A Re-Read of The Chain by Adrian McKinty
The Chain
Author: Adrian McKinty
Published: July 9, 2019
Audiobook: 10 hours
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: January 1-6, 2023
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
It’s something parents do every morning: Rachel Klein drops her daughter at the bus stop and heads into her day. But a cell phone call from an unknown number changes everything: it’s a woman on the line, informing her that she has Kylie bound and gagged in her back seat, and the only way Rachel will see her again is to follow her instructions exactly: pay a ransom, and find another child to abduct. This is no ordinary kidnapping: the caller is a mother herself, whose son has been taken, and if Rachel doesn’t do as she’s told, the boy will die.
“You are not the first. And you will certainly not be the last.” Rachel is now part of The Chain, an unending and ingenious scheme that turns victims into criminals — and is making someone else very rich in the process. The rules are simple, the moral challenges impossible; find the money fast, find your victim, and then commit a horrible act you’d have thought yourself incapable of just twenty-four hours ago.
But what the masterminds behind The Chain know is that parents will do anything for their children. It turns out that kidnapping is only the beginning.
Jessica’s Review:
I can’t say much more than my original review did which is here.
This was my book club’s chosen read for January and had been my suggestion! Our meeting is this coming weekend and I can’t wait to hear what actual moms think of this book! I do want to say I enjoyed The Chain just as much the second time as I did the first time. It is so fast paced, intense, and doesn’t slow down at all!
In my previous review I did not mention the narrator: January LaVoy. She is just fabulous! She captured everything she needed as narrated! And was even able to differentiate the voice between characters, both male, female, younger and older! She is one of my go-to narrators, and she was part of the reason I decided to listen to it again for this second go around.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Short Story Sunday: The Father Does Not Die at the End by Adam Silvera
The Father Does Not Die at the End
Series: Death-Cast
Author: Adam Silvera
Published: November 1, 2022
42 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: January 2, 2023
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Jessica’s Review:
The Father Does Not Die at the End is the short story fans of They Both Die have been waiting for! It was recently published with the special Collector’s Edition of They Both Die at the End and continues the story with Mateo’s father coming out of his coma and finding out what happened to his son.
I was conflicted with reading it as I have been anticipating this short story, but knew it would become emotional as it deals with a father finding out his son has passed away (and how) while being in a coma. And it was emotional. Silvera masterfully captured Maeto “Teo” Torrez’s emotions and feelings while continuing the story. Though sad, the ending was still optimistic. I had read that Silvera wants to continue in the world of Death-Cast and he has this reader (among many others) that will definitely be reading those!
Purchase Links for the Collector’s Edition:
Amazon US
Barnes and Noble
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A Review of Once Upon a Book Club’s 12 Days of Book-Club-Mas
Once Upon a Book Club is a monthly subscription box service that offers YA and adults boxes and very soon will be offering a middle grades box. Each month, subscribers receive a newly released novel and wrapped gifts labeled with page numbers. As they read the featured book, they are prompted to only open the gifts when they reach the specified page number. **Please note that I am not a subscriber and have bought three boxes with my own money, including this 12 Days of Book-Club-Mas that my review today will be about. This is not a sponsored post with the company.**
Once Upon a Book Club’s 12 Days of Book-Club-Mas
Series: Volume IV
Author: various
Published: December 1, 2021
230 pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: December 12-27, 2022
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Volume 4 of The 12 Days of Book-Club-Mas features twelve, exclusive short stories from twelve authors who curated their stories around a specific wrapped gift that readers were meant to open as they read.
Jessica’s Review:
This was the 2021 version though I read it in 2022. That is because there were shipping issues that Once Upon A Book Club (OUABC) experienced. So yes, I held onto this box for a whole year! It is a book of 12 short stories, and at a certain point in the story you open your daily gift. The gift enhances the story and it was a fun experience!
The short stories are not Christmas related, but most were book related or dealt with some kind of death and grief. I really enjoyed days 2,3, 6, and 10. Day 7 was my ultimate favorite story because like one character, I am a blogger! I feel that the Day 6 short story should have actually been day 7 because the number 7 was consistent throughout the story. OUABC missed out on that opportunity.
The gifts were fun to get to and open each day. They range from books to curtains to more. Some of the gifts I will use and the others I will have to figure out.
I highly recommend giving OUABC ‘advent box’ a chance if you have the time for daily reads and the money for the box when it becomes available. You would want to act fast as this box tends to sell out quickly! Will I buy this box again in the future: More than likely!
Here are some of my pictures for an idea on what the box/gifts are like:
I shared each daily gift on my story on Instagram. There is a photo album on my Facebook Page.
Day 8 was a gift smaller than my hand! It was an ornament of the book Jane Eyre:
Day 9 was uniquely shaped: It ended up being a bookend!
The gifts ranged from as small as a keychain…
To as large as curtains and a windshield protector for your car!:
I wanted to get this review in early in the year!
To look into Once Upon a Book Club, their website is here.
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