The Nesting by C J Cooke
(Audio Book Review)
Atmospheric, gothic, spine-chilling… The new thriller from C.J Cooke will haunt you long after you turn the last page…
‘Vivid and compelling’ Sunday Times bestselling author Rosamund Lupton
‘A gorgeous, atmospheric book that chilled me to the bone’ Sunday Times bestselling author Samantha Downing
‘A taut, scary thriller that winds the suspense so tightly you can barely breathe’ New York Times bestselling author Simone St. James
‘Best read with the lights on’ Alice Feeney, bestselling author of Sometimes I Lie
‘chilling, totally engrossing and full of intrigue’ Katherine May
‘A fun, gothic treat’ Kirsty Logan
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 Thoughts
I listened to the audio version of this book which was narrated by Aysha Kala. The story is set in different timelines and with different character’s POV so good narration and chapter definition was critical for this Nordic ghost story. Aysha Kala delivers the voice of main character Lexi/Sophie in a gentle age-appropriate tone and seamlessly transfers to other characters, even making the voice of a six-year-old believable. I found the narration to be atmospheric and delivered exactly as the writer intended.
Now on to the story..
Lexi grabs an opportunity to change her life and travel to Norway where she will work as a nanny to two young children. The children’s mother has recently passed away and she finds herself in a cold, regimented household where she must educate two grieving children.
The location is a remote Norwegian forest where architect Tom is building a dream house in the memory of his wife. However, when he tampers with nature, the elements rebel, and the build turns into a nightmare. With Nordic folklore, ghostly visitations, remote conditions, and mental health issues it is hard to separate fact from fiction.
I loved the eerie atmosphere which spiralled into a chilling, twisty tale where anything could happen. I invested in the character of Lexi/Sophie who I felt deserved a break in life. She used desperate (illegal) tactics to secure the job but once in the position she put the children’s needs above everything. There is a mystery element to the story which surrounds the death of Aurelia and Lexi/Sophie becomes entwined into the complex family history.
The writing is a masterpiece of atmospheric, intricately detailed imagery. This is perfect for lovers of gothic, dark, ghost stories with believable characters and a breathtaking location.
Thank you to Harper Collins Audio via Netgalley for a copy of this audiobook, which I have reviewed honestly.
Here is my review of C J Cooke’s previous novel I Know My Name
About The Author
C J Cooke (Carolyn Jess-Cooke) lives in Glasgow with her husband and four children. C J Cooke’s works have been published in 23 languages and have won many awards. She holds a PhD in Literature from the Queen’s University of Belfast and is currently Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, where she researches creative writing interventions for mental health. Two of her books are currently optioned for film.
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