---
product_id: 229266788
title: "The Chain"
price: "$27.64"
currency: USD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 10
url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/229266788-the-chain
store_origin: US
region: United States of America
---

# The Chain

**Price:** $27.64
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Chain
- **How much does it cost?** $27.64 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/229266788-the-chain)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

desertcart.com: The Chain: 9780316531238: McKinty, Adrian: Books

Review: Break the Chain - I am not a parent of humans. And since there were no animals harmed in the writing of this novel, I feel compelled to point out that my review may seem a little... um... harsh. So just bear that in mind as you read on. I picked this book for my book club at work because I thought it had a really interesting premise. A woman's child is kidnapped and the only way to get her daughter back is to kidnap another child herself. And to convince the parents of that child to continue The Chain. Oh and if she goes to the authorities, her child dies. And she needs to be willing to kill her kidnappee. Or her child dies. And if she is forced to kill her kidnappee, she has to kidnap someone else! It's actually kind of ingenious. In a really sick sort of way. The book is split into two parts. The first part tells the story of Rachel, who's daughter, Kylie, is kidnapped. Rachel has to race against time to get her daughter back. The second part of the book is Rachel going full John McClane trying to take down The Chain. I don't want to get too much in the details in order to keep this spoiler-free. So I'll just say this: I think it would have been very interesting to see the story where someone is willing to sacrifice their child in order to stop The Chain. I know how that sounds, but as Spock would say, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one." Now, in reality, the concept of The Chain could never work. There are just too many variables. Like, if someone goes to the authorities, The Chain would probably tumble down pretty quickly. But setting aside any disbelief in the concept, this sure was a page-turner. Here are some random bits of brain matter to chew on (I just realized how gross that sounds)... First, there was one character that comes and goes a little too quickly and really just felt shoved in just to get Rachel what she needed at a pivotal point. Also, Rachel's cancer (not a spoiler; it's mentioned on, like, page 1) was completely unnecessary to the story. Leave it out and the story loses absolutely nothing. The mafia/cartel stuff was interesting, but went nowhere. That could have been a neat thread to pull on some more. Kylie's dad is a horrible father. In so many ways. Lastly, there is a relationship that occurs in this book that when you think about the ramifications of such a relationship, might start to turn that family tree into a family wreath. [shudder] But none of these things detracted too much for me. I gave this one 4.5 out of 5 stars. It's a fun thrill-ride where suspension of disbelief is a prerequisite, but isn't that what a lot of good fiction is? As a quick post-script here, I should note there were some in the book club that were really dissatisfied with this book. Their points are incredibly valid as are anyone who gave this book a lower rating on Goodreads. I agree with a lot of the bad reviews of this book, but for some reason I just had a fun time with it. But as I started out by saying, I am not a parent to humans. Those in my group that are found the concept disturbing. Some were so put off that they stopped reading after a couple chapters. Others got themselves through the book by sheer will power and said they wouldn't recommend this to parents of young children. I think that's a bit of an overreaction, but maybe my heart, if I have one, is a few sizes too small.
Review: Good - Good book. Kept me interested I enjoyed it and will be looking for more books by him. Good job Adrian

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #11,577 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #283 in Psychological Fiction (Books) #351 in Psychological Thrillers (Books) #665 in Suspense Thrillers |
| Customer Reviews | 4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars (19,475) |
| Dimensions  | 5.45 x 1.2 x 8.25 inches |
| Edition  | Reprint |
| ISBN-10  | 0316531235 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0316531238 |
| Item Weight  | 2.31 pounds |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 368 pages |
| Publication date  | September 22, 2020 |
| Publisher  | Mulholland Books |

## Images

![The Chain - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71x0KAifCvL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Break the Chain
*by C***T on February 26, 2025*

I am not a parent of humans. And since there were no animals harmed in the writing of this novel, I feel compelled to point out that my review may seem a little... um... harsh. So just bear that in mind as you read on. I picked this book for my book club at work because I thought it had a really interesting premise. A woman's child is kidnapped and the only way to get her daughter back is to kidnap another child herself. And to convince the parents of that child to continue The Chain. Oh and if she goes to the authorities, her child dies. And she needs to be willing to kill her kidnappee. Or her child dies. And if she is forced to kill her kidnappee, she has to kidnap someone else! It's actually kind of ingenious. In a really sick sort of way. The book is split into two parts. The first part tells the story of Rachel, who's daughter, Kylie, is kidnapped. Rachel has to race against time to get her daughter back. The second part of the book is Rachel going full John McClane trying to take down The Chain. I don't want to get too much in the details in order to keep this spoiler-free. So I'll just say this: I think it would have been very interesting to see the story where someone is willing to sacrifice their child in order to stop The Chain. I know how that sounds, but as Spock would say, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one." Now, in reality, the concept of The Chain could never work. There are just too many variables. Like, if someone goes to the authorities, The Chain would probably tumble down pretty quickly. But setting aside any disbelief in the concept, this sure was a page-turner. Here are some random bits of brain matter to chew on (I just realized how gross that sounds)... First, there was one character that comes and goes a little too quickly and really just felt shoved in just to get Rachel what she needed at a pivotal point. Also, Rachel's cancer (not a spoiler; it's mentioned on, like, page 1) was completely unnecessary to the story. Leave it out and the story loses absolutely nothing. The mafia/cartel stuff was interesting, but went nowhere. That could have been a neat thread to pull on some more. Kylie's dad is a horrible father. In so many ways. Lastly, there is a relationship that occurs in this book that when you think about the ramifications of such a relationship, might start to turn that family tree into a family wreath. [shudder] But none of these things detracted too much for me. I gave this one 4.5 out of 5 stars. It's a fun thrill-ride where suspension of disbelief is a prerequisite, but isn't that what a lot of good fiction is? As a quick post-script here, I should note there were some in the book club that were really dissatisfied with this book. Their points are incredibly valid as are anyone who gave this book a lower rating on Goodreads. I agree with a lot of the bad reviews of this book, but for some reason I just had a fun time with it. But as I started out by saying, I am not a parent to humans. Those in my group that are found the concept disturbing. Some were so put off that they stopped reading after a couple chapters. Others got themselves through the book by sheer will power and said they wouldn't recommend this to parents of young children. I think that's a bit of an overreaction, but maybe my heart, if I have one, is a few sizes too small.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good
*by M***S on October 27, 2025*

Good book. Kept me interested I enjoyed it and will be looking for more books by him. Good job Adrian

### ⭐⭐⭐ An uneven, but extremely clever read
*by E***N on October 10, 2021*

"They have all sipped from the Drink Me bottle. They have all unwound the clew of red thread. They have all fallen through the looking glass." For most parents, there is perhaps no worst fear than losing their child. We can probably agree that they'd do anything to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their kids. In his 2019 novel The Chain, Adrian McKinty digs into the depths of just how far a parent will go to protect their child. I first heard of the book when another author, Don Winslow, began to tout it on his Twitter. It sounded like the kind of thriller that I find hard to ignore, so I quickly pre-ordered a copy. Then, as is too often the case with some of my most hyped books, I let it sit on my shelf unread for two years. While time may have heightened my expectations for the novel beyond what it ultimately delivered, it is still a worthy read for anyone looking for a breakneck thrill. Imagine for a moment that you're having a bad day. You just got a call from your oncologist that they need you to come into the office for some urgent news. You already know what that news is. Your cancer has returned. This is probably one of the worst days of your life. Just as you're thinking that things can't get any worse, however, your phone rings again. This time the voice on the line is unrecognizable, mutated by an electronic filter designed to hide the identity of whoever you are speaking to. They tell you that your child has been kidnapped, and the only way you'll ever see them again is by following their instructions with no deviations. You've just become another link in the chain. This is the nightmare that unfolds for Rachel Klein at the start of the book. She quickly compartmentalizes the news around her cancer to face the more pressing matter of her daughter's abduction. Within the next 24 hours, she has to come up with a ransom or risk never seeing young Kylie again. But the money isn't the most disturbing part of the abductor's request. You see, the person holding her daughter is no ordinary criminal. The person is actually a mother herself, facing the same exact nightmare as Rachel. Her own son has been taken, and if Rachel doesn't also abduct a child within the next day, they will both lose their own. The premise of The Chain is quite ingenious in both its simplicity and its execution. Adrian McKinty imagines a diabolical scheme that sees normal people turning into the worst kind of desperate criminals in only a few short hours. The mechanism of this concept lies within the willingness of parents to protect their children at all costs. As each new child is taken, the next parent must pay a ransom and kidnap another child, thus feeding into the chain in an endless cycle. From the opening pages, I was glued to this story, unable to look away from the terrifying story as it unfolded. The genius of McKinty's writing in this work is his ability to balance relatable characters with an unrelenting pace. Seriously, I tore through this novel within a few hours but was surprised at how nuanced the character work actually was. The book isn't without its flaws, and I found the last act unworthy of the brilliant setup that preceded it. Still, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more original and engaging read.

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.us/products/229266788-the-chain](https://www.desertcart.us/products/229266788-the-chain)

---

*Product available on Desertcart United States of America*
*Store origin: US*
*Last updated: 2026-02-22*