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The Stepchild

A completely gripping psychological thriller full of twists
Brief Description
Three-year-old Millie Everleigh disappears on a crisp winter's day, and nothing is as it seems... 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... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
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Releases 25th August 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "The Stepchild" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Three-year-old Millie Everleigh disappears on a crisp winter's day, and nothing is as it seems...

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. And 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.

Once the truth comes out, and all of our lies are exposed, will it be too late to save my precious child?

A pulse-pounding psychological thriller about family secrets, shocking pasts and the lies we tell ourselves in order to survive. You'll lose sleep as you race through the pages until the final gasp-worthy twist! Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Liane Moriarty and The Wife Between Us.

Readers love The Stepchild:

WOW!!!!! I couldn't put this book down, it was gripping from beginning to end... Had me on edge, I had to finish it the same day I opened it... A huge twist... WOW is the only thing after that last sentence I can say... It was too GOOD!!!' Goodreads reviewer, ?????

Grabbed me from the very first page and never let go... I loved this... Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen I was thrown an ever bigger curveball... Amazing... I never saw the ending coming!' NetGalley reviewer, ?????

WOW, WOW, WOW!!! My heart is still pounding! Amazing... Nail-biting thrill ride!... Absolutely unputdownable!! I read this in about 4 hours... I was on the edge of my seat.' Hockessin Book Reads, ?????

Omg, wow... Just wow. There are not enough superlatives in the English dictionary to express how much I loved this incredible thriller... Very very highly recommended by little old me.' Nicki's Life of Crime, ?????

Amazing amazing amazing. The Stepchild is brilliantly written. There is every kind of emotion that a person could feel within the plot... I adore Nicole Trope.' NetGalley reviewer, ?????

Wow, what a brilliant read this was!!!!!...It had me shocked and jumping up with joy all at the same time... I got so immersed... Could do nothing else until I finished it. Time totally stops when I'm reading one of Nicole Trope's books.' Goodreads reviewer, ??

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781836188971

Publisher: Bookouture

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 21 May 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Bookouture

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 196.0mm

Height: 128.0mm

Weight: 227g

Pages: 320

About the Author

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 between raising three children, working for her husband and renovating houses, she has published six novels. She lives in Sydney, Australia.

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