The Nowhere Girls

by Carmel Harrington

From the bestselling author of The Stolen Child and The Lighthouse Secret comes a gripping new novel about two abandoned sisters, a missing mother and a shocking twenty-five year old mystery.

On a cold afternoon in December 1995, two small girls are found abandoned on a platform at Pearse Station in Dublin, Ireland.

Twenty-five years later, investigative journalist Vega is determined to find out what happened to the so-called 'Nowhere Girls'. Where did their mother go? Why did no one come forward to claim them? And where are they now?

Little does Vega know that her investigation will reveal much more than she bargained for . . .

Praise for Carmel

'This complex novel requires faultless plotting, and Harrington pulls it off with consummate ease' SUNDAY TIMES

'One of the greatest twists I've ever read' CATHERINE RYAN HOWARD

'An addictive, immersive, incredibly poignant page-turner' ANDREA MARA

'Clever, compelling and compulsive, a read-until-the-early-hours rollercoaster' AMANDA GEARD

'A compelling, extremely tender page-turner' ADELE PARKS

400 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 8, 2026

About the author

Carmel Harrington is an International bestseller of thirteen novels. She is from Co. Wexford, where she lives with her husband, Roger, children Amelia and Nate, and their beloved rescue dog, George Bailey.

Her latest novel, The Stolen Child, was a Sunday Times best crime fiction of the year selection and was described as ‘Endlessly surprising. This complex novel requires faultless plotting, and Harrington pulls it off with consummate ease.’ Carmel’s debut was a multi-award-winning novel, and several books have been shortlisted for an Irish Book Award. She is a regular on Irish TV screens and radio and has been a guest speaker at Literary events in Ireland, UK and USA. She was also Chair of the Wexford Literary Festival for three years.

Carmel’s emotional and gripping storytelling, with relatable characters, twisting plots and evocative locations, has captured readers' hearts worldwide. Her novels, including The Lighthouse Secret, The Girl From Donegal, A Mother’s Heart, and The Moon Over Kilmore Quay, have been Irish Times, Sunday Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestsellers.

Carmel loves hearing from readers, so please feel free to connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram @HappyMrsH, or join Curl Up With Carmel Book Club, an online book club on Facebook.

Reviews

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Journalist Vega is looking for her next big story and decides to investigate the case of two abandoned sisters left at a railway station in Dublin in 1995.
This story has a few twist and turns as she questions people from both America and Ireland.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Judefire33 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ive just finished #TheNowhereGirls by @happymrsh published in January 2026 by @headlinebooks

A really engrossing read full of excellent characters,including Vega the lead protagonist who i loved. Its a mystery, thriller with a lot of heart and anguish in it and I felt very deeply for Vega. A well written story with a couple of twists that I didn't see coming however I hated the ending!

But still a great 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prologue for The Nowhere Girls is heartbreaking. On December 1st 1995, as crowds gather in Dublin to catch a glimpse of US president Bill Clinton, two little girls sit on a bench at Pearse Street Station, waiting for their mother to come back for them, but she fails to return. 🧳
The story then jumps forward to the present day, and we meet Vega Pearse, a journalist with a mission: to find out what happened to the Nowhere Girls. 🧳
This is quite a twisty story, that takes the reader from Co. Wexford to Vermont in the USA, and to the heart of Connemara, as Vega follows the trail of Cassie, mother of the Nowhere Girls. As each possible clue leads to a dead end, one can feel Vega's frustration, especially when she comes close to the truth only to find people stonewalling her. 🧳
This is, without a doubt, a poignant story, and with it's myriad twists, it is engrossing. Two things spoiled it for me:
- Try as I might, I didn't like Vega. I can't pin down any specific reason, I just didn't warm to her.
- The ending. Sure, it was a major twist, but it felt like an afterthought tacked on at the end. 🧳
They're just my bugbears. Don't be swayed by them. Read it and make up your own mind. 🧳
Thanks to Headline Books and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

[Trina Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel starts with a heartbreaking but enticing prologue, 2 small girls waiting at a railway station for their mother to reappear to collect them.
This was an engrossing, poignant read as Vega a journalist and one of the girls, tries to find out what happened to her mum and sister.
Her endeavour to find out takes her over to America and the far reaches of Ireland, discovering interesting and harrowing tales along the way.
I loved the majority of the characters, Mama Lulu was a delight I wish I could taste her pies. The ending caught me by surprise

[Avril · Rating 5 out of 5]

1995, Pearse Station, Dublin. Two little girls are left by their mother, who promises to return but never does. The girls are separated in the care system and thirty years later the eldest of the sisters and journalist, Veja, is determined to uncover the truth of her abandonment. The search for her mother and sister leads her to reveal many secrets and hidden pasts.

Carmel Harrington has become an auto-read author for me in recent years and this book solidifies that for me even more. I've said it in previous reviews and I'll say it again. Carmel writes intergenerational family dramas like no other, full of emotion and suspense.

This book had everything I love. A gripping opening chapter, with the following chapters being well paced. The characters were well fleshed out, with really interesting primary and secondary characters. I was completely invested in the romance element between Vega and Luka.

The journey this story takes you on is something else. There are so many elements to Vega's investigation and while it had the potential to feel like a bit of a wild goose chase, the author handled the pacing and suspense with ease, enabling the reader stay with Vega on her quest to discover her story.

This story is full of twists, turns and surprises. It is Carmel Harrington at her best and a book that I would highly recommend.

Available now to preorder. Publication dare: 29 January 2026

With sincere thanks to Headline publishers, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review an advanced copy of The Nowhere Girls.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carmel Harrington has a gift for weaving heart and suspense together, and The Nowhere Girls is no exception. The story begins in 1995, when two little girls are found abandoned at Pearse Station in Dublin. Thirty years later, journalist Vega is determined to uncover what really happened — a search that pulls her into secrets far deeper than she imagined.

What struck me most is how Harrington balances the emotional weight of the mystery with the human connections at its core. Vega isn’t just chasing a story; she’s risking her career, her relationships, and even her sense of self to bring the truth to light. The novel is full of twists, but it’s the compassion behind the narrative that makes it so compelling.

The atmosphere is beautifully drawn — cold train platforms, hidden truths, and the quiet ache of unanswered questions. Yet there’s also warmth in the way Harrington writes about resilience, love, and the bonds that survive even the darkest circumstances.

Casually speaking, this is one of those books that keeps you turning pages late into the night. It’s gripping, heartfelt, and leaves you thinking about the power of stories to heal old wounds.

My thanks to Carmel Harrington, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.

[Sandie McCormack · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a cold afternoon in December 1995, two young girls are discovered abandoned on a platform at Pearse Station in Dublin a haunting mystery that shocks the nation and is soon forgotten. Thirty years later, investigative journalist Vega becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth about the “Nowhere Girls.” What happened to their mother? Why did no one ever come forward? And, most importantly, where are the sisters now?

As Vega digs deeper, she finds herself entangled in a web of secrets, lies, and hidden pasts that stretch far beyond what she ever imagined. Her search for the truth soon threatens to unravel not only the mystery of the girls but also her own life her career, her new relationship, and her sense of identity.

This gripping mystery blends emotional depth with sharp investigative suspense. The narrative moves between past and present, keeping you hooked as Vega pieces together fragments of a dark and forgotten story. Themes of motherhood, identity, and the price of truth are explored with sensitivity and tension in equal measure.

I really enjoyed it I have never read any of her other books but definitely will now.

Thank you to Netgalley and Head Line Books for an ARC

[Paula Sterling-Stead · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot begins in December 1995. Two young children, Nova and Vega, are placed in a train station by their mother and told to wait until her return. Hours later they are discovered by a station master. While both are placed into care, the younger sister Nova is quickly adopted, leaving her sibling to negotiate a series of foster care homes.

Thirty years later a journalist who writes about displaced children decides that this is a story that needs to be investigated and embarks on a discovery which spans America, Ireland and UK.

The descriptions of the young Star (the children’s mother) attending Woodstock before being sucked into a commune was particularly well written and developed. Her complex layering often leaves you conflicted about her own predicament and how she came to leave her children behind.

There are sub plots running side by side which I didn’t necessarily need, and which made the novel a tad too long. The twist at the end was totally unexpected, well done! All in all, a very strong read with some excellent writing and character development.



Thank you NetGalley and Headline Books for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication

[Jayne Burnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compelling story, two small girls, Vega aged 4 and her sister Nova aged 3 left alone at a train station. Their mother tells Vega to wait, she will be back soon, but she never returns.
Both girls are placed in foster care where Vega remains until she is 18, Nova is adopted.
Vega is now a working as a journalist and she is determined to find her mother, Cassie and her sister Nova.
Once she starts to investigate she discovers family, a grandmother, an aunt, they welcome her and want to help with the search. She has always been alone in the world, she struggles with trust, she isn’t perfect and breaks her boyfriends trust in her and it’s only when he isn’t by her side that she realises how important he is to her.
We meet some interesting and rather diverse characters as the story evolves.
I found myself rooting for Vega, desperately wanting her to find her family., she has a burning need for answers and for the truth. I was engrossed in this emotionally charged story which I highly recommend.
My first book by this author and will definitely be reading more

Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

[Alyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vega Pearse, a journalist, embarks on a new investigative story, this time about two girls abandoned in 1995 at Pearse Street Station. She tries, with the help of her boyfriend, Luka, to identify the girls and find out what brought them the the station and why their mother didn't return to get them.
This is an emotional rollercoaster of book, as Vega makes discoveries only to be thwarted by her own impetuousness or by time as trails go cold. It is a compelling read, and several twists and turns keep the plot moving forward at pace.
Vega is a strong character, although, indeed most of the characters in the book turn out to be strong too, but she is well balanced in kindness and caring to off set her outspokenness and impulsiveness. The story switches between Ireland and America, and the clever use of interviews interspersed in the text allows us some insight into background information that the author doesn't have to explain.
Well written, fast moving and an intriguing plot.
With thanks to the author, Netgalley and Headline Books for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Nowhere Girls follows journalist Vega Pearse, who becomes intrigued by the mystery of two young girls abandoned at Pearse Street Station in 1995. After a career-defining story, Vega decides to investigate what really happened to these “Nowhere Girls.” With the help of her boyfriend, Luka, she sets out to uncover their identities and find out why their mother never came back for them.


(Spoiler alert!) It’s eventually revealed that Vega herself is the older of the two girls, and as she opens up to Luka, they embark on an emotional and eye-opening journey across America. I found myself completely hooked, eager to keep turning the pages to uncover more of the truth.
The pacing was excellent—fast without ever feeling rushed—and I loved the mix of interviews and narrative storytelling. It kept me engaged from start to finish. Carmel Harrington is a new author to me, but after reading this, I’m definitely looking forward to exploring more of her work.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Nowhere Girls by Carmel Harrington

“A storm that was about to shatter them all”

Who are ‘The Nowhere Girls’? ‘Where did their mother go? Did she really leave them? They were so young, too young to be left all alone. Maybe she was trying to protect them but from what…..or who? Vega a talented journalist wants to know more about the girls but why? She is deeply invested in discovering the truth. What happened all those years ago and why does it mean so much to her?

Due to the year the ‘Nowhere Girls’ were found and where the story begins I initially thought there was going to be a lot of going back and forth. However you become very quickly engrossed regarding the girls, why they were left and who left them. Vega is one determined young lady looking for answers. The question is will she find them? A brilliant read!

Thank you to NetGalley, @headlinebooks and Carmel Harrington for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of #thenowheregirls due for release 29th January 2026

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compulsive, addictive reading that I totally devoured over the course of an afternoon.

And from the wow moment early on towards the end of Part 1, I knew i needed to do nothing else other than read this book.

I was totally invested in Vega's story and that of the Nowhere Girls and never would have dreamt the directions this story took

Suffice to say it will keep you on tender hooks throughout.

Vega is an amazing character, she is determined to find out the truth, no matter what methods she uses, and over the course of the story we meet some fascinating characters. Some far more likeable than others.

This is Carmel Harrington at her absolute finest. She is able to tug at heartstrings, make you emotionally invested in the story, while still trying to flabbergast the reader. And it totally works.

I couldn't have devoured this faster, and I thought my time spent between the covers of this book was time incredibly well spent.

Thank you to Headline and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of ‘The Nowhere Girls’ by Carmel Harrington, due to be published on 29 January 2026 by Headline.

Vega, a journalist, having had her first story go viral, sets about tracing the ‘Nowhere Girls’ to find out where they are and what happened to them all those years ago.

Her search leads her to Vermont and back to Ireland where she speaks to a whole host of people who knew the girls’ mother, but none of them know where she is and haven’t seen her for many years.

This was an incredibly poignant and moving story, with a need for answers, discoveries that were alarming and mysteries at each stage of Vega’s search. There was a big twist at the end, which was a surprise, and one that was cleverly hidden until the last page when the story is told from the point of view of the girls’ mother.

An emotionally charged journey through the missing years to find the truth. A recommended read.

[Felicity Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured in a couple of days, what a captivating enthralling story! Taken in from the very start, this is an extraordinary tale from 1969 to the present day from Ireland to America and back to Ireland.
Vega is an investigative journalist in Wexford in Ireland following stories of abandoned children and wanting to find out more about the so called Nowhere Girls who had been left at a railway station in Dublin.
Beautifully written and told, the story and characters remain with me.
With a backdrop of the summer of love, and protests against the Vietnam War, and different communities in idealistic communes, this is so interesting. Full of twists and turns, there is nothing predictable.
Fascinating, warm, perceptive, sensitive and full of strong women, this is a book to love and treasure.
Recommended wholeheartedly for a fantastic fulfilling read!! I loved it!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Publishing for the early read, this was such a treat!!

[Bookstagramshaz Sharon Logue · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the bestselling author of The Stolen Child and The Lighthouse Secret comes a gripping new novel about two abandoned sisters, a missing mother and a shocking thirty year old mystery.

On a cold afternoon in December 1995, two young girls are found abandoned on a platform at Pearse Station in Dublin.

Thirty years later, investigative journalist Vega is determined to find out what happened to the so-called 'Nowhere Girls'. Where did their mother go? Why did no one come forward to claim them? And where are they now?

I first read Carmel Harrington, 2-3 years ago? I’m absolutely hooked now and always try and request her books or stalk Amazon for publication dates! Honestly - check Carmel’s books out!!
I was shooing my kids/hubby away while reading this …. Always a good sign 😂😂!

Thanks #netgalley #headline for an advanced copy.

https://www.facebook.com/Bookstagramshaz

https://www.instagram.com/Bookstagram... s

[Bernie Groves · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is the first book i have read by Carmel Harrington and it will not be the last.

There is so much depth in this book that at times i forgot it was a thriller because i became so caught up in the emotion of it. I loved the concept of a woman trying to research the history of two girls who had been abandoned as there was such a huge scope of possibilities with the directions it could go.

Carmel Harrington managed to weave a really compelling web for this story and added in a lot of really interesting and diverse characters. I really liked Vega and whilst she made some silly decisions it was understandable because of her past.

I did loosely guess one of the plot twists, but reading it still floored me and when i finished the book i just sat with my hands over my face for a minute to process it.

[Heather Howarth · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a cold afternoon in December 1995 two young girls are found on a platform in Pearse, Dublin. No family member claims them so the elder one, Vega, is fostered and her younger sister, Nova, adopted.

Vega, an investigative journalist, wants to find her mother and sister. Her search for answers takes her to Woodstock, America where she meets her aunt and grandmother and begins to pierce together her mother’s life. Her story continues in Ireland where she meets her father.

Vega struggles with relationships and because of her single minded focus on the investigation risks losing her budding relationship with Luka.

Full of attractive characters - I particularly felt for Vega processing what happened to her mother, her sister and herself.

An engrossing tale with many twists and turns. My only quibble - the ending!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This hooks you in from page one and has plenty of twists and turns in its very engaging storyline. In 1995 two sisters are found sitting on a bench at a railway station. They were named the Nowhere Girls and thirty years on journalist Vega is looking into what happened next. No one came forward to claim the girls so where are they? Vega finds herself putting so much at risk while she searches for answers, including her fledgling relationship with Luka. I really liked how the story flowed and how the characters were connected was explained. The interactions between them and how each one was portrayed was, in my opinion, really well written. I found that I could easily picture them in my head. A cracking read that kept me engaged until the end with no way of knowing how it was all going to turn out.

[Karen Farrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book to read during that downtime between Christmas and New Year for me. I wanted a juicy story to get stuck into and that is exactly what I got.

Vega has always known that she was abandoned, with her little sister Nova, by their mother at a train station. Her mother never returned for her and after she wrote a similar article about a mother giving up her child before reclaiming her Vega embarks on a quest to find her mother and sister.

The story flits between her mother leaving home in the early 1980’s and the present day. There are some wonderful characters who literally jump out of the page (Mama Lulu for one) and these people make the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it a real page turner. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get lost in their book.

[Sara (my_kindle_and_me) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how I loved this story.

The Nowhere Girls pulled me in so completely that it often felt like I was right there, living alongside the characters rather than just reading about them. I was fully invested in Vega from the very beginning, rooting for her, hurting with her, and holding my breath through so many moments.

What I loved most is that Vega isn’t flawless. She feels real and deeply human.
This book stirred up all the emotions for me. I cried and at times I genuinely wanted to strangle certain characters (Apollo and Vivienne… if you know, you know 😅).

I don’t want to give too much away, but what I will say is that it left a lasting impression on me, and I’m so glad I had the chance to read it early.

Highly recommended.

[Patricia Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Nowhere Girls by Carmel Harrington is a fabulous story about love, loss and the search for truth. I loved the characters especially Vega, Luka and Mama Lulu. The storyline follows Vega's search for her mother and sister after she is abandoned with her sister as a young child. The search takes her as far afield as a coercive commune in Wexford and a maple syrup farm in Vermont USA. The descriptions of the landscapes were excellent, bringing them to life so well I almost felt I was there. The story was compelling with numerous twists and turns and a satisfying conclusion. I would happily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fulfilling read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Mags Schofield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book right from the first page.
I hadn't read any books by this author before, but I will certainly be reading more.
Her writing style is perfect for me as the characters seem to jump off the page and become so real.
Vega is flawed, as we all are, and driven by abandonment. She makes mistakes. She acts without thinking. But she gets what she wants. I could identify with that and this book became a page turner for me. I just couldn't put it down as I was so wrapped up in the characters.
Thank you so much to Carmel Harrington, the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie Bull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vega, an investigative journalist, delves into the mystery surrounding two young girls who were found abandoned at a Dublin railway station thirty years ago. Intrigued by the story of the 'Nowhere Girls' she begins a quest that takes her overseas and provides answers she could never have expected.

This is a story of motherhood, secrets and the effect of crossing boundaries when seeking the truth. Engaging and thrilling, the reader is taken on a roller coaster of a journey with Vega, sharing both her anguish and joy as she seems to take one step forward and two steps back in her search for answers. The author describes Vega's emotions with great depth which hooked me in from the start. I always enjoy Carmel Harrington's books and this one definitely lived up to my expectations.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline Books for my advance reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read for a while. Two young girls were abandoned at a railway station in Ireland. Thirty years later Vega tries to solve the mystery. She has good reason, as it reveals she is one of the girls left at the station. Vega is an investigative journalist and was bought up in the care system. She was separated from her sister and has absolutely no idea who her family are until she gets her DNA tested,
Vega is on an emotional journey, as while she is finding her roots, she starts a relationship that is hard for her to trust in.
I couldn't put this book down. It was the sort of book that I could relax and disappear into. I can't wait to read more by this author.

[Pamela Viti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, 5 stars isn’t enough

Vega is an award winning journalist and sets off on a mission to investigate ‘The Nowhere Girls’ - two sisters left abandoned in a train station in Dublin in 1995.

Vega brings us on her journey to Vermont, back to Ireland to try trace the steps of what happened on that cold December day in 1995

There are so many twists and turns and I could not put it down, emotional at times too and an ending that sums the story up perfectly.

Highly recommend this one 5 stars

[Michelle Wileman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that grabs your attention and keeps it from the first page. The characters are believable, heartbreaking in places, the lovely ones are gentle and best of humans and the bad ones are the most awful type of all and easily relatable!
There were a few shocks, surprises and twist throughout the story along with short chapters which made it all very absorbing and compelling realising.

I’ve not read anything by this author before and was very pleasantly surprised, I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for any more of her books I see in future.

[Maddie Grigg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vega is a tenacious journalist in Ireland, whose writing and work is becoming lauded. When she learns about the story of the so-called Nowhere Girls, who were abandoned at a train station many years ago, she embarks on a quest to find out what happened to them.
This is a contemporary thriller with a fair few twists, although some of them you will see coming a mile off. Well-plotted, characters well drawn and the book would make a very good TV series, as the various locations seem very cinematic.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance review copy of this novel.

[Wynnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Journalist Vega feels like she needs to dig deeper into a story where a 4-year-old girl and her younger sister were left by their mother at Dublin's Pearse Station in November 1995. They were told not to move until she returned. Who are they? Where did they come from? Why did their mother not return to collect them like she said she would?

Written with compassion, empathy, and heart, Carmel Harrington unleashes her new novel on us. It’s a moving, beautifully crafted novel that keeps you turning pages until the very end.

[Catherine Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you enjoy long lost family? If so this books for you. Two little girls left by their mother on a train station platform in Dublin in 1995. The nowhere girls as they were known. A journalist decides its time to investigate who these girls are and what their story is. How did they end up there all alone and what happens to them? But the journalist has a secret. Shes one of the nowhere girls...and she'd do anything to find her mum and her sister. This book is beautifully written and tells and emotional story. I couldn't put it down.