What do you think?
Rate this book
The Box
Will you open The Box to save your daughter?
Ed Truman's family is falling apart. His daughter Ally is being targeted by an alt-right incel organisation, Men Together. His house is being picketed, former clients are accusing him of sexual assault, his son won't speak to him. And then Ally disappears.
Frantic, Ed suspects that Men Together have abducted her. But before he can go to the police, his DNA is found on the body of a young woman. Suddenly he's the subject of a nationwide manhunt, led by the tenacious DCI Jackie Rose. Ed finds himself on the run with Ally's friend, the enigmatic Phoenix, who claims to know where Ally is. But what is the truth? Is Ed a violent sexual predator? Or is he the victim of a ruthless conspiracy? The answers are in The Box. But not everyone who goes in, comes out alive...
From the bestselling author of The Regret, this heart-pounding thriller is perfect for readers of Harlan Coben, Mark Billingham and M.W. Craven.
Ed Truman's family is falling apart. His daughter Ally is being targeted by an alt-right incel organisation, Men Together. His house is being picketed, former clients are accusing him of sexual assault, his son won't speak to him. And then Ally disappears.
Frantic, Ed suspects that Men Together have abducted her. But before he can go to the police, his DNA is found on the body of a young woman. Suddenly he's the subject of a nationwide manhunt, led by the tenacious DCI Jackie Rose. Ed finds himself on the run with Ally's friend, the enigmatic Phoenix, who claims to know where Ally is. But what is the truth? Is Ed a violent sexual predator? Or is he the victim of a ruthless conspiracy? The answers are in The Box. But not everyone who goes in, comes out alive...
From the bestselling author of The Regret, this heart-pounding thriller is perfect for readers of Harlan Coben, Mark Billingham and M.W. Craven.
336 pages, Paperback
Published June 25, 2024
13 people are currently reading
342 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
June 18, 2022
Lawyer Edgar Truman‘s house is being picketed by four aggressive unpleasant men following Ed’s injunction to take down a website. The whereabouts of Ed’s daughter Alli is uncertain too, is there a connection? Two days later a body is found dumped on Hampstead Heath clutching strands of hair which are a match to Ed. Is this a message or a taunt? Whatever the circumstances Edgar now finds himself at the centre of a huge manhunt and the clock is ticking to find Ally. The police investigation is led by DCI Jackie Rose.
What an gripping thriller this is from the shocking start to the jaw dropping end. The plot is dark with the basic premise centring on a perverted form of patriarchy with a central conspiracy that both beggars belief but which is actually all too believable. There are several strands in the storytelling that connect really well as we watch Edgar‘s live implode and that of his family, spiralling down, down into some black depths. It’s a meaty and gritty plot that is delivered at a crisp fast action packed pace. In places it horrifies with what some characters think, feel and do and it leaves a sour taste in the mouth if not feeling nauseous as its designed to do. At times it doesn’t seem like a fair fight which makes you feel a whole range of emotions.
The characterisation is very strong especially so of DCI Rose who for me is the standout character, I hope to meet her again. Ed and his family are portrayed well as all the less than salubrious characters.
Overall, it’s an exciting, tense and intense chase with multiple shocking twists and turns. It’s frightening at times, utterly chilling and unpredictable and building to an excellent end with possibly the best twist of all. The concept of The Box will rock you to your core, it’s a real gut punch.
Finally, I’m regretting I haven’t read the authors previous book The Regret. Adding it to the TBR Mount Everest.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Serpents Tale/Profile/Profile for the free review copy in return for an honest review.
What an gripping thriller this is from the shocking start to the jaw dropping end. The plot is dark with the basic premise centring on a perverted form of patriarchy with a central conspiracy that both beggars belief but which is actually all too believable. There are several strands in the storytelling that connect really well as we watch Edgar‘s live implode and that of his family, spiralling down, down into some black depths. It’s a meaty and gritty plot that is delivered at a crisp fast action packed pace. In places it horrifies with what some characters think, feel and do and it leaves a sour taste in the mouth if not feeling nauseous as its designed to do. At times it doesn’t seem like a fair fight which makes you feel a whole range of emotions.
The characterisation is very strong especially so of DCI Rose who for me is the standout character, I hope to meet her again. Ed and his family are portrayed well as all the less than salubrious characters.
Overall, it’s an exciting, tense and intense chase with multiple shocking twists and turns. It’s frightening at times, utterly chilling and unpredictable and building to an excellent end with possibly the best twist of all. The concept of The Box will rock you to your core, it’s a real gut punch.
Finally, I’m regretting I haven’t read the authors previous book The Regret. Adding it to the TBR Mount Everest.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Serpents Tale/Profile/Profile for the free review copy in return for an honest review.
May 29, 2022
This book could have been so much better. It started well. It started with someone in ‘the box’ which we learn about later in the book!
Ed Truman is a good guy, a bit geeky, married with two children, a lawyer who probably spends too much time working and not paying enough attention to his family. One weekend his teenage daughter, Ally, seems to disappear, the family gets a text to say she has gone off with a friend and not to worry. But Ed is worried. The activists from the Men’s Learning Centre (a men’s rights group who want to see women put back in ‘their place’) are still camped outside his home. They want him to remove the injunction he had placed on their website after all of Ally’s details were published there. Ally is social justice campaigner who ‘milkshaked’ their leader, William Carmichael.
But Ed’s problems are soon much to become much bigger than this. A young woman is found brutally murdered in a park and, clutched in her hand, are three hairs which just happen to match Ed’s DNA. He goes on the run before he can be arrested and somehow hooks up with Ally’s friend, Phoenix. Together they head for a hideout that is a bolt hole the girls have discovered and stocked. The journey is long and arduous as they cannot use credit cards or withdraw cash because it’s not just the police that are after them now. The Men’s Learning Centre thugs are after them too. Phoenix has some videos from their compound that she wants to upload and publicise.
There’s a lot more to it than that of course. Ed wants to get into the compound and rescue Ally but they are really up against it. Ed was a very unlikely hero, he came across as a nice guy but he wasn’t any sort of fighter. He had guts and determination, I’ll give him that much. The plot was quite muddled and it didn’t really flow for me. It got better towards the end but then I didn’t like the actual ending of the story either. I think the whole story could have been tightened up a lot. The first half of the book was quite messy. The idea was good unfortunately the execution was a bit locking for me.
Ed Truman is a good guy, a bit geeky, married with two children, a lawyer who probably spends too much time working and not paying enough attention to his family. One weekend his teenage daughter, Ally, seems to disappear, the family gets a text to say she has gone off with a friend and not to worry. But Ed is worried. The activists from the Men’s Learning Centre (a men’s rights group who want to see women put back in ‘their place’) are still camped outside his home. They want him to remove the injunction he had placed on their website after all of Ally’s details were published there. Ally is social justice campaigner who ‘milkshaked’ their leader, William Carmichael.
But Ed’s problems are soon much to become much bigger than this. A young woman is found brutally murdered in a park and, clutched in her hand, are three hairs which just happen to match Ed’s DNA. He goes on the run before he can be arrested and somehow hooks up with Ally’s friend, Phoenix. Together they head for a hideout that is a bolt hole the girls have discovered and stocked. The journey is long and arduous as they cannot use credit cards or withdraw cash because it’s not just the police that are after them now. The Men’s Learning Centre thugs are after them too. Phoenix has some videos from their compound that she wants to upload and publicise.
There’s a lot more to it than that of course. Ed wants to get into the compound and rescue Ally but they are really up against it. Ed was a very unlikely hero, he came across as a nice guy but he wasn’t any sort of fighter. He had guts and determination, I’ll give him that much. The plot was quite muddled and it didn’t really flow for me. It got better towards the end but then I didn’t like the actual ending of the story either. I think the whole story could have been tightened up a lot. The first half of the book was quite messy. The idea was good unfortunately the execution was a bit locking for me.
March 8, 2022
A lot has happened since the authors last book ‘The Regret’ published back in Aug 2019 and was soooo looking forward to this, his new book, a lot of anticipation…was it worth it?,100% YES!
Strong characters all round lead this pyschological/drama/adventure story centering around a missing daughter, with accusations and conspiracies fuelled by followers of the Incel movement, this all leads to an explosive undercover operation (wont say anymore on that 🤗) with ‘The Box’ playing a central theme throughout….what/where/who and why re the Box I will let you find out but it is a dark,shockingly dark experience
Intriguing, fast moving, compelling, scary, relevant, topical and exciting the author has once again written a ‘must read’ book in his unique style…..one I thoroughly enjoyed and lived up to all expectations
10/10
5 Stars
Strong characters all round lead this pyschological/drama/adventure story centering around a missing daughter, with accusations and conspiracies fuelled by followers of the Incel movement, this all leads to an explosive undercover operation (wont say anymore on that 🤗) with ‘The Box’ playing a central theme throughout….what/where/who and why re the Box I will let you find out but it is a dark,shockingly dark experience
Intriguing, fast moving, compelling, scary, relevant, topical and exciting the author has once again written a ‘must read’ book in his unique style…..one I thoroughly enjoyed and lived up to all expectations
10/10
5 Stars
September 6, 2022
Trigger warnings: Misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, incel culture.
(I hope that I did not leave anything out!)
I am wearing my "I Am An Outlier" shirt AGAIN and it's a shirt that I never like to wear.
Reviewers raved about this book but I just wasn't feeling it.
Although the author's characterizations were compelling, overall, I felt that the book jumped all over the place and, therefore, was difficult to follow at times.
It wasn't until midway through the book that I was able to definitively discern what the book was really about and I disliked being left in limbo for such a long time.
I did enjoy many of the author's witty comments and felt that the book's ending and final twist were strong.
I listened to the audiobook and the two narrators did a superb job with the narration.
(I hope that I did not leave anything out!)
I am wearing my "I Am An Outlier" shirt AGAIN and it's a shirt that I never like to wear.
Reviewers raved about this book but I just wasn't feeling it.
Although the author's characterizations were compelling, overall, I felt that the book jumped all over the place and, therefore, was difficult to follow at times.
It wasn't until midway through the book that I was able to definitively discern what the book was really about and I disliked being left in limbo for such a long time.
I did enjoy many of the author's witty comments and felt that the book's ending and final twist were strong.
I listened to the audiobook and the two narrators did a superb job with the narration.
May 23, 2023
Whilst this had an enticing premise, this thriller didn't quite grapped me as much as I'd hoped it would.
The idea that geeky Ed Truman finds himself a subject to being a murder suspect despite being completely innocent while at the same time hunting for his missing daughter was a strong hook.
The fact that his blackmailed in this cat and mouse chase should make for an intense read.
I think it was more the constant jumping around POV's and time frames that made this feel abit to disjointed for me.
The novel does also touch on some dark subject matters too.
The idea that geeky Ed Truman finds himself a subject to being a murder suspect despite being completely innocent while at the same time hunting for his missing daughter was a strong hook.
The fact that his blackmailed in this cat and mouse chase should make for an intense read.
I think it was more the constant jumping around POV's and time frames that made this feel abit to disjointed for me.
The novel does also touch on some dark subject matters too.
June 13, 2022
The Box is a one-of-a-kind novel that can only be described as INSTANT BUY.
When this beauty dropped through my letterbox, I was instantly excited. A missing daughter. A strange box structure imprisoning her. A handsome man with more than an air of danger. I haven’t read the author’s previous work, so I had no idea what I was in store for – boy was I in for the surprise of my life.
So, what does The Box offer? A hard and sharp look at society.
Ed Truman on the surface has it all. His law firm is thriving, he supports the victims of domestic abuse and does a lot of work pro bono. He is an upstanding member of the community. His home life, however, is less than perfect. His wife harbours resentment for only getting her career back on track now after raising their two children, Ally, and Mitchell. Mitchell is awkward and socially distant and has developed a certain distaste for his father. Ally is like any teenage girl…well she was before she started getting harassed by an Alt-Right group that has some very strange thoughts about women’s rights, and trans rights and they are extremely homophobic. Ed takes out an injunction against them and then his daughter goes missing, coincidence or connection?
Dan Malakin’s writing although of an incredibly dark nature feels incredibly right. The trajectory of the plot is like a rocket but somehow you know to trust the author’s vision. Let’s face it, there are so many new emerging voices in the thriller genre that it is very freeing to just trust the road they are taking you down. It might be dark and have many things that go bump in the night, but with resolve, you will get through it. I told you The Box was an experience.
Enter Detective Jackie Rose. Now, this is a characterisation powerhouse. She heads up the serious crimes division. She’s brave, intelligent, and resourceful. She suffers from PTSD and is haunted by visions of the past. When recruit to the division, Charlotte enters the fray, and they disagree with each other’s methods. Jackie thinks Charlotte couldn’t catch a killer even if they hand-signed a confession and Charlotte thinks Jackie partakes in too much aggression. She takes no shit from anyone!
The subject manner is a hard pill to swallow. The author sees a boundary and kicks it to the side. Men Together is an incel group that quite literally had my piss boiling. The part that is so utterly frightening is the fact that these people exist and are trying to get their message across to young boys and being the impressionable young men, they could be taken in by it. Intelligent individuals making preposterous claims are unfortunately believed in our right-wing media channels.
The Box is an unsettling and disturbing tale examining how society treats others that are different. It may only be the author’s second novel, but it has the finesse of a master.
When this beauty dropped through my letterbox, I was instantly excited. A missing daughter. A strange box structure imprisoning her. A handsome man with more than an air of danger. I haven’t read the author’s previous work, so I had no idea what I was in store for – boy was I in for the surprise of my life.
So, what does The Box offer? A hard and sharp look at society.
Ed Truman on the surface has it all. His law firm is thriving, he supports the victims of domestic abuse and does a lot of work pro bono. He is an upstanding member of the community. His home life, however, is less than perfect. His wife harbours resentment for only getting her career back on track now after raising their two children, Ally, and Mitchell. Mitchell is awkward and socially distant and has developed a certain distaste for his father. Ally is like any teenage girl…well she was before she started getting harassed by an Alt-Right group that has some very strange thoughts about women’s rights, and trans rights and they are extremely homophobic. Ed takes out an injunction against them and then his daughter goes missing, coincidence or connection?
Dan Malakin’s writing although of an incredibly dark nature feels incredibly right. The trajectory of the plot is like a rocket but somehow you know to trust the author’s vision. Let’s face it, there are so many new emerging voices in the thriller genre that it is very freeing to just trust the road they are taking you down. It might be dark and have many things that go bump in the night, but with resolve, you will get through it. I told you The Box was an experience.
Enter Detective Jackie Rose. Now, this is a characterisation powerhouse. She heads up the serious crimes division. She’s brave, intelligent, and resourceful. She suffers from PTSD and is haunted by visions of the past. When recruit to the division, Charlotte enters the fray, and they disagree with each other’s methods. Jackie thinks Charlotte couldn’t catch a killer even if they hand-signed a confession and Charlotte thinks Jackie partakes in too much aggression. She takes no shit from anyone!
The subject manner is a hard pill to swallow. The author sees a boundary and kicks it to the side. Men Together is an incel group that quite literally had my piss boiling. The part that is so utterly frightening is the fact that these people exist and are trying to get their message across to young boys and being the impressionable young men, they could be taken in by it. Intelligent individuals making preposterous claims are unfortunately believed in our right-wing media channels.
The Box is an unsettling and disturbing tale examining how society treats others that are different. It may only be the author’s second novel, but it has the finesse of a master.
May 31, 2022
Ah, the box. It got your attention in that blurb, didn’t it? As it did mine. What is this mysterious thing not everyone comes out of alive? You get a sneak peek at it in the opening chapter and it’ll send chills down your spine. But after that, the box just kind of disappears until halfway through the story when you’re almost at that point where you completely forgot about it. My point being, if said box is the reason you’re picking up this book, you may end up being slightly disappointed because ‘The Box‘ is more not about the box than it *is* about the box. If you catch my drift.
The set-up of this story reminded me a little bit of something Harlan Coben might do. In ‘The Box‘, the reader is introduced to Ed Truman. Ed is a perfectly normal every day family man, married, father of two and working as a lawyer. But suddenly he finds himself in extraordinary circumstances when his daughter is the target of an alt-right incel organisation. Things get ugly really fast. Ed’s family home is picketed by members of Men Together, former clients turn on him and accuse him of sexual assault, he and his wife seem to do nothing but argue. And then Ed’s daughter disappears. He’s convinced Men Together have something to do with that but before he can act, Ed finds himself the subject of a manhunt when his DNA is found on the body of a murdered young woman. And now this ordinary man must find a way to survive these extraordinary circumstances, keep his family safe and find his daughter before it’s too late. Piece of cake, really.
Doesn’t Ed sound like a character to root for? Yet, I can’t say I entirely was. I didn’t particularly like him, to begin with, although I wasn’t quite able to put a finger on why. He made mistakes, seemed to miss things I thought were glaringly obvious and definitely wouldn’t be up for a Father of the Year award. No, my loyalties were elsewhere.
Enter Detective Jackie Rose. Intelligent, intuitive, relentless, determined and hugely damaged Jackie. This week couldn’t possibly be worse for her as she is forced to relive the worst day of her life but she has a job to do. Will she be able to keep her head on the task at hand? I got behind Jackie from the minute I met her. She has no time for rules, or new colleagues that drive her up the wall. Actually she came across a little bit as a total not-people person and boy, can I relate to that! Jackie has no time for your bullshit. She was a character I just really liked and if at one point maybe she could get another murder case to solve, I would not be averse to that. Not so subtle hint.
‘The Box‘ is a complex and unpredictable thriller. I struggled to get to grips with it at the beginning, I must admit. It felt as if I had been thrown in at the deep end, unable to find my bearings, not seeing which way was up. It was almost as if I’d somehow missed the set-up and I was dropped into the middle of this story where things seemed rather random and little made sense to me. Now obviously, this could just be me because if you’ve been reading my reviews lately then you know my one remaining braincell is barely functioning at half capacity these days. But on the off-chance that you happen to feel the same way when you start ‘The Box‘, stick with it. It will all start to make sense at some point. I promise.
This is an author who doesn’t shy away from current and tough subject matters. ‘Men Together’ will make your blood boil, especially because it’s unfortunately utterly believable and realistic. There were some things I didn’t see coming, there were some that were a bit too predictable. It’s a chilling storyline for sure but I think I could have done with a bit more suspense and tension. That said, I enjoyed my introduction to Dan Malakin’s work and I’ll be sure to check out more.
With thanks to the publisher!
The set-up of this story reminded me a little bit of something Harlan Coben might do. In ‘The Box‘, the reader is introduced to Ed Truman. Ed is a perfectly normal every day family man, married, father of two and working as a lawyer. But suddenly he finds himself in extraordinary circumstances when his daughter is the target of an alt-right incel organisation. Things get ugly really fast. Ed’s family home is picketed by members of Men Together, former clients turn on him and accuse him of sexual assault, he and his wife seem to do nothing but argue. And then Ed’s daughter disappears. He’s convinced Men Together have something to do with that but before he can act, Ed finds himself the subject of a manhunt when his DNA is found on the body of a murdered young woman. And now this ordinary man must find a way to survive these extraordinary circumstances, keep his family safe and find his daughter before it’s too late. Piece of cake, really.
Doesn’t Ed sound like a character to root for? Yet, I can’t say I entirely was. I didn’t particularly like him, to begin with, although I wasn’t quite able to put a finger on why. He made mistakes, seemed to miss things I thought were glaringly obvious and definitely wouldn’t be up for a Father of the Year award. No, my loyalties were elsewhere.
Enter Detective Jackie Rose. Intelligent, intuitive, relentless, determined and hugely damaged Jackie. This week couldn’t possibly be worse for her as she is forced to relive the worst day of her life but she has a job to do. Will she be able to keep her head on the task at hand? I got behind Jackie from the minute I met her. She has no time for rules, or new colleagues that drive her up the wall. Actually she came across a little bit as a total not-people person and boy, can I relate to that! Jackie has no time for your bullshit. She was a character I just really liked and if at one point maybe she could get another murder case to solve, I would not be averse to that. Not so subtle hint.
‘The Box‘ is a complex and unpredictable thriller. I struggled to get to grips with it at the beginning, I must admit. It felt as if I had been thrown in at the deep end, unable to find my bearings, not seeing which way was up. It was almost as if I’d somehow missed the set-up and I was dropped into the middle of this story where things seemed rather random and little made sense to me. Now obviously, this could just be me because if you’ve been reading my reviews lately then you know my one remaining braincell is barely functioning at half capacity these days. But on the off-chance that you happen to feel the same way when you start ‘The Box‘, stick with it. It will all start to make sense at some point. I promise.
This is an author who doesn’t shy away from current and tough subject matters. ‘Men Together’ will make your blood boil, especially because it’s unfortunately utterly believable and realistic. There were some things I didn’t see coming, there were some that were a bit too predictable. It’s a chilling storyline for sure but I think I could have done with a bit more suspense and tension. That said, I enjoyed my introduction to Dan Malakin’s work and I’ll be sure to check out more.
With thanks to the publisher!
June 16, 2022
I read the authors debut book “The Regret” back in 2019 and absolutely resolved to read more by him as I really enjoyed it.
“The Box” is even better! The book is told by a number of different voices - all strong and determined characters.
The book is fast paced, thrilling, exciting, tension filled, pages just flying over waiting to be read.
A good friend played a bit of reverse psychology on me when I first started reading as I didn’t know if it really was for me. I am SO glad that his plan worked as I read and READ - and LOVED The Box.
So highly recommended.
“The Box” is even better! The book is told by a number of different voices - all strong and determined characters.
The book is fast paced, thrilling, exciting, tension filled, pages just flying over waiting to be read.
A good friend played a bit of reverse psychology on me when I first started reading as I didn’t know if it really was for me. I am SO glad that his plan worked as I read and READ - and LOVED The Box.
So highly recommended.
May 29, 2022
Ed Truman's family is falling apart. His daughter Ally is being targeted by an alt-right incel organisation, Men Together. His house is being picketed, former clients are accusing him of sexual assault, his son won't speak to him. And then Ally disappears.
Not even Ed Truman's wife believes that their daughter Ally is missing.
This is one dark, twisted, chilling and unpredictable read. It's gripping an it had me on the edge of my seat on several occasions. It's one of those stories that the less you know about it before reading, the better the story will be. The plotline has been cleverly crafted. The pace is a bit slow to start off, but it soon picks up. I was invested in the characters. The ending was completely unexpected.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #SerpentsTailViperProfileBooks and the author #DanMalakin for my ARC of #TheBox in exchange for an honest review
Not even Ed Truman's wife believes that their daughter Ally is missing.
This is one dark, twisted, chilling and unpredictable read. It's gripping an it had me on the edge of my seat on several occasions. It's one of those stories that the less you know about it before reading, the better the story will be. The plotline has been cleverly crafted. The pace is a bit slow to start off, but it soon picks up. I was invested in the characters. The ending was completely unexpected.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #SerpentsTailViperProfileBooks and the author #DanMalakin for my ARC of #TheBox in exchange for an honest review
June 20, 2022
⭐️ 4 ⭐️
A slow-burning, addictive read.
I thought the first few chapters were slightly slow-paced and it took me a while to get into, but once it really got going I was hooked and couldn’t put it down.
I particularly like Dan Malakin’s fluid writing style; I found it extremely easy to read and the short chapters heightened the feeling of tension and suspense. There’s also a gentle humour in the mix that helped lighten the mood.
The Box features diverse, relatable characters and the dialogue between them always feels authentic and believable.
The title is a little deceiving as the box doesn’t actually feature that much in the book. Overall, it’s a dark, atmospheric thriller that will keep you guessing right until the very end.
Many thanks to the publisher for my proof copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
A slow-burning, addictive read.
I thought the first few chapters were slightly slow-paced and it took me a while to get into, but once it really got going I was hooked and couldn’t put it down.
I particularly like Dan Malakin’s fluid writing style; I found it extremely easy to read and the short chapters heightened the feeling of tension and suspense. There’s also a gentle humour in the mix that helped lighten the mood.
The Box features diverse, relatable characters and the dialogue between them always feels authentic and believable.
The title is a little deceiving as the box doesn’t actually feature that much in the book. Overall, it’s a dark, atmospheric thriller that will keep you guessing right until the very end.
Many thanks to the publisher for my proof copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
May 15, 2023
2.5 / 5
I really struggled to get through this one. It was very up and down for me, but in all honesty the blurb doesn’t match to the plot. It was a no for me. I think there should be a trigger warning or some sort of prepping before going into this book has it gets pretty dark and twisted straight away which I was not expecting.
Honestly I don’t even know what to say for a book that I had zero expectations and came out worse. This wasn’t my cup of tea, I just wasn’t a fan of the plot- I felt like it dragged too long, the plot was getting stale, almost repetitive it just overall sucked. At points you’re clueless on what’s happening, things aren’t making much sense. And it’s not really until 250 pages where things actually click. I didn’t like the whole twist reveal which was much more darker and twisted than what I had in mind.
I liked the writing style, but that’s the only plus. I felt like the ending was pointless and messy.
I really struggled to get through this one. It was very up and down for me, but in all honesty the blurb doesn’t match to the plot. It was a no for me. I think there should be a trigger warning or some sort of prepping before going into this book has it gets pretty dark and twisted straight away which I was not expecting.
Honestly I don’t even know what to say for a book that I had zero expectations and came out worse. This wasn’t my cup of tea, I just wasn’t a fan of the plot- I felt like it dragged too long, the plot was getting stale, almost repetitive it just overall sucked. At points you’re clueless on what’s happening, things aren’t making much sense. And it’s not really until 250 pages where things actually click. I didn’t like the whole twist reveal which was much more darker and twisted than what I had in mind.
I liked the writing style, but that’s the only plus. I felt like the ending was pointless and messy.
June 16, 2022
Ed Truman is having a very bad day: first he has incels from the local Men Together group picketing his driveway, his son seems to hate him, his wife is bored, & his daughter is missing. Ally failed to come home & although they received a text from her saying she had gone away for the weekend, Ed is not convinced it is from Ally. She has been targeted by the incel group for 'milkshaking' their leader, doxxed on their website, & threatened. The group have now stepped up their campaign after Ed filed a restraining order against them & got their website shut down.
DCI Jackie Rose hates this time of year as it is anniversary of the death of her family, killed by a car bomb. No=one was ever brought to justice but Jackie lives in hope. Her latest case involves the death of a young woman whose body was found out in the open at a local park. Jackie finds it strange that there was no attempt to hide the body, almost as if someone wanted her to be found quickly. The girl has the hair from her attacker clutched in her hand, if the person is on the DNA database, they'll have their man. When the results come back as Ed Truman, & he is simultaneously accused of sexual harassment out of nowhere by three women, Jackie thinks it's all starting to look a wee bit too convenient.
Ed goes on the run & meets up with one of Ally's friends, Phoenix, who has video evidence of what Men Together are really up to. Can Ed & Phoenix find out what happened to Ally & get the incel group shut down for good?
This book covers some deep dark areas of modern society; incel culture, misogyny, homophobia, & transphobia. It was difficult to read some of the chapters, especially those from the point of view of Benedict, one of the leaders of Men Together. Benedict uses his good looks to mask his virulent hatred of women. It's unsettling to think that there are actual men on the internet who think like him. Jackie is a great character, a strong no-nonsense woman, but I found Ed a bit bleh at times. Overall, it was an interesting read but many of the supporting characters felt quite thinly drawn & I thought it was quite easy to work out where betrayal was going to come from. Good but not great, 3 stars.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Serpent's Tail/Viper/Profile Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
DCI Jackie Rose hates this time of year as it is anniversary of the death of her family, killed by a car bomb. No=one was ever brought to justice but Jackie lives in hope. Her latest case involves the death of a young woman whose body was found out in the open at a local park. Jackie finds it strange that there was no attempt to hide the body, almost as if someone wanted her to be found quickly. The girl has the hair from her attacker clutched in her hand, if the person is on the DNA database, they'll have their man. When the results come back as Ed Truman, & he is simultaneously accused of sexual harassment out of nowhere by three women, Jackie thinks it's all starting to look a wee bit too convenient.
Ed goes on the run & meets up with one of Ally's friends, Phoenix, who has video evidence of what Men Together are really up to. Can Ed & Phoenix find out what happened to Ally & get the incel group shut down for good?
This book covers some deep dark areas of modern society; incel culture, misogyny, homophobia, & transphobia. It was difficult to read some of the chapters, especially those from the point of view of Benedict, one of the leaders of Men Together. Benedict uses his good looks to mask his virulent hatred of women. It's unsettling to think that there are actual men on the internet who think like him. Jackie is a great character, a strong no-nonsense woman, but I found Ed a bit bleh at times. Overall, it was an interesting read but many of the supporting characters felt quite thinly drawn & I thought it was quite easy to work out where betrayal was going to come from. Good but not great, 3 stars.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Serpent's Tail/Viper/Profile Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
June 20, 2022
Firstly I would like to say a big thank you to both NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review!
The box is one hell of a fast paced thriller, following husband, father and lawyer Ed on the hunt for his daughter after being targeted by a group of men after having their website shut down.
While on his missions his life takes a huge turn around before he even knows what is happening along with a murder investigation.
The Box was a book that has been on my radar for a while, and it did not disappoint- the twists and turns within this story will leave your brain in a muddle. It is so busy, with a LOT of things going on in and around the life of Ed, but it all fits perfectly and is still east to keep up with the story.
This is one of those books that has a hype and it is very much lived up to!! A fantastic thriller, with an incredibly fast pace and highly recommended.
The box is one hell of a fast paced thriller, following husband, father and lawyer Ed on the hunt for his daughter after being targeted by a group of men after having their website shut down.
While on his missions his life takes a huge turn around before he even knows what is happening along with a murder investigation.
The Box was a book that has been on my radar for a while, and it did not disappoint- the twists and turns within this story will leave your brain in a muddle. It is so busy, with a LOT of things going on in and around the life of Ed, but it all fits perfectly and is still east to keep up with the story.
This is one of those books that has a hype and it is very much lived up to!! A fantastic thriller, with an incredibly fast pace and highly recommended.
April 15, 2022
This was my first book by this author and I was completely blown away by how excellent it was and I will not hesitate to read his earlier novel The Regret.
The story we have here is a chilling and topical tale that was very intense and once I started to read I found it impossible to put down and if I hadn’t had life happening around me dragging me away I think I would have read the whole book at one sitting it was that good.
The plot was very clever with twists I never saw coming and told in short chapters and from different characters it really did work well. I liked the characters they all felt believable with some of them being very nasty pieces of work and I thing that added to just how enjoyable the book was.
Plenty of action, a gripping plot and not at all predictable this was an excellent read and can highly recommend it, many thanks to Dan Malakin for keeping me hooked !
My thanks also to NetGalley and Serpent’s Tail / Viper / Profile Books for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The story we have here is a chilling and topical tale that was very intense and once I started to read I found it impossible to put down and if I hadn’t had life happening around me dragging me away I think I would have read the whole book at one sitting it was that good.
The plot was very clever with twists I never saw coming and told in short chapters and from different characters it really did work well. I liked the characters they all felt believable with some of them being very nasty pieces of work and I thing that added to just how enjoyable the book was.
Plenty of action, a gripping plot and not at all predictable this was an excellent read and can highly recommend it, many thanks to Dan Malakin for keeping me hooked !
My thanks also to NetGalley and Serpent’s Tail / Viper / Profile Books for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 28, 2022
This is a decent enough thriller. The Box itself isn't really a central feature, it's mentioned in the first few pages then isn't mentioned again to well over half way through. The main character, Ed, was likeable enough if a bit hapless and the gradual realisation of his alcohol problems were written well. There were a few twists I didn't see coming although it felt quite rushed towards the end.
I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback. Thank you Netgalley, Serpents Tail, Viper Books, Profile Books.
I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback. Thank you Netgalley, Serpents Tail, Viper Books, Profile Books.
April 8, 2022
I read Dan Malakin's debut, The Regret, a couple of years ago, and I absolutely loved it. Therefore I was intrigued by The Box, but also a little wary. It had a lot to live up to. It also needed to pull me out of my reading slump. I have started, but not finished, a number of books in the last couple of weeks, none of them sucking me in.
Well, I need not have worried. I absolutely loved it. I honestly think The Box is better than The Regret and I blasted through it, finishing it within a couple of days.
Dan Malakin is a brilliant storyteller, not just in terms of plotting and pulling threads together, but in those wry observations that help bring his characters alive off the page, and I can hand on heart say this is my favourite book of the year so far.
Brilliant stuff, and I can't wait to see what he does next.
Thank you to Viper Books for an advance copy.
Well, I need not have worried. I absolutely loved it. I honestly think The Box is better than The Regret and I blasted through it, finishing it within a couple of days.
Dan Malakin is a brilliant storyteller, not just in terms of plotting and pulling threads together, but in those wry observations that help bring his characters alive off the page, and I can hand on heart say this is my favourite book of the year so far.
Brilliant stuff, and I can't wait to see what he does next.
Thank you to Viper Books for an advance copy.
June 16, 2022
Ed Truman is having a very bad day….
Accused of sexual harassment, his teenage daughter goes missing, and just when you think it can’t get worse, life kicks him in the goolies and his dna turns up on the body of a dead woman. I’ll say it again, Ed Truman is having a baaaaaad day.
The Box reads very easily - a teasing slow burn dealing with some dark topics, with great characterisation and a fabulous villain (if I had my way, there would have been a hell of a lot more of this guy!!!) But what I didn’t expect was the dry humour. I mean, I giggled… a lot. Ed is a bit of a sap but he has that typical dry British humour that gives him an endearing quality. I also loved the character of DCI Rose - now there’s a kick ass woman you don’t wanna mess with.
Overall I enjoyed this book and found it well paced and well executed. Recommended!
Thanks to Netgalley and Viper Books for the opportunity to read this one.
Accused of sexual harassment, his teenage daughter goes missing, and just when you think it can’t get worse, life kicks him in the goolies and his dna turns up on the body of a dead woman. I’ll say it again, Ed Truman is having a baaaaaad day.
The Box reads very easily - a teasing slow burn dealing with some dark topics, with great characterisation and a fabulous villain (if I had my way, there would have been a hell of a lot more of this guy!!!) But what I didn’t expect was the dry humour. I mean, I giggled… a lot. Ed is a bit of a sap but he has that typical dry British humour that gives him an endearing quality. I also loved the character of DCI Rose - now there’s a kick ass woman you don’t wanna mess with.
Overall I enjoyed this book and found it well paced and well executed. Recommended!
Thanks to Netgalley and Viper Books for the opportunity to read this one.
September 30, 2022
A brilliantly tense, sometimes pretty horrifying, read! Loved the way the plot built and I thought the characters were really well fleshed out. Certainly a story that drags you in and keeps you turning the pages with some hard-hitting, socially relevant topics and a great level of suspense. Really enjoyed the detective - Jackie Rose - flawed yet remarkable!
June 16, 2022
Fast-paced and thrilling, I couldn't put it down! Dan Malakin tackles an important, but little understood, subject in the rise of incel culture. 'The Box' takes some prevalent topical issues and weaves a nightmare around them. A great read!
June 18, 2022
Not heard of this author before, but heard great things about this book. Really enjoyed it from start to finish and going to read his others now. They should make it into a film!
June 10, 2022
Hi and welcome to my review of The Box!
Wow, just wow!
….
Can I get away with leaving it at that? No? Tough crowd.
Okay, let’s start with the prologue, makes sense, I’m sure you’ll agree. The prologue is absolutely EVIL! Obviously, I like my crime thrillers on the evil side, so I have to admit those pages had me rubbing my hands in a very Mr Burns manner.
As I read on, I kinda lost that initial sense of excitement. There was no doubt in my mind that The Box was a solid crime thriller / police procedural and I was very much invested in the story and the characters, yet based on that prologue, I expected something to distinguish it from all other thrillers I’ve read, something to make it stand out big time, and I wasn’t getting it…
UNTIL! Literally everything is kicked up a notch or twenty and The Box was going full throttle! I was glued to my e-reader, GLUED I tell you! There it was, the bit that lifted up the great crime thriller and made it brilliant.
I’m not going to say anything about the plot. The blurb raises questions and I’m not answering them for you. I will just say I loved some of the characters and loathed others. It’s been a while since I wanted a character to die this badly! I had a sneaking suspicion about a supporting character, which turned out to be right, always fun, but others managed to pull the wool over my eyes completely. Some of them have a huge character arc, which I really appreciated, especially considering the believable manner in which their journey is portrayed.
Ending with the epilogue, I can only say I’m a massive fan of these final scenes.
I had a fantastic time with this cleverly plotted crime thriller, this is definitely an author whose past and future work I will need to explore. Recommended!
The Box is out tomorrow 16 June in digital formats, audio and hardcover.
Massive thanks to Viper Books and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Wow, just wow!
….
Can I get away with leaving it at that? No? Tough crowd.
Okay, let’s start with the prologue, makes sense, I’m sure you’ll agree. The prologue is absolutely EVIL! Obviously, I like my crime thrillers on the evil side, so I have to admit those pages had me rubbing my hands in a very Mr Burns manner.
As I read on, I kinda lost that initial sense of excitement. There was no doubt in my mind that The Box was a solid crime thriller / police procedural and I was very much invested in the story and the characters, yet based on that prologue, I expected something to distinguish it from all other thrillers I’ve read, something to make it stand out big time, and I wasn’t getting it…
UNTIL! Literally everything is kicked up a notch or twenty and The Box was going full throttle! I was glued to my e-reader, GLUED I tell you! There it was, the bit that lifted up the great crime thriller and made it brilliant.
I’m not going to say anything about the plot. The blurb raises questions and I’m not answering them for you. I will just say I loved some of the characters and loathed others. It’s been a while since I wanted a character to die this badly! I had a sneaking suspicion about a supporting character, which turned out to be right, always fun, but others managed to pull the wool over my eyes completely. Some of them have a huge character arc, which I really appreciated, especially considering the believable manner in which their journey is portrayed.
Ending with the epilogue, I can only say I’m a massive fan of these final scenes.
I had a fantastic time with this cleverly plotted crime thriller, this is definitely an author whose past and future work I will need to explore. Recommended!
The Box is out tomorrow 16 June in digital formats, audio and hardcover.
Massive thanks to Viper Books and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
June 17, 2022
⚠️ TW: murder, transphobia, homophobia, sexism, racism, xenophobia, sexual assault, black mail, violence, alcoholism, drugging, rape, torture, conversion therapy, grooming, mentions of domestic violence ⚠️ Wow this is a dark, page turning rollercoaster ride of a thriller! This book follows Ed Truman and his family. He's been accused of sexual assault by 3 former clients, his son, Mitchell, won't speak to anyone and his daughter, Ally, is being targeted by an alt-right organisation when she disappears. Ed believes the organisation targeting her have abducted her, but before he can go to the police his DNA is found on the body of a murdered young woman. Suddenly he's the subject of a nationwide manhunt led by the tenacious DCI Jackie Rose. Ed finds himself on the run with Ally's friend, Phoenix, who claims she knows where Ally is. But what is the truth, is Ed a violent sexual predator or is he the victim of a ruthless conspiracy theory? This book has so many layers and will have you hooked from the very beginning. It is filled with dark and gripping twists and is so unbelievably fast paced. I really loved how it was good vs evil throughout the whole book but also didn't make Ed and his family perfect either. Also, another thing that made this book even darker for me is knowing that alt-right groups like this actually exist in the real world. Overall, I recommend giving this one a read but please take the TW's into consideration before you do.
June 12, 2022
This is a book that stats with a bang, becomes a slow burning thriller and keeps you hooked till the end.
There's a lot going on, an average man involved in something very big and an interesting detective.
I loved the storytelling and the solid plot.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
There's a lot going on, an average man involved in something very big and an interesting detective.
I loved the storytelling and the solid plot.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
June 23, 2022
All of my reviews can be found at https://damppebbles.com/
Ed Truman’s family is falling apart and his life is unravelling. His sixteen year old daughter, Ally, publicly provoked the leader of a powerful alt-right misogynistic men’s group, Men Together, and in retaliation all of Ally’s personal details, including her bank account and passwords, have been published on their website. Ed, a successful lawyer, fights back the only way he knows how – by requesting an injunction to have the website taken down. Now a group of protestors are picketing outside Ed’s house in an attempt to sully the lawyer’s good name. But their tactics go way beyond a few leaflets to the neighbours. Before long Ally is missing and Ed knows in his gut that Men Together are responsible. When Ed’s DNA is found on the body of a murdered woman he takes flight. Hunted by both the police and Men Together, can Ed find Ally in time and save her from The Box…?
This high octane thriller is a thoroughly gripping read which held my attention from the first word to the final page. This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I can absolutely guarantee it won’t be the last.
Malakin really knows how to write excellent characters who evoke a reaction in the reader. There are three absolutely standout characters for me in this book. The first being Ed Truman who is a pretty normal guy. A family man but in all honesty does he really devote enough of his time and attention to his wife, daughter and son? No, not really. He’s made mistakes and he continues to make them. At times I liked Ed, at others I wanted to shake my head at him and give him my disappointed look! The next character that definitely deserves a mention is DCI Jackie Rose who is the kick-ass, ‘don’t care much for the rules’ detective tasked with hunting Ed down for the murder of the young woman. Oh my gosh! I loved her. She’s a bit obnoxious, totally driven and very hot headed. Sure, there are rules but they can be broken as and when needed! Alongside her new ‘by the book’ DS, clashing heads along the way, they lead the search for Ed. The final character I need to mention, who made me so cross I nearly threw the book across the room, is Benedict Silver. Right-hand man to the head honcho of Men Together, this arrogant, chauvinistic, misogynistic psychopath made my blood boil at frequent points throughout the book and I loved it! I’m a strong believer that books should make you feel ‘something’, evoke an emotion of some sort and Silver did just that. I loved the scenes featuring both DCI Rose and Silver. Both strong characters, staring each other down, waiting to see which of the two would break eye contact first. Marvellous!
The plot is paced well with lots of thrills and spills along the way. Before picking this book up I expected the titular ‘Box’ to drive the characters forward towards an end goal but no one other than Phoenix, a girl Ed goes on the run with, knows anything about it! She has the footage to prove what’s been going on. Now all she needs is for the nation to believe her. ‘The Box’ is key to the storyline and plays a pivotal part but I was surprised to discover it wasn’t the driving force. Ed’s sole motivation is evading the police long enough to rescue his daughter. No matter how you look at it though, what ‘the box’ definitely is, without a shadow of a doubt, is darn right horrific. The stuff nightmares are made of. But gosh, it felt uncomfortably believable. What a terrifying thought!
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Box is a chilling, edge of your seat modern day thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. The writing is punchy with short chapters which pull the reader into the story, keeping them hooked until the final heart breaking reveal. There are some big surprises along the way but I had my suspicions as to how things were going to pan out, which were confirmed. However, what I didn’t see coming was the events of the epilogue which felt right and just to me and, following everything that had come before, a perfect way to end this thrilling novel. Malakin has delivered a powerful, high concept thriller which deserves to fly off the shelves and I look forward to reading more of his work soon. Recommended.
Ed Truman’s family is falling apart and his life is unravelling. His sixteen year old daughter, Ally, publicly provoked the leader of a powerful alt-right misogynistic men’s group, Men Together, and in retaliation all of Ally’s personal details, including her bank account and passwords, have been published on their website. Ed, a successful lawyer, fights back the only way he knows how – by requesting an injunction to have the website taken down. Now a group of protestors are picketing outside Ed’s house in an attempt to sully the lawyer’s good name. But their tactics go way beyond a few leaflets to the neighbours. Before long Ally is missing and Ed knows in his gut that Men Together are responsible. When Ed’s DNA is found on the body of a murdered woman he takes flight. Hunted by both the police and Men Together, can Ed find Ally in time and save her from The Box…?
This high octane thriller is a thoroughly gripping read which held my attention from the first word to the final page. This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I can absolutely guarantee it won’t be the last.
Malakin really knows how to write excellent characters who evoke a reaction in the reader. There are three absolutely standout characters for me in this book. The first being Ed Truman who is a pretty normal guy. A family man but in all honesty does he really devote enough of his time and attention to his wife, daughter and son? No, not really. He’s made mistakes and he continues to make them. At times I liked Ed, at others I wanted to shake my head at him and give him my disappointed look! The next character that definitely deserves a mention is DCI Jackie Rose who is the kick-ass, ‘don’t care much for the rules’ detective tasked with hunting Ed down for the murder of the young woman. Oh my gosh! I loved her. She’s a bit obnoxious, totally driven and very hot headed. Sure, there are rules but they can be broken as and when needed! Alongside her new ‘by the book’ DS, clashing heads along the way, they lead the search for Ed. The final character I need to mention, who made me so cross I nearly threw the book across the room, is Benedict Silver. Right-hand man to the head honcho of Men Together, this arrogant, chauvinistic, misogynistic psychopath made my blood boil at frequent points throughout the book and I loved it! I’m a strong believer that books should make you feel ‘something’, evoke an emotion of some sort and Silver did just that. I loved the scenes featuring both DCI Rose and Silver. Both strong characters, staring each other down, waiting to see which of the two would break eye contact first. Marvellous!
The plot is paced well with lots of thrills and spills along the way. Before picking this book up I expected the titular ‘Box’ to drive the characters forward towards an end goal but no one other than Phoenix, a girl Ed goes on the run with, knows anything about it! She has the footage to prove what’s been going on. Now all she needs is for the nation to believe her. ‘The Box’ is key to the storyline and plays a pivotal part but I was surprised to discover it wasn’t the driving force. Ed’s sole motivation is evading the police long enough to rescue his daughter. No matter how you look at it though, what ‘the box’ definitely is, without a shadow of a doubt, is darn right horrific. The stuff nightmares are made of. But gosh, it felt uncomfortably believable. What a terrifying thought!
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Box is a chilling, edge of your seat modern day thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. The writing is punchy with short chapters which pull the reader into the story, keeping them hooked until the final heart breaking reveal. There are some big surprises along the way but I had my suspicions as to how things were going to pan out, which were confirmed. However, what I didn’t see coming was the events of the epilogue which felt right and just to me and, following everything that had come before, a perfect way to end this thrilling novel. Malakin has delivered a powerful, high concept thriller which deserves to fly off the shelves and I look forward to reading more of his work soon. Recommended.
July 18, 2022
What a read. Are you looking for the next book to draw you in from the first page and keep you completely gripped. This is the book you should be reading. What is The Box? What is it used for?
The opening scenes of this will draw you in, who is inside the box? What is going on? Ed Truman is a good man, he a solicitor he lives his wife and his two children, but things aren’t going great in his home life. He knows he’s drinking a little too much, he no longer knows how to communicate with his teenage children Mitchell spends all of his time in his room in his computer, Ally is now off out with her friends or on protest marches.
But when Ally isn’t home for their usual Friday dinner together as a family Ed becomes worried. Where is Ally? When his wife Gabrielle gets a text message she believe’s to be from Ally she tell’s Ed that all is ok. But when Ed reads the message he is not convinced it’s from his daughter, but if it’s not who is it from.
Ally has been being harassed by an Alt-Right group who have odd ideas of women’s rights, along with trans right’s the group is completely homophobic. But Ally had asked her dad to serve an injunction on the group who are harassing her. Now they are also beginning to attack him. Demanding that he takes the injunction down. Is Ally being missing something to do with this?
This is one gripping, engrossing, read. I enjoyed the dynamics between Ed and his wife and son probably a more typical relationship than we think. Gabrielle is annoyed she has spent so many years at home raising the children, now she wants to focus on her talents. The family aren’t perfect but how many families are? When a woman is found dead she has some of Ed’s hair in her hand but how? We then meet Detective Jackie Rose, she is a tough detective, head of serious crimes division. She has reasons for being the way she is which is gradually revealed throughout the plot. Her new recruit Charlotte had been looking forward to working with Jackie, but some of the things she witnesses are things she doesn’t agree with. Causing some disagreements between the two.
This is a pretty dark subject matter, but it is brilliantly written, the plot works well, all of the characters are good. The bad are bad and the good are good. All of them whichever side are believable, some relatable. But the group calling themselves Men Together will really hit you hard it’s an uncle group, they target young boys, who are more likely to be pliable, easy to manipulate. I loved watching how Ed went from a man who didn’t really know how to find his daughter, who abides by the law every step of the way, to becoming a man in a mission of finding his daughter and bringing her home. With a few twists and surprises you didn’t expect this is a terrific read. I was struggling to know what I wanted to read, had picked a couple of other books up but then grabbed this one and couldn’t put it down.
An absolute ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read. Thank you to Dan Malakin for my copy that I won in a competition on Twitter. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next. For me this was up there with the likes of Harlen Coben, or Lynwood Barclay.
The opening scenes of this will draw you in, who is inside the box? What is going on? Ed Truman is a good man, he a solicitor he lives his wife and his two children, but things aren’t going great in his home life. He knows he’s drinking a little too much, he no longer knows how to communicate with his teenage children Mitchell spends all of his time in his room in his computer, Ally is now off out with her friends or on protest marches.
But when Ally isn’t home for their usual Friday dinner together as a family Ed becomes worried. Where is Ally? When his wife Gabrielle gets a text message she believe’s to be from Ally she tell’s Ed that all is ok. But when Ed reads the message he is not convinced it’s from his daughter, but if it’s not who is it from.
Ally has been being harassed by an Alt-Right group who have odd ideas of women’s rights, along with trans right’s the group is completely homophobic. But Ally had asked her dad to serve an injunction on the group who are harassing her. Now they are also beginning to attack him. Demanding that he takes the injunction down. Is Ally being missing something to do with this?
This is one gripping, engrossing, read. I enjoyed the dynamics between Ed and his wife and son probably a more typical relationship than we think. Gabrielle is annoyed she has spent so many years at home raising the children, now she wants to focus on her talents. The family aren’t perfect but how many families are? When a woman is found dead she has some of Ed’s hair in her hand but how? We then meet Detective Jackie Rose, she is a tough detective, head of serious crimes division. She has reasons for being the way she is which is gradually revealed throughout the plot. Her new recruit Charlotte had been looking forward to working with Jackie, but some of the things she witnesses are things she doesn’t agree with. Causing some disagreements between the two.
This is a pretty dark subject matter, but it is brilliantly written, the plot works well, all of the characters are good. The bad are bad and the good are good. All of them whichever side are believable, some relatable. But the group calling themselves Men Together will really hit you hard it’s an uncle group, they target young boys, who are more likely to be pliable, easy to manipulate. I loved watching how Ed went from a man who didn’t really know how to find his daughter, who abides by the law every step of the way, to becoming a man in a mission of finding his daughter and bringing her home. With a few twists and surprises you didn’t expect this is a terrific read. I was struggling to know what I wanted to read, had picked a couple of other books up but then grabbed this one and couldn’t put it down.
An absolute ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read. Thank you to Dan Malakin for my copy that I won in a competition on Twitter. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next. For me this was up there with the likes of Harlen Coben, or Lynwood Barclay.
June 16, 2022
Ed is not having a good day - understatement! He has successfully managed to take down a controversial website, run by incel organisation Men Together, who targeted his daughter Ally. But that has repercussions - again understatement. His house is besieged, his reputation slowly being tarnished when former clients make pretty serious accusations against him, and then his worse nightmare. Ally disappears...
Ed is convinced that Men Together have his daughter and that the vitriol and accusations against him also stem from that direction and have been created to stop him from his interference. They want their website back up but it was Ally's wish, she made him promise, not to ever give them that back, not even if the worse happens. And it has... With the accusations against him mounting up, Ed is now a wanted man. Not trusting the police to believe him, the evidence is so stacked, he goes on the run, teaming up with a very unlikely partner, Phoenix, a friend of his daughter. But do they have what it takes to not only keep one step ahead of the police, but to also bring down the enemy, save Ally, clear his name, and stop Men Together, once and for all...
Oh my days. This book had me running round, chasing my tail, all the way through. In amongst all the Ed stuff, we also witness something else quite shocking happening inside "The Box". But I will say no more about that as, well, spoilers obviously, but also as you really need to discover the shocking truth of what is really going on as and when the author intends for maximum impact.
It's action packed and quite fast paced pretty much all the way through. It hits the ground running from the first page and doesn't let up until the very end. There are the odd moments of calm in amongst all the action and they served me well for a bit of respite, but it's not long before it all kicks off again. The action ramps up all the way to the aforementioned shocking end, which left me reeling but wholly satisfied.
The characters are well drawn and all play their parts very well indeed. Making them wholly believable. Which is no mean feat when you get to the end and it all becomes clear!
I've not read this author's previous book - The Regret - but I am definitely going to add it to my ever growing TBR - or even my TBLT (listened to). My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Ed is convinced that Men Together have his daughter and that the vitriol and accusations against him also stem from that direction and have been created to stop him from his interference. They want their website back up but it was Ally's wish, she made him promise, not to ever give them that back, not even if the worse happens. And it has... With the accusations against him mounting up, Ed is now a wanted man. Not trusting the police to believe him, the evidence is so stacked, he goes on the run, teaming up with a very unlikely partner, Phoenix, a friend of his daughter. But do they have what it takes to not only keep one step ahead of the police, but to also bring down the enemy, save Ally, clear his name, and stop Men Together, once and for all...
Oh my days. This book had me running round, chasing my tail, all the way through. In amongst all the Ed stuff, we also witness something else quite shocking happening inside "The Box". But I will say no more about that as, well, spoilers obviously, but also as you really need to discover the shocking truth of what is really going on as and when the author intends for maximum impact.
It's action packed and quite fast paced pretty much all the way through. It hits the ground running from the first page and doesn't let up until the very end. There are the odd moments of calm in amongst all the action and they served me well for a bit of respite, but it's not long before it all kicks off again. The action ramps up all the way to the aforementioned shocking end, which left me reeling but wholly satisfied.
The characters are well drawn and all play their parts very well indeed. Making them wholly believable. Which is no mean feat when you get to the end and it all becomes clear!
I've not read this author's previous book - The Regret - but I am definitely going to add it to my ever growing TBR - or even my TBLT (listened to). My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
June 13, 2022
The Box
Dan Malakin
This 'thriller' totally blew me away.
I honestly thought the title hinted at films (and books) such as the movie starring Cameron Diaz, or Gwendolyn's Button Box (King), but nothing could be farther from the truth.
It's not until halfway through the story that I found out about the Box. And, oh, yes, it's real.
I personally think it takes guts and courage to take one of the most famous books/films ever written/shot as the theme for this 'thriller.' Personally, I see it more as a thought experiment on 'the natural order of things.'
The story is told by the I-narrator, Edgar ('Ed), a domestic abuse lawyer, accussed of sexual harassment. His daughter Ally, who is involved with a group of activists, who targeted a men's right movement, is missing.
Pretty soon after her disappearance, the pace of the story accelerates quickly. A body is found in the park, and domestic abuse lawyer Ed is suspected of this murder.
On the run, he teams up with Phoenix, an ethical hacker/whizzkid who is on the run too.
This multi-layered novel focuses on typical (natural) male/female behavior too.
Some of the protagonists show masculine behaviour and qualities often attributed to men.
Typical 'female/male' behaviour/roles are displayed. 'They are all shit dads' [ red…]
[ 'Men make women look like f*** idiots, they need to park their egos']; with women in charge/ victimized, breaking the rules, or women leading the way while man shambles behind. portrayed as wimps.
The Men's Learning Center, with Carmichael as figurehead, are looking for ways to nullify the role of women, and who'd rather go back to the natural order of things, i.e. patrichiasm, does 'procedures' on people. Ally & Phoenix have footage with which they want to prove that this is a dangerous group indeed.
With a tragicomic, cynical storytelling strongly reminiscent of that of Raymond Chandler, the storyline switches back and forth in time; the reflective protagonist is tragicomic, and very clear about his own shortcomings. Loved the original twist on Burgess' novel! Highly recommended!
I would like to thank Netgalley for this arc. I leave this review voluntarily.
Dan Malakin
This 'thriller' totally blew me away.
I honestly thought the title hinted at films (and books) such as the movie starring Cameron Diaz, or Gwendolyn's Button Box (King), but nothing could be farther from the truth.
It's not until halfway through the story that I found out about the Box. And, oh, yes, it's real.
I personally think it takes guts and courage to take one of the most famous books/films ever written/shot as the theme for this 'thriller.' Personally, I see it more as a thought experiment on 'the natural order of things.'
The story is told by the I-narrator, Edgar ('Ed), a domestic abuse lawyer, accussed of sexual harassment. His daughter Ally, who is involved with a group of activists, who targeted a men's right movement, is missing.
Pretty soon after her disappearance, the pace of the story accelerates quickly. A body is found in the park, and domestic abuse lawyer Ed is suspected of this murder.
On the run, he teams up with Phoenix, an ethical hacker/whizzkid who is on the run too.
This multi-layered novel focuses on typical (natural) male/female behavior too.
Some of the protagonists show masculine behaviour and qualities often attributed to men.
Typical 'female/male' behaviour/roles are displayed. 'They are all shit dads' [ red…]
[ 'Men make women look like f*** idiots, they need to park their egos']; with women in charge/ victimized, breaking the rules, or women leading the way while man shambles behind. portrayed as wimps.
The Men's Learning Center, with Carmichael as figurehead, are looking for ways to nullify the role of women, and who'd rather go back to the natural order of things, i.e. patrichiasm, does 'procedures' on people. Ally & Phoenix have footage with which they want to prove that this is a dangerous group indeed.
With a tragicomic, cynical storytelling strongly reminiscent of that of Raymond Chandler, the storyline switches back and forth in time; the reflective protagonist is tragicomic, and very clear about his own shortcomings. Loved the original twist on Burgess' novel! Highly recommended!
I would like to thank Netgalley for this arc. I leave this review voluntarily.
April 2, 2023
Having really enjoyed reading The Regret by Dan Malakin I was intrigued by the blub for The Box and quickly added it to my TBR pile and I am glad that I did as it turned out to be one of those books that grabbed my attention and I devoured in two days. The opening chapter left me both excited and confused but I knew that had to find out exactly what the connection was to the rest of the story.
Ed Truman is certainly put through the wringer, his daughter Ally has gone missing, and he is being targeted at home and at work with slurs against his name after he managed to get a website for Men Together taken down. With his DNA being found on the body of a murdered girl he has no choice but to go on the run and you just know that he is not equipped physically or emotionally for what that actually entails, although that’s not to say that he didn’t surprise me (and at times himself) along the way. Thankfully for Ed there are a few strong characters that help him along the way and he is going to need them.
I liked Ally’s friend Phoenix, she is street smart and wants to find her friend as much as Ed wants to find his daughter. She clearly knows more about what has happened but she has a natural distrust of adults and when the reason is revealed you can understand why. The DCI in charge of the case was a harder one to work out as she seemed to be torn between following the rules or her gut instincts even when they put her at odds with her boss and her new DS but she doesn’t back down from a fight even when she is not sure who she can trust.
The events happen fast and are at times in your face leaving you horrified at what is happening, but it is the nature of the subject that partially draws you in and what you learn will at times break your heart but is all too believable. In a world where so much is online it shows how quickly things can be manipulated and have the potential to destroy someone. As for the Box itself well its purpose had me wanting to throw the book across the room but sometimes a book that will challenge you and be a little uncomfortable to read is not a bad thing and I would recommend picking this up
Ed Truman is certainly put through the wringer, his daughter Ally has gone missing, and he is being targeted at home and at work with slurs against his name after he managed to get a website for Men Together taken down. With his DNA being found on the body of a murdered girl he has no choice but to go on the run and you just know that he is not equipped physically or emotionally for what that actually entails, although that’s not to say that he didn’t surprise me (and at times himself) along the way. Thankfully for Ed there are a few strong characters that help him along the way and he is going to need them.
I liked Ally’s friend Phoenix, she is street smart and wants to find her friend as much as Ed wants to find his daughter. She clearly knows more about what has happened but she has a natural distrust of adults and when the reason is revealed you can understand why. The DCI in charge of the case was a harder one to work out as she seemed to be torn between following the rules or her gut instincts even when they put her at odds with her boss and her new DS but she doesn’t back down from a fight even when she is not sure who she can trust.
The events happen fast and are at times in your face leaving you horrified at what is happening, but it is the nature of the subject that partially draws you in and what you learn will at times break your heart but is all too believable. In a world where so much is online it shows how quickly things can be manipulated and have the potential to destroy someone. As for the Box itself well its purpose had me wanting to throw the book across the room but sometimes a book that will challenge you and be a little uncomfortable to read is not a bad thing and I would recommend picking this up
June 19, 2022
Ed and Gabrielle start to worry when their teenage daughter, Ally, does not arrive home for dinner. They begin ringing her friends but then a text arrives from her saying she has gone away for the weekend.
But Ed thinks the text was not written by her. It is not the usual way she would phrase a text.
Nearby, a young girl is found murdered in the park, clutching hairs belonging to Ed.
Ed, the mild mannered solicitor finds himself on the run with Phoenix, a friend of Ally’s who lives in a squat, who may know where she is. Hunted not only by DCI Jackie Rose, a very able police officer from the newly formed Rapid and Serious Unit who has also taught police self defence classes, but also by some dangerous men, they need to hide until they can figure out what to do next.
Phoenix and Ally ‘milkshaked’ William Carmichael, the figurehead of a men’s rights movement and leader of a male members only ‘men’s learning centre’, which appears to run courses to help men gain back their alpha position in society and put down women at every opportunity. But there is something much more sinister going on there. And what is the box? I highly recommend you read this book to find out!
I was totally hooked by the prologue and was completely immersed in Ed’s world from then on. Poor Ed was very naive and awkward, but I loved how he kept questioning his ability to do what he set out to do. His dry sense of humour, even in such dire circumstances, was brilliant and I actually laughed out loud a number of times. Phoenix is streetwise and teaches him the skills of stealing food and dumpster diving for sandwiches.
All of the characters are so very well written and realistic they jumped off the page. The story is written from a few different POV’s, including Ed, Gabrielle, Jackie and Phoenix, so we get an insight into what the main characters are thinking.
Malakin’s writing is exceptional, and I especially loved the simile’s and metaphor’s he used which were refreshingly unique and sometimes hilarious.
The short sharp chapters make it very easy to read.
Very highly recommended.
But Ed thinks the text was not written by her. It is not the usual way she would phrase a text.
Nearby, a young girl is found murdered in the park, clutching hairs belonging to Ed.
Ed, the mild mannered solicitor finds himself on the run with Phoenix, a friend of Ally’s who lives in a squat, who may know where she is. Hunted not only by DCI Jackie Rose, a very able police officer from the newly formed Rapid and Serious Unit who has also taught police self defence classes, but also by some dangerous men, they need to hide until they can figure out what to do next.
Phoenix and Ally ‘milkshaked’ William Carmichael, the figurehead of a men’s rights movement and leader of a male members only ‘men’s learning centre’, which appears to run courses to help men gain back their alpha position in society and put down women at every opportunity. But there is something much more sinister going on there. And what is the box? I highly recommend you read this book to find out!
I was totally hooked by the prologue and was completely immersed in Ed’s world from then on. Poor Ed was very naive and awkward, but I loved how he kept questioning his ability to do what he set out to do. His dry sense of humour, even in such dire circumstances, was brilliant and I actually laughed out loud a number of times. Phoenix is streetwise and teaches him the skills of stealing food and dumpster diving for sandwiches.
All of the characters are so very well written and realistic they jumped off the page. The story is written from a few different POV’s, including Ed, Gabrielle, Jackie and Phoenix, so we get an insight into what the main characters are thinking.
Malakin’s writing is exceptional, and I especially loved the simile’s and metaphor’s he used which were refreshingly unique and sometimes hilarious.
The short sharp chapters make it very easy to read.
Very highly recommended.
June 22, 2022
This book begins with a shocking, yet intriguing prologue. We meet someone who is locked in a box and experiences torture in a form of electric shocks. My interest was immediately piqued as I was wondering who was inside of this box – was it a child, an adult?
Then, the plot moves to meeting Ed Truman and his family. He is a lawyer and a drunk, married to Gabrielle, and they have two children Ally and Mitchell.
One day, when Ally goes missing, Ed is convinced that a group calling themselves Men Together are behind her abduction. Ally is a strong-willed feminist, everything that Men Together despise. She threw a milkshake at William Carmicheal, its leader, and in response the group targeted Ally by posting her private information online. Ed is adamant that the group ruined his daughter’s life and now they are trying to ruin his.
Ed gets accused of sexual harassment by three of clients, his DNA is found on a dead woman’s body, and he becomes a wanted man by the police.
With the help of Phoenix, a friend of Ally’s, who lives in a squat but has amazing hacking skills, the duo try to find Ally and prove Ed’s innocence. It’s not going to be an easy task as William Carmichael’s men are in pursuit, followed by intelligent and determined DCI Jackie Ross.
Will Ed and Phoenix succeed?
Read this book for yourselves to find out. I found the whole idea, the plot and the characters utterly fascinating. I really liked Phoenix as a character, she was fearless and honestly, her hacking skills were outstanding.
I also liked Jackie, she never gave up, she endured personal tragedy and felt guilty as a result. I am glad things worked out for her in the end and she managed to get some closure.
I was repelled by Men Together but felt that the threat is real, as incel organisations target women each day.
Overall, it is a fast paced thriller that will keep you guessing all the way to the end.
I definitely recommend it.
Thanks to Viper Books for accepting my NetGalley request to read and review this title.
Then, the plot moves to meeting Ed Truman and his family. He is a lawyer and a drunk, married to Gabrielle, and they have two children Ally and Mitchell.
One day, when Ally goes missing, Ed is convinced that a group calling themselves Men Together are behind her abduction. Ally is a strong-willed feminist, everything that Men Together despise. She threw a milkshake at William Carmicheal, its leader, and in response the group targeted Ally by posting her private information online. Ed is adamant that the group ruined his daughter’s life and now they are trying to ruin his.
Ed gets accused of sexual harassment by three of clients, his DNA is found on a dead woman’s body, and he becomes a wanted man by the police.
With the help of Phoenix, a friend of Ally’s, who lives in a squat but has amazing hacking skills, the duo try to find Ally and prove Ed’s innocence. It’s not going to be an easy task as William Carmichael’s men are in pursuit, followed by intelligent and determined DCI Jackie Ross.
Will Ed and Phoenix succeed?
Read this book for yourselves to find out. I found the whole idea, the plot and the characters utterly fascinating. I really liked Phoenix as a character, she was fearless and honestly, her hacking skills were outstanding.
I also liked Jackie, she never gave up, she endured personal tragedy and felt guilty as a result. I am glad things worked out for her in the end and she managed to get some closure.
I was repelled by Men Together but felt that the threat is real, as incel organisations target women each day.
Overall, it is a fast paced thriller that will keep you guessing all the way to the end.
I definitely recommend it.
Thanks to Viper Books for accepting my NetGalley request to read and review this title.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews