Lou Jacobs's Reviews > The Nowhere Child

The Nowhere Child by Christian White
The Nowhere Child
by Christian White
M 50x66
Lou Jacobs's review Nov 19, 2018 · edit
it was amazing

An amazing debut novel by Christian White ... a page turner that was unrelenting and effortlessly propelled the reader on an exhausting journey that explored both relationships and religious fanaticism. Twenty eight year old photography teacher, Kimberly Leamy from Melbourne, Australia is confronted one evening before the beginning of her class with a situation that will turn her life upside down. An American man, who claims to be an accountant, confronts her with the proposition that she is actually Sammie Went ... a girl who shortly after her 2nd birthday in 1990 was abducted from her house in Manson, Kentucky. He provides convincing evidence that she is that abducted child.
Sammie was the daughter of Jack and Molly Went ... who mysteriously vanished from home on April, 3, 1990 ... her body never recovered ... and no convincing evidence ever uncovered regarding motive or persons responsible. (Not until later in the story are multiple possibilities explored). The flowing narrative is told in back and forth narrative ... events unfolding at the time of the abduction that are carefully juxtaposed with current events both in Australia and Manson, Kentucky. Details are explored including the relative estrangement of Jack and Molly since Sammie's birth. In the background are the disturbing elements and effects of religious fanaticism. Molly and a large proportion of the community are under the thrall of The Church of the Light Within ... a Pentecostal fundamentalist group who handle poisonous snakes as part of their worship beliefs.
Presented with the possibility of being Sammie Went, Kim travels to Manson, Kentucky to explore and investigate the family she never knew. The effortless and flowing narrative propels the reader forward as the true twisted truths are revealed ... resulting in an unexpected but satisfying denouement . Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Ltd for supplying an ARC of this unusually adept Debut Novel in exchange for an honest review.

A gripping thriller about a kidnapped girl and an investigation by the girls brother that brings him to Kim, a teacher in Australia, to wonder "am I that missing girl?"
Kim follows Stuart to America to answer that question and finds a town torn apart by the kidnapping and a local "church"/cult.
The ending threw me for a loop! Crazy ending.

4.5 rounded up. To be honest, I did not have high expectations for this book based on its title and description. "The Nowhere Child" and "girl finds out she is a missing person" seemed like a story that has been done way too many times times to really be interesting and unique. I was very wrong. I read this book in less than 2 days-- I apologize to my own children for neglecting them while I devoured this book!

One thing that makes "The Nowhere Child" different is its setting- partially in Australia, partially in the USA. I like the comparison of the settings as well as how it forms Sammy/Kim's life. The author also works with two different timelines very well- in these types of stories, I generally prefer one timeline. In this particular book though, both sides of the story really complemented each other well. Sammy/Kim goes through a lot of emotions as she discovers that she is not who she thought she grew up to be- her thoughts are actions make sense, for the most part. I take issue with some of the poorer choices she makes for the sake of suspense on the author's part. Yet, the pacing of the novel, the twists, and the plot make "The Nowhere Child" an exciting, quick read.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and St. Martin's press for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. It was well-worth it and thoroughly enjoyable.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the chance to preview this book. This story is very complicated with two timelines to follow along with quite the cast of characters! Then throw in a cult, trauma, conspiracy, and lots of snakes. It certainly kept my interest, and I never figured it out until the ending was revealed at the very end of the book. Imagine someone coming up to you as an adult, and telling you that they believe you are their kidnapped sister, who was taken when she was 2 years old. Christian did a wonderful job on this, his first novel.

I felt a bit confused in the first few chapters and it took me a while to get on track. I enjoyed the story even tho it felt a bit predictable at times. Would definitely recommend

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. I’m always on the lookout for well-written mysteries. The Nowhere Child did not disappoint. Kim Leamy’s life is changed when she learns that there was a child abducted 26 years earlier from a small town in Kentucky and that she may be that child. Each chapter oscillates between the past when Sammy was abducted and present when Kim meets her long-lost family members and in doing-so solves the mystery of her abduction. The Nowhere Child is very readable and well-paced. While I found the plot a little predictable, I enjoyed all of it. This is Christian White’s first novel and I will definitely be on the look-out for his future publications.

This book was recommended by some other librarians. Although well-written with well developed characters and seamless dialogue, thematically it just didn't appeal to me, personally. I don't intend to finish this one.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher and netgalley for my honest review.

This award winning novel by Australian author Christian White makes its US deut in January. This mystery kept me guessing until the end! Its dark and has twists that truly surprised me. Not your typical book that the ending is obvious from chapter 1!

I cannot get into a book that has bizarre occult groups that put their so called "family" beliefs about individuality. Most of the characters were ones that most would not want to meet. A missing 2 year old in 1990 Manson, Kentucky is located in Australia 28 years later. Events unfold to discover who took Sammy Went (now Kim) and the reasons used to justify this abduction. The turmoil that now Kim must live through is told alternating with the sequence of events from the past. Resolution at the end was acceptable but it was slow in coming. "A copy of this book was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."

#The Nowhere Child# NetGally#
Christian White

Kimberly Leamy is approached one day by a stranger. He shows her a picture of a young girl and asks “Does she look familiar to you? She answers “No, I don’t think so, should she?” He answers “She’s been missing 28 years. . . . . . . . . . . . I think you are Sammy Went.”
Thus begins the mystery of The Nowhere Child. The author is very thorough in the unfolding of the mystery to who Sammy Went is and the events that lead up to her disappearance and the resolution of the mystery. The story rotates between 28 years earlier in Manson, Kentucky and the present day in Melbourne, Australia. There are quite a list of characters in the book and readers have to keep up with them and their relevance to the storyline. Some unexpected turn of events, lead up to the conclusion.
This book explores how we grow up with our identity explained by our family, our environment and by our preconceived notion of who we think we are. Sometimes, we can discover that that is all false and we have been deceived. This novel keeps you wondering how events like this can occur and how it can change your own world without you even knowing. Thank you to the publisher and NetGally for an advance read copy of this novel for a fair and honest review.

What would you do if you were told one day you could be someone who went missing nearly 30 years ago? Would you believe them? This is what happens to Kimberly Leamy, who leads a regular life as a photography teacher in Australia. A man, Stuart, approaches her on campus one day and tells her an incredible tale. He believes she is his sister Sammy, who disappeared 26 years earlier in the from the small town of Manson, KY. He has managed to obtain her DNA for a comparison test against a known sample from his sister-it was a match. Kimberly then decides she has no choice but to pursue this mystery, a journey that will take her to the other side of the world and deep into the past she didn't know she had.

The Nowhere Child by Christian White is the aspiring writer's debut novel. White has an interesting career resume, having had jobs from food-cart driver to adult film editor. He also has a number of small and big screen credits to his name. This novel appears to have been the turning-point for him, career-wise and it doesn't disappoint. Genre-wise, I'd put this book as somewhere between mystery and thriller. This book was a fast read for me, what with its engaging plot and creative cast of characters. I recommend this book anyone who enjoys books that will keep you up late and give it 4/5 stars.

*A copy of this ebook is the only consideration received in exchange for this review.*

I was intrigued when I saw the memo in the email from the editor from St. Martin's Press Minotour Press raving about this book. It came with high praises and an invite to read this book. I went ahead and downloaded this book. Wow! What a wild ride! I was hooked from page 1! I have no regret and I understand why it's well liked.

This book is a psychological thriller/suspense that keep you on your toes. It is full of action, investigation, emotions, and who's done it.
It's about a young woman who was approached by a so called investigator telling her she's not who she is and she may possibly be the kidnapped child from 26 years ago. In a denial at first, she goes on a roller coaster journey in search of her own identity while solving her own abduction mystery. She meets up with her family she never knew of, in Kentucky with her own brother who found her in Australia. Her world literally fell apart when she learns of her DNA testing and couple of truths from her step father.
The story alternates between the past and the present. I could not put the book down. Wow, the conclusion....Cannot spoil the story here. It was very satisfiying for me. I was rooting for the heroine all the way.
The book was brilliantly written and did fall into cliche genre of thrillers. It is very different, shocking, entertaining, and believable.

For those of you who like the thriller, action, mystery and supsense, then this is the book for you.

I received this ARC from St. Martin's Press/ Minotaur Books through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased and honest review. Thank you.

Very suspenseful, quick read, several twists, thanks Net Galley for the opportunity to read a new author.

The Nowhere Child was amazing! I really enjoyed this book. I had no idea where it was going but I loved the story so much.

EXCELLENT!!! 5 stars!!!

The Nowhere Child was different from any other psychological thriller I have read in a wonderful way, I ate up every bit. I loved all the little clues dropped that kept me guessing and reassessing. I would highly reccomend The Nowhere Child and will be on the look out for anything by Christian White.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this superb book in exchange for my honest review.

***Will post to Goodreads on 12/22/18 and Amazon and Barnes & Noble on the release date.

The concept is intriguing: an Australian woman is presented with evidence that she is actually an American child who was kidnapped when she was very young. On a journey to find out what happened to her, she travels to the US, where she discovers that her mother was involved in an evangelical snake-handling cult, that her father was in the closet and having a affair with the man who became the prime suspect in her kidnapping, and that numerous old family friends were all involved to some extent. But Kim, the protagonist and sometimes narrator, doesn't seem to have a lick of common sense or critical thinking skills. She takes people at their word, abruptly leaves her job to to to America, and sneaks around trying to figure out who dunnit. While none of the book's characters are particularly deep, Kim's narrated sections are painful to read because of the character's flat aspect and lack of brains. If I hadn't gotten this from netgalley and committed to review it, I'd never have read the whole thing. Overall it both lacks depth and nuance and still manages to be wordy and move slowly.

“”” I had to snoop through his Kindle instead. In my experience, a bookshelf – digital or otherwise – usually painted a pretty clear picture of the person who stacked it”””
“””control is an illusion”””
Imagine someone approaching you. From a different country. Only to tell you he thinks you’re the long lost missing two year old. Where do you even begin to make send of that?!?! This book is an amazing, fast paced (I finished in one sitting), twist and turns, who done it and why!? I could not put it down until I found the truth. Hard to believe this is a debut, and I cannot wait to read more from this author!!!

3.5
This was interesting, different. Some people complained about the writing but I had no problem with it. I liked the plot and the characters. There were some things that didn’t seem so likely (getting back a DNA test so quickly is one that sticks out, getting to Australia was another). There were times that the things stalled for me I did like the way the author switched back and forth in timeframe building the way the story unfolded. There were a few surprises throw in there too. The ending took me by surprise and was satisfying. I would recommend this one.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin’s Press for a copy in exchange for a review.

Chilling a true page turner from the opening pages. What would you do think if you found out your whole life is a lie that you were kidnapped as a toddler that your parents are not really your parents that you have a family in the Us Unputdownable so well written highly recommend,#netgalley #nowherechild #st.martins

There are seven books listed on Goodreads with the name The Nowhere Child or something very close to it. I suspect there are 100's, if not 1000's, of other books with the same plot. An adult finds out that the parents that raised them are indeed not their parents and their entire life has been based on a lie.

Been there, done that, right?

Well, I can assure you that you've never read it done as well as this debut effort by Christian White.

While I read lots of books that grab my attention and I find nearly impossible to put down, it is only on extremely rare occasions that a book snatches me up by the shirt collar demanding my attention until the turn of the final page. I found myself up until after sunrise completely absorbed in this story, heavy eyes, nodding head and all.

The Nowhere Child offers up a varied cast of characters that are so damaged and flawed and, for lack of a better word, human. Each given breath by Christian White's incredibly engaging writing style. Never once did this story stall, continuously moving with purpose towards what you know will be a tragic truth.

If I could offer some unsolicited advice to the author and publisher it would be to change the title and the cover of this book. I almost passed on it because of these reasons and in doing so I would have missed out on what is sure to be one of my more memorable reading experiences this year.


I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.