| Category: | Fiction - Thriller - Medical |
|---|---|
| Author: | Kevin Hwang |
| Publisher: | Self-published under my imprint: Normal Range Press |
| Publication Date: | May 25, 2025 |
| Number of Pages: | 324 (ebook) |
| ISBN-13: | 979-8992727005 |
| ASIN: | B0F9XDK3D5 |
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.
Hand-picked reviews our authors and readers are loving right now
Essays, author interviews and publishing advice for curious readers and writers.
Discover how to get your book reviewed with our ultimate guide. Learn how to secure editorial book reviews, navigate paid book reviews, and leverage book reviews for authors to boost sales!
Read the article →
The book market is more competitive now than ever. Here are the major changes to know if you want your book to stand out.
Read the article →
What Decades of Book Reviews and Editorial Book Reviews Reveal about Children's Books
Read the article →
A practical guide to building flawed, complex characters readers can still love.
Read the article →
Why Most Self-Help Books Don't Work (And the "Cheat Code" We’re Missing)We are addicted to advice. The self-help industry is worth billions of dollars. Every year, millions of people buy books promising to help them lose weight, start businesses, or find inner...
Read the article →
There is a particular kind of silence that falls in the early hours — not the absence of sound, but the quiet rearrangement of the world before it begins again. A kettle sighs. The light finds its way through the window in thin, precise strokes. In that stilln...
Read the article →
 Mommys_Boy_6x9.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
