This was a great read. Very thought provoking and intriguing. A very well thought through psychological thriller. I liked how the story went back and forth from then, when the kidnapping happened, to now when the kidnapped girl was found as an adult many years later. The book had me hooked from the very first chapter. Excellent.

Really really good! I have read only half of it so far but i cannot stop! If I did not have to sleep, work and do school runs, I would spend all day reading in the bed. The story is really fast paced, no unnecessary descriptions or dialogs. The author has a talent with all these twists and turns that keep me glued to the book! Cant wait to find to find out what happened in the end and looking forward to read more books of Christian White in the future.

One of my favourite things about reading a book is the fact you are never sure of what story the pages of a book will hold. Yes, you have the book description to give you a hint, but even so a story can take so many directions. I thought The Nowhere Child would be a straightforward “girl gets taken, and then found years later” but how wrong I was this book has so much more to offer, it’s dark, genuinely twisted, layered in mystery and intrigue. I should mention the book is the debut thriller from Australian author Christian White, and what a debut, it’s superbly plotted, and one of those books that’s a pleasure to read for all its twist and turns.

What would you do if you discovered your entire life was a lie? That’s the question Kim Leamy has to face when she’s approached by a man whose convinced she’s Sammy Went, a little girl who went missing twenty-eight years ago in Manson, Kentucky. In a quest for the truth she travels to Manson where Kim soon learns that some secrets are best left buried. The Nowhere Child alternate between the past and the present chapters, ensuring the reader's attention never wanes. The chapters narrated in the past explore the impact of Sammy’s disappearance on her family and the small religious community they live in. The present chapters follow Kim’s journey to discover the truth about her past. Although the theme of a child being stolen isn’t entirely new, the authors telling of the story made this book a compelling read. As one chapter ended, and another began I found myself immersed in Amy’s story, rather like Amy I was desperate to get to the truth of her disappearance.

I found the chapters told in the past to be the most fascinating part of this book, as the author scratches below the surface of Kim’s grieving family, buried secrets bubble to the surface, and relationships already fragile begin to unravel. As to the present chapters as Kim delves deeper into her past what initially presents itself as kidnapping crime mystery novel turns into something darker and far more sinister. Every character from Kim’s past has something to hide, and as each one is revealed the web the author weaves becomes more tangled.

Although some readers may consider this read a slow builder, I thought the pace was perfect; it allows the reader to get to know the various dysfunctional characters from Kim’s past warts and all. The NoWhere Child is a heart wrenching and somewhat chilling psychological thriller which explores several different themes, love, loss, scandal, and religious cults. Christian White Debut made for a compelling read with fascinating characters, the perfect location, with a mystery containing so many twists and turns it’s guaranteed to keep even the most ardent psychological thriller readers entertained. Highly recommended

This review maybe altered slightly and edited prior to publication on my blog

I loved this book and felt the characters really believable so felt I actually went on the journey with Kim, I enjoyed the way the story built up in the present alongside the past to see how and what happened to Sammy when she went missing.
I was sad to finish it as felt so real I wanted to know what happened next!!

Really really enjoyed this book. And the ending came as a complete surprise. It totally led you in one direction with a swift change at the end. Also liked the fact that it didn't give you a sugary sweet happy ending. Really good read, kept me interested all the way through.

Wow - this is a seriously accomplished first novel; no wonder it won a literary prize before it was even published. Go out and buy this book right now but don't start reading it until you have a few hours to spare, you will not be able to put it down. Personally I am disappointed to have finished it and i plan to harass Christian White until he publishes another literary masterpiece and I am able to read it!!

Well written, grabs the attention and holds it right to the end - which has a lovely satisfying twist.

This is an onion of a story, it keeps on peeling back, layer after layer, revealing more secrets and truths as it goes. It seems that every character has a secret, all of which are eventually revealed and lead us to the facts of the kidnapping. You just need to keep peeling - pain free!

I like the flashback, 'now' and 'then' device, so we have the full story unfold for us, while Kim/Sammy, remains unknowing of the truth until the closing pages.

It raises plenty of questions in the reader too. What would i do? Would i be as brave as Kim? Would i be furious or accepting? A great read with everything you need to keep pushing past midnight.

Torn between 3 (average/ good book) and 4 (really good book) so setrtling on 3.5. I did really enjoy reading it. The writing was good. It was a little slow/ repeptitive at times, but generally cracked along at a good place. At times i was gripped. But the ending unravelled too quickly, was a little bit anti climactic, and not enough 'clues/ were scattered throughout to satusy the 'aaaaaaah, i didn't spot that' craving a good mystery should evoke. Still, a good book and i will definitely try more from the author

This is a wonderful debut novel from Christian White. It’s full of plot, twists and turns. I wanted to get to the end to find out what happened but I also didn’t want my enjoyment of reading it to end!

In current day Australia Kim Leamy is approached by a man who claims that she is really Sammy Went who went missing in Kentucky, USA in 1990. Kim doesn’t remember anything from this time and cannot believe that her gentle and kind late mother would ever kidnap a child.

The plot takes us on a roller coaster journey between the past and present. It’s very well written and keeps you gripped throughout. There’s also a fundamentalist cult church who handle poisonous snakes and drink poison as part of their ‘worship’. If you think that is a far fetched plot just Google ‘Cody Coots’ and you’ll see this really is a thing in this part of the world.


Christian White is an Australian author who has won the Victorian Premier’s Award, also won by Jane Harper, author of The Dry. I await more books from Christian White eagerly.

With thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to Christian White, Harper Collins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read THE NOWHERE CHILD.

When Sammy Went vanishes from her home in Manson, Kentucky, it shocks the deeply religious town that isn't familiar with such devastating events happening in their community. Her family are torn apart, not just by her disappearance, but also because of Sammy's mother, Molly's immersion into the cult-like religion that has touched everyone. Add to that the secret life of her father and you have an explosive mix.

Kim Leamy is approached by a man who seems to know her and claims she is the kidnapped child. At first Kim is sceptical but the more she explores his theory, the more convinced she becomes and realises that the last twenty eight years of her life have been a smokescreen for something much more sinister.

I loved this novel. I can usually tell how much a story has affected me by the amount of times I wish I could just sit and read and I was totally immersed in what was happening. I loved the two time zones because it upped the amount of suspense surrounding the story. I understand this is Christian White's debut. I hope he writes more novels. I would definitely read them. 5 stars

There feels like quite a bit of coffee drunk throughout this book and it's a good idea - grab a cup and settle down because the further you get into this book the more you won't want to put it down, even if it means staying awake all night. In the author's notes, White talks about the darkness of the story, and you can't avoid s certain darkness when writing about a missing child like this, but I found the book fairly light considering, both in tone and reading. The book follows two timelines, one following the community of Manson when Sammy Went went missing, and one following Kim Leamy almost 30 years later. It's that second timeline that really makes the book. Despite everything, Kim's story feels positive and hopefully, balancing against the despair of Sammy's. Multiple timelines are nothing new, but it's rare to find such an interesting contrast. Kim's story may not be all smiles and happiness, but it certainly pulls Sammy's from the dark caverns it could easily get lost in.

Right from the start, there's intrigue, the sense that we'll get a decent mystery. The whole story has the hook of Sammy/Kim which feels like enough of an idea to let a fairly generic puzzle unfold and still be enjoyable, however, what follows isn't generic. Yes, the puzzle ties it together and delivers in spades, it could work with fairly dull and flat characters, but we're treated to something far more than that.

White gives us some impressive characters, often without delving too deeply into them. There's mostly quite likeable too, which feels odd as you try to figure out who played what part in this mystery, and also as we discover the latest act that takes some of the shine off of their exterior. But they're human and relatable, and that means we can understand many of the things they do. It creates a richness that drew me in. I frequently felt I knew Manson, that I could picture the details and the personalities.

I was enthralled throughout. I gobbled up chapters and didn't want to put it down. This may be a debut, but it's an accomplished work nonetheless. This is a book to read, and Christian White is an author to look out for. He's set himself a tough act to follow with this one.

The Nowhere Child is a novel of mystery and discovery. The premise is interesting enough but I felt that some of the characterisation was weak. I did like the dual narrative and the gradual reveal of what had actually happened to Sammy also known as Kim in her youth. Unfortunately I guessed the ending about halfway through the novel and it was exactly as I had predicted. Also some of the events are a little frustrating as there are many red herrings and McGuffins that are too obvious. I did like the relationship outcomes in the end and felt that overall this is a novel of self discovery with an interesting insight into religious fervour and snake handling. Personally I felt that some aspects were rushed and others played out for too long. A good debut novel and Christian White does show promise.

How would you feel if your past wasn't all it was purported to be?  If the mother you so recently lost had apparently lied to you all your life and your little sister wasn't actually that at all? Kim Leamy is about to find out!  She is a photography teacher who lives in a small flat and lets her neighbour spend late evenings in her apartment so she isn't lonely.  Her world is changed forever when a man approaches her and tells her she was abducted from the other side of the world two decades earlier.

This book is written both as flashbacks from a number of people's perspectives and in the first person as Kim tries to come to terms with the shattering news she has been told. It is an atmospheric tale moving from what the majority of us would probably consider normal life in Australia to a North American community based around a cult where the things of people's nightmares (mine included) are used to test the faith of those who flock regularly to worship.

The success of this book, apart from the talent of  the author, is that there is never a time when nothing happens, and although there are alot of characters all have a part to play in Kim's tale. There are no superfluous, unnecessary sub-plots to muddy the waters or draw you away from the main plotline which gradually appears and consumes all who are involved in both timelines.

I was able to read a copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller which is well written and extremely difficult to put down. As a first novel it  promises more great books in the future and I for one will await them eagerly.

This book absorbed me from start to finish. It is well written pulling you into the emotions of the main characters as well as questioning what happens next. Then a nice beautiful twist to really throw you!

Gripping from beginning to end, The Nowhere Child is a fast-paced and immersive thriller that will keep you engaged from beginning to end. It's well-written, with fully realised characters and a skilful plot. Highly recommended for fans of Gone Girl, Before I Go To Sleep and those who remember the 90s YA title The Face on the Milk Carton.

An excellent tense novel told partly in the past and partly in the now. Both sides of the story maintain a high level of suspense throughout with a barely believable start gradually becoming very real. Very violent at times but even that adds to the richness of this beautifully written story. Brilliant twist in the tail at the end hope there's more to come from this author!

Kim Leamy has a happy life in Australia - although her Mum has died, she has a loving sister and step-dad - until the day an American tells her that she is actually Sammy Went, who went missing from her Kentucky home at the age of 2. To find out the truth, she travels to America to meet the Went family and to find out who she really is.
The chapters alternate between ‘Then’ and ‘Now’ as the two stories unfurl and gradually the truth is revealed. There are many twists and turns along the way, and it kept me guessing right up to the final chapters. I especially enjoy the fact that, even now I’ve finished, there’s plenty to consider - were the actions justified? Which side was the guilty party?

A very good debut novel, and a pleasure to read. A definite page-turner and I’ll be looking out for future novels by Christian White with anticipation.

Well I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, some of the reviews were excellent and others not so much.
This is Kim’s story, or is she Sammy? Kim believes she is not Sammy, Stuart believes she is. So she follows him halfway across the world to try to uncover the truth. But there is never “the truth”, there are however many truths, seen from many different perspectives. And although you may pick up this book thinking “anyone who kidnaps a two year old and removes her from her family is a monster” I can guarantee you will have a “oh. Right. Didn’t see that coming” moment with this book

Give it a go, it’s well worth a read!

The best thing about The Nowhere Child’ is the inability to categorise it easily within any one genre. I thoroughly enjoyed this unusual and creepy story of buried secrets and betrayals set in rural Kentucky. It was so unlike the recent spate of ‘if you liked Gone Girl’ psycho-dramas that I found myself excited to go to bed so I could immerse myself in the mystery.
The story touches on a huge range of disparate topics: religious extremism, repressed sexuality, post-partum depression, poverty, family alienation, friendship, love and loneliness.
The writing is engaging, the plot intriguing and twisty. Some of the most peripheral characters really grabbed me and I’m not yet recovered from the emotional double whammy of the Chester-Sue date (not a spoiler, don’t worry, but you’ll get it after you finish!)
I’ll definitely be recommending this to others and looking out for Christian White’s next novel.

An enjoyable read flitting between past and present and spanning 2 continents. Well written characters and tight plot willkeep you turning the pages and wondering who did what, when and where and even who is who.