Nicola Trope – The Mother’s Fault

‘The Mother’s Fault’ is a psychological thriller by Nicola Trope. An author whose books I find so well written, gripping and always thrilling. I went into this book with high expectations and Nicola Trope, again, didn’t let me down. Let’s have a look at the synopsis

On a crisp winter’s evening, Beverly is cooking for her son. Eight-year-old Riley is climbing a tree in the garden, and Beverly smiles as she watches him. Nothing makes her happier than her precious child having fun – she never thought they’d be happy again.

The water on the stove is boiling, and Beverly slides in a handful of spaghetti. When she glances out of the window again, Riley is not there.
She races outside, her heart thumping. Riley is nowhere to be found.
Instinctively, Beverly knows that her son has not just run away. She knows this because of her secret – the one she has kept for eight years. The one that means she has no choice but to keep neighbours at a distance, that stops her sleeping at night.

She thought she’d made the right decision, that she was protecting her son. But now he’s gone. Could this be all her fault?
She’ll do anything to save him. Yet if she tells the truth, she could lose him forever…

We are told the story from three different perspectives; Beverly, her eight-year-old son, Riley and a person who we don’t know. This gives us a closer overall picture of these three. Nicola Trope has the skill that immediately puts you in the head of a worried mum when the story gives you Beverly’s point of view, when the story turns to Riley, you are that eight year old. Even the unknown character puts you straight in that position. All of the characters are authentic and well-drawn so you easily relate to, well the majority anyway!

A tense, thrilling and fast-paced read that is full of red herrings and an unpredictability that kept me glued to this book. I found that every time I thought I had it all worked out something came along and shattered my ideas! This is the type of book that has you questioning everything right from the start with its immersive and intriguing plot. That’s not even mentioning the chilling moments in which the tension is almost palpable.

Nicola Trope has again brought a story that proves she is at the top of her game and I can’t wait to read her next book.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the copy of this fantastic book.