The Nurse

Wow! What a heart breaking story! This book also had intrigue, suspense, and a very interesting storyline! It wasn't A sad book but just very in your feelings type book. Its sad that many people probably feel thus way or that this stuff definitely happens in real life?! It was a gritty heart felt story! I definitely recommend reading this book! Its well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

I flew through this story in one day, it was so gripping. A real nail-biter of a story that you simply need to read to the end.
The Nurse is about Nell Sweeney, a nurse who is taken one day after her shift. Immediately Claire Allen fills the text with the panic and worry consuming Nell’s mother Marian. She is determined to get the authorities involved after her daughter’s friend and housemate Clonagh lets her know that Nell hasn’t been home in a few days.
The narrative flits between Marian and ‘him’, a male perspective who seems to hate women. He has gotten involved with incel websites (involuntarily celibate) where women are derided and abused, and the phrase ‘not all men’ is banded about with absolute sincerity. This man decides to act on his rage that men are being punished, and begins stalking women, filming their fear, and starting a movement with his actions, unknowingly triggering something worst than he could have imagined.
A book that feels very relevant and very current, The Nurse targets the most common fear of women and plays out a scenario that is all too real.
Chilling and unsettling, dark and foreboding, this is a fantastic read with an uncomfortable plot. I could not put this book down as I had to find out what happened to Nell and find some closure to this story.
I appreciated that despite the heavy and almost all-encompassing storyline, other characters were well developed. Marian was the browbeaten wife and mother, and her self-reflection on her parenting skills and position as wife and mother was heart wrenching and had more of an impact on her daughter than even she realised.
Heartbreaking and relatable, a thriller that will strike fear in the heart of all women.
5 star

WOW!! Claire Allen has done it again. I don't ever remember being so unnerved reading a book before. Claire is an amazing author & writes about serious issues in a excellent way. You'll feel your spine chilling & angry at the abuse women face so much. This book is not to be missed & absolutely excellent as always.

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of this from NetGalley - I had planned to read it slowly, the subject matter being so tense and raw that I thought it would be easier to read in small doses - I was wrong! I got completely swept up in the story - not breathing in parts as another thread unravelled to reveal a secret. I don’t want to post any spoilers - but this book goes beyond the fear women feel walking alone - down into the darkness of the Incel forums. A daughter missing, a marriage falling apart, how well do we know the people we interact with? Another fabulous read from Claire Allan.

I received an E-ARC copy of ‘The Nurse’ by Claire Allan through NetGalley from Avon Books UK, in return for my honest review. Thank you to the publisher for my copy. The expected publishing date is 17.03.22. This is the first book I have read from this author, but I have heard about her books so much on social media I jumped at the chance to request.

This book follows Nell, a Nurse who just like anyone else lives a normal life of work and socialising with friends.

Suddenly Nell goes missing, and her friends and family are left distraught. Did she leave for some time away, or is there a more sinister reason for her disappearance?

Meanwhile there is a new ‘Game’ floating about on social media aimed at the thrill of creeping up on a woman and scaring her. With the dark web ‘Incel’ community relishing this new challenge, how far will it go?

The police find there is a race against time to discover who is behind this new ‘Game’ before anyone becomes a casualty of these dark and twisted individuals.

This book covers a topic very close to many of our hearts at the moment. The stories in the media have made me question who we can trust and deepened the fear I already had about walking in the dark on my own. It is such an important but heart-breaking issue that we are dealing with every day.

This story is mainly told through the point of view of three individuals, showing you a full picture from all sides. I think it is interesting to see the side of someone who is involved in the ‘Incel’ community as it gives a clearer insight of why the events occur.

I really felt for Nell’s mother with all the pain and grief that she has to deal with throughout as the police are searching for her daughter. It is heart-breaking to read, and you really feel the emotions she goes through.

The book had me gripped throughout as I followed the storyline, and it was a very intense read.

I will be looking to reading more books by Claire Allan, as I loved reading this book.

Overall, a gripping and intense thriller, which deals with a very current issue close to many of our hearts.

#TheNurse #NetGalley
A good read.
Nell, the nurse is gone missing and her mom, Marian is worried. Someone was watching her from so many days and they'd taken her. Who are they? And what do they want? Read it to find out.
This story is told from three POV's.
Characters were good.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for giving me an advanced copy of this psychological thriller.

Brutally brilliant!

Claire Allen has done it again. The Nurse follows the story of missing Nell and the pain and panic that her mother goes through. It was a difficult read at times, as Allen depicts the minds of the Incels so well, and of course that is not just restricted to fiction.

I couldn't put it down and read well into the night to see what happened and wasn't disappointed.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for the opportunity to read and review.

OMG The Nurse is one seriously twisted book! Claire Allan has created a book that plays on most woman’s biggest fear where a sense of malice is palatable from the start. The first chapter chills you and by the second chapter, you will find yourself well and truly hooked. The Nurse incorporates a subject that’s relevant and very current in today's news, which makes the read far more credible and terrifying.

Nell Sweeney is a nurse, who disappears after completing her shift. The narrative moves effortlessly between Marian, Nell’s mum, and an unknown male who appears to hate women. He has gotten involved with involuntarily celibate dark websites (Incel) where women are depicted in an extremely negative way and dehumanised and abused. The subject is a difficult one, but the author deals with it sympathetically. But never less I feel I should mention that the storyline is gritty, and makes for an upsetting and disturbing read at times.

The Nurse generates a genuine sense of fear as the unknown male’s behaviour escalates. The emotions the young women feel are so credible you imagine yourself in their shoes, vulnerable and terrified. Marian’s character is one every mother will relate to. The pain and grief that she had to deal with whilst the police are searching for her daughter was heart-breaking to read.

The unknown male chapters sent shivers down my spine, as he becomes an active member of Incel. It made for an uncomfortable read. There’s an intense feeling of something dark and dangerous lurking as his twisted game gains momentum within the Incel community. A sense of foreboding grows at every flick of the page. I have a feeling this book is going to be a big hit on its release in 2022. Highly recommended.

My review will be shared to my Instagram, goodreads and Amazon accounts

i am a huge fan of Claire Allan, so was really looking forward to this read, which didn't disappoint.

The narrative alternates between the perspective of Marian (the victim's mum) and Him (I won't spoil by revealing his name. There are a few chapters from Nell's point of view.

Nell is a nurse. When she disappears fro a few days, her friend Clodagh assumes she has met someone and is having fun, but when she fails to turn up for work, Clodagh realises something's wrong.

The author does a great job of portraying the characters. I really felt for Marian. Knowing your child is in danger is a horrendous situation to be in. It is clear that her relationship with her husband, Stephen is strained. Having Heather, the family liason officer involved and the journalist searching for an exclusive on the story, all added authenticity.

He starts an online movement #Ihavethepower, where he scares woman. Although he has no intention of harming them, other followers are more extreme and that's how Nell finds herself chained in a cold, empty house.

The novel explores the theme of misogyny and reminded me of Jodi Picoult's work.

I particularly liked the way the author drip fed information and built up tension to the climactic scene at the end.

I will definitely recommend this read and eagerly await, Claire Allan's next novel.

Thanks indeed to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon UK for the eARC.

This book really freaked me out. I am a nurse myself and worked in a not so great area so I always worry. I ended up finishing the book to figure out what happened, but just the idea of a nurse being abducted outside the hospital she worked at and finding out that she was more than likely being watched is just a lot. I thought the book was great and was very well written. It just hit close to home. But I would definitely recommend to a friend.

Nell Sweeney is a nurse leading a very ordinary life, until one day she is taken while walking to the hospital where she works. Nell never expected something like this to happen, but soon learns that she was likely being watched by her abductor. And that he is likely watching others too. She is praying to be found before its too late!

This was a very intense thriller novel from Claire Allen. The author kept the intensity very high throughout this fascinating story. I appreciated the multiple points of view and that the story felt completely believable, as it could easily be a news story in real life. I really enjoyed THE NURSE and I hope you will too!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

WOW this book just WOW. I was gripped from the first page and I couldnt put it down, and didnt until i got to the very last word. It was dark, chillingly disturbing and shockingly raw and all the better for it. The book deals with senstive issues such as incels in a very emotive and real way that makes the reader really live it alongside the characters. It was unnervingly atmospheric and tense and I loved it

This is a brilliant thriller, giving insight into the murky, dark world of incel’s and Internet forums at a very timely moment. The characters are riveting, the victims Mum in particular, and there is a brilliant moment around half way through that just blew me away. Loved it.

I have always enjoyed reading a book by Claire Allan, I think they keep getting better and better her books, this one was brilliant. I was hooked from the first chapter, it has just the right level of tension that builds up with a good pace. It sent shivers down my arms and a level of unease reading it, I wanted to devour the whole thing right away but then wanted to saviour the story. Claire has a way with her words that keep you guessing and she leaves the reader with a hint of intrigue as you never really know what will happen next. I loved the story line and it had some fantastic twists, I look forward to reading Claire's next book.

As soon as I heard the premise for this book, I knew I had to read it. "The Nurse" is a captivating psychological thriller which thoroughly engaged me. I couldn't put it down! Claire Allan has really pulled out all the stops with this one. She cleverly, subtly, challenges our perceptions around who is a victim worthy of public sympathy. She also shows us how easily people can become radicalised online.

"The Nurse" explores the very real, very dangerous, culture of Incels. If you don't know what that means, you're in for the shock of your life. I urge you to read the Author's Note at the end for context, and I also highly recommend Laura Bates's work of non-fiction on the subject, entitled "Men Who Hate Women". Allan has used fiction to explore a hugely important (and little understood) issue in a way that is engaging and gripping. I hope this book is a massive bestseller. It deserves to be.

This book is really good. The incel movement is so terrifying to me, and the way it was brought to life so realistically in this novel was both brilliant and scary to read about.

There are a lot of books about missing people and I often find that the reactions of the parents don't quite ring true but I think Marian was spot on. You could really feel her terror and devastation and I felt dreadfully sorry for her.

This isn't a particularly twisty novel, it's more character-driven, but having said that there was one part that I really didn't see coming.

Just an editing note - there are a few inconsistencies. At the beginning Marian describes Nell as her 'eldest child' which is a bit of a strange phrase when it turns out that Nell is an only child. Also Heather states at the beginning that she has no children but has plans to have them soon, but by the end she has acquired two teenage sons. DI Bradley is also demoted to DS on at least one occasion. I imagine these issues will be ironed out prior to publication.

I have read all of Claire’s books. I thought that her previous book ‘Forget Me Not’ was excellent and the ending fantastic.
This book is not one with a plot twist though. It is one that is fast paced and exciting. I read it in two days!
This book focuses on the deep and dark world of incels (involuntarily celibate). This might be a relatively new term for some and it makes for some uncomfortable reading at times. This group of men are against women, they hate them for wanting power and control, seeing it as an emasculation.
We hear from an anonymous male as he starts a viral moment of following lone women walking home at night.
We also hear from a distraught mother, as she learns that her daughter is missing.
The two timelines run at slightly different times, so you never quite know what’s going to pop up next.
Who has her daughter and will she see her alive ever again?
This is a very tense and gripping story. If you want a great crime read then this one is for you.

Another tense chilling Claire Allen book.Tense chilling characters that come alive.Could not put down read late into the night,Will be recommending author and book#netgalley#avonbooksuk

Thank you so much for giving me the chance to read The Nurse early. I’ve been waiting for this book, Claire Allan being one of my favourite and auto buy authors, and was not disappointed. This may now be my favourite thriller by the author, with “Forget Me Not” very close second.

I feel like there’s so much to say about this book I could ramble.. so I’d just say if you should absolutely preorder this one!!

As always with Claire’s books, I was completely spooked after the first page! She really knows how to hook you straight away!
Emotional and tense just doesn’t cite it.
When I figured out who “Him” was, I startled my family shouting “WAIIIIIT, ARE YOU __?! Noooo”
Marian talks in the first half of motherhood and newborns, which is both hilarious and relatable.

This book touched on some very real and relevant issues in such a thought provoking and disturbing way. Women walking with keys in their fingers, crossing the road so as to not be followed etc. It was brilliant.
“And for all the women who never made it home…” I was in absolute bits reading the acknowledgments and authors note.

Very easy 5 stars.

I absorbed this book in a weekend. Very fast paced and the unknown male chapters made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Very chilling and gripping. Didn't want it to end but I couldn't stop reading. One of the best of this genre that I've read this year.

I LOVED this book!! The story was quite intriguing and quite the psychological thriller. Claire Allan does an excellent job of weaving a good, page-turning story that keeps you guessing until the shocking reveal. I had to go back to make sure I read it right on who was involved. I learned what an incel was and how radicalized people can get with online forums and the dark web.

I have to find more books by this author!

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved this one. Very fast paced, had me turning pages as I tore through it – I had to see how it would end. The characters were well rounded and the narrative felt believable. Gave me chills. Solid five

Nell Sweeny has disappeared. She was a young woman just starting out: recently graduated from nursing school, working in the local hospital, rooming with her best friend, meeting new people, dating. She and her roommate worked different shifts, so Nell had already been missing a few days before anyone noticed. When the police become involved, they discover her cell phone and her credit cards haven’t been used since she left work, days before. Her friends and family insist that she is a responsible young woman and would not take off on holiday without telling someone.
Her mother Marian knows that something is deeply wrong. She can only wait. Her husband, Nell’s father, is with her. A family liaison is ever by her side. Detectives come and go. But Marian is alone as only a mother, who had once shared her body with her now missing only child, can be, waiting for the telephone call that her daughter has been found, one way or another.
Claire Allan, a former journalist, has a gift for writing point-of-view so precisely that the reader feels like she is in the room with the character, seeing everything, hearing everything, feeling the terror that envelops Marian, as Marian slowly detaches from the everyday life she had before Nell disappeared which now seems surreal and foreign. This story, something that could happen to anyone, is harrowing. It’s the kind of story that will stay with you long after you have closed the book.

This was a really compelling story and dark story. It gives an insight into the dark and depraved world of the Incel.
The book is about Nell a young nurse who has disappeared, and a man who feels he is unseen by women.
This is a really fast paced and gripping read.

I had to stop reading this party way through. Not because it wasn’t good, but because it was SO good. Such an incredibly tough yet relevant subject matter and tackled from multiple points of view. Not much scares me in fiction, but this truly did a number on me! Sinister, because it’s so realistic. Sometimes what we fear most is right under our noses

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review -
Nell is a nurse who walks to work every day never worrying for her safety - - but someone is watching her!
And then she disappears - Has she run off? Has someone taken her? But what is really going on will shock you!

A scarily well written and timely book with complex, engaging characters and a plot that grabs you from the first chapter and refuses to let go!
I found the part of Him particularly interesting; like like every young woman today I can relate to the fear and actions of all of the female characters but have never thought of the situation from a male perspective..
A really outstanding read, my only criticism is that the title doesn't do justice to the content.

This book was excellent - as a thriller, and as a glimpse into a very real part of society. It was unsettling and eerie at times, shocking and horrifying at others. The characters were well drawn, particularly Nell's mother Marian. You'll figure the twist right before it's revealed, which works very well because you're thinking "no, it can't be, is it??!". And the author did a great job given the male side of the story and the type of thought process. I'm so glad I read it, even if it did leave me looking over my shoulder even more than usual!

The Nurse by Claire Allan
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I simply love Claire Allan. The Nurse is another creepy, dark and pretty disturbing story that is every woman's nightmare come true. A glimpse into the minds of some really messed up people and the powers of the dark web. You must read this. Be warned it is terryfying and realistic.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks @netgalley @avonbooksuk and @claireallan_author for my arc
Publication date 17th March 2022

This book was amazing!! The plot twist blew my mind and the suspense had me devouring every second of it. The part where Nell was reading about her parents in the paper was so heart wrenching. You felt the emotions of everyone in this book and it was really just a fantastic read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Woah.

Well what do I say about this other than it scared the absolute crap out of me. I REALLY couldn't connect to one of the viewpoints we are following but the others I was hooked on. This was my first Claire Allan book and I dont think it will be my last! Full review will be on Books and Bargains youtube channel (December 2021 Wrap Up due towards the end of the month)

From the premise of the book, I was eager to read it and I wasn’t disappointed. Nell Sweeney is a nurse. Every day she walks up and from the hospital believing no harm can come to her, until one day, she is taken. It seems someone is out there watching her, watching women, she’s one of the unlucky ones. If the police don’t find her soon, she may not be the only one who is taken. Gripping and thrilling, I found this book hard to put down. It’s well written and will keep you hooked to the end. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and the author for the chance to review.

Claire Allan is one of my favourite authors at the moment and this book was just brilliant. To say I enjoyed it seems strange, it was a great story well written but deeply disturbing. I think it was just far too true to life. The mindset of a misogynistic incel is terrifying to explore but this book really hit home as to how these men operate, firstly as keyboard warriors then egged on by others playing out their fantasies in real life.
I loved Nell's mother Marian, I could really identify with her as a mother of a young woman. Her husband was a total waste of space and I felt no sympathy for him whatsoever.
Traumatic read but definitely a story of our time. I especially liked the epilogue which highlighted real life scenarios which inspired this book.

This psychological thriller is so intense that, as a reader, I had to close the book and walk away from the scene that was unfolding. I am not sure if it was the subject matter or the skillful writing and descriptives by the author that made my pulse race and forced me out of my chair to distract myself. No matter, this subject matter has a title and a following: incel: involuntary celibacy. These are men who are unable to have a romantic relationship in spite of wanting one and blaming the women as the cause. You can get swept up and be part of it on the dark web and that is exactly what happened.
   What started as a small “thrill” of scaring a girl, posting it on a website to make this man feel empowered and the hero to others with this misogynistic mentality turns into a deadly situation. There are others out there that want to “up” the ante against women and are quick to support any activity that does so.
   Running parallel to this storyline is what is happening to the missing girl's parents and their relationship. You learn that the mother has also been a victim of being abused mentally and physically for many years and the reasons why she tolerated it. So the subject matter hits home in every scene.
   It’s a gripping story with factual situations as described in the postscript by the author that gives it credence that this subculture exists.

The Nurse is a gripping thriller that deals with a topic that has been in the news over the last few years or so. The rise of incels and how internet forums and groups have grown around these men who feel that they are under threat from and owed something by women.
This particular story is told (mostly) from two points of view. Firstly Marian, who finds out that her daughter, a nurse in her early twenties has been abducted. Secondly from the point of view of a, to begin with, nameless man. This man has become increasingly frustrated with the women in his life. The boss who belittles him, even though he's sure that she has only been promoted due to her sex. His flatmate who flaunts her body and mocks him at the same time, the women who aren't interested in him. He spends more and more time online and finds purpose and a sense of acceptance with other men who have the same experience. The more time that he spends with these people online, getting recognition, the further his actions go.
I don't really want to go into to many details about what happens. This is a thriller and I think keeping the twists and turns unknown before you begin is a big part of what keeps you wanting to read more, to learn more.
This was a gripping read and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. It walked the balance between the victim's fear and a strange kind of understanding for the man who had fallen into this world perfectly. Give it a read if you have a chance, you won't regret it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

The Nurse by Claire Allan was the perfect book with which to finish a year of varied and eclectic reading, and I am thrilled to end on such a high note.

Nell is a young nurse with the whole of her life ahead of her. Adored by her parents, and living with her closest friend, Nell is thriving in her freedom and independence. But a single phone call from a concerned roommate will change everything. Nell has gone missing, and as her frantic parents search for answers, time seems to be running out for a young woman who has had the great misfortune to not only be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but to see firsthand the evil that is omnipresent, and always lurking in the corners of our lives.

This is a chilling read that serves as a startling reminder that we are always only one decision away from a completely different outcome.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an ARC.

This is such a chilling book! Claire Allan isn’t afraid to deliver a punch to your gut with a gripping storyline that felt far too close for comfort at times as it mirrored some awful true life crimes that have occurred around the world recently. But she didn’t dwell on the side of voyeurism, instead using her characters to increase the tension throughout. I loved Marion-a mother who never gives up hope of seeing her daughter again even though the odds are stacked against her-and the use of the multiple viewpoints kept the plot flowing with a perfectly paced game of cat and mouse.
A difficult book to put down but I had to at times to give myself some breathing space away from the claustrophobic feeling that pushed down on me during some hard to read scenes.
Cleverly written and thought provoking.

The nurse by Claire Allan was such a great read, I loved the characters and both the storyline, kept me so engaged and wanting to turn the pages. It is a psychological thriller for fellow book readers who like this genre, definitely didn’t disappoint. Claire Allan kept you engaged throughout the whole book and everything blended very well together which I really liked. Such a thrilling and creative read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

The nurse by Claire Allan

Wow, this was a great read ! I had a few late nights staying up to read this! Loved the characters and the storyline was great. The book flowed really well. Would definitely love to read more from this author.

Nell, is a young nurse, the daughter to Stephen and Marian. She is living independently, but one day, Marian gets a phone call from Nell’s roommate. Nell has not been to the house in at least 2 days. The police are called. There are three different points of view explored in this novel, Nell, her mother Marian, and an unnamed man who hates women. At the time of Nell’s disappearance, there is a new movement taking place to harass women and humiliate them. Nell had appeared in a video where a follower of this new movement attempts to scare women alone at night, was Nell taken as a result of this movement or is it a new friend/boyfriend that she has met since living independently? It was impossible to put this down. I recommend this book to anyone interested in psychological thrillers. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Avon Books UK and #NetGalley for my honest opinion. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

You won’t want to put this one down. It’s full of twists and turns.

I am finding it difficult to find the words to review this book.
The subject matter is so true and the writing so incredibly good that it made it, for me, horrible to read.
There was always an undercurrent of evil that I could not get my head around. When I did I felt sick. What had been an uncomfortable read suddenly worsened to the nth degree. How? Why? What now?
The ending was fitting. It could never be right. Nothing could make that right. I was right to keep reading. This book needs reading.

This book blew my mind! I was expecting one thing and was given something that was way beyond my expectations. It was downright creepy and intense. I will never walk outside at night alone again that’s for sure. Nell was just trying to live her life to the fullest and a bad choice led to some very horrible consequences. She went missing and her parents began a frantic search for her. The search led to a very disturbing revelation about what lurks on the dark web. An intriguing thriller to add to your list.

This book is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat (or wherever you are reading it!!!) Claire Allan has written another gripping read which explores serious issues usually written about.

The story centres around Nell a nurse who has gone missing. The story is told from multiple points of view and this really kept my interest as well as allowing me to get to know each character and their personal perspective. I felt so much for Marion her mother, it’s every mother’s worst nightmare to have anything happen to their child but the uncertainty of not knowing what has happened is unimaginable.

Incel forums were something I previously may have heard of but didn’t really think about. The depictions in the book were really disturbing but equally sadly true to life.

The story is set in the city I was born and grew up in and this added to my enjoyment, I could picture each location and this made the story seem so real to me. . Overall this is a compelling sometimes dark read which had me page turning late into the night.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this gripping thriller.

The Nurse is a clever thriller with a chilling storyline and plenty of twists which made for a great read. I have always enjoyed this author’s books and this one was no exception.

Holy crap! Can you say toxic?

These characters are what we all fear, especially women, the world becoming full of. No doubt we've met and experienced a few, maybe unfortunately several in our lives, but this book pulls them together with some sort of women-hating magnet.

This is a dark thriller and it's quite emotional, even triggering, so beware.

A harrowing tale of misogyny and toxic masculinity, this suspense thriller describes every woman's worst nightmare.

22-year old nurse, Nell Sweeney has been missing for four days and her parents, Marian and Stephen are beside themselves with worry. While the cops are doing everything they can to locate her, unbeknownst to them, Nell is caught in a psycopath's macabre power game, where she is merely an expendable pawn.

It takes amazing skill to turn such an agonising subject matter into an unputdownable plot, the way Claire Allan has done with 'The Nurse.' Her story-telling technique is unfaltering, be it in the tangible portrayal of Nell's sheer terror, Stephen's helplessness, Marian's alternating feelings of grief, dread and numbness, or in the characterization of the antagonist whose twisted POV invokes revulsion and outrage in the reader.

The events in the book do bring up unpleasant memories of situations of fear and harassment that women all over have endured because of the perverted view of certain men who try to find their own worth, in the pain of the women around them. The author's note at the end of the book provides a condensed insight into the 'incel' community, ensuring that it isn't simply fiction, but an existing and escalating movement of 'women-haters.'

Overall, an intensely dark read that is as compelling as it is uncomfortable. Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

If you like thrillers, you are very likely to find this book captivating. A very fast-moving story, with good character development and a scenario which is researched.

Stephen & Marian are like many married couples, leading a fairly routine life, though with some level of incompatibility & stress between them. Nell is their daughter, who wants to live an independent life, and works as a nurse. One day Marian receives a call from Nell’s room-mate that she has not been seen for the last 2-3 days. At first, since Nell has made some new friends, including a new boyfriend, they just expect she has stayed over with someone. As the cops get involved, they advise not to panic initially, but everyone fears the worst as more time elapses.

There is another track which alternates with this one – there is a man (referred to as only ‘Him’, ‘He’ for over half the book) who harbours resentment against what feminism is doing to the freedom men have enjoyed in the past. He, along with other Incels (Involuntary celibates) discuss such things on forums on the dark web. He has an idea to get power back for men, and with a camera follows women walking alone, filming the fear they feel, finally making a lame excuse for being behind them. As he posts this on the forums to adulation from others, his sense of self-worth grows. This triggers many others to think of more things they can do. It seems that one of this crowd could be involved with Nell’s disappearance.

The writing is very good, and the book is a page turner. ‘His’ philosophy to life and women is expressed very well, however disturbing it is to read. The author covers her research in the afterword and it is troubling, indicating that it is very easy today for many to harbour, discuss and amplify regressive views, and the true scenario is as bad or worse than what this book covers.

A couple of things could have been better:
- There is another victim besides Nell, whose story is brushed past too quickly (even she is not a primary character in the story).
- The ending is somewhat plain and simple, and could have been better. However, I much prefer this instead of a far-fetched twist.

My rating: 4.5 / 5.

This is my first novel by author Claire Allan and I did really enjoy it.

We meet Marian, Nell and "Him", each chapter is from a different characters perspective and I love this kind of theme when reading a novel.

Nell is a nurse who is mildly experimenting after being the good girl. Her room mate rings her mother, Marian, saying she has not seen Nell for a few days and is starting to get worried.

The Him chapters are of an anonymous male, we do find out later in the novel who he is though, which is a great twist, and this character is sick of women, he uses the dark web to meet others like himself. He starts to scare women and put his videos on this dark web page and starts a following.

Nell is missing and Marians chapters are of a heartbroken mother who desperately is searching for her child.

Nell's chapters were of her imprisonment and how helpless she is.

I did really enjoy this novel, for me I did find myself skim reading some pages, as I felt it was quite drawn out but nonetheless this is a good gripping novel and I really enjoyed Claire Allan's writing.

Thanks to NetGalley, Claire Allan and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my review.

I really enjoyed this one and will look into this author more. I enjoyed with twists and the flow of the story. The writing was well done and kept my interest throughout. I will be recommending this one to friends.

This was quite possibly the most terrifying book that I have read. This is real, this is now, this could be anyone of my friends, my colleagues, my family. This is us.

The Author's note at the end of the book says: “On the day I submitted the first draft of this novel to my editor, the body of a missing marketing executive Sarah Everard was discovered in woodlands near Ashdod in Kent, England.” Sarah was walking home.

About the time I started to read this, Ashling Murphy was murdered. Ashling was out for a run.

A psychological thriller which explores the horrifying world of "incels" (involuntary celibate). Told from different POV with twists throughout to keep the reader thinking. The worst kind of twists.

I am a fan of Claire Allan and would recommend if you enjoy Kerry Wilkinson, Alex Stone and Sarah Alderson

The Nurse is a thriller that does not disappoint. I literally could not put it down. At each turn, I thought I had it figured out and.... twist! This is a story about a young nurse named Nell. She was just trying to find some fun in her life. When she turns up missing, her parents are worried. You watch the cracks in their marriage crack wide open. You also hear the thoughts of the psychopath that has taken Nell and possibly others. What will happen next.....
Thank you NetGalley for the oppurtunity to read the book for my honest opinion.
#NetGalley

This was an excellent book for me and difficult at the same time , the subject is handled very well and I really liked Claire's author's note at the end , it makes for troubling reading .
Marian's daughter Nell is missing , she hasn't showed up at the local hospital where she works so a missing person report is filed , you really feel for Marian as the days go on and I was totally immersed in her grief and despair , as the police investigation in ongoing cracks in her marriage that have been there for ages slowly start coming to the fore , brilliantly written , I felt all of the emotions she was going through , fantastic writing

This is another 5 star read from Claire Allan. The fact that the issue of women feeling insecure when out alone at night is so prevalent in the news at the moment made this story feel really close to home. I felt a whole range of emotions while reading from fear and anger to curiosity and eagerness to find out the identity of the man stalking these women. I have to say that his identity left me reeling. I thought that the fact that the story is told from the point of view of several characters really portrayed both the fear and fury felt by the women as well as showing how what seemed like a harmless prank became more sinister. A book that will make you think.

This book had me gripped from the start.
Nell had been missing for four days before her friend realised something was wrong.
I enjoyed seeing the perspective from Nell, her mum and him.
This book has everything, twists, heartbreak, hatred, love. It is definitely not one to be missed and you will not be able to put this book down.

Wow! This book gripped me from the first page to the last. The authors extensive research of "Incels" comes through in her amazing writing and within the characters of this psychological thriller. I
I read The Nurse well into the night and at every spare moment until I'd finished it

What an intense story from beginning to end. The story centres upon a nurse called Nell who suddenly disappears after her shift.
.Nells mum soon finds out that her daughter has been acting out of character and using online sites to meet men. The story focuses on the dark web and men who aren't that nice on these sites. Can her mum find out who is behind the kidnapping before it's too late. This book will keep you wanting more right to the end.

This arc was given to me by NetGalley and give it my honest opinion
Wow! This book had me gripped from the start!!! The perfect book if you like a thriller! From start to finish the descriptive writing is perfect, a very thought provoking read specially a this time when so many women are being attacked and murdered. This book will stay with me for a long time.

A must read!

The author’s note at the end of this book reads “On the day I submitted the first draft of this novel to my editor, the body of a missing marketing executive Sarah Everard was discovered in woodlands near Ashdod in Kent, England.” She was walking home from a friends house in March 2021.

On the day I started reading this book, the body of a young woman, Ashling Murphy, was found in Tullamore, Co Offaly Ireland. She was in her 20’s, and she was going for a run.

This book was fantastic, but it based on fact. The fact is that women no longer feel safe to be alone. We deserve to feel safe. Women are not at fault, male violence towards women is at fault.

Having said that, I will tell you that Claire Allan’s book was riveting. I started it and did not want to go to sleep, I wanted to stay up and keep reading it. I wanted to finish it and keep it going.

The main characters involved are Nell, her mum, “Him”, and the police. Nell is abducted and we are not sure if she’s missing, run away, murdered or what has happened to her. Nobody has heard from her begin to worry.

The situation picks up speed rather quickly, as she’s already been missing four days at the time it was reported. The story is told through the points of view of Nell, Marian (Nell’s Mum), and “him.” There are twists that I do not think it’s possible to see coming, and I loved it. Finding myself surprised in a murder mystery can be rare! This book does not go the stereotypical ways and I think that’s so wonderful.

The Nurse does not come out until March 2022, I was able to get an advanced readers copy and I’m so glad I was. If you’re not a fan of medical dramas - don’t worry. There’s very little to do with the profession here. If you are a fan of medical dramas - there’s just enough detail for you to enjoy, but it’s mostly character filler. Come to think of it, it’s a little odd for it to be the title of the book and not really relevant to the story at all.

Either way, do yourself a favor and get a copy of The Nurse. It’s fantastic and I could not put it down.

The description of this book is everything that I look for in a good thriller mystery, suspense, and a what is going on feeling that I just have to get to the bottom of. When I opened this book I was completely surprised at how fast the author placed her reader right in the middle of the plot there wasn't a lot of build up. I really liked
this because it lets you are a reader find out things that are happening at the same time as our main character. The book starts out with our main character Marian getting a call telling her that her daughter Nell hasn't been seen in a few days. Like any mother she is shocked and determined to find out what is going on and if this is all a big misunderstanding. However her small hopes are dashed when she is unable to get a hold of her daughter and she starts fearing the worst. The story then flips to a new character only known as "him". He is a woman hater who blames his hatred on the fact that woman don't accept him. He is the kind of man who is full of anger and believes that there is no reason woman should be scared of him but the fact that they are makes him super angry and have violent fantasies which completes the cycle. I really liked the point of view changes between "Him" and Marian because it gives the reader the chance to see both the good and the evil parts of the plot as they play out simultaneously. This book takes off like a fire and each chapter douses the plot with gasoline making it burner stronger and brighter than before. I loved everything about this book and this story was something that I haven't seem much of before. Great read for people who love thrillers and don't mind a little bit of a darker subject line sometimes. I can't say enough good things about this novel, I'm so glad that I was given the opportunity read it and I can't wait until it is released so I can recommend it to everyone I know. I cannot wait to read other books by Claire Allan if they are all even half as good as this one I know that I won't be disappointed.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Wow what a read, fast paced and page turning and will make you think. Loved it.

OMG! What a gripping book. At times I felt like I needed to read it from “behind the sofa”, some breathing space from the dark and disturbing story yet at same time I wanted to keep reading. I did struggle to get hooked early in the book, but after around 20% the psychological nature of the story just takes over. This is my fourth book by Claire, and they just get better. Detailed, descriptive and disturbing. Unfortunately believable. Totally recommended.

This is the first novel I have read by Claire Allan and I'll certainly be exploring her back catalogue now. The Nurse is a very timely and relevant novel, a thriller that focuses on the misogyny and violence towards women in our society and those men who are part of the INCEL movement. It follows the disappearance of 22 year old nurse Nell and Allen writes from the perspectives of Nell, her mother Marion and a member of an online INCEL group. It appears that Allen has done a lot of research into the subject and this is a chilling but gripping read. The novel is well written and well paced and there's a twist that I definitely did not see coming. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

This is the first book I read from this author and I really enjoyed it. The story is fast paced and the characters believable. Overall I’d recommend this book.

I loved this story of a nurse with a secret that is being kidnapped while on her way to work. The storyline was amazing and the ending was super unexpected!!!

Fans of fast-paced thrillers will love this. Nell is working as a nurse and ends up being abducted. Her roommate raises the alarm and breaks the news to her parents that she's missing. The POV's switch between Nell, and then to her mother. It shows the process of finding her and how difficult it was for everyone involved. It had me gripped from start to finish. I could not recommend it enough!

I received this arc through net galley and the publishers. I was looking forward to reading another Claire Allan book as I had previously read and enjoyed several of them.

I wasn’t disappointed this book had me gripped from the start till the end and I would highly recommend it.

This feels incredibly relevant as a novel – and guaranteed, you’ll be more aware of walking home on your own after reading. Nell Sweeney is a young nurse whose parents get the worst news: she’s been taken and police have yet to find her. Dubbed as being in the wrong place at the wrong time, time is running out to find Nell, and her parents – with their own relationship issues – fret over who took their daughter, and why. Meanwhile, there’s a sinister trend developing, one that will set any woman on her own on edge, and one that grew into something that looks difficult to end. It’s clear that other women are being watched, and being subjected to acts of unspeakable unpleasantness, becoming the pawn in cruel games of mistreatment – and all for likes and followers. Claire has written a very modern thriller, one that taps into the worries and fears of anyone walking home alone, or waiting for a bus alone, and you can expect to have this linger in your mind long after you’ve read the final page.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.
This was definitely a judge a book by its cover, it drew me in from the front.
I was addicted from the start, told from the point of view of 'him' as well as her mum gave both sides of the story.
It is scary that there are many people out there who think the same as 'him' and that this happens and that men think they are entitled to think like that also made it an even more spooky read.
The twist in the middle had me like woahhhh and I devoured the rest of the book.
After the twist in the middle the pace slowed down a bit, which is why I rated it 4star, as it was a bit slower towards the end, but an addictive read!

This was absolutely not what I was expecting when I started the book but omg, what a book!! For any woman, this book will terrify you and have you gripped in equal measure!! Its so engaging and captivating and the reason it gets so under your skin is because we all know that this kind of thing does happen. These men do exist, these places on the Internet exist and every woman has known that sinking feeling in her stomach when she's accidently caught some creeps attention. Obviously this is fiction but, let's be honest..... its not just fiction is it?! And that is why you just won't be able to put it down and it will take you through every emotion you can think of. Really beautifully written and an absolute gem a book!!! I couldnt recommend this highly enough

A very emotive and thought provoking read exploring the current and very real issue on INCELS.

A tense, gripping, disturbing, cleverly written plot that builds into a crescendo until it explodes in it's final chapters.

One that will hook you in from the beginning to the end.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Nurse by Claire Allan.

He is a man that is fed up with women. Finding solace with likeminded men on the dark web, he begins to talk about his exploits of late, scaring women by following them until they panic.

She is a woman who is just looking for a date with a nice guy. But now she is missing, and so is another one of her coworkers. Are the two connected? And how far could this escalate.

Ah, incels. It just strikes fear in your heart hearing the word. This definitely addresses the seedy underbelly of that world and the danger it creates for women. I can only hope that it's an exaggerated version.

Having said that, as far as thriller/suspense novels go, I did enjoy this. It has you on the edge of your seat, with several unexpected turns. You'll be holding on to your hat for sure!

✨ {arc} BOOK REVIEW ✨ The Nurse by Claire Allan

~ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ~

🚨 for trigger warnings, DM me because this one has many 🚨

Whew 😥 this one was DEEPLY disturbing. I grabbed this because I love thrillers and thought the summary was intriguing… but holy shit, I did not expect to be as rattled when I finished it!

Claire Allan has a way of pulling the reader in from her journalistic storytelling to her ambiguous characters. The Nurse pivots between a few main characters’ perspectives: Nell (our nurse gone missing), Marian (Nell’s mum), and “Him” (a mystery man until about 60% into the book). The jerky transitions between narratives and POVs served the book so well - I literally felt like I had whiplash from my brain being dragged in so many different directions (note, I felt such a full & strong spectrum of emotions for so many of the characters in this book)!

As a massive thriller fan, I can’t emphasize enough how much I loved Allan’s way of not saving a final plot twist for the last chapter, but instead, sprinkling a couple plot twists / surprises throughout the mystery. I feel like more recently, I’ve read thrillers that try so hard for a mind-blowing plot twist and they don’t always land… so this one was a great diversion from that.

🔊 If you choose to read this one, I cannot emphasize enough how much I recommend reading the mini bio about Claire Allan + her life as a journalist, acknowledgements and the author’s note. I likely would’ve rated this one significantly lower had I not had the context and understand the full scope of this book 📖

📆 To all my thriller fans, mark your calendars because this book will be released on March 17, 2022!

🔎 Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK, Avon for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in return for an honest review.

In my opinion, the title does not convey what the books about. I thought I would get more indepth with Nell who is the Nurse but this was not the case.
The story opened my eyes to incels and the dark web. It's also terrifying that this can happen and has happened. The story did keep me interested to the end. Without spoiling the story I was disappointed the way it ended. But all in all I enjoyed "The Nurse" by Claire Allan. I look forward to reading more books from her.

Stephen and Marian and a normal everyday couple. They have one daughter called Nell who decides to leave the family home and be independently. She is a Nurse at the local hospital, and all walks the same route on her way home. When one night she never returns home. They get a call from her housemate Clodagh that she has been missing. At first, she thinks that she has met a guy and stayed around his but then they eventually find out that she has been abducted and is involved in a power game. He kidnapper is an Incel.
The Nurse by Claire Allen is another amazing book from the author. I have read some of her previous novels and she never disappoints.
This story is told in three points of view Nell, Marian and Him so you can see all aspects of the story which I liked. This is an intriguing, gripping story but I also that it is quite disturbing to know what men are capable of and what depths they will go to make their point. And we know that this is realistic as it did happen to Sarah Everard. Which it makes it scarier. 5 stars from me.

Raw, Gritty, Horrifying…
Nell Sweeney, an ordinary nurse with a fairly ordinary life. Is she about to be at the wrong place, at the wrong time? Someone is watching Nell and wishing her harm, worse there are others. A raw and gritty contemporary suspense. The subject matter extremely dark and extremely unsettling, the tale a compelling one and the characters well crafted with an immersive narrative. Emotionally draining, horrifying and desperately worrying in equal measure.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in return for an honest review.

The Nurse by Claire Allen centers around Nell, a nurse who disappears walking home from work. But this isn't your normal story. It shows how social media can so easily become a weapon and how you cannot control anything that goes online.

I really loved this book, it was different to other books I have ready in the psychological thriller genre. It was heartbreaking at times and definitely hard to put down.

Definitely read this if you are looking for something a little different to your normal whodunnit.

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review on netgalley . I have really enjoyed Claires other books.

Scary chilling and dark . This is every parents worse nightmare .

A real insight into the mind and thought processes of a group of people . You can tell research has been done to get that information. Very disturbing to say the least!

A gripping and compelling thriller which will have you hooked instantly.

Published 17th March

An incredibly well paced psychological thriller. The cleverly placed twist half way in packed a real punch and sent the plot in a totally unexpected direction, which only added to an already electrifying and fighteningly believable storyline. Loved it.

I have never read anything by Claire Allen before and I am so glad that I requested this book through NetGalley to read. I would have read this book in like 2 days had it not been for a family emergency. The book starts off wonderfully and then gets just a little slow in the middle but then once it picks back up, you don’t want to put it down until you have finished it. Claire pulls on your emotional heartstrings as you are reading this and you become so invested in the story and the characters. She does a great job at writing from different POV as well, which I think helps you understand all the different perspectives of the characters. I also think that one thing that adds to this story is how real it is. This is definitely something that could happen any day which then makes the story even more terrifying. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and plan on reading more of her books in the future!

This review will be posted to my Instagram blog (read_betweenthecovers) in the near future!

AMBER Machado <machado283@gmail.com>
Wed, Jan 26, 1:50 PM (4 days ago)
to me

Omg does this one make you suspicious of anyone and everyone!
Stephen and Marian are a normal couple with normal routines and problems. They have a daughter named Nell, who like most young adults wants to live independently and have their own life. Well, one day Nell’s roommate contacts the parents to touch bases with them to see if they knew where Nell was because she has not been seen for 2-3 days. At first, the parents are like most parents they don’t panic they assume that maybe she is staying somewhere else with new friends or something. However, once the cops start to get involved as time goes on the fear and panic sets into play.
Then you have the alternate POV of an HIM character. Now, this HIM character is really disturbing and his philosophy is just as disturbing if not more sinister. He likes to follow women with a camera while they are walking home. He tries to capture everything about following them home the fear the women feel and how uncomfortable he can make the women feel. “He” feels like he is taking power back for men by doing this.
This is definitely a page-turner, and you will feel all the emotions of the characters I think that the regressive thinking is easy for “old fashioned” people to think and harbor resentment about.
The author does an amazing job of turning this whole regressive view into a plot that is not easily put down!
If you like dark twisted thrillers then this should definitely be your next read! Thank you Avon Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this one! It was definitely a treat!

Wow! This book had me hooked from the first page to the last. The work and research Claire Allen must have put into this comes through in her amazing writing and within the characters of this psychological thriller, I felt everything they did. There were so many twists and turns, it kept me on the edge of my seat and everytime I thought I knew what was going to happen there was another fabulous twist. I loved it.

I enjoyed both Forget Me Not and Ask No Questions by Claire Allan and she continues to impress me with The Nurse. Claire Allan writes what I call intelligent thrillers and doesn't use formulas or banal plots. Yes, this is yet another missing child book BUT this time the child is a twenty-two year old adult and she has been missing for four days before her parents find out...I like that it was unique in that way.

Told from three points of view we get chapters from Him. Marion the mother and Nell herself. I love books that have that format. I find when it is done this way you get inside each characters head. I also loved being surprised halfway through the book. This was such a treat to read because of the fresh take on kidnapping stories and what we do for those we love the most. I have The Liar’s Daughter on my TBR pile and I will have to bump it up as Claire Allan never disappoints.

Nell, a nurse, has gone missing in Derry after leaving her shift at the local hospital. The story is told in titled chapters from different perspectives as the story unfolds, adding to the suspense and tension.
This is a very good book and the subject is frightening. Recommended.

This is a book that kept me hooked all the while I was reading it. Set in a small town, this is the story of a Nurse who goes missing. It is the story of her mother who is shattered and helpless unable to do anything to save her only daughter. It is about a man who takes out his frustrations on women by scaring them and another man who takes it a step or two ahead leading to something more darker. It is about the dark net when men talk about how they want to teach women lessons to be more submissive, about how feminism is just a sham and women don’t deserve equality. Sounds familiar, no? Well, in a nutshell, this is a good one time read. I had a good time with it.

I read this book days after the murder of Ashling Murphy in Ireland, a 23 year old school teacher who went out for a jog in a public place in broad daylight, another in long list of woman who never made home. In her afterword Claire Allen notes that she submitted the first draft of this novel around the time of the murder of Sarah Everard in the UK which shocked the world. For her latest book Claire has delved deep into the murky world of the dark web and the incel community and extrapolated a genuine post from an incel forum into a disturbing story that shows how these kind of extreme “ideaologies” begin, grow and thrive in the unmoderated world of the dark web. While this is a page-turner full of the usual twists and turns and suspense aplenty the terrifying thing about this book is that this story is entirely plausible. Most of these type of books contain at least one or two scenarios at a minimum where the reader is required to suspend their belief of say “that’s a bit far fetched” or “that would never really happen in real life”. The most disturbing thing of all about this book is that this IS actually happening and THAT is genuinely terrifying!!

5 stars from me and thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Nurse follows the disappearance of young nurse, Nell. She is generally an easy going, nice, and down to earth girl, so when her parents and roommate do not hear from her in a few days, they start to worry. After getting the police investigation started, they are taken down the patient of internet incels. These incels are men that believe women have too much power and need to be put back in their place. As time runs out for finding Nell, an unexpected character becomes the secret to the inside of the incel.

This was a great, fast-paced book that was hard to put down. I enjoyed the multiple POV's throughout the book. I have not ready any other titles by this author but am interesting in reading more from her.

A young nurse is abducted on her way to work and this is only the beginning. A dark read so be warned. Chilling my goose bumps have goosebumps and I literally have no nails left. Intense, fast paced and a really good thriller.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

A fantastic tense thriller. OMG The Nurse is one seriously twisted book! Claire Allan has created a book that plays on most woman’s biggest fear where a sense of malice is palatable from the start. The first chapter chills you and by the second chapter, you will find yourself well and truly hooked. The Nurse incorporates a subject that’s relevant and very current in today's news, which makes the read far more credible and terrifying.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the second book I read from this author and once again it didn’t disappointed me. The plot is well developed and the book is well written. It’s definitely a page turner and kept me guessing until the end. I definitely recommend it for readers that are looking for a good psychological thriller.

Well that was a dark and disturbingly realistic read! Claire Allen really knows how to relay the fear felt by these women and this family. Her books are always excellent and The Nurse was no exception.

We hear this story from the points of view of all the character. Nell Sweeney, the nurse who is taken on her way home from work. Nell's parents, who are scared and worried about their daughter while their marriage crumbles around them. Also from the man - the man on the Incel forums who learns that his prank of just scaring women on their own walking home at night, has been taken to the next level.

It is a dark look into the dark web and the men that inhabit it., The men that are supposedly fighting for men's rights, and feel that they can't do anything right in the world of #metoo.

Thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book.. The Nurse is published March 17th

This is an incredibly powerful read. It is a tense and addictive thriller interwoven with an exploration of the treatment of women by men who believe they have been emasculated by society's recognition of women's rights. It sends a disturbing message about the number of men who feel that way. They vent their anger and bitterness on the dark web and this spills over into the real world with murder and kidnapping. This is not a political diatribe. The author is even handed in her treatment of both sides but it does demonstrate how dangerous some beliefs can be.

Frighteningly realistic characters, a great plot and a perfect pace make this a must read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’d like to thank Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Nurse’ written by Claire Allan in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Nell Sweeney is a nurse who people describe as kind and caring, when she suddenly disappears from home without telling her friend Clodagh or her parents. A man who considers himself to be insignificant decides to follow women in deserted places and scare them as he enjoys their feeling of being defenceless. He makes videos, one of them is of Nell, and posts them on the dark web where he gets lots of followers, in particular someone who calls himself Doire. But Doire isn’t interested in just scaring them, he wants to take things to the next level!

The story of ‘The Nurse’ is told through the narrative of the three main characters, Nell, her mother Marian, and the man who starts the new ‘game’ of following and scaring women and gets so involved in the ‘Incel’ community he can’t get out. As events become more tense I fear for the safety of Nell and women like her, and my dislike of those men who think misogyny is the way forward increases. This is one of those thrillers that once you start reading you can’t stop as you become so involved in the characters whose lives are being changed beyond recognition that you want to be there to support them. This is an extremely well-written psychological thriller where the drama increases until you reach the shocking climax. The final pages with the Author’s Notes explains some of the background behind the story and is so interesting that I had to keep reading. This is a superb thriller that I can recommend.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started The Nurse, I certainly had no idea that it would go in the direction that it did. I couldn’t put it down despite it being a deeply disturbing and I did not expect to be so rattled when I finished it. In parts, a traumatic read but definitely a story of our time. I especially liked the epilogue which highlighted real life scenarios which inspired this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for an ARC of this book for an honest review

This one started off very slow, but once it got going it was pretty enjoyable. Nothing spectacular, but overall enjoyable. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for review.


3.5/5

Another great thriller, fast paced and well written. It’s written in chapters of Marian, Nell and “Him”. Every character is very well thought out and descriptive.

Nell goes missing and her parents are frantic with worry, there is a movement of men who feel like they are being looked down upon by woman. The story then evolves. The book does make you think about the risks we all take daily and makes you more aware of the threats.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy.

Everyone has a secret. But some are worse than you could ever imagine. Nell Sweeney has led an ordinary life. Every day she walks to and from hospital where she works as a nurse, believing that no harm can befall her. Until one day she is taken. Because someone out there has a secret. Someone has been watching Nell - and they've been watching others like her too.

The story centres around Nell, a nurse that is missing. Nell's flatmate and best friend tells Nell's mother that she hasn't seen Nell in four days or turned up for work .As the police investigates Nell's disappearance, there's a group of men who call themselves incels, (involuntary celibates) on the dark web. The story is told from multiple points of view and each chapter is told from a different character. This is a multi-layered story that's creepy, dark and chilling. After reading this book, I don't think I will be out walking the streets at night on my own again!!

OI would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #ClaireAllan for my ARC of #TheNurse in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly, I am thankful for the opportunity to have received a free advanced copy of this eBook through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I had not read anything from this author before, but I’ve now added her other books to my TBR pile. This one was an enjoyable read. Nell, a nurse has been missing for days, someone has been watching, someone has taken her. Where could she be and can she be saved before it’s too late?

I rate this Ebook 4 stars and would recommend to those who enjoy a suspense thriller.

#TheNurse #NetGalley

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review

Nell has disappeared. Her parents with their own set of problems are desperate to find their perfect daughter who is a nurse. An unknown male has accessed the dark web and posted about his hatred for women.. The post on the dark web gains a life of its own and the male is empowered by his sudden following until a new top dog threatens to enact the ultimate revenge on women on line. The race is on to find Nell before its to late. This is a powerful story with twists and turns told from the desperate mother, the unknown male and Nell. A good read 4 stars

Gripping and thought provoking, this is another great thriller from Claire Allan.

Told from multiple viewpoints, while the focus of the story initially seems to be about the abduction of a young woman Nell, it also explores the rise of involuntary celibacy and fractured relationships.

Regularly moving you through feelings of fear, alarm, anger and disbelief, the author also does allow relief and joy into the mix at times too, though mainly towards the end.

Showing how we are all flawed in some way but, if willing, can be redeemed. This is a tale full of twists and turns and wonderfully thought out characters.

The Nurse
Claire Allan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Decide to go wild a have a few weekend benders until you disappear? I really enjoyed this book, I do with the ending had a twist but it was still very good, and kept me interested all the way through.

An interesting and sometimes gripping read concerning the abduction of a young woman. Narrated from three viewpoints - Nell, the victim, Marian, her mother and the man who began all of this - it tells the story of a young man whose attempts at befriending the opposite sex don't go well. Feeling emasculated, he decides to rectify this by following young women and filming the fear in their faces when he catches up with them. He then posts his activities on social media, creating a lot of interest, mainly from some pretty ghoulish people. Things take an unexpected turn when one of his commenters decides to take over and up the game, with terrible results.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. The plot was well structured and the characters believable, although I found Marian's narrative too much sometimes. I can understand the horror of living with her situation and the fact she had an estranged husband who was, and had never been supportive of her. Her anxiety and hysterical outbursts I understood, but her constant need to question police guidelines became annoying, especially when she blurted out a potential suspect's name to the media.

My thanks to Netgalley, Claire Allan and Avon for an ARC of The Nurse in exchange for an honest review.

I was thrilled to get a copy of Claire Allan’s The Nurse. She is a true talent in the UK and around the world. When Marian receives a message from her daughter’s friend and housemate that Nell has not been seen in 4 days it’s not welcome news. And out of character for Nell. The part of the book is told by Marian’s point of view as we get a look into he life, her husbands and their missing daughter Nell. In the second point of view that is simply titled HIM a story is unrfolding amongst the message boards of incels on the dark web. The group’s sense of hatred towards women is strongly felt and openly discussed. As “HIM” delves deeper into this dark world his grievances with women grow stronger and he feels something must be done to take back the power. The hashtag #IHaveThePower goes viral when the name of the game moves on from feeling hatred about women to following filming and scaring them. “HIM” thinks this a valuable lesson for his targets but as is often the case when you’re on the dark web things can elevate and elevate quickly in ways that “HIM” had never considered. Lastly, there is one more point of view to discover. And as we read how this taut thriller unfolds and the main objective to find Nell plays out you are saddened to realize that although this is a story, the subject manner is intact true.

A story such as this is bravemy told and deftly tackled. Claire Allan is as tough a writer as she is brilliant. Special thanks to Avon publishing and Netgalley for this eye opening arc.

Every parent’s worst nightmare – the disappearance of their child!

This story is an eerily disturbing tale that will have you second guessing the thoughts and motives of those around you. It is a gripping story with characters that are well fleshed, insidious tension and some twists that I didn’t see coming,

The reader gets to follow the gradual escalation of stalking behaviour from the male perpetrator’s perspective and the gradual breakdown of Marion, the mother, as she deals with the continual unknowns of her daughter’s whereabouts. What is particularly apt is how this story plays in the current social narrative re the #metoo movement, the evolution of the male role in today’s society and the disturbing growth of the incel (involuntary celibate) community. Even the author’s note was disturbingly interesting!

I didn't think the title was fitting. This was not a medical suspense novel. The profession of the kidnapped girl didn't play a major role in the story.

This was a sit on the edge of your seat type thriller. The book is told in 3 POV's and the story will keep you guessing throughout!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books, UK for this advanced readers copy. This book is scheduled to release March 17, 2022.

Marian is in a panic when she realizes her daughter Nell is missing, A narrator known as He or Him is an INCEL who has chosen to follow and film women and their fear at discovering he is stalking him. He doesn't have Nell, someone else does and the person is planning a dramatic on line event using her. Nell all provides her POV in this unfortunately topical story. It's a bit overlong but push through the middle to the end. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Nell Sweeney ,a 22 year old nurse has disappeared. The only child of Marian and Stephen. Marian receives the phone call ever mother dreads from Clodagh that her daughter is missing.

The book is told in chapters between him and Marian.

Her parents discover that she's not their perfect daughter.

It gripped me and hooked me in from the start.

Blubbering Bunny Butts! 😯😳🤯

Shhhhhittake! 😳 The somewhat slow burn of this novel was tedious and then just past half way, BAM! First reveal that dropped my jaw. And a few others after. This book had me hooked & reeled in from the beginning. It was an excellent pace and I enjoyed the back & forth from "Him", the mother & Nell herself.
Nell has led a very ordinary, unexciting life. She's currently a nurse at a hospital & lives with her life long friend, Clodagh. Nell's mother, Marian, gets a call from Clodagh to alert her that her daughter is missing & hasn't been seen or heard from for four days. While all this is happening, a man has taken her. A man who feels he's been underestimated, unseen, always last pick to women. Nell was in the wrong place at the wrong time for when he watches, follows and capture her. But they both have deep, dark secrets. He sees this as a vigil anti to "mens rights". She may be the first, but will she be the last?
Although the ending fell a bit flat for me, I still enjoyed the lead up and journey along. Although some of it may be tough subject matter for some, especially the "dark web" angle, the author dealt with it sensitively.

🔴 Trigger Warning: Kidnapping

Thank you to NetGalley & Avon Books UK for this ARC.
Release date: March 17, 2022

I give this 3.5 / 5 bouquets! 💐

*Not-so-Popular Opinion*

3.5 Stars

One Liner: Great premise, but rambles a little too much.

Nell Sweeney leads an ordinary life until she gets kidnapped. No one knows where she is or who took her. Who would want to harm a nurse? Or maybe she’s the unlucky one. Whatever the reason, they need to find her before it is too late.
Everyone has secrets, and some are too dangerous to hide in the dark. The world of the dark web can be a safe place to vent frustrations, but only until things don’t go out of hand. What happens when a single post spirals things out of control?

What I Like:
• The story is based on the incel (involuntary celibates) movement, where men blame women for just about everything, including their lack of girlfriends. It’s not easy reading about sick minds, but the reality is far worse.
• The story is narrated in three POVs (Marian, Nell’s mother, Nell, and Him, a key player whose identity is revealed later). The man’s POVs were very well done.
• The book deals with narcissism in different forms.
• There are no unexpected twists or far-fetched scenarios.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
• The book is 400 pages long, and a lot of it is filled with Marian’s ramblings. As much as I understand that Marian is distraught about her missing daughter, reading her POV was tiresome.
• The middle part drags, and nothing much happens except more rambling. I began fast reading from here.
• I’m not sure why the book is titled The Nurse. It has nothing vital to do with the plot. Nell is a nurse, but I don’t think the story would change if she was in any other profession.
• The story could’ve easily been completed in 280+ pages. A tighter narration would have been more effective (at least for me).
• Relating to any of the characters was pretty much impossible. It felt like watching a slow thriller on the screen. That should’ve been a plus, but since it was too slow, the effect got diluted.

To sum up, The Nurse deals with a crucial premise but rambles a little too much.
Thank you, NetGalley and Avon Books UK, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What a brilliantly tense and nail biting read! I couldn’t put it down. Nell is a nurse, kidnapped by an unknown but very twisted man. We are let into the world of her mum Marion who is desperate to find her and the world of some very disturbed people that we hope won’t harm her.
I loved every word of this! The characters were brilliantly formed, creating the perfect harrowing and twisted setting for the book.
Marion and her emotions and feelings really gave this a raw edge. You could feel the desperation of a mother to find her daughter and the devastation that her being missing brings.
The twists and turns were excellent. Throwing new dangers into an already terrifying mix. What really made this book, is the themes on the hatred of women from the group of people. I have read a fairly recent article about these groups, and they are truly terrifying people who unfortunately are very real. The information and background that the author has very clearly poured into the book, made it feel absolutely true to life and believable, therefore making it absolutely horrifying.
A masterclass of a thriller! I can’t wait to read more by Claire Allan.

This book had me Hook, Line and Sinker. Its a fast paced thriller that had me right from the beginning all the way up to the end. Such an emotional rollercoaster. I definitely recommend

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for allowing me to read this arc.such a good story

My thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced by anyone else.

The Nurse by Claire Allan is a fast paced thriller that will hook you into the story from the first chapter itself.

Marian and Stephen Sweeney are happily married with a daughter Nell who is independent and works as a nurse. One day, Marian gets a call from Nell's roommate that Nell hasn't been seen around for a few days and that she didn't even go to work, which is highly unlikely of her. Someone has been watching Nell and that someone has a deep dark secret.

This is the first book I have read from this author and actually, this story was really good. There were some twists and turns along the way, with a fast paced theme that will draw the reader into the story. Besides the family drama of Marian dealing with her daughter's disappearance, there is also the dark story of that "someone" who gets into a wrong type of group. The story is told from the perspectives of Marian, "the someone" and Nell, who is describing her situation as a kidnapped person. Overall, to me, I stayed up all night, reading this book, trying to see who this "someone" is and what will happen in the end! This was actually a really good fast paced thriller that will not disappoint anyone!

Worth five stars in my opinion!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon Books and Claire Allan for my ARC of The Nurse in return for my honest review.
I have read most of Claire Allan’s previous novels and they are all brilliant. This is another humdinger of a read and, for me, possibly the best so far. Delving into the destructive world of the dark web world surrounding Incel (involuntarily celibate) websites, it is beyond disturbing.

Nell Sweeney goes missing. She is a nurse and when her mother, Marian, discovers this from her house mate, Clonagh, also a nurse, she gets the police involved and insists they investigate.

The narrative goes between Marian’s view and the view of ‘Him’ who appears to hate women, especially his boss.
This is a chilling story, related to present day attitudes towards women and addresses these head on. At times it is heart breaking and I couldn’t put it down.

The twists and turns keep coming and I couldn’t recommend this more highly.

I really enjoyed this - if such an insidious read can be enjoyable! Told from the POV of missing nurse Nell’s mum - and an unidentified mysoganistic potential kidnapper the story is both realistic and hard hitting - with a real emphasis on the deep dark web! There were some dark parts which were very chilling and I felt like I needed a good scrub after reading it!! Just what you want from this kind of book!!

This was very good read, it’s a page turner you can’t put down. The characters were great, the plot was excellent and the style of writing was perfect. It was full of twists and turns throughout with a ending you don’t see coming. I have read many books by this author and I’ll be continuing to keep my eye out for more in the future. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading this genre.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

The Nurse is a taut, tense cautionary modern day tale
It is also a story for all ages and times
The dark web is explored in all its insidious nature
The underbelly that is never too far away
We look at the different perceptions of Victim. family and the ones who hide behind trolls
How easily nasty fantasy can turn to a horrible reality
Highly recommended
Claire Allen captures her characters beautifully

Well that was a rather dark and disturbingly realistic read and I enjoyed it very much. It is a well written story told from the point of view of three of the characters with enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat. The look into the dark side of the web was interesting and disturbingly realistic, scary stuff. Even though I did figure out who he was it didn't not take away from the suspense of the book. I'd recommend this book and will be reading more of Claire Allan's books

I liked this book, but didn’t love it. While the story centers around the disappearance of 22-year-old nurse Nell, it’s primarily told from the POV of Nell’s mom, Marian, and an unidentified villain who may or may not be the kidnapper.

The story itself is disturbing, uncovering a whole group of men on the dark web who believe that they are being persecuted by women and need to put all women back into their own place. Horrifyingly, this is a real thing, I found out later. I was both appalled and fascinated by the chapters that give the reader a glimpse into how these men are thinking. I also liked the end of the book and felt that it was fast paced and exciting.

What I didn’t love was the often slow-moving and repetitive narrative from Marian, where she is clearly devastated by her missing daughter while also ruminating about her marriage. This part of the book could have been cut back in order for the pacing of the book to be faster. Also, small nit, but Nell was described early in the book as Marian’s “eldest” daughter and I was confused as to why they weren’t bringing in their other kids, only to find out later that Nell is actually their only child.

Overall, unique storyline and definitely disturbing but was a just a little slow for me until close to the end. I’d give it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a tense and disturbing book. We follow parents as they discover their grown daughter is missing. As the book goes on, secrets from their marriage emerge. We also get to read the thoughts of a man, who might be the kidnapper, a man who justifies his actions against women as he sees himself as the victim. And eventually we get to the daughter's story. There is growth for most of the characters.

A 3.5 from me.
DNFed at around 35%. Honestly, I hadn't expected it to be such a psychological thriller and have such an impact on me. I obviously found it quite disturbing, the way the HIM perspective was taken in the story. I had thought that Nell- the MC would have a bigger part in the actual story, but till where I read it, she had not yet appeared in the story. We see a lot of Marian- Nell's mom, who is actually a perspective character, and Nell's father, along with HIM, a man who has had enough of feminism and listening to women, and is out conducting a creepy experiment. I found this all very interesting and the tension between Marian and her husband kept me hooked, but I was alarmed and distressed every time I read the other POV. I think this is a superb story with great potential, just not for me. I would probably try this book again in the future, but not now. If you are thinking of reading this book, I would advise you to be a little careful because of it's theme.
I recieved an e-ARC of this book through NetGalley and Avon Books UK

When Nurse Nell Sweeny disappears her mother is distraught, convinced that her daughter would never just go off and not tell anyone where she was going. But how well does Marian actually know her daughter and what will Nell's disappearance mean for her as well as Nell.
The police are desperate to find Nell alive but they know that the longer she is missing, the less chance of this there is. Could the break in the case come from someone closer than they thought.
Told from the point of view of Nell's mother, "Him" and Nell herself this edgy, tense and chilling story will keep you on edge from beginning to end.