The Nowhere Girls is book one in the Nikki Cassidy series that is written by Dana Kelly. This book is a captivating crime thriller, We are introduced to Nikki - who works in the FBI. Her sister was kidnapped and murdered and the person responsible for it wants to talk to her. However, while she is there, another body shows up. Could the cases be related?

Suddenly the killer takes back his confession. The FBI digs in deep and tries to sort everything out. Nikki has had to work through some things since she blames herself for her sister’s kidnapping and murder. This book is full of twists and turns. I really enjoyed getting to know Nikki. Her character is well developed and I am excited to continue to read more of her story. The book is well written and is a perfect crime thriller for those who like to figure out whodunit.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Partners in Crime book tours – all thoughts are my own.

I enjoyed The Nowhere Girls a lot. I read a lot of thriller and this book was good fit for my tastes. I really liked Nikki Cassidy as a character. She’s well-written and is really easy to relate to her. I found myself liking her and rooting for her. This ticks all the boxes for a good thriller for me. I liked the twists and the turns and the fact nothing is predictable about this book. I liked the setting as well, Huntsdale, a small town the author does a great job of bringing to life. There are another two books in the series, released the same day; The Last One To Die and The Lost Ones. I enjoyed this and would recommend it.

FBI agent Nikki Cassidy has never gotten over her sisters murder. When a series of coincidences stack up Nikki is determined to find out why her sister was murdered and she will be staggered by what she finds. I love Nikki as our heroine as she is brutal and vulnerable. The plot is one that kept me eagerly turning the pages and the twists are astonishing. The build up to the epic conclusion had me holding my breath and when I finally got there I exploded! I am looking forward to reading what Nikki's next case brings in the next book. This is a series that I didn't want to miss!

One could argue that Nikki is driven by a deep-seated feeling of guilt, the need to stop abusers and predators is secondary, and the job she does comes a lonely third. It may seem as if Detective Nikki Cassidy has all her eggs in a basket, a successful career and loving relationship with her husband-to-be, but the truth is her past is only ever one second away from her daily life.

One of the things that ties her so tightly to the tragedy of Caitlin’s disappearance and murder, is her repeated attempts to get the murderer to explain it all to her. Why Caitlin, how did he take her, and most importantly the details of each second before he killed her baby sister. Every year on the anniversary Nikki contacts the tight-lipped prisoner, and every year there is nothing but silence.

This time it’s different, not only is he willing to talk to Nikki, the past seems to be repeating itself. Another young girl has gone missing and a vital clue connected to the previous murder proves that someone outside the prison walls knows exactly what happened to Caitlin.

It’s a fast-paced crime thriller with a main character who is at best slightly unstable, because her core emotions that are reined in tightly, are slowly seeping through into her day-today life. It puts her in a position that is precarious – you often don’t see the risk or the betrayal when you aren’t paying attention. Let’s hope the truth doesn’t chip away at that wall she has built around her, chip away until only fragility is left.

The nowhere girls.
Dana perry.


This was really good book. A crime story that takes you on a thrill of a ride.
Young girls go missing on the same date every year. Roses appear. Not many leads.
Fifteen years have gone by. The anniversary date of the first girl.
Now there's more to the story than anyone realized.

Small town Big time crime.
I really enjoyed this story. Nikki cassidy the f b I agent. Is a amazing character in the story. Everything she does is spot on. I really enjoyed this and the next books will be just. As amazing in the series.

This was a new author for me and I'm thrilled. I got to read this book.

Dana Perry's The Nowhere Girls features a maverick FBI agent, Nikki Cassidy, who has a personal connection with crime. Her father was the local police chief when she was growing up in Ohio, and when her sister went missing. Eventually, her sister's remains were found, buried in nearby woodlands, and a perpetrator was jailed for her abduction and murder. Each year, on the anniversary of her disappearance, Nikki returns home in the attempt to gain closure, but each year, her convicted killer refuses to see her. This year, however, is different. This time, he wants to see her. This time, Nikki may discover the truth.

Nikki is back in her home town when another local girl goes missing, and it feels too close to home. She persuades her boss that the FBI should get involved and that, as she is on the scene, she should be the one to liaise with the local law enforcement services to see if there is a connection. While some might argue that her personal history might render her less than ideal to pursue this investigation, Nikki and pragmatism prevail. Colleagues are dispatched to assist in the investigation, and as events unfold, they are all put at great personal risk. Meanwhile, Nikki's partner is less than happy that she is putting her job before their relationship...

A good read, a pacy thriller and an interesting start to a new series. of crime thrillers featuring FBI agent Nikki Cassidy.

*5 Stars*

Copy kindly received from NetGalley for an honest review.

Nikki is one determined FBI agent. After visiting the person who killed her sister 15yrs earlier, what he told her sent her back to her home town only to find out a girl has recently gone missing the same way her sister had. She decides to investigate, having to convince her boss to let her take on the case. She gets help from Alex & Phil. There's a lot of people to talk to and to look into. Who do they believe and trust? The ending surprised me and I found the characters great. Would recommend.

I listened to the audiobook and I really enjoyed. I have to say there were characters that annoyed me and sometimes I wanted to tell Agent Cassidy to wake up and smell the coffee. 😂

But all in all a good start to a new series. I’ll be listening to the other 2 soon.

A hotshot FBI agent seeks answers about her own sister’s murder and finds herself tangled in the web of a serial killer.

Nikki Cassidy can’t help but feel guilty about her own negligence that she believes led to her sister, Caitlin’s, kidnapping and murder. Though the murderer confessed shortly after the body was discovered, Nikki has always wanted answers about why he committed the atrocity. When another girl goes missing with a similar MO to Caitlin, and the convicted murderer rescinds his confession, the FBI begins investigating both cases. Unsure who to trust, Nikki and her colleagues must solve the case to find the murderer and the missing girl before time runs out.

This is the perfect example of a procedural crime novel. A crime has been committed, a talented agent takes the case, the case is solved in a dramatic fashion with a twist, and justice is served. While the prologue had me initially captivated, the overall writing style for the rest of the work was bland. I found the character development to be somewhat weak, the descriptions of Nikki’s emotions and motivating factors a bit repetitive, and romantic scenes to be oddly written and discomfiting. Despite these complaints, it was a quick, easy read and I did enjoy the plot enough to want to continue with the series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5)

Book 1 in a brand new series featuring Detective Nikki Cassidy. I loved this book and flew through it in 2 sittings. Good strong characters, a fast moving plot full of drama and twists to keep you guessing. Going straight to book 2 now.

On the anniversary of her sister’s death, FBI agent Nikki Cassidy takes a call that has her heart pounding in her chest, the image of her beautiful sister Caitlin etched in her mind.

Another girl has been taken.

Days later, the lifeless body of twelve-year-old Natalie Jarvis is found in a remote patch of woodland, a crown of roses delicately placed on her head. Just like Caitlin.

The killer is back.

Nikki rushes to her small hometown of Groveton, Ohio. She will do anything to stop another young girl dying, but she soon realises that nothing is what it seems—everyone in her hometown is keeping a secret. And when a note is discovered near Natalie’s body addressed to Nikki, it’s clear what the murderer really wants: her.

Nikki Cassidy is an FBI agent. Her sister was murdered 15 years ago. Each year she goes to see her sister's murderer to get answers to her questions. Yet, each year they sit in silence. On the 15th anniversary he breaks his silence and says he didn't do it.

When another girl is murdered and her body left just like Nikki's little sister, Nikki returns to her hometown wondering if her sister's murderer didn't do it, then who did it?

Nikki's character is intelligent, strong, focused, and driven by the guilt she feels over her sister's death.

The twists and secrets make this book a page turner. The action mounts as the plot progresses. This is a well paced thriller and a fantastic book one. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

The Nowhere Girls by Dana Perry: an easy 4/5 stars for me

This was an amazing mystery/thriller that I enjoyed throughout the entirety of the book. Nikki Cassidy's backstory and how it follows her through the story is heartbreaking but it was power and drive for her in her career as an FBI agent. I have to admit, I had quite a dislike for Nikki's fiance right from the beginning, although I do have a feeling that it was the author's intention for him to be disliked. The many twists and turns this book took were polarizing and kept me turning the page and using the ever-so-common phrase by readers "Just one more chapter". It was, in fact, not the last chapter I read. I definitely was not expecting the ending to go as it had.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

Fifteen years ago a killer struck,
It was Nikki Cassidy’s kid sister that they took.
Every year she visits the killer hoping to discover
Why he chose her sister and not any other.
Every year he's silent, not answering at all
So she's shocked he has now asked for her to call.

Returning to her hometown hoping answers to find
But the new police chief isn't helpful or kind.
When another girl is taken, he agrees to let her aid
And so new plans are started to be made.
How can the killer, who is still incarcerated in prison now
Have kidnapped another young girl somehow?

With locals keeping secrets concealed
Can Nikki help them to be revealed?
Cracking through the secrecy
Could prove to be the key
To rescuing the victim now
Nikki will try anyhow!

What an enthralling crime thriller
With twists that make it a chiller.
A page turner start to a new trilogy
With two more books for all to see.
A gripping story, with surprises galore
As Nikki endeavours the clues to explore.

For my copy of this book, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

he Nowhere Girls is another twisting, turning rollercoaster that just keeps getting more diabolically intense.

I really love a well crafted police procedural series and this is one that delivers. Serving up bad people, doing bad things, small town police partnering up with the FBI to chase down villains, everyone keeping secrets from all sides, and you have yourself a book that is intriguing, heart pounding and intense in the race to untangle a complex web of crimes.

This will hook you from the very start and have you reaching for your copy at every chance to see what happens next. I flew through this one and it had me guessing all the way through the wild end.

Truly this is a must read for people who love a good police procedural and bonus points for if you are interested in getting yourself into a killer series with a fantastic female lead.

Many thanks to @bookouture for the copy!

I'm sorry, but this book didn't work for me at all.

Some of my problems:

Content is incredibly repetitive. We're constantly told the exact same thing, over and over, which is mind-numbing and irritating.

Nikki is not especially likeable, nor is she good at her job. Her investigative skills, for an FBI agent, are severely lacking.

Dialogue is just plain silly. No one speaks like these people.

The romance between Nikki and her so-called fiance is uncomfortable, pointless, odd, and just... why? She admits she isn't even sure she likes him, and she calls their sex adequate. And he hates her job, and clearly expects her to quit. I mean. why are they even engaged?

I felt the characters all lacked depth and complexities.

A gripping novel where past horrors make the present situation a little bit darker, a little bit scarier. The main character is well developed and likeable. The story moves at a fast pace and draws you in. There are lots of twists and turns throughout making this one a twist turny read. In this town you do not know who you can trust

Review of “The Nowhere Girls” by Dana Perry. Out today, April 2nd!

3,5 ⭐️

This thriller really had me hooked, I’m not gonna lie. I was intrigued by the story from the very first page and really wanted to know what was going to happen. I had my theories, which ended up being all wrong, so I was pleasantly surprised by the finale and ending. Will also definitely be reading book 2 when it comes out.

Our FMC, Nikki, is a bad-ass FBI-agent, and I really liked her character. The dynamics between her and the other characters in this book were well-written and interesting to read about: especially with Bill. I really had some fun with Girard as well, I invisioned a Scully/Hitchcock (Brooklyn 99) type of man and I found that to be very funny. I am happy that he got his moment, though, I wanted that for him.

And Greg, he was just golden-retriever gone a bit overboard. I must say I really liked him as a character and how much he loved Nikki, but I do also understand her troubles. I just had a weak spot for him, I can’t help it.

The only thing I didn’t really like was how repetitive the writing was. So many things were repeated over and over again, that I got a bit confused as to why that was. It resulted in my skimming some of the pages and parts where the repetitions were.

Overall, a recommendation. A very nice thriller that will keep you reading. Also, it’s a short read, so perfect for when you’re in a slump, trying to get out. I liked this one!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher, Bookouture, for this E-ARC in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Nowhere Girls is book one in the Detective Nikki Cassidy series by Dana Perry.
The book drew me in within the first few pages and is packed full of action and suspense.
This book is full of suspense and mystery. Dana Perry does an excellent job of building the tension.
Was a good, exciting crime thriller that showcases Dana’s skills for brisk pacing, twisty plotting and edgy characters. The story quickly reels the reader in and keeps them engrossed all the way to the abrupt ending.

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The Nowhere Girls is the first instalment of a new series about a maverick FBI agent investigating the murder of her younger sister fifteen years earlier. I had not come across this author before and for some reason thought he was British, but saw a couple of rave reviews and requested the first on a whim without paying too much attention to what it was about - I was also seduced by the comparison with Robert Dugoni. Unfortunately I was somewhat disappointed - the story was okay - all the usual serial killer thriller tropes, but the writing very pedestrian and the narrative horribly repetitive.

Nikki Cassidy has never forgiven herself for the actions as a teenager that led to the disappearance and subsequent murder of her twelve year old sister. Now she works to rescue other missing kids as part of the Crimes Against Children division of the FBI. When the man in prison for the crime breaks his silence and tells her that he’s not the killer after all, Nikki returns to her home town to investigate, but then another girl vanishes under similar circumstances and the local police chief is less than thrilled at her interference. Can Nikki and her colleagues track down the real killer before it’s too late?

I think my problem here is that it was all too familiar - the characters, plot and twists felt the same as every other entry in this overcrowded genre, and my expectations had been raised by all the 5-star advance reviews. This is the first of three novels in this series being published simultaneously, and from what I can tell, all covering the same kind of ground story wise. I’m just glad I didn’t ask for all three. If you like this sort of thing, and I certainly used to, and don’t mind an irritatingly cocky heroine, and unrealistic dialogue, then do give this a shot, but I can only muster an unenthusiastic 2.5 stars, rounded up because I at least didn’t predict who the baddie would turn out to be.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The Nowhere Girls is published on April 2nd.
Note - at the time of writing, the blurb on both Amazon and GoodReads is completely wrong - I’m surprised no one else seems to have noticed!

I love that Nikki Cassidy is an FBI agent.
I love that she’s from the Midwest.
I love that she’s the central character in a brand new series.
The action is slow at first but then it gains traction as Nikki noses around more in her hometown probing her sister’s murder.
I had my suspicions but was was only correct about one relationship that I knew was doomed.
I loved sifting through all the clues and trying to fit them together to form the truth.
Off to read the next book in the series!