The Nowhere Child

The Nowhere Child by Christian White

A first impressive debut novel from an Australian author who takes you straight into the character's life from the beginning. Written in a way that keeps you engaged in the mystery, starting in the present and each chapter alternating back to the past. Fans of thriller and mystery will enjoy this and the complex characters in the book.

The story begins with Kim Leamy, a photography teacher who is approached by an accountant from America, believing she is a missing person who was abducted when she was just two years old. From there, Kim questions her past and who she is. Navigating a life without her mother after losing her to cancer she ventures to America to find answers.

You will be taken back to the past when it all happened. Delving into the lives of the people who surrounded Sammy Went, the abducted child. Themes of religious fanaticism and contemporary family issues are present. It concludes with different twists as the story unfolds, with unexpected consequences.

Engaging, complex and quirky characters lead a story which switches from past to present each chapter and keeps you engaged. Easy to follow and the suspense continues throughout, even as Kim discovers the answers you will be guessing until the end.

I would recommend this book for adults who enjoy a mystery, with Australian writing and relatable characters. If you enjoy authors like Jane Harper or Garry Disher you will like this. Christian White has written other thrillers but start with his first and then try the rest. This award-winning thriller won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award back in 2018.

Find The Nowhere Child by Christian White in the library catalogue.

Chris