41 ratings | 15 reviews | avg rating:4.54

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Michael Nest

Goodreads Author

Born

Melbourne, Australia

Website

http://michaelnest.com

Influences

Vikram Seth, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Bruce Chatwin, Bessie Head, Robyn Davi ...more

Member Since

December 2020

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Michael Nest is the award-winning author of five books. Mining and war are the themes of the first two. The third, Still a Pygmy, is a collaboration with Congolese activist Isaac Bacirongo – the first Indigenous Twa (Pygmy) to ever publish his memoir. Cold Case North: the search for James Brady and Absolom Halkett, is another collaboration: a cold case investigation into the disappearance and alleged murder of two Indigenous activists in Canada in 1967. Take Out the Jocks: a feminist revenge comedy is Michael's first novel. His day job is preventing fraud and corruption. He lives in Montreal, Canada. ...more

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Hi Michael, Enjoyed 'Take out the jocks' so much! The novel is easy to read, has fantastic characters and is very funny. Your insight into incels was scary to say the least. Really interested to hear about your fiction writing process. Do you have a sequel in mind?

Michael Nest Thanks Bill, that's great feedback. Writing and publishing a book takes a huge amount of effort, so it is always gratifying to know that one has 'got …moreThanks Bill, that's great feedback. Writing and publishing a book takes a huge amount of effort, so it is always gratifying to know that one has 'got it right'. Take Out the Jocks is meant to be a dark comedy, so when readers find it funny—even though it is about the serious topic of unequal gender freedoms—that is also good to hear! My four other books are all nonfiction, and I found writing fiction to be completely different process: more freedom; a wonderful creative process of developing characters, place and plot; and the research process felt like a pleasure rather like than a task. A sequel? Now, that's a good question. I think Carly, Kate and Seyram have more adventures in them ... but what could tip them over the edge into danger once again???(less)

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Hi Michael. Why did you decide to write COLD CASE NORTH as true crime?

Michael Nest Hi Jill, That's a great question and one another person also asked recently! I knew from the start that it was a gripping story, with a genuine myster…moreHi Jill, That's a great question and one another person also asked recently! I knew from the start that it was a gripping story, with a genuine mystery at its heart (the missing persons), with multiple persons of interest, and some ambiguity around 'whodunnit', so these factors lent themselves to writing in a true crime style that engages readers (accessible language, revealing some clues but only alluding to others) and structuring the book in a way that developed tension (made readers want to turn the page). However, the decision for it to be marketed as true crime, was mostly one for the publisher (clearly with an eye on how bookshops were likely to sell it). It could have equally been marketed as 'social history', but the print run and marketing budget would have been far far less, it may have only been published in hardcover (making it very expensive; effectively for libraries and academics with book budgets only), and only academic bookshops and critics would have been interested in it. Writing the story as 'true crime' broadened the potential audience on several levels. (less)

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Michael Nest’s books

Average rating: 4.2 · 221 ratings · 50 reviews · 5 distinct works • Similar authors

	Cold Case North: The Search for James Brady and Absolom Halkett 4.15 avg rating — 131 ratings — published 2020 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Coltan really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 44 ratings — published 2011 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Still a Pygmy by Isaac Bacirongo, Michael Nest (Goodreads Author) 4.47 avg rating — 32 ratings — published 2015 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Take Out the Jocks: A feminist revenge comedy 4.93 avg rating — 14 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	La République Démocratique du Congo : Les Enjeux Économiques de la Guerre et de la Paix by Michael Nest (Goodreads Author), Francois Grignon, Emizet F. Kisangani liked it 3.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Michael Nest finished reading Take Out the Jocks: A feminist revenge comedy by Michael Nest (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 24, 2025 10:42AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Take Out the Jocks by Michael Nest. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Take Out the Jocks by Michael Nest <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Nest liked Annie's review of Cold Case North: The Search for James Brady and Absolom Halkett: "4.5 star. This was a very interesting story/investigation. The half star taken off is only because I found the author repeats himself a lot and more then just what was necessary to remind us of the facts(in my opinion). I enjoyed reading a story that" Read more of this review »
Aug 24, 2025 05:00AM · see review
Michael Nest liked Larry Epp's review of Cold Case North: The Search for James Brady and Absolom Halkett: "Research of cold case of 1967 disappearance of Jim Brady and Absolom Halkett on Lower Foster Lake in the Churchill River system in Northern Saskatchewan. A lot of interviews stretching people's memories. A fair bit of criticism of original search, Mo" Read more of this review »
Aug 24, 2025 05:00AM · see review
Michael Nest answered Bill Kokkaris's question: Hi Michael, Enjoyed 'Take out the jocks' so much! The novel is easy to read, has fantastic characters and is very funny. Your insight into incels was scary to say the least. Really interested to hear about your fiction writing process. Do you have a sequel in mind? Thanks Bill, that's great feedback. Writing and publishing a book takes a huge amount of effort, so it is always gratifying to know that one has 'got it right'. Take Out the Jocks is meant to be a dark comedy, so when readers find it funny—even thoug See Full Answer
Nov 23, 2023 05:29PM · like