THE REGRESSION STRAIN
by Kevin Hwang
Medical Thriller | Normal Range Press | Published May 26, 2025
Book Campaign Highlights
“You might never want to go on a cruise again!” ~StoreyBook Reviews
“If Contagion and The Shining had a tense, claustrophobic love child, The Regression Strain would be it. Kevin Hwang doesn’t just write a medical thriller – he locks you inside one.” ~The TX Lit Chic
“Chilling medical mystery at sea.” ~Joanne Easley
“Highly recommend to readers new to the thriller genre!” ~Little Lovely Reads
“The Regression Strain by Kevin Hwang is an explosive deterioration into total chaos aboard a cruise ship, spurred by an unknown virus that affects the frontal lobe of the human brain.” ~Reading by Moonlight
“Move over, Michael Crichton and Robin Cook. There’s a new specialist in the room, and his name is Kevin Hwang!” ~WM Gunn
“Ultimately, The Regression Strain delivers exactly what I want from a medical thriller: credible science, escalating stakes, and characters whose choices matter.” ~Bibliotica
“{…} the reader doesn’t stand a chance against hearing the ticking of the clock and enduring the claustrophobic feeling of feeling trapped.” ~Book Fidelity
“The story is well written, the pace zips along, and we anxiously await the fate of the passengers.” ~The Book’s Delight
Campaign Schedule
| 02/03/26 | Boys’ Mom Reads | Spotlight |
| 02/04/26 | LSLL Blog | Spotlight |
| 02/05/26 | StoreyBook Reviews | Review |
| 02/06/26 | The Page Unbound | Spotlight |
| 02/07/26 | The Book’s Delight | Review |
| 02/10/26 | It’s Not All Gravy | Review |
| 02/12/26 | Reading by Moonlight | Review |
| 02/14/26 | Joanne Easley | Review |
| 02/18/26 | W.M. Gunn | Review |
| 02/19/26 | Rebecca R. Cahill, Author | Spotlight |
| 02/21/26 | Bibliotica | Review |
| 02/24/26 | Little Lovely Reads | Review |
| 02/26/26 | Book Fidelity | Review |
| 02/28/26 | The TX Lit Chic | Review |
| 03/01/26 | Ames for the Stars | Spotlight |
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.
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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