The Regression Strain

by

Kevin Hwang

It definitely had me reconsidering future travel plans.

The Regression Strain by Kevin Hwang is an exciting medical thriller set onboard a cruise ship, and it definitely had me reconsidering future travel plans. Young Dr. Peter Palma joins the crew of the Paradise, a floating palace with over 4,000 passengers and crew, bound for New York City from Copenhagen. But what should have been an easy change of scenery from his former medical practice in Houston, among the city’s neediest and most vulnerable, soon spirals out of control as a mysterious illness that induces unusual and often violent behavior in the infected takes hold of the ship. 

Peter Palma is a young medical doctor on his first cruise posting, a change he has selected to help ease his way back into medical practice after a personal tragedy. He proves himself to be easy-going, accepting, and competent, even though he suffers from mental health challenges, as he diffuses oddly aggressive encounters with passengers right from the start. His new gig is jeopardized when the chief medical officer appears to be in the throes of a breakdown, and a strange respiratory illness that precedes the onset of bizarre behavior is overtaking everyone on board. The unexpected appearance of his newly graduated younger sister, Nali, among the passengers only adds to his stress. 

The tense atmosphere on the ship builds quickly as one weird occurrence follows another. The action is non-stop, and you can feel the exhaustion of the medical staff, reminiscent of the real-life COVID pandemic. As the clinic, shipboard jail, and morgue begin to fill up and overflow, Palma faces off with passengers, crew, and his own infection as the embattled ship tries to get to a safe harbor. 

With its many shocking twists and turns, I recommend THE REGRESSION STRAIN to readers looking for a new and exciting medical thriller. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.