The Nowhere Girls

by Carmel Harrington

On a cold afternoon in December 1995, two young girls are found abandoned on a platform at Pearse Station in Dublin.

Thirty years later, investigative journalist Vega is determined to find out what happened to the so-called 'Nowhere Girls'. Where did their mother go? Why did no one come forward to claim them? And where are they now?

Searching for answers takes her on a journey with twists she never could have imagined. And one that could put everything else she knows at risk; including her new relationship, her career, and her life as she knows it.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller

351 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 29, 2026

About the author

Carmel Harrington is an International bestseller of thirteen novels. She is from Co. Wexford, where she lives with her husband, Roger, children Amelia and Nate, and their beloved rescue dog, George Bailey.

Her latest novel, The Stolen Child, was a Sunday Times best crime fiction of the year selection and was described as ‘Endlessly surprising. This complex novel requires faultless plotting, and Harrington pulls it off with consummate ease.’ Carmel’s debut was a multi-award-winning novel, and several books have been shortlisted for an Irish Book Award. She is a regular on Irish TV screens and radio and has been a guest speaker at Literary events in Ireland, UK and USA. She was also Chair of the Wexford Literary Festival for three years.

Carmel’s emotional and gripping storytelling, with relatable characters, twisting plots and evocative locations, has captured readers' hearts worldwide. Her novels, including The Lighthouse Secret, The Girl From Donegal, A Mother’s Heart, and The Moon Over Kilmore Quay, have been Irish Times, Sunday Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestsellers.

Carmel loves hearing from readers, so please feel free to connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram @HappyMrsH, or join Curl Up With Carmel Book Club, an online book club on Facebook.

Reviews

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Journalist Vega is looking for her next big story and decides to investigate the case of two abandoned sisters left at a railway station in Dublin in 1995.
This story has a few twist and turns as she questions people from both America and Ireland.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Judefire33 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ive just finished #TheNowhereGirls by @happymrsh published in January 2026 by @headlinebooks

A really engrossing read full of excellent characters,including Vega the lead protagonist who i loved. Its a mystery, thriller with a lot of heart and anguish in it and I felt very deeply for Vega. A well written story with a couple of twists that I didn't see coming however I hated the ending!

But still a great 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Netgalley for giving me this free advance copy, and I’m writing this review honestly and without bias.
Carmel Harrington’s beautifully written ‘The Nowhere Girls’ is a touching story about Vega’s search for the truth. I really enjoyed Vega’s character and was completely drawn into her journey. There are a few twists, but you can usually guess them coming, so there aren’t any real surprises, except for the ending, which was quite good.
This moving story will likely delight many readers, but since I’m not usually in this genre, it didn’t quite hit the suspense levels I was hoping for.

[Book Escapes Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has the wow factor. One thing that I love about Carmel Harrington’s books is the depth of research and planning that takes the reader on a journey of discovery. I simply couldn’t stop reading this one, The Nowhere Girls and struggled to put it down.

The opening scenes are poignant as it becomes clear that nobody is coming to claim the two girls abandoned on the train platform at Dublin’s Pearse Station. The feeling of abandonment lifted from the pages and gripped me. I was fully invested within moments.

The story revolves around investigative journalist Vega, who is determined to learn more about the fate of the children the press called The Nowhere Girls. The reader is given a shotgun seat in Vega’s search, and it is a rollercoaster of a ride.

Vega is a fiery character. She has a grit and determination that seem perfect for her chosen career path. Sadly, she is also closed off and unwilling to let others inside her walls. It was clear that she was nursing intense emotional pain, but it wasn’t clear how deep her wounds were, at first.

I would hate to include any spoilers, so I won’t reveal any of the story beyond the synopsis, but I can promise that this is a truly addictive book that had me guessing as I read. The writing is perfectly paced, allowing me to make informed guesses that made me feel as though I could crack the case, but nothing prepared me for the twists or the final reveal.

This may be a shift in genre, but Carmel Harrington is making it her own. It’s a triumph.

[Audrey D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Nowhere Girls—a twisty, engaging read with plenty of surprises along the way. The story keeps you hooked, and the ending ties everything together in a really satisfying way. Definitely worth picking up!

[Beth Reads Crime]

In 1995 in Ireland, two young girls, aged just 3 and 4, are found sitting alone at a train station. They tell the stationmaster they are waiting for their mother, but she never shows.

30 years later, we meet journalist Vega, who is reporting on the cold case of “The Nowhere Girls”. Determined to uncover the truth, she begins to investigate what really happened that day.

The girls claimed they lived in the woods/in the middle of nowhere, hence their moniker. But given their ages, they are unable to share much more information at the time. Where did they go after being found? Were they adopted? Did they change their names and have their identities protected? And just who was their mother?

Because of Vega’s profession, she must rely entirely on research, persistence and people skills to uncover any insight into the case. As a result, the story unfolds slowly, but the careful build-up really allows you to soak in the mystery and feel for those involved. Harrington’s descriptions of both the characters and the landscape are rich, making it easy to picture events as they unfold.

It’s easy to play detective alongside Vega, and while the twists didn’t completely shock me, I loved the journey and my time with the characters. THE NOWHERE GIRLS is a thoughtful, character-driven mystery.

Thank you to Random Things Tours and Headline for including me on the tour.

[Honestmamreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Nowhere Girls is a story which follows the tale of Vega. She is an investigative journalist on the quest to discover the truth about the Nowhere Girls. "In December 1995, two young girls are found abandoned on a platform at Pearse Station in Dublin."

Through Vega's findings we as the reader are taken on a journey of mystery and discovery. From America, to Woodstock 1969, along the way there are plenty of communes and people to meet. Where we end up in Ireland. But, will we find out the identities of The Nowhere Girls? Will we find out why they were abandoned in the train station?

I found this story similar to Lucinda Riley's Seven Sisters. But, only because of it's similarities in themes, such as a strong female character searching for her roots. There is the whole star gazing and constellation talk. And, the globe trotting and discovering slowly through new characters the mystery.

I did find this easy to read, and enjoyed as the mystery was slowly unravelled. I'm not a 100% certain I was happy with the final chapter of the book though. That just changed the whole dynamic of what we had found out. It added in extra layers of lying and deceiving.

Apart from that final chapter I did really enjoy The Nowhere Girls, and I will read more from Carmel Harrington

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prologue for The Nowhere Girls is heartbreaking. On December 1st 1995, as crowds gather in Dublin to catch a glimpse of US president Bill Clinton, two little girls sit on a bench at Pearse Street Station, waiting for their mother to come back for them, but she fails to return. 🧳
The story then jumps forward to the present day, and we meet Vega Pearse, a journalist with a mission: to find out what happened to the Nowhere Girls. 🧳
This is quite a twisty story, that takes the reader from Co. Wexford to Vermont in the USA, and to the heart of Connemara, as Vega follows the trail of Cassie, mother of the Nowhere Girls. As each possible clue leads to a dead end, one can feel Vega's frustration, especially when she comes close to the truth only to find people stonewalling her. 🧳
This is, without a doubt, a poignant story, and with it's myriad twists, it is engrossing. Two things spoiled it for me:
- Try as I might, I didn't like Vega. I can't pin down any specific reason, I just didn't warm to her.
- The ending. Sure, it was a major twist, but it felt like an afterthought tacked on at the end. 🧳
They're just my bugbears. Don't be swayed by them. Read it and make up your own mind. 🧳
Thanks to Headline Books and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

[Trina Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel starts with a heartbreaking but enticing prologue, 2 small girls waiting at a railway station for their mother to reappear to collect them.
This was an engrossing, poignant read as Vega a journalist and one of the girls, tries to find out what happened to her mum and sister.
Her endeavour to find out takes her over to America and the far reaches of Ireland, discovering interesting and harrowing tales along the way.
I loved the majority of the characters, Mama Lulu was a delight I wish I could taste her pies. The ending caught me by surprise

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carmel Harrington is one of my favourite authors so it’s always with great excitement and enthusiasm I look forward to reading her new book. The Nowhere Girls was just as I expected , an unputdownable and page turning read. As soon as I had finished reading the prologue and wiped a few tears from my eyes, I just knew I wouldn’t be able to put this book down until the very end. What a read , one that brought so much emotional feelings out in me. There wasn’t one part of this book I didn’t enjoy and the ending had me lost for words.

[Jo Rawlins · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded down to 4 stars.

The second book I have read by Carmel Harrington. Both novels are incredibly readable. Engaging plot with interesting characters. The inclusion of the commune setting was particularly intriguing.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Fleury · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a terrific book, I'd highly recommend it to anyone.

I'm a big fan of Carmel Harrington's, I've always enjoyed her books.
Felt so sorry for the protagonist Vega.

I'll continue to read Carmel Harrington's books.

[Cora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this, kept me engrossed from beginning to end, and that ending!

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

[Debbie Newton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Vapid and syrupy. None of the characters have any depth or edge, with the possible exception of Apollo, and are incredible and unrealistic. Absolute rubbish. This could have been a good story.

[Monika Armet · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1995, two young girls, aged 4 and 3, were abandoned at a train station, wearing matching lilac dresses with starched collars, and a battered suitcase at their feet.

Their mum, who according to the older girl, was called Star, told the girls she would be back. She never returned and despite a ferocious media coverage at the time, no one claimed the sisters.

Thirty years later.

Vega is a journalist who is interested in the ‘Nowhere Girls’ story. With thumbs up from her boss, she digs deeper into the story, with some shocking results…

What a great book! I really enjoyed the plot and the characters, especially Mama Lulu, who was a force to be reckoned with. I also liked Luka, Vega’s partner, who was extremely supportive.

There were some happy and equally sad moments for Vega surrounding the story of the missing girls.

This book has some great twists and turns along the way. I definitely recommend it.

[Maddie Grigg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vega is a tenacious journalist in Ireland, whose writing and work is becoming lauded. When she learns about the story of the so-called Nowhere Girls, who were abandoned at a train station many years ago, she embarks on a quest to find out what happened to them.
This is a contemporary thriller with a fair few twists, although some of them you will see coming a mile off. Well-plotted, characters well drawn and the book would make a very good TV series, as the various locations seem very cinematic.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance review copy of this novel.

[Wynnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Journalist Vega feels like she needs to dig deeper into a story where a 4-year-old girl and her younger sister were left by their mother at Dublin's Pearse Station in November 1995. They were told not to move until she returned. Who are they? Where did they come from? Why did their mother not return to collect them like she said she would?

Written with compassion, empathy, and heart, Carmel Harrington unleashes her new novel on us. It’s a moving, beautifully crafted novel that keeps you turning pages until the very end.

[Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nowhere Girls< by Carmel Harrington will publish January 29th with Headline Review and is described as ‘gripping and suspenseful‘. Taking the reader on a sweeping adventure from Dublin to Wexford and from Vermont to Connemara this emotive tale tells the shocking mystery surrounding two little girls and their missing mother.

Vega and Nova were left seated on a bench in Pearse Station in Dublin in 1995 by their mother, with a promise that she would be back very shortly…but she never returned. Their mysterious origin story was never unravelled, so the state had to step in and find them new homes. Nova was adopted but Vega was put into fostercare, leaving her guarded and very protective of her story, and her own personal space. In later years Vega’s career choices led to her becoming an investigative journalist. She owned a small cottage in Wexford which was her sanctuary. She would often sit outside, wrapped in a blanket and looking at the stars, hoping that one day she would reconnect with Nova and her mother.

Vega never stopped searching, with the online trail eventually leading her to Vermont. Using all her skills she set off on a journey that would eventually reveal some answers to her lifelong questions. But would they be the words she wanted to hear?

Vega had always kept her relationships very loose, never committing to anyone, and never bringing anyone home to her cottage in Wexford. But slowly she lets someone in, someone she starts to have feelings about. Vega isn’t used to this type of connection and the possibility of her spoiling it before it even starts is very real. She has never learned what it is to be truly loved, truly accepted for who she is. Can she let her guard down? Can she finally let someone in to share her heart and home with?

Vega is relentless and, as time passes, she digs up more and more information that could potentially lead to the truth. On this journey of self-discovery Vega is faced with many challenging obstacles, leaving her, at times, unsure of herself. But Vega is tough. All her life she has had to stand on her own two feet. Now, as she finally closes in on what actually happened on that fateful day in 1995, she may have to accept certain painful truths but will it be worth it?

I am being intentionally vague in my review, as the truth behind The Nowhere Girls is one that, like Vega, you have to unravel all by yourselves. While I wasn’t totally sold on the outcome of one particular thread, the rest of the novel does carry plenty of surprising and fitting moments. Carmel Harrington vividly depicts the ache that seems to constantly inhabit Vega, that sense of belonging that she hankers after at all times. There is something very authentic about her character as she pushes her way through some extremely emotional obstacles in her search for her family. There are numerous twists and turns in The Nowhere Girls as the scent picks up and the momentum gathers speed. Is this crime fiction? Is this a novel of suspense? Is this a contemporary tale? The Nowhere Girls seems to straddle all three, which gives it a broad appeal and will definitely please Carmel Harrington’s fans, both new and old. A mysterious and emotional story The Nowhere Girls is ultimately an exploration of our need as human beings to feel connected, to have a loving family and to belong.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something quietly compelling about The Nowhere Girls that pulled me in from the very first chapter and kept me turning the pages at speed. Carmel Harrington blends emotional depth with a gently twisty investigative thread, creating a story that lingers long after you’ve closed the book.


The novel opens with an unsettling premise: two very young girls left alone on a freezing December afternoon at Pearse Station in 1995, waiting for a mother who never comes back. Fast forward thirty years and the mystery remains unresolved, the girls long since labelled “the Nowhere Girls”. Enter Vega, an investigative journalist whose professional curiosity and personal determination won’t let the case lie.

Vega is a strong, believable protagonist and very easy to root for. Her determination to uncover what happened to the girls takes her across Ireland and over to the US, following a trail that grows more complicated the deeper she digs. The author balances the procedural elements of the investigation with Vega’s personal life beautifully, showing how the case begins to seep into every corner of her world; her relationships, her career, and how she looks at herself.

The plot unfolds at a good pace, there's plenty of intrigue to keep the reader hooked. This is very much a character-driven story, and the author really excellently explores themes of motherhood, identity, abandonment, and deeply buried secrets. While there are twists along the way, the real strength of the story, for me, is in its emotional depth.

I raced through this one, eager to understand the truth behind the girls’ disappearance, but I also really enjoyed how Vega thinks about herself, and changes as a result of her search. The ending felt satisfying and thoughtful.

Overall, The Nowhere Girls is a poignant, engaging and highly readable mystery that will appeal to fans of emotional thrillers with heart. A compelling journey into the past, and a reminder that some stories refuse to stay buried.

[Bugs Meany · Rating 2 out of 5]

WBF (won't bother finishing)

I read Harrington's "The Stolen Child" and found it a solid-enough domestic mystery, so I decided to try her new release.

Had this been collecting dust on her hard drive for years and years, and only published now that she's had a hit under her belt? That has to be it. Harrington can't have become a worse author since her last book.

The dialogue is amateurish and embarrassing. The sentences use correct syntax and everything, but so many of them fail a basic test: Can you imagine a real person saying this? Characters speak in written text, rather than conversational English. A character will tell another character something they already know, for the benefit of the reader—who already knows it too or doesn't need it explained.

Here are some good bad lines:

"Unlike some other journalists, you have a real knack for getting to the heart of an issue."

"'I need information I thought I could access through the Tusla case management system.' Luka whistled slowly. 'The TCM? As in, the statutory body for child protection and fostering?'"

"But have you thought about Quechee State Park? The Quechee Gorge is one hundred and sixty-five feet deep and was formed thirteen thousand years ago. Imagine that! It’s said to have incredible views."

"Excellent choice! I consistently recommend that visitors experience this one. It’s a mile up the road, and they offer some stunning products in their range. We incorporate one of their grade-A syrups in our biscuits."

Maybe these characters turn out to be aliens who do a bad job of impersonating humans.

I'll keep this part of my inner monologue vague:

It would be so dumb and obvious, not to mention non-sensical, if this were the twist. [Twenty minutes elapse.] Wow. It is. She really did that.

Fortunately it happens very early. I'm sure there other twists to follow. I'm OK with never finding out.

[Avril · Rating 5 out of 5]

1995, Pearse Station, Dublin. Two little girls are left by their mother, who promises to return but never does. The girls are separated in the care system and thirty years later the eldest of the sisters and journalist, Veja, is determined to uncover the truth of her abandonment. The search for her mother and sister leads her to reveal many secrets and hidden pasts.

Carmel Harrington has become an auto-read author for me in recent years and this book solidifies that for me even more. I've said it in previous reviews and I'll say it again. Carmel writes intergenerational family dramas like no other, full of emotion and suspense.

This book had everything I love. A gripping opening chapter, with the following chapters being well paced. The characters were well fleshed out, with really interesting primary and secondary characters. I was completely invested in the romance element between Vega and Luka.

The journey this story takes you on is something else. There are so many elements to Vega's investigation and while it had the potential to feel like a bit of a wild goose chase, the author handled the pacing and suspense with ease, enabling the reader stay with Vega on her quest to discover her story.

This story is full of twists, turns and surprises. It is Carmel Harrington at her best and a book that I would highly recommend.

Available now to preorder. Publication dare: 29 January 2026

With sincere thanks to Headline publishers, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review an advanced copy of The Nowhere Girls.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Headline and Random Things Tours for an advanced copy of the book.

📝 The Details

In December 1995, two young girls are found alone at a Dublin train platform, seemingly abandoned. Now, journalist Vega wants to find out what happened to ‘the Nowhere Girls’ and how their experience has shaped their lives. But she has no idea what secrets her search is about to unravel.

⚡️ My Review

On the cover, Claire Douglas describes it as a ‘thriller with heart’, and that is such a perfect description of this book! It’s not your typical thriller – at times it was heart-warming and more of a family drama, at others it was really quite dark, full of sadness, regret and suspense.

Vega was a strong main character and goes on an incredible journey, not only uncovering the secrets of the past but also learning how open up her own heart and life to other people for the first time.

I loved how the plot unfolds, with us as the reader finding everything out at the same time as Vega, experiencing all the shocks and twists with her. It’s only when we get to the final chapter that the full story slots into place.

I can’t say too much about the plot itself without spoiling the story, but it captured my heart with the emotional family mystery side, whilst also ticking all the boxes on the creepy/trust no-one side!

And I really enjoyed all the settings – from the Irish countryside to Dublin and the gorgeous Gilmore Girls-esque Vermont maple farm in the Autumn!

[Cleopatra Pullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nowhere Girls by Carmel Harrington blends emotional suspense with a compelling cold-case mystery. The novel opens in 1995, when two little girls are found abandoned at Pearse Station in Dublin. Decades later, investigative journalist Vega becomes obsessed with uncovering what really happened to them, a story that echoes her own search for her missing mother, Star, and her sister, Nova.

Carmel Harrington builds the mystery with steady, thoughtful tension. Vega’s investigation is gripping not because of shock twists, but because every clue forces her to confront the emotional wounds she’s carried for years. The abandoned sisters’ story becomes intertwined with her own, giving the mystery real emotional weight.

Vega is a strong, flawed, and deeply human protagonist, and Carmel Harrington writes her with empathy and nuance. The pacing is tight, the revelations feel earned, and the final answers land with both impact and heart.

Carmel Harrington blends the pull of crime and mystery with the emotional nuance of contemporary fiction effortlessly. Settings are vivid without being over-described, and secondary characters feel lived-in rather than functional. The result is a story that you read both to “solve” and to feel, to inhabit Vega’s longing and the lingering ache of the abandoned sisters’ story.

[The Book Elf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this moving story from start to finish. The story of two little girls left on a station platform by their mother starts you off on an emotional coaster ride straight away . The journey that you go on with Vega in her determination to find out what happened to the girls, and why, keeps you turning the pages and burning the midnight oil in your quest to find out what happened.

Yes, if I am honest, there are parts of the story line that feel as though they are just a little bit too farcical, however in the main it is a story that gets you thinking about what are the reasons behind a mother finding herself in the situation where she leaves her girls.

As the book progresses you develop a deep insight into Vega’s personality and views on relationships that have all been affected by her feeling of abandonment as a child and the fact that she is desperately looking at answers for herself as well as finding out what happened to The Nowhere Girls.

Carmel has the wonderful ability to write at the steady pace that makes reading her books easy. There is just the right amount of information and description that you need without going overboard which is what I like along with the fact that it keeps you burning the midnight oil until you find out the outcome.

This is a book to thoroughly enjoy and think about.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carmel Harrington has a gift for weaving heart and suspense together, and The Nowhere Girls is no exception. The story begins in 1995, when two little girls are found abandoned at Pearse Station in Dublin. Thirty years later, journalist Vega is determined to uncover what really happened — a search that pulls her into secrets far deeper than she imagined.

What struck me most is how Harrington balances the emotional weight of the mystery with the human connections at its core. Vega isn’t just chasing a story; she’s risking her career, her relationships, and even her sense of self to bring the truth to light. The novel is full of twists, but it’s the compassion behind the narrative that makes it so compelling.

The atmosphere is beautifully drawn — cold train platforms, hidden truths, and the quiet ache of unanswered questions. Yet there’s also warmth in the way Harrington writes about resilience, love, and the bonds that survive even the darkest circumstances.

Casually speaking, this is one of those books that keeps you turning pages late into the night. It’s gripping, heartfelt, and leaves you thinking about the power of stories to heal old wounds.

My thanks to Carmel Harrington, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.

[Mary Carbajosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read by Carmel Harrington and I enjoyed my introduction to her work. This is a well written story which is billed as a thriller, but for me it’s more of a family drama mystery. Set in Ireland and New England, the story revolves around Vega, a journalist at one of Ireland’s national newspapers who, with the help of her new boyfriend Luka, is on a quest to uncover the truth behind the story of two little girls who were abandoned at a train station in 1995.

The author drew me into the story, had me invested in its outcome, and I was surprised by the ending, however, apart from one twist early on, I didn’t feel there was enough suspense or tension and a few more twists would have been welcome.

The characterisation is excellent and the main protagonist Vega, is likeable, I felt she was a strong female lead, resolute, intelligent and intuitive and I got to know her easily. I also enjoyed Carmel Harrington’s descriptions of Vermont, which were vivid and helped bring the story to life.

All in all this is an interesting, emotional and heartfelt story which takes you on a journey of discovery full of believable characters and wonderfully descriptive settings. 3.5 stars 🌟🌟🌟💫

Thank you to Headline Books and Net Galley for the advanced copy.

[Sandie McCormack · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a cold afternoon in December 1995, two young girls are discovered abandoned on a platform at Pearse Station in Dublin a haunting mystery that shocks the nation and is soon forgotten. Thirty years later, investigative journalist Vega becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth about the “Nowhere Girls.” What happened to their mother? Why did no one ever come forward? And, most importantly, where are the sisters now?

As Vega digs deeper, she finds herself entangled in a web of secrets, lies, and hidden pasts that stretch far beyond what she ever imagined. Her search for the truth soon threatens to unravel not only the mystery of the girls but also her own life her career, her new relationship, and her sense of identity.

This gripping mystery blends emotional depth with sharp investigative suspense. The narrative moves between past and present, keeping you hooked as Vega pieces together fragments of a dark and forgotten story. Themes of motherhood, identity, and the price of truth are explored with sensitivity and tension in equal measure.

I really enjoyed it I have never read any of her other books but definitely will now.

Thank you to Netgalley and Head Line Books for an ARC

[Paula Sterling-Stead · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot begins in December 1995. Two young children, Nova and Vega, are placed in a train station by their mother and told to wait until her return. Hours later they are discovered by a station master. While both are placed into care, the younger sister Nova is quickly adopted, leaving her sibling to negotiate a series of foster care homes.

Thirty years later a journalist who writes about displaced children decides that this is a story that needs to be investigated and embarks on a discovery which spans America, Ireland and UK.

The descriptions of the young Star (the children’s mother) attending Woodstock before being sucked into a commune was particularly well written and developed. Her complex layering often leaves you conflicted about her own predicament and how she came to leave her children behind.

There are sub plots running side by side which I didn’t necessarily need, and which made the novel a tad too long. The twist at the end was totally unexpected, well done! All in all, a very strong read with some excellent writing and character development.



Thank you NetGalley and Headline Books for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication

[Jayne Burnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compelling story, two small girls, Vega aged 4 and her sister Nova aged 3 left alone at a train station. Their mother tells Vega to wait, she will be back soon, but she never returns.
Both girls are placed in foster care where Vega remains until she is 18, Nova is adopted.
Vega is now a working as a journalist and she is determined to find her mother, Cassie and her sister Nova.
Once she starts to investigate she discovers family, a grandmother, an aunt, they welcome her and want to help with the search. She has always been alone in the world, she struggles with trust, she isn’t perfect and breaks her boyfriends trust in her and it’s only when he isn’t by her side that she realises how important he is to her.
We meet some interesting and rather diverse characters as the story evolves.
I found myself rooting for Vega, desperately wanting her to find her family., she has a burning need for answers and for the truth. I was engrossed in this emotionally charged story which I highly recommend.
My first book by this author and will definitely be reading more

Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

[Pauline Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had previously read The Stolen Child by the same author and was delighted to be offered The Nowhere Girls by the same author. I was not disappointed. This absolute page turner is a complex and sad story of child abandonment. Vega is an excellent journalist who works hard to find the truth in a story and convey her findings in an articulate and compelling manner. The so called ‘Nowhere Girls’ concerns two sisters aged 3 and 4 who were abandoned on a railway platform by their mother in 1995. Their true identity was never discovered. Vega takes it upon herself to investigate this mystery. Given a month to get results by her editor, she begins the long process of finding the truth. As long held secrets are revealed amid various shocking twists, Vega begins to make progress but at what cost? The further she delves, the more dangerous the quest but she doesn’t know the meaning of giving up. As this excellent book reaches its dramatic conclusions, there are both heartwarming and heartbreaking implications for all concerned. Written in a fast paced way with well conceived characters that perfectly fit their roles. I thoroughly recommend this brilliant book.