The Stepchild by Nicole Trope
Published: March 15, 2022
Bookouture
Pages: 276
Genre: Psychological Thriller
KKECReads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realised the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because-as her professor pointed out, ‘It’s not meant to be a story.’ She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters’ degree in Children’s Literature. She is a USA Today and Amazon bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS, and CAN. She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.
It’s the phone call every mother dreads.
I’m climbing into the car after a trip to the grocery store. As the engine starts, my phone rings. It’s my stepdaughter, Shelby, who is babysitting my three-year-old little girl Millie.
‘I only went upstairs for a second,’ she says through her sobs. ‘She’s gone.’
I race home to find my blue-eyed baby girl missing, and my heart ripped out of my chest.
When the police turn up, Shelby’s story starts to unravel. What is she hiding?
Then I get a message saying, ‘Your husband is not who you think he is.’ Could he be lying?
Suddenly, my family feel like strangers. Everyone has a secret – even me.
No one knows why I was late coming back from the store, and the guilt I’ve been feeling ever since…
Once the truth comes out, all of our lies exposed, will it be too late to save my precious child?
“A secret kept is a secret you live to regret.”
Leslie lives a life of ease with her wealthy husband, who provides her with more than she could ever need. A beautiful daughter, Millie, who is the light of her life, and her stepdaughter Shelby. Shelby is 12 and holding a secret inside of her that she feels could ruin her life. Secrets are dangerous.
This book will keep you on the edge of your seat from page one! I loved how this was written. The way this story is told is so clever. I had no idea who was the bad guy until it was revealed, despite the descriptions.
I enjoyed this novel. The characters were all so beautifully done. I loved the themes, especially that family isn’t always blood. The way the plot moved was great. The build-up was intense, and the pacing was quick.
This was a fantastic read that will break your heart and keep you riveted until the very end.