NPR

New Thriller 'The Chain' Has An Origin Almost As Exciting As Its Plot

Novelist Adrian McKinty had several books and prestigious awards under his belt — but no one was buying, and he'd given up writing to drive an Uber when a blog post led to some new opportunities.
Source: Beth Novey

Writers, like all artists, are willing to give up a lot to keep doing what they love best. But sometimes, reality bites, and dreams have to be put aside in order to put food on the table. That's what happened to Adrian McKinty — but then, with a little help from some friends, he found a way to keep going. The result is his new book, The Chain.

No one would ever have called McKinty a failure. He'd written a lot of critically acclaimed crime novels and mysteries, including a series based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he grew up. He'd also won some well-known

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min read
What's Making Us Happy: A Guide To Your Weekend Viewing, Listening And Gaming
Each week, Pop Culture Happy Hour guests and hosts share what's bringing them joy. This week: The Wiz revival on Broadway, the podcast Koreaboo, and the game Balatro.
NPR1 min readAmerican Government
Man Who Set Himself On Fire Outside Trump Trial Dies Of Injuries, Police Say
The man took out pamphlets espousing conspiracy theories, tossed them around, then doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse Friday, officials and witnesses said.
NPR2 min read
USC Cancels Filmmaker's Keynote Amid Controversy Over Canceled Valedictorian Speech
USC announced the cancellation of a keynote speech by filmmaker Jon M. Chu just days after making the choice to keep the student valedictorian, who expressed support for Palestinians, from speaking.

Related Books & Audiobooks