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The Bent Nail
M.D. Nuth’s The Bent Nail is a dark, unflinching exploration of power, corruption, and the human cost of control. It begins in the chaos of a Delhi marketplace and spirals into a global web of political manipulation, personal ruin, and moral decay. At its center is Tau, a man born into filth and neglect who becomes both a victim and an instrument of a shadowy organization bent on reshaping the world through brutality. From street-level despair to the high offices of government, the novel draws a line between the powerless and the powerful, showing how desperation and authority twist into something monstrous.
Reading this book felt like riding a rollercoaster. Nuth’s writing hits hard. The language is raw and often brutal, but it feels right for the world he’s built. I could almost smell the filth of the streets and feel the emptiness in Tau’s heart. The dialogue is jagged, messy, and alive. It sounds like people breaking apart, trying to make sense of what’s left of their lives. The pacing is relentless. There were moments I had to pause just to breathe, especially in scenes that blended violence with eerie calm. It’s not an easy read, but it’s gripping.
What surprised me most was how much I cared for characters who probably didn’t deserve it. Tau, especially, is a walking wound, and even as he kills, I felt something like pity. Nuth doesn’t excuse evil, he shows how it’s born. The story’s ideas about government control, manipulation, and the illusion of freedom hit close to home. It’s a political thriller, yes, but it also feels like a prophecy, a mirror held up to our worst tendencies as people.
I’d recommend The Bent Nail to readers who like their fiction sharp, ugly, and honest. It’s perfect for those who aren’t afraid of dark themes or moral gray areas. If you want a story that challenges you, unsettles you, and makes you question the world you live in, this one’s worth every page.
Pages: 294 | ISBN : 1681607840
Underlying Historical Aspects
In My Brother’s Keeper, two brothers are among the survivors of a plane crash in the Dutch Indies facing personal challenges as they fight for survival. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
My goal was to provide a significant psychological thriller that would keep the readers’ interest and emotional engagement peaked throughout. The challenge was to provide a compelling story backdrop that was both believable and focused enough to enable the narrative to develop quickly and naturally. In this case, the underlying historical aspects are correct.
Why the WW2 setting? It is fraught with violent conflict, not unlike the life and death struggle between the two protagonists in this story.
Why confine the majority of story to the island and the resulting survival challenge? It allowed me to keep the complex relation between Anders and Simon tightly focused while allowing the reader to feel what they felt, to experience the stress they experienced. I wanted to pull the reader in.
I am always interested in the origins of characters in fiction novels. Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
Each of my characters have some aspects that generate from my life experiences. It is one of the benefits having a diverse background. Recently, I had the opportunity to interface with individuals who both treated or personally experienced struggles dealing with both substance abuse and mental illness. In either case the experiences were profound and deeply troublesome.
What was your favorite scene in this story?
There are several scenes that I loved writing. I won’t go into them too much so as not to spoil them for the reader but let me share two with you. The first is early in the book where Anders is coming to grips with being stranded on the island. The tranquility provides a significant contrast to the battle against the storm responsible the previous evening and the life and death struggle to come. The second scene is extremely simple and intentionally subtle and yet provides a significant clue as to the true nature of the relation between Anders and Simon. I won’t go any further so as not to spoil it for the those of you reading the book.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
Thank you for asking. There are several in the queue. Up next is a sequel to Nails, a book you reviewed this past year. It is called The Bent Nail. It is currently in the editing process so, hopefully, it will be available in time to be a great Christmas present for those who love dark stories. It’s a thriller, based on the same troubling characters to whom you were introduced last year. It provides a plot and twist that will intrigue readers. I have no doubt those who loved Nails are going to love The Bent Nail even more.
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Award-winning author, M.D. Nuth, brings us another thrilling page turner with his My Brother’s Keeper, a story of violence, struggle, and psychological misdirection. World war provides a catalyst and backdrop for the conflict between two brothers vying for power, leadership, recognition, and a woman’s affection. On the surface the story provides us a raw look at the impulsive, self-absorbed Anders Cartwright, charged with the care of his socially withdrawn brother, Simon. His devotion to his brother is challenged when they flee Singapore prior to the Japanese Imperial Army invasion at the beginning of World War II.
Anders Cartwright makes a fateful decision to rescue his lover, Shelley Samuels (Ess), along with his brother, Simon, by escaping to Australia aboard a Douglas DC-3 fitted out more for cargo than passengers. The fateful flight ends when it crashes in the Dutch Indies. Anders, Simon, and Ess find themselves stranded along with three other survivors and a valuable, but dangerous cargo load.
Marooned on a previously uninhabited, tiny island in the Java Sea, the struggle for survival forces the brothers into a life and death struggle leading to personal challenge and discovery as it becomes less clear who might be the “keeper” and the true relation between Anders and Simon. The story engages the reader in a war of wills as Simon vies for the leadership of this group, pitting him against his brother in a moral dilemma and with a surprising and significant and dark story twist.
My Brother’s Keeper
My Brother’s Keeper, by M.D. Nuth, thrusts readers into a vividly portrayed plane crash, experienced through the eyes of the protagonist, Anders, known as Andy. This intense opening to the novel sets the stage for a tale that is both a survival story and a deep dive into complex familial relationships against the backdrop of the Japanese invasion during World War II.
The narrative introduces us to a cast of characters whose personalities and backstories are intricately woven into the fabric of the story. Andy’s strained relationship with his analytical and seemingly cold-hearted brother, Simon, forms a central thread. The tension between the brothers is further complicated by the presence of Shelly, or Ess, who is unaware of Andy’s romantic feelings toward her. These personal dynamics unfold alongside the larger survival drama as the characters must navigate not only their interpersonal issues but also the immediate threats to their safety.
The author skillfully uses detailed descriptions and dialogue-driven storytelling to enhance the emotional depth of the novel. Readers are given a front-row seat to the survivors’ challenges in finding water and dealing with the harsh realities of their environment. The character of Toothless Joe, with his practical survival skills and emerging leadership, brings a crucial element of hope and direction to the group’s dire situation. Nuth’s writing excels in its exploration of human psychology under duress. It delves into the theme of brotherhood not just as a familial bond but as a complex, sometimes contentious dynamic that impacts each character’s decisions and survival strategies. The historical context of the story not only adds depth but also raises the stakes, making the narrative even more compelling.
My Brother’s Keeper is the perfect read for fans of historical dramas and survival narratives. M.D. Nuth offers a dramatic and engaging experience and promises an intense exploration of its characters’ psyches, driven by a plot that expertly balances personal conflict with historical events. The novel is a testament to the human capacity for resilience and adaptability, even in the most extreme conditions.
Pages: 293 | ASIN : B0CXJF1V35
NAILS
Nails is a haunting piece of political fiction based on what would happen if viewpoints of certain political factions were to be driven to the extreme. We follow three different protagonists, who all consider themselves to be the hammers that strike down the nails; the weak people, and guide them toward the way they need to be going or bend them and discard them for being useless to the cause. They represent the three levels of involvement and control they have within the organizations they serve: the foot soldier, the propagandist, and the boss.
This is not a dystopian book in itself, I think it’s more of an introduction into a dystopia. This book does a fantastic job of increasing your anxiety concerning politics or potential dystopias with how well it utilizes contemporary worries to ground the story and create an authentic atmosphere. The ending to this riveting novel is fantastically distressing with how probable it could be… or maybe the author just does a great job of making it all feel possible?
I enjoyed the well-conceived narrative driving this story forward. The plot is fast paced and intriguing. There are time skips that keep the reader guessing, but instead of feeling like a fault, they feel like a feature, as they happen more often when the characters start dissociating from the work they were once so interested in. The characters are compelling and unique. I felt like the characters come off as undecided about whether they are against the big plan or for it, and that adds a layer of intrigue to the story. I would have enjoyed a bit more worldbuilding to the story, because what is given is so fascinating and I wanted to know more about the overall world.
Nails is a a thrilling read that is immensely entertaining. This captivating psychological thriller is for anyone interested in how political regimes may develop and how they ensnare different people into believing what they want them to believe. If you’re a reader looking for a political thriller with a unique cast then this is a novel that you’ll certainly enjoy.
Pages: 279 | ASIN: B0BDXRTCPB
LITERARY TITAN 