Nowhere Girl Ruth Dugdall

I'm big fan of Ruth Dugdall, Humber Boy B was one of the best books I have read, so I was very excited when I was asked to read Nowhere Girl. I wasn't disappointed, this book is another fabulous read.

Book Description

Probation officer, Cate Austin, has moved for a fresh start, along with her daughter Amelia, to live with her police detective boyfriend, Olivier Massard. But when she realises just how casually he is taking the disappearance of Ellie, Cate decides to investigate matters for herself. She discovers Luxembourg has a dark heart. With its geographical position, could it be the centre of a child trafficking ring? As Cate comes closer to discovering Ellie’s whereabouts she uncovers a hidden world, placing herself in danger, not just from traffickers, but from a source much closer to home.

My review

Cate Austin is once again the protagonist of this book. It does follow on from Humber Boy B but it can easily be read as a stand alone, (although I recommend you read all of Ruth's novels). Cate has given up her job, left her home in England, and along with her daughter Amelia, has moved to Luxembourg to live with her boyfriend Olivier.

The story centres on Ellie, a teenage girl, the sister of Cate's daughter's friend. Ellie's relationship with her mother is very strained so when she disappears at a local fair it is assumed that she has ran away. At first Cate doesn't want to get involved but as the days pass she becomes increasing frustrated by the attitude of the local police, and especially Olivier.

Ruth, an ex probation officer herself, was born in Felixstowe but now lives in Luxembourg with her family, not surprisingly, she captures the setting perfectly.

The pace of the story really suited me, and I loved the way it switched from character to character.

The characters themselves were very believable, and I quickly found myself being drawn into their lives. The fear and panic of the children was utterly convincing and unsettling.

There are twists in this story that I was not expecting, some that are quite shocking.

It is a great novel, one that will open your eyes to the horrors of child trafficking. I loved it, and thoroughly recommend it.


Many thanks to Netgalley and Legend Press for giving me a copy of this novel in return for an honest review.