A review by amavia91
What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

A ripped from the headlines thriller, this novel follows two families - the Jordans and the Frasers-- and the ripple effects on their community as the question of what happened to Nina Fraser will ask them how far they will go to get answers and justice. Multiple POVs explore both sides of this mystery and explore the emotional costs to secrets and class differences. Many of the details of this book resemble the real life Gabby Petito/Brian Laundrie missing persons case in 2021, so those details can provide more insight on the plot. Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable read, as the character studies in each chapter provide a deeply nuanced look on how tragedy affects us all. This is definitely not a "true" mystery, and the twists themselves are more deepening the emotional crisis than actual genuine surprises, but overall it built to a solid narrative conclusion. Highly recommended for even the true crime fans out there.