3.5 stars. This book was good and I liked the storyline. Unfortunately I felt it dragged a bit and struggled to keep my attention

4.5 stars rounded up. The Child Who Was Silent by Nicole Trope is an emotional read that I read straight through, once I started. This is my first book by Nicole Trope but I will definitely be checking out her backlist. The book opens with a tourist getting lost walking in the woods surrounding the cabins she is staying in. When she stumbles upon another cabin within the resort, she knocks on the door to use their phone. The door opens, and she finds a scene she never expected. Thus begins the investigation into who stabbed heart surgeon, Nick and where is Theo, their 11 year old son with autism?

This is the story of a family that is unravelling. Nick, wife Cecilia, daughter Kaycee, and son Theo present as a happy and successful family, but they are struggling. The marriage is in trouble, Kaycee is falling apart at university, feeling forgotten and second place in her mother's life, and Theo is the youngest child who is smothered by his mother due to his autism. This trip to the cabin is Cecelia's effort to begin the journey to put their lives back together, but what happened in that cabin? I really like the way this story is told. There are multiple POVs but they fit together well. I really liked all the characters, especially as I watched Kaycee evolve during this story. Theo is a great character. Yes, he has autism, but he has a lot locked up inside. Seeing him struggle and put aside his fears is a bit unrealistic (my grandson has autism and I know how difficult this would be) but it is done in a believable way. The addition of Rose, the older woman who lives in an isolated cabin was brilliant. I do not want to give the plot of this story away, but suffice it to say, there is suspense, some twists and edge of your seat moments. The alternating POVs, the shifts from past to present and the sinister character who flits in and out, all had me totally invested from the first page. I definitely recommend this story.

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Nicole Trope's emotional tale BRING HIM HOME (formerly titled "The Child Who Was Silent" ).

As a fellow Australian, I am a huge fan of Nicole Trope and am always looking forward to the next one (though I still haven't read them all...lol) Her books are based in Sydney and/or the Blue Mountains both of which I am familiar with and, although some places she does fictionalise, the areas about which she writes I can visualise. In BRING HIM HOME, the village of Mt Watson is fictional and possibly a play on the actual area Mt Wilson, particularly as one of the character's surnames is Wilson.

I also have to say that the original title "The Child Who Was Silent" I believe is a far better title than BRING HIM HOME because while it is a mystery, it is also Theo's story. And Theo is the child who was silent. I think they should have left the title as is.

The story opens with a young woman, Amber, lost in the bush and trying to find her way out. She comes across a cabin and hopes they will be able to help her find her way out. She knocks. There is no answer. The door is slightly ajar so she pushes it open whilst calling out "Hello?" She ventures into the living area and cannot believe what her eyes are seeing. A man lays prone on a cream rug with a woman seated beside him, holding a knife. Amber screams and flees the scene, calling for help immediately.

It is clear from the beginning that something has terrible happened at the cabin that day but Cecelia cannot remember anything. She remembers her and Nick arguing, something they have done a lot of in recent times, and then her husband telling her son "Run, Theo! Get help!" But why did he tell him to run? Was Nick scared? Of who? Of her? The police certainly think she stabbed him and now she is being held for attempted murder. But she loves Nick - why would she stab him? But she was found holding the knife. But try as she might, Cecelia cannot recall what actually happened. She only remembers fragments. It's like a sheet of opaque glass has been erected in her brain, preventing her from remembering. The psychiatrist they had come see her told her that it was her brain's way of protecting her. Protecting her from what? What does she need protecting from? The truth? That she DID stab Nick? But it's hopeless...no matter how much she tries she just cannot remember. And even if she could remember, she couldn't tell them anyway because when she opens her mouth to talk nothing comes out. Cecelia has become silent, just like Theo.

Her beloved Theo. Where is he? Nick told him to run and get help...but it's cold and raining relentlessly out there and Theo doesn't like shoes. He doesn't wear them. So he will be out in the cold, the dark and with no shoes to protect his feet from the bush. The police tell her they have a search party out there looking for him but with thie relentless rain it is hindering the search for him. She and Nick have always told Theo to shelter in place, they have instilled it in him. Shelter in place. So with any luck Theo will be sheltering in place somewhere out of the rain until somebody can find him.

Eighty five year old Rose has lived in her bush cabin for most of her life. She lived there with her mother, sister and little brother Lionel. But they have all gone now and it's just Rose. She loves to wake in the morning and hear the bush awaken. The sounds of the birds, the call of the wild. But this morning, Rose hears a different sound. Last night she thought it was possums under the cabin but this morning she's not so sure. Now it's like a keening sound of something, or someone, in distress. As she goes out in her dressing gown to investigate, she sees a shape and tells it "get out of here" but it soon becomes clear that it's a little boy. And he is clearly distressed. She softens her voice and coaxes him out and leads him back inside the cabin where it is warm. He is soaked through and wearing no shoes - he must be frozen to the bone, especially if he has been there all night. She asks him if he is hungry and he nods his head. So she gives him her toast. As Rose observes the boy, she is aware that he is different and not like other children. His behaviour and demeanour are similar to that of her brother Lionel, and society didn't understand him back in those days. But it's with her knowledge and experience with Lionel that she knows how to treat this young boy. She asks him his name and he starts signing rapidly to her. It's been so long she can't keep up with his speed and asks him to slow down. Slowly he spells out his name. Theo.

Rose knows from experience that people like Theo don't like to be touched. Instead she lets him lead. At the moment he is happy eating toast and lining up her sets of knives, forks and spoons. When he gets distressed about the odd number of them, she merely takes away some of the others to make them all the same. She knows people like Theo. When thunder booms loudly overhead, Theo shrieks and hides under the table. Lionel used to do that too. So Rose climbs down and sits under the table with him and, although he doesn't like to be touched, he does allow her to hold him tightly until the thunder subsides. But what to do with the child? What happened to him? Why was he under her cabin? Where were his parents? Someone must be missing him? She asks Theo and he begins to tell her in his broken language that he needs help.

I am Theo. I am help. Dad told me to run, so I ran. I get help. I found Rose. Rose is help. It's wet. I'm cold. I shelter in place. Mum told me "Theo, shelter in place." Dad told me to shelter in place. So I shelter in place. I found Rose. Rose is help. Too many words. Too much noise. I bang my head on the floor to stop the noise. But dad said "Run, Theo. Get help!" I get help. Rose is help.

BRING HIM HOME is a touching, poignant and beautifully written tale centring around Theo, an eleven year old boy with autism. The pace is slow to begin with and it is not until around 50% that the story really comes into itself and from then on I couldn't swipe the pages quick enough to reach the end. At first the reader is thoroughly confused as to what happened in the cabin and it is told in such a way that keeps us in the dark until just the right time. When the pieces began falling into place, I soon put them together so the ending wasn't a surprise. But that didn't deter me from enjoying this beautiful story.

The characters are well developed and are honest as well as vulnerable but completely likeable. While I was frustrated with Cecelia, who could speak, at her sudden silence. Why could she not tell what happened? At least, what she remembers? What was stopping her? Why did she not remember? And why has she suddenly become silent? The daughter Kaycee who came up from Sydney with the barman from the bar she was drinking at in tow to help find her missing brother. I loved Jonah. He was there for Kaycee and he helped with the search...and yet he didn't have to drive her 100+km to the Blue Mountains when she drunkenly asked him to. And he didn't have to stay either...but he did.

But my favourite character was Rose, who lives a secluded life in her cabin in the bush, carrying a trauma of her own from her past that still haunts her. She has a beautiful understanding soul and a heart of gold as she helps the family through her care, kindness and understanding with Theo.

Theo himself was a remarkable character also. Despite his difficulties and the challenges he faces with his autism, he understands what he is meant to do. Despite being out of his comfort zone, he reaches out for help and to help. OMG...there were a couple of times in the book that I was in tears with regards to Theo. I'm not overly maternal and don't generally cry over children but this...I was so moved by one particular scene that I literally bawled. It was so beautiful, so moving and oh so touching I could have cried...and I did.

Nicole has done a wonderful job in encapsulating the world of an autistic child, which must be a feat in itself. They see the world so differently to us that it is so hard to understand just what the world is like through their eyes. I think Nicole captured it beautifully. She made Theo seem so real and so relatable that even the most hardened hearts could have wrapped their arms around him...had he been comfortable with that. I will never hear "This Little Light of Mine" in the same way again.

Although I pieced together the twist and saw it coming, I still thoroughly enjoyed BRING HIM HOME...more than I thought I would. When I began and I found the pace somewhat slow and Theo's narrative very repetitive - but that's how it is in his world - I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the book as much as Nicole's previous ones. But I was wrong. Once that pace picked up and I started piecing things together, I couldn't devour it quick enough.

Beautifully descriptive and tender, BRING HIM HOME will pull at your heart strings and bring tears to your eyes. Have the tissues handy because there are a few scenes in which you will need them, so touching they are.

While BRING HIM HOME is a mystery, the focus is mainly on Theo. It is his story and his journey to get help for his family. It is for this reason I believe the titled should have remained "The Child Who Was Silent" ...because he was and he is the focus throughout. It is about learning about Theo, growing with Theo and then searching for Theo. It is about looking at the world through Theo's eyes and about understanding him. He is the child who was silent so for me that title is far more appropriate and fitting.

BRING HIM HOME is the story of a little boy lost, a mother traumatised, a father fighting for his life, and a daughter (who has always felt forgotten) left to pick up the pieces. A beautiful, moving and emotional read that I thoroughly recommend!

I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #NetGalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #BringHimHome #TheChildWhoWasSilent in exchange for an honest review.

Kaycee receives a call at college that something horrible has happened to her parents and that her autistic brother Theo is missing in the bush. Bring him home has a wide range of emotions: anger, fear, happiness, regret, love and so much more. Theo is by far the star of this book, closely followed by an elderly woman named Rose. I like the sensitive way this book talks about autism. I want to give Theo a tight hug and sing "this little light of mine" to him. A great read. I will look for other books by this author.

Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the arc

Very believable story of a family going through a tragedy. Not just an ordinary family, one with a young autistic boy. Theo is so dear. Your heart just breaks for him. I love how the story tells not only the things he can’t do but shows how intelligent he is and capable of things no one would have thought he could. We need more stories like this to help educate us. The relationship with Rose is sweet and I like how she knew just what to do for him having had a brother will similar abilities. Really gets intense and hard to put down! An author I will keep an eye on.

Wow! I absolutely loved this book! I am such a fan of Nicole Trope's books, that I know I am guaranteed to lose a few days whilst I immerse myself in her stories.

This book is full of emotions, and there is that undercurrent of tension running alongside the emotions which always makes for a fantastic read!

I also defy anyone not to fall in love with Theo. "I am help".

4.5* rounded up to 5*

Wasn't sure about this book when I started it but I carried on and was soon involved in the storyline which was well written. I didn't find it to be an edge of seater but a thoroughly good read and I enjoyed reading about Jonah, Theo and Rose.

I can thoroughly recommend this book and thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read it.

If you are a fan of books filled to the rafters with emotions, this is one you should try.
Some people think that flattery will get you anywhere and that this means they can take whatever they want to.
Some people think that behind a friendly smile there is something flirty and inviting and it gives them the right to do as they please.
Some people think they can use their status to threaten others to do what they tell them to.
It all comes crashing down when one scared little boy becomes a hero …
I loved Theo. He is strong and brave although he longs to stay in his safe little world, but he bites the bullet and does what he has to do: run and find help.
He is the character that changes the most and I admire him for it. I felt warm inside because of his huge progress. He most certainly saved the day.
Sometimes tragedies tear families apart, but sometimes they bring them closer together.
Parents are there to keep their children safe and protect them. Once in a while it’s the other way around.
A great book that kept me captivated. My heart went out to Theo. He plays an amazing role. 5 stars

Thank you, Nicole Trope and Bookouture

My first reaction to this book was, confusion. This was supposed to be a story about a lost little boy, why am I reading about some woman lost in the woods? Soon the pieces star to come together however.

Something terrible happened at the cabin that day, but Cecelia just can't remember anything. Except, she remembers her husband telling her darling baby boy to run. Now he is in emergency surgery to save his life, and her son is nowhere to be found.

I think this story was beautiful and well written. Getting the perspective of that was happening from so many different views really enhanced the experience of reading this story.

I think I've learned though, that I prefer to experience stories like this as a show or movie, just personal preference, I did enjoy this book though.

Doubt I'll be reading any thrillers/mysteries about kids again any time soon. It makes my Mommy hear hurt.

I really enjoyed Jonah and Theo as characters. Also, Rose. I'm not sure I can comment on how Theo's autism is portrayed, it seems accurate to my experience, but I am not autistic. I think it's really nice to get some representation in fiction though.

*This eARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

My Review:

What to say about Nicole Trope’s new book? Well the first thing that comes to mind is OMG. The second that comes to mind is Fantastic. Then the third and last thing that comes to mind is Loved. OMG that book was really Fantastic and I Loved it so much. I do have to say that this author is on my top 10 Favorite Author List so whenever I see that she has a new book coming out I jump for joy. I get so excited like a kid in a candy store.

This book was about a family that has drifted apart. They decide to take one last trip together to try and fix what is broken. A fight breaks out and their son was told to run and get help. Now he is missing and no where to be found. What happened in that cabin? Where is their son? Is he ok? Can this family be made whole again?

I want to start off by saying that I have read almost all of this authors books and this one tops the cake. I just loved this one so much. I can’t say a single bad thing about this book. Now on to characters. My favorite character was Theo. He was such an inspirational and brave little boy. With all the problems he had to overcome to get help for his parents and Rose it really made me in awe of him. I don’t know what I would do if I were in his shoes. I don’t know if I could ever be as brave of a soul as he was. I’m afraid of everything including my shadow. You couldn’t have written a better character. On to the plot. I loved the story line. It is the reason why I made it through this book so quickly. I read well into the night and until I could not see the words on the pages anymore. I just had to make sure everyone was going to be ok otherwise I know I wouldn’t have been able to sleep. Last and not least the ending. That ending was twisted and wicked. I couldn’t believe who was after this poor family and why it was done. That person was a very bad and got what they deserved in the end. I also want to say that the epilogue did wrap up all the stray pieces of the story and put it into a nice tight bow. There was no questions that were left unanswered. I love it when a book does that. I can’t wait for Nicole Trope’s next book. I will be counting down the long, slow, painful days until her next book.

Between the plot, characters and all the twists in this book it made it an easy and fast read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I didn’t read books with violence as if I do I can’t sleep. My sleep was disturbed last night! Don’t take that wrong as this book is not overly violent by any means; it’s simply that I’m a wimp. This is a good mystery with well developed complex characters. I think I liked almost all of them. The story left me guessing for quite a while and then it all tied together nicely at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A family holiday turns into a disaster as Cecilia is found over her husbands body holding a knife and their autistic 11 year old son Theo missing.
Theo was told by his dad to run, and this is exactly what he did. During a terrible rain storm he is found by Rose. The story is told from the perspective of 4 characters.
Some really lovely characters, especially Theo and Rose, make you want to read it in one sitting to find out what happened in the cabin.
I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review

This novel was simply superb. An eleven year-old autistic boy is missing in the Blue Mountains of Australia, in the midst of a massive rainstorm. Everyone in the district joins in the search, but the little boy has witnessed an horrific crime, and the perpetrator is also determined to find him. The story is a riveting family drama and a taut suspense -thriller. I couldn't put it down. What I particularity liked was that the story is told from multiple narrators, but each one has a distinct voice, so the reader is not confused. The manner in which the author brings autism alive from the inside out is incredible.

This wonderful and heartbreaking novel focuses on the disappearance of a young boy and the toll that it takes on his family. Dark secrets come to the surface and make one rethink everything they felt at first glance.

The Child Who Was Silent by Nicole Trope is an emotional read that, once started, I could not put down. I have previously loved books from this author, and this latest is, perhaps, her best yet.

A family is on the brink of collapse. Heart surgeon Nick, wife Cecilia, daughter Kaycee, and son Theo seem, by all outward appearances, to have it all. But beneath the surface is a marriage in trouble, a daughter who feels forgotten, and a son negotiating everday life while living with autism. A final trip to a beloved cabin will determine this family's fate going forward, though not in the way that any of them could have expected. When eleven year old Theo goes missing, the race is on to find this precious child who holds the key to unravelling the troubling events that have transpired in the woods.

This is a gripping story that will have you emotionally invested from the very first page. Beautifully told from alternating voices, and shifting between past and present, Ms Trope has created a memorable cast of characters who will stay with you long after you leave them. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

Stunning, poignant and a sensitively and beautifully written tale which centres around a young boy with autism. The characters are well developed, honest, vulnerable and very likeable and you really feel the confusion and terror of the situation they find themselves in.

This is a fast paced thriller and it’s real edge of the seat material as we struggle to make sense of what happened to put the dad’s life in the balance. It is unclear whether another member of the, already disjointed and fractured, family is to blame and there are some real heart wrenching moments. A complete emotional rollercoaster which had me in tears several times and kept me guessing about what the outcome would be. Fantastic, thank you so much for including me in an ARC.

This incredible book is the story of a little boy lost, a mother traumatised, a father fighting for his life, and a daughter (who has always felt forgotten) left to pick up the pieces. It is a fast paced, unputdownable crime thriller that will move you to tears. An absolutely sensational read!!

I felt like I read this book with my heart in my mouth as I tried to piece together what happened that tragic day, and my heart went out to this disconnected family for the pain they were going through and the circumstances they found themselves in after a tragic crime left them all broken and confused.

I especially adored the character Rose and also the little boy Theo (he is such a gorgeous child). Rose is a lovely old lady living an isolated life in a cabin in the bush, where she has resided her entire life. Living in seclusion with trauma of her own that she carries with her, this beautiful soul has a heart of gold as she helps the family through her care, understanding, bravery and kindness.

Beautifully descriptive, tender, and with well built characters and believability, this book will pull at your heart strings and have you anxious with worry and hope for this family. It had me in tears multiple times and is such a thrilling, emotional and engaging read. I cannot recommend it highly enough! 5 beautiful stars!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. I truly enjoyed this so very much! 😍