A review by precioussantiago
The Nesting by C.J. Cooke

5.0

I gave this a 5/5.

Down on her luck Lexi Ellis lands a nanny position for a family in a isolated home along a picturesque fjord in Norway. She has no experience in caring for small children and must do her best in concealing her lack of childcare skills along with her true identity whilst succumbing to her new environment. She begins to see and hear strange things throughout the house and thus a mystery surrounding the family, the house, and the fjord begins to unfold.

This story was well paced and atmospheric. C.J. Cooke masterfully weaved together magical realism in a thriller with horror elements-and the horror elements were actually creepy. As someone who watches and reads horror regularly I am pretty desensitived and not easily creeped out-that is saying something.

The writing style sets this gloomy mood that you feel from the very first page and is consistent throughout the rest of the book-although it is a rather dark setting it drew me in and I was very invested in the characters and the story. There was never a slow moment. I could have easily read this in one sitting had I not been busy on this particular weekend that I started reading this book-it was that good! I am so surprised that I do not hear more about this book. I am so glad that I found this gem and I ready to read more from C.J. Cooke. I highly, highly recommend this book.