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The Nurse
Someone is watching her. She just doesn’t know it yet.
The unputdownable new book from the bestselling author of Her Name Was Rose.
Everyone has a secret. But some are worse than you could ever imagine.
Nell Sweeney has led an ordinary life. Every day she walks to and from the hospital where she works as a nurse, believing that no harm can befall her.
Until one day she is taken.
Because someone out there has a secret. Someone out there has been watching Nell – and they’ve been watching others like her too.
Nell is the unlucky one – she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And if she isn’t found soon, someone will make sure that she isn’t the last woman to be taken…
A chilling, gripping read, perfect for fans of Clare Mackintosh and Gillian McAllister.
The unputdownable new book from the bestselling author of Her Name Was Rose.
Everyone has a secret. But some are worse than you could ever imagine.
Nell Sweeney has led an ordinary life. Every day she walks to and from the hospital where she works as a nurse, believing that no harm can befall her.
Until one day she is taken.
Because someone out there has a secret. Someone out there has been watching Nell – and they’ve been watching others like her too.
Nell is the unlucky one – she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And if she isn’t found soon, someone will make sure that she isn’t the last woman to be taken…
A chilling, gripping read, perfect for fans of Clare Mackintosh and Gillian McAllister.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 17, 2022
335 people are currently reading
3519 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 308 reviews
March 15, 2022
In a Nutshell: The story is sinister and creepy. The writing style needed to be crisper. But it’s still a thriller worth reading.
Story:
Where the book worked for me:
✔ The author is a former journalist and her eye for detail and research is evident in the story.
✔ The book throws light on an underground movement related to so-called ‘incels’—involuntary celibates—who believe that women have started getting too big for their boots and that they need to be taught a lesson to keep them in their original place, subservient to men. All the content related to this idea was horrendous to read. I can’t think of any other thriller that made me squirm in such discomfort because while the story is fictitious, the factual base of these “incels” is revealed in the prologue and in the author’s note at the end. At the same time, a known devil is better than an unknown one, so I appreciate the light the story threw on this unheard-of movement.
✔ The “Him” perspective is chilling and yet so well-written. To a certain extent, I identified with the character’s initial thoughts (before he digressed into mental rubbish.) Yes, I'm a woman, but I could still understand where he was coming from. There are a few women who have misused the MeToo hashtag, who have estimated men only by their net worth, who insist on women being the stronger/better gender. It must be frustrating to deal with such extreme "feminists". His ideas on “#NotAllMen” were very true, and women do need to remember that. It is sad that a part of modern-day feminism involves pushing down men at every juncture. True feminism involves asking for equal rights and opportunities, not a demand to be accepted as the superior gender by treating men like dirt. If we go that way, we are repeating the mistake of the patriarchal older generations.
✔ Though the ending was a bit abrupt and too neat, I liked it. It flowed naturally from the story and didn’t contort into a needless or unforeseen twist.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
❌ The blurb seems to be taking the story in a very different direction from what it is. Nell is not the primary character for most of the story, which comes to us mainly from the pov of Marian and “Him”.
❌ The title doesn't suit the book AT ALL! Ditto for the cover.
❌ Marian’s character arc starts off well but soon her thoughts seem more like rambles as the book progresses. It became very hard to connect or sympathise with her character.
❌ The tension between Marian and her husband, along with the details on his gaslighting and abusive nature, wasn’t relevant to the main story and served as a needless distraction.
❌ Certain plot points related to some secondary characters are left dangling. While these may not have had a direct impact on the main storyline, it would have been helpful to know more about how it happened rather than only knowing that it happened.
❌ It was very easy for me to guess who the “Him” was. 😕
All in all, I think I did like the book despite the flaws I’ve mentioned. This was my first Clair Allan title and it won’t be the last. Though disturbing, it raises an important issue. While it is scary to see that such men exist, it is also reassuring to know that they aren’t in the majority. Misogyny (and misandry) are never the right solution; high time the whole of humanity realises this.
3.75 stars from me, mainly because of the light it shed on the incel movement and the writing of the “Him” perspective, which is outstanding.
PS: I loved Heman in my childhood. It broke my heart to see the hashtag #Ihavethepower being inspired from his comics and misused this way by the creeps.
My thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Nurse”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Story:
Marian’s 22 year old daughter Nell (a nurse with a local hospital) hasn’t been seen in her house-share or her workplace since four days. When Nell’s roommate calls up Marian and reports this, Marian has no clue about what’s going on except that she needs to contact the police right away. Will she be able to find out what happened to her daughter?
Nell has had an ordinary life until the day she was taken. Has she just been in the wrong place at the wrong time, or is there a darker reason for why she has been kidnapped?
The story comes to us in the first person perspectives of Marian and Nell, and in the third person perspective of “Him”, whose identity is revealed later in the book.
Where the book worked for me:
✔ The author is a former journalist and her eye for detail and research is evident in the story.
✔ The book throws light on an underground movement related to so-called ‘incels’—involuntary celibates—who believe that women have started getting too big for their boots and that they need to be taught a lesson to keep them in their original place, subservient to men. All the content related to this idea was horrendous to read. I can’t think of any other thriller that made me squirm in such discomfort because while the story is fictitious, the factual base of these “incels” is revealed in the prologue and in the author’s note at the end. At the same time, a known devil is better than an unknown one, so I appreciate the light the story threw on this unheard-of movement.
✔ The “Him” perspective is chilling and yet so well-written. To a certain extent, I identified with the character’s initial thoughts (before he digressed into mental rubbish.) Yes, I'm a woman, but I could still understand where he was coming from. There are a few women who have misused the MeToo hashtag, who have estimated men only by their net worth, who insist on women being the stronger/better gender. It must be frustrating to deal with such extreme "feminists". His ideas on “#NotAllMen” were very true, and women do need to remember that. It is sad that a part of modern-day feminism involves pushing down men at every juncture. True feminism involves asking for equal rights and opportunities, not a demand to be accepted as the superior gender by treating men like dirt. If we go that way, we are repeating the mistake of the patriarchal older generations.
✔ Though the ending was a bit abrupt and too neat, I liked it. It flowed naturally from the story and didn’t contort into a needless or unforeseen twist.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
❌ The blurb seems to be taking the story in a very different direction from what it is. Nell is not the primary character for most of the story, which comes to us mainly from the pov of Marian and “Him”.
❌ The title doesn't suit the book AT ALL! Ditto for the cover.
❌ Marian’s character arc starts off well but soon her thoughts seem more like rambles as the book progresses. It became very hard to connect or sympathise with her character.
❌ The tension between Marian and her husband, along with the details on his gaslighting and abusive nature, wasn’t relevant to the main story and served as a needless distraction.
❌ Certain plot points related to some secondary characters are left dangling. While these may not have had a direct impact on the main storyline, it would have been helpful to know more about how it happened rather than only knowing that it happened.
❌ It was very easy for me to guess who the “Him” was. 😕
All in all, I think I did like the book despite the flaws I’ve mentioned. This was my first Clair Allan title and it won’t be the last. Though disturbing, it raises an important issue. While it is scary to see that such men exist, it is also reassuring to know that they aren’t in the majority. Misogyny (and misandry) are never the right solution; high time the whole of humanity realises this.
3.75 stars from me, mainly because of the light it shed on the incel movement and the writing of the “Him” perspective, which is outstanding.
PS: I loved Heman in my childhood. It broke my heart to see the hashtag #Ihavethepower being inspired from his comics and misused this way by the creeps.
My thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Nurse”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
December 20, 2021
If you like thrillers, you are very likely to find this book captivating. A very fast-moving story, with good character development and a scenario which is researched.
Stephen & Marian are like many married couples, leading a fairly routine life, though with some level of incompatibility & stress between them. Nell is their daughter, who wants to live an independent life, and works as a nurse. One day Marian receives a call from Nell’s room-mate that she has not been seen for the last 2-3 days. At first, since Nell has made some new friends, including a new boyfriend, they just expect she has stayed over with someone. As the cops get involved, they advise not to panic initially, but everyone fears the worst as more time elapses.
There is another track which alternates with this one – there is a man (referred to as only ‘Him’, ‘He’ for over half the book) who harbours resentment against what feminism is doing to the freedom men have enjoyed in the past. He, along with other Incels (Involuntary celibates) discuss such things on forums on the dark web. He has an idea to get power back for men, and with a camera follows women walking alone, filming the fear they feel, finally making a lame excuse for being behind them. As he posts this on the forums to adulation from others, his sense of self-worth grows. This triggers many others to think of more things they can do. It seems that one of this crowd could be involved with Nell’s disappearance.
The writing is very good, and the book is a page turner. ‘His’ philosophy to life and women is expressed very well, however disturbing it is to read. The author covers her research in the afterword and it is troubling, indicating that it is very easy today for many to harbour, discuss and amplify regressive views, and the true scenario is as bad or worse than what this book covers.
A couple of things could have been better:
- There is another victim besides Nell, whose story is brushed past too quickly (even she is not a primary character in the story).
- The ending is somewhat plain and simple, and could have been better. However, I much prefer this instead of a far-fetched twist.
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
Thanks to NetGalley, Avon Books and the author for a free electronic review copy.
Stephen & Marian are like many married couples, leading a fairly routine life, though with some level of incompatibility & stress between them. Nell is their daughter, who wants to live an independent life, and works as a nurse. One day Marian receives a call from Nell’s room-mate that she has not been seen for the last 2-3 days. At first, since Nell has made some new friends, including a new boyfriend, they just expect she has stayed over with someone. As the cops get involved, they advise not to panic initially, but everyone fears the worst as more time elapses.
There is another track which alternates with this one – there is a man (referred to as only ‘Him’, ‘He’ for over half the book) who harbours resentment against what feminism is doing to the freedom men have enjoyed in the past. He, along with other Incels (Involuntary celibates) discuss such things on forums on the dark web. He has an idea to get power back for men, and with a camera follows women walking alone, filming the fear they feel, finally making a lame excuse for being behind them. As he posts this on the forums to adulation from others, his sense of self-worth grows. This triggers many others to think of more things they can do. It seems that one of this crowd could be involved with Nell’s disappearance.
The writing is very good, and the book is a page turner. ‘His’ philosophy to life and women is expressed very well, however disturbing it is to read. The author covers her research in the afterword and it is troubling, indicating that it is very easy today for many to harbour, discuss and amplify regressive views, and the true scenario is as bad or worse than what this book covers.
A couple of things could have been better:
- There is another victim besides Nell, whose story is brushed past too quickly (even she is not a primary character in the story).
- The ending is somewhat plain and simple, and could have been better. However, I much prefer this instead of a far-fetched twist.
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
Thanks to NetGalley, Avon Books and the author for a free electronic review copy.
February 27, 2022
3.5 stars rounded down.
While I applaud the author for writing about this issue, and I must say the author’s note at the end was very heartfelt, the story just didn’t fully grab me.
This book is about the sad and lame incel movement. Incels are involuntary celibates - men who can’t get a girlfriend, who feel slighted by women who they feel should respect them as superior beings. They blame women for everything that is wrong in their lives. This is not fiction. It is real and it is out there and there are sad little men acting on their impulses to punish women right now. Of course ‘not all men’ are sad, creepy perverts. In fact I don’t know anyone like that at all (thankfully). There are many many kind, respectful, wonderful men out there and they are just as disgusted by this movement as women.
So this story is about a man who feels disrespected by women and he has the idea to follow lone women at night and scare them and film their fear. This makes him feel powerful (yes, it’s pretty pathetic I know). Anyway he posts his exploits on line but it soon snowballs and he realises that it has gone too far. He is not comfortable with the direction that some of his followers are taking. He never actually meant to hurt anyone but unintended consequences have a habit of tripping you up.
The nurse is a young woman who has been taken by a different man who is upping the stakes. He has already killed one woman and is holding ‘the nurse’ captive while planning a live streamed grand finale.
This should have been a story crackling with tension and to some extent it was. But I always felt I knew where it was going. The thing that really spoiled it for me was the mother. I get it, I have two adult daughters myself. But this mother was depicted as a raving nutcase who just wanted to scream and dissolve into tears. I would want to do that too. But she almost derailed the whole thing by giving information away to the press and her anguish, while wholly understandable, was very repetitive and slowed the story down. It’s a fine line I suppose but, in this case, it detracted from what could have been a more dramatic story.
The story was told from the POV of the mother, the nurse and the incel. Being in the incel’s head was very unpleasant. I would hope that fathers are teaching their sons to be better than that. Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
While I applaud the author for writing about this issue, and I must say the author’s note at the end was very heartfelt, the story just didn’t fully grab me.
This book is about the sad and lame incel movement. Incels are involuntary celibates - men who can’t get a girlfriend, who feel slighted by women who they feel should respect them as superior beings. They blame women for everything that is wrong in their lives. This is not fiction. It is real and it is out there and there are sad little men acting on their impulses to punish women right now. Of course ‘not all men’ are sad, creepy perverts. In fact I don’t know anyone like that at all (thankfully). There are many many kind, respectful, wonderful men out there and they are just as disgusted by this movement as women.
So this story is about a man who feels disrespected by women and he has the idea to follow lone women at night and scare them and film their fear. This makes him feel powerful (yes, it’s pretty pathetic I know). Anyway he posts his exploits on line but it soon snowballs and he realises that it has gone too far. He is not comfortable with the direction that some of his followers are taking. He never actually meant to hurt anyone but unintended consequences have a habit of tripping you up.
The nurse is a young woman who has been taken by a different man who is upping the stakes. He has already killed one woman and is holding ‘the nurse’ captive while planning a live streamed grand finale.
This should have been a story crackling with tension and to some extent it was. But I always felt I knew where it was going. The thing that really spoiled it for me was the mother. I get it, I have two adult daughters myself. But this mother was depicted as a raving nutcase who just wanted to scream and dissolve into tears. I would want to do that too. But she almost derailed the whole thing by giving information away to the press and her anguish, while wholly understandable, was very repetitive and slowed the story down. It’s a fine line I suppose but, in this case, it detracted from what could have been a more dramatic story.
The story was told from the POV of the mother, the nurse and the incel. Being in the incel’s head was very unpleasant. I would hope that fathers are teaching their sons to be better than that. Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
February 13, 2022
Well that was a dark and disturbingly realistic read! Claire Allen really knows how to relay the fear felt by these women and this family. Her books are always excellent and The Nurse was no exception.
We hear this story from the points of view of all the character. Nell Sweeney, the nurse who is taken on her way home from work. Nell's parents, who are scared and worried about their daughter while their marriage crumbles around them. Also from the man - the man on the Incel forums who learns that his prank of just scaring women on their own walking home at night, has been taken to the next level.
It is a dark look into the dark web and the men that inhabit it., The men that are supposedly fighting for men's rights, and feel that they can't do anything right in the world of #metoo.
Thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book.. The Nurse is published March 17th
We hear this story from the points of view of all the character. Nell Sweeney, the nurse who is taken on her way home from work. Nell's parents, who are scared and worried about their daughter while their marriage crumbles around them. Also from the man - the man on the Incel forums who learns that his prank of just scaring women on their own walking home at night, has been taken to the next level.
It is a dark look into the dark web and the men that inhabit it., The men that are supposedly fighting for men's rights, and feel that they can't do anything right in the world of #metoo.
Thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book.. The Nurse is published March 17th
March 1, 2022
*Not-so-Popular Opinion*
3.5 Stars
One Liner: Great premise, but rambles a little too much.
Nell Sweeney leads an ordinary life until she gets kidnapped. No one knows where she is or who took her. Who would want to harm a nurse? Or maybe she’s the unlucky one. Whatever the reason, they need to find her before it is too late.
Everyone has secrets, and some are too dangerous to hide in the dark. The world of the dark web can be a safe place to vent frustrations, but only until things don’t go out of hand. What happens when a single post spirals things out of control?
What I Like:
• The story is based on the incel (involuntary celibates) movement, where men blame women for just about everything, including their lack of girlfriends. It’s not easy reading about sick minds, but the reality is far worse.
• The story is narrated in three POVs (Marian, Nell’s mother, Nell, and Him, a key player whose identity is revealed later). The man’s POVs were very well done.
• The book deals with narcissism in different forms.
• There are no unexpected twists or far-fetched scenarios.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
• The book is 400 pages long, and a lot of it is filled with Marian’s ramblings. As much as I understand that Marian is distraught about her missing daughter, reading her POV was tiresome.
• The middle part drags, and nothing much happens except more rambling. I began fast reading from here.
• I’m not sure why the book is titled The Nurse. It has nothing vital to do with the plot. Nell is a nurse, but I don’t think the story would change if she was in any other profession.
• The story could’ve easily been completed in 280+ pages. A tighter narration would have been more effective (at least for me).
• Relating to any of the characters was pretty much impossible. It felt like watching a slow thriller on the screen. That should’ve been a plus, but since it was too slow, the effect got diluted.
To sum up, The Nurse deals with a crucial premise but rambles a little too much.
Thank you, NetGalley and Avon Books UK, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#NetGalley
3.5 Stars
One Liner: Great premise, but rambles a little too much.
Nell Sweeney leads an ordinary life until she gets kidnapped. No one knows where she is or who took her. Who would want to harm a nurse? Or maybe she’s the unlucky one. Whatever the reason, they need to find her before it is too late.
Everyone has secrets, and some are too dangerous to hide in the dark. The world of the dark web can be a safe place to vent frustrations, but only until things don’t go out of hand. What happens when a single post spirals things out of control?
What I Like:
• The story is based on the incel (involuntary celibates) movement, where men blame women for just about everything, including their lack of girlfriends. It’s not easy reading about sick minds, but the reality is far worse.
• The story is narrated in three POVs (Marian, Nell’s mother, Nell, and Him, a key player whose identity is revealed later). The man’s POVs were very well done.
• The book deals with narcissism in different forms.
• There are no unexpected twists or far-fetched scenarios.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
• The book is 400 pages long, and a lot of it is filled with Marian’s ramblings. As much as I understand that Marian is distraught about her missing daughter, reading her POV was tiresome.
• The middle part drags, and nothing much happens except more rambling. I began fast reading from here.
• I’m not sure why the book is titled The Nurse. It has nothing vital to do with the plot. Nell is a nurse, but I don’t think the story would change if she was in any other profession.
• The story could’ve easily been completed in 280+ pages. A tighter narration would have been more effective (at least for me).
• Relating to any of the characters was pretty much impossible. It felt like watching a slow thriller on the screen. That should’ve been a plus, but since it was too slow, the effect got diluted.
To sum up, The Nurse deals with a crucial premise but rambles a little too much.
Thank you, NetGalley and Avon Books UK, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#NetGalley
November 11, 2023
Nell is a nurse. She lives with her friend Clodagh & enjoys her work. When she didn't come home her friend Clodagh called her mother Marian to say she hadn't heard from her for a few days & she hadn't turned up for her shift. Marian's life has revolved around Nell. Her marriage to Stephen is not particularly happy & Nell is her world. She reports Nell's disappearance to the police.
A man is on an incel forum. He is tired of men being the bad guys, how an innocent look can be interpreted as attack. In an attempt to 'get back the power' & put women in their place he starts following women whilst videoing them. He doesn't attack them; just gives them a fright-getting off on their fear!. This video goes viral on the forum & for a while he basks in their admiration until another man decides to up the stakes & his suggestions make him realise he may have opened Pandora's box.
The story is told from different perspectives. We find out what has happened to Nell, we see Marian's anguish & we see the side of the stalker. I really liked how his identity was hinted at for a good part of the story. This book dealt with a dark world I was only vaguely aware of. Incels are very real & their presence is a worrying thing for any woman & also for any sensible male too. It was a subject I thought was handled very well.
A man is on an incel forum. He is tired of men being the bad guys, how an innocent look can be interpreted as attack. In an attempt to 'get back the power' & put women in their place he starts following women whilst videoing them. He doesn't attack them; just gives them a fright-getting off on their fear!. This video goes viral on the forum & for a while he basks in their admiration until another man decides to up the stakes & his suggestions make him realise he may have opened Pandora's box.
The story is told from different perspectives. We find out what has happened to Nell, we see Marian's anguish & we see the side of the stalker. I really liked how his identity was hinted at for a good part of the story. This book dealt with a dark world I was only vaguely aware of. Incels are very real & their presence is a worrying thing for any woman & also for any sensible male too. It was a subject I thought was handled very well.
May 6, 2024
This was the second book that I read about incels (involuntary celibates) and their actions.
Nell Sweeney is kidnapped and made an example of how women "should behave". Her parents are stricken by grief and are ready to do anything to help find her. The drama is more acute as they can see videos of their daughter on the Internet.
I think that the problem of some men declaring that they cannot marry because women are too emancipated has some truth at its base. Boys are educated to be strong and protect women and this makes them frustrated when a woman doesn't want to be protected and kept at home. But I don't believe that all these men are criminals at their core. More often it is just a phase in their lives till they meet the right woman. But at the moment fiction books treat it as a crime in our society. Some things and opinions should be a bit more tolerated.
In this book, the idea of incels is taken to the extreme.
Nell Sweeney is kidnapped and made an example of how women "should behave". Her parents are stricken by grief and are ready to do anything to help find her. The drama is more acute as they can see videos of their daughter on the Internet.
I think that the problem of some men declaring that they cannot marry because women are too emancipated has some truth at its base. Boys are educated to be strong and protect women and this makes them frustrated when a woman doesn't want to be protected and kept at home. But I don't believe that all these men are criminals at their core. More often it is just a phase in their lives till they meet the right woman. But at the moment fiction books treat it as a crime in our society. Some things and opinions should be a bit more tolerated.
In this book, the idea of incels is taken to the extreme.
February 21, 2022
I liked this book, but didn’t love it. While the story centers around the disappearance of 22-year-old nurse Nell, it’s primarily told from the POV of Nell’s mom, Marian, and an unidentified villain who may or may not be the kidnapper.
The story itself is disturbing, uncovering a whole group of men on the dark web who believe that they are being persecuted by women and need to put all women back into their own place. Horrifyingly, this is a real thing, I found out later. I was both appalled and fascinated by the chapters that give the reader a glimpse into how these men are thinking. I also liked the end of the book and felt that it was fast paced and exciting.
What I didn’t love was the often slow-moving and repetitive narrative from Marian, where she is clearly devastated by her missing daughter while also ruminating about her marriage. This part of the book could have been cut back in order for the pacing of the book to be faster. Also, small nit, but Nell was described early in the book as Marian’s “eldest” daughter and I was confused as to why they weren’t bringing in their other kids, only to find out later that Nell is actually their only child.
Overall, unique storyline and definitely disturbing but was a just a little slow for me until close to the end. I’d give it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story itself is disturbing, uncovering a whole group of men on the dark web who believe that they are being persecuted by women and need to put all women back into their own place. Horrifyingly, this is a real thing, I found out later. I was both appalled and fascinated by the chapters that give the reader a glimpse into how these men are thinking. I also liked the end of the book and felt that it was fast paced and exciting.
What I didn’t love was the often slow-moving and repetitive narrative from Marian, where she is clearly devastated by her missing daughter while also ruminating about her marriage. This part of the book could have been cut back in order for the pacing of the book to be faster. Also, small nit, but Nell was described early in the book as Marian’s “eldest” daughter and I was confused as to why they weren’t bringing in their other kids, only to find out later that Nell is actually their only child.
Overall, unique storyline and definitely disturbing but was a just a little slow for me until close to the end. I’d give it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 6, 2022
Everyone has a secret. But some are worse than you could ever imagine. Nell Sweeney has ked an ordinary life. Every day she walks to and from hospital where she works as a nurse, believing that no harm will befall her. Until one day she is taken. Because someone out there has a secret. Someone has been watching Nell - and they've been watching others too.
The story centres round Nell, a nurse that is missing. Nell's flatmate and best friend tells Nell's mother that she hasn't seen Nell in four days or turned up for work. As the police investigates Nell's disappearance, there's a group of men who call themselves incels, (involuntary celibate) on the dark web. The story is told from multiple points of view and each chapter is told from a different character. After reading this book, I don't think I will be walking the streets at night on my own.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #ClaireAllan for my ARC of #TheNurse in exchange for an honest review.
The story centres round Nell, a nurse that is missing. Nell's flatmate and best friend tells Nell's mother that she hasn't seen Nell in four days or turned up for work. As the police investigates Nell's disappearance, there's a group of men who call themselves incels, (involuntary celibate) on the dark web. The story is told from multiple points of view and each chapter is told from a different character. After reading this book, I don't think I will be walking the streets at night on my own.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #ClaireAllan for my ARC of #TheNurse in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2022
Okay, wow! This was a lot. I have so many thoughts. So first of all, the cover is lovely but the book needed a better name and summary. I think people will skip it thinking it’s about nursing or a medical drama. That’s actually what I had in mind when I requested it but I liked this much more.
This book is about missing girls and incels. We start off with a prologue of a date that is going awry. We are then introduced to a mother who has just been informed that her adult daughter is missing. We alternate between her and AN INCEL! We know of no connection.
So there’s a lot going on with Mr. Incel. We don’t know his name but we meet him as things are going downhill in his life. He doesn’t like his living arrangement, his roommates blow him off, and he just feels like people are out to get GOOD GUYS like him in general. Yeah good guy, like Chucky maybe.
He decides to blow off some steam by scaring girls walking alone at night. Making them think he’s going to hurt them. Victimless crime, he thinks! He posts this to a 4chan type of site I’m guessing, and he’s immediately idolized by the other misogynistic nerds so he really gets an ego boost and has his bad opinions confirmed as he slips further into darkness. You do look at surroundings and how people treat him, which isn’t always great, but the truth is that women can’t win. If you’re too nice to them, they stalk you or say you led them on. If you say no up front, you’re mean. This entitlement to women, sex and attention doesn’t form out of the blue.
As the search for Nell continues, we alternate between Marian, her mother, and Mr. Incel. The suspense grows more and more at the end of each chapter, waiting to see where this will intersect and how it will pan out for the missing girl and her grief-stricken parents. The author really has a way of making you feel such pain for the parents. Meanwhile, things are getting a little out of control for Mr. Incel. It’s going off the rails when the other dudes are so bad he starts to look decent. Yikes.
I wish I could read this book aloud to men I know, especially chapter 3, just to let them know what we have to deal with. What it’s like to be afraid to walk alone and feel helpless. This is written in the UK, we have more access to protection here in the US.
This book is able to take a matter like Chads and Staceys and keep the suspense and not make it some comedic cringe festival. I was at the edge of my seat. Especially about halfway through when we start to find out a lot more of what’s going on. I would recommend this for the suspense and also just as a warning to what kind of weirdos are out there. Stay safe, ladies!
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is about missing girls and incels. We start off with a prologue of a date that is going awry. We are then introduced to a mother who has just been informed that her adult daughter is missing. We alternate between her and AN INCEL! We know of no connection.
So there’s a lot going on with Mr. Incel. We don’t know his name but we meet him as things are going downhill in his life. He doesn’t like his living arrangement, his roommates blow him off, and he just feels like people are out to get GOOD GUYS like him in general. Yeah good guy, like Chucky maybe.
He decides to blow off some steam by scaring girls walking alone at night. Making them think he’s going to hurt them. Victimless crime, he thinks! He posts this to a 4chan type of site I’m guessing, and he’s immediately idolized by the other misogynistic nerds so he really gets an ego boost and has his bad opinions confirmed as he slips further into darkness. You do look at surroundings and how people treat him, which isn’t always great, but the truth is that women can’t win. If you’re too nice to them, they stalk you or say you led them on. If you say no up front, you’re mean. This entitlement to women, sex and attention doesn’t form out of the blue.
As the search for Nell continues, we alternate between Marian, her mother, and Mr. Incel. The suspense grows more and more at the end of each chapter, waiting to see where this will intersect and how it will pan out for the missing girl and her grief-stricken parents. The author really has a way of making you feel such pain for the parents. Meanwhile, things are getting a little out of control for Mr. Incel. It’s going off the rails when the other dudes are so bad he starts to look decent. Yikes.
I wish I could read this book aloud to men I know, especially chapter 3, just to let them know what we have to deal with. What it’s like to be afraid to walk alone and feel helpless. This is written in the UK, we have more access to protection here in the US.
This book is able to take a matter like Chads and Staceys and keep the suspense and not make it some comedic cringe festival. I was at the edge of my seat. Especially about halfway through when we start to find out a lot more of what’s going on. I would recommend this for the suspense and also just as a warning to what kind of weirdos are out there. Stay safe, ladies!
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2022
The Nurse is an utterly compelling read. It's timely, tackling up-to-the minute issues in a realistic, relatable way as it ticks all the boxes for what you want in a great thriller. Top grade suspense, and lip-biting drama. Read it.
December 20, 2021
A harrowing tale of misogyny and toxic masculinity, this suspense thriller describes every woman's worst nightmare.
22-year old nurse, Nell Sweeney has been missing for four days and her parents, Marian and Stephen are beside themselves with worry. While the cops are doing everything they can to locate her, unbeknownst to them, Nell is caught in a psycopath's macabre power game, where she is merely an expendable pawn.
It takes amazing skill to turn such an agonising subject matter into an unputdownable plot, the way Claire Allan has done with 'The Nurse.' Her story-telling technique is unfaltering, be it in the tangible portrayal of Nell's sheer terror, Stephen's helplessness, Marian's alternating feelings of grief, dread and numbness, or in the characterization of the antagonist whose twisted POV invokes revulsion and outrage in the reader.
The events in the book do bring up unpleasant memories of situations of fear and harassment that women all over have endured because of the perverted view of certain men who try to find their own worth, in the pain of the women around them. The author's note at the end of the book provides a condensed insight into the 'incel' community, ensuring that it isn't simply fiction, but an existing and escalating movement of 'women-haters.'
Overall, an intensely dark read that is as compelling as it is uncomfortable. Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
22-year old nurse, Nell Sweeney has been missing for four days and her parents, Marian and Stephen are beside themselves with worry. While the cops are doing everything they can to locate her, unbeknownst to them, Nell is caught in a psycopath's macabre power game, where she is merely an expendable pawn.
It takes amazing skill to turn such an agonising subject matter into an unputdownable plot, the way Claire Allan has done with 'The Nurse.' Her story-telling technique is unfaltering, be it in the tangible portrayal of Nell's sheer terror, Stephen's helplessness, Marian's alternating feelings of grief, dread and numbness, or in the characterization of the antagonist whose twisted POV invokes revulsion and outrage in the reader.
The events in the book do bring up unpleasant memories of situations of fear and harassment that women all over have endured because of the perverted view of certain men who try to find their own worth, in the pain of the women around them. The author's note at the end of the book provides a condensed insight into the 'incel' community, ensuring that it isn't simply fiction, but an existing and escalating movement of 'women-haters.'
Overall, an intensely dark read that is as compelling as it is uncomfortable. Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2021
As soon as I heard the premise for this book, I knew I had to read it. "The Nurse" is a captivating psychological thriller which thoroughly engaged me. I couldn't put it down! Claire Allan has really pulled out all the stops with this one. She cleverly, subtly, challenges our perceptions around who is a victim worthy of public sympathy. She also shows us how easily people can become radicalised online.
"The Nurse" explores the very real, very dangerous, culture of Incels. If you don't know what that means, you're in for the shock of your life. I urge you to read the Author's Note at the end for context, and I also highly recommend Laura Bates's work of non-fiction on the subject, entitled "Men Who Hate Women". Allan has used fiction to explore a hugely important (and little understood) issue in a way that is engaging and gripping. I hope this book is a massive bestseller. It deserves to be.
"The Nurse" explores the very real, very dangerous, culture of Incels. If you don't know what that means, you're in for the shock of your life. I urge you to read the Author's Note at the end for context, and I also highly recommend Laura Bates's work of non-fiction on the subject, entitled "Men Who Hate Women". Allan has used fiction to explore a hugely important (and little understood) issue in a way that is engaging and gripping. I hope this book is a massive bestseller. It deserves to be.
March 17, 2022
I have always enjoyed reading a book by Claire Allan, I think they keep getting better and better her books, this one was brilliant. I was hooked from the first chapter, it has just the right level of tension that builds up with a good pace. It sent shivers down my arms and a level of unease reading it, I wanted to devour the whole thing right away but then wanted to saviour the story. Claire has a way with her words that keep you guessing and she leaves the reader with a hint of intrigue as you never really know what will happen next. I loved the story line and it had some fantastic twists, I look forward to reading Claire's next book.
March 17, 2022
I LOVED this book!! The story was quite intriguing and quite the psychological thriller. Claire Allan does an excellent job of weaving a good, page-turning story that keeps you guessing until the shocking reveal. I had to go back to make sure I read it right on who was involved. I learned what an incel was and how radicalized people can get with online forums and the dark web.
I have to find more books by this author!
I have to find more books by this author!
January 16, 2023
3.5 / 5
This is one kind of a dark twisted book. Claire Allen does know how to tap into your emotions and twist them. The premise of the book is simple, shared by three perspectives, the mother, Nell herself and a character titled as ‘him’.
Progressively as you read this book, you’ll get to see the emotions and journey each main character goes through. Halfway through it does drag on, with the filler scenes that seems rather unnecessary and doesn’t really add to the plot. The reveal of the character ‘him’ is slowly revealed which in my opinion was obvious and clear, where subtle breadcrumbs are dropped.
This book is a quick read, the paperback version only has around 310 pages. Near the last quarter of the book, the pacing does add up a notch, where tensions are the highest. I enjoyed reading this book, it is dark and twisted with heavy mention of the dark web and ‘incels’. It’s not a bad read, but not for the faint hearted. I’ve not felt the tension, uncomfortable and panic feeling in a book for a while, so credit to Claire.
This is one kind of a dark twisted book. Claire Allen does know how to tap into your emotions and twist them. The premise of the book is simple, shared by three perspectives, the mother, Nell herself and a character titled as ‘him’.
Progressively as you read this book, you’ll get to see the emotions and journey each main character goes through. Halfway through it does drag on, with the filler scenes that seems rather unnecessary and doesn’t really add to the plot. The reveal of the character ‘him’ is slowly revealed which in my opinion was obvious and clear, where subtle breadcrumbs are dropped.
This book is a quick read, the paperback version only has around 310 pages. Near the last quarter of the book, the pacing does add up a notch, where tensions are the highest. I enjoyed reading this book, it is dark and twisted with heavy mention of the dark web and ‘incels’. It’s not a bad read, but not for the faint hearted. I’ve not felt the tension, uncomfortable and panic feeling in a book for a while, so credit to Claire.
December 5, 2021
OMG The Nurse is one seriously twisted book! Claire Allan has created a book that plays on most woman’s biggest fear where a sense of malice is palatable from the start. The first chapter chills you and by the second chapter, you will find yourself well and truly hooked. The Nurse incorporates a subject that’s relevant and very current in today's news, which makes the read far more credible and terrifying.
Nell Sweeney is a nurse, who disappears after completing her shift. The narrative moves effortlessly between Marian, Nell’s mum, and an unknown male who appears to hate women. He has gotten involved with involuntarily celibate dark websites (Incel) where women are depicted in an extremely negative way and dehumanised and abused. The subject is a difficult one, but the author deals with it sympathetically. But never less I feel I should mention that the storyline is gritty, and makes for an upsetting and disturbing read at times.
The Nurse generates a genuine sense of fear as the unknown male’s behaviour escalates. The emotions the young women feel are so credible you imagine yourself in their shoes, vulnerable and terrified. Marian’s character is one every mother will relate to. The pain and grief that she had to deal with whilst the police are searching for her daughter was heart-breaking to read.
The unknown male chapters sent shivers down my spine, as he becomes an active member of Incel. It made for an uncomfortable read. There’s an intense feeling of something dark and dangerous lurking as his twisted game gains momentum within the Incel community. A sense of foreboding grows at every flick of the page. I have a feeling this book is going to be a big hit on its release in 2022. Highly recommended.
Nell Sweeney is a nurse, who disappears after completing her shift. The narrative moves effortlessly between Marian, Nell’s mum, and an unknown male who appears to hate women. He has gotten involved with involuntarily celibate dark websites (Incel) where women are depicted in an extremely negative way and dehumanised and abused. The subject is a difficult one, but the author deals with it sympathetically. But never less I feel I should mention that the storyline is gritty, and makes for an upsetting and disturbing read at times.
The Nurse generates a genuine sense of fear as the unknown male’s behaviour escalates. The emotions the young women feel are so credible you imagine yourself in their shoes, vulnerable and terrified. Marian’s character is one every mother will relate to. The pain and grief that she had to deal with whilst the police are searching for her daughter was heart-breaking to read.
The unknown male chapters sent shivers down my spine, as he becomes an active member of Incel. It made for an uncomfortable read. There’s an intense feeling of something dark and dangerous lurking as his twisted game gains momentum within the Incel community. A sense of foreboding grows at every flick of the page. I have a feeling this book is going to be a big hit on its release in 2022. Highly recommended.
December 30, 2021
This is such a chilling book! Claire Allan isn’t afraid to deliver a punch to your gut with a gripping storyline that felt far too close for comfort at times as it mirrored some awful true life crimes that have occurred around the world recently. But she didn’t dwell on the side of voyeurism, instead using her characters to increase the tension throughout. I loved Marion-a mother who never gives up hope of seeing her daughter again even though the odds are stacked against her-and the use of the multiple viewpoints kept the plot flowing with a perfectly paced game of cat and mouse.
A difficult book to put down but I had to at times to give myself some breathing space away from the claustrophobic feeling that pushed down on me during some hard to read scenes.
Cleverly written and thought provoking.
A difficult book to put down but I had to at times to give myself some breathing space away from the claustrophobic feeling that pushed down on me during some hard to read scenes.
Cleverly written and thought provoking.
February 20, 2022
This is a tense and disturbing book. We follow parents as they discover their grown daughter is missing. As the book goes on, secrets from their marriage emerge. We also get to read the thoughts of a man, who might be the kidnapper, a man who justifies his actions against women as he sees himself as the victim. And eventually we get to the daughter's story. There is growth for most of the characters.
December 2, 2021
Nell Sweeney is a nurse leading a very ordinary life, until one day she is taken while walking to the hospital where she works. Nell never expected something like this to happen, but soon learns that she was likely being watched by her abductor. And that he is likely watching others too. She is praying to be found before its too late!
This was a very intense thriller novel from Claire Allen. The author kept the intensity very high throughout this fascinating story. I appreciated the multiple points of view and that the story felt completely believable, as it could easily be a news story in real life. I really enjoyed THE NURSE and I hope you will too!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
This was a very intense thriller novel from Claire Allen. The author kept the intensity very high throughout this fascinating story. I appreciated the multiple points of view and that the story felt completely believable, as it could easily be a news story in real life. I really enjoyed THE NURSE and I hope you will too!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
March 25, 2022
Blubbering Bunny Butts! 😯😳🤯
Shhhhhittake! 😳 The somewhat slow burn of this novel was tedious and then just past half way, BAM! First reveal that dropped my jaw. And a few others after. This book had me hooked & reeled in from the beginning. It was an excellent pace and I enjoyed the back & forth from "Him", the mother & Nell herself.
Nell has led a very ordinary, unexciting life. She's currently a nurse at a hospital & lives with her life long friend, Clodagh. Nell's mother, Marian, gets a call from Clodagh to alert her that her daughter is missing & hasn't been seen or heard from for four days. While all this is happening, a man has taken her. A man who feels he's been underestimated, unseen, always last pick to women. Nell was in the wrong place at the wrong time for when he watches, follows and capture her. But they both have deep, dark secrets. He sees this as a vigil anti to "mens rights". She may be the first, but will she be the last?
Although the ending fell a bit flat for me, I still enjoyed the lead up and journey along. Although some of it may be tough subject matter for some, especially the "dark web" angle, the author dealt with it sensitively.
🔴 Trigger Warning: Kidnapping
I give this 3.5 / 5 bouquets! 💐
Shhhhhittake! 😳 The somewhat slow burn of this novel was tedious and then just past half way, BAM! First reveal that dropped my jaw. And a few others after. This book had me hooked & reeled in from the beginning. It was an excellent pace and I enjoyed the back & forth from "Him", the mother & Nell herself.
Nell has led a very ordinary, unexciting life. She's currently a nurse at a hospital & lives with her life long friend, Clodagh. Nell's mother, Marian, gets a call from Clodagh to alert her that her daughter is missing & hasn't been seen or heard from for four days. While all this is happening, a man has taken her. A man who feels he's been underestimated, unseen, always last pick to women. Nell was in the wrong place at the wrong time for when he watches, follows and capture her. But they both have deep, dark secrets. He sees this as a vigil anti to "mens rights". She may be the first, but will she be the last?
Although the ending fell a bit flat for me, I still enjoyed the lead up and journey along. Although some of it may be tough subject matter for some, especially the "dark web" angle, the author dealt with it sensitively.
🔴 Trigger Warning: Kidnapping
I give this 3.5 / 5 bouquets! 💐
January 12, 2023
Another fantastic Claire Allan book. This may be one of my favourites from her.
The plot of this one was particularly thrilling and harrowing because of how similar the events of this book ended up reflecting real life.
There was one major twist in this book, which really caught me by surprise.
As always, the writing was fantastic. It was a really quick, fast-paced thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
I was hooked right from the beginning till the very end.
Highly recommend to all thriller and crime lovers!
The plot of this one was particularly thrilling and harrowing because of how similar the events of this book ended up reflecting real life.
There was one major twist in this book, which really caught me by surprise.
As always, the writing was fantastic. It was a really quick, fast-paced thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
I was hooked right from the beginning till the very end.
Highly recommend to all thriller and crime lovers!
January 26, 2022
Omg does this one make you suspicious of anyone and everyone!
Stephen and Marian are a normal couple with normal routines and problems. They have a daughter named Nell, who like most young adults wants to live independently and have their own life. Well, one day Nell’s roommate contacts the parents to touch bases with them to see if they knew where Nell was because she has not been seen for 2-3 days. At first, the parents are like most parents they don’t panic they assume that maybe she is staying somewhere else with new friends or something. However, once the cops start to get involved as time goes on the fear and panic sets into play.
Then you have the alternate POV of an HIM character. Now, this HIM character is really disturbing and his philosophy is just as disturbing if not more sinister. He likes to follow women with a camera while they are walking home. He tries to capture everything about following them home the fear the women feel and how uncomfortable he can make the women feel. “He” feels like he is taking power back for men by doing this.
This is definitely a page-turner, and you will feel all the emotions of the characters I think that the regressive thinking is easy for “old fashioned” people to think and harbor resentment about.
The author does an amazing job of turning this whole regressive view into a plot that is not easily put down!
If you like dark twisted thrillers then this should definitely be your next read! Thank you Avon Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this one! It was definitely a treat!
Stephen and Marian are a normal couple with normal routines and problems. They have a daughter named Nell, who like most young adults wants to live independently and have their own life. Well, one day Nell’s roommate contacts the parents to touch bases with them to see if they knew where Nell was because she has not been seen for 2-3 days. At first, the parents are like most parents they don’t panic they assume that maybe she is staying somewhere else with new friends or something. However, once the cops start to get involved as time goes on the fear and panic sets into play.
Then you have the alternate POV of an HIM character. Now, this HIM character is really disturbing and his philosophy is just as disturbing if not more sinister. He likes to follow women with a camera while they are walking home. He tries to capture everything about following them home the fear the women feel and how uncomfortable he can make the women feel. “He” feels like he is taking power back for men by doing this.
This is definitely a page-turner, and you will feel all the emotions of the characters I think that the regressive thinking is easy for “old fashioned” people to think and harbor resentment about.
The author does an amazing job of turning this whole regressive view into a plot that is not easily put down!
If you like dark twisted thrillers then this should definitely be your next read! Thank you Avon Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this one! It was definitely a treat!
August 7, 2023
Mon avis en français
My English review
J’ai passé un bon moment avec les autres romans de l’auteure et je me suis lancée avec plaisir dans celui-ci.
Nell Sweeney a disparu. Ses parents découvrent sa disparition quelques jours plus tard, quand sa colocataire leur annonce qu’elle n’est pas rentrée. C’est alors que commencent les problèmes. Sa mère est déterminée à la retrouver, malheureusement la police n’a aucune piste. Nous suivons aussi son point de vue à « lui ». On ne sait pas qui c’est, mais on sait qu’il est à l’origine d’un mouvement qui veut montrer aux femmes que les hommes sont au pouvoir. En faisant quoi ? En suivant les femmes dans la rue, le soir, pour leur faire peur, pour leur donner l’impression qu’elles vont être agressées. Nell est une des victimes. Et si le jeu était allé trop loin ?
J’ai passé un bon moment avec ce roman. J’étais très intriguée par ce « lui » et je me demandais qui il était vraiment. Je dois bien dire que j’ai été très surprise en apprenant son identité. La mère de Nell est très présente et j’ai été très touchée par cette femme qui ne veut qu’une chose : retrouver sa fille. Mais dans ce moment de tension, elle va aussi remettre toute sa vie en question.
C’est un bon thriller.
My English review
J’ai passé un bon moment avec les autres romans de l’auteure et je me suis lancée avec plaisir dans celui-ci.
Nell Sweeney a disparu. Ses parents découvrent sa disparition quelques jours plus tard, quand sa colocataire leur annonce qu’elle n’est pas rentrée. C’est alors que commencent les problèmes. Sa mère est déterminée à la retrouver, malheureusement la police n’a aucune piste. Nous suivons aussi son point de vue à « lui ». On ne sait pas qui c’est, mais on sait qu’il est à l’origine d’un mouvement qui veut montrer aux femmes que les hommes sont au pouvoir. En faisant quoi ? En suivant les femmes dans la rue, le soir, pour leur faire peur, pour leur donner l’impression qu’elles vont être agressées. Nell est une des victimes. Et si le jeu était allé trop loin ?
J’ai passé un bon moment avec ce roman. J’étais très intriguée par ce « lui » et je me demandais qui il était vraiment. Je dois bien dire que j’ai été très surprise en apprenant son identité. La mère de Nell est très présente et j’ai été très touchée par cette femme qui ne veut qu’une chose : retrouver sa fille. Mais dans ce moment de tension, elle va aussi remettre toute sa vie en question.
C’est un bon thriller.
March 21, 2022
Nell Sweeney is a 22-year-old nurse who disappears after finishing work, one Thursday. The Nurse has a palpable air of malice which is present throughout and the start is chilling. Told from the perspectives of Marian, Nell’s mum, Nell herself and another character, an unknown male Claire Allan has certainly brought to the table an extremely disturbing story. Covering topics that are prevalent and current, such as involuntarily celibate dark websites (Incel), the author has managed this sympathetically and efficiently though it makes in part difficult, gritty reading. The prominent feeling of foreboding added to its thriller appeal resulting in an unputdownable tale. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Avon Books UK via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Avon Books UK via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
December 19, 2021
From the premise of the book, I was eager to read it and I wasn’t disappointed. Nell Sweeney is a nurse. Every day she walks up and from the hospital believing no harm can come to her, until one day, she is taken. It seems someone is out there watching her, watching women, she’s one of the unlucky ones. If the police don’t find her soon, she may not be the only one who is taken. Gripping and thrilling, I found this book hard to put down. It’s well written and will keep you hooked to the end. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and the author for the chance to review.
March 14, 2022
Wow! This was super fast paced and had fantastic characters. The whole thing grabbed me from the first chapter and I just had to keep going with it until it was over. It tackled a very current subject which I was of course aware of but to no where near the extent of which is really going on. Men trying to be the anti “me too” movement.
Stephen and Marian are a typical long time married couple, leading an ordinary life, but their relationship has grown stagnant and stressful. Their daughter Nell works as a nurse at the hospital nearby, and though they aren’t super on top of each other, she remains fairly close to her mother, despite moving out a few years ago to live with her best friend and have some of the adventures her mother never had.
Marian gets a call one day from Nell’s friend/roommate that Nell hasn’t been seen or heard from in a couple of days and had they heard from her. Which Marian had not, and it starts a spiral of looking into Nell’s life and some of the new friends she had made, and as more time passes and the police are no closer to finding Nell, everyone fears the worst. Espresso when a body is found.
In alternative chapters, written by “Him” we see the thought process and actions of the person who has taken her and what led to it happening. These involuntary celibate men (or incels) are resentful of women who they feel like think they are better than them and harbor resentment against the advancement of feminism so they go on the dark web and plot dangerous things like walking behind women just to terrorize them and filming their fear then posting it in the dark web. The first post is made, which sets off a tidal wave of likes and comments and triggers the events that lead to Nell’s disappearance.
My only complaint, and it real isn’t one in fact, is that the ending left a little bit to be desired. After all the action and suspense and drama, the ending felt a little flat to me. However, I prefer that to some last minute far fetched plot twists that make no sense to the rest of the story that I’ve been seeing lately.
Grab this in when it comes out later this week!
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for this arc in exchange for my review.
Stephen and Marian are a typical long time married couple, leading an ordinary life, but their relationship has grown stagnant and stressful. Their daughter Nell works as a nurse at the hospital nearby, and though they aren’t super on top of each other, she remains fairly close to her mother, despite moving out a few years ago to live with her best friend and have some of the adventures her mother never had.
Marian gets a call one day from Nell’s friend/roommate that Nell hasn’t been seen or heard from in a couple of days and had they heard from her. Which Marian had not, and it starts a spiral of looking into Nell’s life and some of the new friends she had made, and as more time passes and the police are no closer to finding Nell, everyone fears the worst. Espresso when a body is found.
In alternative chapters, written by “Him” we see the thought process and actions of the person who has taken her and what led to it happening. These involuntary celibate men (or incels) are resentful of women who they feel like think they are better than them and harbor resentment against the advancement of feminism so they go on the dark web and plot dangerous things like walking behind women just to terrorize them and filming their fear then posting it in the dark web. The first post is made, which sets off a tidal wave of likes and comments and triggers the events that lead to Nell’s disappearance.
My only complaint, and it real isn’t one in fact, is that the ending left a little bit to be desired. After all the action and suspense and drama, the ending felt a little flat to me. However, I prefer that to some last minute far fetched plot twists that make no sense to the rest of the story that I’ve been seeing lately.
Grab this in when it comes out later this week!
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for this arc in exchange for my review.
March 16, 2022
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Shout out to Avon Books UK and Claire Allan.
PUBLICATION DATE: Tomorrow! 💃🏻
A dark thriller that hits close to home and has a mind-blowing twist I didn't see coming a mile away, Claire Allan's 'The Nurse' switches POVs between 22-year-old nurse Nell Sweeney who has just been kidnapped; her distraught mother Marian, and a man we are introduced to as 'Him'. Blending the reality of #MenAreTrash and taking a darker look at #NotAllMen and the 'incels' (people who describe themselves as involuntarily celibate) behind a movement championing 'men's rights', there's a lot to enjoy about this novel.
It's modern and very relevant; the pace is good; the twist threw me for a loop, the writing was very readable, and it kept me guessing until the end. I also loved how Allan incorporated the power of the internet without making it feel like another 'social media is ruining society' rant, which we've seen A LOT of in novels recently.
However, there's a disconnect between the cover and the description and the actual content of the book that kept bothering me. The 'Him' character's involvement towards the end also seemed hard to believe, and I think the writer could have given us more of a look into the... camaraderie, if I can call it that, between the men on the forum.
Overall, a good read, but it could have been tighter and packed a greater punch with a few small tweaks.
(3.5 rounded up for interesting and timely premise.)
PUBLICATION DATE: Tomorrow! 💃🏻
A dark thriller that hits close to home and has a mind-blowing twist I didn't see coming a mile away, Claire Allan's 'The Nurse' switches POVs between 22-year-old nurse Nell Sweeney who has just been kidnapped; her distraught mother Marian, and a man we are introduced to as 'Him'. Blending the reality of #MenAreTrash and taking a darker look at #NotAllMen and the 'incels' (people who describe themselves as involuntarily celibate) behind a movement championing 'men's rights', there's a lot to enjoy about this novel.
It's modern and very relevant; the pace is good; the twist threw me for a loop, the writing was very readable, and it kept me guessing until the end. I also loved how Allan incorporated the power of the internet without making it feel like another 'social media is ruining society' rant, which we've seen A LOT of in novels recently.
However, there's a disconnect between the cover and the description and the actual content of the book that kept bothering me. The 'Him' character's involvement towards the end also seemed hard to believe, and I think the writer could have given us more of a look into the... camaraderie, if I can call it that, between the men on the forum.
Overall, a good read, but it could have been tighter and packed a greater punch with a few small tweaks.
(3.5 rounded up for interesting and timely premise.)
June 30, 2023
Gosh. This was creepy and just a tad sinister!! The Nurse really drove in the safety message of not walking alone at night, especially if you identify as female!
Nell Sweeney is a 22 year old dedicated nurse, who had been missing for four days before her housemate raised the alarm. Although Nell had been acting out of character recently, she's never missed a shift before.
Her mum, Marian, is understandably distraught and feels that the police aren't doing enough to track down her daughter. Husband Stephen is a right bully during this time, something that we soon learn isn't anything new.
Meanwhile, our anonymous creep, AKA 'Him' has been watching Nell for weeks. A heavy participant of incel forums, Him feels that by stalking women just proves his dominance over women. Nell just simply was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And time is running out for Nell to be rescued...
What scares me is that these disgusting incel forums actually exist in real life! *Shudders* Thanks to this foundation, men are portrayed as mignogimists throughout the book, something that just didn't sit right with me.
All in all, such a great premise with plenty of thrills. The ending was a bit abrupt though. I was really looking forward to reading this, but just fell of the mark a bit.
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
Nell Sweeney is a 22 year old dedicated nurse, who had been missing for four days before her housemate raised the alarm. Although Nell had been acting out of character recently, she's never missed a shift before.
Her mum, Marian, is understandably distraught and feels that the police aren't doing enough to track down her daughter. Husband Stephen is a right bully during this time, something that we soon learn isn't anything new.
Meanwhile, our anonymous creep, AKA 'Him' has been watching Nell for weeks. A heavy participant of incel forums, Him feels that by stalking women just proves his dominance over women. Nell just simply was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And time is running out for Nell to be rescued...
What scares me is that these disgusting incel forums actually exist in real life! *Shudders* Thanks to this foundation, men are portrayed as mignogimists throughout the book, something that just didn't sit right with me.
All in all, such a great premise with plenty of thrills. The ending was a bit abrupt though. I was really looking forward to reading this, but just fell of the mark a bit.
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
April 30, 2022
A nurse, Nell Sweeney, was kidnapped on her way home from work. Nell's parents were shattered and in the course of the events that followed their marriage crumbled. The story was told in multiple POVs that kept me gripped to the story to know who could have taken a prank of scaring women to kidnapping. This was a dark web of tangled weaves, that had me shuddering and feeling happy that I worked from home. A good, slightly darker read.
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