Nina

by Louise Phillips

A feminist, redemptive crime novel about a woman, Elizabeth, who has never come to terms with the loss of her daughter, who went missing twenty-five years ago, and why she is compelled to go back to the house where her little girl, Nina, disappeared.
 
On the eve of her sixty-first birthday, Elizabeth Harte decides to run away from home, where she is living with her daughter and son-in-law. Elizabeth has experienced deep trauma in her life, including, twenty-five years earlier, the abduction of her other daughter, five-year-old, Nina. As the novel opens, Elizabeth feels both trapped and lost. It’s this deep-seeded unhappiness which pushes her to leave her home to find her daughter, in order to reconcile her present with her past. After running away, she soon crosses path with a young autistic girl called April, and it’s this relationship, alongside Elizabeth’s determination to find her missing daughter, which forge an awakening within her.
        Meanwhile, disgraced detective Nick is revisiting a series of cold cases for the Irish police. His father worked Nina’s case, back in the day, and came up empty-handed, and in despair, took his own life. Soon, young women start to go missing, resulting in a series of murders, with a pattern emerging. When Elizabeth reaches out to Nick to discuss her daughter’s disappearance, he realizes his cold cases are a crucial lead to stopping this killer from striking again.
 
This emotional and page-turning mystery is perfect for fans of Charlie Donlea, and Laura Lippman, and Ashley Flowers.

Genres: Crime

352 pages, Paperback

Published November 18, 2025

About the author

WINNER OF BEST IRISH CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR.
LONGLISTED CWA DAGGER IN THE LIBRARY AWARD.
WINNER IRISH LITERARY AWARD, JACK HARTE AWARD & THE JONATHON SWIFT AWARD

LOUISE PHILLIPS is a bestselling author of seven crime novels, five of which were shortlisted for Best Irish Crime Novel of the Year. Her second novel, THE DOLL’S HOUSE, won the award. She has been longlisted for the CWA Dagger in the Library Award in the UK. Her fifth novel, ‘THE HIDING GAME' was optioned and developed by a major U.S. film company, and her latest novel ‘NINA' will be published in the US & Canada by Union Square & Co in November 2025. She is currently working on her eight novel.

Reviews

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Elizabeth Harte has run away from home. Or rather she has run to her old home in order to solve the mystery of her missing daughter, Nina who was abducted 25 years before while playing hide and seek with sister, Alison.

As Elizabeth tries to unravel what has happened to Nina, DI Nick Matthews is trying to solve the cold case of four missing women which, he begins to suspect, is tied in to the cases of more women who have gone missing recently.

Nina is a psychological thriller that twists and turns as Elizabeth, with help from her young autistic neighbour, April, tries to unravel what has happened to Nina and put her life back together.

The book is divided into three points of view - Elizabeth, DI Matthews, the man who took Nina and that of Isabella, a young woman seeing a hypnotherapist to find out what is behind her own nightmares.

I think where the book fell just short for me was that it just wasn't creepy enough. I loved the parts with Elizabeth and April and Elizabeth's son-in-law is truly horrific but it just fell a bit flat in certain places.

That said, its a good thriller, well written with great characters and I would definitely recommend it.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Union Square & Co. for the advance review copy.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic thriller that kept me hooked from beginning to end! Packed full of suspense.
The pacing was excellent. Fast enough to keep the tension, but also had slower moments to let emotions build and give you time to work out some clues.
I really enjoyed the use of multiple points of view, which added depth and complexity to the story. With each perspective a little bit more was revealed building the story bit by bit.
The characters were great, and I especially loved April. The autism representation was refreshing and it really added to my connection with the story.
I’d recommend this to anyone who loves a good psychological page-turner with heart!
Thank you so much to Louise Phillips, Union Square & Co., and NetGalley for the eARC!

[Stephanie Bull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Harte promised herself she would find out what happened to Nina, her daughter who was abducted twenty five years ago, before her sixty sixth birthday. She has never accepted that Nina was murdered and as Elizabeth's birthday approaches she returns to the street she was living in when Nina was taken. Elizabeth meets with DI Nick Matthews, the son of the detective responsible for trying to find Nina, who is researching the cold cases of four missing women. Nick begins to suspect these cold cases may be linked to a recent abduction. Could there be a connection to NIna?

This gripping psychological thriller is told from multiple points of view; Elizabeth, Nick, Isabella - a young woman who is undergoing hypnotherapy to try and fill in the many gaps in her childhood memories and the abductor himself. In 'Nina' this technique adds depth, intrigue and emotion, allowing the storyline to build at a perfect pace to its final nail biting conclusion. Multi layered with a very clever and compelling plot, I was hooked from the start. The dynamic between Elizabeth and April, an autistic 11 year old living next door to the house Elizabeth is staying at, is a joy and added much to this fabulous story. If you enjoy engrossing psychological thrillers with time to pause and consider the clues, whilst remaining completely enthralled, this is most definitely for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for my advance reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review

[Amanda Webster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Louise Phillips’s Nina is a powerful, redemptive crime novel about a mother searching for her missing daughter twenty-five years later. Elizabeth Harte’s determination to find Nina, despite being dismissed and gaslighted by those around her, makes for a gripping and emotional story. I especially loved her bond with April, a young autistic girl who helps her rediscover connection and purpose. Phillips blends psychological suspense with heartfelt depth, asking what might happen if we truly believed women when they say something’s wrong.

Read my full review here: https://writeontheworld.wordpress.com...

An advance reader copy of this book (ARC) was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[SmuttySamReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review: Nina by Louise Phillips
Louise Phillips's "Nina" is a taut, psychological thriller that delves into the murky waters of memory, trauma, and the insidious nature of secrets. Phillips, an Irish author known for her gripping suspense novels, once again delivers a story that keeps the reader on edge, questioning every character's motive and every twist in the narrative.

The novel centers on Nina, a seemingly ordinary woman whose life is thrown into disarray when a past trauma resurfaces. Phillips masterfully weaves together timelines, slowly revealing fragments of Nina's childhood and the events that shaped her. This non-linear approach is a strength of the book, creating a sense of unease and forcing the reader to piece together the puzzle alongside Nina.

Phillips excels at character development, particularly with Nina herself. We see her vulnerability, her strength, and the deep-seated fear that dictates many of her actions. The supporting cast, while sometimes feeling a little less fleshed out, serves their purpose in propelling the plot forward and adding layers of suspicion. The relationships, particularly those strained by past events, are explored with a nuanced hand, highlighting the long-lasting impact of betrayal and unresolved conflict.

The pacing is deliberate, building tension slowly but steadily. Phillips doesn't rely on cheap jump scares but rather on the creeping dread of psychological suspense. The atmosphere is often claustrophobic, mirroring Nina's internal struggle and the feeling of being trapped by her past. The prose is sharp and evocative, drawing the reader deeply into Nina's troubled mind.

While the plot is intricate and full of red herrings, there are moments where the sheer number of revelations can feel a little overwhelming, and some readers might find the resolution slightly less impactful than the build-up. However, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise compelling read.

"Nina" is a chilling exploration of how the past can haunt the present and how the truth, no matter how buried, eventually finds its way to the surface. It's a recommended read for fans of psychological thrillers who appreciate complex characters and a slow-burn narrative that keeps you guessing until the very end. Phillips once again proves her prowess in the genre, delivering a story that lingers long after the final page is turned.
I got the chance thanks to NetGalley to read an arc copy of this book. I rated it 3.7 stars

[Cleopatra Pullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Louise Phillips’s Nina is a haunting and intricately plotted psychological thriller that explores the long shadows cast by trauma, guilt, and the search for truth. Centered on Elizabeth Harte, a woman whose daughter vanished twenty-five years ago, the novel follows her journey as she leaves behind her life on the eve of her sixty-first birthday to confront the past. Her path intersects with April, a young autistic girl, and Nick, a disgraced detective revisiting cold cases that may be linked to a new series of murders.

The narrative is ambitious in scope and even though every other book has multiple timelines and perspectives, the format of Nina combined this with more complex characters so that I felt that the layered structure required more sustained reading than I had at my disposal. Read in shorter bursts made it harder to keep track of the narrative threads, which at times, disrupted the flow. However what shone through was that the plotting was impeccable and the author maintains control of the story's momentum with remarkable precision.

This is a novel for readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with emotional resonance, Nina offers a rewarding experience, especially when read in longer sittings that allow its intricacies to unfold more fluidly.

[Knabs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, especially because it was tagged as feminist crime fiction. I didn’t find it particularly feminist, as opposed to say, the Keeper by Jessica Moore, except that it centers on the female victim. That focus doesn’t do it much good because the protagonist’s voiceover was often so, so overwrought and repetitive by the end. The author clearly knows an autistic child as some of April’s behaviors were very realistic—the acknowlegdement section reveals that her granddaughter is the model for April—, but it was still strange to have an autistic child play the magical life-affirming role usually reserved for Black people.

Thanks to Union Square & Co and NetGalley for letting me read an ARC. It’s an above average crime thriller, but I can’t see myself picking up another of the author’s books. 3/5 stars for good intentions executed inelegantly.

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully designed book cover and intriguing premise. I love a good Irish crime novel. Unfortunately, I did not end up liking Nina as much as I expected I would. I typically enjoy multiple POVs and find them very effective for crime novels, but I found myself having trouble keeping track of characters and events, and I found the lead up to the big reveal of the main antagonist slightly muddled. However, I absolutely loved the dynamics between Elizabeth and April and following along on their perhaps unlikely friendship. I also very much liked the character of Nick.

Thank you to Union Square & Co. A subsidiary of Sterling Publishing and NetGalley for the advance reader's digital copy. #Nina #NetGalley

[Danielle R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nina by Louise Phillips is a psychological suspense that focuses on Elizabeth, the mother of Nina, who went missing over two decades ago. She’s currently living with her other daughter and her family but has a nagging feeling to continue searching for her daughter Nina. She goes back to the street and the woods where this nightmare began all those years ago. Feeling overwhelmed and lonely she develops an unexpected friendship with a 10 year old girl who lives in the neighborhood. Multiple POVs is a plus but this is a slow burn suspense. It starts to pick up around 40% of the way. It does have some unexpecting moments but overall I felt like the true thrill was missing.

Thanks to NetGalley & Union Square & Co for the ARC.

[Kerry Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nina is an intelligent suspense novel set in Ireland. Elizabeth Harte is a young mother when her child Nina is kidnapped. Years later she renews her search for her daughter and also to reclaim herself. She starts by staying at a friend’s house on the same street as she lived when Nina was taken and befriends and autistic child living next door, This relationship ultimately helps her reclaim her life and focus on her search.. I really liked this author’s unique approach to a serial killer story. I highly recommend this book!

[Mehva · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is mostly a character study of a woman, 60's whose daughter has been missing, presumed by others dead for 25 years. It is told in her voice, as well as other voices, fairly early on we know/guess what is happening, so it is mostly how it gets resolved. It moves slowly, which made it a little hard to read but it was also moving, in particular her relationship with a young girl in the old neighborhood. 3.5

[Carolanne Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns. The story is layered and full of different POVs. I particularly enjoyed getting inside the mind of the killer. I also found the relationship between the main character and the girl entertaining... reminding me of the sometimes strange conversations I have with my own son 💙 I had a tiny suspicion about who the culprit might be, but the ending still managed to surprise me.

[Merkie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that Nina was a well done crime thriller. I really loved the April character and the autism representation. I thought that was so well done and felt very true to life. Where I struggled was with the multiple character POVs. I thought that at times it made the story a little hard to follow. Overall an enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Sarah Bridges · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt that the pacing was off on this one and it did not hold my interest. I did appreciate the short chapters but the jumping of POVs and timelines so frequently made it hard to follow. I loved April and the light heartedness that she brought to some of the heavier topics. Overall it was a slow burn thriller that had a nice twist at the end even though the pacing was hard to follow at times.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Samantha Cosgrove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nina by Louise Phillips is a gripping, feminist psychological crime novel exploring trauma, family secrets, and redemption.
Beautifully written with deeply layered characters and emotional depth, it’s a moving and suspenseful page turner.
Gave Charlie Donlea/Ashley Flowers vibes with maybe a touch of Lisa Jewell.
Worth giving a read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[The Fate Diaries · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still haunted by the abduction of her daughter Nina, Elizabeth runs away from the home she's sharing with her other daughter, Alison and his very sus husband. It's unusual for me to read a story from a lens of an old character, but I think this is one of the reason why this book stands out. In her new home, Elizabeth met her young neighbor, April, an autistic girl which at first she find annoying because she talks a loooot, but of course, eventually adored (as she should, April is a wonderful kid). I also think that April reminds her a lot of Nina, of the daughter she misses.

Parallel to Elizabeth’s journey, detective Nick is pulled into a string of disappearances that is strikingly similar to a case once worked by his late father. As Elizabeth, retraces her steps on a quest for answers, she has to face the demons of her past. With them working together and April, they were able to piece the puzzle of Nina's case and solved it.

Nina centers on grief, motherhood, and healing. An emotionally tragic novel that goes through the hoops of learning and unlearning, dealing with trauma, and living to tell the tale.

💌 what I loved:
- it's complex, written in multiple POVs, and has emotionally layered characters
- a mystery that respects trauma and healing
- the friendship of Elizabeth and April, I like that you can see the contrast with their ages as they interact and learn from one another
- the twists and turns
- that Nina is alive and well, although I suspected it was the case the first few pages in

😢 what's not for me:
- slow pacing with some scenes that felt dragged on and could've been better if it was shorter
- too much telling than showing
- dark themes (e.g. abduction, suicide) which may be triggering for some readers
- too reliant on the drama part which sometimes take away that there's a killer on the loose
- each character has their own misery to deal with, except April
- less suspense as I was expecting



-
I received this ARC from NetGalley

#Nina #NetGalley

[Katie Garibaldi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehhhh, it was fine. Weird sentence structure/grammar - why so many commas and choppy sentences?! The twist was good, but it felt like the whole book was written with one voice, so the multiple character perspectives/timelines made it more confusing.

[Liv · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot I liked about this book in terms of its structure (told from several different character’s perspectives). The end felt heavy handed and preachy. Overall a perfectly enjoyable mystery.

[Kelsey Heffernan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book was entertaining, but did not live up to expectations… Also would have loved more Irish charm.

[Rebecca Vassallo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, unsettling, and impossible to put down.

Nina is one of those psychological thrillers that creeps under your skin and stays there. Louise Phillips has crafted a tense, emotionally charged story that balances suspense with real psychological depth. In my opinion, the pacing is spot-on; slowly tightening the noose before delivering moments that genuinely made my stomach drop.

The character work is particularly strong. Nina is complex, flawed, and compelling, and the exploration of trauma, control, and vulnerability feels authentic rather than sensationalised. Phillips handles heavy themes with care while still keeping the narrative gripping and twisty.

What I loved most was the atmosphere. It felt claustrophobic, ominous, and relentlessly tense. Just when you think you know where the story is heading, it shifts, forcing you to question your assumptions.

A smart, chilling read that proves you don’t need nonstop action to create true suspense. Highly recommended for fans of dark psychological thrillers. I will be buying this for my friend because I know she will be obsessed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Janae McNally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth’s daughter, Nina, was abducted 25 years ago. On the eve of her 61st birthday, Elizabeth decides to leave her other daughter and son-in-law’s home in search of clarity. She takes refuge in a friend’s house just down the street from where Nina disappeared all those years ago. Uncertain why she’s truly there—only knowing she’s deeply unhappy and desperate for answers—Elizabeth connects with Nick, the cold case investigator handling Nina’s case, and meets April, the precocious, autistic 10-year-old who lives next door. Both encounters spark something within her, reigniting her determination not only to keep hoping for Nina’s return but also to rediscover the parts of herself she’s lost along the way.
I was completely swept up in this story and found the characters richly drawn, I especially enjoyed April. The alternating points of view kept the narrative moving at a brisk, engaging pace, and I was fully engrossed from start to finish.
Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.