The Chain

**Includes synopsis dust jacket right behind cover** When a mother is targeted by a dangerous group of masterminds, she must commit a crime to save her kidnapped daughter—or risk losing her forever—in this "propulsive and original" award-winning thriller (Stephen King). 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. When a mother is targeted by a dangerous group of masterminds, she must commit a crime to save her kidnapped daughter—or risk losing her forever—in this "propulsive and original" award-winning thriller (Stephen King). 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. "McKinty is one of the most striking and most memorable crime voices to emerge on the scene in years. His plots tempt you to read at top speed, but don't give in: this writing—sharply observant, intelligent and shot through with black humor—should be savored." —Tana French "A masterpiece. You have never read anything quite like The Chain and you will never be able to forget it." — Don Winslow "Diabolical, unnerving, and gives a whole new meaning to the word "relentless". Adrian McKinty just leapt to the top of my list of must-read suspense novelists. He's the real deal." —Dennis Lehane "Pairing an irresistible concept with a winner protagonist, The Chain promises to be your new addiction once you succumb to the first enticing page." —Alafair Burke "A grade-A-first-rate-edge-of-your-seat thriller. I can't believe what went through my mind while reading it." — Attica Locke Victim. Survivor. Abductor. Criminal. You Will Become Each One. This Nightmarish Story Is Incredibly Propulsive And Original. You Won't Shake It For A Long Time. Stephen King Mckinty Is One Of The Most Striking And Most Memorable Crime Voices To Emerge On The Scene In Years. His Plots Tempt You To Read At Top Speed, But Don't Give In: This Writing - Sharply Observant, Intelligent And Shot Through With Black Humor - Should Be Savored. Tana French A Masterpiece. You Have Never Read Anything Quite Like The Chain And You Will Never Be Able To Forget It. Don Winslow * * * * * Your Phone Rings. A Stranger Has Kidnapped Your Child. To Free Them You Must Abduct Someone Else's Child. Your Child Will Be Released When Your Victim's Parents Kidnap Another Child. If Any Of These Things Don't Happen: Your Child Will Be Killed. You Are Now Part Of The Chain* * * * * Diabolical, Unnerving, And Gives A Whole New Meaning To The Word Relentless. Adrian Mckinty Just Leapt To The Top Of My List Of Must-read Suspense Novelists. He's The Real Deal. Dennis Lehane Pairing An Irresistible Concept With A Winner Protagonist, The Chain Promises To Be Your New Addiction Once You Succumb To The First Enticing Page. Alafair Burke A Grade-a-first-rate-edge-of-your-seat Thriller. I Can't Believe What Went Through My Mind While Reading It. Attica Locke Diabolically Gripping. Nail-biting, Smart, And Convincing. Hang On Tight, Because Once You Start This Book, You Can't Stop - You'll Be Caught In The Chain. Meg Gardiner The Chain Is The Rare Thriller That's Not Only Fiendishly Clever But Also Powerfully Empathetic, With Both Hair-raising Twists And Complex, Fully-realized Characters. Lou Berney You Are Not The First. And You Will Certainly Not Be The Last. Your phone rings. You child has been kidnapped. And to free her, you must abduct someone else's child. Your child will be released when your victim's parents kidnap another child. Rachel will be part of the chain... or her daughter Kylie will be killed. But the masterminds may have made a mistake this time. Rachel may be the one to finally break the chain A parent receives a panicked phone call from a stranger who reveals that both of their children have been kidnapped by someone who demands that they abduct another child to prevent the murders of their own