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The Method: An absolutely unputdownable, heart-pounding and twisty psychological thriller (Love Hurts: Psychological Thrillers) Kindle Edition
Frank and Linda's marriage has begun to unravel. When old friends tell them about an unconventional couples therapy retreat called "The Method," they jump at the chance to attend. One last attempt to stay true to their wedding vows - 'til death do they part.
Run by the enigmatic Dr. Kaspar, Lone Loon Lodge is a secluded resort deep in the Montana wilderness. The staff is friendly and eccentric. The couple joining them is seductive. When hunters "accidentally" shoot one of the guests, events quickly spiral out of control.
Realizing they can only trust each other, Frank and Linda must set aside their personal issues and work together to survive. Nothing is what it seems at Lone Loon Lodge, and only one thing is certain: Love Is Pain
2020 edition includes an unproduced screenplay adaptation with an alternate ending. **Praise for The Method**
"The story builds steadily and really picks up to a breakneck pace for the final third." - SCREAM the Horror Magazine
"Intense and full of action, this is definitely a fast-paced read." - Horror Novel Reviews
"This, ladies and gentlemen, is how you write a dark thriller that could also be called a horror and make it stand out from the rest." ★★★★★ Review
"Even in the midst of nonstop action and violence, twists and turns, mysteries and revelations, the author still manages to craft two compelling characters in Frank and Linda that you grow to deeply care about and root for." ★★★★★ Review
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateJune 19, 2018
- File size3.8 MB
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"I whizzed through this page-turner of a novel which cleverly revealed its secrets very slowly. I expected the ending to be somewhat of a disappointment or anti-climax, but it bobbed and weaved right to the end." - Tony Jones, The Ginger Nuts of Horror
"So many different twists and turns that I wasn't sure where this was going until the very end. Intense and full of action, this is definitely a fast-paced read." - Paula Limbaugh, Horror Novel Reviews
"The Method is one of those stories that subverts the reader's expectations again and again. You think you know where it's going? You're wrong. That's the mark of a great writer. This was the first book I've read by Ralston, but it won't be the last!" - James Newman, author of Animosity, Ugly As Sin, and Odd Man Out
From the Back Cover
"Builds steadily and really picks up to a breakneck pace for the final mile." - SCREAM Magazine
After a prolonged illness, Frank and Linda's marriage has begun to fray at the edges. When old friends tell them about a couples therapy retreat called The Method, they jump at the chance to attend. One last attempt to stay true to their wedding vows - 'til death do they part.
Run by the enigmatic Dr. Kaspar, Lone Loon Lodge is a secluded resort deep in the Montana wilderness. The staff is friendly. The other couple joining them is intense. But when a neighboring militia accidentally shoots one of the guests, they seize control of the retreat, claiming sovereignty over the land and holding everyone there hostage.
With events quickly spiraling out of control, Frank and Linda realize the only people they can trust are each other, and they must work together to survive - 'til death do they part.How hard would you fight for the one you love?
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : B07DWC2592
- Publisher : Shadow Work Publishing
- Publication date : June 19, 2018
- Language : English
- File size : 3.8 MB
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 260 pages
- ISBN-13 : 978-0995242388
- Page Flip : Enabled
- Part of series : Love Hurts: Psychological Thrillers
- Best Sellers Rank: #597,202 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,383 in Kidnapping Crime Fiction
- #1,780 in Historical Thrillers (Kindle Store)
- #4,613 in Kidnapping Thrillers
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

**New standalone horror novel HELLOWEEN available now!**
**Sequel to the hit novel PUZZLE HOUSE coming Fall 2025**
Author of the cult smash-hit Woom and Ghostland and more than 15 other books that aren't the cult smash-hit Woom or Ghostland. His debut collection was blurbed positively by the legendary Jack Ketchum. His vampire novel, Pedo Island Bloodbath, was nominated for a 2024 Splatterpunk Award for Best Novel.
Photo © Josh Silver 2015
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Customers find this book to be a highly suspenseful thriller with many plot twists and turns, praising its well-written narrative and great character development. The book receives positive feedback for its method and direction, with one customer noting how it spins around wildly in many different directions. The pacing receives mixed reactions, with some finding it well-paced while others say it's a little slow.
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Customers find the book suspenseful with many plot twists and turns, making it an exciting read from start to finish.
"...of Salvage or the grossness of Woom, he has woven together a brilliantly layered story here that constantly had me guessing wrong...." Read more
"A psychological thriller of 312 pages, The Method by Duncan Ralston is available through Kindle Unlimited for free reading...." Read more
"...Even in the midst of nonstop action and violence, twists and turns, mysteries and revelations, the author still manages to craft two compelling..." Read more
"...Intense and full of action, this is definitely a fast-paced read." Read more
Customers praise the writing quality of the book, with one customer noting its reasonable balance of narration and dialog, while another highlights its wonderful characterization.
"...There is external pressure and wonderful characterization, two essentials for great fiction. Give it a whirl." Read more
"...The characters of Frank and Linda are well developed...." Read more
"...and revelations, the author still manages to craft two compelling characters in Frank and Linda that you grow to deeply care about and root for...." Read more
"...The synopsis sounds pretty cut and dried, but no, it’s not that simple...." Read more
Customers appreciate the novel's method, with one noting its straightforward setup and another highlighting its mind-bending ideas.
"...The setup of the story is fairly straightforward, a couple who decides to go on an out of the way, retreat for couples trying to mend their..." Read more
"...The Method would interest most young adult (YA) readers I know. The characters of Frank and Linda are well developed...." Read more
"...The Method is quite the novel with a simple concept: a marriage couple go to a couple's therapy retreat and, of course, things get out of control...." Read more
"...Mr. Ralston is a talented writer with a mind-bending pallet of ideas. Are you ready to enter Loon Lake Lodge?" Read more
Customers appreciate the character development in the book.
"...The descriptions in this are great and the characters are complex...." Read more
"...is good with a reasonable balance of narration and dialog, the characters are likable, and it's a pretty decent story if you like this type of horror." Read more
"...I felt the pacing of the story and the character development was great and did not leave me wanting...." Read more
"Taut, character driven mind-bender..." Read more
Customers appreciate how the book takes readers on a journey with many twists and turns.
"...It spins around wildly in so many different directions...." Read more
"...There are so many different twists and turns that I wasn’t sure where this was going until the very end...." Read more
"This is a good story that takes you around a lot of turns and down a lot of paths...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it well-paced while others say it's a little slow.
"...The reader is invited to go along and try to keep up. It is a quick, one session reading experience with almost no sex BUT lots of physical violence...." Read more
"...It was a bit slow and I found the ending rather predictable, making my rating a 2/2.5 🌟..." Read more
"...Intense and full of action, this is definitely a fast-paced read." Read more
"...I felt the pacing of the story and the character development was great and did not leave me wanting...." Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2017This is a highly enjoyable thriller from an author who knows his craft. The setup of the story is fairly straightforward, a couple who decides to go on an out of the way, retreat for couples trying to mend their relationship. From that point on, the story takes on a life of its own.
I have read a number of Ralston's books and with each successive one he manages to show me something a little different. Far from the dark supernatural of Salvage or the grossness of Woom, he has woven together a brilliantly layered story here that constantly had me guessing wrong.
The descriptions in this are great and the characters are complex. Ralston manages to capture the intensity of their situation as well as the emotions of a failing marriage and even that if dealing with a terminal illness. There is external pressure and wonderful characterization, two essentials for great fiction.
Give it a whirl.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2017A psychological thriller of 312 pages, The Method by Duncan Ralston is available through Kindle Unlimited for free reading. I nominated this book for selection through the Kindle Scout Program. The novel was selected so I received it at no cost and it appears on the Amazon site as a verified purchase. And then there is the remaining option of purchasing it for USD 2.99. It is a clever story with lots of twists and turns revealed through the muddled minds and thinking of the characters. The reader is invited to go along and try to keep up. It is a quick, one session reading experience with almost no sex BUT lots of physical violence. And readers can argue over the definitions of mental agony Frank and Linda encounter.
Frank and Linda knew they were made or each other. They had dated for six years before marriage. After only one year into a three-year marriage, Linda entered a lengthy and painful battle with cancer. Although victorious in battle, Linda was a changed person; one that was difficult for Frank to accept. Their marriage was falling apart through a combination of ennui and misunderstanding. Frank and Linda accepted an invitation from good friends Trevor and Dillon to go rock climbing, an extreme sport the unhappy couple had enjoyed before Linda's cancer but an activity they had allowed to lapse. It was good to see Trevor and Dillon back together because Frank and Linda knew they had been on the verge of divorce. Now Dillon and Trevor were the pictures of a perfect loving family. Linda had questions about how this had come about. Seemingly reluctant to talk about it, Trevor finally mentioned that he would send Frank the contact information about a retreat that helped married couples heal. Neither Trevor nor Dillon would answer questions directly and Linda had many. Her friends had several bruises which they said were a result of a motorcycle accident. But despite the unfortunate accident, Trevor and Dillon assured their friends that the Method worked.
Arriving at the retreat located (naturally) in a wooded hilly area, Frank and Linda had to immediately give up their phones and submit to strict rules. Linda's phone was a part of her so there was resistance. Frank liked his alcohol and marijuana but would not be allowed his hobbies at the retreat. The couple was housed in separate rooms which surprised them. Linda was also surprised and angry to discover the hidden cameras in her room. Complaints to Alex, a concierge, were ineffective as he pointed out to the couple that they had signed a contract and the cameras were a listed condition.
The Method was effective because of the limited number of patients per treatment session. When Neville and Terry showed up at the retreat, the maximum number of two couples per treatment session was reached and the games, the Method, could begin. The two couples would not become friends although the stunning Terry tried to develop a sexual relationship with Frank. Linda could fantasize about the handsome Neville but fantasies not realized weren't really cheating. When the television in Linda's room turned on automatically, Linda found that Frank' fantasies were further along on the path to realization than her innocent fantasies. It seems that during the retreat client weaknesses were revealed or provoked.
There have been many well-documented studies about how far everyday, normal people will go in the commission of cruel and sadistic behavior as they choose between morality and survival. This novel will appeal to readers with this interest. Readers who like to read about clever deception and deceit will like this novel. Depictions of extreme physical violence make this unsuitable for only those who find horror novels objectionable. The Method would interest most young adult (YA) readers I know. The characters of Frank and Linda are well developed. The development of all other characters takes a back seat to the storyline that questions reality at almost every turn.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2017Frank and Linda's marriage is on the rocks. In a desperate last-ditch attempt, they agree to try "The Method" - an expensive and mysterious weekend getaway their friends swear by. It saved their own marriage, they said.
Almost immediately, the mysteries begin piling up. Why are their friends so secretive about "The Method"? Why do they look so bruised up? (Car accident, according to them.) Why are there cameras in each of the rooms? And that's only the beginning...
While I may have had an idea of where this story was ultimately going to end up, the author throws curveball after curveball that made me doubt my own instincts at every turn. You never know where this book is going to take you next. It spins around wildly in so many different directions.
Even in the midst of nonstop action and violence, twists and turns, mysteries and revelations, the author still manages to craft two compelling characters in Frank and Linda that you grow to deeply care about and root for.
"The Method" is one of those books that's going to linger with me for a long time to come.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2017The ending of The Method was predictable, but it had some unpredictable twists along the way. I didn't find the book as suspenseful as I would have liked as I had a nagging feeling about some of the plot. It got a bit bizarre in parts, but I still wanted to finish to piece all the bits together.
I was confused with the first chapter of the book as it started with a bang, then chapter 2 seemed to come out of the blue in a completely different location and time. This would have been easier to understand if chapter 2 made it clear we had gone back in time. We picked up the scene from chapter much later in the one book.
Top reviews from other countries
- Confessions of a ReviewerReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 4, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Just superb.
A copy of The Method was secured by Confessions of a Reviewer after voting for the book in the Amazon Kindle Scout programme. We were delighted to see this book succeed in being picked up by them for publication.
It’s been a while since we read Duncan Ralston, and that is a crying shame. The last thing we had our grubby hands on was Salvage, and that one completely blew us away. We couldn’t wait to get our hands on this one, even though it is not being marketed as a horror title, but more of a thriller. We were hoping that giving Mr Ralstons previous, this would be a dark thriller that we could really get our teeth into.
This is what we thought.
Frank and Linda’s marriage is in jeopardy. Both of them know it but both of them don’t know what to do. It isn’t really anyone’s fault. They have been dealt really bad cards over the years.
When they hear of an extremely unconventional retreat that offers a course called The Method, they decide to give it a go, as one last attempt at saving things.
When they get to Lone Loon Lodge, things seem strange straight away. When things start to get weirder, they soon get completely out of control, and for Frank and Linda, they need to stay alive before they can rescue their marriage.
Frank and Linda are obviously our main characters in this one. Frank is a strong willed man who loves his wife very dearly, even if he doesn’t show it very much. Linda is a woman in pain. The physical pain has subsided for now, but the mental scars are plain for Frank to see. She can see no way through this new battle. Neville and Teri are the only other two guests at the retreat. A strangely moody couple, they seem to have everything they could ever want in life, so why are they even there?
Dr Kaspar, who runs the place, is significant by his absence, leaving Alex to run the show. A capable man, he has a lot more secrets than he is letting on.
The list of evil people in the story is extensive, but to highlight them would spoil the show for you and I don’t want to do that.
The plot is not what you might at first think. Frank and Linda need to rescue their marriage but know nothing about The Method, but equally, they are willing to go with whatever is thrown at them. Little did they know that outside influences would put everything in jeopardy for them.
That is as much as I am willing to give you.
This is described as a crime or thriller book, and features in the psychological charts on Amazon. Before reading the book, this disappointed me a bit because I was after some more horror from Mr Ralston. After finishing the book, I would plant this one firmly in the horror genre as well.
I have read horror books with less horror in them than this one. Yes it is primarily a thriller. There are loads of thrills and spills in it. Yes it is psychological. There are loads of scenes that severly mess with the minds of the characters, and in turn, your mind. Combining all of those individual elements though is an underlying darkness. An underlying, but yet very distinct, feeling of fear. I don’t think I will give anything away by saying that Frank and Linda, and those around them, spend a lot of this book papping their pants (putting it politely so Amazon will not reject the review). If no one is familiar with that saying, it quite simply means that after the story is over, should they survive of course, they would need a pneumatic hammer to clean the mess out of their underpants.
What am I trying to say with this? If you love crime and thrillers and mystery and suspense you will love this book. Equally, if you love your horror and that is your main book of choice, you will love this book. Equally, if you love books, you will love this one.
Why? Duncan Ralston wrote it. Listen, I know I bang on about various different authors and how good I think they really are. I like to spread the word about certain people that I think are worthy of another little mention. Duncan Ralston is one of those people.
He can write anything, any genre, and make it superb. He can write characters like you have known them all your life. He can put words on paper that completely suck you in and have you sitting with blinkers on as you read so that you hear and see nothing around you while you read. He is that good.
And The Method? With this one, he proves that he can write a story that has you scratching your head from start to finish, wondering where, exactly, it is going to go next. There are so many twists and turns in this story that you could be excused for going completely mad by the time you finish it. He takes an, unfortnately, every day occurrence with a failing marriage, and turns it into something that is so complex and thrilling and tiring, to an extent, that you will be absolutely knackered when you stop reading.
Can you tell I liked this one? This, Ladies and gentlemen, is how you write a dark thriller that could also be called a horror and make it stand out from the rest. There are parts of this that won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. If you are one of those people, then have a coffee while you finish it. You won’t regret it.
To summarise: yup, just buy it.
General rating:
☆☆☆☆☆ excellent stuff.
Horror / Thriller rating:
☆☆☆☆☆ and again.
- Adrian ShotboltReviewed in Australia on June 1, 2017
3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad.
I am a big fan of Duncan Ralston. I loved his extreme novella, Woom, and I also loved the brooding supernatural novel, Salvage. The Method is very different to both of those books, which is good because it shows Ralston is anything but predictable. Whilst I enjoyed this book, it didn’t really blow me away from an originality perspective like Woom did, nor did I engage with the characters as much as I did with Owen Saddler from Salvage.
The concept of The Method is built around an expensive retreat where couples go to try to reignite the flame of love that has been lost between them. Frank and Linda are one such couple. Things seem to be going okay until the discovery of hidden cameras everywhere inside the retreat. Shortly after, things take a grim turn when Frank gets his leg caught in a bear trap and our couple tangle with some aggrieved locals, leading the story down a dark but slightly predictable path.
I won’t say any more as I don’t want to spoil anything. I was intrigued by the other guests staying at the lodge and the hidden cameras added an air of intrigue to the book. Frank and Linda are well drawn characters, but there was just something missing for me. The direction the book took was a little disappointing, too, and I felt it spoilt the good work that had been done up until then. A lot of people will dig it, but it all felt a little too familiar to me. The introduction of the locals transformed the book into something I’ve read many times before and all of the intrigue and originality was lost.
On the good side: the pacing of the book is excellent and there are some real cringe-worthy moments. Sadly, The final few chapters didn’t really work for me either. It all gets a bit silly, but hey, that’s just my opinion.
The Method certainly isn’t a bad book. It just left me feeling a little flat by the time I finished it. I had high expectations having previously enjoyed Ralston’s other books, perhaps too high. I’d certainly recommend Ralston’s work as he is a fine writer with a great imagination and above average writing skills. A lot of people will like this one, it just didn’t quite hit the target with me.
3/5 stars
- Ashok LRReviewed in India on July 11, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
'The Method' by Duncan Ralston is about Linda and Frank Moffat whose marriage has gone stale. When a couple of old friends mentions a weekend marriage retreat Lone Loon Lodge is located in the wilds of Montana for special personalized counseling, the Moffats sign up.
At this retreat with luxurious accommodations and views to die for, they find that husbands and wives are given separate rooms, there is only one other couple, their cell phones are to be surrendered and their privacy is invaded.
Then they witness a murder, and rush back to the lodge without drawing attention to themselves. The tension increases and every player has a dufferent sinister agenda… Great read.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Kindle Scout.
- SocialBookshelves.comReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 19, 2019
4.0 out of 5 stars Duncan Ralston – The Method
This might finally be the book that’s made me like thrillers. It’s reminiscent of all of the big players like Gone Girl and Girl on the Train, but it also has an indie flair that sets it apart and actually made it worth reading for me. The only thing that really came close is We Are Lucifer by Amy McLean, but I think this one edges it out and it’s the only real thriller that I can think of that I’d recommend.
The premise here is that a married couple goes off to a secluded lodge for an unconventional form of therapy called The Method. I don’t want to give away too much about what that actually involves because that’s kind of the point of the novel, but I will say that the two main characters didn’t check what they were signing and so it means that they’re in for a rough ride.
I also liked that there were plenty of twists and turns, which are pretty much a must for a novel like this, but that they didn’t follow the most obvious paths and so the book kept on surprising me. In fact, it’s one of the few thrillers that I’ve read that could probably hold up to a re-read, purely because there was something a little more to the backstory than there are in most thriller novels of the type.
All in all, there’s a lot to like about this book and very little not to like. If thrillers are your genre then you’d be crazy to miss out on this one, while if you like to support indies then this one is easily in the top 10%. Go ahead and grab yourself a copy.
- MarkMJ GreenReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 27, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Is there a method to the madness?
Linda Moffat has recently recovered from her battle with cancer, but rather than it bringing her closer to her husband Frank, her recovery has driven a wedge between them and now all they seem to do is argue.
After hearing about a couple’s retreat that uses unconventional, yet cutting edge techniques known as The Method, the pair of them decide to give their marriage one final shot at revival.
However as you’ve probably noticed from the use of the word ‘unconventional’ nothing is going to run smoothly; especially when a local militia group with claims on the land on which the retreat is built get involved. Or do they?
That’s the beauty of The Method because as soon as you think you’ve got a grasp on what’s going on, a little hint of something makes you change your mind all over again.
As I sat reading it I was altering my opinion every few chapters as I went from deciding that the militia was fake and all part of The Method to then changing my mind to deciding that they were genuine, only to then change it back again. My mind was a jumble of ever-changing theories as it went from 'I’m pretty sure that was a retractable knife and that guys not dead,’ too ‘wait a minute, that can’t have been faked, I’m pretty sure he really was stabbed with a screwdriver, so this must be real.’ And I loved that feeling of not knowing.
The only other of Duncan’s works that I’ve read prior to this is Woom, Woom: An extreme horror which I thought was fantastic so I was really looking forward to reading another of his works. Now initially I was thinking that as much as I was enjoying The Method, it wasn’t as good as Woom and that it was going to be a four star review – nothing wrong with four stars in my mind, that’s basically an eight out of ten and is nothing to be ashamed of at all; however as you’ve most likely noticed, I’ve given it five stars. Why the change of mind?
Well aside from how well it’s written, it’s mainly down to that good old guessing game that kept me wandering what the hell was going on as the story moved on from the standard couple being chased through the woods horror scenario and expanded into something more. I found that I was reading it with a big old smile on my face because I was enjoying it so damn much. Not enjoying the situations these poor people found themselves in of course, I don’t want you thinking of me as bit of a nutter, it was just that I was enjoying the story so much I was in a happy little reading zone of contentment that only comes from a really good book. So I guess it went to five stars for just being a bloody good read.
This is a really good story that I highly recommend as it takes a simple premise and turns something that initially feels familiar into something thoroughly enjoyable and slightly unpredictable. The characters were believable and unusually for me, I actually cared about what happened to them and got completely invested in Frank and Linda’s plight. I found it a very quick and easy read because of how much I was enjoying it and I found myself wanting to get to the conclusion just to find out what the hell was going on and whether any of my theories were correct or not.
Having now read two of Duncan’s works, I think it’s safe to say that I’m a fan and that I look forward to reading more of his work in the future.