WHAT HAPPENED TO NINA?
BY: DERVLA MCTIERNAN

About 4.5 Stars Happily Rounded Up to Five! Exquisite!

OMG, this was by far a totally addictive reading experience that I read straight through in one sitting which derailed my whole day. I have so much to say about this fastidiously written character driven and suspenseful pulse pounding plot that I just couldn't put down. I thought that this was based on a true story until I finished it so it was particularly heart wrenching for me. It's written in the first person mostly, except at times it also shifted out. The strong writing made it so intimate I felt that I was a fly on the wall bearing witness to everything that happened. I remember when I was well into the narrative thinking how could the author, the electrifying Dervla McTiernan, know what these people actually did or said? I knew that on some level that there wouldn't be a way for the people involved who alternate with each chapter, that spoke directly to me throughout this dazzling story had me questioning how the author knew everything that they told me. While thinking it was factually based, my other rationale was to think that the author interviewed them and combined it with research. It just felt so authentically real that I felt that it really happened. What I'm trying to say is that I thought that it was a true crime book and I just couldn't tear myself away to get what I had planned that day done, because I had to know the outcome immediately. There was never a point where I felt I could stop and come back to it later because it was like I was on a run away train with no brakes.

I've read plenty of unputdownable books where I usually can stop reading when I get to the end of a chapter especially when I have things to do. Not so with this one. I knew I had to go out and I just cancelled my plans because this one was irresistible. That's how powerfully written this is and I was totally invested in knowing the outcome because it really got under my skin. It takes a convincing tale for me to think that the whole thing was true. It takes a highly skilled writer to be able to fool me into thinking I'm reading non-fiction based on the mesmerizing writing that this author achieved. I felt all the emotions that these different characters were feeling that my nerves felt raw while reading this and afterwards, as well. I couldn't stop feeling them even when I went to the beginning and saw that what I read was fiction. I can't remember ever being so involved as if I was inside the story in this genre before.

I had gone into this mostly blind but was excited to read it because a friend of mine that also reviews for Net Galley said it was a top pick for this year. Even though you know early on who did what there is still an incredible pull to not put this down until you've finished. Usually a book keeps you immersed and captivated because you don't know who did what. So there is still a palpable tension that keeps you turning the pages unable to pull away. All I can say is that I can't remember a book in this genre that made me actually feel so shaken to my core in eight years. This deserves the full five stars rounded up and more. This author is brand new to me and I think that she has written one other standalone book besides this one that I'm buying and saving for when I have a free day with a cleared schedule. This author is that talented and then some. Exquisitely written & Haunting! Unforgettable! I know that this is one that I will never forget and deserves the highest praise for its genre!

Publication Date: March 26, 2024

Thank you to Net Galley, Dervla McTiernan and William Morrow for generously providing me with my exquisite eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#WhatHappenedtoNina #DervlaMcTiernan #WilliamMorrow #NetGalley

Wow. At first I didn’t think I would enjoy this because in the beginning it seemed to give me true crime vibes, which isn’t my favorite because it’s too close to being real. Boy was I wrong. It was painfully believable, however. This book sunk its teeth into me and didn’t let go.

I am glad we got chapters from everyone’s POV. It really showcased the differing perspectives of the situation. I also was intrigued by the use of the PR firm/social media and enjoyed seeing how it impacted the case.

I do wish we got more time to get to know Nina as a person since the story revolved around her and everyone’s investment in her. They mentioned repeatedly how beautiful and tiny she is but that’s about it.

THE ENDING. No spoilers, of course, but that was the cherry on top.

Thank you to the publisher for a Netgalley.

Dervla McTiernan, in my opinion, is an underrated mystery writer. Her Cormac Reilly series is so good, though I am impatiently waiting for book 4.

But anyways, DM writes another great book here. Though we know how this mystery goes, we watch two families grapple with the truths they've been dealt. Nina and Simon are "the" couple. But Nina is now missing and Simon, of course, is the number 1 suspect.

We hear from multiple points of view in this story, which was really well done. As t he story unfolds, you begin to question what you would do in this situation. You see yourself in both moms, or dads. And the ending is so, so satisfying.

I know Dervla McTiernan from her Irish detective series, which I love - so while slightly disappointed that I don't get another installment of the procedural/character-driven mystery, I was definitely up for reading anything else by her and was excited to get my hands on an early copy of this one from Netgalley. This one is more of a domestic thriller of the emotional/psychological variety: Nina and Simon appear to be the perfect young couple, but as they go off to separate colleges Nina starts to notice him being more controlling and manipulative. He convinces her to go off on a hiking trip at his family's vacation home, and only he comes home... While the reader knows from the prologue what happened, the rest of the book is narrated in alternating chapters by their parents and a sibling as they try to figure out what happened to Nina. Nina's parents are worrying and eventually grieving, thinking Simon is to blame; Simon's parents are protective and determined to believe their son could never have done something terrible even while doubts creep in. It explores the emotions involved on all sides, the way that social media and the internet fuel stories like this and also negatively effect the families involved, and the extent that families will go to protect their own/seek what they consider to be justice. With all this it's not a happy book by any means, but it's extremely propulsive (even though you know what happened from the get go!) because of the first-person narration, and it feels perhaps more true to life than your average domestic thriller in illustrating how a situation like this could make people react/behave in ways they'd never expect, and how real life crimes and mysteries don't have tidy endings. The angle on the "it's always the boyfriend/husband" domestic thriller that considers the emotional toll and personal/public fallout for families - on both the victim and perpetrator side - from one of these high-profile missing persons cases reminded me of other great reads like Just Another Missing Person and especially All That Is Mine I Carry with Me with the less procedural, more psychological approach. If you liked those, definitely recommend this one.

From the moment I picked up What Happened to Nina, I could not put it down. This is a gripping psychological thriller about finding Nina Fraser, an adolescent who goes missing after a week’s vacation with her boyfriend Simon Jordan. The book is told from five perspectives, each of Nina and Simon’s parents and the detective assigned to the case. Despite having so many viewpoints, the story moves seamlessly.

Simon comes from money, a lot of it. We see how money can derail and deflect an investigation in ways I’d never considered. It all makes the Jordans very unlikeable. While Nina’s parents and the police immediately suspect Simon is involved, his parents are able to throw enough money behind him to make Nina’s parents look like the bad guys. As the story goes on, the Frasers’ lives devolve and it is devastating to watch.

While I had a sense of where the story was going and the guilty party is almost always clear, the story had enough twists to keep me wondering exactly how it would all unfold.

Trigger warning for domestic violence, assault, gun violence and overall traumatic content. Highly recommended. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book pissed me off which I'm absolutely sure was the author's intention but... wow.

In this book we are following Simon and Nina, a young couple trying to navigate a long distance college relationship, and things are rocky to say the least. They go away for a week long break to Simon's family vacation home and then only Simon returns at the end of the trip.

Now, we find out exactly what happens to Nina about half way through the book. In fact, the author does not really hide the fact that what happens to Nina is bad nor do they try to hide who is the guilty party. The mystery of Nina is pretty straight forward. The strength that comes from this book is the examination of what happens with everyone else when someone goes missing. What happens to the families? The siblings? The guilty parties? The neighborhood gossip train? There is a lot of commentary in this book on how the police, loved ones, and complete strangers handle a case of a missing person and that was an interesting take on this kind of story.

There are some twists in this that I didn't really see coming. There is a scene with Simon that completely threw me for a loop because it seemed like the author was trying to expose a seedier, darker side to his character but also never elaborated more on it so it felt a bit misplace and odd. The twists at the end were pretty satisfying but while, for the most part, this felt like a very believable mystery/thriller story the ending does require you to suddenly pivot 180 degrees and suspend all your disbelief. I think that I would have liked it more had the ending been handled in a bit of a different way.

Overall, this is a book that will enrage you and is meant to. It blatantly puts in your face all the awful aspects of humanity. It shows you how awful people can be, the things that happen behind closed doors, the ways that the internet can spread misinformation and hatred in the blink of an eye. It exposes the incomprehensible lengths that parents will go to in order to protect their children. It showcases the biases of law enforcement, the power of privilege and ostentatious wealth, and the ways in which the quickest bandwagon people can jump on is the one built on lies.

This book was nothing new or special. It doesn't blow your mind or bring something really new to the table. However, this book paints a story that we have all seen in the news time and time again and has some interesting things to say about that. I think that this is a quick read that will keep people involved, spur some discussions, but ultimately could have used a little polishing to make it a true standout.

When Nina goes missing, her parents will seek for answers. Her boyfriend, Simon, was the last to see her. Simon’s family is only interested in protecting him.

Loved this one! I loved that there were two perspectives to go with the two sides of the story. This is not a mystery. The reader knows almost from the very beginning what happened to Nina. This is more about the aftermath; the two families reactions and interactions with each other, as well as the investigation itself. Don’t worry though, there’s still much more drama and crime to follow.

“I was stupid, but then, I was a lobster in a pot. The water warmed up so gradually that I didn’t realize I was boiling until it was too late.”

What Happened to Nina comes out 3/26.

Filled with suspense!

When a young couple goes on a hike and only one of them returns, it ignites suspicion between the two families, forcing them to pick a side.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. The author wrote a couple of interesting and plausible twists that perhaps readers, who are familiar with the Petito case, would find realistic and satisfying. Personally, I enjoyed it because it kept the pace steady, and provided justice and closure for the right characters. I liked how different the POVs were between the four parents. Simon’s parents were especially interesting considering how they handled the situation in the wake of Nina’s disappearance and Simon’s odd behavior. The ways they enabled and made excuses for him was terrifying. Nina’s parent’s went through hell and it was difficult to read, specifically because I found their internal dialogue / emotions somewhat repetitive. The way Nina’s father handled Simon was shocking, and probably my favorite scene in the book.

4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For readers who enjoy stories about missing persons’ cases, domestic suspense, and dark secrets.

A couple in love go away for the weekend but only one returns. This sounds similar to that notorious story in 2021 that continues to be brought up in crime shows and podcasts even in 2024 but this book is about Nina and Simon and the obsessive actions of both their families to find answers about Nina being missing and Simon's parents willing to anything and everything protect their son's reputation and his life. Yes, this book does sound reminiscent of that case but believe me it is definitely not that infamous case! This fictional story is so much more nightmarish if even possible!


I absolutely loved this crazy and emotional thriller! This book has a little bit of everything and then some about thoughts and feelings of both sets of parents and the hell that they were going through every minute of the day and making the reader think about what would they do or feel if either of these young adults were your own child and to what extent one would go to get answers and justice for the missing child vs. how far would you go to protect the child who is the prime and only suspect in his missing, beloved girlfriend's case.

I enjoyed everything about this emotional thriller and I will look forward to reading more books by Dervla McTiernan. The author did a wonderful job on making the characters very interesting and believable as far as the story played out which becomes a wicked thriller and not just another sad, soapy and predictable story.

Sometimes the parents were so unlikeable and other times their actions and thoughts just wrenched my heart and wouldn't let go because of the deep heartfelt and unconditional love that each parent had for their child. I must not forget another hero to the story was the dogged detective who was determined to find Nina at all costs and the great job he did at leaving "No Stone Unturned". The detective was so likeable and interesting that I wouldn't be surprised if the author wrote a new series featuring this man and his police force. The last thirty percent of the book is so exciting, unpredictable, crazy, mesmerizing and to top it all off! The Ending is a Wow, Wow!

Highly, Highly Recommend!

I want to thank the publisher " William Morrow " and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I have given a rating of 4 1/2 STUNNING AND EMOTIONAL 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 STARS!!


Publication Date: March 26, 2024
Title: What Happened To Nina
Author: Dervla McTiernan

US pub date: 3/26/24
Genre: suspense
Quick summary: Nina and her rich boyfriend Simon are the perfect couple - but her disappearance after their trip together fuels worldwide suspicion, and armchair sleuths will do anything to find out the truth.

Thrillers that feel like true crime are a favorite of mine, and McTiernan kept me hooked while reading this one. It felt a bit like a Gabby Petito "ripped from the headlines" story, and it was interesting to see all the perspectives come together. One element I really liked was the battle of Nina and Simon's parents - we know that a parent will do a lot to protect a child, and both sets here lived up to that reputation. I also enjoyed the exploration of wealth disparities, a theme also present in THE SCHOLAR, the first book I read by McTiernan. I read this book in one day, and I bet a lot of readers will do the same. 4+ stars.

Thank you to William Morrow and @thoughtsfromapage podcast for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! As a parent, this book was extremely difficult to read. I could sympathize with both mothers, Leanne, and Jamie. This book made me mad and frustrated and sad! But in a good way. This is definitely a story that you could see actually happening and making headlines and going viral. This book was very well written but those who like happy perfect endings and everything tied up neatly in a bow may have difficulty with it. I can’t wait to read more books by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of “What’s Happened to Nina”. I have read all of Dervla McTiernan’s books and enjoyed them all. This story was very similar to the story of Gabby Petito. I don’t know if it was intentional or not, or if the author was trying to offer answers to the mystery surrounding the real life case. In either case I’m still a fan of Ms McTiernan and look forward to reading all of her upcoming books.

Thanks netgalley and custom home for this book to read. I like reading about missing persons and this story was well written. It reminded me a lot of the Gabby Petito case. I love how the book down to the last sentence. It was a good wrap up for what happened to Nina.

I read this in one sitting because it was so addictive and I HAD to find out what happened. It had many similarities to the Gabby Petito case which drew national attention in 2021. I enjoyed seeing how Nina’s disappearance affected so many people in very different ways. The police procedural aspect was lovely as I enjoy a competent detective who knows what they are doing. McTiernan was also smart to look at how wealth disparities can change a crime outcome. And the ending? Oh man! I’ll be thinking about it for a while.

What would you do for your children? If your daughter is missing, what would you do to try and find her? If your son is suspected of murder, what would you do to protect him? McTiernan tries to answer these questions in her newest novel. We start the book with a chapter from Nina’s perspective while she and Simon, her boyfriend, are on vacation together. In the next chapter we discover Nina is missing and Simon has come home by himself. From there we get a great novel about what would the two sets of parents do for their children. Simon’s family has lots of money and Nina’s doesn’t. Would you believe your son if he said he was innocent? What would you do to try and find the truth about what happened to your daughter?

What Happened to Nina is a fast-paced emotional read. Nina and Simon are young, in love, and on a romantic getaway. We find out early on that Simon is the only one who returns from this little vacation. I enjoyed the multiple POV approach to telling this story. A well-written, engaging story that kept me invested until the end. Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for the eARC.

Simon and Nina are a young couple in love with each other and just enjoying life. The questions start when Simon returns from a week long vacation and Nina does not. Simon's side of the story is not adding up and Nina's parents are bound for the truth about what happened to Nina. Both sets of parents are trying to get to the bottom of it and will stop at nothing to protect their kids and their reputations. There are plenty of twists and surprises in this story. I enjoyed this book! Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

We have all heard this story, it is the Gabby Petito case. This is young love between Nina and Simon and the same storyline as the Petito case. What we learn are the struggles from the families of Nina and Simon. How this is devastating to both families. This book is tightly plotted, beginning with high school sweethearts. They are vacationing at Simon's family's mountain home in Vermont. Simon returns home and Nina is missing. Simon's parents are wealthy and powerful, and Nina's are neither.

The story is told in different POV in each chapter. You know who did it early in the book and you have to keep reading to see what is going to happen next. You can't help but feel for both sets of parents. The story is all over the internet and many lies are told. The tension heightens as Nina's family tries to get to the bottom of her disappearance, while Simon's wealthy family does their best to shield him from any wrongdoing.

Drama, Show- Stopper, and The Truth! 3.5 stars!

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the advance copy! This book will be released 3/26/24.

What Happened to Nina? This book drew me right in. What happened when Nina and her boyfriend take a trip to his family’s cabin? Is it the age old, the boyfriend always did it?
This story is told from the perceptive of both sets of parents. The story twist and turns as money, privilege and social media play pivotal roles.
What would you do if it was your child that was missing accused?
I like the multiplied layers of this story and it held lots of surprises.
Thanks to Cindy Burnett @Thoughts from a Page and @Netgalley for the early read copy

Nina is a young college woman dating Simon Jordan. The book opens with us meeting Nina as she recounts a hiking weekend with Simon where she falls and later, she is packing her stuff to leave. When Nina doesn’t respond to phone calls, her parents call the cops and start a search party for Nina. Simon claims Nina broke up with him and went off to be with friends.
Detective Matthew Wright is called in to investigate with junior detective Sarah Jane (SJ). As they work to unravel the knots of this mystery, we see two different families pitted against each other. One is wealthy and has all sorts of resources while the other is a blue-collar, working-class kind of family.
I really enjoyed the author’s first book, The Murder Rule, and this was just as good. It is fast paced and emotional – both families are trying to deal with how they are perceived by the public. There are lies being spread about them and rumors about Nina and Simon.
The cover is not relevant to the story