#WhatHappenedTo Nina #NetGalley As the prologue more or less tells you "whodunnit" by Nina herself, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this book but boy was I wrong. I really felt for Nina's family as they fought to find out the truth about what happened to their daughter. Well written, easy to read but with lots of twists and turns. A great read from this author.

This is a return to form for Dervla McTiernan, after a couple of books that fell flat for me. Less of a whodunnit than a 'will he get away with it?', we find out about the crime in the first chapter from Nina herself, although she obviously can't go into too many specifics. What follows chronicles the devastation such a crime has on the families involved, and the lengths to which parents go to protect their own.

What makes this story all the more realistic are the mad social media conspiracy theories, some carefully crafted to throw off the scent, that bring out the nutters and victimise the family all over again. A great read that I highly recommend.

***Disclaimer: This e-ARC was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Huge thanks to them. ***

Simon doesn’t have an adequate explanation for what happened on his romantic weekend with his partner Nina… after all, he returned from his family’s cabin and she did not. As his parents protect him, Nina’s parents understandably want answers. Suddenly nothing about their lives is off limits. With Simon’s parents having a wealthy life, and Nina’s not so much, it’s a battle between those who have and those who have only one wish: to find out what happened to their daughter.

I'm always excited to see a new title by Dervla McTiernan as I know I am in for a good read. What Happened to Nina? is no exception. The prologue sets the scene - told by Nina herself - outlining who she is, her relationship with Simon, her relationship and the expectations of her family and Nina's own insecurities. But in those insecurities is a feisty young woman who knows when things are going wrong.
The story is told with different nuances depending on who is telling the story = the parents or the police officer. The characters are so well portrayed - their feelings, their reasons for how they behave ... it drives the story forward with great pace.
Four and a half stars for me! A real page turner!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Dervla McTiernan/HarperCollins UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

I’ve read and enjoyed other books by this author so was pleased to receive this one as a review copy.
This one was a bit different, after a bit there didn’t appear to be much of a mystery about the main protagonist. The action revolved around the two families and their reactions to what was happening.
When childhood sweethearts, Nina and Simon go on a trip to his parents’ holiday home to hike and climb, Nina’s mother is annoyed as Nina had promised to help at the family motel.
However when only Simon returns and no one hears from Nina, they start to worry and call the police to report her missing. Simon cannot say what happened and of course he becomes a suspect in her disappearance.
It was obvious to the reader that something bad had occurred and even a rather odd beginning to the novel could not change that fact although it did blur the edges of suspicion.
The main story was how the two families reacted to the mystery. Of course Nina’s parents and sister are beside themselves and do everything to find Nina. Simon’s family, rich and entitled do everything to protect their son, not caring how much they stall the investigation and slur Nina’s family.
The crux of the plot seemed to be how far would you go to protect your child.
The story is told from many viewpoints, Léanne , Nina’s mother, Matthew, the detective, Jamie, Simon’s mother, Simon’s father, Andy, Nina’s stepfather and Rory, Simon’s father and the reader has to put all the strands together. It was quite a clever idea but there were a lot of characters to get your head around! The chapters are mostly written in the first person making the action very immediate and compelling and allowing the reader to get inside the characters’ heads.
I did enjoy this book but found it rather depressing and sad. A lot of the characters were not very pleasant, particularly Simon’s relatives! It really depicted a very bleak view of human nature.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

I am a big fan of this author's Cormac Reilly series and also really enjoyed The Murder Rule, her previous stand alone book, so I was mega excited to get my mitts on copy of this, her latest offering. And, even though my expectations were on the high side, I wasn't disappointed!
Nina and Simon are love's young dream. The perfect couple, if there ever was such a thing... But tragedy strikes when they go away together for the weekend, to Simon's family's cabin in Vermont. Simon returns as expected but Nina doesn't. Her family are concerned (obviously) and question Simon who claims they had a fight, broke up, and she went to lick her wounds at her friend's. But they aren't convinced he is telling the truth, especially as his story is inconsistent and doesn't really make sense. But Simon's family are powerful, Nina's notsomuch, and this is reflected in the way the police handle the "disappearance"...
And so begins a cracking case, one that descends into a very juicy viral internet sensation where everyone has their opinions. Played out in real time, with loads of social media commentary injected in just the right times, we follow as Nina's desperate family try and cut through the noise and power to just find out... What Happened to Nina?
I loved this book. It is all things my bag story wise. The normal vs the powerful. What the underdog needs to do to challenge the authorities, to get to the truth, even if that means breaking the rules (law).
This book sucked me in, held me tight, and didn't let me go until the final page. I was captivated by the story and characters all the way through. Powerless to let them go on the odd occasion that I had to put the book down cos, you know, life!
Oh how I felt for Nina's family, even though, on occasion, I didn't really like them or what they were doing. But I've never been in that situation, who am I to judge? And they were desperate...
I also loved the social media commentary... who hasn't just reacted to something on the internet without knowing the full story. Keyboard warriors and all that! It also progressed the story well, kept the pace high, and injected information in a quick concise way.
And the ending when it came was just perfect. Although I did guess a few thing along the way, I didn't get it all and was wholly satisfied by the conclusion.
All in all, another cracking addition to an already well impressive back catalogue. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This was an enjoyable read and the first half was really gripping, but we found out what happened to Nina quite early on and so the remainder of the book, for me, was just filler, based around Nina’s parents and Simon’s parents pitting against each other with the press.

There was a lot of manipulation and tons of lies, which would have kept me completely hooked, were it not that we already knew the answer to what happened to Nina!

A great premise but it didn’t quite deliver.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Dervla McTiernan and Harper Collins for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I loved the author's previous novel The Murder Rule so was thrilled to have the opportunity to read What Happened to Nina.
The novel is set in Vermont and starts when Nina and her boyfriend Simon spend the weekend at his family's cabin and only Simon returns.
The reader doesn't know what has happened to Nina but I was immediately drawn into the investigation and the suspicion around Simon. Nina's family are drawn into conflict with Simon's wealthy family and we see the trolling and abuse that can happen to the family in a missing person investigation.
This was a really powerful and evocative read that I would highly recommend. The author sensitively explores what Nina's family go through alongside the police investigation and characterisation and sense of place is excellent.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

This was a really well written, unputdownable book with real and raw characters. I could see a lot of similarities with real life cases, like the Gabby Petito case. It being so real make it very impactful.

What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan was recommended to me by my friend and I was very grateful to receive an ARC of this book. Dervla McTiernan writes a powerful narrative, with a strong primary storyline but also intricate branches that explores each individual character in depth, making this a compelling and intriguing mystery/thriller

Nina and Simon are a young couple who are deeply in love, childhood sweethearts from different sides of the track. They go away with Simons parents to their cabin in Vermont, but after the young couple go out together, only Simon comes back and this lights the touchpaper to a spiralling mystery that burgeons into a firey thriller

Simons parents will protect their son at all costs and they have the money to do so. Nina's parents just want to find their daughter. the case goes viral with many people involving themselves whether qualified to do so or not. Victom shaming is rife and money is doing the talking, but at the core of it all, Where is Nina?

A stunning mystery that had my stomach roiling with it's dynamic storyline. Every character is under scrutiny, all lives are delved into and it is a clear reflection of contemporary soceities proclivity to conduct trial by social media

A very good read and absolutely highly recommended

Thank you very much to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, HarperCollins and the author Dervla McTiernan for this outstanding ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

4.5 stars*

Nina and Simon met at school when they were 5 years old, they became a couple at 16 years of age - your archetypal example of teenage sweethearts. However, when they attend different colleges, their relationship changes, as Simon becomes very intense, very needy, bad tempered. Everything comes to a head when they go away for a few days to Simon’s parents cabin, and at the end of their break only Simon returns home. His explanation as to Nina’s whereabouts doesn’t ring true and this is where we ask ourselves “What happened to Nina”?

Nina’s parents are suspicious of Simon, they believe he’s hiding something. However, Simon’s parents rush to support and protect him, hiring expensive lawyers and a PR firm that quickly ramps up a vicious, nothing-is-off-limits media campaign. So right from the very start, their parents are pitted against each other - accusations and counter accusations follow with everyone who knows the couple taking sides.

This is so much more than a book about a disappearance. That is the central, intriguing mystery, but the lives of those closest to Nina and Simon are unravelled, unveiling one main suspect, maybe more, or could they all be completely innocent?
The phrase ‘page turner’ is much over used, but this book encapsulates its true meaning. It is an un-put-downable examination of fascinating characters, each of whom could be our neighbours, our family, people we pass in the street without a second thought. Each is a fictional creation with a vice-like grip on reality. Highly recommended.

A tense and bleak crime mystery about the aftermath of a young woman going missing and the affect it has on two very different families. The.characters are well written and the narrative is emotionally charged. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

I was not expecting this novel to be so different to the previous novels I have read by this author. It is set in the USA and is written from the point of view of the various characters, Nina and her long term boyfriend Simon are visiting his wealthy parent’s investment home, set on many acres. It includes bushland, a lake and is in close proximity to good climbing, an activity that both Nina and Simon enjoy. At the end of the weekend, Simon returns home but Nina does not. Nina’s frantic parents start asking questions and the police become involved. The novel is quite interesting but sometimes misses the mark, the plot becomes irritating at times and I found myself skipping paragraphs. Thank you to Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel for review,

I've read and enjoyed all of Dervla McTiernan's previous novels to date. This one is definitely a little different. Initially I was a bit put out when I saw it was set in America however this really didn't impact the story at all. I love the way we get the point of view of all the main characters. It keeps the tension of the story alive and the pace moving. My sympathies kept changing allegiance depending on whose POV we were getting. Both families are doing the best for their child. The speed of the spread of hate and lies on social media was terrifying. Almost destroying one family's life in just a few days and unfortunately a true reflection of what goes on in real life. Finally the ending......WOW!! that's all I'm going to say. A fantastic read that you don't want to miss. A very well earned 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

The latest powerful offering from Dervla McTiernan certainly grabs you from the get go and never lets the tension and suspense drop right up until the explosive finale. With its echoes of a real life American case, I became immersed in this story of Simon Jordan and Nina Fraser, together since they were 16 years old, in love, but now at different colleges, some distance apart, keeping the flames of their relationship alive with visits, but it is hard. Nina falls in with Simon's idea of going for a weekend away hiking together at Simon's parents property in Stowe, Vermont, but only Simon returns home, at which point Nina's parents, Andy and Leanne, begin to become worried, far from reassured by Simon's explanation and claims.

Their concerns escalate as their fears of the worst happening push them into bringing in the police, which has Detective Matthew Wright investigating. The case attracts an intense media focus and draws in a public jumping in by first blaming Simon, but his wealthy, privileged, powerful, and well connected parents, Jamie and Rory, wade in, determined to protect their son, no matter what, bringing in PR and lawyers, letting loose a unscrupulous and vicious media campaign. The appallingly ugly and toxic side of social media rears its head, one where truth or facts play no part, as people pick sides, with accusations, self serving. and conspiracy posts. Andy and Leanne are ordinary people under siege and under extreme pressure, without the resources to take on the Jordans, but equally they will do whatever they feel is necessary to find out what happened to Nina.

McTiernan's in depth characterisation is superb and feels all too real and believable, the battle between the two sides, how far will the parents go for their children? Even though we may not like the Jordans, their natural inclination to want to protect their son is understandable. Nina's parents panic and desperation, their need for truth and justice over the missing Nina, drive this emotional rollercoaster of a read for me as I too wanted answers to what happened to Nina. A rattlingly tense and gripping story, delivered through multiple perspectives, that I have no doubt a wide range of readers will appreciate and love. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

This is such an addictive read - at first I thought, set in America, missing girl, whiney mum - no, no, no - but oh my - I was so wrong, once half way through the first chapter, I was hooked. This was a wonderful read, told expertly, the writing is spare, the voice is clear and there's a slow unwinding that lulls you past the urgency - the story happens for the most part over seven days, although you're not feeling the clock at your shoulder as you read it.
LOVED the twist - saw it coming, but it was still beyond delicious when it arrived...
Thank you to the publisher for my advance reading copy. I will be picking up more from this author again and sharing the love for Nina when it publishes!

I believe it's evident that the story drew inspiration from the tragic case of Gabby Petito. Nonetheless, the author skillfully crafted a work of fiction, adeptly weaving elements from a true crime case into a compelling narrative. As I immersed myself in the novel, my heart ached for Andy and Lee, anticipating a conclusion akin to Gabby's case. The portrayal of the anguish of not knowing the whereabouts of a loved one resonated deeply with me. Overall, this book was masterfully executed.

I’ll be honest I’d not heard of this author before but noticed this book was on a few people’s wish lists that I follow on Goodreads so was keen to read the synopsis and colour me intrigued! This book is definitely fast paced, different POVS with each chapter leaving you wanting more! A lot of unlikeable characters and moral dilemmas. 4 stars!

Thank you to netgalley for providing an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I can see the influences of other crimes when I read this but it does make you question the parents push to protect their child.

This my second Dervla McTiernan novel, after reading the Murder Rule last year, and I have really enjoyed both novels.

What I enjoyed most about this was the multiple perspectives, it really brought out the drama and how Nina's disappearance affected everyone involved.
Really enjoyable book which I raced through.