Thank you to Netgalley, Avon Books and Claire Allan for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Oh my goodness, I don't even know where to start. I think this is every woman's fear. This is a dark and utterly terrifying read. This is a very dark read and not for the light-hearted. It is perfect for Claire Macintosh and Shari Lapena fans. This is the first book by Claire Allan that I have read and it will not be the last!

I have read a few of this authors books and throughly enjoyed them. This one was no exception. It was a chilling thriller which dealt with a difficult subject. It kept my attention and I definitely recommend it to others who like gripping thrillers

The Nurse is the first book that I have read by Clare Allan writing in the crime/thriller genre. It’s a tense, quick and uneasy read whose subject matter really gets under your skin as it gives you a glimpse into a world you would perhaps rather not know about. Clearly there has been plenty of research undertaken into the creepy, seedy and dangerous world of incels, a topic which I knew nothing about prior to reading this book. Yes, I am aware of the darker side of the internet that exists but the extent of this disturbing side of the net I had no clue about. I feel I have been informed of a topic that unfortunately will only rear its head more and more in the future. The author’s end notes detail some of the disturbing facts she found out whilst doing research for this book and one item in particular had me reeling in horror. The dominant male characters that feature are very unhinged and the women who fall prey to them are vulnerable people who didn’t deserve to go through what happened to them and it’s all because these men are obsessed with an ideology and a power struggle that in reality is in fact growing at a terrifying rate.

The story is told from several perspectives which are easy enough to follow. Initially, the reader is not privy to who said male characters are. They like to keep their anonymity but when their true personalities are revealed you are left in shock as to their backgrounds. I did feel the reveal as to who the culprit was came too early on in the book, I wanted more suspense and for it to be drawn out a little bit. I wanted to guess as to who they were but I found the reveal came too early. As we knew at a certain point who was behind the kidnapping of Nell, who was a nurse in a hospital in Derry, the attention shifted as to whether Nell would survive her ordeal or not? The pace increased at this point and I felt this happened at the right time as things for the first quarter or so were quite slow. The race to see if Nell could be found before the worst occurred kept me interested and turning the pages and we gain an even deeper insight into the horrifying world of incels. The last few chapters were edge of your seat stuff and I could only see things going one way given how the author was developing the plot. To say there was a dramatic and shocking conclusion would be an understatement and I found it very satisfying.

Despite a slow start I did think we got straight to the crux of the story fairly early on. I say it was slow, despite hitting the subject matter hard, because there were chapters where Nell’s mother Marian just seemed to ramble on and in a way descend into some sort of madness herself. Of course any parent will be going out of their mind with worry and grief when their daughter has failed to show up for work and is now declared as being missing for several days. But Marian was a character where I speed read through her chapters, she was going mad not knowing where Nell was but her focus seemed to turn on her husband Stephan. She was using this opportunity to expose all the faults in their marriage of which there were many, when I felt all her efforts should have been on locating Nell.

Marian painted Nell as a young woman who had it all and was a good girl. But we see that Nell kept things hidden from her parents and her housemate and friend Clodagh. Which goes to show we never know what is going on behind closed doors. To be honest, I found Marian to be an annoying and frustrating character and at one point she asks Stephan does Stephan feel guilty like she does for letting Nell move out and not keeping her at home to look after her. Given the opportunity, I would have loved to say to Marian, god people need to leave home and find their own personal space and place. She can’t protect her daughter forever and nor would Nell want protecting all the time.

Nell has found herself imprisoned and the scenes as to where she was kept and the rules she had to obey were chilling, disturbing and horrifying. It’s only a good few chapters into the book that we hear from her perspective and we see that things are not as clear cut as initially you would have thought. That perhaps she was caught in something where she took someone as being genuine and perhaps a friend clearly having no idea of the trap she had fallen into nor the agenda behind her kidnapping. A greater force was at work of which she was a mere pawn. With every turn of the page you fear that her time is up. One small error and it would be game over for her.

The most gripping parts of the story were from the male perspectives. Chapters told from someone only known as him leave you open mouth in horror as to the opinions and viewpoints held by this man and the subsequent forum he finds on the dark web. Yes, this is a work of fiction but the dark web is not. This character feels a growing anger at the way men are treated in this unfair world. Yet he likes to be in control, to overpower, intimidate and hurt. He gets a huge hit of endorphins from scaring women and sets up a #IHavethePower where he videos himself following women and intimidating them. Soon he has a loyal band of followers and the videos go viral and an even greater movement is born. These men feel that women are not looking for equality with them rather that women feel they are better and what to prove it. The men feel women use their status as the weaker sex in order to get away with things. This is only the tip of the iceberg as to the view this man and these forum members hold and I found it hard to believe what I was reading. They are off their heads and all the more dangerous for it. Feminism is viewed as a bad word and the toxic masculinity oozes from them. Then the word, incels, was introduced and I had never heard of it but it went along way in explaining what I was reading. Incels believe women are expendable. That society has moved too far of women and that men are being denied their human rights and being discriminated and rejected by women. Really, all the men were doing was proving that a woman’s worst fears were actually accurate.

There is plenty of food for thought here and the topic offers itself to great debate. The reader is taken down a dark and twisting road and I couldn’t stop thinking about the recent murder of a young girl here in Ireland whilst reading this. In fact, the subject matter only made me fear for my safety even more. If this is just a small snapshot of what is going out there I dread to think the true extent of it. For me this book became truly gripping in the later half, I just wanted more of an element of surprise rather than some things occurring too early on. But no doubt about it Clare Allan has written a dark and atmospheric read about a topic which is relevant and current and will only become even more so in the future. It’s well worth giving this book a go even just to open your eyes even further as a woman to the dangers that are out there and to then therefore be more wary in your daily life.

Chilling and unsettling.

What an absolute ride my emotions went on with this one. Suspenseful and quite gripping The Nurse will have you pulling the book a little closer while you read.

Multiple POV's; Marian, one side of a couple, however toxic they are, who discovers their grown daughter is missing and fear the worst; the daughter Nell, who was just trying to navigate life and who was indeed kidnapped, and finally Him, the one who has the darkest thoughts about women, the one who wants to push back, the one who kindles the fire...no doubt there will be flames!

Honestly, I was so surprised with how I felt about some of these characters from beginning to end. There was so much growth for them and I applaud the author for giving us the depth they did, I think it must have been hard at some points given the topic.

Which leads me to this, the research gone into highlighting the dark web and the different communities within, this one specifically being 'incels' or someone who defines themselves as unable to get a romantic partner despite really wanting one. After reading the Author's Note, I found that a lot of what I found disturbing in this book came from actual online posts she found within these incel communities who blamed women for ... everything. I really admire this author for bringing this topic to light. Reading in her notes about how acts of violence just like this work of fiction are actually happening all over at a increasing rate. It's crazy!

Thank you so much to Avon Books UK, NetGalley and Claire Allan for the gifted review copy!

Nell Sweeney is a 22-year-old nurse who disappears after finishing work, one Thursday. The Nurse has a palpable air of malice which is present throughout and the start is chilling. Told from the perspectives of Marian, Nell’s mum, Nell herself and another character, an unknown male Claire Allan has certainly brought to the table an extremely disturbing story. Covering topics that are prevalent and current, such as involuntarily celibate dark websites (Incel), the author has managed this sympathetically and efficiently though it makes in part difficult, gritty reading. The prominent feeling of foreboding added to its thriller appeal resulting in an unputdownable tale. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Avon Books UK via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

This was a dark and chilling thriller based around missing nurse, Nell Sweeney. It’s told from the perspectives of Nell herself, her mother Marian and an unknown man, only identified as “Him”. When it’s discovered Nell has gone missing, Marian is obviously desperate to find her. The storyline twists and turns and I connected with Marian throughout, although I must admit, not so much with Nell’s father who I struggled to like. Marian’s storyline was heart-breaking and I couldn’t begin to understand how she must have been feeling, waiting to hear from Nell.

The storyline is very topical, but I have to admit the term “Incel” was fairly new to me. Incel is an abbreviated term for Involuntary celibate and is used to define people who can’t get a sex life, despite wanting one. The theme of men believing that women should be made to fear and respect them is scarily realistic and even as I read, I could sense the fear coming not just from the women in the book, but from myself. The characters were equally split into ones which were likeable and ones you literally wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley. I loved how the author keeps you in suspense as to what happened to Nell, ensuring you keep turning those pages, not matter how comfortable it makes you feel.

The story is disturbing, but the author has done a great job in making it a compulsive read and despite feeling on edge during Nell’s storyline, I couldn’t put the book down. The story flows along at a good pace, building up the tension as it does. I didn’t see the twist coming and was surprised with it, but again it’s a topical part of the storyline with recent events in the news. The whole book is shocking and very intense but definitely one which should be read. Would recommend.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this copy.

This book centers around a woman who has been kidnapped by an incel. I had never heard of the word and never knew this was even a thing. I didn’t know what to expect. The book is told in several POV and I think the author did a great job with the incel’s chapters.

I am giving it 3.5 only because I didn’t enjoy the mother’s POV as much and I thought her chapters were a bit slow. Overall it’s a well written book and I enjoyed it.

If you are looking for a disturbing, creepy, sinister thriller then look no further !!

Nell, is a nurse at the local hospital but she hasn’t turned up to work. Her housemate hasn’t seen her for four days and her parents haven’t heard from her in that time either. What has happened to Nell ? Surely she wouldn’t go off without letting anyone know.

Marian, Nell’s Mum, is beside herself with worry. The police are taking Nell’s disappearance seriously but there are no leads and no suspects. Will they find Nell ? Where is she ?

This is a great thriller with a seriously disturbing storyline. If you don’t mind creepy and sinister then definitely read this book. I really enjoyed Marian as a character and was hoping for a happy ending for her.

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

The nurse

Gosh I found this book hard to read having a 21 year old myself who lives away from home. I found the story of Nell a difficult read but also her mums perspective hard to read too. Such a clever story like nothing I’ve ever read. Gripped from the start. So many twists and turns and a shocker of an ending. I would definitely recommend this novel as would start many conversations with friends and family who walk home alone.

This book wasn’t quite what I was expecting. It was okay but I didn’t find myself wanting to pick it up often enough. One of the points of view is “him” an incel (involuntary celibate) and I didn’t like being in his head…although that was probably the point. It was creepy to me at times and I felt it moved along fairly quickly.

What I liked:

The author did a good job writing about the incel movement. It was uncomfortable to read how these men think women owe them something or that they are the victims because they can't walk alone at night in fear of a woman thinking they will attack her. What was even more disturbing was the quote at the beginning from an actual incel forum: "After dark .. it may suffice to just walk in the same general direction as a girl walking in front of you. They become paranoid. It should be harmless psychological fun."

The story is told from three perspectives and I liked two of them. One was Him, an incel. While weird at times, it was interesting reading from his POV, especially once his identity was revealed and how that played into the rest of the story. Nell's POV was sad and you really felt for her and the situation she was in.

The resolution and ending. It fit well with the story and was probably the best part of the book.

What I didn't like:

I was hoping for more of a mystery or at least more investigation into Nell's disappearance. It just wasn't the main focus of the story, which brings me to the next point I didn't like.

Nell's mother, Marian's POV. This book was all about Marian and her feelings about Nell being missing. She was so distraught, which is understandable, but it was just over the top. I felt myself sighing the longer I read from her point of view, as almost all her chapters were just more of the same.

While I did like the book, I think I would have liked it more if the book blurb had matched what I was actually reading. I was expecting it to be more of a thriller, but the kidnapping felt like it was on the back burner.

I finished this book a few days ago but I decided to post my review on publication day because I had to digest how I felt about it.

Nell is a nurse. She lives with a friend & when she doesn’t return home for a few days, the alarm is raised & the police contacted.

The story then moves to the dark web. Where a group of men compete in a forum, completing shocking & increasingly depraved challenges. I sometimes questioned my own reasons for continuing to read on at this point - my children are often out alone & although you instil the safety message in them, events cannot always be avoided - but I couldn’t help myself.

Aside from the men’s story, this book doesn’t get too dark. I think it’s the what ifs that play on your mind & spur you on to the end.

I’ve never read this author before, & that is a mistake I’ll rectify when time allows. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon books UK andd the author Claire Allan.

Wow...this book was very well written. I have to say that It was a book that I could not stop reading. It was a book that you do not want to end as you read but you need the ending to make sure it ends in peace. This book was so heartbreaking and gripping. I just can not spoil it at all. It was just so good.

This story is gripping from the start. It made my spine chill, and even though this is fiction, theses events do happen making us question who we can trust. This story would make a great film .
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of a book that I will highly recommend

Read this is a day, found it hard to put down. A very timely novel about the toxic masculinity that pervades today's society. Bound to be a huge hit.

A dark thriller that hits close to home and has a mind-blowing twist I didn't see coming a mile away, Claire Allan's 'The Nurse' switches POVs between 22-year-old nurse Nell Sweeney who has just been kidnapped; her distraught mother Marian, and a man we are introduced to as 'Him'. Blending the reality of #MenAreTrash and taking a darker look at #NotAllMen and the 'incels' (people who describe themselves as involuntarily celibate) behind a movement championing 'men's rights', there's a lot to enjoy about this novel.

It's modern and very relevant; the pace is good; the twist threw me for a loop, the writing was very readable, and it kept me guessing until the end. I also loved how Allan incorporated the power of the internet without making it feel like another 'social media is ruining society' rant, which we've seen A LOT of in novels recently.

However, there's a disconnect between the cover and the description and the actual content of the book that kept bothering me. The 'Him' character's involvement towards the end also seemed hard to believe, and I think the writer could have given us more of a look into the... camaraderie, if I can call it that, between the men on the forum.

Overall, a good read, but it could have been tighter and packed a greater punch with a few small tweaks.

(3.5 rounded up for interesting and timely premise.)

This is a gripping crime thriller.
With chapters from ‘Him’ we get an insight into his mind and why he feels the need to follow women and make them feel scared.
When Nell goes missing, her housemate and her Mum are desperate to find her.
We continue with chapters from ‘Him’ but it’s not clear at first if he’s the person who has taken her.
There’s a big twist and this opens the story up and leads to a nail biting final few chapters.
This is a gripping read that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

The Nurse by Claire Allen is a dark psychological thriller that literally scared me. This is a well written story with a misogynistic theme. It is told from multiple point of views. A young nurse being watched as she walks to and from work goes missing. A family who is desperate to find their daughter and Him……the abductor
you will fear. How many times have you walked at night and felt someone was following you?!? The characters are real and you feel their feelings. There are many topics that are dealt with in this story but Claire Allen does a wonderful job getting the points across. It is a captivating, heart wrenching, emotional and frightening story you don’t want to miss out on! I highly recommend you read this one.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon Books and Claire Allen for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this harrowing novel in exchange for my honest review. I look forward to reading more from this very talented author.
#netgalley #avonbooks. #thenurse
#claireallen. #arc

It's one of the most disturbing and terrifying book I read in some time. Dark, twisty, and unputdownable.
The three POVs tells a story that kept me on the edge and some topics were quite hard to read.
Not a relaxing or heartwarming book.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

For me, this was a definite five star read. Dark, disturbing at times, but very brave of the author to write about something which is so real and needs more awareness. There were a few times I had to take a break from reading as the whole reality of this happening in real life just hit me. It is so close to a real life case here in the UK that it made it seem all too real in my head, but I was totally compelled to carry on reading.

Written in chapters from the point of view of the three main characters; Nell (who is missing), Marian (Nell’s mum) and a man called ‘Him’. The way this is written flowed well and each chapter added a bit more to the storyline until the identity of ‘Him’ was discovered.

Nell’s friend reports her missing to Marian as she hasn’t seen or heard from her for a few days. It’s unusual that nobody has heard from her so Marian calls the police. What follows is a hunt to find Nell and after a gruesome discovery Marian fears the worst.

A forum on the dark web is where a group of ‘Incels’ get together to target and scare women. Yes, this really does exist and that is what is chilling about this storyline. The main character ‘Him’ is the instigator in all of this but it goes much deeper and twisted than just him.

Questions to be asked. Do you ever really know someone? Do you feel safe walking alone at night, or anytime of day? This book certainly gets you thinking and it will be a book which stays with me for many years to come.

Well done to the author for raising awareness on this. It is clear she has put an awful lot of research into this and is extremely knowledgeable on the subject.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for an arc.