The Nowhere Girls by Carmel Harrington BLOG TOUR #TheNowhereGirls. @HappyMrsH @headlinepg @RandomTTours #BookReview

 

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?

Searching for answers takes her on a journey with twists she never could have imagined. And one that could put everything else she knows at risk; including her new relationship, her career, and her life as she knows it.

The Nowhere Girls by Carmel Harrington was published on 29 January 2026 by Headline Review. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour 

There is something quietly compelling about The Nowhere Girls that pulled me in from the very first chapter and kept me turning the pages at speed. Carmel Harrington blends emotional depth with a gently twisty investigative thread, creating a story that lingers long after you’ve closed the book.

The novel opens with an unsettling premise: two very young girls left alone on a freezing December afternoon at Pearse Station in 1995, waiting for a mother who never comes back. Fast forward thirty years and the mystery remains unresolved, the girls long since labelled “the Nowhere Girls”. Enter Vega, an investigative journalist whose professional curiosity and personal determination won’t let the case lie.

Vega is a strong, believable protagonist and very easy to root for. Her determination to uncover what happened to the girls takes her across Ireland and over to the US, following a trail that grows more complicated the deeper she digs. The author balances the procedural elements of the investigation with Vega’s personal life beautifully, showing how the case begins to seep into every corner of her world;  her relationships, her career, and how she looks at herself. 

The plot unfolds at a good pace, there's plenty of intrigue to keep the reader hooked. This is very much a character-driven story, and the author really excellently explores themes of motherhood, identity, abandonment, and deeply buried secrets. While there are twists along the way, the real strength of the story, for me, is in its emotional depth. 

I raced through this one, eager to understand the truth behind the girls’ disappearance, but I also really enjoyed how Vega thinks about herself, and changes as a result of her search. The ending felt satisfying and thoughtful. 

Overall, The Nowhere Girls is a poignant, engaging and highly readable mystery that will appeal to fans of emotional thrillers with heart. A compelling journey into the past, and a reminder that some stories refuse to stay buried.

Carmel Harrington is the internationally bestselling author of thirteen novels.

Her last novel, The Lighthouse Secret, was an instant Irish Times bestseller.

Carmel's debut novel was a winner of multiple awards, and several of her 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 the Chair of Wexford Literary Festival for three years.

Carmel is from Co. Wexford, where she lives with her husband, children and rescue dog, George Bailey.

X: @HappyMrsH / IG: @happymrsh