Nest: A Thriller

their word was good

This is an amazing book! The amount of research and detail is incredible. I've recommended this book to several co-workers. There are some Easter eggs hidden throughout the book so pay attention.

Original post at authormickeyann.comTerry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series was the first book that made me want to go all Annie Wilkes on an author. Write faster, Terry!When his S0T series came to an end, I literally cried. (I also cried when Spock died--in the series and in real life. But, that's for another day.) The SoT was a masterful series, in my opinion. How can someone be so incredibly prolific and still be entertaining. Harry Potter, who? I was writing Kahlan and Richard forever in little hearts in my notebook and calling everyone Mother . . . Confessor this and working Mord Sith into cocktail conversations.Terry is also one of the authors who made me pick up a pen--er, start tapping at the keyboard--hoping to be an acclaimed science fiction/fantasy writer when I grew up. When the series was turned into a tv series, I put my fist in the air and screamed, "No!" When he wrote the post Richard and Kahlan story after the SoT series ended, I said, "No!" and pounded . . . well, my hands are delicate so I simply griped at him and refused to buy anything else he ever wrote.Then came "Nest," a venture welllllll outside fantasy and into real life with just a dollop of the science fiction. The novel is solid at over four hundred pages and starts with a great opening: John has the devil chained up in the basement. I really didn't care who the heck John was but hot-damn he had the devil in the basement. I needed details (eh, see what I did there?) so I bought the ridiculously expensive book and read and read until it was done.My decision? This was a solid three (3) stars. It kills me to write that because I really only gave him three stars because his writing is as good as ever. But, at around 62% into the book, I just skipped to the end.Terry--I feel I know him well after 11 books so forgive the first name familiarity--is a terrific researcher. But he has a tendency to data dump to pad the pages, and that's what he is most guilty of here. Well, that and being a bit preachy. I get it. The world sucks right now. But, I want to escape reality--that's why I read science fiction/fantasy instead of a critically acclaimed novel that makes me want to double-check the locks on my doors. He has always been political and preachy, but he throws subtlety on the ground, pounds its face into the dirt and made it scream uncle in this one. It's like he suddenly discovered the darknet and wikepedia and was in a hurry to let us know about it.Writing this review was painful. Painful I tell you. Gosh darn it and all four letter words here. I need a strong shot of green tea with some honey. It. Is. That. Serious.

Terry Goodkind wrote the "Sword of Truth" series chronicling the exploits of Richard Cypher and Kahlan Amnell in world where wizards and magic prevail. I plowed through those as fast as he could write them, and then I picked up another of his books. But largely the name Goodkind faded from my book purchases. And I went heavily into straight science fiction, murder mystery or intrigue thriller. Until now. "Nest" is unlike anything I expected of a guy who created an entire world of wizards. The story starts with a man who believes he's got the devil chained in his basement. In typical Goodkind fashion, this appears normal, at least in context. Goodkind weaves a believable tale no matter what he says happens. Unfortunately, the devil escapes and murders his jailer. That's where Kate Bishop enters. Her brother is the hapless man, a high functioning autistic, who tried to chain the killer and keep him from doing harm. Bishop is horrified. She had been on a trip and wasn't there when her brother needed her. Their parents had died some years before, and she was his safety net. Kate discovers her brother had been working with a police detective to find murderers. Turns out he had this innate ability to read evil from photographic images, not the digital variety, but from film. He could pick out a killer at random. The detective used him clandestinely to do this since her cases would be ripped to shreds had any discovered her methods. Kate soon discovers that she, too, has the ability to see evil. And she learns that she's in trouble. That she's been targeted by some shadowy organization. Into the picture jumps a guy named Jack Raines, who not only believes that people like Kate exist but can spot them. He's written a book about the concept and has been in touch with the detective. However, he tells Kate she must be careful, that evil is on the rise and that her kind is a target of this element. The book speeds along rapidly as Kate's life goes from corporate comfortable to not being able to trust her next move. Upon completion, I wanted more. About like the Sword of Truth saga that went through many novels. It's another great read.

I've rated this 4 stars, but it is actually 3-1/2 for me. I read it all the way through because I did want to know what happened to the characters. The premise was a bit extreme and almost, but not quite, beyond what I could accept and continue reading. On tv, I've see killers' faces, and I would sometimes look and say - "Those dead eyes! You can almost see that he's a killer." So I can see where a highly intuitive person might be able to read a killer's character.This book did have its highpoints. On the strength of the first chapter (I asked for a sample), which is a WOW, I bought the book. The action scenes were written to perfection; I could "see" the strikes and body movements. The two women's characters (Kate and AJ) were well done - I found them likeable and believable. I'm still not sure about Jack.What made the story drag for me was the extended exposition - the long, repetitive and drawn-out explanations as the two main characters (Jack and Kate) discussed the enemy. I kept saying: "Kate! Kate! Don't ask him another question! Please!" - because Jack can go with pages and pages of dialog in his reply. In an electronics shop, the two are surreptitiously using a display computer. They have to get this done quickly! But first --- Jack goes into a long explanation that went on and on and on ..... etc.. I began to skim.So if you are a skillful skimmer, you'll be able to read this, skim pages of Jack's diatribes, and probably enjoy the book at least 3-1/2 stars worth, as I did.

I found the fundamental concept, and its exploration, fascinating: that murder is endemic in human beings (that's a gross over-simplification). How he elaborates that concept I also found absorbing.The drawback, for me, is that the identification and elaboration of the concept are largely presented in what I'd call essay format. So much of the language of discussion is almost research-like.But if you can get through that, IMO, it's not an outstanding read, but did make me think about things from a different angle.I should say as preface that I spent years, slowly disentangling for myself the concepts of mental illness, and evil--because the concept of evil has fallen out of fashion, and out of use.Mental illness is not something that anyone chooses. It IS illness. It CAN be prevented, if we want to, and it can be treated, with varying degrees of success.Evil, on the other hand, is a willing, and avoidable, behaviour that discounts others' humanity, and consciously--and often repeatedly--harms them--sometimes to the point of death.IMO, DJT may be mentally ill--there have been a gazillion diagnoses proposed, but he is not treatable. He CHOOSES his actions. He is evil.He's not alone, of course.Anyway, that's probably one reason that I found the Goodkind book a worthwhile read.

Good quality writing but just didn't grab me. While it started out with a fair bit of action towards the middle there were very long passages explaining things. I didn't finish the book. To be fair, I was travelling and only reading in short bits of time so that may have been an attention span factor.

Not my usual read but glad I took a chance on this one. Gives you something to think about both as you read and after you’ve finished it. Story well written, characters are believable, lots of action too. Recommended!

What a read! Despite wanting to savour this book I raced through it. Lots of twists & turns. Info on the hidden world of evil and mankinds' prewiring to evil ring all to true. I see a sequel and can't wait

Loved the faced paced story with great in-depth characters! The book grabs the readers attention at the very beginning and doesn't let up. The bonus of this book is the wealth of knowledge on how to defend one's self. A real eye-opener, especially for women!