What Happened to Nina?: The thrilling new crime novel from the bestselling author of THE MURDER RULE and THE RUIN, WINNER OF THE ABIA General Book
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4.1 • 755 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
From the #1 internationally bestselling author of The Murder Rule comes an emotional novel of suspense about two families pitted against each other.
'Addictive. Propulsive. Dervla McTiernan is a thriller master.' Trent Dalton
Winner of the ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year 2025
Winner of the Readers Choice Award at the Davitt Awards 2025
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, fuelled 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.
A New York Times pick for Best Thrillers of the Year 2024
'Her best yet. Completely riveting ... and everyone's going to be talking about that ending' Sally Hepworth
'Propulsive and satisfying ... This is Dervla McTiernan at her finest.' Tracey Lien, internationally bestselling author of All That's Left Unsaid
'Gripping ... A smart and unpredictable portrait of how the boundaries between tragedy and entertainment get blurred. It's a disturbing treat for thriller fans.' Publishers Weekly
'One of the best thrillers I have read ... unforgettable and deeply moving' Don Winslow
'McTiernan turns the traditional thriller on its head ... [with] deep humanity ... Truly haunting.' Kirkus starred review
'Almost painfully gripping. Disturbing, enthralling ... The last scene will make your blood run cold.' New York Times
Praise for Dervla McTiernan:
'An uncommonly fine mystery writer' New York Times
'McTiernan's in the top rank of crime writers' Chris Hammer
'A born storyteller' Val McDermid
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The gripping latest from Australian crime writer McTiernan (The Murder Rule) examines a murder, its aftermath, and the impact of social media on the families involved. Twenty-year-old Nina Fraser sets out to go rock climbing with her wealthy boyfriend, Simon Jordan, near their New England homes one morning. That night, Simon returns to his family, but Nina does not. Nina's parents suspect Simon is involved in her disappearance, but he maintains his innocence, insisting that Nina was alive when he left her behind at his parents' house after a heated argument. The police find his vague explanation of the events suspicious, and he becomes a person of interest in the case. The Jordans then hire a respected publicity firm, which sets about painting Simon and Nina's romance as fairy tale perfect while planting spurious information about Nina's family online. Soon, journalists and true crime obsessives delve into the case, obscuring the truth in favor of sensational conspiracy theories that nearly tear Nina's family apart and eventually lead to more violence. McTiernan makes the details of Nina's disappearance clear early on, shifting the focus from whodunit to what happens in the court of public opinion. What emerges is a smart and unpredictable portrait of how the boundaries between tragedy and entertainment get blurred. It's a disturbing treat for thriller fans.
Customer Reviews
What Happened to Nina?
What happened in deed.
A compelling (and disturbing) spotlight on contemporary life and on social media (and its toxic effects) against a background of parent- child love. This is a timely reflection of what uncritical use of electronic media can achieve, and how it can be manipulated.
A powerful final scene and sentence.
Recommended reading - but be prepared for turbulent emotional responses.
Very good
Great book. Definitely recommend
Best yet.
This was excellent. So well deserving of 5 stars. It wasn’t so much the twist but the way the story evolved in convoluted ways.