This book was a page turner from beginning to end. Things are not always what they seem. Things are not what they seem and will have you guessing until the end. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4 mother’s love stars

We meet single mom Beverly and her 8-year-old son Riley in this fast-paced psychological thriller. I have to give props to the author for writing a realistic point of view from Riley. I enjoyed his chapters and seeing things from his perspective.

Beverly clearly loves her son, even though he’s a handful at times, she often receives notes home from teachers about his behavior. He’s endearing though with his enthusiasm for life, love of climbing trees, and curiosity about his dead father.

Bev recently broke up with Ethan when lots of questions about her past came up. We definitely know that Bev has some big secrets that she will protect with her life. When anonymous gifts for Riley start showing up in the mailbox, I began to wonder if the lies would start to unravel. Was Ethan sending the gifts? Things come to a head when Riley disappears from his backyard. Has he left home on his own or was he kidnapped?

There are some great characters in this one, including lonely neighbor Sam and his dog Scotty,
And Riley’s friend Benji. There’s also the point of view from a mysterious character that got increasingly sinister.

This was my first read from this author and I loved being carried along with the story. The pieces came together in the end, and everything made sense!

I’m looking forward to reading more from this Australian author!

Fault Finders.

When a friend brought to my attention that a new book by Nicole Trope was available to request, I clicked that button fast.

I don’t normally read books about kidnapped or lost children, but I loved the author’s last book ‘The Family Across the Street’ and wanted to read more by her.

I felt this wasn’t the usual missing child theme and I found it less stressful to read about. While the plot-line wasn’t exactly secondary to the twists and family drama, it blended as a whole and as a result, my angst was spread out a bit.

I connected with several likable characters including a senior and his cute Scottie dog. Of course there were a few “baddies” and the text includes scenes of past child abuse and some family violence. So heads-up for possible trigger warnings.

Thank you to Nikole Trope, Bookouture, and NetGalley for my electronic copy in advance of publication October 15, 2021.

Beverley has a secret. She did a bad thing. She did it for the best of reasons but it has controlled her life ever since. She is unable to let anyone get close for fear they will find out. She loves Ethan but when he starts to act as if they have a future she ends the relationship. A tense thriller as the truth is gradually eked out and all is not as it seems.

All along I thought I knew the answer. But BAM! That all changed. And this is what I loved about the story. I was sucked in to the plot as it thickened as I got deeper and deeper into the book. And then it left me in shock and wanting to finish the story faster than I could read because I just wanted the answers. I really enjoyed having the chapters from a point of view of a character. This made the book a great read and I was finishing chapters and wanting to know who was next. I am definitely a fan of Nicole Trope after reading this book and can't wait to read more of her books!

This was a gripping story that kept me engrossed from the beginning!. It's really interesting the way Nicole writes the story, and slowly but surely releases important bits that when added together, give you the history you need to understand different characters psyche and how they've come to have that personality.
Great plot ,great ending. I would definitely recommend this book.
Thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC book for an honest review.

The Mother's Fault
by Nicole Trope
When the police turn up, I’m trapped in the web of my lies.
When the police turn up, I’m trapped in the web of my lies.

I have hidden the truth from eight-year-old Riley, my little boy who loves climbing trees and always has scraped knees. I have hidden my secret from everyone.

Riley knows his father is dead but he has no idea why. He doesn’t know his dad’s real name, and there are no pictures in the house. Not a single person knows what happened eight years ago.

I love my son more than anything but the truth is, I have always feared for him. When the first gift arrived in our mailbox, wrapped in blue paper with silver stars, I realized I was right to be afraid.

Now, I can see the question in the detectives’ eyes. Am I a mother with a missing child or a mother with a lot to hide? I need them to save my son – but how much can I tell them without losing him forever


I found the book to be an ok read. , although for me personally it wasn't an 'edge of seater' and I found it a bit slow in parts. It seemed a bit jumbled, just too many oddities for one book.

Set in Australia, Beverley is a single mother of 8 year old Riley. She recently broke up with her boyfriend as he was getting serious and she couldn’t cope with keeping all her secrets.
Riley begins to get special anonymous presents which he’s convinced are from his dad even though Beverley told him his father had died.
Then Riley disappears and everything goes wrong.
Loved the characters - Beverley is a great mum with lots of secrets. Complicated storyline, well thought throw and full of twists and turns.
A great psychological drama that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. I loved this book. Highly recommended.
4.5 Stars ⭐️

The mother's fault is a psychological thriller that deals with Beverly and her eight-year-old son Riley. Beverly is a single mother trying her hardest to do her best for her son. She doesn't let anyone get too close, because there is more than first appears to her past and current life with Riley. As the story unfolds we gradually learn the secrets that she is keeping and what it is that she is hiding from.
I really enjoyed the way that the story was told from three different points of view. We had Beverly, the mother, Riley her son and another shadowy figure who is unidentified, at least to begin with. Again, as the story unfolds we learn who this person is and how they relate to Beverly and Riley.
There are lots of hints about who the various characters are and it is possible to work everything out. Beware though, there are plenty of red herrings and hints that don't lead to where you think they are going to go. I have to admit that I was caught out by a couple of them, but I did guess a few of the twists and turns.
This was a gripping read that I didn't want to put down. I ended up reading it until quite late and night and then picked it up again this morning when I probably really should have been doing other things. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, then this book is for you.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

The gifts were beautifully wrapped in blue paper with silver stars.

It was irritating that Ethan would send these gifts to her 8 year old son, Riley, as a way to get her to reconsider their relationship after their recent break-up.

They were from Ethan, weren’t they? The alternative is not one that Beverly wants to consider. It would mean that her secret is out.

And, then Riley disappears from the back garden, as she cooks spaghetti from the kitchen which overlooks it.
She will need the police to help…but how much can she share without risk of losing her son?

The first 50% sucked me right in, as the story unfolds mostly from the alternating POV’s of Beverly, and Riley-both well developed, likable characters. But at 50%, a third narrator takes an equal turn at telling this story, and it stalled a bit for me. Lots of explanation of HOW things got to this point-and it’s a bit CRAZY.

But, the author offers up a satisfying conclusion-told from epilogues from each of our three narrators, which I often don’t like, but which worked here.

If this were a movie, the “best supporting actor” award goes to: 🐶 Scotty the dog-who does not come to harm so read with ease!

This wasn’t as satisfying for me, as my previous read from the author, “The Family Across the Street” but definitely engaging enough to have me looking forward to more work from this talented author!

3.5 rounded up!

Available October 15th from Bookouture. Thank you for my gifted copy provided through NetGalley-it was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

Single mother, Beverly, adores her 8 year old son, Riley, but things are not as straightforward as they seem. Her boyfriend Ethan also loves Riley and wants to marry Beverly and settle down as a family. So what’s the problem you might wonder? Beverley has pushed Ethan away as she has secrets that she simply cannot share now.

But when a series of increasingly expensive, anonymous gifts start turning up for Riley she is not happy. She assumes they are from Ethan but her calls and texts to him go unanswered. It’s all very strange but if the gifts are not from Ethan - who then? Nobody else (alive) knows her secret. One night she is making his favourite spaghetti dinner and looks out the window to see he is still in his little loft in the backyard tree. He’ll come in soon when his hunger gets to him. The next time she looks out the window though Riley is longer in sight!

Beverly frantically searches the house and garden and rings his friends and searches again before calling the police. She has no one else to turn to - Riley’s father is dead and her parents are also dead. Where on earth can he be? By now, Beverly is having some niggling concerns that this could be the past rearing it’s ugly head again. We, the reader, know this as the story is told from the POV of both Beverly and the abductor.

I didn’t think this story was quite as good as her previous book The Family Across The Street. By the halfway point I had guessed pretty much what was going. Not all of it mind you as the author left a juicy little twist for us. I think I need a break from books about children being used as pawns in grown up games. It was a sad story really because it could all have been avoided if certain parents had been more loving to their children.

It was easy to root for Beverly as she was being the best parent she could be and loved Riley to bits without complaint about what she was missing out in. She also had enough gumption to do what needed to be done. Riley himself was a great kid and had guts! The elderly neighbour, Sam, was an endearing character and may well have saved the day. The pacing of the story was excellent and it never dragged. All in all it was a compelling story that I can recommend. Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

3.5 stars rounded up.

It has been awhile since I read a book cover to cover. The Mother's Fault, was a breath of fresh air and the perfect five star read I was craving! Nicole Trope is a natural born story teller. Trope writes with such fluidity that makes the novel so easy to breeze through.

What happens when the past catches up to you? What happens when the one thing you love more than anything may be the one who suffers the most from YOUR secret. The love between mother and child is like no other. Riley, 8 years old believes his father died in a car crash. He has no idea what great lengths his mother has gone through in order to protect him. Always looking over her shoulder, afraid to speak to anyone or get to close in fear of divulging too much.

But now Riley has disappeared and there is no way he ran off.

Do you tell the truth to save your son and chance losing him forever?

Stay tuned October 15, 2021 to find out!

Single mother Beverley contemplatively observes her energetic eight year old son Riley as he eats his breakfast. She’s a conscientious and loving mum who doesn’t let anyone get too close. When Riley begins to receive anonymous gifts left at her mailbox she begins to feel very afraid - why? A few days later she cooking Riley his favourite supper, she observes him from her kitchen window as he plays in the garden. The next time she looks, he’s gone .... the story is told principally by Beverley and Riley.

This is another excellent psychological thriller from Nicola Trope. I love the misdirections and unpredictability of this one which keeps you on your toes. I keep thinking I’ve got it all sorted out in my head when another curved ball shatters my thinking which makes this just my kind of book! From start to finish this has you chock full of questions as the plot is immersive and intriguing with a matching brisk pace. The characterisation is excellent particularly that of Riley as it takes some skill to depict and eight year old so authentically and like Beverley I just love this little chap! There’s a good mix of characters, Beverley is a really good character, I have nothing but admiration for her, as is elderly next door neighbour Sam and his adorable dog Scotty and there’s one character that fills you with dread. There are moments of scary creepiness, tension as taut as piano wire and suspense that has your heart racing. There is one storyline that’s a tough one which raises the nature/nurture debate and this is well done. At times you feel a little bit of sympathy even if in your heart you know it’s undeserved. The ending is good as it pulls all the plot threads together skilfully.

Overall, this is a gripping novel and one I recommend to fans of the genre.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bookouture for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

This was absolutely brilliant - a real page turner. I am really struggling to write this review because each time I write something, I have to delete it as it is a spoiler.

Such a good read - I read it in one session as just wanted to know where it was going.

I was given an advance copy by Bookouture and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.

I really enjoyed this book, an excellent storyline, although for me personally it wasn't an 'edge of seater' and I found it a bit slow in parts. Saying that the characters were all good and overall I did enjoy the storyline.

I can recommend this book and thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this book.

The Mother's Fault by Nicole Trope is another triumph for an author who has proven herself to be at the top of her game. I have never been disappointed in Ms Trope's work, and this latest domestic thriller is no exception.

Beverly adores her eight year old son Riley and is fiercely protective of him. It is the two of them against the world, but Bev is all too aware that her past is never far from mind, and she must protect her secrets at any cost. When mysterious packages begin to appear anonymously for her son, the secrets of her past life begin to niggle, and Beverly knows that she must uncover the sender's identity if she is to keep her son, and herself, safe.

This was an addictive and compelling read from the very start, and another one to add to your TBR immediately. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

This book was suspenseful and enjoyable. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the pre-release in exchange for my honest review.

Oh wow! This was absolutely fantastic!

The Mother's Fault is one with a lot of surprises!

There's a lot of crazy (enough for the whole family) in this page-turning thriller and it made me shriek a little more times than I'd care to admit.
I know the blurb suggested something about Beverly and her past finally catching up to her and that she's hiding a dark secret. So I sort of guessed what it was but then the plot thickens even more as I read on, Nicole Trope definitely turned it up a notch or two.

I loooove domestic thrillers! This one did not disappoint. A must-read for fans of the genre!

4.25 Stars

Publish Date is October 15, 2021, be sure add this to your immediate TBR pile.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Kindle for this wonderful ARC!

Where to begin on reviewing this book? There isn’t a lot that can be said without giving away any spoilers (of which there are a few in this twisty thriller). I thought the beginning was pretty slow, and a little too complicated for a relatively simple book. It had some really good parts, but it also lagged in places too. Overall, I found it to be pretty average, though still an adequate novel.

This is the story of one day in the life of Beverly and her son, Riley. The day was normal and Beverly was making dinner when she realizes Riley is no longer playing in the yard. She has to call the police for help, but she’s terrified. She’s been keeping a lot of secrets and some may be discovered if the police get involved. She has to find her son though…

This wasn’t very fast-paced, and while I was surprised at certain points, I wouldn’t call it a jaw-dropping thriller. It’s a decent story, just a bit slow and far-fetched for me. 3/5 stars for an average thriller/mystery.

(I’d like to thank the publisher, author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)

"When the police turn up, I’m trapped in the web of my lies." WHAT AN UNDERSTATEMENT. I loved this. The constant fear Beverly feels is easily transcended through the pages to the reader and the intensity of the secrets make me feel tense. This will not be the last Trope I pick up.