- The Nesting by C.J Cooke -

Published : 15th October 2020

Publisher : HarperCollins

Format : Kindle, Audio, Hardback, Paperback

Genre : Gothic Thriller

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Synopsis

It was like something out of a fairytale…

The grieving widower.

The motherless daughters.

A beautiful house in the woods.

Deep in a remote Norwegian forest, Lexi has found a new home with architect Tom and his two young daughters. With snow underfoot and the sound of the nearby fjord in her ears, it’s as if Lexi has stepped into a fairy tale

But this family has a history – and this place has a past. Something was destroyed to build their beautiful new house. And those ancient, whispering woods have a long memory.

Lexi begins to hear things, see things that don’t make sense. She used to think this place heavenly, but in the dark, dark woods, a menacing presence lurks.

With darkness creeping in from the outside, Lexi knows she needs to protect the children in her care.

But protect them from what?

My Review

This is a Gothic Thriller set within the remote Norwegian forest. Beautiful ancient forests and Crystal clear blue fjords are just a few of the idyllic surroundings described in this book, but not all is as it seems and it isn't long before you realise the area is tainted by tragic unexplainable events and chilling folklore.

Separated with chapters of the past and present the story follows Lexi, Tom and Aurelia. Recently separated and now homeless whilst juggling depression Lexi comes upon a chance opportunity, a nannying job in Norway that a girl in front of her on the train decides not to take, Lexi having nothing to stay behind for steals this girl Sophie's identity and applies for the job.

Arriving at the interview that she has blagged her way into she finds out that the position is nannying for a family who have lost their mother, and a father who is desperate to finish building their perfect home that they did not get to complete before she died. Lexi aka Sophie gets the job and is soon on her way to Norway but when she arrives not all is as she expected, she finds out that the deceased mother died of suicide over the very cliff that Tom, the father is building the new house upon. Also there's something evil lurking, within the forests and deep in the basement wanting to destroy everything that Tom has built...

Why I Loved It

I loved this chilling Nordic Thriller. I simply couldn't get enough.

This was a suspenseful, non-stop eerie story with a touch of ghostliness that chills you whilst you read, making you question every creak you hear.

At the same time you are never quite sure who is haunting you, with a foot in the past, every two to three chapters you go back to the year before when Aurelia was still alive and how she was coping with a new baby, a toddler and living in the woods which is her family ancestral home.

C.J's writing keeps you totally hooked from the very beginning, the way she describes the backdrop of the forest and the creepiness of everything haunting that surrounds you whilst you read really gives you the hairs standing up on the back of your neck kinda vibe.

Rating

★★★★★

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Meet the author

C.J. Cooke is an acclaimed, award-winning poet, novelist and academic with numerous other publications under the name of Carolyn Jess-Cooke.

Born in Belfast, she has a PhD in Literature from Queen’s University, Belfast, and is currently Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, where she researches creative writing interventions for mental health. She also founded the Stay-At-Home Festival.