An interesting and intriguing thriller about the death of two young girls in Dover.

The story is told from two timelines; 2016 when the deaths happened and 2026, the current day. The book is also written in a screenplay/documentary style as well as from the perspective of several characters, including from that of one of the survivors.

The book covers some difficult topics and I feel like this was something the author did well and sensitivity. One of the main characters, Tarek, was a Syrian refugee who’s journey and experiences are discussed in detail in the book and it is clear the author spent time researching and learning of others experiences of this to portray is as accurately as she could. She also includes recommendations at the back of the book to other books on refugee experiences (which I definitely will be checking out).

Overall it was a good book however I found it hard to get into initially and found I didn’t fully connect with the characters (Jude in particular, I found her character quite inconsistent?). I did enjoy the general plot and the use of the documentary/screenplay style for writing and the multiple timeline and have seen a lot of good feedback for this book.

It was one I liked but didn’t love but still glad to have read it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me access to this copy in exchange for an honest review

The Nowhere Place is set in Dover in the UK and according to one of the characters this is the ultimate nowhere place. They just transition through here they never stay.

In 2016, two young girls died and a third one, called Jude, was severely injured for life. In fact injured to such an extent that she ended up in a coma, and eventually she woke from it saying she remembered nothing. This is the main mystery that runs through the book - what happened to these Dover Girls? We then fast-forward in time to 2026 and Tarek Zayat is making a documentary about the Dover Girls. Trying to get to the bottom of what happened ten years previously, for personal and professional reasons.

This Nowhere Place has a really interesting format. It's like that of a documentary: the chapters are not just chapters but episodes and each starts with a fragment of the documentary, like a screenplay, as if we’re not just reading about it, but also watching the documentary. This just aids to the intriguing aura of the novel and keeps you interested.

The central mystery of the Dover Girls is a strong one, compelling and intriguing. The more the narrative unfolds, the more questions arise. So definitely keeps you guessing. This Nowhere Place is not just the mystery of the Dover Girls, it is also the story of Tarek Zayat, driven documentary-maker, a refugee from Syria and that was a very interesting theme. Dealt with very sensitively.

Atmospheric, tense and intriguing, This Nowhere Place is a compelling read.! Highly recommended.

A brilliant mystery and suspense story. I really loved the characters in this book and felt the friendships were so real and unique. Brilliant. had me gripped to the very last page.

The Nowhere place, part written using a screenplay format and part as a book, investigates the death, in Dover 2016, of two young girls through the testimonies of the only survivor, Jude, and one of the victim’s sister Rose.

Jude and Cali has been friends since childhood, and have lived their life in symbiosis. Between the two Cali was the more outgoing, even if she had mental issues and a really complicated home situation, while Jude kept more to herself.
In 2016, while in the city centre people were busy protesting, they met Mo, an immigrant child from Syria, who was in search of her parents. Cali was heartbroken in seeing this poor shaking child and decided to help her the best way she could, gifting her warm clothes and food and trying to let her feel included and loved. But five months later Cali is found dead and after a few weeks Mo is dead too, while Jude is in a coma.

The book was divided in 10 chapters and gave almost a tv series kind of vibe, which I quite enjoyed. The back and forth between 2016 and 2026, was well orchestrated and It was clear and easy to follow. I just felt it was bit slow paced, even if I found the refugees, immigration and race topics well researched and nicely written.

This Nowhere Place is an interesting and absorbing read — a multilayered, mystery-cum-thriller that addresses provocative themes in an unusual way. But as much as I liked it — and it was very much liked rather than loved — I didn’t quite connect with either the story or the characters.

Tarek is a former Syrian refugee, now documentary film maker, fixated on uncovering the truth about events surrounding the ten year-old mystery of the Dover Girls, in which two teenagers tragically died, and the sole survivor until now has kept her counsel.

The story unfolds in two timelines — then and now — and is told largely through interviews with crippled survivor Jude and her sister Rose, as Tarek films and edits his documentary. This was clever, and I liked it. It held my attention, and I was invested in the story until the end.

So why was I left wanting?

I think Bell simply tried too hard to address too many big topics. The ‘then’ was set in 2016, so we had Brexit, racism and bigotry. Tarek’s back story covered his and his young sister’s horrifying flight from Syria, so we had refugees and asylum seekers. And on top of all that, we had a whole panoply of issues surrounding mental health.

This all led to a narrative that felt fragmented, chaotic and slightly superficial. And a conclusion that frustrated the hell out of me. I needed more, and I didn’t get it. End of.

A page turning thriller, loved the twists an turns, the chracters, very thought provoking....a good reflection on art, family life keeps you thinking.

I was eager to pick up this book as it was described as “A tense, atmospheric and powerful drama for fans of Emma Cline and Jane Harper.” And I love Jane Harper because of how she pulls you into her story. Sadly, I didn’t feel that for This Nowhere Place, as I struggled to connect to the story and its characters.

I loved the documentary-style narrative that is used in places to help tell the story in an interesting way. I also appreciate Natasha Bell’s efforts of using a refugee’s experience to support her story with a fresh and open-minded approach. But I wanted to feel the harsh breeze standing on the cliffs of Dover and taste the salt from the sea winds, and I didn’t feel this atmosphere at all.

This Nowhere Place is most definitely a well-written drama that deals with its issues sensitively. But because the themes are quite heavy and the characters are burdened by grief, jealousy, and guilt, it’s difficult to be compelled by their stories. The story comes together well in the end but I wasn’t gripped by the thriller elements, so I just struggled to remain invested.

The premise for this sounded really good so I was looking forward to reading it. Also at the beginning when it appears it's going to be in a documentary format I was very excited as I love books like that, however, despite the great start I just did not enjoy this book.

The mystery was there definitely, you knew something else had happened that night and I was intrigued to find out what exactly went on. But I just felt it was long winded in places, not very exciting and I kind of had an idea of what probably happened.

I unfortunately ended up skim reading chunks of it. I did manage to finish the book but the ending didn't shock me - it all felt a bit flat.

Sorry but this book just wasn't for me. I love a good mystery / thriller but I thought this was lacking and I didn't warm to any of the characters.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read it!

I really liked Tarek but so many of the other characters seemed flat and uninteresting. The story as a whole left me a bit depressed especially when the time it’s set in has yet to come. Let’s hope for better than this tale predicts.

Excellent book that deals with many issues. Family, friendship, relationships, lies, racism, addiction. All done with sensitivity and all add to make an excellent story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

I loved this. Firstly, Bell draws Dover beautifully. I've never been, but it felt like she knew the place inside out. Secondly, the characters are really well written. Nobody is a saint and nobody is 100% bad, it's all shades of grey. Just the way a well-written thriller/crime book should be.

To me, it felt like This Nowhere Place straddles the line between literary and crime thriller. The socio-political themes of the Refugee Crisis, and how the people of Dover react to it play out really well. It was nice to have some diversity -- LGBTQ and Syrian PoV characters with lots of sides to them -- in a genre that isn't always as diverse as it should be. I really, really couldn't stand June, but that's a credit to the author. I revelled in disliking her :)

Overall, a brilliant book with all the pace and drama of a psychological thriller, and the depth of literary fiction.

I enjoyed this book which moved between past and present as it looked at events surrounding events which left two girls dead and one with life changing injuries.
Tareq - a documentary maker , with a vested interest, attempts to find out what really happened. Interesting to have issues of immigration woven into the story.
I would certainly read other novels by this author.

A clever book that started as one thing =a mystery about an accident years earlier = and morphed into something a lot deeper about friendships, the refugee crisis and so much more.

Characters are numerous but very well formed. The cliffs of Dover are a threat and a danger to them and sadly this is a spot in real life known for suicides and accidents. Sadly apt as the background to the story.

Tales of a local legend, the truth of what happened back then.... very nicely done. And what about the modern day journalist who is digging for the truth. What does he know and who wants to keep his silence?

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

i really did try to like this book but the characters well it wasnt for me sorry i did try.. maybe next time

just not the book for me

I really enjoyed reading This Nowhere Place by Natasha Bell - a fascinating story of the deaths of two girls in the port town of Dover and the investigation by former refugee journalist / documentary maker.

Set 10 years after the Brexit referendum but based on events that occurred at the time of the referendum as former refugee and now documentary journalist Tarek Zayat seeks to tell the story of the deaths of 2 girls and the serious injury of a third girl known as The Dover Girls. As we learn more about Tarek's journey to the UK from Syria, we realise the motivation for this documentary program may not be as originally thought.

This is a fascinating story which exposes the type of difficult journey, conditions and decisions that refugees face trying to find safety for themselves and their families. We also discover some of the unique and wonderful historical features of Dover.

"'Cali hated Dover too. She used to call it a' nowhere place'. She said the only people who ever came here were heading somewhere else.'"

In Dover, in the summer of 2016, set against the backdrop of the European migrant crisis, best friends, wayward Cali and eager-to-please Jude are living their lives amidst xenophobic hostility. Jude with her middle class parents and her nice home and Cali with her drunken mother and older sister, Rose, who has escaped to London. Then Cali and Jude meet 'Mo' a migrant teenager, who needs their help to find her family. As Cali forms a stronger bond with Mo, Jude feels she is losing her best friend to this newcomer. One fateful night the friendship becomes fatal - two of the girls die and one is left with life-changing injuries.

Ten years later, journalist Tarek, himself a refugee from Syria, interviews Rose (now married to Kassia, living in Dover) and Jude (running for mayor) for a documentary about the deaths. But he has an ulterior motive for finding out what happened to 'The Dover Girls' and it's in someone's interest that he never finds out the truth.

Told from multiple perspectives with a then (2016) and now (2026) timeline, this thriller is slow to start, setting the scene. It paints a dismal picture of the divided port town and its residents, with some focus on the experiences of refugees who see the UK as their haven. This has the elements of a twisty psychological thriller, with a political undertone and, through the voice of Tarek, an insight into personal human tragedy but without crossing the line into assuming, that woth our privilege and safety, we can know what it’s like. I struggled to relate to the female characters, found Tarek most relatable, and felt the plot could have been condensed. The present day in the novel is set in the future, so the message of the harm division causes is a timely one. The tense and secretive aftermath of a fatal friendship was worth sticking with for a dramatic conclusion.

My thanks to Netgalley for my copy of The Nowhere Place. Whilst this is a mystery thriller it also touches on many other subjects which are relevant and well done. I know the setting, Dover, quite well and it was honestly portrayed and the characters were all well defined within a believable (sadly) plot. A very good read which left some haunting memories.

This Nowhere Place was set in Dover and told the story of ‘the Dover girls’ - Jude, her best friend Cali and Mo, a refugee. However, 6 months later two are dead and the other left in a wheelchair. Fast forward 10 years when documentary film maker Tarek takes an interest in the story and it’s revealed what really happened. 

This took me a while to get into. I struggled to remember which character was which, and the format took a little getting used to. It was a complex, well-developed plot with several intertwining storylines that fitted together really well. 

The story was told in two timelines - 2016, the year it happened, and 2026, the present day. I loved the switching back and forth as it allowed me to fully immerse myself in the events of then and now. I felt like it flowed through to each timeline well, and it wasn’t difficult for me to keep up with. Although this book had more of a slow burn, it kept me interested by regular reveals and secrets. 

I struggled to keep up with the characters and I often got confused with who was who. However, the major characters were well-rounded, genuine people who I could connect with, especially Cali and Tarek. I loved that Tarek had his own personal reasons for making the film and it allowed me to connect with him and will him to find out what he needed to. 

It definitely kept me guessing and turning the pages. Some reveals were interesting and unexpected, but some (especially the big one) were a little flat and I couldn’t help thinking ‘was that it?’

I was in two minds about the ending - although the key question was answered there were questions left unanswered, and although the point is to come to your own conclusions, I’m not the biggest fan of it. Saying that, I still enjoyed the read and will definitely be reading more from this author in the future. Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book.

I was a bit disappointed as it was a bit boring in places and didn’t really like the characters so wasn’t really bothered what happened I’m sure other readers will like it but not for me thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑮𝒊𝒓𝒍𝒔 . . .

This Nowhere Place - Natasha Bell

𝑻𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒈𝒐, 𝑴𝒐 𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒇 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒊 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑱𝒖𝒅𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚'𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒚𝒆𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒅 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆.
𝑵𝒐𝒘 𝒅𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒓 𝑻𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒎 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒘 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒏, 𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔, 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒑 𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔, 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓.

This is a tense and moving novel, told across timelines and in places episodic script form of the documentary being filmed about the three Dover Girls. This story is as much about the place as the characters, told against the backdrop of the Brexit decision and in our future.

'𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆'𝒔 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅, 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆'𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔, 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆'𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒅𝒚.'

The stories of the Dover Girls are told through the survivor, Jude, Cali’s sister Rose and her partner Kassia and the history of Tarek the filmmaker who is a Syrian refugee. You learn of his experience and his family and it is difficult to read in places

' 𝑯𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏'𝒕.'

Slowly moving back and forth the truth is unravelled. I felt quite an immense weight of sadness reading this book - thoughts of friendships past and of unknown people’s futures and how lucky I am to have had such a safe secure upbringing and although I have had sadness and difficulties in my life, it is nothing compared to others in this world.

'𝒀𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓? 𝑴𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔.'

The web of lies gets bigger and extends and with creeping dread, the horror of what happened and the connection between them all is shocking when you realise the truth.
You realise that your decisions can come back to haunt you. The end is sad and kept me wondering what it must be like for so many struggling to find a new life.

This is a compelling, moving story and will sit with me for some time.

✩✩✩✩

[AD-GIFTED]


Thankyou to @bytashbell @lcnicol @penguinmjoseph @jenlovesreading and #netgalley for having me on this blog tour and for my copy of the book