Book: The Nudge: A Psychological Thriller by Joseph Fink
Reviewed by Tessara
Rating: 5/5
After days of running, a man arrives at a strange hotel. Injured, exhausted, and terrified, the man relates the dizzying tale as he follows the concierge to his room. He is fleeing a malevolent force he calls “the nudge,” one that is able to slither into the minds of others and convince them to attack him. It has dogged his steps, first changing his beloved wife into a menacing monster, and then possessing others he has met on the road. Yet, in this hotel, the man finds himself relaxing; something about its peculiar layout and obscure design convinces him he is safe. But is it truly possible to outrun the force stalking him…or is the nudge merely waiting for him to let his guard down?
This was a truly chilling read. I found my pulse racing through the final third, as the tension ratcheted higher and our narrator described increasingly hair-raising encounters with possessed people and animals. The format of the novel, a tale told entirely in dialogue, felt laser-focused on narrative, stripping the story down in a way that heightened my unease as I read it. At 136 pages, it’s a quick read, and I could hardly put it down, racing to discover how it would end. And the ending! I spent several minutes staring at the wall, saying “what the hell” over and over again. I would highly recommend this to readers who like psychological horror, possession tales, unsettling environments, and horrifying twists. This book is easily 5 of 5 stars!