The Chain by Adrian McKinty is a fast-paced thriller involving a chain of child abductions and the dichotomy of being both a victim and a perpetrator. It relies upon a parent's love for their child and how far they are willing to go for their own family.
The book is split into two parts: the kidnappings and then how the chain was first formed. The first part was very intense and difficult to put down. However for me, the second part let the book down slightly as I just don't think it was fully explained the reasonings behind the characters' intentions as to why the chain began.
The book is extremely well-paced, it is a fast page turner without being rushed or slow at any point.
Personally I wasn't a big fan of McKinty's blunt writing style. Whilst it added to the quick intense panic of the characters' mindsets, for me it was too simple and not detailed enough. However I do have The Island on my to read list also by the same author, so I will give it another try as I enjoyed his plot and storytelling. I would highly recommend this book but read content warnings beforehand so you know what you're getting into. I think if I had children this book would definitely feed into my anxiety so just a pre-warning.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Chain and I'm looking forward to reading The Island soon.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5