warning.

I saw some of the turns coming (not way far away, and not in an unpleasant way) but still was TOTALLY thrilled at the dénouement (like, a package got delivered and my dog started barking and I almost passed out from sudden terror  🤣), and thought the pacing of the book was so effective overall. I cannot WAIT to read more Adrian McKinty!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

lexithelion's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I loved this book. It wastes no time in jumping straight into the dramatics and I was not expecting it. The book has an incredibly dark storyline but its worked out so well by the author that it keeps you hooked without losing you through the tense plot. This is the second of Adrian McKinty's novels that I have read and he is so good at creating unique plotlines that are so intriguing. It is one thing for the characters to create such a horrific kidnapping scheme but another when you realize that the author created it for the sake of the story. I myself was trying to figure out a way out of the chain, but I couldn't, and that is the beauty of Adrian's talent. I'm not giving this book a full 5 stars because the main character, Rachel, kept making very stupid decisions and she seems like the kind of character that would know not to mess with things like this. However, the re-readability of this book is very high, which is why I decided to buy this to add to my personal library. I would highly recommend this book to friends and I already have. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Kidnapping, and Alcohol

Minor: Child death and Murder

natmar_23's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Pregnancy

shesflippinpages's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

kelsey24's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

This was a terrifying plot that kept me riveted throughout the entire book, especially learning that it is based on similar true events. The emotional rollercoaster the author takes you on is intense and at times you feel like you're living it. The ending was slightly too Hollywood for me, as I think it could have easily gone on for another hundred pages in order to really explore the consequences, as I'm not a fan of everything being wrapped up in a pretty bow. Other than that it was solid.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, and Kidnapping

kfergy's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Quick to read, but not a standout thriller. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Sexual violence and Stalking

vinceoftexas's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

I’ve never been a book reader, because they’ve never kept me engaged. BUT this book was absolutely amazing. It kept me wanting to finish, once I started, I couldn’t stop. 
As terrible as the scenario is, this was a fantastic book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

hannaashaffer's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

i enjoyed the story more than i enjoyed the authors storytelling. definitely a page turner but i dont know…i had my qualms 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Torture

peyviz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I enjoyed this book overall. My only complaint is it went on a little too long after the main storyline was over, the ending could have been shorter. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Blood, Kidnapping, and Stalking

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Alcohol

Minor: Abandonment and War

jgwags's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail