The Nowhere Child is a solid read, but it left me wanting a bit more. The premise is intriguing—a woman discovering she might have been kidnapped as a child—but the storyline felt a bit too simplistic for such a complex idea. There are twists, but I wouldn’t exactly call them shocking. They play out in ways you might expect, making it more of a steady ride than a wild rollercoaster. Still, White’s writing is easy to follow, and the book doesn’t take itself too seriously, which makes it a quick and entertaining read. If you’re in the mood for a mystery that doesn’t demand too much of you, this one might just fit the bill!

The story begins in 1990 in Manson, Kentucky, where the Went family’s life is turned upside down when their two-year-old daughter, Sammy, vanishes without a trace. Jack and Molly Went struggle to cope with the tragedy, though Molly finds solace in her faith through a controversial Pentecostal church with dangerous practices, including the handling of snakes. Over time, the family drifts apart, unable to fully recover from the devastating loss.

Fast forward more than twenty years to Melbourne, where Kimberly Leahy, a photographer, is thrown into turmoil when an American man named Stuart approaches her during one of her classes. He drops a bombshell: he believes she is the missing child, Sammy Went, abducted from Kentucky decades earlier.

This revelation leaves Kimberly reeling. Her adoptive mother passed away four years ago, leaving her without the answers she desperately seeks. When Kimberly shares this shocking information with her stepfather, Dean, his reaction suggests he may know more than he’s letting on. DNA testing confirms her identity as Sammy, and with that confirmation comes a flood of questions: how did she end up in Australia, and what really happened all those years ago?

Determined to uncover the truth, Kimberly embarks on a journey back to Kentucky to piece together the puzzle of her past. The narrative alternates between the present and the events of the past, slowly unravelling a tale of deceit, loss, identity crises, and dark secrets that bind these two families across continents. The story keeps you on edge with its many twists and moments of mounting suspense, leading to a surprising and intense conclusion.

This debut novel is a chilling exploration of family dynamics and identity, masterfully plotted with vivid depictions of both Kentucky and Melbourne. It’s a haunting and suspenseful ride that grips you from beginning to end. A huge thanks to HarperCollins for providing an ARC of this gripping psychological thriller.

This really wasnt my usual kind of read and it also easnt for me. Well written and a good storyline but i couldnt connect with the characters. I tried to dnf but unfortunately for me it just wasnt keeping my interested so 3/4 through i did actually dnf.
That said i would recommend anyone to try. The beauty of books is every read doesnt suit every reader.

I really enjoyed the book. Loved the story plot and twists. Approachable characters, realistic situations. Some descriptions or story „fillers” were tiny bit too long, but in overall - very good book and I’d read more by the author. Thank you, great job!

A well written debut by Australian writer Christian White.
Kim Leamy, an Australian photography teacher who has led a normal life is approached by a stranger saying he's trying to find a missing person. The missing person is Kim who according to the stranger is her brother and she disappeared age 2 from Manson, Kentucky and is actually called Sammy Went.
Kim travels to the States to try and find out out the truth about herself and her birth family if it is the case.
The book flits between the time around the disappearance and now as Kim struggles to get to grips with it all and the cult that took place in the US town 28 years ago.
I enjoyed this book and will look out for more by this author.

A really good debut and a bit of a different take on the usual child kidnap story. Lots of flawed characters, twists and turns which all add to the plot and storytelling. White does a really good job of weaving together the past and present and creates an intense, thrilling story which is so so difficult to put down. Highly recommended.

A well written thriller, cleverly written and plotted with Great characters and plenty of twists and turns

Thank you Netgalley for a copy for an honest review

I don't think I've ever been so deeply and inexorably hooked into a book in so few sentences! And I stayed that way from first page to the last. The fate of Sammy Went is revealed via flashbacks and MC Kim's experiences visiting her original family. The characters are great - the mother lost to her religious beliefs, the father and his extramarital relationship, the brother and sister bereft and bewildered by the disappearance of their little sister. The MC Kim's emotional journey to discovering who she really is and where she came from is fascinating. The pace never lets up and the ending has some jaw dropping revelations in store! Pure entertainment that I thoroughly enjoyed.

This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

Whilst i enjoyed this book and the plot it was not as fast-paced as I would have liked. However, I did enjoy the book and would recommend but I wouldn't rush out to buy it. It was just good, I wasn't wowed by it.

A tale to leave you questioning what you would do if it happened to you. Which way do you go if you find your whole life has been a lie.

All families have secrets, some more than others. Don't believe all that yoou are told somewhere in the truth are a pack of lies. interesting.

Unfortunately not for me. Skimmed through the book to make it to the end after it languishing on my kindle shelf for a long time!

Unfortunately this book was not for me, it was a bit slower than I would like and it just didn't hold my attention. I am sure other people will love it!

Rounded up from 2.5

Another book that has been languishing on my NetGalley Shelf.

The Nowhere Child is Christian White's debut novel centring around Australian photography teacher Kimberly Leamy, who suddenly finds out that her whole life is a lie and her real name is Sammy West, who was abducted from a small town in America 28 years earlier.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. It felt like a unique twist on the whole child abduction trope, which was enjoyable, but there were times when I honestly didn't think I was going to actually finish the book!

The first half was very slow burn with a cast of mostly unlikeable characters. Then there was the back and forth in the timeline to the present time, then back to 1990. The present day gripped me, but the aftermath of Sammy's abduction felt lacklustre. It was mostly focused on the dysfunctional family of the Wests, along with seemingly random characters connected to the story, which meant there was a lot going on and not much tying it all together.

However, I enjoyed the small town setting of Mason, which felt claustrophobic and unsettling. Then there was the cult-like religious group the church of the Light Within, with their snake handling and overly devout followers added an extra creep factor to the novel. The tension and pace picked up in the second half, and the ending was so action packed and twisty that it almost made up for the rest of the story.

Still, if you enjoy a slow burn thriller, then I would definitely recommend The Nowhere Child to you.

This is a trope that I struggle with as I feel like it’s been done so many times in thrillers. This is a different and clever take on that trope, and one that will keep you hooked. Lots of suspense and good writing.

Thank you to the publisher for my eARC copy of this book. Unfortunately I didn’t love this book and therefore didn’t finish, I just didn’t connect with this one. Not for me, sorry.

Winner of the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, The Nowhere Child is screenwriter Christian White’s internationally bestselling debut thriller of psychological suspense about a woman uncovering devastating secrets about her family—and her very identity…

I really enjoyed this gripping book. I found the characters to be realistic and was captured by them. The end has some twists that I wasn't expecting. A good read.

Plot: ''One photograph is all it takes to turn your world upside down...''

A stunning novel - original concept, suspense-filled, tightly woven with a twist that will make your jaw drop! I couldn't put it down. If you love a thriller look no further for your next read!

People: All the characters are well-drawn, believable, and identifiable. Once you get pulled into their world, you won't want to leave until you have all the answers.

Pace: Fast-paced & gripping.