Book Review: The Chain

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

YOU JUST DROPPED OFF YOUR CHILD AT THE BUS STOP.

A PANICKED STRANGER CALLS YOUR PHONE.

YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED

THE STRANGER THEN EXPLAINS THAT THEIR CHILD HAS ALSO BEEN KIDNAPPED, BY A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STRANGER.

THE ONLY WAY TO GET YOUR CHILD BACK IS TO KIDNAP ANOTHER CHILD.

AND, MOST IMPORTANT, THE STRANGER EXPLAINS: IF YOU DON’T KIDNAP A CHILD, OR IF THE NEXT PARENTS DON’T KIDNAP A CHILD, YOUR CHILD WILL BE MURDERED.

YOU ARE NOW PART OF

THE CHAIN.

BOOK REVIEW:

I’m pretty sure the book description above has piqued your interest as much as I did when I first read it. I’m a lover of thriller movies and thriller books that I was immediately sold after reading the blurb 😂. But before I continue, here are the major themes I wanted you to know before you read this book (Just in case some of these themes are a trigger warning to you).

• Themes:
  • Parenting/Parental Love
  • Suffering/Tragedy
  • Survival
  • Deception/Manipulation
  • Violence and Death
  • Loss of Innocence
  • Drug abuse

Okay, moving on to the main characters in the book.

• Main Characters:
  • Rachel – the book’s heroine. She’s in cancer remission and about to start a new job as a teacher. However, just when she thought her life is finally starting to get better, she finds out that her child was kidnapped and that her cancer might have returned.
  • Kylie – Rachel’s kid, 13 years old. A fighter and a strong kid. Definitely a kick-ass kid!
  • Marty – Rachel’s ex-husband who’s still pretty much involved in Rachel’s and Kylie’s lives despite the divorce.
  • Pete – Marty’s ex-marine older brother who loves Kylie so much and will do anything for her, but who’s also quite a drug addict. He’ll help Rachel with her The Chain dilemma.
  • The Chain – the people behind The Chain

“You are not the first. And you will certainly not be the last.”

These were the words that Rachel heard from the woman on the phone when she found out that her daughter was kidnapped and the only way to bring her back alive is for Rachel to kidnap another kid to replace her daughter in The Chain. The cycle continuous. This manipulative kidnapping syndicate call themselves The Chain.

In the first chapters of the book, Rachel’s main goal was already clear as day. She has to do two major things in order to get Kylie back. 1) Pay the ransom. 2) Kidnap another child to replace Kylie in The Chain. Between the two, paying the ransom would be easier, but how is she going to kidnap another child? Another question that intrigued me while reading the book is that how far Rachel will go to get Kylie back?

“Getting Kylie back is the sun and the stars and the entire universe.”

These were the words that Rachel heard from the woman on the phone when she found out that her daughter was kidnapped and the only way to bring her back alive is for Rachel to kidnap another kid to replace her daughter in The Chain. The cycle continuous. This manipulative kidnapping syndicate call themselves The Chain.

What really is The Chain? Is it just a typical kidnapping syndicate? I mentioned earlier that Rachel has to kidnap another child to replace Kylie in The Chain and get her back. But it is called The Chain because it continues. And for The Chain to continue, she also has to make sure that the parents of the kid she kidnaps to replace Kylie will also kidnap another child. My exact thoughts while reading this were, “Who in their right mind would come up with these rules that The Chain has to follow and who exactly is behind The Chain?! The idea of The Chain is so twisted and evil.” (I was into the story as you can possibly guess 😂. I do not want this to be happening IRL!)

“You must remember that you are not the first or the last. It is not about the money, it’s about The Chain.”

“A tradition is a living argument. A living argument for a practice that began a long time ago. And it works for our particular tradition. If you mess with The Chain, it will be sure to get you and your family. Leave the country, go to Saudi Arabia or Japan or wherever. Change your name, change your identity. We’ll always find you.”

“The Chain is a metaphor for the ties that bind all of us to friends and family. It is the umbilical link between mother and child, the way or path that the hero must travel in a quest, and it is the thin clew of crimson thread that is the solution Ariadne comes up with to the problem of the labyrinth.”

I had a lot of realizations while reading this book. One is of course, how a parent’s love towards their child can be a driving force to do good or do bad. Also, how blurred the line is between morality and immorality and between being a victim and being the perpetrator especially when someone you love is being threatened.

“Fear is coursing through her, but fear is a liberation too. Fear releases power and is the precursor to action.”

When I started reading this book, I have this question in my head: What would I do if I was in Rachel’s situation? I’m telling you, I finished the book still not knowing the answer, because NEVER will I wish to be in Rachel’s shoes. NEVER. It is such a scary place to be in. Being the victim but also being forced to be the perpetrator is not an easy thing to go through and not anyone would even possibly wish for their enemies to experience.

I admire Rachel’s character for overcoming this – for overcoming her own demons and the demons that The Chain has brought to her and her family. In the story, Rachel often thought that she’s not a good mother but I think she did a great thing being a mother and raising Kylie to be as strong as she is. I am also proud of Pete, for picking himself up. 😊

Towards the last chapters of the book, I get goosebumps every time The Chain was being mentioned. The Chain was just purely twisted and diabolical. I realized it is true that we should be more afraid of people than of ghosts 😮. But I was glad that the book has ended with a hint of hope for Rachel and that she’ll be able to conquer whatever challenges life may throw at her. I also appreciate that the book ended in Chapter 77 😁.

“A man once told me that all books should end at Chapter 77.”

“Life is fragile, fleeting and precious. And to live at all is miracle enough.”

The story is very unique and well thought of. I admire Adrian McKinty’s brain for coming up with this. This book gave me the adrenaline rush I never thought I needed 😂. I liked how the book was written and how unique the story is. Recommending this book to all thriller lovers out there. I am giving this book a 4.5 star rating. I’m happy about it!

Thanks for reading my book review for The Chain! Furthermore, if you’re interested in more book reviews, please head on to the blog page.