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Forgotten
In a single day, a simple mistake will have life-altering consequences for everyone involved.
A moment of distraction, an unlocked car and a missing baby. How on earth could this happen?
All Malia needed was a single litre of milk and now she's surrounded by police and Zach has disappeared.
Detective Ali Greenberg knows that this is not the best case for her, not with her history - but she of all people knows what Malia is going through and what is at stake.
Edna is worried about the new residents at the boarding house. She knows Mary would turn in her grave if she knew the kinds of people her son was letting in.
And then there is someone else. Someone whose heart is broken. Someone who feels she has been unfairly punished for her mistakes. Someone who wants what she can't have.
What follows is a heart-stopping game of cat-and-mouse and a race against the clock. As the hours pass and the day heats up, all hope begins to fade.
A gripping, haunting family drama shot through with emotion and suspense.
A moment of distraction, an unlocked car and a missing baby. How on earth could this happen?
All Malia needed was a single litre of milk and now she's surrounded by police and Zach has disappeared.
Detective Ali Greenberg knows that this is not the best case for her, not with her history - but she of all people knows what Malia is going through and what is at stake.
Edna is worried about the new residents at the boarding house. She knows Mary would turn in her grave if she knew the kinds of people her son was letting in.
And then there is someone else. Someone whose heart is broken. Someone who feels she has been unfairly punished for her mistakes. Someone who wants what she can't have.
What follows is a heart-stopping game of cat-and-mouse and a race against the clock. As the hours pass and the day heats up, all hope begins to fade.
A gripping, haunting family drama shot through with emotion and suspense.
400 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2017
192 people are currently reading
1386 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Trope
43 books1,892 followersNicole Trope writes psychological thrillers about families in crisis and the secrets we keep from ourselves and others. She has always been fascinated by the stories behind the headlines and published her first novel in 2012. In 2026 she will publish her 20th novel with Bookouture. She is a USA Today and Amazon bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS, Canada and Germany. Her books have been translated into German, Italian, Polish, Hungarian and French and Japanese.
She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children
Current Publication: The Therapist-July 31st 2025
Next Publication: What Have You Done?-October 17th 2025
She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children
Current Publication: The Therapist-July 31st 2025
Next Publication: What Have You Done?-October 17th 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
May 12, 2022
EXCERPT: Malia is certain that if she can pinch herself hard enough she will wake up from this nightmare. She came to the 7-Eleven for milk, and now her baby is missing and she is surrounded by police. The sun's heat increases minute by minute and assures her that she is, indeed, in hell.
ABOUT 'FORGOTTEN': In a single day, a simple mistake will have life-altering consequences for everyone involved.
A moment of distraction, an unlocked car and a missing baby. How on earth could this happen?
All Malia needed was a single litre of milk and now she's surrounded by police and Zach has disappeared.
Detective Ali Greenberg knows that this is not the best case for her, not with her history - but she of all people knows what Malia is going through and what is at stake.
Edna is worried about the new residents at the boarding house. She knows Mary would turn in her grave if she knew the kinds of people her son was letting in.
And then there is someone else. Someone whose heart is broken. Someone who feels she has been unfairly punished for her mistakes. Someone who wants what she can't have.
What follows is a heart-stopping game of cat-and-mouse and a race against the clock. As the hours pass and the day heats up, all hope begins to fade.
MY THOUGHTS: Nicole Trope writes family dramas like no one else. She has my heart pounding, then stopping, my breath caught in my throat. At one point I felt like I had been punched in the gut, all the breath just went wooshing out of me.
Forgotten encompasses so many issues including mental health, gambling addiction, and child abuse all neatly tied into one tense and riveting story which is told from the viewpoints of four women: Malia, the mother of baby Zach who is abducted from his car seat; Ali, the detective who has a young child of her own; Edna, the elderly and childless resident of a boarding house; and Jackie, newly released from prison also resident in the same boarding house as Edna.
Forgotten is a hard-hitting, fast paced read that kept me engrossed from beginning to end. All the emotions get an airing with this read!
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#Forgotten #NetGalley
I: @nicoletropeauthor @allenandunwin
T: @nicoletrope @AllenAndUnwin
#australianfiction #contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #familydrama #mentalhealth #suspense
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 Children’s Literature. After the birth of her first child she stayed home full time to write and raise children, renovate houses and build a business with her husband.
The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.
She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Allen and Unwin via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Forgotten by Nicole Trope for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT 'FORGOTTEN': In a single day, a simple mistake will have life-altering consequences for everyone involved.
A moment of distraction, an unlocked car and a missing baby. How on earth could this happen?
All Malia needed was a single litre of milk and now she's surrounded by police and Zach has disappeared.
Detective Ali Greenberg knows that this is not the best case for her, not with her history - but she of all people knows what Malia is going through and what is at stake.
Edna is worried about the new residents at the boarding house. She knows Mary would turn in her grave if she knew the kinds of people her son was letting in.
And then there is someone else. Someone whose heart is broken. Someone who feels she has been unfairly punished for her mistakes. Someone who wants what she can't have.
What follows is a heart-stopping game of cat-and-mouse and a race against the clock. As the hours pass and the day heats up, all hope begins to fade.
MY THOUGHTS: Nicole Trope writes family dramas like no one else. She has my heart pounding, then stopping, my breath caught in my throat. At one point I felt like I had been punched in the gut, all the breath just went wooshing out of me.
Forgotten encompasses so many issues including mental health, gambling addiction, and child abuse all neatly tied into one tense and riveting story which is told from the viewpoints of four women: Malia, the mother of baby Zach who is abducted from his car seat; Ali, the detective who has a young child of her own; Edna, the elderly and childless resident of a boarding house; and Jackie, newly released from prison also resident in the same boarding house as Edna.
Forgotten is a hard-hitting, fast paced read that kept me engrossed from beginning to end. All the emotions get an airing with this read!
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#Forgotten #NetGalley
I: @nicoletropeauthor @allenandunwin
T: @nicoletrope @AllenAndUnwin
#australianfiction #contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #familydrama #mentalhealth #suspense
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 Children’s Literature. After the birth of her first child she stayed home full time to write and raise children, renovate houses and build a business with her husband.
The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.
She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Allen and Unwin via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Forgotten by Nicole Trope for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
August 2, 2017
5☆ Every Mothers worst nightmare.
A Compelling & Heart Pumping Read!
Wow what a story. Every mothers worst nightmare. Literally had me turning pages as I was desperately praying for a happy ending!
When Malia makes a rash decision to leave baby Zach asleep in her car whilst she popped into the nearest local store..... NEVER in her wildest dreams did she expect to come back to find the car empty and baby Zach gone!
My heart was in my mouth. I know we can all judge Malia but my god does she pay the price!
Malia is a mum of 3 struggling to make ends meet. Her decision to get milk that unforgettable day was because her 2 oldest children were playing her up demanding cereals. She felt no other choice but to go get milk!
I was literally shouting DON'T leave the car unlocked! Why not leave another child with the baby!!!
When Detective Ali Greenburg is given the case to find baby Zach she can relate to Malia's heartbreak as she too has recently lost a child. She is so determined to find baby Zach she isn't about to lose another child.
It really is a frantic search to find baby Zach alive and well.
I think alot of mothers will be able to relate to this story. Although I was annoyed at Malia for leaving Zach I could also see it from her point of view.
It's never ever right to leave a child unattended.
Forgotten highlights the dangers of this and it really hits home a strong scarey message.
Forgotten is a hard hitting, fast paced race against time. That keeps the reader frantically turning the pages desperate for a happy ending.
It's full of raw emotion and realistic characters.
Would I recommend this book.... without a doubt.... Yes!!
I received this book from the Publisher for free, in which I voluntarily reviewed.
A Compelling & Heart Pumping Read!
Wow what a story. Every mothers worst nightmare. Literally had me turning pages as I was desperately praying for a happy ending!
When Malia makes a rash decision to leave baby Zach asleep in her car whilst she popped into the nearest local store..... NEVER in her wildest dreams did she expect to come back to find the car empty and baby Zach gone!
My heart was in my mouth. I know we can all judge Malia but my god does she pay the price!
Malia is a mum of 3 struggling to make ends meet. Her decision to get milk that unforgettable day was because her 2 oldest children were playing her up demanding cereals. She felt no other choice but to go get milk!
I was literally shouting DON'T leave the car unlocked! Why not leave another child with the baby!!!
When Detective Ali Greenburg is given the case to find baby Zach she can relate to Malia's heartbreak as she too has recently lost a child. She is so determined to find baby Zach she isn't about to lose another child.
It really is a frantic search to find baby Zach alive and well.
I think alot of mothers will be able to relate to this story. Although I was annoyed at Malia for leaving Zach I could also see it from her point of view.
It's never ever right to leave a child unattended.
Forgotten highlights the dangers of this and it really hits home a strong scarey message.
Forgotten is a hard hitting, fast paced race against time. That keeps the reader frantically turning the pages desperate for a happy ending.
It's full of raw emotion and realistic characters.
Would I recommend this book.... without a doubt.... Yes!!
I received this book from the Publisher for free, in which I voluntarily reviewed.
June 7, 2017
Malia was completely stressed but trying not to show it – Aaron, her five year old son was demanding milk with his cereal, but they didn’t have any. Her three year old daughter, Rhiannon was echoing her brother. Finally in despair she bundled the children - five month old Zach still sleeping –into her car for the quick trip to the service station for the litre of milk. She was going to be late to work, the kids to childcare and school – but what could she do? And when she arrived, Zach was still sleeping; she knew she’d be quick – that decision was to change everything…
Detective Ali Greenberg had only been back at work a month, but she wanted this case. She and her partner Mike were at the service station, along with what seemed like every police team in Sydney. A missing child, especially a baby, tugged on the heartstrings of everyone and brought the police out in full force every time. Ali and Mike needed to move the investigation forward quickly – the weather was scorching; Zach had to be found soon.
With Malia’s parents rushing from Melbourne to be by her side, and everyone trying to help find Zach, Malia wondered if she’d ever feel “normal” again. She was desperately missing her little boy – he was overdue for a feed; was he hungry and thirsty? Was he crying for her? Would someone please just FIND HIM!
Forgotten by Aussie author Nicole Trope is an explosive, fast-paced and emotional race against time. The suspense is breathtaking, the narration is extremely well done - I needed to race through the pages to find out what happened. The author has written another dramatic psychological thriller which shows how one small mistake can have devastating consequences. I loved Hush, Little Bird and Forgotten is up there with it. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley, Allen & Unwin and the author for my ARC to read and review.
Detective Ali Greenberg had only been back at work a month, but she wanted this case. She and her partner Mike were at the service station, along with what seemed like every police team in Sydney. A missing child, especially a baby, tugged on the heartstrings of everyone and brought the police out in full force every time. Ali and Mike needed to move the investigation forward quickly – the weather was scorching; Zach had to be found soon.
With Malia’s parents rushing from Melbourne to be by her side, and everyone trying to help find Zach, Malia wondered if she’d ever feel “normal” again. She was desperately missing her little boy – he was overdue for a feed; was he hungry and thirsty? Was he crying for her? Would someone please just FIND HIM!
Forgotten by Aussie author Nicole Trope is an explosive, fast-paced and emotional race against time. The suspense is breathtaking, the narration is extremely well done - I needed to race through the pages to find out what happened. The author has written another dramatic psychological thriller which shows how one small mistake can have devastating consequences. I loved Hush, Little Bird and Forgotten is up there with it. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley, Allen & Unwin and the author for my ARC to read and review.
September 26, 2017
For the first half of this book I was thinking three stars. Chapters alternated around four women and there was an awful lot of backtracking going on as the author set up each character in order for the reader to understand their actions and emotions.
By the middle I was starting to stress over baby Zach and the length of time he had been missing especially due to knowing what kind of care he was getting. And then the police were so close but were they going to be quick enough and the tension just kept mounting. By this stage there was no way I was going to put the book down! So the second half was definitely 5 stars.
In all fairness I will give the overall book 4 stars. This was my first book by this author and I will certainly read more of her work now:)
By the middle I was starting to stress over baby Zach and the length of time he had been missing especially due to knowing what kind of care he was getting. And then the police were so close but were they going to be quick enough and the tension just kept mounting. By this stage there was no way I was going to put the book down! So the second half was definitely 5 stars.
In all fairness I will give the overall book 4 stars. This was my first book by this author and I will certainly read more of her work now:)
September 26, 2017
One litre of milk was all Malia needed, so she quickly fastened her three kids in the car and headed to the closest service station. What occurs next is every parents worst nightmare and for Malia, her life will never be the same again.
Before Malia knows it, she finds herself being questioned by police and her mind is just a blur. She didn't understand how this could be happening. All she wanted was a litre of milk and now her five month old baby was missing. She knew she shouldn't have left him in the car, but she was just going to be a minute and she could see her car from inside the shop.
The police and those who were searching for baby Zach had to act quickly as the day was starting to heat up, so it was crucial to find him as soon as possible. As the minutes tick into hours things aren't looking good. Where is Zach and will he be found in time or has the unthinkable happened?
WOW!!! What an incredible book that had me thoroughly engrossed. This had me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen, but then again part of me didn't want to know. (Hope that makes sense) I was totally engaged in this book from the beginning all the way to the end. Highly recommended.
Before Malia knows it, she finds herself being questioned by police and her mind is just a blur. She didn't understand how this could be happening. All she wanted was a litre of milk and now her five month old baby was missing. She knew she shouldn't have left him in the car, but she was just going to be a minute and she could see her car from inside the shop.
The police and those who were searching for baby Zach had to act quickly as the day was starting to heat up, so it was crucial to find him as soon as possible. As the minutes tick into hours things aren't looking good. Where is Zach and will he be found in time or has the unthinkable happened?
WOW!!! What an incredible book that had me thoroughly engrossed. This had me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen, but then again part of me didn't want to know. (Hope that makes sense) I was totally engaged in this book from the beginning all the way to the end. Highly recommended.
April 28, 2021
Totally enthralling a book I couldn't put down I loved every minute a harrowing plotline a thrilling end.
July 5, 2017
Malia is living every parent's worst nightmare. Needing to duck into the service station shop for a bottle of milk for breakfast she reluctantly made a last minute decision to leave baby Zach asleep in the car within sight of the shop. However, once in the shop she became momentarily distracted by her young daughter and when she got back to the car discovered that Zach was missing.
As the hours tick away without the police finding any leads on who might have taken Zach, Malia becomes more frantic and distraught. DI Ali Greenburg, in charge of the case, has herself experienced the tragic loss of a baby and is determined that Zach will be found. Many mothers will feel an affinity with Malia, struggling to make ends meet, busy with three children and a husband who is distant from the kids and not fully engaged in the household.
The story is told from the viewpoint of four different women, Malia, Ali, Edna - an elderly resident of a boarding house and Jackie - a lost and damaged soul. This works really well in building the suspense and emotion as the race is on to find baby Zach. Another excellent read from Nicole Trope!
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Allen & Unwin for a copy of the book to read and review
As the hours tick away without the police finding any leads on who might have taken Zach, Malia becomes more frantic and distraught. DI Ali Greenburg, in charge of the case, has herself experienced the tragic loss of a baby and is determined that Zach will be found. Many mothers will feel an affinity with Malia, struggling to make ends meet, busy with three children and a husband who is distant from the kids and not fully engaged in the household.
The story is told from the viewpoint of four different women, Malia, Ali, Edna - an elderly resident of a boarding house and Jackie - a lost and damaged soul. This works really well in building the suspense and emotion as the race is on to find baby Zach. Another excellent read from Nicole Trope!
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Allen & Unwin for a copy of the book to read and review
June 26, 2022
Nicole Trope gets me every time.
She’s so clever at writing these type of chilling jaw dropping dramas. This one didn’t let me down.
It’s about Malia who went for a pint of milk, looked around and her child was gone, missing. Next thing she knows she’s surrounded by Police.
Zachary is missing.
It’s a race against time, it’s a cat and mouse type of scenario however it’s got depth to it and things that come out that left me astounded.
I’ve not read a “missing child” kind of book for ages so this made a change for me to see that some authors really know how to bring in they’re audience. This author really does that.
She’s so clever at writing these type of chilling jaw dropping dramas. This one didn’t let me down.
It’s about Malia who went for a pint of milk, looked around and her child was gone, missing. Next thing she knows she’s surrounded by Police.
Zachary is missing.
It’s a race against time, it’s a cat and mouse type of scenario however it’s got depth to it and things that come out that left me astounded.
I’ve not read a “missing child” kind of book for ages so this made a change for me to see that some authors really know how to bring in they’re audience. This author really does that.
June 27, 2017
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Malia, a harried mother of three, is confronted with a decision one morning all mothers and families face at some point. Malia has run out of milk for breakfast and has two children in the midst of a tantrum, refusing to eat anything but their breakfast cereal with milk. Malia’s response is one I as a mother would also choose to take, bundle all three kids in the car and head to the nearest outlet to retrieve the milk. Only the split second decision to leave her youngest child, five month old Zac in the car whilst she purchases the milk at the local 7 Eleven, has far reaching implications for this family. Malia returns to her car to every mother’s worse nightmare, Zac has been snatched from the unlocked car.
Forgotten, by Nicole Trope, is the story of Malia’s decision to leave her infant son unattended in an unlocked car outside a local 7 Eleven and the fallout that ensues from this heartbreaking mistake. The police soon descend on the scene of the crime and assign Detective Ali Greenburg to the case. Ali is a woman who has recently returned to the workforce after her own personal tragedy. Although Ali caries the burden of the loss of her own child, she knows she is the best person to both crack the case and support Malia in her time of need. In this race against time situation to save the life of an innocent young child, a lonely elderly lady named Edna may hold the key to saving Zac’s life. Also out there is a woman in pain, extreme emotional pain, who is willing to risk it all to gain a second chance at having the perfect family unit. In the background, little Zac’s life hangs in the balance, as the authorities rally together to save him and deliver him safely back into the arms of his mother.
Forgotten is the seventh novel I have read by Nicole Trope and I am pleased to report Trope is one of those authors that I have both managed to read and enjoy all of her novels released to date. Trope’s style of writing is best described as an Australian Jodi Picoult. This latest novel, Forgotten and Trope’s backlist, are emotionally charged psychological based novels, focussed on issues relevant to everyday people.
Trope’s latest narrative focus puts the spotlight on the strains of motherhood, an issue that will easily strike a chord with a wide readership. As a mother of young children myself, the central topic of Forgotten moved me immensely. I have been in Malia’s shoes, I have run out of essential grocery items and I have faced that agonising decision over leaving a sleeping child in the car rather than grappling with a difficult shopping experience. These are the everyday realities the modern parent faces. It is hard and sometimes we get it wrong, it is a lesson that poor Malia, the mother and one of the main protagonist’s of Forgotten faces. It is also a situation that Trope handles with sensitivity and insight.
Trope’s narrative is delivered at a steady pace. Once I started Forgotten, like all Trope’s previous books, I experience difficulty in putting them down. Forgotten was read in one sitting, which doesn’t surprise me at all! Forgotten is a novel that will entice you to turn the pages at a frantic pace, as you get wrapped up in the fight to save baby Zac’s life. The narrative choice of employing four separate character voices to deliver their own version of the events of the novel was compelling. As a result, a rounded picture forms of this horrifying situation. Eventually, these distinctly different voices come together, as the book hurtles towards a startling conclusion. It was a shocking conclusion, but one I could unfortunately see coming.
Using four different points of view to compile this story gives us a four contrasting character studies. From Malia, the stressed Mum of the missing boy Zac, to the concerned old lady Edna, to the determined but vulnerable detective Ali and finally the emotionally damaged Jackie, each are sculpted deftly by Trope. As I am in similar life situation to Malia, I connected with her easily and quickly. However, Ali and Jackie are characters the reader feels drawn to. Edna is more a woman I felt sorry for, rather than connect with, but I could see how pivotal her part was to the story. The secondary characters in this novel are mainly the husband’s and although their situations highlighted some of the issues facing the fatherhood in today’s age, they were mostly unlikeable characters!
Forgotten is a story that gives a voice to modern parenting pressures, relationships and marriages. Within the novel issues of mental health, loneliness in old age, addiction, loss and jealously, which all have a role to play in this salient novel. One that will tug at the heartstrings of any parent, Nicole Trope’s latest novel, Forgotten, is an engrossing novel that I endorse with ease.
*I wish to thank Bookstr/Allen & Unwin for providing me an uncorrected proof copy of this novel for review.
Malia, a harried mother of three, is confronted with a decision one morning all mothers and families face at some point. Malia has run out of milk for breakfast and has two children in the midst of a tantrum, refusing to eat anything but their breakfast cereal with milk. Malia’s response is one I as a mother would also choose to take, bundle all three kids in the car and head to the nearest outlet to retrieve the milk. Only the split second decision to leave her youngest child, five month old Zac in the car whilst she purchases the milk at the local 7 Eleven, has far reaching implications for this family. Malia returns to her car to every mother’s worse nightmare, Zac has been snatched from the unlocked car.
Forgotten, by Nicole Trope, is the story of Malia’s decision to leave her infant son unattended in an unlocked car outside a local 7 Eleven and the fallout that ensues from this heartbreaking mistake. The police soon descend on the scene of the crime and assign Detective Ali Greenburg to the case. Ali is a woman who has recently returned to the workforce after her own personal tragedy. Although Ali caries the burden of the loss of her own child, she knows she is the best person to both crack the case and support Malia in her time of need. In this race against time situation to save the life of an innocent young child, a lonely elderly lady named Edna may hold the key to saving Zac’s life. Also out there is a woman in pain, extreme emotional pain, who is willing to risk it all to gain a second chance at having the perfect family unit. In the background, little Zac’s life hangs in the balance, as the authorities rally together to save him and deliver him safely back into the arms of his mother.
Forgotten is the seventh novel I have read by Nicole Trope and I am pleased to report Trope is one of those authors that I have both managed to read and enjoy all of her novels released to date. Trope’s style of writing is best described as an Australian Jodi Picoult. This latest novel, Forgotten and Trope’s backlist, are emotionally charged psychological based novels, focussed on issues relevant to everyday people.
Trope’s latest narrative focus puts the spotlight on the strains of motherhood, an issue that will easily strike a chord with a wide readership. As a mother of young children myself, the central topic of Forgotten moved me immensely. I have been in Malia’s shoes, I have run out of essential grocery items and I have faced that agonising decision over leaving a sleeping child in the car rather than grappling with a difficult shopping experience. These are the everyday realities the modern parent faces. It is hard and sometimes we get it wrong, it is a lesson that poor Malia, the mother and one of the main protagonist’s of Forgotten faces. It is also a situation that Trope handles with sensitivity and insight.
Trope’s narrative is delivered at a steady pace. Once I started Forgotten, like all Trope’s previous books, I experience difficulty in putting them down. Forgotten was read in one sitting, which doesn’t surprise me at all! Forgotten is a novel that will entice you to turn the pages at a frantic pace, as you get wrapped up in the fight to save baby Zac’s life. The narrative choice of employing four separate character voices to deliver their own version of the events of the novel was compelling. As a result, a rounded picture forms of this horrifying situation. Eventually, these distinctly different voices come together, as the book hurtles towards a startling conclusion. It was a shocking conclusion, but one I could unfortunately see coming.
Using four different points of view to compile this story gives us a four contrasting character studies. From Malia, the stressed Mum of the missing boy Zac, to the concerned old lady Edna, to the determined but vulnerable detective Ali and finally the emotionally damaged Jackie, each are sculpted deftly by Trope. As I am in similar life situation to Malia, I connected with her easily and quickly. However, Ali and Jackie are characters the reader feels drawn to. Edna is more a woman I felt sorry for, rather than connect with, but I could see how pivotal her part was to the story. The secondary characters in this novel are mainly the husband’s and although their situations highlighted some of the issues facing the fatherhood in today’s age, they were mostly unlikeable characters!
Forgotten is a story that gives a voice to modern parenting pressures, relationships and marriages. Within the novel issues of mental health, loneliness in old age, addiction, loss and jealously, which all have a role to play in this salient novel. One that will tug at the heartstrings of any parent, Nicole Trope’s latest novel, Forgotten, is an engrossing novel that I endorse with ease.
*I wish to thank Bookstr/Allen & Unwin for providing me an uncorrected proof copy of this novel for review.
July 11, 2017
Recently, I am finding myself drawn to psychological thrillers more and more. I am also finding myself ending up reading until 3 PM to finish one more chapter and then hogging the entire book in a day (or night)! Therefore, I am bit sleep deprived when I am writing this.
Bit Spoilery review - so proceed with caution ;)
This book is amazing – story told from 4 female POVs – Malia, Ali, Edna and Jackie. Generally, I'm not fan of multiple POVs, but here the story flow so smoothly, it really didn’t bother me at all. Also, all the POVs are 3rd person POV but Jackie has been given 1st person. The reading experience may be bit jarring for some readers but it didn’t bother me that much.
Malia is our story’s poor mother who is burdened with raising 3 children alone. She has husband but he falls back from all responsibility that should be handled and shared by a father. One fine day, where her husband Ian forgets to bring milk, Malia decides to go for quick drip to the nearest grocery store and ends up losing her the youngest son Zach within few minutes. At this point, everyone’s reaction would be ‘how could you?’
How could I not have checked? How could I have left him in the car? Why didn’t I just go next door to Mrs. Boulos and ask to borrow some milk? How could I have made such a stupid mistake? Where is he?
But after that we then go into psyche of a mother and responsibilities motherhood entails. After that, all Malia’s POVs are all about defending her actions. She has done terrible thing but why she has done what she has done – those minutiae are provided.
Ali is police agent who is investigating the missing baby case and she has her personal tragedy related to motherhood herself.
Motherhood can be so boring, so repetitive, so filled with endless minutiae, often forcing women to wonder what has happened to their lives. But she knows that if something happens to your child, the boring, repetitive elements of the day are what you remember most and what you wish back with every fibre of your being. Her heart breaks for Malia….
Edna is elderly living in lodge, sharing lodge to be specific, with odd characters. Most of them are x-criminals, and according to government deserves second chance in society. Edna doesn’t approve and constantly resents living in lodge afterwards….
Jackie is our convict here where she ‘finds’ a baby alone in a car and decides to take him for herself…Jackie is the most interesting characters of all and the trip inside her head makes you wonder if such people really exist? The answer is, yes. She is mentally sick but because she conceals it so well, no one notices there is something off with her. In her defense, she had terrible childhood and that translates into her obsessive behavior towards her husband and unkindness towards all children – whether it is her own or others.
The end was not so surprising at all – you can see it coming miles away but it really doesn’t dulls the enjoyment of the story. I really like my thrillers rather straight forward (no going back and forth in time, please) and without any kind of abuse (domestic or child). So, even though it was very predictable story, I enjoyed it immensely.
Bit Spoilery review - so proceed with caution ;)
This book is amazing – story told from 4 female POVs – Malia, Ali, Edna and Jackie. Generally, I'm not fan of multiple POVs, but here the story flow so smoothly, it really didn’t bother me at all. Also, all the POVs are 3rd person POV but Jackie has been given 1st person. The reading experience may be bit jarring for some readers but it didn’t bother me that much.
Malia is our story’s poor mother who is burdened with raising 3 children alone. She has husband but he falls back from all responsibility that should be handled and shared by a father. One fine day, where her husband Ian forgets to bring milk, Malia decides to go for quick drip to the nearest grocery store and ends up losing her the youngest son Zach within few minutes. At this point, everyone’s reaction would be ‘how could you?’
How could I not have checked? How could I have left him in the car? Why didn’t I just go next door to Mrs. Boulos and ask to borrow some milk? How could I have made such a stupid mistake? Where is he?
But after that we then go into psyche of a mother and responsibilities motherhood entails. After that, all Malia’s POVs are all about defending her actions. She has done terrible thing but why she has done what she has done – those minutiae are provided.
Ali is police agent who is investigating the missing baby case and she has her personal tragedy related to motherhood herself.
Motherhood can be so boring, so repetitive, so filled with endless minutiae, often forcing women to wonder what has happened to their lives. But she knows that if something happens to your child, the boring, repetitive elements of the day are what you remember most and what you wish back with every fibre of your being. Her heart breaks for Malia….
Edna is elderly living in lodge, sharing lodge to be specific, with odd characters. Most of them are x-criminals, and according to government deserves second chance in society. Edna doesn’t approve and constantly resents living in lodge afterwards….
Jackie is our convict here where she ‘finds’ a baby alone in a car and decides to take him for herself…Jackie is the most interesting characters of all and the trip inside her head makes you wonder if such people really exist? The answer is, yes. She is mentally sick but because she conceals it so well, no one notices there is something off with her. In her defense, she had terrible childhood and that translates into her obsessive behavior towards her husband and unkindness towards all children – whether it is her own or others.
The end was not so surprising at all – you can see it coming miles away but it really doesn’t dulls the enjoyment of the story. I really like my thrillers rather straight forward (no going back and forth in time, please) and without any kind of abuse (domestic or child). So, even though it was very predictable story, I enjoyed it immensely.
June 26, 2017
This was an excellent novel, a real “heart in your mouth” suspense, and I found myself reading it non stop, picking it up whenever I could and carting it around the house with me. This is the first novel by Nicole Trope that I have read and I have to say, she has a fan in me now.
Forgotten was structured in a manner that kept the tension ramped all the way through, and as the story progressed, so did the mounting dread and suspense. There was no saggy middle, no longwinded beginning, and no racing end. It just all flowed so well, fast paced, but not so much so that you felt you were missing anything. Structurally, this was an outstanding novel. The story was told from four perspectives and alternated between these evenly with new chapters, so you were always clear on who you with and this technique enhanced the pacing of the novel greatly. Given that this novel spanned only one day, Nicole did a fantastic job of weaving in back story for each character, and she did so in a way that complimented the story as it was unfolding in the moment. She told us what we needed to know, when we needed to know it, and this persisted throughout the entire novel, and as the tension ramped up, so did the background information we were privy to. This technique of dribbling it out within the context of each scene is a tricky sort of thing to get right and it’s no small demonstration of Nicole Trope’s skill as a writer that she pulled this off to perfection. We got to know a lot about each character in a short amount of time, but we also got to know what we really needed to know, which is an important distinction. I was very glad for the wrap up section on each character at the end, it would have been a disappointment to not know how everyone fared after the conclusion of that terrible day.
Onto the characters, which is my favourite part of any review, and Forgotten certainly has plenty of fodder for me to work with. Beginning with Malia, the first character that we encounter, the mother of the missing baby. I found her to be a highly relatable character right from the get go. As a mother of three children myself, all close in age, her daily grind brought back so many memories from when mine were little.
“Malia sees her own hand grab Ian’s cup and upend it on his head.”
I loved this. It was so true and so perfectly accurate, because all it takes is just one thing to come loose from a routine when you have little kids and your whole day can just begin to spiral out of control. A forgotten bottle of milk had no impact whatsoever on Malia’s husband, but for her, it was catastrophic. So yes, Malia daydreaming about her husband wearing his coffee at work while she navigated a domestic storm was highly relatable indeed and it made me love her from the start. My fondness for Malia continued to increase throughout the novel because in terms of character growth, Malia demonstrated this in spades. In the midst of a truly horrifying scenario, the domestic universe she had been working so hard to keep to together just unravels rapidly. Her husband is the very definition of selfish jerk, and as the day wears on, this fact becomes more and more apparent to Malia as his despicable actions and weak character are revealed. Malia becomes stronger, taking charge of her life, seeing with more clarity, and generally learning from this terrible incident and taking action to minimise anything else even remotely similar from happening again. Ian got what he deserved and I was very glad for it!
Detective Ali Greenberg was a character I really liked, for both her inner strength and her dedication to seeing the job through, despite the personal emotional rollercoaster she was on. I enjoyed the partnership between her and Mike, there was great professional chemistry and their team approach to working on witnesses and hashing out the case made for some good scenes. On a police note, there is a scene within this about three quarters through that sees a major, for want of a better expression, ‘stuff up’. While I found this appalling and sincerely hoped that the author was using her imagination rather than any factual info she may have encountered through research, I liked the way Ali and Mike handled the fall out from this. They were the type of police partnership that would make for a good police series.
Edna was an interesting choice to have as a perspective, and I will admit that there were times when I was questioning her usefulness. I should have simply trusted Nicole though, because once it became apparent to me what Edna’s purpose was, I appreciated the inventiveness of having even thought her up in the first place. Edna’s viewpoint really highlighted the way the elderly can be dismissed, yet they are in just as much of a position to observe what’s going on and to also react to their own instincts. I loved how Edna had to really question herself and her upbringing, deciding, even at her grand old age, that sometimes you just needed to go against the grain and follow your instincts. Her ending, without giving anything away, was extremely satisfying for me.
And now we get to Jackie. Oh my goodness. What a character. There are many ways to describe Jackie, but I’m going to just stick with seriously delusional, emphasis on the seriously, because this woman had no grip on reality whatsoever. But again, Nicole did a marvellous job at unveiling Jackie. Right from when we first encounter her, it’s apparent there is something not quite right about her, yet we don’t fully appreciate just how unbalanced she is at this stage. As the novel progresses, we become privy to more of Jackie, and bit by bit, we are exposed to more pieces of her inner self, until we are able to fully grasp the fact that this woman is completely out of touch with reality. She was quite a frightening character, her delusions were so entrenched. Here she was, out of jail only a week, and she undertakes an act setting herself onto a path to commit the same crime again, yet seems to have no idea that she is even committing a crime at all. I just found this entirely concerning, from a real life perspective, and given the mental health crisis within this country in terms of providing wide scale treatment, my mind had a lot of trouble getting past the fact that there could be people like Jackie walking around anywhere with no clear grasp on reality, just looking out for an opportunity to right whatever wrong they perceive themselves to have suffered. The character of Jackie brings forward that whole notion of nature versus nurture, as well, and while it’s hard to believe anything at all from the pages of Jackie’s perspective, her actions placed within the context of her upbringing make the entire idea of her being abused quite plausible. Even so, I still think nature had a hand as well, because even though she was treated terribly for a period of time by her mother, there was much to indicate a long term of being entirely unbalanced. Nicole did an excellent job of communicating who Jackie really was, and I want to make a particular mention of this because no one else in the story knew Jackie and no one else could communicate who she was and what she was like. It was left to Jackie herself, to completely unravel and act accordingly.
Once again, I don’t want to spoil any part of this story for anyone, but I want to make mention of the way Nicole discretely paralleled what Jackie did with the actions of a mother under a lot of stress. In the first chapter, when Malia is leaving the house and backing out of the drive to get the milk, she doesn’t immediately realise that she has left Zach in the house. This happens more than once, and we as readers can completely see how this happens within the context of all that is going on at the time. It’s no accident that Nicole Trope has added these scenes in, but it wasn’t until after I had finished reading that I appreciated their purpose. It contrasted well against Jackie’s situation, and it gives the reader much food for thought in terms of the legitimacy of what is brought up towards the end of the novel. If you haven’t read Forgotten, you may be confused by this entire paragraph, but I just really felt the need to point this out, to tell Nicole Trope, ‘I see what you did there, very clever!’ Because it was. It was extremely clever. Well done!
So overall, I enjoyed this novel immensely. It made for a great Saturday’s reading and I can highly recommend it to all of you who enjoy a good crime/suspense/domestic drama. I will definitely be looking out for more from Nicole Trope and have added her to my list of favourite Australian women writers.
Thanks is extended to Allen and Unwin for providing me with an advance copy of Forgotten for review.
Forgotten is book 34 of my 2017 Australian Women Writers Challenge.
Forgotten was structured in a manner that kept the tension ramped all the way through, and as the story progressed, so did the mounting dread and suspense. There was no saggy middle, no longwinded beginning, and no racing end. It just all flowed so well, fast paced, but not so much so that you felt you were missing anything. Structurally, this was an outstanding novel. The story was told from four perspectives and alternated between these evenly with new chapters, so you were always clear on who you with and this technique enhanced the pacing of the novel greatly. Given that this novel spanned only one day, Nicole did a fantastic job of weaving in back story for each character, and she did so in a way that complimented the story as it was unfolding in the moment. She told us what we needed to know, when we needed to know it, and this persisted throughout the entire novel, and as the tension ramped up, so did the background information we were privy to. This technique of dribbling it out within the context of each scene is a tricky sort of thing to get right and it’s no small demonstration of Nicole Trope’s skill as a writer that she pulled this off to perfection. We got to know a lot about each character in a short amount of time, but we also got to know what we really needed to know, which is an important distinction. I was very glad for the wrap up section on each character at the end, it would have been a disappointment to not know how everyone fared after the conclusion of that terrible day.
Onto the characters, which is my favourite part of any review, and Forgotten certainly has plenty of fodder for me to work with. Beginning with Malia, the first character that we encounter, the mother of the missing baby. I found her to be a highly relatable character right from the get go. As a mother of three children myself, all close in age, her daily grind brought back so many memories from when mine were little.
“Malia sees her own hand grab Ian’s cup and upend it on his head.”
I loved this. It was so true and so perfectly accurate, because all it takes is just one thing to come loose from a routine when you have little kids and your whole day can just begin to spiral out of control. A forgotten bottle of milk had no impact whatsoever on Malia’s husband, but for her, it was catastrophic. So yes, Malia daydreaming about her husband wearing his coffee at work while she navigated a domestic storm was highly relatable indeed and it made me love her from the start. My fondness for Malia continued to increase throughout the novel because in terms of character growth, Malia demonstrated this in spades. In the midst of a truly horrifying scenario, the domestic universe she had been working so hard to keep to together just unravels rapidly. Her husband is the very definition of selfish jerk, and as the day wears on, this fact becomes more and more apparent to Malia as his despicable actions and weak character are revealed. Malia becomes stronger, taking charge of her life, seeing with more clarity, and generally learning from this terrible incident and taking action to minimise anything else even remotely similar from happening again. Ian got what he deserved and I was very glad for it!
Detective Ali Greenberg was a character I really liked, for both her inner strength and her dedication to seeing the job through, despite the personal emotional rollercoaster she was on. I enjoyed the partnership between her and Mike, there was great professional chemistry and their team approach to working on witnesses and hashing out the case made for some good scenes. On a police note, there is a scene within this about three quarters through that sees a major, for want of a better expression, ‘stuff up’. While I found this appalling and sincerely hoped that the author was using her imagination rather than any factual info she may have encountered through research, I liked the way Ali and Mike handled the fall out from this. They were the type of police partnership that would make for a good police series.
Edna was an interesting choice to have as a perspective, and I will admit that there were times when I was questioning her usefulness. I should have simply trusted Nicole though, because once it became apparent to me what Edna’s purpose was, I appreciated the inventiveness of having even thought her up in the first place. Edna’s viewpoint really highlighted the way the elderly can be dismissed, yet they are in just as much of a position to observe what’s going on and to also react to their own instincts. I loved how Edna had to really question herself and her upbringing, deciding, even at her grand old age, that sometimes you just needed to go against the grain and follow your instincts. Her ending, without giving anything away, was extremely satisfying for me.
And now we get to Jackie. Oh my goodness. What a character. There are many ways to describe Jackie, but I’m going to just stick with seriously delusional, emphasis on the seriously, because this woman had no grip on reality whatsoever. But again, Nicole did a marvellous job at unveiling Jackie. Right from when we first encounter her, it’s apparent there is something not quite right about her, yet we don’t fully appreciate just how unbalanced she is at this stage. As the novel progresses, we become privy to more of Jackie, and bit by bit, we are exposed to more pieces of her inner self, until we are able to fully grasp the fact that this woman is completely out of touch with reality. She was quite a frightening character, her delusions were so entrenched. Here she was, out of jail only a week, and she undertakes an act setting herself onto a path to commit the same crime again, yet seems to have no idea that she is even committing a crime at all. I just found this entirely concerning, from a real life perspective, and given the mental health crisis within this country in terms of providing wide scale treatment, my mind had a lot of trouble getting past the fact that there could be people like Jackie walking around anywhere with no clear grasp on reality, just looking out for an opportunity to right whatever wrong they perceive themselves to have suffered. The character of Jackie brings forward that whole notion of nature versus nurture, as well, and while it’s hard to believe anything at all from the pages of Jackie’s perspective, her actions placed within the context of her upbringing make the entire idea of her being abused quite plausible. Even so, I still think nature had a hand as well, because even though she was treated terribly for a period of time by her mother, there was much to indicate a long term of being entirely unbalanced. Nicole did an excellent job of communicating who Jackie really was, and I want to make a particular mention of this because no one else in the story knew Jackie and no one else could communicate who she was and what she was like. It was left to Jackie herself, to completely unravel and act accordingly.
Once again, I don’t want to spoil any part of this story for anyone, but I want to make mention of the way Nicole discretely paralleled what Jackie did with the actions of a mother under a lot of stress. In the first chapter, when Malia is leaving the house and backing out of the drive to get the milk, she doesn’t immediately realise that she has left Zach in the house. This happens more than once, and we as readers can completely see how this happens within the context of all that is going on at the time. It’s no accident that Nicole Trope has added these scenes in, but it wasn’t until after I had finished reading that I appreciated their purpose. It contrasted well against Jackie’s situation, and it gives the reader much food for thought in terms of the legitimacy of what is brought up towards the end of the novel. If you haven’t read Forgotten, you may be confused by this entire paragraph, but I just really felt the need to point this out, to tell Nicole Trope, ‘I see what you did there, very clever!’ Because it was. It was extremely clever. Well done!
So overall, I enjoyed this novel immensely. It made for a great Saturday’s reading and I can highly recommend it to all of you who enjoy a good crime/suspense/domestic drama. I will definitely be looking out for more from Nicole Trope and have added her to my list of favourite Australian women writers.
Thanks is extended to Allen and Unwin for providing me with an advance copy of Forgotten for review.
Forgotten is book 34 of my 2017 Australian Women Writers Challenge.
July 5, 2017
Forgotten by Nicole Trope is a fast-paced race against time to find baby Zach after his mum Malia left him asleep in the car while she ducked in to a shop to buy milk. This is mentioned in the blurb, so don't worry it's not a spoiler, but the suspense quickly builds in the search for Zach.
Unfolding from multiple points of view, Detective Ali Greenberg is a realistic and likeable character while elderly nosy parker Edna is a terrific character. Edna lives in a lively boarding house and I really enjoyed her chapters.
Many readers will find Malia's harried career mum character very relatable and her reaction to Zach's disappearance heartbreaking. The disintegrating dynamic between Malia and her husband is explored and was also well-portrayed.
Despite knowing who took Zach, Trope is still able to create palpable tension and has produced a gripping read here. With short chapters and large font, I sped through Forgotten to reach the conclusion and I'm pleased to say it was a satisfying ending.
Nicole Trope is an accomplished Australian author with six previous novels under her belt although this is my first time reading one of them. I can highly recommend Forgotten and I'm very tempted to read The Boy Under the Table next.
* Copy courtesy of GoodReads giveaway and Allen & Unwin *
Unfolding from multiple points of view, Detective Ali Greenberg is a realistic and likeable character while elderly nosy parker Edna is a terrific character. Edna lives in a lively boarding house and I really enjoyed her chapters.
Many readers will find Malia's harried career mum character very relatable and her reaction to Zach's disappearance heartbreaking. The disintegrating dynamic between Malia and her husband is explored and was also well-portrayed.
Despite knowing who took Zach, Trope is still able to create palpable tension and has produced a gripping read here. With short chapters and large font, I sped through Forgotten to reach the conclusion and I'm pleased to say it was a satisfying ending.
Nicole Trope is an accomplished Australian author with six previous novels under her belt although this is my first time reading one of them. I can highly recommend Forgotten and I'm very tempted to read The Boy Under the Table next.
* Copy courtesy of GoodReads giveaway and Allen & Unwin *
November 30, 2025
Like many of Trope's books, Forgotten was a one-sit read. The multiple POVs and shortish chapters made the book hard to put down.
I do wish the focus had been more on the police investigation vs. the characters' backstories. Large chunks of the narrative served as an exposition dump.
Fortunately, I liked all the characters ... well, except for Jackie of course, but she's the villain. Oh, and Ian, Malia's useless, selfish husband. I'm not a fan of the mini redemption arc Ian got toward the end.
I do wish the focus had been more on the police investigation vs. the characters' backstories. Large chunks of the narrative served as an exposition dump.
Fortunately, I liked all the characters ... well, except for Jackie of course, but she's the villain. Oh, and Ian, Malia's useless, selfish husband. I'm not a fan of the mini redemption arc Ian got toward the end.
June 27, 2017
A moment of distraction, an unlocked car and a missing baby. How on earth could this happen?
All Malia needed was a single litre of milk and now she's surrounded by police and Zach has disappeared.
Detective Ali Greenberg knows that this is not the best case for her, not with her history - but she of all people knows what Malia is going through and what is at stake.
Edna is worried about the new residents at the boarding house. She knows Mary would turn in her grave if she knew the kinds of people her son was letting in.
And then there is someone else. Someone whose heart is broken. Someone who feels she has been unfairly punished for her mistakes. Someone who wants what she can't have.
What follows is a heart-stopping game of cat-and-mouse and a race against the clock. As the hours pass and the day heats up, all hope begins to fade.
This is the first book I have read by Nicole Trope. This book, for me was odd. Some of it I found really hard to read (heartbreaking) but some of it was just strange. I enjoyed most of it and it definitely won't be the last book by Nicole Trope. 4*
All Malia needed was a single litre of milk and now she's surrounded by police and Zach has disappeared.
Detective Ali Greenberg knows that this is not the best case for her, not with her history - but she of all people knows what Malia is going through and what is at stake.
Edna is worried about the new residents at the boarding house. She knows Mary would turn in her grave if she knew the kinds of people her son was letting in.
And then there is someone else. Someone whose heart is broken. Someone who feels she has been unfairly punished for her mistakes. Someone who wants what she can't have.
What follows is a heart-stopping game of cat-and-mouse and a race against the clock. As the hours pass and the day heats up, all hope begins to fade.
This is the first book I have read by Nicole Trope. This book, for me was odd. Some of it I found really hard to read (heartbreaking) but some of it was just strange. I enjoyed most of it and it definitely won't be the last book by Nicole Trope. 4*
October 28, 2017
A harried mother with 3 kids under the age of 10 with a hardly there father, makes one split second wrong decision, diverts her attention away from the baby sleeping in the car and all is lost.. The baby goes missing and there are no working cameras to capture this horrifying moment. And truths are revealed
Nicole Trope has written this story with the mother as the main character with all others playing their own part to add to the story
This is a fast paced novel, with good amount of intrigue and all the female characters play a strong role, the mother, the police inspector, the kidnapper, and the informant.
As every book which claims to be a psychological thriller with more or less the same story, this book too does what it claims, but with a strong police woman who steals the show.
There is not much intrigue in the story as the kidnapper also has a story line running along with the mother and police woman. Nicole Trope basically deals with the psyche of each woman and the reasoning behind their action.
It’s easy to judge people and condemn their actions but looking at the world through their eyes brings new outlook.
There are a few niggles like minimal intrigue, better police work and a newer concept which I would liked from the esteemed author but the book works as it is too.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Allen & Unwin and this is my honest and unbiased opinion
Nicole Trope has written this story with the mother as the main character with all others playing their own part to add to the story
This is a fast paced novel, with good amount of intrigue and all the female characters play a strong role, the mother, the police inspector, the kidnapper, and the informant.
As every book which claims to be a psychological thriller with more or less the same story, this book too does what it claims, but with a strong police woman who steals the show.
There is not much intrigue in the story as the kidnapper also has a story line running along with the mother and police woman. Nicole Trope basically deals with the psyche of each woman and the reasoning behind their action.
It’s easy to judge people and condemn their actions but looking at the world through their eyes brings new outlook.
There are a few niggles like minimal intrigue, better police work and a newer concept which I would liked from the esteemed author but the book works as it is too.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Allen & Unwin and this is my honest and unbiased opinion
July 1, 2017
A somewhat harrowing tale of two very different mothers covering the difficult subjects of child abduction and cruelty. Malia runs out of milk. From this simple issue her life turns upside down as her baby is taken from her car and the cracks in her marriage open up irreversibly. Malia's growing desperation to find baby Zach is set against the cold nature of a second mother who has been recently released from prison whose crime is gradually revealed.
The author also uses detective Ali to great effect. She also has different experiences as a mother and this pulls the story together as we feel the trauma of the search for Zach through her thoughts as well.
I found myself totally engrossed in this story and would thoroughly recommend it. Thanks to the author and TBC on FB for the opportunity to review this excellent novel.
The author also uses detective Ali to great effect. She also has different experiences as a mother and this pulls the story together as we feel the trauma of the search for Zach through her thoughts as well.
I found myself totally engrossed in this story and would thoroughly recommend it. Thanks to the author and TBC on FB for the opportunity to review this excellent novel.
July 8, 2017
As a mother of four, this is the stuff of maternal nightmares. Losing a child, the unknowing, the anguish, the fear, the guilt...all of this is masterfully captured in this story. I enjoyed how Trope developed the cast, each character contributing to the dynamic, each character their own real person that we get to know, question, engage with, and even roll our eyes at. I enjoyed how Trope brought purpose to each person, even the the elderly woman, a wonderful representative to the value of people so easily dismissed.
The plot steadily moved forward in a psychological drama that unraveled the investigation over 24 hours. The shorter chapters helped create the momentum that I normally like in my thrillers, thus keeping me engaged.
Overall, this was my first book by Trope, but it won't be my last.
The plot steadily moved forward in a psychological drama that unraveled the investigation over 24 hours. The shorter chapters helped create the momentum that I normally like in my thrillers, thus keeping me engaged.
Overall, this was my first book by Trope, but it won't be my last.
June 28, 2017
This was the first book I’ve read by Nicole Trope- I enjoyed her writing style and will definitely look out for more by this author. She writes with conviction , urging you to become invested with the story and keep turning the pages.
This involves every mothers nightmare with a baby going missing. Your heart is breaking and you are hoping this is going to end the way you want it to. A shortage of milk at breakfast has awful consequences and you are taken along with the characters.
The tension builds and you feel nervous throughout- you can feel the emotions of the family and the detective and feel the suspense and emotions throughout.
This involves every mothers nightmare with a baby going missing. Your heart is breaking and you are hoping this is going to end the way you want it to. A shortage of milk at breakfast has awful consequences and you are taken along with the characters.
The tension builds and you feel nervous throughout- you can feel the emotions of the family and the detective and feel the suspense and emotions throughout.
August 18, 2017
A captivating storyline, fast pace, believable characters and an all-round page turner. I couldn't put it down. I won an uncorrected proof in a Facebook giveaway by the publisher and loved every word.
June 19, 2018
this was seriously intense! Review to come.
June 26, 2017
Forgotten by Nicole trope.
In a single day, a simple mistake will have life-altering consequences for everyone involved.
A moment of distraction, an unlocked car and a missing baby. How on earth could this happen?
All Malia needed was a single litre of milk and now she’s surrounded by police and Zach has disappeared.
Detective Ali Greenberg knows that this is not the best case for her, not with her history - but she of all people knows what Malia is going through and what is at stake.
Edna is worried about the new residents at the boarding house. She knows Mary would turn in her grave if she knew the kinds of people her son was letting in.
And then there is someone else. Someone whose heart is broken. Someone who feels she has been unfairly punished for her mistakes. Someone who wants what she can’t have.
What follows is a heart-stopping game of cat-and-mouse and a race against the clock. As the hours pass and the day heats up, all hope begins to fade.
This was a moving and emotional read. A fantastic read. Bought tears to my eyes. 5*. Netgalley and Allen and unwin.
In a single day, a simple mistake will have life-altering consequences for everyone involved.
A moment of distraction, an unlocked car and a missing baby. How on earth could this happen?
All Malia needed was a single litre of milk and now she’s surrounded by police and Zach has disappeared.
Detective Ali Greenberg knows that this is not the best case for her, not with her history - but she of all people knows what Malia is going through and what is at stake.
Edna is worried about the new residents at the boarding house. She knows Mary would turn in her grave if she knew the kinds of people her son was letting in.
And then there is someone else. Someone whose heart is broken. Someone who feels she has been unfairly punished for her mistakes. Someone who wants what she can’t have.
What follows is a heart-stopping game of cat-and-mouse and a race against the clock. As the hours pass and the day heats up, all hope begins to fade.
This was a moving and emotional read. A fantastic read. Bought tears to my eyes. 5*. Netgalley and Allen and unwin.
Read
April 19, 2017I always enjoy Nicole Trope's books and this was no exception. Her characters are well drawn and she accurately portrayed the chaos, tension and love that coexist in many young families. Basing the story around a simple mistake that could have happened to many of us brought the subject matter very close to home. I liked the interplay between the main police officers and also the gradual revelation of a past situation that very much impacted the female officer's emotional involvement. The plot was a little predictable in parts but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. Nicole is very skilled at making her stories obviously Australian without having to introduce a parade of native animals. Her description of the summer heat at the service station especially, was very evocative. An enjoyable read!
July 7, 2017
Malia finds herself in a position that could happen to any mother, she has run out of milk and needs to get her children to school. She decides to go to the store and leaves baby Zach in is car seat while they get the milk. When she gets back to the car Zach has gone, this is every mothers nightmare and no matter how you feel about the mistake she made it will pull on your heartstrings. Ali the detective who goes to the incident has her own back story and she finds the investigation difficult but she is focused too. There are other characters in the plot and Nicole has defined them very well and they tell their own story. I really loved the short chapters and the fast paced, breath holding storyline.
You will want to hug your children and probably cry at this book so make sure you have tissues if you are reading out and about.
You will want to hug your children and probably cry at this book so make sure you have tissues if you are reading out and about.
June 27, 2017
First book I have read by this author. I have seen her described as an Australian version of Jodi Picoult and there are certain similarities between the two. A sad and somewhat harrowing story involving both the abduction and death of a small child. Not easy subject matter but I felt it was well written with believable characters and it definitely drew me in and kept me turning the pages to right to the very end. Will be reading more from Nicole. Thank you to TBC and to the author for a chance to read this title in exchange for my honest review.
July 6, 2017
Malia, a mother of three, leaves her baby asleep in her unlocked car, whilst she nips in with the other two to grab some milk. He is taken from the car and what follows is a race against time to find her baby.
The book had me gripped from the start, I couldn't put it down because I was desperate to find out if everything was going to work out for the family.
My first Nicole Trope book and clearly I have been missing out on a great author. I will be checking out further books to read.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
The book had me gripped from the start, I couldn't put it down because I was desperate to find out if everything was going to work out for the family.
My first Nicole Trope book and clearly I have been missing out on a great author. I will be checking out further books to read.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
July 7, 2017
First time read for me from this author .. it not my last . The story of a child been taken , and the race against time to find him alive !
Fantastic , realistic characters and a well written plot makes this book an instant page turner that will pull at every mothers heart string . My thanks to tbc reviewers for my copy
Fantastic , realistic characters and a well written plot makes this book an instant page turner that will pull at every mothers heart string . My thanks to tbc reviewers for my copy
January 11, 2023
Omggggg there was a point I was bawling my eyes out… like legit bawling/sobbing not a few tears.
October 18, 2017
Forgotten by Nicole Trope has everything I look for in a book – characters I cared for, a plot that kept me turning pages, and an ending that left me holding my breath, praying everything would turn out o.k.
It starts with one of those decisions every parent of a young child has faced I think. They are asleep in the car when your out running errands. Do you leave them sleeping whilst you run into the store (you’ll only be a minute after all) or do you risk a major meltdown by waking them up and taking them in with you? We will all probably say, when asked, we’d do the latter but in the moment, that’s probably not true; there are plenty of us out there that would at least give it a thought I’m sure.
So it is with Malia, who has not one child but three under the age of five, including newborn Zach. It’s been a hard morning when she makes her fateful decision. Her two oldest kids have been testing her last nerve, playing up because there isn’t any milk for breakfast. Zach, is fast asleep, and she wants to keep it that way.
So she leaves him the car whilst she runs into the shop to get milk, thinking she can keep her eye on her car the whole time. Only she can’t, and, when she gets back, Zach is gone and her nightmare begins. Nicole Trope does an amazing job here, creating a character I completely felt for when she was one I maybe should have had little sympathy with given what’s happened.
With a baby to find, local detectives Ali and Mike are called in to start the search. For Ali, a new mother herself, this is a difficult one and, as the story progresses, you see just how much it impacts her. You also see her determination to bring Zach home and her anxiety that she could lose her child. I loved Ali’s caring nature and her passion to support Malia and find Zach.
I got to read feel these first hand in the chapters that told what was happening from her perspective. They alternated with Malia’s but also with the person who took Zach, and Edna, an elderly woman who doesn’t trust her neighbour. And all this happens over the course of one day, meaning the tension rises with the temperature, as everyone begins to think there will only be one ending, and it won’t be a good one.
I don’t think I could have felt more involved in the search for Zach if I’d been part of the investigation. I felt every minute of him being missing and I couldn’t imagine how I would have felt if I was Malia. This book is 400 pages long yet it felt like it was over in no time at all, so engrossed was I in the story.
From all of this, you can probably tell this will be a book I will be recommending. I really can’t praise it enough. Loved it!
It starts with one of those decisions every parent of a young child has faced I think. They are asleep in the car when your out running errands. Do you leave them sleeping whilst you run into the store (you’ll only be a minute after all) or do you risk a major meltdown by waking them up and taking them in with you? We will all probably say, when asked, we’d do the latter but in the moment, that’s probably not true; there are plenty of us out there that would at least give it a thought I’m sure.
So it is with Malia, who has not one child but three under the age of five, including newborn Zach. It’s been a hard morning when she makes her fateful decision. Her two oldest kids have been testing her last nerve, playing up because there isn’t any milk for breakfast. Zach, is fast asleep, and she wants to keep it that way.
So she leaves him the car whilst she runs into the shop to get milk, thinking she can keep her eye on her car the whole time. Only she can’t, and, when she gets back, Zach is gone and her nightmare begins. Nicole Trope does an amazing job here, creating a character I completely felt for when she was one I maybe should have had little sympathy with given what’s happened.
With a baby to find, local detectives Ali and Mike are called in to start the search. For Ali, a new mother herself, this is a difficult one and, as the story progresses, you see just how much it impacts her. You also see her determination to bring Zach home and her anxiety that she could lose her child. I loved Ali’s caring nature and her passion to support Malia and find Zach.
I got to read feel these first hand in the chapters that told what was happening from her perspective. They alternated with Malia’s but also with the person who took Zach, and Edna, an elderly woman who doesn’t trust her neighbour. And all this happens over the course of one day, meaning the tension rises with the temperature, as everyone begins to think there will only be one ending, and it won’t be a good one.
I don’t think I could have felt more involved in the search for Zach if I’d been part of the investigation. I felt every minute of him being missing and I couldn’t imagine how I would have felt if I was Malia. This book is 400 pages long yet it felt like it was over in no time at all, so engrossed was I in the story.
From all of this, you can probably tell this will be a book I will be recommending. I really can’t praise it enough. Loved it!
July 3, 2017
A mother's worse nightmare. You just leave your toddler for five minutes, turn around and he is gone. Malia was a dutiful, good mother. She was also seriously sleep deprived, exhausted and at the end of her tether with a husband who was just that in name. Ian did not care for the "looking after" part of kids and with two toddlers and a baby of five months Malia found the whole business of the family on her shoulders.
The parallel story of Ali from the Police who is assigned to the case is also very much part of the story. Having lost a child to SID she is also a mother to a toddler of eighteen months and is paranoid about Charlie. She has never been able to give him to anyone else to look after and having returned to work, Charlie is in a day care with hourly messages to Mum to update her on his status. Unusual day care indeed!
The twists and turns in a case like this where someone who is mentally ill and already a felon, decides to pick up Zach from his car seat and take him home. Jackie believes that having a ready made baby will make her ex husband return to her obsessive arms. Tracking baby Zach is a nightmare as CCTV cameras around the shop are broken, no leads come up despite cross questioning of a series of people and the Police know that the longer the case lingers, the more remote the chances of Zach turning up alive.
Turn on to a home which is run by Robbie for felons out of prison and on parole and we have Edna who is worried over the residents of the home. Worried for her personal safety as well. It is Edna the oldest person in the entire scenario who realizes that things are not quite right with the latest resident and it is with this that a happy result ensues.
I was holding my breadth till the end. This was a good thriller and I am just glad that I got it no sooner I requested for it. It was a recommendation from a fellow blogger.
The parallel story of Ali from the Police who is assigned to the case is also very much part of the story. Having lost a child to SID she is also a mother to a toddler of eighteen months and is paranoid about Charlie. She has never been able to give him to anyone else to look after and having returned to work, Charlie is in a day care with hourly messages to Mum to update her on his status. Unusual day care indeed!
The twists and turns in a case like this where someone who is mentally ill and already a felon, decides to pick up Zach from his car seat and take him home. Jackie believes that having a ready made baby will make her ex husband return to her obsessive arms. Tracking baby Zach is a nightmare as CCTV cameras around the shop are broken, no leads come up despite cross questioning of a series of people and the Police know that the longer the case lingers, the more remote the chances of Zach turning up alive.
Turn on to a home which is run by Robbie for felons out of prison and on parole and we have Edna who is worried over the residents of the home. Worried for her personal safety as well. It is Edna the oldest person in the entire scenario who realizes that things are not quite right with the latest resident and it is with this that a happy result ensues.
I was holding my breadth till the end. This was a good thriller and I am just glad that I got it no sooner I requested for it. It was a recommendation from a fellow blogger.
July 7, 2017
This is the first of Nicole's books that I have read and captivated me from the very beginning. This story covers many issues from fractured relationships, parenting issues of a larger family and also covers the psychological issues arising from previous dramatic life events.
Every mother's worst nightmare comes true for Malia when the mother of three pops into the shop to grab some milk. The stressed mother makes the decision to leave her sleeping son Zach in the car, that one decision would be the worst and most life changing she had ever made. In those few short moments her baby boy Zach is stolen from the car.
I enjoyed the dynamics between Malia and her husband and also the compassion shown by Detective Ali towards Malia and how she interacts with the family. Ali has her own demons that she is fighting but her dedication shines through as she gives 200% to find Zach.
Let me introduce you to Jackie who hasn't been out of prison very long when, albeit due to probable mental health issues, take the unthinkable .... another mother's child. Edna who is the elderly lady living in the same boarding house thinks she can hear a baby, is she just a silly old woman hearing things? There isn't much interaction between Edna and Jackie as Jackie doesn't socialise with the other residents and keeps herself to herself. Nicole describes Jackie and her background extremely well and the narrative all slots into place.
Forgotten is a page turner and I personally don't think you will be disappointed.
Every mother's worst nightmare comes true for Malia when the mother of three pops into the shop to grab some milk. The stressed mother makes the decision to leave her sleeping son Zach in the car, that one decision would be the worst and most life changing she had ever made. In those few short moments her baby boy Zach is stolen from the car.
I enjoyed the dynamics between Malia and her husband and also the compassion shown by Detective Ali towards Malia and how she interacts with the family. Ali has her own demons that she is fighting but her dedication shines through as she gives 200% to find Zach.
Let me introduce you to Jackie who hasn't been out of prison very long when, albeit due to probable mental health issues, take the unthinkable .... another mother's child. Edna who is the elderly lady living in the same boarding house thinks she can hear a baby, is she just a silly old woman hearing things? There isn't much interaction between Edna and Jackie as Jackie doesn't socialise with the other residents and keeps herself to herself. Nicole describes Jackie and her background extremely well and the narrative all slots into place.
Forgotten is a page turner and I personally don't think you will be disappointed.
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