If you’re looking for a book which, guaranteed, will leave you on the edge of your seat and give you serious heart palpitations, look no further than The Chain by Adrian McKinty.

The plot:

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.

It’s a psychological thriller at the top of its game

Honestly reading this synopsis again, I still get chills. It sets you up for what promises to be a very good thriller and exceeds all expectations.

I’m going to start with the writing, because that’s one of the best parts for me. There are LOTS of short sentences, and if the book wasn’t tense enough, oh boy, those pages just keep turning because you know it’ll be a quick read and you get so involved in the story.

The concept of the book itself is totally messed up (still questioning whether McKinty is a little messed in the head). It has a rich back story but keeps you in the moment. All those reviews on the front of the book saying you won’t be able to put it down? 100% correct.

I decided about 90 pages in that I was going to read it in one sitting, because I was just enjoying it that much and it is unbelievably tense. You get really attached to the main character, because it makes you question what you would do in that sort of situation, and going through the stages with her makes you feel all types of emotions.

Part of me was hoping it didn’t end the way it did, but I’m not mad. There is one tiny little aspect which didn’t get mentioned again, but it doesn’t affect the read.

There’s nice little hidden gems in the read and paragraphs that will make you wince; it’s a psychological thriller at the top of its game.

For someone who’s read so many psychological thrillers, this is up in my favourites. It’s unforgettable because it’s such a crazy but believable concept, playing on the real 1984 fear. It’s messed up, and I probably won’t want to even think about The Chain when I have kids, but at the moment, I’m a big fan.

Simple but complex writing with a layer of dark humour, heart palpitations and an insanely clever but messed up story? Don’t miss The Chain.

The Chain, Adrian McKinty, RRP £12.99 (hardback); Book Depository 

Pages: 352

Publisher: Orion

Genre: Psychological thriller