Slow burner of a book but well worth investing in. The setting and writing were both perfect. First I have read from this author but this author is going places. amazing. I think I may have found my new favourite author.

What a book - When Stuart approaches Kim claiming she is really Sammy Went, a young girl who disappeared at the age of two little did either of them realise the journey they would go on together.
The story switches between the past which unfolds the tale of the disappearance at a steady pace and the present as Kim searches for truth.
Given this is Christian Whites debut novel, it is well written and keeps the reader guessing right to the end with lots of twists. Will definitely be looking out for future publications from him.

I can't believe this is Christian White's debut book!

It is a well written, compelling read with well drawn characters. It is a slow burner but not boring, it keeps your interest piqued at all times with its present and past chapters.

I will certainly be looking for further books from this author.

Highly recommended!!

This was an enjoyable read, with a strong mysterious element that I enjoyed. I found it incredibly hard to get into though, and didn't enjoy the writing style. Still, I was able to push through, and was glad I did, as the ending was satisfying, and my guesses along the way had been proven to be very wrong. While the writing style wasn't for me, this was still a great read that I would recommend to thriller lovers.

Loved this crime thriller, where the main character cannot figure out if she is the victim or not.
Takes the whole kidnapping concept and puts it on its head.
The whole narrative is very strong and I think this would appeal to people who weren't even that into crime.

A very interesting and gripping read. I enjoyed the whole premis and ice recommended this to my friends. 4/5 on goodreads

This book was everything you want in a book - likeable characters, unpleasant characters, and a gripping and unusual storyline which keeps you guessing until the end.
Out of the blue an Australian woman (Kim) is approached by an American man (Stuart), who claims that she may be his missing sister Sammy, who was abducted at the age of two. Kim’s loving mother died some years previously, and Kim can’t believe that she was an abductress but nevertheless decides to go to Stuart’s home town in Kentucky to find out what she can about Sammy and her family.
What follows is an absorbing story, full of surprises and suspenseful situations that really ‘grab’ you and make you want to keep reading instead of doing what you should be doing!
This is Christian White’s first novel and I can’t wait to read more books by him.

Riveting! Pacy and very different from what I had been expecting from a kidnapped child story.

I particularly enjoyed how the story was told in alternate chapters of the past and the present. That was very cleverly done and keeps the reader focused on the story as it unfolds over the years.

I kept thinking I’d solved it and then there was a twist and I had to think again. The introduction into the story of a cult organization, a crazed vicar and a whole heap of snakes kept me on my toes from beginning to end! A real sleep stealer.

Highly recommend this book. A first novel from the author. I can only hope there’s more to come.

I found this book difficult to get into to begin with due to the constant switching between past and present. The two story lines did gel and come together and by the end I enjoyed the story. I would highly recommend this as it was thought provoking and interesting in equal amounts.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a good believable story line that could be linked to real life. This story could be true. Easy to read and kept me page turning

An enjoyable read which builds quite slowly. Quite a harrowing story and the ending was not what I had been expecting. I look forward to reading more from Christian White.

I enjoyed the book but not sure if I would read this author again,

Would recommend tho.

The story line was good but not as thrilling as I thought it be.

A very enjoyable read and one which I have recommended to friends and would recommend to people who enjoy a good thriller.

I will keep an eye out for this author in the future.

Sammy Went disappeared as a little girl just over twenty years ago from Manson, Kentucky, and now Kim Leamy in Australia is being told that she is this missing child.



The Nowhere Child goes between present day and when Sammy goes missing, and tells a story that I sped through, wanting to know more.



Kim's journey to understand what happened, and meet her family is well told, with the pain of Kim's memories of her mother being betrayed, and Kim's Australian sister.



I really enjoyed this book, and thought it was paced well, with twists and turns throughout. If you enjoy crime or thriller novels, then you'll probably enjoy this!


The Nowhere Child was published on 22nd January this year, and is available on Amazon and Waterstones to pre-order, and everywhere else you can find books! I've found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!



I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Harper Collins (the publishers) for this book.



Check out my GoodReads profile to see more reviews!

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest, independent review.

Two-year-old Sammy Went disappears from her home in Manson, Kentucky. Over twenty years later, Kim Leamy is in the canteen at the university she works at in Melbourne, Australia when her world is turned upside down - a stranger approaches her to say he believes she is the missing child. Everything Kim has believed all of her life, including who her mother is, is immediately swept from underneath her feet.

I really enjoyed this book; the author intertwines the past and present storylines perfectly. Right from the start, when little Sammy Went disappeared, I was gripped. The back story of the cult really added to the drama, making the book quite dark and intense in places.

The story is very fast paced - at times, I had to force myself to put it down. It's a brilliant debut and I look forward to seeing what else Christian White writes!

Enjoyed this book reading in just a few sessions, well written and will definitely look out for further titles by author

Quite simply, what a wonderful book this is. An intriguing story, with secrets and lies, bit of religion and a whole load of intrigue thrown in.

The synopsis for this book does not give prospective readers any idea of just how fabulous a read this book turned out to be and for me, one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

A compelling and interesting book, this tells the story of Sammy who is tracked down in Australia - but ends up in America. I’ll say no more because I don’t want to give the plot away but it’s a fast-paced, incredible story with surprises and twists along the way.

Well written and a gripping story. It’s an interesting beginning and one that kept me guessing until the end

I enjoyed this book. The story quickly unfolds to reveal that Kim, a young Australian woman, is actually Sammy, an American who went missing when she was very young. Kim has no memory of being Sammy and had lived a happy normal life in Australia with her mother and stepfather. Kim travels to America and to the hometown. The story darts back and forth between the present day and Kim's journey, and the past leading up to the time that Sammy went missing. There is a lot going on in the small town, most especially the fundamentalist church that Sammy's mother is heavily involved in. There are some dramatic moments - some a little far-fetched, like Kim putting herself into a dangerous situation. Also I don't think it was explained how Kim was tracked down to Australia. But these are small issues and it's a pacy and very readable story overall.