Nicole Trope

The Boy Under the Table by Australian author Nicole Trope is about Tina, a homeless young girl living on the streets of Sydney's red light district, King's Cross. Tina's struggle to survive the Cross is contrasted with the grief and worry in outback New South Wales, as farmers Doug and Sarah desperately seek the return of their young son Lachlan, who disappeared at Sydney's Royal Easter Show.

Tina's day-to-day life on the streets as a sex worker and living a sober yet meagre existence in a show more squat were shocking and compelling, thankfully with a ray of hope Tina will work through her grief and reclaim her life.

There were countless times the author could have taken a misstep in this narrative, resulting in some serious eye-rolling from this reader, but she didn't! In fact, I was actually waiting for a disappointing turn in the narrative, fully expecting Tina to do something unbelievable or for Lachlan to act contrary to his age or character, but again, it never happened.

Instead, I found myself worrying about the two characters during the day, and wondering what their futures held in the remaining pages. We're given multiple character perspectives, and the plot kept me engaged the entire time. I was relieved to find a satisfying ending filled with hope without once glossing over any of the trauma that had passed beforehand and the healing still ahead.

Ultimately The Boy Under the Table by Nicole Trope is a story of hope and courage and I couldn't help but be moved by it. Highly recommended for fans of Australian crime writing, or those seeking a refreshing take on the missing/kidnapped child trope in fiction. show less

Even though Beverly is rather young for a mother, she has done the best in raising her son Riley the past eight years. Partners have been in the picture but whenever they got too close, she withdrew in her cocoon. But now, Ethan does not seem to accept her decision and by sending expensive toys tries to win Riley’s favour. However, Beverly is mistaken, the anonymous presents are from somebody else, somebody who has been searching her and who is watching her now, waiting for the best moment show more to strike. Somebody who knows her past and above all, the secret she has successfully hidden for years. Finally, her luck seems to come to an end and she is not only threatened to be exposed but also to lose the most precious thing of her life: her son.

Nicole Trope has wonderfully plotted the action in her thriller so that the reader is immediately gripped. By alternating the chapters’ focus, we are presented with different points of view that fuel speculation about who is this unnamed observer, what is this person up to and, first and foremost, what is Beverly hiding? I totally adored hypothesising about these questions, running in the wrong directions while the conflict slowly unfolds and heads towards a climax.

Beverly is a character you are fond of instantly. She is a lot younger than the other mothers and feels inferior not only due to her age but also senses that she needs to do better than the fellow moms to avoid being looked down on. Being a single parent is hard enough, for her, the pressure put on her from the outside makes it even harder. She only wants the best for Riley and is willing to put her personal luck second which is quite a compassionate attitude. That she becomes the focus of a villain seems unfair even though you are aware from the beginning that she, too, has some secrets which might be rather nasty.

A brilliantly crafted psychological thriller with some unexpected turns that kept me riveted from the beginning to the end. show less

Three Hours Late is the second heart wrenching novel by author Nicole Trope. Having been blown away by her debut, The Boy Under the Table, I had high expectations for this follow up and I wasn't disappointed.

After Liz hugs her toddler son goodbye and watches him leave with her estranged husband for an access visit, she leans against the door and berates herself for her weaknesses. Despite finding the courage to leave her volatile husband, Liz is still reluctant to let go of the man he can be show more when not hurling demands, insults and punches at her. Standing there, she resolves to be stronger, when Alex returns Luke at 2 o'clock they will talk and Liz will make sure he understands their marriage is over. But Alex is late and as Liz frantically watches the time pass she begins to wonder just how far Alex will go to punish her.

I read Three Hours Late with a breathless sense of anticipation. From the moment Alex fails to return with Luke on time, the tension is unbearable as the minutes tick by.

It's with keen insight and compassion that Trope unravels the thought process of an abused woman, laying bare Liz's battered psyche to reveal the history of her marriage and her confusion and shame about its collapse. Though it may be politically incorrect, I have to admit my sympathy for Liz was tempered by my frustration with many of the choices she makes. Intellectually I understand how the dynamic of domestic violence develops but at the same time it is incomprehensible to me that women allow the cycle to repeat ad nauseum.

Incredibly, I actually developed some sense of empathy for Alex. His background reveals his actions perpetuate the cycle of misogyny and domestic violence that destroyed his own parents marriage. Yet Alex's breathtaking lack of self awareness is both pitiable and infuriating. I think Trope is brave to give Alex a voice that brings some balance the horror of the situation, it is more comfortable to believe Alex is a monster than simply a troubled man drowning in emotional pain.

The narrative is also shared by members of Liz's family, members of her domestic violence support group and the police who provide different perspectives on the issues that contribute to and perpetuate domestic violence, and its distressing consequences.

Three Hours Late is a compelling and confronting novel, probing an emotive issue with sensitivity. Though a novel skewed towards an adult audience, I think this should be compulsory reading for mature teens who could benefit enormously from Liz's hindsight. I found Three Hours Late impossible to put down and I recommend it without hesitation. show less

A Mother Always Knows by Nicole Trope is an excellent, very highly recommended psychological thriller. This un-put-downable novel continues the story of Grace Morton found in the book Not a Good Enough Mother. A Mother Always Knows can work as a standalone novel, but reading Not a Good Enough Mother first will provide more insight into the characters backgrounds.

Cordelia, 24, has been estranged from her mother, Grace, for six years, ever since her father's death. Grace loves Cordelia and show more still texts her daughter daily. She sees in social media that Cordelia's boyfriend, 33 year-old Garth, makes belittling comments and doesn't treat her daughter like he should. Grace decides to travel from Sydney to Melbourne to be closer to Cordelia. She dons a disguise and manages to get a position as a temporary assistant at the law firm where Garth works so she can check him out.

At the same time, Cordelia is concerned that Garth is having an affair because he always seems to be working or need to go out at night. Now he hasn't been home or work for several days and she is concerned, so she talks to the police. Cordelia quickly becomes the main suspect in Garth's disappearance. Cordelia finally turns to her mother for help and Grace quickly figures out that there is more going on than her daughter realizes.

This is an absolutely superb, suspenseful, and intense psychological thriller that will grab your attention immediately and hold it to the twisty, explosive ending. The pace starts out fast and continues throughout the entire novel. There is so much going on and the tension ramps up with each new secret, lie, deception, and twist along the way. You might have to set some disbelief aside, but you will gladly do it to see what happens next.

Grace and Cordelia are both interesting, fully realized characters. There is a whole lot more to Grace than most people will realize while Cordelia is a little too naive and trusting at times. Trope does an exceptional job portraying a mother's devotion even to an adult child. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
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