The Nowhere Child by Christian White Narrator: Katherine Littrell
Published by MacMillan Audio on January 22, 2019
Genres: Suspense
Length: 9 hours, 39 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
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Winner of the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, The Nowhere Child is screenwriter Christian White’s internationally bestselling debut thriller of psychological suspense about a woman uncovering devastating secrets about her family—and her very identity…
Kimberly Leamy is a photography teacher in Melbourne, Australia. Twenty-six years earlier, Sammy Went, a two-year old girl vanished from her home in Manson, Kentucky. An American accountant who contacts Kim is convinced she was that child, kidnapped just after her birthday. She cannot believe the woman who raised her, a loving social worker who died of cancer four years ago, crossed international lines to steal a toddler.
On April 3rd, 1990, Jack and Molly Went’s daughter Sammy disappeared from the inside their Kentucky home. Already estranged since the girl’s birth, the couple drifted further apart as time passed. Jack did his best to raise and protect his other daughter and son while Molly found solace in her faith. The Church of the Light Within, a Pentecostal fundamentalist group who handle poisonous snakes as part of their worship, provided that faith. Without Sammy, the Wents eventually fell apart.
Now, with proof that she and Sammy are in fact the same person, Kim travels to America to reunite with a family she never knew she had. And to solve the mystery of her abduction—a mystery that will take her deep into the dark heart of religious fanaticism where she must fight for her life against those determined to save her soul…
Christian White is a new-to-me author, and I had no idea what to expect from this story. Lately, I’ve been on a thriller kick, and this one sounded intriguing, so I decided to give it a try.
Kimberly Leamy grew up in Australia with her mother, stepfather, and half-sister, living what she believed to be a normal life. That all changes when a man shows up at the university where she teaches photography and turns her world upside down. He tells her he believes she is Sammy Went, a girl who went missing from Kentucky when she was just two years old.
Sammy disappeared from her upstairs bedroom in 1990, and no one knows what happened. Was she kidnapped? Did she wander into the nearby woods and get lost? No body was ever found, leaving the mystery unsolved. Her family, already struggling before her disappearance, has since become completely estranged. Sammy’s mother buried herself in her extreme religious faith, which includes snake handling. Her father, who was raised in the faith but never a true believer, left town and is now a happily married gay man. Meanwhile, the siblings Sammy left behind rarely speak to each other or the rest of the family. As Kimberly pieces together the truth, she also faces the shocking possibility that her late mother, the woman who raised her, may have been a kidnapper.
The story alternates between past and present, allowing us to follow Kimberly’s journey as she uncovers her past and comes to terms with her real family. I enjoyed how this played out and was completely surprised by the final reveal of what really happened to Sammy Went. The Nowhere Child was full of twists and turns, making for an engaging read. I had a great time with it and will definitely look for more from this author in the future.
Narration:
Katherine Littrell was also a new-to-me narrator, and I thought she did a fantastic job. I was fully immersed in the story, whether in the past or present. She voiced each character distinctly, which was especially impressive given the large cast. The story required both Australian and Kentucky accents, two very different styles, and I think she handled both very well.
Listen to a clip: HERE
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I started listening to audiobooks when a new book in a series was coming out and I wanted to get a refresher, but didn’t have time to read all the books (I think it was Anita Blake). I fell in love. I stayed with strictly re-reading books that I’d already read for a long time. I eventually tried an audiobook for something that I hadn’t read first and was hooked there too. Now, I listen to audio for both re-reads and first time. I have some series that I’ve given up reading and only listen. I try to get any many books/audiobooks from the library to help save on my budget. Books on CD and the newer digital downloads from the library really allow me to listen more. I then purchase my favorites (because who can wait in line for your favorite book??) and less mainstream books from Audible or some other online retailer.
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Ooh, I like the sound of this one! I haven’t read this author before either, but I think I need to check this one out. 😀
I can see why it captivated you. I love getting twisty plots in thrillers. Great review, Melanie!
I want to know what happened to her now. But it almost sounds like she had a better life away from her real parents.
Love a good final reveal!!
Sounds like lots of suspense and a book to keep you turning pages! Glad you enjoyed it. Great review!