Thank you William Morrow, #partner, for the advanced copy of What Happened to Nina? in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: William Morrow
Published: March 26, 2024
Summary:
From the #1 internationally bestselling author of The Murder Rule comes an emotional novel of suspense about two families pitted against each other—one seeking justice in the disappearance of their daughter, the other desperate to clear their son’s name.
Nina and Simon are the perfect couple. Young, fun and deeply in love. Until they leave for a weekend at his family’s cabin in Vermont, and only Simon comes home.
WHAT HAPPENED TO NINA?
Nobody knows. Simon’s explanation about what happened in their last hours together doesn’t add up. Nina’s parents push the police for answers, and Simon’s parents rush to protect him. They hire expensive lawyers and a PR firm that quickly ramps up a vicious, nothing-is-off-limits media campaign.
HOW FAR WILL HIS FAMILY GO TO KEEP HIM SAFE?
Soon, facts are lost in a swirl of accusation and counter-accusation. Everyone chooses a side, and the story goes viral, fueled by armchair investigators and wild conspiracy theories and illustrated with pretty pictures taken from Nina’s social media accounts. Journalists descend on their small Vermont town, followed by a few obsessive “fans.”
HOW FAR WILL HER FAMILY GO TO GET TO THE TRUTH?
Nina’s family is under siege, but they never lose sight of the only thing that really matters — finding their daughter. Out-gunned by Simon’s wealthy, powerful family, Nina’s parents recognize that if playing by the rules won’t get them anywhere, it’s time to break them.
My thoughts:
This is the second book I’ve read by Dervla McTiernan and I cannot recommend her books enough! I was thrilled that Cindy from Thoughts from a Page picked this one as an early read for her Patreon group because that meant we got to chat with the author and I loved hearing Dervla give us some insight into this book.
Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down! I loved how the author took a missing case, one that is literally ripped from the headlines, and turns it upside down. Yes, this one is quite similar to the Gabby Petito case, but believe me when I say this is not the same story.
While this is a missing person story, what makes it so unique is that once it is established that Nina is truly missing, the narrative shifts focus to those left in the aftermath of the event and how they are struggling to find answers. We see Nina’s parents willing to do anything to find their daughter and then you have Simon’s parents who are willing to do anything to protect their son at all costs. We see the lengths these parents are willing to go for their child and the feelings of helplessness they feel as they wait to see what happens next.
I also appreciated how the author explored how social media can be used to manipulate the case and public opinion. I never really thought about how this happens in everyday life, but to see it happening in this book was maddening!
I cannot recommend this book enough! It’s so cleverly plotted and her characters come alive on the page. Heck, she even had me feeling just a little sympathy for a character I really wanted to dislike! That’s talent!!!
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