A child is locked in a box. A father is searching for his missing daughter whilst he is accused of murder.

Brilliantly written novel with lots of twists and turns. Good guys, bad guys, danger and hope but will all be ok in the end? Read and enjoy.

This is an exciting, exhilarating and action-packed book. I loved to read and review it on Netgalley. It is a book that held my interest from page one and throughout. I read it quite quickly as I didn’t want to put it down. I didn’t want the book to end either, it was that good.
What a great crime thriller. I loved the fast pace of the plot, the writing style, the complex main characters, the locations and so on. It is the first book, I’ve read by the author but I would like to read more. I can only recommend this book to everybody.
I am giving this novel 5 stars but believe me I would give it 6 if I could. It was an amazing read and I’m so happy I’ve read it.

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! This book takes you hostage from the first page and doesn’t let you go until the very last word!!

A brilliant thriller which will have your heart racing and your mind whirling.

Excellent characters, great plot with plenty of twists and turns to keep you racing through.

My first read by this author but definitely not my last!

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this great book by Dan Malakin.
A great premise, a very sinister storyline, a reluctant and unlikely hero in the main character with a detective with her own baggage - this was full of twists and turns all the way through. Really enjoyed this one and highly recommend!

This was a cleverly written dark thriller which I enjoyed.

The story starts with the Truman family who are worried about their teenage daughter Ally who has disappeared after publicly provoking the leader of an Incel group. Ed, the father is forced to go on the run after he is accused of sexual harassment and then the murder of another girl.
Meanwhile D.I Jackie Ross is trying to find Ed and solve the murder.
What has happened to Ally? Is Ed involved and how is the leader of Men Together involved?

I found this slightly slow to get into but the book really picked up pace and I was gripped by the second half. I loved the short, pacy chapters. The characters were well written and very believable. I really felt for Ed who was trying his best to uncover the truth, save his daughter (and family) and protect her friend Phoenix. He did remind me slightly of Walter from Breaking Bad when he was on the run! Benedict was also a great villain.
There were lots of good twists towards the end and I found the storyline around the incel group fascinating.
The Box is not actually featured that much so the title is slightly misleading and I would have liked the dystopian element to have been explored more. It does features in the last part of the book though and this was my favourite part. The epilogue was a clever final twist! A great, tense thriller with an original storyline.

This books synopsis had me really looking forward to it, but after the first few chapters, it then turned into a slow burning thriller, which while good, did not stop me wanting to get back to the box!

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.

My first read by this author and a slow burner of a thriller to start with but as the pace built up so did the action and what a good book it turned out to be. Lots of twists and turns and some truly shocking moments. A really well written book with some excellent characters - nice, not so nice and one totally despicable!

Briefly, Ed is a solicitor who seems to spend more time looking into bottles of whiskey than being with his wife, son and daughter. Then his daughter Ally disappears after being targeted by an incel organisation, Men Together. At the same time the body of a teenage girl is found and in her hands are hairs which are from Ed. DI Jackie Rose is assigned the case. As the investigation continues Ed goes on the run with a girl Phoenix, who knew Ally and says she can find her.

Brilliant plot with a number of strands cleverly interwoven; each character has a history which gradually comes to light and even the climax has a twist! A very enjoyable read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ed Truman's family is 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 and it had me on the edge of my seat on several occasions. It's one of those stories that the less you know 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.

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.

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 could not leave this book alone once I started reading, it's totally unputdownable!

It's an engrossing story which draws you in, makes you care about the main characters, need to know what is going on and why. It's not an easy book to read, it really shows the darkness that hides inside some people but once the ending comes so does relief from all the tension that has been expertly crafted to keep you on edge.

There are some guessable twists and some which were a total surprise but understandable really. I'm going to have to find more books by this author!

This is a truly excellent gripping, thrilling breathtaking read.
It has many layers, from Jackie, the lead cop, still reeling from the death of her husband and daughter the previous year, investigating a young woman found dead in a park.
Considering that's the story the book opens with that ends up being a mostly insignificant plot line.
The story then focuses on the Truman family, mostly on Ed, who is a successful lawyer until he is accused of murdering the woman in the park. He realises the texts his daughter, who is supposedly in Brighton, aren't her normal way of speaking and wonders if she's actually missing.
This is interspersed with unknown people being held in a box, being shown images, drugged, electrocuted and tied down.
Ed meets up with Phoenix and its a cat and mouse chase. I loved Phoenix, for a young lady, she was street wise, but still vulnerable and wanted to be loved.
There's an arrogant gang leader, one of the most odious creatures ever written. Supremely confident that he has every angle covered.
The book covers the inequality of men and women in society, from both sides of the coin.
When all the strands come together, you have to remember to breathe, and there are a couple of very shocking twists, then when you think it's all over there's one more to come.

Tense in places. A good premise and the prologue is attention grabbing.
The box itself isn't the focal point as such, making me question the title.
Well written.

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.

Ed Truman’s life is falling apart. He doesn’t give enough attention and time to his family. The relationship between his wife is barely there, His doesn’t talk much to his son and his daughter Ally is in trouble with Alt-right Incel organisation and he has been picketed outside his house.
After his daughter goes missing, he is accused of sexual assault by one of his clients and body is found and somehow his DNA is found on the body. Ed goes on the run to find his missing daughter and hide from the Police and find out the truth in what is going on. On his travels he meets Ally’s friend Phoenix and details about her disappearance becomes clearer.
Kick ass (literary) D.I. Jackie Ross oversees the investigation to catch Ed Truman as the suspected killer. On the hunt for Ed, there is a lot of fast paced action in this story with links to Men together organisation. Jackie then realises there is more to it and maybe have links to whoever killer her own family. She is making it personal.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of The Box by Dan Malakin. This is the first book from the author I have read, and it won’t be my last. This was at first a bit slow for me but going forward in the book I couldn’t put this down. This had lots of action though out and thought provoking. Great Unique storyline. 4 stars from me.

The opening chapter of the box left me wanting so much… luckily this one didn’t disappoint!

‘The box’ didn’t feature again until half way though and it’s not until later still that we learn what ‘the box’ is.

Featuring Incels, misogynistic views and transphobia amongst other things, this author certainly doesn’t pussy foot around tough subject matter.

One of the main Protagonists, Phoenix, is a really strong character in more ways than one, in contracts to Ed, who has many weaknesses, although his strength is his love for his family.

The police aspect with a strong female lead in Jackie, who has her own flaws too, added another dimension to the story.

I was also taken in by Benedict, which I think was the aim of his character, to show they beautiful people are not always what they appear to be.

It’s a difficult book to put into genre - part domestic thriller, part police procedural and almost sci fi in some areas due to ‘the box’.

I’ve not read anything by Dan Malakin before but I’ll certainly be looking up his back catalogue.

Pub
I don’t think that the prologue is a good hook. It felt like it might be a speculative futuristic thriller.
I had an issue with DNA being on the data base I thought that it wasn’t kept when it was part of large scale for elimination. It didn’t say recent or a still ongoing case which might make it feasible.
There’s a couple of mentions of surgery on Phoenix , but not was it was or the purpose of it.
I didn’t feel that there was enough groundwork laid for Mitchell’s involvement in that twist at the end.
I’d presumed the hair was obtained at the scuffle outside the house as hair lost in the shower wouldn’t have follicles for dna, the hair needs to be ripped from the head.
Then the double twist of Ed taking the blame. I was disappointed with the ending

I chose to read and review a free ARC of The Box but that has in no way influenced my review.

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.

I chose to read and review a free ARC of The Box. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.