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Nausea
Since the night he made an ill-advised decision to commit a pair of revenge killings, Nick has made his living as a professional murderer. Early on, he dispensed with guilt or emotion. But after a routine hit gets messy, Nick gets sick and the conscience he thought he’d killed, along with dozens of other marks, comes creeping back into his brain.
Now Nick’s profession and life are on the line, and he has begun stalking a perfectly innocent couple to see if he can snuff them out without the slightest hint of remorse…or if the humanity he worked so hard to suppress is making up for lost time.
A dark noir novel about human connection and repentance, Nausea is the story of a sociopathic killer in a war with himself, a war in which the lives of an uninvolved couple hang in the balance.
Now Nick’s profession and life are on the line, and he has begun stalking a perfectly innocent couple to see if he can snuff them out without the slightest hint of remorse…or if the humanity he worked so hard to suppress is making up for lost time.
A dark noir novel about human connection and repentance, Nausea is the story of a sociopathic killer in a war with himself, a war in which the lives of an uninvolved couple hang in the balance.
216 pages, Paperback
Published January 5, 2016
4 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Ed Kurtz
56 books145 followersEd Kurtz is the author of THE RIB FROM WHICH I REMAKE THE WORLD and other novels. His short fiction has appeared in numerous collections, and has been honored in Best American Mystery Stories as well as Best Gay Stories. Kurtz lives in Minneapolis.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 10, 2016
Get in, do the job, get out, get paid. Rinse and repeat.
Ed Kurtz pens a very good and well-paced mystery? thriller? Not sure how to qualify this one. There are several things going on with plenty of good twists and turns.
Nick is a hit man with and an identity crisis, not to mention a bad case of acid reflux. He needs to prove to himself that he is still human. When he runs into a mysterious women and a series of related hits, the ghosts of his past come rushing back to the present.
This was a strange one for me, but I quite enjoyed it nonetheless. I thought the character of Nick was very well done and while I did get a bit confused about the ¾ point, I recovered quickly and found the ending a perfect fit for the story. 3.5 Stars.
*As a member of the DarkFuse NetGalley Readers Group, I received an advanced copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Ed Kurtz pens a very good and well-paced mystery? thriller? Not sure how to qualify this one. There are several things going on with plenty of good twists and turns.
Nick is a hit man with and an identity crisis, not to mention a bad case of acid reflux. He needs to prove to himself that he is still human. When he runs into a mysterious women and a series of related hits, the ghosts of his past come rushing back to the present.
This was a strange one for me, but I quite enjoyed it nonetheless. I thought the character of Nick was very well done and while I did get a bit confused about the ¾ point, I recovered quickly and found the ending a perfect fit for the story. 3.5 Stars.
*As a member of the DarkFuse NetGalley Readers Group, I received an advanced copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Nick is a killer for hire, cold, calm and professional. Not since he his first killings has he felt any remorse for what he does, that is until his latest job. He becomes physically sick but puts it down to bad digestion until it happens again and again.
He thinks he's losing his ability to do his job so starts tracking a young couple to kill just to prove to himself that he can. The jobs keep coming but he realises there is a common thread amongst the victims, one that ties in with his violent past.
This is an interesting thriller that uses two time frame story arcs to tell Nicks story, his present dilemma and his turbulent past. At times it can be confusing as it slips between past and present without much clarity as to which time frame it is. This kept pulling me out of the story at the start until I got used to the authors style.
The character of Nick was really well done and whilst he could never be described as a hero you still feel for him and how he came to be in his present profession. His initial intentions had been well meaning, to confront a sadist but events take an unexpected turn and he becomes involved with the mob, owing them for his over zealousness.
The well written and engaging main character really made this read for me, Angel of the Abyss, remains a favourite of mine but this is still a recommended read for those that like noirish thrillers.
Nick is a killer for hire, cold, calm and professional. Not since he his first killings has he felt any remorse for what he does, that is until his latest job. He becomes physically sick but puts it down to bad digestion until it happens again and again.
He thinks he's losing his ability to do his job so starts tracking a young couple to kill just to prove to himself that he can. The jobs keep coming but he realises there is a common thread amongst the victims, one that ties in with his violent past.
This is an interesting thriller that uses two time frame story arcs to tell Nicks story, his present dilemma and his turbulent past. At times it can be confusing as it slips between past and present without much clarity as to which time frame it is. This kept pulling me out of the story at the start until I got used to the authors style.
The character of Nick was really well done and whilst he could never be described as a hero you still feel for him and how he came to be in his present profession. His initial intentions had been well meaning, to confront a sadist but events take an unexpected turn and he becomes involved with the mob, owing them for his over zealousness.
The well written and engaging main character really made this read for me, Angel of the Abyss, remains a favourite of mine but this is still a recommended read for those that like noirish thrillers.
December 8, 2015
Nausea is the second book that I have read by Ed Kurtz. Although Angel of the Abyss is still my favorite by him (and one of my favorites in general), I rather enjoyed Nausea.
The book starts out a little slow and I wasn't sure I would like it until around 20% on my Kindle. From there, I can't remember keeping track of how far along I was. I also wasn't sure about a puking hit man, but somehow Kurtz pulls it off - with a lot of vomiting - but no hiccups.
Nick is a cold and ruthless hitman, who does whatever it takes to get the job done. Until one day after a hit, he pukes his guts out. From then on he can't seem to stomach - literally - the job he has done for the last almost twenty years. Determined to prove that he hasn't gone soft, Nick decides to put his own hit out on a random young couple he happens upon.
Can you stomach Nausea? You may want to read this with a side of Tums, but you will be glad that you did. Ed Kurtz may be a little sick but he's never boring and writes a damn good story.
The book starts out a little slow and I wasn't sure I would like it until around 20% on my Kindle. From there, I can't remember keeping track of how far along I was. I also wasn't sure about a puking hit man, but somehow Kurtz pulls it off - with a lot of vomiting - but no hiccups.
Nick is a cold and ruthless hitman, who does whatever it takes to get the job done. Until one day after a hit, he pukes his guts out. From then on he can't seem to stomach - literally - the job he has done for the last almost twenty years. Determined to prove that he hasn't gone soft, Nick decides to put his own hit out on a random young couple he happens upon.
Can you stomach Nausea? You may want to read this with a side of Tums, but you will be glad that you did. Ed Kurtz may be a little sick but he's never boring and writes a damn good story.
December 12, 2015
NAUSEA is the second book I have read from author Ed Kurtz. Although ANGEL OF THE ABYSS is my personal favorite so far, this thriller really takes you away on a psychological, emotional, and "physical" journey through the view of our main character, Nick.
Nick has had a lucrative "career" as a hired hit man for years, able to completely distance himself emotionally from everyone and everything around him. When one job suddenly ends in a vicious, most unusual nausea for him, everything seems to catch up all at once. Nick is forced to confront memories, feelings, and connections that he had never consciously registered before.
There is nothing "predictable" about Nick's character. Although very well portrayed, we are given no prior knowledge of ANYTHING that has ever personally affected him. When the sudden urge to find out if he has any kind of conscious hits him, we are treated to a story told on two different levels. One part is the life Nick is currently going through, the other, past events that shaped him.
Nick's emotionless observation concerning life, tells us a lot about his own mindset: "Life, he considered while staring at the man he'd just killed, wasn't at all unlike sex. . . . as programmed and ultimately stupid as a cockroach or an ant, doing only what its instinct commands--no more, no less."
A captivating thriller that will take you to places you'd never have expected to go. As Nick is about to realize, most things in life come full circle . . .
Recommended!
*I received an advance e-copy of this book through NetGalley and DarkFuse in exchange for an honest review.*
Nick has had a lucrative "career" as a hired hit man for years, able to completely distance himself emotionally from everyone and everything around him. When one job suddenly ends in a vicious, most unusual nausea for him, everything seems to catch up all at once. Nick is forced to confront memories, feelings, and connections that he had never consciously registered before.
There is nothing "predictable" about Nick's character. Although very well portrayed, we are given no prior knowledge of ANYTHING that has ever personally affected him. When the sudden urge to find out if he has any kind of conscious hits him, we are treated to a story told on two different levels. One part is the life Nick is currently going through, the other, past events that shaped him.
Nick's emotionless observation concerning life, tells us a lot about his own mindset: "Life, he considered while staring at the man he'd just killed, wasn't at all unlike sex. . . . as programmed and ultimately stupid as a cockroach or an ant, doing only what its instinct commands--no more, no less."
A captivating thriller that will take you to places you'd never have expected to go. As Nick is about to realize, most things in life come full circle . . .
Recommended!
*I received an advance e-copy of this book through NetGalley and DarkFuse in exchange for an honest review.*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2015
This was the third book by Ed I have read. The other two were Angel of the Abyss and Catch My Killer. The story centers around a hit man named Nick Drake who pukes after every hit. He keeps getting these hits thru a locker at the bus depot which has a envelope with numbers which corresponds to a name in the white pages in the phone book. He does his job with no emotion, up close with a garrote. The story goes back and forth, present and at the beginning when he first kill someone. For me Nausea was an okay read, a little slow at times. I enjoyed certain parts of the book and the main character but overall it didn't do a lot for me. I gave Nausea 3 1/2 stars.
I received an e-arc of this book from DarkFuse/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an e-arc of this book from DarkFuse/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2016
The new crime noir novel from Ed Kurtz is certainly long on style, even If I felt it was a bit lacking in substance. I think that may come from a lead character that I just couldn't connect with. Nick Drake is a killer, a low-rent hit man who fell into his line of work, more or less, by accident.
Nausea is told in two separate story-lines. The current timeline and one detailing the events which lead to the early years of Nick's, now, long time profession.
The writing is solid as is the way the story is told...
A few minutes later he ground the butt under the heel of his boot and narrowed his eyes at the purplish ribbon of the gathering dusk. The air was getting a bit nippy now that summer had ended; even this far from town he could smell woodsmoke. It was an odd, familiar smell, a comforting one. He gazed at the shooting stars made by the headlights of the semis on the freeway an wished he could vomit again."
Nausea is a suitably gritty tale. The writer does an excellent job in creating atmosphere and there is definitely a solid story here. It just wasn't one I found to be particularly compelling. I much preferred his previous release from Darkfuse, Angel of the Abyss. Read my review here http://frankmichaelserrington.blogspo....
Nausea is available now in both paperback and e-book formats from Darkfuse publishers. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE through the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
Recommended.
Ed Kurtz is the author of Angel of the Abyss, The Forty-Two, and A Wind of Knives. 2015 was a year of personal tragedy for Ed. 2016 begins with a new job and a new life in Minneapolis, MN. I wish him nothing but the best and look forward to his next novel.
Nausea is told in two separate story-lines. The current timeline and one detailing the events which lead to the early years of Nick's, now, long time profession.
The writing is solid as is the way the story is told...
A few minutes later he ground the butt under the heel of his boot and narrowed his eyes at the purplish ribbon of the gathering dusk. The air was getting a bit nippy now that summer had ended; even this far from town he could smell woodsmoke. It was an odd, familiar smell, a comforting one. He gazed at the shooting stars made by the headlights of the semis on the freeway an wished he could vomit again."
Nausea is a suitably gritty tale. The writer does an excellent job in creating atmosphere and there is definitely a solid story here. It just wasn't one I found to be particularly compelling. I much preferred his previous release from Darkfuse, Angel of the Abyss. Read my review here http://frankmichaelserrington.blogspo....
Nausea is available now in both paperback and e-book formats from Darkfuse publishers. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE through the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
Recommended.
Ed Kurtz is the author of Angel of the Abyss, The Forty-Two, and A Wind of Knives. 2015 was a year of personal tragedy for Ed. 2016 begins with a new job and a new life in Minneapolis, MN. I wish him nothing but the best and look forward to his next novel.
December 22, 2015
I wish there were more writers like Ed Kurtz: fearless explorers of genre fiction dedicated to resuscitate the forgotten, but glorious era where people used to read pulp novels for their personal enjoyment wherever they went. NAUSEA is a hit man story, but it has very little to do with the tired cold-blooded, silenced-pistol-wielding-assassins-mourning-a-broken-past. In fact, Kurtz turned that very trope inside out and built a fascinating, lonely and tortured character standing on the edge of normalcy, looking in.
NAUSEA is a little difficult to follow at times because its structure is not linear, but if you give it the proper attention it's a rich and clever existential grind that pushed the boundaries of how hit men are discussed in fiction and you know how much I like books that openly challenge clichés!
NAUSEA is a little difficult to follow at times because its structure is not linear, but if you give it the proper attention it's a rich and clever existential grind that pushed the boundaries of how hit men are discussed in fiction and you know how much I like books that openly challenge clichés!
December 6, 2017
Kurtz has made an indelible impression with his superb The Rib From Which I Remake the World. This one isn't quite in the same ballpark, though it's just as imminently readable. I do appreciate the author's ability to jump genres and here he jumped and landed very firmly in the noir territory with a story about a virtually remorseless killer who is finally put to reckoning when he encounters his long dormant conscience both physically and metaphorically. The narrative alternates (occasionally dizzyingly so) between past and present, so that Nick's path is revealed in steady measured intervals. It's somewhat reminiscent of the Oldboy in tone if not circumstances. Tough, bleak, ruthless...very, very noir. If you're into that sort of thing, you'll love it. Personally, it isn't quite my bag, though I'm wiling to venture out based on the author, premise, etc. and this was a worthy venture. Brutal, dark and lean. With an undeniable entertaining quality. Thanks Bill for another fun read, though this one took a while to get to.
January 14, 2016
I received an advance review copy of this novel from the publisher (Darkfuse) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have been reading Darkfuse publishing titles for a couple of years now and can say that they are a reliable source of quality horror and crime/noir. Their output is usually of the literary variety, at least as much or even mostly about characters as about the plot/action. Nausea by Ed Kurtz is no exception. I also enjoyed his prior Darkfuse release, Angel of the Abyss.
Our protagonist (Nick Drake) is a hitman. It isn’t just his profession. It is his life. His conscious existence is spent moving from one named target to the next. No outside life. No one waiting at home. No time for thought outside of the current target. When he thinks about his favorite movies he can only remember films from his childhood. He hums tunes from the Nat King Cole and Johnny Mathis. His forward development as a person stopped when he took his first contract.
When you think of a hitman your mental image is of a sociopath with ice in his veins. No thought beyond the hit. No emotions. Our protagonist is aware of this model as well and he tries to convince himself that he fits this bill and for the most part he has succeeded. Problem is that it isn’t working anymore. He calls himself a sociopath, but it is clear that he is being torn up inside by conflict. Sociopaths don’t worry about the state of their soul or if they even have one. Sociopaths don’t obsess over the lives of the people they just murdered. Cold as ice hitmen don’t throw up after a killing. After 35 hits he is falling apart, emotionally and physically.
Structurally, the novel tells two stories at the same time. Nick Drake’s transition from 19 year old drifter to contract hitman and the story of how he falls apart years, and many hits, later. The beginning and the end. It works very well. Through the story the reader sees how Nick’s existence is basically shaped and governed by the will of strong women: his boss (with the Freudian moniker “mother”) and a psychotic repeat customer (in that she frequently utilizes his services). It is evident that Nick’s life has been shaped by his struggles against the powerful people that control him and his inability to escape their dominion over him. His struggles for independence and identity provide the depth beneath the surface of this fast paced and gritty noirish thriller.
Highly recommended. 4 stars.
I have been reading Darkfuse publishing titles for a couple of years now and can say that they are a reliable source of quality horror and crime/noir. Their output is usually of the literary variety, at least as much or even mostly about characters as about the plot/action. Nausea by Ed Kurtz is no exception. I also enjoyed his prior Darkfuse release, Angel of the Abyss.
Our protagonist (Nick Drake) is a hitman. It isn’t just his profession. It is his life. His conscious existence is spent moving from one named target to the next. No outside life. No one waiting at home. No time for thought outside of the current target. When he thinks about his favorite movies he can only remember films from his childhood. He hums tunes from the Nat King Cole and Johnny Mathis. His forward development as a person stopped when he took his first contract.
When you think of a hitman your mental image is of a sociopath with ice in his veins. No thought beyond the hit. No emotions. Our protagonist is aware of this model as well and he tries to convince himself that he fits this bill and for the most part he has succeeded. Problem is that it isn’t working anymore. He calls himself a sociopath, but it is clear that he is being torn up inside by conflict. Sociopaths don’t worry about the state of their soul or if they even have one. Sociopaths don’t obsess over the lives of the people they just murdered. Cold as ice hitmen don’t throw up after a killing. After 35 hits he is falling apart, emotionally and physically.
Structurally, the novel tells two stories at the same time. Nick Drake’s transition from 19 year old drifter to contract hitman and the story of how he falls apart years, and many hits, later. The beginning and the end. It works very well. Through the story the reader sees how Nick’s existence is basically shaped and governed by the will of strong women: his boss (with the Freudian moniker “mother”) and a psychotic repeat customer (in that she frequently utilizes his services). It is evident that Nick’s life has been shaped by his struggles against the powerful people that control him and his inability to escape their dominion over him. His struggles for independence and identity provide the depth beneath the surface of this fast paced and gritty noirish thriller.
Highly recommended. 4 stars.
December 13, 2015
This is only the second title I've read from Ed Kurtz, following last year's DarkFuse title, Angel of the Abyss, which I liked quite a bit more and felt more engaged with.
In Nausea, we get the story of Nick, a pro hit-man with a penchant for garroting his victims. The dude is an emotionless sociopath who kills for money, and claims to not be a real human. He's seen people - people with emotions and love and hearts and souls - and he knows he's not one of them. Inexplicably, he begins throwing up after his kills, for the first time in years, and finds himself getting sicker with each successive murder. Unfortunately, Nick just so happens to find himself in a suddenly busy season.
While the story itself and Kurtz' writing are both solidly proficient, I just didn't find myself overly invested in the characters. The plot is interesting, particularly as the endgame becomes unraveled in the finale and we find out why Nick has been so busy and how it ties into his past, but he isn't exactly a sympathetic figure and his victims generally aren't around long enough to engender much more than a passing interest.
Additionally, given a bit of work-life imbalance which has seriously hampered my reading time, and which perhaps adversely affected my enjoyment of this book, having to spread this title out across so many days made the narrative a bit confusing at times. Nick's story is told in both present-day and as flashbacks to when his career was just getting started. The hops back and forth can get a little abrupt, and if you have to spread out your reading time like I did, you might find yourself needing to backtrack a bit in order to remember who the characters are and what the particular job is.
[Note: I received a review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley.]
In Nausea, we get the story of Nick, a pro hit-man with a penchant for garroting his victims. The dude is an emotionless sociopath who kills for money, and claims to not be a real human. He's seen people - people with emotions and love and hearts and souls - and he knows he's not one of them. Inexplicably, he begins throwing up after his kills, for the first time in years, and finds himself getting sicker with each successive murder. Unfortunately, Nick just so happens to find himself in a suddenly busy season.
While the story itself and Kurtz' writing are both solidly proficient, I just didn't find myself overly invested in the characters. The plot is interesting, particularly as the endgame becomes unraveled in the finale and we find out why Nick has been so busy and how it ties into his past, but he isn't exactly a sympathetic figure and his victims generally aren't around long enough to engender much more than a passing interest.
Additionally, given a bit of work-life imbalance which has seriously hampered my reading time, and which perhaps adversely affected my enjoyment of this book, having to spread this title out across so many days made the narrative a bit confusing at times. Nick's story is told in both present-day and as flashbacks to when his career was just getting started. The hops back and forth can get a little abrupt, and if you have to spread out your reading time like I did, you might find yourself needing to backtrack a bit in order to remember who the characters are and what the particular job is.
[Note: I received a review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley.]
December 10, 2015
Is it too early to declare Nausea the best crime novel of 2016? I can't imagine anything else coming close when it comes to character, plot, and structure. This novel feels perfect.
Ed Kurtz does a remarkable job of making Nick, an amoral contract killer, in to a character that is compelling and relatable. The story is told in alternating sections of present and past, as the reader follows the current storyline while getting Nick's back story in small chunks. These two threads converge at the end of the novel in a masterful way. Not only is the story engaging and well written, but the structure makes Nausea FUN to read.
Anyone remotely interested in crime and noir fiction should read Nausea as soon as it is available. 5 stars, highest recommendation.
Ed Kurtz does a remarkable job of making Nick, an amoral contract killer, in to a character that is compelling and relatable. The story is told in alternating sections of present and past, as the reader follows the current storyline while getting Nick's back story in small chunks. These two threads converge at the end of the novel in a masterful way. Not only is the story engaging and well written, but the structure makes Nausea FUN to read.
Anyone remotely interested in crime and noir fiction should read Nausea as soon as it is available. 5 stars, highest recommendation.
Want to read
September 22, 2016This is copy number 9 of 100 hard bound editions signed by Ed Kurtz.
January 15, 2016
It always surprises me when I read through reviews that there can be such a difference of opinion between reviewers who find the story fascinating and unputdownable whilst others struggle to finish.
Now I did not struggle to finish Nausea, and I really did want to like this short novel. I enjoyed the premise a hitman questioning the reasoning behind his chosen profession...”I do a job, fine, it’s good. Somebody disappears and I get paid”
The real problem I had with the story was the timeline. We meet Nick after a particular bloody kill and we are introduced to the young Nick at the start of his “career” A lot of reviews are positive in respect of this, I however found it very confusing and had to constantly backtrack on the text to remind myself where exactly I was....past or present?
As one kill merges into another the moral deep within the story and the questions that Nick needs to ask keep recurring...”The doubt. The overthinking. What was the point in it all? It wouldn’t bring any of them back. And it wouldn’t stop anyone else from getting what was coming to them, either. Even if Nick bowed out straightaway, vanished into the night never to be heard from again, there was always going to be someone else....”
A hitman is a great subject to have at the centre of a moral dilemma as to fulfil his role he must be divorced from the normal rules that govern society and yet possess single mindedness, inner strength and cunning. It is only when these qualities disappear that the human frailty present within Nick begins to emerge and reassert itself...”Murder. That was the stuff of human instinct, wasn’t it? Kill and f**k and eat and s**t and see who’s standing atop the mountain of cadavers come dusk, dripping blood and screaming victorious....”
There were of course enjoyable moments and characters in the course of this “noir” telling: Nick is enamoured with the music of Nat King Cole....”and on the same night he’s asked to kill a dude called Nathan K. Cole” I also admired the puzzling character of sweet Lorraine and her connection to the killers clients, her psychotic behaviour made an interesting paradoxical to the morally adrift Nick
The few highlights could not however rescue the confusion I felt throughout. I had very little sympathy with the main character, and the ending when it occurred was totally justified.
Now I did not struggle to finish Nausea, and I really did want to like this short novel. I enjoyed the premise a hitman questioning the reasoning behind his chosen profession...”I do a job, fine, it’s good. Somebody disappears and I get paid”
The real problem I had with the story was the timeline. We meet Nick after a particular bloody kill and we are introduced to the young Nick at the start of his “career” A lot of reviews are positive in respect of this, I however found it very confusing and had to constantly backtrack on the text to remind myself where exactly I was....past or present?
As one kill merges into another the moral deep within the story and the questions that Nick needs to ask keep recurring...”The doubt. The overthinking. What was the point in it all? It wouldn’t bring any of them back. And it wouldn’t stop anyone else from getting what was coming to them, either. Even if Nick bowed out straightaway, vanished into the night never to be heard from again, there was always going to be someone else....”
A hitman is a great subject to have at the centre of a moral dilemma as to fulfil his role he must be divorced from the normal rules that govern society and yet possess single mindedness, inner strength and cunning. It is only when these qualities disappear that the human frailty present within Nick begins to emerge and reassert itself...”Murder. That was the stuff of human instinct, wasn’t it? Kill and f**k and eat and s**t and see who’s standing atop the mountain of cadavers come dusk, dripping blood and screaming victorious....”
There were of course enjoyable moments and characters in the course of this “noir” telling: Nick is enamoured with the music of Nat King Cole....”and on the same night he’s asked to kill a dude called Nathan K. Cole” I also admired the puzzling character of sweet Lorraine and her connection to the killers clients, her psychotic behaviour made an interesting paradoxical to the morally adrift Nick
The few highlights could not however rescue the confusion I felt throughout. I had very little sympathy with the main character, and the ending when it occurred was totally justified.
December 15, 2015
Nausea is the second book from Ed Kurtz that I have read. The first, "Angel of the Abyss", I enjoyed slightly more, though they are fairly different books. This book has more humor in it, and follows the story of a hitman who after years in the business at ease with his conscience (or maybe lack thereof) begins to be plagued by nausea following a hit. The story alternates back and forth between the story of how he got into the line of work and the present day. At time I had to work a little to keep them straight, but that's more due to the amount of time it took to read this due to lack of reading time.
The characters are well-written and interesting (if not particularly likeable), and the writing style is very engaging and easy to read. It felt like it moved slow at times, which was magnified somewhat by the alternation between the past and present, but due to the way the story unfolds, that was the right choice of format. It maybe could have used to be streamlined a bit. Again, that may just be my perception because it took a while to read. The ending was satisfying, though I did have a good idea where it was heading, which I often do not.
I was torn between 3 and 4 stars on this one, but ultimately the writing style and strength of characterization pushed it up to 4 for me. I would recommend it, especially for people who like some humor mixed in to lighten the mood. I look forward to reading more from Ed Kurtz.
The characters are well-written and interesting (if not particularly likeable), and the writing style is very engaging and easy to read. It felt like it moved slow at times, which was magnified somewhat by the alternation between the past and present, but due to the way the story unfolds, that was the right choice of format. It maybe could have used to be streamlined a bit. Again, that may just be my perception because it took a while to read. The ending was satisfying, though I did have a good idea where it was heading, which I often do not.
I was torn between 3 and 4 stars on this one, but ultimately the writing style and strength of characterization pushed it up to 4 for me. I would recommend it, especially for people who like some humor mixed in to lighten the mood. I look forward to reading more from Ed Kurtz.
December 15, 2015
I found this story to be very confusing, yet I liked it for the most part. It took me a while to realize that the author was flip-flopping in time. He had none of the usual chapter breaks or italics or any of the little clues that writers use to let the reader (victim) know what's going down.
And a lot was happening in this novella. At first I thought it was a somewhat silly idea having a hitman continually getting sick at his job. But, circumstances being what they were and events changing as they did, it managed to keep my interest in spite of the confusion.
Turns out to have a bit of a twist for an ending, and I gave it 3.5 stars. I doubt that I'll remember much except an overload of vomit. What a memory to take away.
I received my copy of NAUSEA from the publisher,
And a lot was happening in this novella. At first I thought it was a somewhat silly idea having a hitman continually getting sick at his job. But, circumstances being what they were and events changing as they did, it managed to keep my interest in spite of the confusion.
Turns out to have a bit of a twist for an ending, and I gave it 3.5 stars. I doubt that I'll remember much except an overload of vomit. What a memory to take away.
I received my copy of NAUSEA from the publisher,
August 15, 2016
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/uncatego...
Nick is a cold, professional killer for hire who feels no remorse. His latest job does make him feel something, though. Reluctant to think he losing his ability, he starts tracking a young couple to kill, just because he wants to know if he can. When the past creeps up on him, Nick will have to face some demons. Nick was an intriguing, well-crafted character, and the author did an amazing job of making me feel for him even if he was a deranged killer. The writing was impeccable. however, the time slips were slightly confusing, hence why no five stars.
Nick is a cold, professional killer for hire who feels no remorse. His latest job does make him feel something, though. Reluctant to think he losing his ability, he starts tracking a young couple to kill, just because he wants to know if he can. When the past creeps up on him, Nick will have to face some demons. Nick was an intriguing, well-crafted character, and the author did an amazing job of making me feel for him even if he was a deranged killer. The writing was impeccable. however, the time slips were slightly confusing, hence why no five stars.
July 12, 2016
An excellent hard crime thriller about a con artist who becomes embroiled in a situation that eventually turns him into a hitman at 19. I totally enjoy the way Ed interweaves a past plot with a present one. I highly recommend this edge of your seat page-turner.
December 10, 2015
The author lost me a few times as the plot alternated between past and present but in hindsight, it was necessary to the plot. Another fine novel from Ed Kurtz.
June 9, 2017
So Ed Kurtz has joined the great list of noir writers who have penned hit man novels from Lawrence Block's Keller to Max Allsn Colllins' Quarry and others too numerous to mention. This novel about a loner professional killer reinvents the genre and leaves the reader with questions about the very nature of what was just read. It's not a normal story. It's not told in the ordinary way and it kind of leaves your head spinning, wondering if Nick was a post-punk slacker loser, a psychopathic killer, a Schizophrenic, or just a mixed up joe. When a story is told in alternating flashbacks and streams of consciousness, anything is possible. It's a dark story. It's about killing and a hitman who is creeped out by someone knowing about the killing. His relationships are bizarre whether it's with Misty or with Lorraine. Despite what Nick has done, you actually get the sense that there's a part of him that still feels innocent - that believes someone leaves him codes in bus station lockers. In the end, there was something captivating about this dark world that Nick lives in - even if it doesn't all seem to make sense. You find Nick trying to make sense of it - to make sense of whether or not he feels anything.
October 10, 2021
This is a quick note on the Audiobook version.
This guy can tell a story!
A Neo-noir revenge tale. Nick is a hitman with many ghosts in his closet, one about to come back and kick him in the ass.
The audiobook was great on the whole. Leon Nixon was the narrator who did a great job drawing me into the story. The only complaint I have with this one -is that- I found it a bit confusing, switching timelines a lot, and no real warning as to when this happens.
Ed Kurtz has a new fan!
This guy can tell a story!
A Neo-noir revenge tale. Nick is a hitman with many ghosts in his closet, one about to come back and kick him in the ass.
The audiobook was great on the whole. Leon Nixon was the narrator who did a great job drawing me into the story. The only complaint I have with this one -is that- I found it a bit confusing, switching timelines a lot, and no real warning as to when this happens.
Ed Kurtz has a new fan!
January 4, 2016
Nick has made a living as a hit man for the past twenty years. He's been merciless, unfeeling and gets the job done. But after one particular killing, he starts vomiting.
The story alternates between the present and the past explaining how Nick became the person he is now. This was a bit of a strange one for me, but oddly captivating. A killer with an identity crisis whose life was quite interesting to explore. Pretty dark, well written and different from the normal thriller/suspense stuff. My first book by Ed Kurtz, but it intrigued me enough to read more by this author.
Thanks to DarkFuse via NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The story alternates between the present and the past explaining how Nick became the person he is now. This was a bit of a strange one for me, but oddly captivating. A killer with an identity crisis whose life was quite interesting to explore. Pretty dark, well written and different from the normal thriller/suspense stuff. My first book by Ed Kurtz, but it intrigued me enough to read more by this author.
Thanks to DarkFuse via NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 22, 2016
Nausea is the first book I have read by Ed Kurtz and it is not a bad introduction. Nick is a career hit-man, who as of late, has been unnerved by an unexpected case of nausea that developed since his most recent killings. Something is clearly wrong. Is Nick losing his edge? Is age catching up to him? Is it time to get out of the business? The story jumps between Nick's genesis as a killer to the current timeline from chapter to chapter. This technique allowed the author to place seeds throughout the story that deliver the right clues at just the right moment. A fun and quick read! Looking forward to reading more by Mr. Kurtz.
December 14, 2015
A very good thriller/noir novel
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/nausea... or http://areviewerdarkly.blogspot.com/2... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/nausea... or http://areviewerdarkly.blogspot.com/2... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
November 7, 2016
Once I got used to the back and forth of past to present, this book perfectly illustrates the difference between a sociopath and a psychopath. Something I've always struggled with truly grasping. Wonderful read!
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