The Favor

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.

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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 statistics visit:  https://ncadv.org/STATISTICS

For resources visit: https://ncadv.org/resources