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The Regret
What if someone wanted to ruin your life?
Rachel Stone’s world was destroyed by a stalker, Alan Griffin. After he went to prison, she rebuilt her life.
Now she has a three-year-old daughter and is in a new relationship. But someone is stalking her again. Her phone, her emails and her social media are hacked.
Rachel believes it’s Griffin, out of prison and looking for revenge. She needs to find him and make him leave her alone. But as Rachel is drawn into a hunt, she realises that something even more horrific is happening - something that will make her confront the childhood that has lingered like a ghost, and will force her to face the truth about her new life.
Is Griffin the one ruining her life? Or someone else, far more dangerous, responsible?
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2019
1171 people are currently reading
657 people want to read
About the author
Dan Malakin
11 books98 followersDan Malakin has twice been shortlisted for the Bridport Prize, and his debut novel, The Regret, was a Kindle bestseller. His second novel, The Box, was published in 2022 and his new novel, The Wreckage of Us, will be out in June 2024. When not writing thrillers, he works as a data-security consultant, teaching corporations how to protect themselves from hackers. He lives in North London with his wife and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
August 6, 2019
OUTSTANDING!
Thats the short review/version and the word that came to my mind as I read the last word of this terrifyingly brilliant book!
Rachel had her life ruined by a stalker many years ago, he was jailed, all she has to cope with now ( alongside her Nursing career ) is the threat of her anorexia returning and her past family regrets.....BUT coping she is, loving life with her daughter Lily and fella Konrad, life is almost perfect
But then the impossible happens....she begins to be stalked again, her whole life ( this time ) is targeted and manipulated and piece by piece her life just doesn’t begin to go wrong it spirals out of control....at least this time she has the support network of friends and a partner she can trust, or can she?...
The book then leads you through the despair, you can almost taste it, that is now Rachels existence as she tries to find out who is doing this and why
I loved her narrative and how she chatted to the reader and questioned herself and also felt for her as her anorexia took hold again, I have read books before where this illness is portrayed but never with such lucid explanation, remorse and feeling ( and exploring the euphoria and the hatred of an episode)
The book continues with plots and sub plots and I was never lost or had to backtrack as these stories all became one and the grim truth of who was the culprit was unveiled and the pure psychopathic nature of that individual became known
I gave a very dramatic ‘OHHHHH’ when all was revealed, this continued for the remainder of the book and all that then happened, a very harrowing, tense and superbly devised ending
I also loved the short chapters that dealt with computer and social media ‘fraud’ with explanations as to how and why people are conned and how easily it happens
A storming debut, reader friendly with reader welcoming writing brimming with characters and situations you wont forget, that I can 100% recommend as a
10/10
5 Stars book
August 22, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
I don't know what is going on, but I like it. I have been on a streak of really good mystery/thrillers and The Regret by Dan Malakin was no exception!
What it's about: Rachel Stone's world was shattered when she was just a teenager by a stalker named Alan Griffin. Now she has a three-year-old daughter named Lily and has rebuilt her life, but as someone seems to start stalking her again and ruining her life as she knows it, old demons will rise again to the surface and threaten everything.
I want to keep my summery short and sweet for The Regret because I think it is great to go into this book blind! There were a lot of surprises as I read it, and so many things that I never saw coming. I won't lie, this was also a really hard book to read. Rachel suffers from addiction and anorexia, and there were so many times I wanted to throttle her, but I know this is the disease that takes over a person's mind. It is hard to read, but I think it is also so important and I'm glad the author decided to tackle these dark issues.
I also really liked the bits of technology and hacking that were spoken about in this book. Even though parts of it gave me the heebie jeebies, it was also fascinating at the same time. I really hope lives aren't as easy to mess with as they are in this book because otherwise that is just downright terrifying!
I didn't love Rachel as a character, but when we got towards the end and things got really messed up, she managed to pull me around to her side. If you are looking for a badass female lead throughout the book it is not Rachel, but she definitely proves herself at the end which made me like her more overall. I also thought there were a couple other frustrating characters that were pretty awful, but they really make the story what it is.
One major reason that I am giving this a 4/5 is because I didn't like the loose ends at the end of the book. I had an idea of what was going on, but I wasn't completely right, and then I was disappointed when the author didn't get into the why of it all. Maybe it is just because I am really anal and want to know the facts, but I think it would have been much better if Malakin would have included more in the epilogue.
Song/s the book brought to mind: When It All Falls Apart by The Veronicas
Final Thought: Overall, The Regret was really fast-paced and it almost hurt to watch Rachel go into her downward spiral, but at the same time it was just done so excellently. If you like a book that has darker themes, with a tiny bit of gore the The Regret is the book to check out! As long as you can handle reading about addiction and just how far someone will sink before they pick themselves back up again...
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I don't know what is going on, but I like it. I have been on a streak of really good mystery/thrillers and The Regret by Dan Malakin was no exception!
What it's about: Rachel Stone's world was shattered when she was just a teenager by a stalker named Alan Griffin. Now she has a three-year-old daughter named Lily and has rebuilt her life, but as someone seems to start stalking her again and ruining her life as she knows it, old demons will rise again to the surface and threaten everything.
I want to keep my summery short and sweet for The Regret because I think it is great to go into this book blind! There were a lot of surprises as I read it, and so many things that I never saw coming. I won't lie, this was also a really hard book to read. Rachel suffers from addiction and anorexia, and there were so many times I wanted to throttle her, but I know this is the disease that takes over a person's mind. It is hard to read, but I think it is also so important and I'm glad the author decided to tackle these dark issues.
I also really liked the bits of technology and hacking that were spoken about in this book. Even though parts of it gave me the heebie jeebies, it was also fascinating at the same time. I really hope lives aren't as easy to mess with as they are in this book because otherwise that is just downright terrifying!
I didn't love Rachel as a character, but when we got towards the end and things got really messed up, she managed to pull me around to her side. If you are looking for a badass female lead throughout the book it is not Rachel, but she definitely proves herself at the end which made me like her more overall. I also thought there were a couple other frustrating characters that were pretty awful, but they really make the story what it is.
One major reason that I am giving this a 4/5 is because I didn't like the loose ends at the end of the book. I had an idea of what was going on, but I wasn't completely right, and then I was disappointed when the author didn't get into the why of it all. Maybe it is just because I am really anal and want to know the facts, but I think it would have been much better if Malakin would have included more in the epilogue.
Song/s the book brought to mind: When It All Falls Apart by The Veronicas
Final Thought: Overall, The Regret was really fast-paced and it almost hurt to watch Rachel go into her downward spiral, but at the same time it was just done so excellently. If you like a book that has darker themes, with a tiny bit of gore the The Regret is the book to check out! As long as you can handle reading about addiction and just how far someone will sink before they pick themselves back up again...
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
August 14, 2019
Author, Dan Malakin, created a dynamic storyline that held me captive from beginning to end. Having taken on the lifelike qualities of a 3D image, the main protagonist was portrayed in magnificent detail. With no wasted ink merely to fill empty space, the momentum of the chilling scenes progressed in lockstep with the heart-wrenching narrative. Just when I thought the climax was about to be unleashed, a startling twist jumped out unexpectedly and slapped me across the face like a cold, wet towel. Out of nowhere, I never saw it coming. It held everything I could hope for in a novel.
Rachel Stone, age twenty-six, was a nurse in a London Hospital, and a good one at that. All her geriatric patients loved everything about her. In addition to being a devoted nurse, she was the single mother of a sweet, darling little girl of three, Lily, the pride and joy of her life. Not a typical picture book story, life had thrown her a curve.
Handed down from mother to daughter, Rachel had been plagued throughout adulthood with the life-threatening condition of anorexia. If that wasn't bad enough, she was prone to drug abuse. Submitted to a psych ward for treatment proved unsuccessful in her recovery, and she appeared to be headed on a downward spiral.
Keeping her life on a steady track proved difficult considering the tainted decisions she'd made in the past. Wishing to keep them dead and buried, they continued to haunt her unrelentlessly day and night. One day, she feared the day would come when she'd have to pay dearly for her shortcomings.
As it turned out, the wait would not be much longer. It was time to divvy up and pay the piper. Pay dearly, she would. If you're looking for a read that's guaranteed to keep you perched on the edge of your seat, look no further. This book comes well-recommended.
Rachel Stone, age twenty-six, was a nurse in a London Hospital, and a good one at that. All her geriatric patients loved everything about her. In addition to being a devoted nurse, she was the single mother of a sweet, darling little girl of three, Lily, the pride and joy of her life. Not a typical picture book story, life had thrown her a curve.
Handed down from mother to daughter, Rachel had been plagued throughout adulthood with the life-threatening condition of anorexia. If that wasn't bad enough, she was prone to drug abuse. Submitted to a psych ward for treatment proved unsuccessful in her recovery, and she appeared to be headed on a downward spiral.
Keeping her life on a steady track proved difficult considering the tainted decisions she'd made in the past. Wishing to keep them dead and buried, they continued to haunt her unrelentlessly day and night. One day, she feared the day would come when she'd have to pay dearly for her shortcomings.
As it turned out, the wait would not be much longer. It was time to divvy up and pay the piper. Pay dearly, she would. If you're looking for a read that's guaranteed to keep you perched on the edge of your seat, look no further. This book comes well-recommended.
August 20, 2019
Rachel Stone was stalked a few years back. It's take time and patience, but she's finally got her life on track. She's in a new relationship, has a 3-year-old daughter, and is a nurse working in the local hospital.
Someone is stalking her again. Her phone, her emails and her social media are hacked. She's afraid that it's her previous stalker, Alan Griffith. She checks with the prison and finds that he was released just 2 weeks ago. She's really worried that he is looking for revenge.
But no one is listening to her ... not her new boyfriend, Konrad .... not her best friend, not her friend Spence who works with her, and not her daughter's father.
Is it her previous stalker ... or is this a new one. Could she be that unlucky? And just how dangerous is this stalker?
This is a well-written crime mystery with twists and turns and suspense that keep the reader captivated until the surprising finale. The characters are finely drawn and memorable.
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, the opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
September 20, 2023
3.75 rounded up to 4 stars.
A fast read, no doubt about it.
I thought that it was cleverly written.
I appreciated the details of cyber crime and I hope that it will serve as a lesson to some readers.
I thought that the character development was well done, even though the main one is not all that likeable (but at the same time is easy to feel sorry for her).
Some parts were a bit repetitive, but the chapters are very short.
Not a flawless story, but we are presented with some believable characters and situations.
The author did an excellent job portraying someone with a mental illness.
A good entertainment.
TW: eating disorder
A fast read, no doubt about it.
I thought that it was cleverly written.
I appreciated the details of cyber crime and I hope that it will serve as a lesson to some readers.
I thought that the character development was well done, even though the main one is not all that likeable (but at the same time is easy to feel sorry for her).
Some parts were a bit repetitive, but the chapters are very short.
Not a flawless story, but we are presented with some believable characters and situations.
The author did an excellent job portraying someone with a mental illness.
A good entertainment.
TW: eating disorder
August 22, 2019
What a fantastic read this was! I mean what more could you ask for? There's the stellar cast, a beautifully plotted story and fascinating insight into the daily life of those who have been stalked or scammed and the knock-on effect this can have on their lives for the foreseeable future. Not only this but it packed a real emotional punch too. Right from the beginning, you are drawn into a tale it is easy to immerse yourself in and losing a couple of hours between the pages was very enjoyable. I particularly loved the short, snappy chapters as it makes it so much simpler to read a couple more and then keep on reading even though you know you should sleep. There are multiple threads establishing themselves throughout but they were so seamlessly interlinked and it was a doddle to keep it all aligned in my head.
The sensitivity and true compassion the author shows in relation to topics such as stalking, anorexia and online fraud through his words felt as though they came from someone who really understood these subjects and the complexity of them inside and out. I could relate to Rachel and felt for her quite strongly as she was dealing with such a lot. It's well written in a way that will appeal to many readers and is a captivating, harrowing and evocative read for sure. There were twists and turns aplenty and the conclusion was a surprise but also added to the visceral punch. All in all, The Regret is an excellent debut thriller, and Malakin focuses on more realistic nightmare-inducers more of us may be able to connect and empathise with. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bloodhound Books for an ARC.
The sensitivity and true compassion the author shows in relation to topics such as stalking, anorexia and online fraud through his words felt as though they came from someone who really understood these subjects and the complexity of them inside and out. I could relate to Rachel and felt for her quite strongly as she was dealing with such a lot. It's well written in a way that will appeal to many readers and is a captivating, harrowing and evocative read for sure. There were twists and turns aplenty and the conclusion was a surprise but also added to the visceral punch. All in all, The Regret is an excellent debut thriller, and Malakin focuses on more realistic nightmare-inducers more of us may be able to connect and empathise with. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bloodhound Books for an ARC.
August 6, 2019
WOW!!! A great psychological thriller from the first page to the last. Rachel is a recovering anorexic whose life was turned upside down as a young woman however she has gotten everything back under control until she finds out that the man who caused her to break down before is now out of prison. So is he responsible for her misery again or could it be someone else.?
This book is taut and has the reader on a roller-coaster of emotions. Dan Malakin's description of anorexia can be harrowing at times to read as to how it affects Rachel both physically and mentally along with her family a d friends. An excellent read and I would highly recommend it.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC to review.
This book is taut and has the reader on a roller-coaster of emotions. Dan Malakin's description of anorexia can be harrowing at times to read as to how it affects Rachel both physically and mentally along with her family a d friends. An excellent read and I would highly recommend it.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC to review.
January 12, 2020
4.5 stars audio
4 stars story because I didn't think it was necessary for author to give detailed description of how to hack information online. It came off as if he wanted to show off his computer knowledge.🙄🙄🙄
4 stars story because I didn't think it was necessary for author to give detailed description of how to hack information online. It came off as if he wanted to show off his computer knowledge.🙄🙄🙄
August 20, 2019
The Regret is one of those books were you want to know the outcome but also do not want it to end. Gripping at its best.
March 29, 2020
Revised ! went on to read this book finally, and unfortunately I did not connect with Rachel, nor the story line. I wanted to buy this book based on a review on GR, however it seems the review I read was based on an advanced free copy, which the reviewer failed to divulge... the reviewer has since blocked me when I pointed out that this practice is perhaps a bit disingenuous! Bloodhound books should not be encouraging this kind of behaviour !
August 24, 2019
I really enjoyed this highly entertaining read. The author has written a superb debut that will have you hooked from the beginning. After a dsyfunctional upbringing and tragic events that happened to Rachel in her teens, Rachel is finally trying her best to live a normal life, (something that she has always wanted but never had) with her 3 year old daughter and her boyfriend, and works as a nurse doing a job that she enjoys. Rachel now finds her life is suddenly spiralling out of control. Who is stalking her for a second time? - hacking into her personal accounts and making her life a living hell? Is it the stalker from the past? - or is it someone else? I was suspicious of nearly everyone; the author writes in such a clever way that you really do not know who the antagonist/s is/are! ... I guessed wrong 😀 I thought the plot very cleverly thought out and I'm not tech minded but it didn't matter as the author's detailed writing helped me to understand the parts in relation to the hacking. I thought some parts very sad; I felt quite emotional and I could almost feel Rachel's despair. I thought Rachel very brave and I wanted her to have the normal, as normal as 'normal' can be, life, that she deserved. It really was, despite being dark in places, a gripping, spine-chilling read and it had plenty of twists and surprises to hold my interest. Books like this one are the reason why I read and hardly watch TV, but if this were to be made into a film or a TV series then I would definitely watch it! 😃 I enjoyed every part of the story and I was happy with the ending. I highly recommend it and I can't wait to read more from this author! Thank you x
October 22, 2019
I have a weird love for stalker/obsession type of books. Rachel already had to deal with Alan once - now he's out of prison and things start to go awry again. It MUST be him, nothing else makes sense. This triggers her paranoia and ongoing bout with anorexia and here we delve straight into her dark mind where even we don't know what's truly happening.
What I loved about this book is the terror in how easily it is for someone who is capable to take control of your life via technology. Honestly technology, while wonderful in its own way, is absolutely terrifying to me. Things are too easily hacked into and as someone whose identity has been stolen before, knows how much of a pain it is to rebuild ANYTHING once even the smallest breach happens. I also enjoyed the depth he brought to Rachel and her battle with anorexia and how this propels her paranoia. I don't think I've ever truly been in the mind of someone who had to deal with this - fictional or not.
While I did enjoy this fast-paced read, I did think that it could've used a little polish in the presentation. Some things didn't flow quite as nicely as it could have and I felt myself a bit confused in certain areas. Maybe the secondary characters needed a little more life in them to really round out the entire story.
In any matter, this was a fun (and scary) read of obsession gone cuckoo and I'm here for all the cocoa puffs.
Thanks to the author for this story.
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for goodreads.
What I loved about this book is the terror in how easily it is for someone who is capable to take control of your life via technology. Honestly technology, while wonderful in its own way, is absolutely terrifying to me. Things are too easily hacked into and as someone whose identity has been stolen before, knows how much of a pain it is to rebuild ANYTHING once even the smallest breach happens. I also enjoyed the depth he brought to Rachel and her battle with anorexia and how this propels her paranoia. I don't think I've ever truly been in the mind of someone who had to deal with this - fictional or not.
While I did enjoy this fast-paced read, I did think that it could've used a little polish in the presentation. Some things didn't flow quite as nicely as it could have and I felt myself a bit confused in certain areas. Maybe the secondary characters needed a little more life in them to really round out the entire story.
In any matter, this was a fun (and scary) read of obsession gone cuckoo and I'm here for all the cocoa puffs.
Thanks to the author for this story.
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for goodreads.
March 5, 2025
Trigger alert: EXTENSIVE description of main character's battle with anorexia.
Read this book because it is a relatively painless way to find out how hackers work, rather than reading some dry manual that explains it in detail without the suspenseful story going on in between the chapters about hackers. I don't know why they don't mention this in the book description. They also don't mention the description of anorexia the main character suffers from, which is exacerbated by the stalker/hacker's actions. In fact, a good percentage of the book is devoted to her battle with anorexia, which is her way of dealing with stress in her life.
The information about hackers and anorexia is the main reason I gave this book four stars. It is also quite suspenseful. I will admit I didn't guess who the villain was. I had someone else in mind, which is obviously what the author intended. So this book has it all: Riveting story plus useful information.
Read this book because it is a relatively painless way to find out how hackers work, rather than reading some dry manual that explains it in detail without the suspenseful story going on in between the chapters about hackers. I don't know why they don't mention this in the book description. They also don't mention the description of anorexia the main character suffers from, which is exacerbated by the stalker/hacker's actions. In fact, a good percentage of the book is devoted to her battle with anorexia, which is her way of dealing with stress in her life.
The information about hackers and anorexia is the main reason I gave this book four stars. It is also quite suspenseful. I will admit I didn't guess who the villain was. I had someone else in mind, which is obviously what the author intended. So this book has it all: Riveting story plus useful information.
August 12, 2019
“The Regret” by Dan Malakin is a taut and suspenseful read. It’s his debut psychological thriller and I highly enjoyed it. The characters are blended together very well. He spins red herrings throughout the pages to delay the reader from discovering who is terrorising Rachel.
I found the identity fraud an interesting concept and didn’t realise the work that goes into it.
A fantastic book which kept me thoroughly glued to its pages. I cannot wait to read more from this well written author.
I found the identity fraud an interesting concept and didn’t realise the work that goes into it.
A fantastic book which kept me thoroughly glued to its pages. I cannot wait to read more from this well written author.
May 5, 2020
Доста посредствен трилър с донякъде добра идея, но недобро изпълнение, което в крайна сметка е довело до странна микстура, тип "манжа с грозде". Никаква логика в действието, някакви посредствено изградени герои, тичаща насам-натам главна героиня-анорексичка, преследвана от тайнствен психопат ...
Накратко - смях, забава и пълен литературен ужас.
Преко сили давам оценка 1,5*
Накратко - смях, забава и пълен литературен ужас.
Преко сили давам оценка 1,5*
December 16, 2019
Terrible
This book was painful to read.
It seemed so unrealistic, mostly in terms of the awkward dialogue.
I almost didn't finish it, but wanted to see how the stupid thing ended.
Suffice to say, I was not surprised.
This book was painful to read.
It seemed so unrealistic, mostly in terms of the awkward dialogue.
I almost didn't finish it, but wanted to see how the stupid thing ended.
Suffice to say, I was not surprised.
January 5, 2020
Boring
Really didnt enjoy this book after I was struggling to find anything to keep me interested I guessed who was stalking her pretty much straight away finally skipped to 80% and read from there and I was right about her stalker. Didnt enjoy this book sorry
Really didnt enjoy this book after I was struggling to find anything to keep me interested I guessed who was stalking her pretty much straight away finally skipped to 80% and read from there and I was right about her stalker. Didnt enjoy this book sorry
June 21, 2020
This felt entirely possible and terrifyingly real, acting as reminder to how vulnerable we all are in this modern age of online presence and social media. The book explores quite brilliantly the impact cyber-crime has on everyday lives, like Rachel for instance, a nurse and single mother who is trying to get her life back on track after being stalked. As she battles anorexia and an unknown predator, she clings to her network of friends for support, but is this a good idea? A somewhat different story to the ones I usually read, credit must be given to the author for the attention to detail on the technical side of things. Cleverly written with authentic characters.
January 14, 2024
Rachel's life was turned upside down years before by a stalker... and now it looks like he's back - but angrier than ever. Messing with her workplace, turning people against her, and making her question everyone in her life.
This was a really good thriller, the first thriller I've read in nearly a year I think! Good way of starting to introduce them again. This book will definitely have people questioning how safe their own accounts are, it's a wild one!
This was a really good thriller, the first thriller I've read in nearly a year I think! Good way of starting to introduce them again. This book will definitely have people questioning how safe their own accounts are, it's a wild one!
May 6, 2020
2,5* да сме точни!
August 26, 2019
Rachel is a single mum to her daughter Lily. When Rachel was younger, she was diagnosed with anorexia and spent a lot of time in hospital getting the help she needed. Thanks to a photo taken by a friend, she ended up becoming ridiculed and then stalked by a man called Alan Griffin. Rachel is now coping with her anorexia until her life seems to be falling apart again. Her social media accounts have been hacked, her money taken from her account and she’s been suspended from work. Who can Rachel turn to and who can she trust?
This book is outstanding, I’m still trying to get my head around it! The story is thought provoking, especially in an era when technology is used for everything. You can tell that there has been a lot of research that has gone into this story. I found the twists quite exceptional, who I thought the stalker was, changed in most chapters! This is a gritty and dark debut from the author and I look forward to reading more from him.
This book is outstanding, I’m still trying to get my head around it! The story is thought provoking, especially in an era when technology is used for everything. You can tell that there has been a lot of research that has gone into this story. I found the twists quite exceptional, who I thought the stalker was, changed in most chapters! This is a gritty and dark debut from the author and I look forward to reading more from him.
October 13, 2019
I did not like this book. Rachel is a very unlikable character. She is a terrible mother throughout the book until the very end. Her severe mental health problems were affecting her 3 year old daughter's life and the responsible and loving thing to do would have been to leave her with her father until she got her life together. This novel didn't build suspense or give you clues as to the "bad guy" until the end like a good psychological twist does. Her life being ruined (again!) was supposed to have been the original man that had been her stalker. When she finally went to see him, he was obviously not the one interfering with her life and finances through computer hacking-- but this was just left hanging. There was no tidying up of his story. Of course, it all came together in the end, but the process of getting there took you through a lot of ridiculous scenarios.
September 22, 2019
First pet me thank the author for the Arc and a chance to read this book.
I have recently got into more dark novels and this one was dark and disturbing.
It deals with so many issues such as stalking and abuse. It is a hard book to read to a point but it was written so well.
I was shocked at just how dark this book was. It had just what I needed and was very psychological. This is something that i really liked and it kept me enthralled with the book from beginning to end.
The characters were well written and the main character while there were times I hated her I always felt for her as well. She was very damaged and it was fun to just see how warped the characters were.
I have recently got into more dark novels and this one was dark and disturbing.
It deals with so many issues such as stalking and abuse. It is a hard book to read to a point but it was written so well.
I was shocked at just how dark this book was. It had just what I needed and was very psychological. This is something that i really liked and it kept me enthralled with the book from beginning to end.
The characters were well written and the main character while there were times I hated her I always felt for her as well. She was very damaged and it was fun to just see how warped the characters were.
August 21, 2019
Firstly I gotta give a shout out for the cover. I usually don’t mention the covers but this is so good.
Rachel has struggled to get her life back after an awful time with a stalker. Now he’s in prison she’s finally happy with a young daughter that lights up her life.
Unfortunately everything changes when she starts getting stalked again.
This storyline is so good. It certainly shows that the author did his homework on the subject.
Highly recommend this read.
Rachel has struggled to get her life back after an awful time with a stalker. Now he’s in prison she’s finally happy with a young daughter that lights up her life.
Unfortunately everything changes when she starts getting stalked again.
This storyline is so good. It certainly shows that the author did his homework on the subject.
Highly recommend this read.
April 23, 2020
In this psychological thriller, we follow the life of Rachel as she battles feelings of someone deliberately ruining her life.
Rachel has a light sense of humour which is good because the author touches on some dark themes of anorexia and suicidal thoughts.
The friendships in this book really shine and so does the mending of a broken family bond. Not an easy read in parts, but a good and memorable one. Very well written and I really enjoyed it.
Rachel has a light sense of humour which is good because the author touches on some dark themes of anorexia and suicidal thoughts.
The friendships in this book really shine and so does the mending of a broken family bond. Not an easy read in parts, but a good and memorable one. Very well written and I really enjoyed it.
August 21, 2019
plot
Rachel, a nurse working in a ward for geriatric patients and she loves her job, she has a beautiful daughter called Lily, Konrad her boyfriend and many many friends. Seemly life couldn’t be more perfect.
The only thing she has struggled with and is struggling with is her upsetting childhood, stalking and her eating disorder, Anorexia. Which was passed from her own mother and a dad who very much liked his drink.
Until everything goes so horribly wrong, She thinks she is being stalked again, and this turns into one truly Dangerous, Shocking, Captivating story full of addiction, eating disorder, internet hacking, stalking and plenty of regret.
characters
Rachel is such a heartfelt character, and you really did get to go straight into her mind at times it felt too real. But in a good way if that is possible. You honestly felt every single one of her emotions, her physical and mental pain.
Writing style & pacing
Dan Malakin writing is flipping superb, brilliant and highly highly addictive.
This book sucker-punched me with every foreseeable emotion you can ever think about, at times I had actual tears in my eyes, I held my breath ( as an asthmatic this isn’t especially good muhaha), my heart was racing and I think I’ve broken my kindle flicking the pages so fast. It has literally gripped the seat and had you gripped from the words to the very very last word. Without a shadow of a doubt, this definitely is the BEST book I’ve read this year.
And I have to commend Malakin for his brutal but undoubtedly true realisation of Anorexia. At times it was hard to read but with knowing quite a lot about Anorexia, how it affects the individual this has to be one of the truest and most realistic accounts that I’ve read of this awful gut-wrenching disorder. You can tell a hell of a lot of research and thought has gone into portraying this disorder.
This would make an absolutely epic film. And mark my words this author is going places. It’s an absolutely cracking first debut with bloodhound books.
Cover
Spectacular and Exciting.
Mini-Review
Dangerous, Shocking, Captivating story full of addiction, eating disorder, internet hacking, stalking and plenty of regret. Mark my words this author is going places. It’s an absolutely cracking first debut with bloodhound books. Without a shadow of a doubt, this definitely is the BEST book I’ve read this year
Rachel, a nurse working in a ward for geriatric patients and she loves her job, she has a beautiful daughter called Lily, Konrad her boyfriend and many many friends. Seemly life couldn’t be more perfect.
The only thing she has struggled with and is struggling with is her upsetting childhood, stalking and her eating disorder, Anorexia. Which was passed from her own mother and a dad who very much liked his drink.
Until everything goes so horribly wrong, She thinks she is being stalked again, and this turns into one truly Dangerous, Shocking, Captivating story full of addiction, eating disorder, internet hacking, stalking and plenty of regret.
characters
Rachel is such a heartfelt character, and you really did get to go straight into her mind at times it felt too real. But in a good way if that is possible. You honestly felt every single one of her emotions, her physical and mental pain.
Writing style & pacing
Dan Malakin writing is flipping superb, brilliant and highly highly addictive.
This book sucker-punched me with every foreseeable emotion you can ever think about, at times I had actual tears in my eyes, I held my breath ( as an asthmatic this isn’t especially good muhaha), my heart was racing and I think I’ve broken my kindle flicking the pages so fast. It has literally gripped the seat and had you gripped from the words to the very very last word. Without a shadow of a doubt, this definitely is the BEST book I’ve read this year.
And I have to commend Malakin for his brutal but undoubtedly true realisation of Anorexia. At times it was hard to read but with knowing quite a lot about Anorexia, how it affects the individual this has to be one of the truest and most realistic accounts that I’ve read of this awful gut-wrenching disorder. You can tell a hell of a lot of research and thought has gone into portraying this disorder.
This would make an absolutely epic film. And mark my words this author is going places. It’s an absolutely cracking first debut with bloodhound books.
Cover
Spectacular and Exciting.
Mini-Review
Dangerous, Shocking, Captivating story full of addiction, eating disorder, internet hacking, stalking and plenty of regret. Mark my words this author is going places. It’s an absolutely cracking first debut with bloodhound books. Without a shadow of a doubt, this definitely is the BEST book I’ve read this year
September 24, 2019
My copy of The Regret was sent to me alongside a bag of chocolate. Now I’m not saying I’m easily bribed, but chocolate always helps!
Topless photos being sent over the internet, doxing, cyber bullying. All of these things I am hyper aware of at the moment as my eldest is of the age where mobile phones and Snapchat loom. So I was terrified to read the extent it can all go wrong when reading The Regret.
The concept is a text gone wrong and the devastating, long lasting implications of this. Yet it’s also a portrayal of a victims fight for survival, it’s about moving on, it’s being caught back up, it’s about never giving up, it’s about why we fight and what we fight for. All that wrapped up in a twisty thriller style that you can read in one session. Far more bite, far more substance, far more depth than I first imagined. And yes way more darker!
Be warned this book does cover issues including anorexia, mental heath and substance abuse, so steer clear if these are triggers for you. I don’t think I have read a book before that covers anorexia with such brutal honesty. It’s not glamorised at all, yet the reasoning behind the starvation, the depravity, the downward spiral are written brilliantly. If you can cope with reading it, it’s worth the while.
The book certainly had me guessing right to the end. It’s one of those where every chapter brings a new twist, or a new suspect. “It’s him’. ‘No, it must be him’. ‘Well it can’t be him’ ‘Is it her?’ ‘Oh my God is it HIM?”
The ending is pretty gruesome, (if you’re faint of heart you might need to skim read a page or two) but I really enjoyed it and think it’s well worth a read. Thanks Dan for the book and the chocolate*
*Chocolate or not I would have still loved it!
Topless photos being sent over the internet, doxing, cyber bullying. All of these things I am hyper aware of at the moment as my eldest is of the age where mobile phones and Snapchat loom. So I was terrified to read the extent it can all go wrong when reading The Regret.
The concept is a text gone wrong and the devastating, long lasting implications of this. Yet it’s also a portrayal of a victims fight for survival, it’s about moving on, it’s being caught back up, it’s about never giving up, it’s about why we fight and what we fight for. All that wrapped up in a twisty thriller style that you can read in one session. Far more bite, far more substance, far more depth than I first imagined. And yes way more darker!
Be warned this book does cover issues including anorexia, mental heath and substance abuse, so steer clear if these are triggers for you. I don’t think I have read a book before that covers anorexia with such brutal honesty. It’s not glamorised at all, yet the reasoning behind the starvation, the depravity, the downward spiral are written brilliantly. If you can cope with reading it, it’s worth the while.
The book certainly had me guessing right to the end. It’s one of those where every chapter brings a new twist, or a new suspect. “It’s him’. ‘No, it must be him’. ‘Well it can’t be him’ ‘Is it her?’ ‘Oh my God is it HIM?”
The ending is pretty gruesome, (if you’re faint of heart you might need to skim read a page or two) but I really enjoyed it and think it’s well worth a read. Thanks Dan for the book and the chocolate*
*Chocolate or not I would have still loved it!
September 28, 2019
OK, I'll start by making it clear that the author contacted me, as a reviewer and blogger to ask if I would be interested in having a look at his book. I agreed and he sent me a copy. I also bought a copy for kindle as it was on offer and I was going on holiday (and prefer to use my kindle then)
Anyhoo, onto the book itself. This is an, at times, dark read. The lead character, Rachel, is a recovering anorexic who was stalked as a teenager (which lead to her problems). The stalker was sent to jail but now he's out and the stalking starts again but online this time. Her life quickly spirals downwards and old habits return. But is it her former stalker ruining her life or someone else?
Several times I worked out 'whodunit' and each time I changed my mind again and only sussed out the culprit just before the reveal. It did get a little bit silly towards the end to be fair but I didn't mind that as the story kept me hooked. How hooked? Well, I started it poolside on Thursday afternoon, read all the way on the flight home, then the train journey. I was exhausted by the time we got back but I had to keep on reading, so I took it to bed with me (but had to stop as I kept dropping it). Eventually, just short of 24 hours after starting it I was done - that's how hooked.
I guess this book should maybe come with trigger warnings for those that need them but I enjoyed the darkness of it and the author obviously knows what he is talking about.
Would I read this author again? Damn right I would
Anyhoo, onto the book itself. This is an, at times, dark read. The lead character, Rachel, is a recovering anorexic who was stalked as a teenager (which lead to her problems). The stalker was sent to jail but now he's out and the stalking starts again but online this time. Her life quickly spirals downwards and old habits return. But is it her former stalker ruining her life or someone else?
Several times I worked out 'whodunit' and each time I changed my mind again and only sussed out the culprit just before the reveal. It did get a little bit silly towards the end to be fair but I didn't mind that as the story kept me hooked. How hooked? Well, I started it poolside on Thursday afternoon, read all the way on the flight home, then the train journey. I was exhausted by the time we got back but I had to keep on reading, so I took it to bed with me (but had to stop as I kept dropping it). Eventually, just short of 24 hours after starting it I was done - that's how hooked.
I guess this book should maybe come with trigger warnings for those that need them but I enjoyed the darkness of it and the author obviously knows what he is talking about.
Would I read this author again? Damn right I would
August 22, 2019
When Rachel was a teenager her life was ruined by a stalker, Alan Griffin. As a result her anorexia really took hold and she became very ill and hospitalised.
With the help of her friend, Mark, they turned the tables on him and Griffin was jailed. Rachel recovered and now has a daughter with her friend Mark, but recently, odd things have been happening in her life….an old photo was sent to her boyfriend, his and her friends, and messages have been sent from her phone, then her salary is taken for her account…..just who is doing this?
When she find out Griffin has been released from Broadmoor, she believes it to be him……
With the help of her friend and colleague, fellow nurse, Spence…she hopes to put an end to it all……..but just who can she trust?
This is a scary read as it shows just how easy it is for someone to gather personal information from us in this digital age, with phishing and social engineering it really does show the danger of sharing too much. It also covers the difficult subject of eating disorders and mental health, but in a sensitive manner which helps a little to understand this insidious disease.
Will Rachel find out who is destroying her life? Totally engrossing from start to finish.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
With the help of her friend, Mark, they turned the tables on him and Griffin was jailed. Rachel recovered and now has a daughter with her friend Mark, but recently, odd things have been happening in her life….an old photo was sent to her boyfriend, his and her friends, and messages have been sent from her phone, then her salary is taken for her account…..just who is doing this?
When she find out Griffin has been released from Broadmoor, she believes it to be him……
With the help of her friend and colleague, fellow nurse, Spence…she hopes to put an end to it all……..but just who can she trust?
This is a scary read as it shows just how easy it is for someone to gather personal information from us in this digital age, with phishing and social engineering it really does show the danger of sharing too much. It also covers the difficult subject of eating disorders and mental health, but in a sensitive manner which helps a little to understand this insidious disease.
Will Rachel find out who is destroying her life? Totally engrossing from start to finish.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
August 16, 2019
Wow! Ok, now that we have that out of the way let me elaborate. This book had me guessing until the very end. The story is told through the eyes of Rachel, a single mom, who has been through the gamut! We are teased with her back story throughout the course of the book; her struggles with anorexia, emotional issues with her parents, how her current friendships came about (new and older) as well as her choice for the father of her daughter. It was an interesting take on how one young girl’s silly mistake on social media could shape her future as a grown woman. Lots of good lessons here people! Rachel’s fall from grace was a never ending rollercoaster of emotions. This was a true definition of psychological thriller and I couldn’t put it down. This ending will stay with me for a while. Highly recommend!
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