Nowhere Girl

I had the privilege of reading Ruth Dugdall's first book, Humber Boy B, and goodness gracious, I couldn't wait to start this one! The story starts off with the disappearance of a 17 year old girl. One would think that the police would be much more eager to investigate the disappearance, but somehow they seem quite lukewarm about it.
In comes Cate, and she soon finds that all is not what it seems.
This book was such an entertaining treat, I was quite upset to finish it!

I saw that one of my book buddies was reading this the same time as myself, so we agreed to read it together.

Ruth Dugdall only came to my attention after reading Humber boy B which just blew me away. So when her PA asked me if I would like a proof copy of her coming new book Nowhere Girl, I jumped at the chance. I saw it was on Net Galley too and was sent a widget. So I decided to read it on my trusty Kindle.

This starts with a trip to the fairground. Not just any fairground, its the Schueberfouer Luxembourg’s annual event. Its something everyone looks forward to.

Ellie's mother is a close friend to alcohol. And she had been drinking on this occasion too when at the fair with her two daughters.

Ellie goes missing, but we don't panic at first as we hear that she has gone missing before when staying over at her boyfriends without her parents knowledge.
Ellie was told to 'dump' her boyfriend and her Iphone was taken from her. To a teenager, this would be like taking their life blood away from them, they are connected to their Iphone.

But Ellie has gone missing .....again. At the fair.
We are seeing different characters around the fair so we are not sure who is connected and who is not to whom.

We just aren't sure who is tangled up in the plot.

We meet Cate too, she has moved here with her boyfriend. Cate used to be a Probation Officer. Good at her job, but for reasons and personal reasons she has moved with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend Olivier is a Detective and we see how he becomes enmeshed in all of this as the story unfolds.

We meet Amina and Jodie also connected. Just how they are connected, you will see.

There are some dodgy things going on here seemingly to be hidden behind a beauty salon to get your nails done or get a tan. Very mysterious.

This author really does a fantastic job as pulling the reader right into the web.

Ellie's father is of high standing so.......has she been kidnapped for a ransom?
Her Mother is distraught with worry.
Her little sister just wanted Ellie to take her on a fairground ride.

Cate gets involved with the case in more ways than one.

I loved how each chapter was allotted to a character and told what was happening for each of them.
Well laid out. I could follow it with ease.

I just don't know where this author gets her stories from but after Humber boy B I bought other of her books, now that I have read this one too, I am just so awaiting each book she write. I don't think this author could write fast enough for me and without ***Legend Press *** I may not have come upon her. Or at least it may have taken me some time

So my thanks go to the author [who I am in contact with] and her PA, plus Legend Press and Net Galley for my advanced copy which I will treasure for a life time.

This is truly a top rate read.

Did you read Humber boy B?
Well, this is awesome too.

Probation officer Cate Austin and her daughter have moved in with Cate’s lover, police detective Oliver Massard. This is not move Cate made lightly, she cares a great deal for Oliver. She does, however, take issue with the way he’s treating the disappearance of 17 year old Ellie, a young woman the police believe is a runaway. But Cate’s instincts and the facts surrounding the case lead her to believe otherwise. Luxembourg is not the safe haven she believed; her own investigation points to a possible child trafficking ring. Determined to find the girl, Cate puts herself at risk, and not necessarily from the source she expected. This book is not for the faint of heart, the beginning is every parent’s worst nightmare. A roller coaster ride from start to finish

Good concept and well written, though I felt it was ended in a hurry.

I really enjoyed reading through this book, particularly the very big unexpected twist. In some ways with current humanitarian events it is even more poignant and devastatingly accurate what the girls in this book encounter. I would recommend this book

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in return for an honest review. Here is the blurb

"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"

I read Humber Boy B by the same author a few months before and was sucked in and blown away by the story and therefore had high expectations for this book which follows the life of Cate Austin, probation officer after she moves in with the new boyfriend in Luxembourg. The story got off to a slightly slow start but soon picked up the pace with a big reveal close to the middle of the book. As the story came to a climax I found myself screaming in my head at the characters in the book to change their course of action and definitely got sucked in again to a great story.

I think I would give this book ideally 4.5 stars as I enjoyed Humber Boy B so much I did find myself comparing this story to it and finding myself enjoying that one slightly more. Having said that a great read, shocking and tragic with many themes running through it. I would have liked a little more closure at the end of the story but maybe there will be another book with Cate in...? Will look forward to it if there is!

This book starts at the fairground a trip with her mother and sister.Ellie wanted to go with her boyfriend Joe but her mother said no and had taken Ellie's phone away from her because of what she had done before.
That nigh Ellie goes missing but she has done this before when staying over at her boyfriends Joe's house so they at first thought it was something like that but time ticks on and Ellie doesn't return.

We meet Cate who lives with her boyfriend Oliver who is a Detective assigned to the case of Missing Ellie but Cate also gets involved.
Ellie's mother is worried sick and her dad Achim who is in a high precision in his job wonders is it a kidnapping.
The story is told from points of views from different characters you also get to meet Jodi and Amina who is part of the story.

A great book couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next raced through the book the story was brilliant it all came together nicely. I have never read anything by this Author before but I will be getting the others Ruth has written I like her style of writing.

Thank you Ruth Dugdall Netgalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book.

Ellie has reached the age of a rebellious teenager and is looking for some excitement. Unfortunately it is a case of ‘be careful what you wish for’, as she is abducted by human traffickers on the first day of Schueberfouer, the annual Luxembourg city funfair. But despite her mother’s frantic requests for help finding her, the police do not seem to be in much of a hurry to investigate Ellie’s disappearance. When Cate is made aware of the problem, she steps in to help and soon finds herself getting involved in something that is far beyond her capabilities as an amateur sleuth.
This is an interesting novel because of the way it is told through the experiences of the four female protagonists, Ellie, Bridget (Ellie’s mother), Cate Austin and Amina (brought illegally to Luxembourg to work in a beauty parlour by human traffickers). Each perspective adds a subtle layer to the story as it progresses and more is revealed about the developing situation or the respective backstories of the characters.
Cate’s amateur blundering, fuelled by her maternal concern, gives a sense of authenticity to the narrative as well as an uncomfortable sense she is going to get herself into real trouble. Her developing relationship with her boyfriend, the police detective Olivier Massard, also rings true with regards to being a woman who has moved, along with her young daughter, to another country to start again. Bridget’s erratic descent into despair and emotional instability is very effective. But it is the quiet strength of the naïve and very moral Amina that makes you feel you would like to know how she gets on once the book is finished. Ruth Dugdall is very good at building and loosening the tension, but never quite allowing the reader the comfort of complete relaxation until a very satisfying, but surprising end.

Nowhere Girl is a story with many layers and distinct parts, all intersecting and colliding along the way. The pace is steady and kept me engaged throughout.

Ruth Dugdall's writing pulls us right into the midst of the characters' world. I felt the fear, the anger, the confusion, and the hope. This ability to identify with emotions makes for a compelling read.

I did have some problems with this one. First, I thought the story lacked a main character. I expected that role to belong to Cate, and to some extent it did. But I felt that her part was often overshadowed by the many narrating characters and separate stories within the larger plot. This isn't a big issue, though I think it's worth mentioning because this can sometimes cause a disconnect with readers.

The biggest issue for me personally was with tense choices, present or past, and whether to use third or first person narration. For example, Amina's character begins in the traditional third person, past tense. Her character narration later changes to third person, present tense. Then suddenly it switches again to first person, present tense. Cate's character starts in third person past and later switches to third person present. I found the inconsistency jolting. I kept trying to work out a reason for these changes, but there simply wasn't one.

Despite my complaints, there is no denying the appeal of this book. The plot provides us with some brilliant twists and much to think about.

Ruth Dugdall's latest book, The Nowhere Girl, picks up from Where Humber Boy B ended. Cate has given up her job as a probation officer to move to Luxembourg. New man, new country, no job and a totally different setting. It's a brave step for any author to change from the familiar, but Ruth's writing creates a strong sense of place, so the locations and cross border events work really well.

The story centres on the abduction of a teenage girl from an annual funfair. It's a huge event, bright lights, noise, crowds and the perfect setting for darker activities which include human trafficking and prostitution. The dark underbelly of the picture perfect country is exposed in a tense tale of divided loyalty, misplaced trust and betrayal.

Ruth's characters have real depth. I found it easy to visualise a diverse range of people; European teenagers seduced by the bright lights and freedom, middle Eastern girls sold to a life of enslavement, shady middle men and more. The story has a strong sense of reality and it's clear that the fiction is woven around stark and deeply unsettling fact. The motivations of each character work well and Cate's presented with a number of moral dilemmas which she tackles with both honesty and integrity. Well paced throughout, it's a compelling read.

This is a series which is going from strength to strength. My thanks to the publisher, Legend Press, for an early review copy via Netgalley.

I was delighted to be given chance to read this latest book by Ruth Dugdall as I absolutely loved The Woman Before Me and Humber Boy B. If you enjoy psychological suspense novels and haven’t given these a go yet, you really must.

Once again Nowhere Girl did not disappoint. I loved this book from start to finish. An entirely compelling read with believable characters and many twists and turns along the way.
Cate Austin is a brilliant main character and I cannot wait to see what's in store for her next. Recommended for anyone who likes to absorb themselves into a well-written story.
Thank you.

Nowhere Girl (the fourth book in the series)follows on from Humber Boy B and I strongly recommend that you read that first before starting this one.

Cate, still dealing with the aftermath of her last case and attempting to avoid the up coming court case in her personal life is now in Luxembourg. Living with her boyfriend Olivier and daughter Amelia, Cate is acting the part of a housewife, a role which doesn't seem to fit well with her. When teenager Ellie goes missing, Cate finds it difficult not to get involved even when she knows Olivier is handling the case and he refuses to discuss it with her. The lack of progress or interest Olivier appears to be showing frustrates Cate into thinking the police are simply taking this as a runaway and are not interested in finding out what has happened to Ellie.

The story is told through the eyes of Cate as she struggles to adapt to her new start, Ellie as she attempts to cope with what is happening to her, the mother who keeps blaming herself and Amina an illegal immigrant who has recently arrived in Luxembourg.

Amina is an interesting character, full of compassion for others but lacks any proper life skills. We follow her as she is smuggled across the boarders and eventually into Luxembourg with her sights set on getting an education. You can't help but feel for her and what lies ahead.

Ruth Dugdall has yet again produced an excellent book which will lead you on a rollercoaster of emotions. With surprises both good and bad along the way.

Thanks to Legend Press for sending me a copy of this book.

I think this was a sharp look at the sex trade in our day and age and also the "twist" for the book was a bit predictable but still added a needed layer to the story. I would definitely recommend this read and would suggest this to people who like thrillers and crime fiction.

I have read all of the authors previous books in this series and enjoyed every one. With what happened at the end of the previous book I was mildly concerned how the author would pick up in the next book and I have to say that some of my concerns ending up being valid.

Cate has left England and her job in the Probation Service and moved, with her daughter, Amelia, to Luxembourg to be with her policeman boyfriend Olivier.
One day, the sister of one of Amelia's friends disappears from the fair and, frustrated by the seemingly lack of interest from the police (yes Olivier too), Cate inveigles herself into the investigation.
All appears reasonably straightforward with the crime at the beginning of the book, and you think you know where it is going but then, something is revealed that turns this whole thing on its head and what you thought you knew, you really didn't! But, what you thought you knew is still in the mix. Oh it's hard to explain without spoilers but the gist of the matter is, it will keep you interested and guessing and on your toes throughout.
As with all this author's books, there are some great characters and you really get to meet them properly as they are well fleshed out. Pacing is good, the style of writing easy to follow and the balance between description/action is good. My only issue is this, and it is just a me thing, not the author's fault at all, but I liked Cate being a Probation Officer. It was a different spin on the crime books I usually read being either Police Procedurals or Amateur Sleuths and so I personally am disappointed that this spin on this has gone from the series. And, to be honest, I don't like the new Cate as much as the old one! Hopefully, Cate's personal circumstance changes and she rejoins the Service... soon...

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: NOWHERE GIRL by Ruth Dugdall

When I read Ruth Dugdall's HUMBER BOY B, its depth and complexity amazed me. In NOWHERE GIRL, the author brings that to a new setting, Luxembourg, almost at Europe's geographic center. Known for its low crime rate, the city nonetheless has its perils, including nearness to human trafficking routes. Former English probation officer Cate Austin has relocated with her daughter Amelia, to live with police detective Olivier Massard. Whenthe seventeen-year-old sister of Amelia's school friend disappears at the fair, Cate determines to uncover the girl---and the truth.

teh twists and turns in this story, really, of motherse and daughers - families and vulnerable children is utterly gripping - i found i was closing my eyes, fearful of what would happen next - and then reading through slitted eyes ready to close them if it got too rough. Dugdall shifts voices among the women - mother of a school friend who's been bullied in this provincial school they all attend - the victims, all young girls thwarted of futures and of choice, and the twisted scheme of one mother to get her own way, and to teach her rebeliious daughter behavior - abuse at home is endemic in this world and there are few entirely innocent people, except for the young people - who get old at a very young age. Really top flight read - and y ou will speed through.

This is the second of Ruth Dugdall's book that I have read. I read Humber Boy B earlier this year and it blew me away. I was offered Nowhere Girl to read in exchange for an honest review.

Nowhere Girl is a haunting story of life in Luxembourg City focused around immigrants to the country both legal and those illegally trafficked. The book focusses around Cate, a British ex-probation officer who as recently left her job to move with her French policeman boyfriend to Luxembourg. Although this follows on from the previous book, Humber Boy B and I believe these are books 4 and 5 of a series in which Cate is the main character, I have not felt like I was missing out on anything by not reading the full set. In fact, I didn't realise they were a series as the background to Cate, and Olivier her boyfriend, is written so well in each book that you don't feel you have missed anything while equally you don't get bored with repetition of scenarios from earlier books.

My overwhelming feeling while reading this was sadness. Sadness over the bleakness of life for illegal immigrants, as well as for the other characters. The book is dark and haunting, secrets and twists take you on a journey through the underworld of Luxembourg but this could be the underworld of any city. Driven by strong female characters, the book is both a tale of the huge risks taken to improve your life, the results of decisions both good and bad and the strength of women to overcome their situation - in fact Amina, Auntie, Ellie, Jodie, Cate and Bridget's stories are similar and yet so different. All out of place in a strange country, all unsure of their place in that world and all with limited ability to deal with it. Interestingly, I didn't like Cate as much in this book as I had in Humber Boy B but I can't put my finger on why.

Sinister, dark and haunting this is a book that I woke up this morning thinking about, even though I finished it yesterday. Definitely recommended.

Thanks to Jessica at Legend Press who sent my copy for review.

Actual rating 3.5 stars.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this author as I haven't read any from her before. And if I'm totally honest I'm not sure, even now, what I feel about the book. Maybe it's because it didn't go quite how I expected it to go, or maybe the style of writing and the characters weren't for me.

The story itself is told from various points of view which didn't quite work for me at first. Once the story started getting further in, and I got used to the writing style, I started to enjoy reading it.

There were a lot of twists and turns which turned this story into something I didn't expect. I loved the final few pages as it gives the promise, I believe, of something more in the future from this story.

I may read something more from this author in the future to try and get a feel for her style.

ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

This is the second book I have read by Ruth Dugdall. I loved the first, Humber Boy B, and I wasn't disappointed with this book. This is a follow on and finds cate with her daughter Amelia now living with Olivier in Luxemburg.

Whilst at the fair, Ellie who is with her mother and younger sister, is kidnapped. Police don't believe her mother as she had gone missing earlier on but turned up by herself unharmed. The police believe that she had run off because she had had an argument with her mother about a boy and had also been seen being slapped by her mother at the fair.

Cate gets involved because Amelia has made friends with Gaynor, Ellie's younger sister. Amelia is also upset and becomes frightened because her school teacher has started to teach the class self defence lessons making Amelia worry that she is no longer safe in Luxemburg.

Like Humber Boy B this story has many threads and keeps flashing back to scenes that at first don't seem to have any connection to the main story but as you read further into the book the threads begin to weave together, enlightening the reader. There are some lovely twists.

Whilst reading this I also began to wonder about Olivier and his detecting abilities.

Though the story centres around Cate, her boyfriend, Olivier Massard, is an integral part of the story as he is the detective brought in to investigate the case. At first I wondered about his abilities but as the story unravels he is shown to have a bit more about him than that at first thought. I find Olivier an enigmatic character and would love to learn more about him and his detective abilities.

All in all a thoroughly good read and I would recommend it highly. Look forward to reading the next book by the author.

Having recently read Humber Boy B I was looking forward to this book, I wasn't disappointed either. An easy read.

Ellie, a rebellious teenager, goes missing on the first day of a big annual fair in Luxembourg. She is supposed to have gone on the ride with her younger sister, but has disappeared.
Initially the police dismiss it as a teen prank, and don’t take it seriously, but her mother is convinced she has been abducted. There is another story developing in parallel, of a young girl who is escaping to Europe from Algeria and from a fundamental Muslim group. The description of her journey was harrowing. It makes one realise how desperate people must be, to put their lives into the hands of strangers.
The book has sections, each one day, and within these sections there are several narrators.
Ellie, the girl; Bridget, her mother; Cate, an Englishwoman, just moved to Luxembourg; Amina, the Algerian girl.
The reader knows what has happened to Ellie, and can see how the two stories are coming together, which increases the tension. The description of Bridget’s sense of loss and impotence is heart-rending, as is Ellie’s feeling of abandonment.
The stories come together in a shocking conclusion.

I enjoyed the book, and would recommend it.
I haven’t read any other Cate Austin books, but I will look out for them now.

Thanks to Netgalley and Legend Press for this book.

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.

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 DugdallRuth, 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.

Another great read from Ruth Dugdall! I love Cate in Humber Boy B so I was really delighted to get this book from Netgallery and I was not disappointed.

When the wayward teenager sister of her daughter's friend disappears at the fair Cate wonders who and what is behind her disappearance. Having recently moved to Luxembourg to be with her boyfriend Olivier, Cate finds it hard to be on the sidelines.

This story moves at a fine pace and the interesting characters help to keep the pages turning. I really enjoyed this five star read- I do think Cate needs to ditch Olivier though!

Another five star read from Ruth . Cates life take stir from probation officer to Luxembourg but after a girl goes missing can she keep to being a housewife ? The continuing story of cate and another thriller to keep you guessing makes this another great book in the series . Highly recommended

Interesting and relevant to current events. I like the way the author shows the shades of gray in people's behaviour rather than portray people as 'good or bad' and the twists also keep the plot flowing. It makes you see both perspectives however some of the characters such as Malik weren't as developed as others and it was a shame that we didn't get to see outcomes for some of the other characters.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an open and honest review.
The main character in this book is called Cate Austin and she is a former probation officer. Following events in a previous book (Humber Boy B) Cate and her daughter have moved to Luxembourg to be with Cate’s boyfriend Olivier Massard, who happens to be a police officer. The sister of her daughter’s friend goes missing from the first day of the Schueberfouer. The police do not appear to have taken the disappearance seriously so against the wishes and without the knowledge of her boyfriend, Cate takes it upon herself to begin her own investigation. Her own covert investigation opens up a whole can of worms, with some surprising disclosures.
In my opinion this book was really well written and well structured. The story is narrated from the point of view of three people, Cate, Bridget (the mother of the missing girl) and Amina, who at first glance is not related to the case but she soon becomes involved.
Ruth’s books are certainly thought provoking and she is not afraid to tackle difficult subjects. Ruth clearly draws from her wealth of experience as a probation officer. Subjects tackled include child exploitation (highly topical in today’s society), child/ people trafficking, mental illness, slavery, the sex industry.
This book is full of twists, turns & red herrings. I found this book to be a stomach churning read with plenty of shocking moments. The story started fairly slowly but much like a snowball going down a hill, it gathered pace until matters came to a head in a dramatic & terrifying conclusion.
The characters in this book were largely likeable. I took to Cate straight away. She wants to be loyal & supportive to her boyfriend but she can’t stand by while the police are apparently doing nothing to search for a missing young person. Cate wants to be her own person and right perceived wrongs. In my opinion Cate seemed a bit lost in this book, much like a spare part. She tried to find a role for herself and she needed to feel useful. Cate’s boyfriend, Olivier was likeable but very secretive, although in his line of work he has to be.
I did enjoy this book and look forward to further books in the Cate Austin series. I hope Cate finds her place and secures a job, which makes her feel useful.

My latest reading experience took me to a country I knew little about – Luxembourg. It is true that armchair travel is very rewarding! In this novel the reader gets to see the darker side of a beautiful European city.

“Nowhere Girl” is the story of a missing teenage girl. The reader gets to experience the story from all points of view: the girl’s, her parent’s, the police…

Ellie Scheen - like most other teenage girls - is having difficulty getting along with her mother. Friction ensues over Ellie’s choices. In a pique of rebellion Ellie disobeys her mother. The last time she is seen is near a Ferris wheel at the Schueberfouer.

Bridget, her mother, thinks that Ellie should be more responsible and be more aware of life’s dangers. She wants to teach her a lesson…

Bridget was once a nurse with Doctors without Borders. She has seen many horrors and misses the high adrenaline feeling of being needed. Her husband, Achim has been transferred to Luxembourg and sadly she cannot work as a nurse there because she lacks the necessary language skills. Now she is a stay-at-home Mom which makes her restless and bored.

This is also the story of Amina. Amina’s mother has saved and saved and finally has purchased Amina’s escape from Tizi Ouzou, Algeria, where there has been Islamic unrest. Amina’s brother Samir, now the head of the family, is displaying radical tendencies. A man named “Uncle Jak” has arranged for many to leave the city and Amina’s mother trusts him to get her daughter out – and away from Samir. He returns to Algeria twice a year and takes the eldest child of some families away, for a better life. Amina and another girl from Algeria have been brought to Luxembourg by “Uncle Jak”. They are living above a beauty salon. Life in Luxembourg is not what they expected – to say the least. They are virtual prisoners…

Finally, there is our protagonist, Cate. A former British probation officer, she has recently moved to Luxembourg with her daughter to live with her boyfriend who is a Luxembourg police detective. Cate (most recently in the author’s “Humber Boy B“) has also escaped her dysfunctional family by moving to Luxembourg. Her father is on trial in England for abusing her sister.

Cate’s boyfriend, Olivier, is in charge of the missing persons investigation into the disappearance of Ellie Scheen. Cate is torn between her loyalty to Olivier and her friendship with Bridget. Bridget is desperate for her daughter’s return. She begins writing a letter to her daughter not knowing if Ellie will ever get to read it. In the letter she reveals her own personal thoughts and secrets – communication with her daughter that may be ‘too little, too late”.

When the fates of Ellie and Amina intersect, the story’s tension ratchets up yet another notch. Both girls were very sympathetic characters, as was the little boy who lives in the house with them.

A novel about the guilt and sacrifice that comes with being a good parent, how dysfunction breeds dysfunction, how abuse and love can co-exist, and most of all the variations and permutations of ‘family’, this thriller ticks all the boxes. An interesting setting coupled with well drawn – though damaged – characters ensures an enjoyable – though disturbing – read. Recommended for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers.

I am a fan of Ruth Dugdall and her latest book didn't disappoint. I enjoyed reading about Cate Austin in a different environment and seeing a slightly different side of her. As with all Ruth Dugdull's books, this story was dark, sad and disturbing in places, but as always, kept my attention throughout. I'd like to thank Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.

I'm really in two minds about this book. If I hadn't read Humber Boy B I think it would have got four stars but I'm afraid I did and enjoyed it very much and Nowhere Girl suffered in comparison. One plus was the setting. I have never been to Luxembourg but I feel I know more about it now. The scenes at the fair were beautifully descriptive and atmospheric. The plotline/s themselves were excellent too, a kidnapped young girl, people trafficking (from both points of view interestingly) and a bored ex-probation officer who can't help but try and find her friends daughter. Unfortunately they didn't really gel together for me. I found the whole big first twist completely unbelievable and (without giving too much away) couldn't really accept the medical details either.
That said it was a good read and I enjoyed it as a bit of light reading but I didn't get invested in it like I did with Humber Boy B.

I was pleasantly surprised by my introduction to Ruth Dugdall. I wasn't sure a novel on a child trafficking ring would hold my attention. I'm so glad I gave this one a chance. Cate, who is taking a break from her career in the probation department, moved to Luxembourg for a fresh start with her detective boyfriend, Oliver. When a young girl from her daughter's school disappears, she can't help but dive into the investigation. She vowed to live a calm, relaxing life but the probation officer in her believes that Oliver isn't taking this case seriously enough. Cate teams with Ellie's teacher and her mother to find Ellie before it's too late.

I loved the alternating perspectives in this book. The author did a fantastic job of bringing you into the lives of all of the different characters. In the end, there is one character that I felt was left with no closure. I have no idea what happened to her in the end and I wished that there was a small statement on where her life would go from here. Ultimately, however, I loved this book and I highly recommend it. I'll be looking for more by this author in the future.

I received this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley.com, to Legend Press, and to Ruth Dugdall.

Cate Austin is now in unfamiliar territory. Having given up her job in the probation service and now living in Luxembourg, she is concerned at the disappearance of a young girl. This was definitely different to the previous books I have read by this author, but the character of Cate Austin is still brilliant.

When I read Humber Boy B earlier this year I found it very difficult to read. Not due to the style of writing or characters, just because of the storyline.
I found this follow up novel Nowhere Girl to be much better. Cate has moved with her young daughter to live with her partner Olivier in Luxembourg. When a teenage girl goes missing at a large fair the police don't take it seriously much to Cate's disgust. Olivier is one of the police officers looking into the disappearance and he refuses to discuss any part of the investigation with her. Struggling with the language barrier she along with Bridget, the mother and Eva a teacher start their own investigation. Taking place at the same time is another story that concerns two teenagers Amina and Jodie. They have both been smuggled into the country from Algeria for the chance of a 'better life in Europe'. However it is not the life that they and probably their families ever imagined. The two stories merge, events from the past are revealed and things become more desperate. There is a lot covered in the novel. People trafficking, abduction, child abuse and illness and it made a good read. I am reluctant to say too much about how they are covered because it would be easy to reveal too much. I would have liked to seen an outcome for everybody who features in the novel, there were a couple of characters I really liked. However we may, hopefully see them in future novels. I enjoyed reading about Luxembourg, a country I know nothing about and much to my shame I had to google it to find out where it actually is. It would work as a standalone but there aspects of Cate's family life that wouldn't mean anything if you hadn't read the earlier books. Nothing is revealed about why certain events mentioned in the book are taking place but if you know what they are you understand her more.
With thanks to Jessica at Legend Press for the copy received for review.

Great read! Highly Recommend!

Well, I live in Luxembourg, hence the reason for this one. I enjoyed the book, but was in fact slightly disappointed as I felt that since I know the places referred to, it in fact detracted from the book than added to it. But in fairness, I think this is entirely personal and not a reflection on the quality of the book, or the story itself.

A solid book and a solid read.

An enjoyable book with a twist on current issues.

This book was full of twisty turns . Was very well written about a missing girl Ellie . I found this book to be very moving and compelling . I give this book 4 stars

Nowhere Girl by Ruth Dugdall

When Ellie goes missing on the first day of Schueberfouer,
the police are dismissive, keen not to attract negative attention on one of Luxembourg’s most important events.
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.

what I say

 nowhere girl is a really good book that I did found some parts of it  a bit horrible to read I find it so gripping  and the characters were very deep so was the plot it had lots of twist and  turns The plot will gripp you and hook you as you soon as you start to read I will say sometimes I  was not sure who I wanted to trust and  who I should trust were you the same ? A few of  characters  I did not like then other  you just got inside the head most of the characters are very strong and very deep
 I felt  for them The plot deep it  got abductions child abuse child illness and trafficking Amina and Jode story Hook  me is very interesting to read about each of them  each chapter  tells you about a character at the more you soon get to know them so well it a very well written  book  and very easy to read I did enjoy this book you could tell a lot of research had be done

 Thank you netgalley for letting me read and review 4 dolls

About the Author Ruth Dugdall worked as a Probation Officer for almost a decade in high security prisons in the Suffolk area. Now living in Luxembourg, she is currently working at a local prison. Ruth has years of experience working with children who have been convicted of murder, having been based at one of the UK's 3 prisons that specialise in this area. Ruth's writing is heavily influenced by her professional background, providing authenticity and credibility to the crime genre.

When Ellie goes missing from a fair, the police feel it is just another runaway teenager case. When Cate realizes this, she can't help but get involved. The only issue, her boyfriend is the police officer in charge of the case. While secretly investigating, Cate comes across the dark side of Luxembourg and gets herself in a little too deep. Can she find Ellie before it's too late?

This book is told from many different view points. To begin with, not all of the characters view points made sense as to why we were hearing from them, but it all came together nicely by the end of the book. This book started a little slow for me, but it really picked up about halfway through. Once it did, it was very difficult to put the book down. This book will take you on an emotional ride and the twists left me heartbroken.

A big thanks to Legend Press and Net Galley for the review copy.

I am a big fan of Ruth after reading all the books in the Cate Austin series, I think they are fresh and new books. I had read Humber Boy B earlier this year and thought it would be a hard stretch to top that book which blew me away. Nowhere Girl was really enjoyable with a good plot and held my interest but just missed out on that fifth star that I had given to Humber Boy B.

The plot in this book was really quite shocking and tackles the issues of human and sex trafficking which is now one of the most profitable organised crime issues in our world today, it's very real, it's happening everywhere and it's just really horrific. This book brings the terror of that home. You will not believe how it all comes about.

I was hooked in from the start of the book and found Ellie's character was really well done and explored in this book, I really felt a lot of different feelings for this young lady from annoyance to empathy, she is a stand-out in the book. The book changes perspective between what is happening to Ellie after her disappearance and how Cate gets involved at a family level and gets drawn into the case whether she likes it or not. The plot is not as predictable as it might seem at first and there were some real shock moments in it for me. I find that a lot in Ruth's writing, she has a knack of suddenly creating a scene that can really shake you up.

This one just missed out on 5 stars but totally a 4 star read and very much recommended, if you are a fan of this series you won't be disappointed by Nowhere Girl and will be hanging on to the end of the book to find out what happens to Ellie and Cate. A great read of 2015.

A disturbing story of a mother’s twisted mind

Ellie, her younger sister Gaynor and mother Bridget Scheen, have gone to a fair at Schueberfouer, Luxembourg. Bridget gets hysterical when Ellie disappears, and after finding her, slaps her in front of a crowd of onlookers. Then, having agreed to go for a ride with her sister, Ellie disappears once again and this time Bridget can’t find her. She really has disappeared this time.

“Uncle” Zak has smuggled Amina from Tizi Ouzou so that she can have a better life in Europe. She is just one of the young people he brings with him to Luxembourg on this particular journey. She’s housed with his wife, young son and a girl who has changed her name to Jodie to fit into the European way of life. Every morning a van comes to collect Jodie, dressed up in special outfits while Amina stays behind to help Zak’s wife in the beauty shop attached to the house.

Cate Austin and her young daughter Amelia have moved to Luxenbourg to join Olivier Massard, a police detective. Cate and Amelia were also at the fair the night Ellie disappeared, and as Gaynor is in the same class as Amelia, Cate finds herself involved in the crisis. She becomes increasingly aware that Olivier thinks that somehow Ellie’s mother is hiding the true story of what happened the night of her disappearance.

This story is told through a complex group of people. Each one has their own unique place in the tale, but are all essential to the final result; will they get Ellie home?

I think I’m still pondering the effects this book has had on me, which is good, because it means that I haven’t read it, reviewed it and moved on to something else. So why three stars? I found the characters far too shallow and too predictable. I think the only one I could even vaguely like was Amina; the young girl taken from her homeland to face life as an illegal in Europe. Her innocence and caring nature are the qualities that held this book together for me.

Sorry Ruth Dugdall, this just didn’t do it for me although it DID make me wonder about how far a mother’s disturbed mind would impact on those around her.
Treebeard

I'm not sure if it's a good sign or a bad sign that I didn't recognise that this was a series - or that I've read two of the three previous books. But, I did remember the author name, and I remember being fairly affected by one of her books (Humber Boy B, the first book of hers I read). So for what it's worth, I basically read this book without any prior expectations for the characters (the story though, I had expectations).

Anyway, Nowhere Girl is supposed to be the fourth book in the Cate Austin series, but this time, set in Luxembourg. And as it has come to be, the case is what steals my attention, not Cate (no wonder I didn't realise this was a series). Anyway, during an annual fair called Schueberfouer, a girl called Ellie goes missing. At first, the police thinks it's just a simple case of a teenager running away, but obviously, it isn't so simple.

And as I've come to expect, the book proceeded in a way that I didn't expect. I had thought this was going to be about illegal immigrants and human trafficking (and it was about illegal immigrants, to a smaller extent), but it turned out to be very much more about relationships. There was a twist, but it was revealed earlier than the climax, so I wouldn't really say that it was this huge moment. Rather anti-climatic, actually. (Also, the reason why this was a long, extended kidnapping felt rather forced to me)

For me, I enjoyed reading the sections concerning Ellie (there are a two POVs, one for her, and one for one of her 'captors'). I probably felt the most for her, because she did not ask for any of this. She's really a victim here. The other POV, Amina, was equally sympathetic.

However, the ending was particularly satisfying. It was definitely better than Humber Boy B, because there was some form of closure, but not for everyone. It seems like some of the participants in the crime were written off because of their background, and had no ending or seemed to escape punishment. Personally, I wanted to see the boy that betrayed Ellie in jail, but I have no idea what happened to him. The only people on the 'criminal' end that I felt for were the women, and the little boy, to be honest. I thought the rest should have been thrown into jail. Ok, no more or I might give away some spoilers.

Overall, the novel was intriguing. Even though it went in a different direction that I expected, the story was still pretty intense. I really liked Ellie's sections (and the sections concerning here), and the Cate sections were pretty decent too.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a free and honest review.