The Regression Strain

Kevin Hwang's The Regression Strain narrates the tale of Dr. Peter Palma, a physician who embarks on a journey aboard the Paradise cruise ship, seeking a fresh start following his personal struggles. His first days are chaotic, marked by tense encounters, medical emergencies, and unusual behaviors among passengers and crew. As the days progress, Peter becomes witness to bizarre incidents, including sudden violence, hallucinations, and unexplained illness spreading through the ship. An affliction pits people against each other, and only Dr. Palma can stop it, but he is struggling with hallucinations as the ship sails through the Atlantic toward New York. But will he be able to combat the encroaching affliction and save the lives of those aboard the cruise?

This is one of the best medical thrillers I have read this year—well-plotted, presenting exceptional storytelling, and nuanced characters. Kevin Hwang employs a narrative voice that is gripping, and he slowly introduces the conflict in the form of a strain, capturing the details of the cruise ship and building tension with the flawed relationships amongst the characters and the crew. The characters are sophisticated and fully developed—Peter is the new doctor trying to find his footing; Luisa is the experienced nurse; Mandy is the compassionate ICU nurse; and Elizabeth Hartley is the chief physician whose behavior becomes increasingly erratic. Passengers and crew are also central, with their interactions revealing tensions, secrets, and hidden struggles. The setting is the cruise ship itself, a floating city that feels both glamorous and suffocating. The Regression Strain blends mystery with suspense to make this story a hard-to-put-down read, a page-turner with strong hints of horror. I found myself racing through the pages. Then, when I turned the last page, I wanted to go back and start over again, thanks to the gorgeous writing and the suspenseful plot. Fans of The Last Cruise by Kate Christensen will delight in the pages of this book.