The favor: a novel

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Language
English

Description

In this twisty new stand-alone novel from internationally bestselling author Nicci French, a young woman agrees to do a favor for her first love—but when things go horribly wrong, one small task turns into a murder investigation that completely upends her life, ensnaring her in a deadly web of secrets and lies.

It’s a simple enough favor.

Jude hasn’t seen Liam in years, but when he shows up at her work asking for a favor, she finds she can’t refuse. All Jude has to do is pick Liam up at a country train station—without telling anyone. So what if she has to lie to her fiancé? Jude is still committed to him and their imminent wedding, even if she and Liam were in love once.

She owes him.

After the car crash that changed everything years ago, bright, ambitious Jude went to medical school, back on the path she had planned before meeting moody, artistic Liam. Meanwhile, he never fully recovered from the dark stain the accident left on his record.

Now he’s gone.

When the police show up at the station instead of Liam, Jude realizes that she knows nothing about the man he’s become. Now she’s tangled up in his life, the last person to have seen him, and maybe the only one who can uncover the truth about what went wrong—even if she destroys her own life in the process.

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ISBN
9780063243668
9798885780902

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NoveList provides detailed suggestions for titles you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These books have the subjects "young women," "engaged people," and "secrets"; and characters that are "well-developed characters."
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Similar Authors From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for other authors you might want to read if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
Cornelia Read and Nicci French both write intimate, gripping, and character-driven psychological suspense novels featuring intelligent, stubborn, and emotionally complex female protagonists. There is an element of danger in Read's stories, but it is stronger in French's. -- Derek Keyser
Stephen White and Nicci French pen suspenseful psychological thrillers that feature practicing clinical psychologists. Their protagonists often find themselves embroiled in both potentially dangerous criminal investigations and in difficult personal conflicts. Their strong sense of ethics usually wins the day. -- Mike Nilsson
Sophie Hannah and Nicci French excel at intricately plotted, psychologically intense narratives that frequently straddle the line between "thriller" and "mystery." Both write series as well as stand-alone novels; French's novels tend to be more disturbing in tone, while Hannah's are haunting and reflective. -- Kim Burton
Both authors have written mystery series that offer character analysis and insight into aberrant mental states, thanks to their protagonists' jobs -- both are conscientious psychologists. They also offer a strong sense of place, complex characters, deliberate pacing, and sustained suspense. -- Shauna Griffin
British writers Louise Doughty and Nicci French have thoroughly mastered the dark art of psychological suspense fiction. Disturbing situations, sudden violence, and a palpable sense of foreboding permeate their work. Their complex female protagonists and unnerving intensity make for compelling, suspenseful reading. -- Mike Nilsson
Both pen intricately plotted thrillers with compelling female characters forced to confront disturbing events -- murder, stalking, kidnapping -- all while enduring others' doubts about the truth of their observations and experiences. While both craft similarly disturbing, suspenseful fiction, Abbott is more moving and bleak in tone. -- Kim Burton
Michael Robotham and Nicci French create character-driven suspense fiction starring astute, crime-solving psychologists who team up with police detectives. Both authors feature intricate plots, disturbing themes, and, in Robotham's case, gruesome violence. -- Mike Nilsson
Nicci French and Paula Hawkins write similarly gripping, suspenseful psychological thrillers with twisting plots that leave readers guessing at the truth, and gasping once it is unveiled. Complex relationships -- with individuals often grasping for insights into themselves or others -- and a strong sense of menace pervade their works. -- Kim Burton
Whether trapped with a malevolent child in an isolated house or fleeing a serial killer, Laura Kasischke's and Nicci French's complex, strong female protagonists always find themselves in tense situations. Both writers specialize in an atmospheric blend of menace, psychological suspense, and physical danger. -- Mike Nilsson
American author Mary Kubica and British author Nicci French write compelling psychological suspense revolving around complex female protagonists and sinister mysteries. Their intricately plotted tales feature obsession, long-held secrets, and crime, set amid an atmosphere of menace. Though French's novels tend to be steamier, both skillfully manifest nerve-wracking tension. -- Mike Nilsson
These authors' works have the appeal factors disturbing and menacing, and they have the genres "psychological suspense" and "thrillers and suspense"; and the subjects "murder suspects," "deception," and "obsession."
These authors' works have the appeal factors menacing and creepy, and they have the subjects "murder suspects," "stalking," and "obsession."

Published Reviews

Booklist Review

When DI Leila Fox finally asks Judith Winter, "But what were you thinking?", most readers will have already pondered that same question. Jude, a successful geriatrician, has not seen ex-boyfriend Liam in 11 years, and when he suddenly shows up and asks for a rather peculiar favor, she agrees. He wants her to pick him up at a train station in the countryside and wait for his call at an isolated cottage. He doesn't show, but the police do, and Jude finds out that Liam has been murdered, and she is a suspect, thanks to the bizarre circumstances. Why does she have his wallet and phone? Her life spins out of control, and instead of backing away, she plunges headfirst into Liam's unsettling world. Another riveting tale from the husband-and-wife team of Nicci Gerrard and Sean French (after The Unheard, 2021) that's full of surprises, leading up to an ending that delivers a final, jaw-dropping revelation. Fans will love it, but others might find Jude's reckless and irresponsible behavior a bit difficult to fathom.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
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Publisher's Weekly Review

London physician Jude Winter, the protagonist of this slow-moving suspense novel from the pseudonymous French (The Unheard), is planning her wedding when, after 11 years of no contact, her first love, Liam Birch, comes to see her and asks for a favor. All she has to do is drive his car to an Airbnb in Norfolk, where he has already left his luggage and will join her. "I wouldn't ask you to do anything wrong," he assures her. While she waits for him to arrive, the phone in Liam's bag rings. It's the police, who have bad news about Liam. At this point, Jude's life begins to unravel. The police believe that she was involved in some scheme with Liam and was establishing an alibi for him. This version of the story is leaked to the media. Hounded by the press, shunned by her colleagues, berated by her angry fiancé, and constantly scrutinized by the police, Jude decides to find out who her teenage sweetheart really was. Illogical plot points, such as an educated woman like Jude agreeing to Liam's request, make suspending disbelief difficult. Dyed-in-the-wool French fans will stay the course, others will not. Agent: Joy Harris, Joy Harris Literary. (Oct.)

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
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Library Journal Review

Though Jude hasn't seen boyfriend Liam since a life-altering car crash years ago, she agrees to pick him up at the train station--without telling anyone, even her fiancé. The police show up instead. With a 50,000-copy paperback and 30,000-copy hardcover first printing.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Booklist Reviews

When DI Leila Fox finally asks Judith Winter, "But what were you thinking?, most readers will have already pondered that same question. Jude, a successful geriatrician, has not seen ex-boyfriend Liam in 11 years, and when he suddenly shows up and asks for a rather peculiar favor, she agrees. He wants her to pick him up at a train station in the countryside and wait for his call at an isolated cottage. He doesn't show, but the police do, and Jude finds out that Liam has been murdered, and she is a suspect, thanks to the bizarre circumstances. Why does she have his wallet and phone? Her life spins out of control, and instead of backing away, she plunges headfirst into Liam's unsettling world. Another riveting tale from the husband-and-wife team of Nicci Gerrard and Sean French (after The Unheard, 2021) that's full of surprises, leading up to an ending that delivers a final, jaw-dropping revelation. Fans will love it, but others might find Jude's reckless and irresponsible behavior a bit difficult to fathom. Copyright 2022 Booklist Reviews.

Copyright 2022 Booklist Reviews.
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Library Journal Reviews

Though Jude hasn't seen boyfriend Liam since a life-altering car crash years ago, she agrees to pick him up at the train station—without telling anyone, even her fiancé. The police show up instead. With a 50,000-copy paperback and 30,000-copy hardcover first printing.

Copyright 2022 Library Journal.

Copyright 2022 Library Journal.
Powered by Content Cafe

Publishers Weekly Reviews

London physician Jude Winter, the protagonist of this slow-moving suspense novel from the pseudonymous French (The Unheard), is planning her wedding when, after 11 years of no contact, her first love, Liam Birch, comes to see her and asks for a favor. All she has to do is drive his car to an Airbnb in Norfolk, where he has already left his luggage and will join her. "I wouldn't ask you to do anything wrong," he assures her. While she waits for him to arrive, the phone in Liam's bag rings. It's the police, who have bad news about Liam. At this point, Jude's life begins to unravel. The police believe that she was involved in some scheme with Liam and was establishing an alibi for him. This version of the story is leaked to the media. Hounded by the press, shunned by her colleagues, berated by her angry fiancé, and constantly scrutinized by the police, Jude decides to find out who her teenage sweetheart really was. Illogical plot points, such as an educated woman like Jude agreeing to Liam's request, make suspending disbelief difficult. Dyed-in-the-wool French fans will stay the course, others will not. Agent: Joy Harris, Joy Harris Literary. (Oct.)

Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly.

Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly.
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