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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
If a WHITE author has to use racial slurs to let us know how terrible a character is, you are not a good writer!!!
I am SHOCKED not many people have picked up on this?????
I am SHOCKED not many people have picked up on this?????
3.5 Stars
An enjoyable read with some interesting themes but somehow I wanted more from this book
An enjoyable read with some interesting themes but somehow I wanted more from this book
Although I found this story to be an easy read it certainly contained enough twists to keep me guessing and changing my mind as the story unfolded. I didn't make emotional connections throughout this plot but it was almost like doing a puzzle. I enjoyed finding out how the characters lives were entwined and figuring out who was really who! This book wasn't one that hooked me in enough that I didn't want to put it down but at the same time I was keen to return to it later in the day to uncover some more clues. Overall, three or four stars from me.
Not my normal genre of reading but a great mystery at a good pace
This book had me wanting to know what happened next at every turn. The flicking back and forth between then and now was really effective in the storytelling and I thought the book was well written, so I enjoyed it even though I usually don't read or enjoy crime/thrillers.
Thanks to my cousin for recommending this one.
Thanks to my cousin for recommending this one.
'Her name is Sammy Went. This photo was taken on her second birthday. Three days later she was gone.'
On a break between teaching photography classes in Melbourne, Kim Leamy is approached by a stranger investigating the disappearance of a little girl from her Kentucky home twenty-eight years earlier. He believes Kim is that girl.
At first she brushes it off, but when Kim scratches the surface of her family history in Australia, questions arise that aren't easily answered. To find the truth, she must travel to Sammy's home of Manson, Kentucky, and into a dark past. As the mystery of Sammy's disappearance unravels and the town's secrets are revealed, this superb novel builds towards an electrifying climax.
This book is White’s debut novel. I have read his others and thought his debut wouldn’t be quite as good. How wrong was I? White is the king of twists and this book did not disappoint. Often stories about abductions are told from the perspective of those left behind so I really enjoyed that most of the story was from Kim’s perspective. The Nowhere Child weaves a story of families, small towns, cults and secrets as it switches between now and then, slowly peeling back the layers of what happened to Sammy Went and her family. Twist after twist keeps you reading and are done so well that the participants of the buddy read I was doing couldn’t help themselves and went ahead and finished the book.
On a break between teaching photography classes in Melbourne, Kim Leamy is approached by a stranger investigating the disappearance of a little girl from her Kentucky home twenty-eight years earlier. He believes Kim is that girl.
At first she brushes it off, but when Kim scratches the surface of her family history in Australia, questions arise that aren't easily answered. To find the truth, she must travel to Sammy's home of Manson, Kentucky, and into a dark past. As the mystery of Sammy's disappearance unravels and the town's secrets are revealed, this superb novel builds towards an electrifying climax.
This book is White’s debut novel. I have read his others and thought his debut wouldn’t be quite as good. How wrong was I? White is the king of twists and this book did not disappoint. Often stories about abductions are told from the perspective of those left behind so I really enjoyed that most of the story was from Kim’s perspective. The Nowhere Child weaves a story of families, small towns, cults and secrets as it switches between now and then, slowly peeling back the layers of what happened to Sammy Went and her family. Twist after twist keeps you reading and are done so well that the participants of the buddy read I was doing couldn’t help themselves and went ahead and finished the book.
Oh my goodness!!! This book was a lot to unpack with so many crazy twists and turn, every single chapter gave me so many little hints and clues and information to uncover. My heart was racing for the whole second half of the book!
Your plot twists are phenomenal, Well done Christian White, you’ve officially wooed me again!
Your plot twists are phenomenal, Well done Christian White, you’ve officially wooed me again!
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I enjoyed this book. Was it a page turner? Yes. Was it perfect? Noooo. There are definitely some implausible/suspend belief parts. Also, the ending (for me at least) was too rushed and felt incomplete. I would have liked to know more about several things, such as the Dean/Patrick trial in Kentucky - and what came of that, Kim/Sammy's relationship with Dean/Patrick now - she says she is going to the trial but we don't know how she feels at all or what their relationship has become, if Kim/Sammy has any relationship with her biological father Jack. And we don't get to know what Jack thinks about his husbands' brother kidnapping his child and moving her across the world! That was glossed over like it was not a big deal! Jack was a loving father and adored Sammy; he protected his kids from his wife's bonkers cult religion shenanigans; he was gutted that she had been taken so was annoyed the aftermath of the truth wasn't explored further. I mean Patrick could have given Sammy back to Jack and said "your wife and the fundies are gonna harm her" and he could have intervened - even gotten law enforcement! Another thing, Carol. Sweet Carol. What woman on Earth is totally cool being with a man that has told you to your face they have kidnapped a child? A child that has a loving and living father and siblings devastated by her abduction?? One last thing that ticked me off, Patrick being able to shake-off his Kentucky accent and pass as Aussie to everyone he encountered in 28 years is complete bulls**t. You pretty much are stuck with whatever accent you have once you hit adulthood and Patrick would have been at least mid 20s! Still, not bad for a debut novel. Just think after such a nail-biting and interesting read, it needed more flesh and plausibility at the end. I mean the relationships and story thus far was (mostly) terrific and then it was like huh? An epilogue mentioning the above would have rated this higher for me.
**Do not read if you have a fear of snakes
**Do not read if you have a fear of snakes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder