Review: The Regression Strain
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THE REGRESSION STRAIN
By Kevin Hwang
Medical Thriller
Publisher: Normal Range Press
Publication Date: May 26, 2025
SYNOPSIS
Dr. Peter Palma joins the medical team of the Paradise to treat passengers for minor ailments as the cruise ship sails across the Atlantic. But he soon discovers that something foul is festering under the veneer of leisure. Deep in the bowels of the ship, a vile affliction pits loved ones against each other and shatters the bonds of civil society. The brig fills with felons, the morgue with bodies, and the vacation becomes a nightmare.
One by one, the chaos claims Peter's allies. His mentor spirals into madness and the security chief fights a losing battle against anarchy. No help comes from the captain, who has an ego bigger than the ocean.
With the ship racing toward an unprepared New York, the fate of humanity hinges on Peter's deteriorating judgment. But he's hallucinating and delirious...and sometimes primal urges are impossible to resist.
The Regression Strain is a fast-paced medical thriller laced with psychological suspense, perfect for fans of Michael Crichton and Blake Crouch.
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The Regression Strain by Kevin Hwang was the first medical/biological thriller I’ve read, and it was definitely adventure! I was hesitant at first because I have not read much fiction based in science. I was worried that maybe I had gone in too far over my head - what if I didn’t understand the story? What if it was dense and slow? Well, I should’t have worried.
One thing I forgot was, although I am not versed in fictional books with a scientific base, I am a big fan of those stories in movies. And that is what The Regression Strain reminded me of - a movie! Movies like Contagion both terrify me and thrill me with their intensity. These are the feelings that I found while reading Strain. The basis of a medical affliction in the company of a group of people is scary enough - but then you place that medical affliction amongst a group of people on a cruise ship and you have yourself a terrifying tale.
The medical details only add to the thrill of the read because they read accurately - and they should as I have come to find out that Hwang is a real-life physician. I truly believe this is what increases the intensity of Strain. Along with the setting, the reader doesn’t stand a chance against hearing the ticking of the clock and enduring the claustrophobic feeling of feeling trapped.
Dr. Peter Palma is definitely the most fleshed out of the characters. Having a flawed protagonist at the center is wonderful to read because it adds authenticity to the story. I would have enjoyed having side characters be more fully realized as well, but I can understand why Palma would be the one we are intended to focus on.
All in all, readers should expect medical details and maybe that can be intimidating (it certainly was for me), but take a dive and a chance because this story was truly thrilling. A page-turner through and through.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kevin O. Hwang, MD, is a professor of internal medicine in Houston where he sees patients and teaches residents. His academic work has appeared in leading medical journals. Nothing excites him more than chicken enchiladas, index cards, and appropriately sized packaging. The Regression Strain is his debut novel.
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