Quick Synopsis

From the #1 internationally bestselling author of The Murder Rule comes an emotional novel of suspense about two families at war.

Publisher’s Synopsis

Nina and Simon are the perfect couple. Young, fun and deeply in love. Until they leave for a weekend at his family’s cabin in Vermont, and only Simon comes home.

What happened to Nina?

Nobody knows. Simon’s explanation about what happened in their last hours together doesn’t add up. Nina’s parents push the police for answers, and Simon’s parents rush to protect him. They hire expensive lawyers and a PR firm that quickly ramps up a vicious, nothing-is-off-limits media campaign.

How far will his family go to keep hims safe?

Soon, facts are lost in a swirl of accusation and counter-accusation. Everyone chooses a side, and the story goes viral, fueled by armchair investigators and wild conspiracy theories and illustrated with pretty pictures taken from Nina’s social media accounts. Journalists descend on their small Vermont town, followed by a few obsessive “fans.”

How far will her family go to get to the truth?

Nina’s family is under siege, but they never lose sight of the only thing that really matters — finding their daughter. Out-gunned by Simon’s wealthy, powerful family, Nina’s parents recognize that if playing by the rules won’t get them anywhere, it’s time to break them.

Book Review

I have been in a slump (both reading & posting) as of late. Consequently, I have been trying to pick up books that I think will be slam dunks. What Happened to Nina? caught my eye pre-publication and has stayed on my radar since it has become a bit of a bookstagram darling. I borrowed it from Libby (after having a hold for months) hoping it would be my next Nightwatching (aka the best thriller I have read in years). Sadly, I found myself in the small crowd of readers scratching their heads & pondering why everyone else is praising this novel.

What Happened to Nina? is billed as a thriller about a missing woman in which the lead suspect up is her boyfriend. The synopsis also paints a picture of financial stratification between Nina and Simon, suggestion it has a large impact upon the outcomes of the investigation. However, I found this to be an inaccurate summation of the novel, which partially led to ,y disappointment.

What Happened to Nina? can more accurately be described as a suspenseful examination of the impact of one woman’s disappearance on the families of the victim and the perpetrator. It also looks at the impact of wealth (or lack there of) on judicial outcomes in the U.S.

What this novel lacked was tension and suspense. I felt like there was virtually nothing at stake. After all, you know what actually happened to Nina before you are even 50% through the book. By the time I reached the point in which all my questions were answered, I had been bored of reading What Happened to Nina? for hours. I kept driving forward, waiting for the other shoe to drop. I eventually gave up after reading nearly half of the novel and quickly skimmed the end (followed by patting myself on the back that I saved myself from wasting hours finishing it). 

Social class plays a key role in this story, which Nina being from a lower class family and Simon coming from a wealthy one. However, I did not find any new perspective or commentary from this inclusion. It plays out exactly as you see it play out in reality (which I personally find infuriating).

I think I would have been more on board with the narrative if I felt invested in the characters. The way in which McTiernan wrote this story failed to provide the opportunity to become acquainted and invested in either Nina or Simon. If I really liked Nina, I could have seen myself finishing What Happened to Nina? Instead, I felt irritated I had wasted hours on a book that did not pan out.

Overall, I found What Happened to Nina? to be a predictable, unoriginal, and dull novel. I do not think it brings anything new to the table. However, as I mentioned, I seem to be in the minority of readers when it comes to this novel.

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