The Secrets in Silence

by Nicole Trope

A hard-hitting, stunning novel about secrets and silence—and how sooner or later the truth must be spokenThere was so much anger brewing in the child that sometimes Alicia feared for all of them. And now she had gone and done this terrible thing. This terrible, terrible thing. Tara has lost her voice. She knows there was pain and fear but she cannot remember anything else. Now she can only answer the questions with silence. Minnie has buried her voice for years, losing herself in silence and isolation, keeping her secrets safe and her broken heart concealed. Liam finds refuge in silence; it is a place to go to when he cannot get the words out. Kate cannot speak for herself just yet. People are only separated from each other by moments, fate, and coincidence. One teenage mistake, one shocking choice, and one terrible night will lead to courage found, voices raised, and the truth finally spoken.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2014

About the author

Nicole 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

Reviews

[Pat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have enjoyed a number of Nicole Trope books to date. I picked this one up on sale from Amazon. Unfortunately it is my least favourite of her books that I have read mainly because it is so predictable and a couple of the young characters make some very dumb decisions. I’m also not convinced of the amnesia and bothTara and Minnie should really be charged with a crime. It’s just dumb luck that it all worked out in the end! It felt contrived and unbelievable. Which is weird because her other books are mostly amazing!

I couldn’t be bothered saying any more. I have really enjoyed her other books which have more suspense and drama and I would suggest you skip this and pick any of the others

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max and Alicia Sanderson find their daughter, Tara passed out and bleeding everywhere on the bathroom floor. Both Max and Alicia have no idea what has happened to, Tara and can't seem to see where all the blood is coming from. An ambulance arrives and Tara is rushed to hospital. Once they arrive at the hospital it is not long before, Max and Alicia are informed that their daughter has just given birth. Max and Alicia are shocked as, Tara is only fifteen and they had no idea that, Tara was pregnant. But now they must try and work out where the baby is for it could still be alive somewhere, but no one knows where, Tara gave birth. Once Tara is well enough she is questioned by everyone including her parents, doctors and police about her baby, but she not able to tell them anything. Tara is unable to speak and she can't remember giving birth.

Minnie is aged in her fourties and has lived a lonely life although she had the company of her mother, but she passed away a short while ago. Minnie is morbidly obese which is one of the reasons she leads a lonely and isolated life. After her mother passed away, Minnie found herself turning to food for comfort and before she knew it her weight was out of control. She rarely leaves the house, but luckily there are a couple of neighbors that she keeps in contact with. Minnie has had more than her fair share of being looked at or whispered about and she now finds it easier to stay home. But there are times when Minnie needs to go to the shops, but one day whist she is shopping she discovers something that will change her life forever.

Brent and his mates move into Minnie's neighborhood and it seems none of the neighbors are pleased. Brent and his mates play loud music to all hours and their bad language can be heard by all the residents. On the rare occasion when Minnie goes out she passes, Brent house and she knows she is being watched and feels quite uneasy. Soon after Brent and his mates arrived in the neighborhood a few things happen, but of course nothing can be proved even though everyone knows who is responsible. The residents just hope that in time they will move on and everyone can go back to living in a quiet area. But one day things turn bad and Minnie fears for life.

What a fantastic read by Aussie author, Nicole Trope. This book had me hooked from the first page right through to very last page. My favorite character in this book was, Minnie. Many times throughout the books my heart went out to her for she is someone who had lost her way, but she was a kind and caring person. A very gripping novel that I absolutely LOVED and thoroughly enjoyed. Highly recommended.

[Jülie ☼♄  · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story started off with a real surprise early on that I was not expecting at all. I have had this on my ready to read shelf for a little while now and didn't revisit the synopsis before launching into it, so I may or may not have set myself up for that surprise.
Still, it was just the ticket to hold me captive throughout as the story built into a deepening suspense with so many twists and turns all the time adding to a building sense of "how can they possibly deal with this".
And just when you thought it could still be alright...something else would turn up to compound an already untenable situation.

It is difficult to review this story without creating spoilers because the pace of the story was set at compelling right from the very first chapter and maintained consistently throughout.
So bearing that in mind, for maximum effect, I would recommend reading this book without too much background knowledge of the story...just plunge right in, it will be a bit cold at first, but you will quickly warm to it.
I think it could have had a couple of different endings and would have liked a bit more, but it was a suitable finish just the same.
4★s

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Minnie made her way to the rest rooms on the far side of the shopping centre, she decided she would head home to the comfort of the silence; the memories of her recently passed mother surrounded her there and made her feel safe. She and her mother had lived in that house all of Minnie’s life and she was alone for the very first time. But what she found, and the choices she made that day would change her life forever.

Alicia was terrified – screaming into the phone to the 000 operator to send an ambulance – her fifteen year old daughter Tara was bleeding; she didn’t know why but there was a lot of blood. When Tara regained consciousness at the hospital to the sight of her father Max and step-mother Alicia by her side, with pain radiating through her body, she had no idea what had happened. She didn’t know why she was there, or how she got there. And when she went to speak there was nothing…

As the days turned into weeks, Tara’s voice wouldn’t return, nor would her memory of those events which everyone said were so dreadful – the counsellor was kind, the police were annoyed and her parents were frustrated. But nothing helped Tara – she was in a big black void. She began walking to the park again where she just sat – sat and waited…

I absolutely loved this book! My second by Aussie author Nicole Trope, and the best out of the two in my opinion. The suspense and tension which built up just around three quarters of the way through were such that I actually had to put the book down and do something else. But I couldn’t stop thinking about it! A gripping drama which is told in two voices – Tara’s and Minnie’s – and exceptionally well done. I have no hesitation in recommending The Secrets in Silence highly.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secrets in Silence, Nicole Trope's third book, is an emotionally charged and gripping novel.

As Minnie stands in a bathroom stall, swaddling a mewling newborn infant in her scarf before placing her gently in the shopping bag she is carrying, Tara lies in a hospital bed, her head turned away from the concerned gaze of the doctor, the worried eyes of her father and stepmother and the frown of the policeman hovering in the doorway. 'Where is the baby?' they ask again and again, but Tara can't tell them anything... and Minnie, cradling a miracle, won't tell anyone.

From the dramatic opening scene of this story I was hooked and couldn't put this intense, moving novel aside. With compassion, tenderness, and searing honesty, Trope exposes a young girl's anguish, a lonely woman's joy and the two shocking incidents that bind them.

Each of the characters that help to tell this story take refuge in silence. While Tara feels she is literally unable to communicate, others elect to remain silent, Minnie to protect her love of baby Kate, Alicia to avoid confronting some uncomfortable truths, and Liam to avoid revealing his weakness. Eventually though, they must all find their voice in order to save each other, and themselves.

There is a constant undercurrent of anticipation throughout the novel and this tension compensates for some of the minor plot contrivances which connect Tara and Minnie in the aftermath of Kate's birth. The brutality of the conclusion is unexpected and a happy ending is not assured for any of Trope's characters, speaking out will be just the first step.

Like Nicole Trope's previous novels, The Boy Under the Table and Three Hours Late, The Secrets in Silence is an engrossing, affecting and poignant story I devoured in one sitting, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous talented author Nicole Trope is….i absolutely loved her other two books, The Boy Under the Table and also Three Hours Late, and this book is just as gripping, honest and thought provoking ……. The book revolves around 15 year old Tara who cannot remember giving birth, and Minnie who found the baby and thought she was given a gift from God to raise. A very hard book to put down, so was glad I read in the school hols when I had a bit more time to devour it…..This is a suspenseful family drama that I have no problem recommending……

[Kat (Books are Comfort Food) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am on the fence about this book. It wasn’t a bad book, but it had so many things that didn’t make sense. For example, Tara’s mom being a nurse yet couldn’t tell where the blood was coming from. Really? There were similar oddities that bothered me. Sometimes, I wrestled with the fact that everyone was screwed up, yet in life many of us are and we learn our way through stumbles, falls and forgiveness. I chose this philosophy and the book became more of the human study it was meant to be. It had well-written moments where people connected. Overall, it was a good book if you’re willing to wait for the sweeter moments. I liked some of the characters more than others. However, the 2 main characters I did grow to care for. I would have liked an epilogue.

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about a girl Tara who has a teenage pregnancy and other traumas in her life and Minnie a poor middle aged woman who has had her own sad life and their paths cross....won't give away anything...this is a must read... I am loving this author and lucky for me she has just released her latest novel, which I will start reading tonight.

[Arlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first book of Nicole Trope. I didn't know what to expect but it was an engrossing read.

[Melanie Worth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicole Trope's books suck me in and I can't put the book down until I'm done. I read this in a few hours today and it had me hooked til the end.

[Birgit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about silence and secrets. Tara can't remember giving birth but doctors tell her and her family she did. A very overweight Minnie finds the baby and sees it as a gift from God and decides to keep it. Tara's family wants to help her but she can't speak. Minnie wants to keep the baby and has to tell a multitude of lies. It's not a fast paced book but all the way though there is this underlying tension which all comes to a head at the end. It doesn't have a definitive all loose ends tied up ending but enough of an ending to know that it's going to be OK.

Nicole Trope writes about real issues and real life in a very refreshing, honest and thought provoking way. I have enjoyed all three of her books and eagerly await a fourth.

One tiny criticism, if I found out my fifteen year old daughter had had a baby I would want to know who the father is. That I thought was lacking.

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about choices, mistakes, fate and finding your own voice. If you love a plot with just the right level of suspense and family drama then this is the book for you. This is the first Nicole Trope book I have read, but I have her backlist, Three Hours Late and The Boy Under the Table, ready to read as I so much enjoyed the writing of Secrets in Silence. I was on the edge of my seat a great deal of the time while I read this book, I certainly could not put it down. What really worked for me with this book was how the story was told from the various characters, which were in some way inflicted by silence and isolation. Cleverly, Trope tied the characters and their stories together perfectly at the gripping conclusion of this novel. Highly recommend to fans, like myself, of Caroline Overington and Jodi Picoult .

[Bertha · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Emergency Services." "Yes, it's my daughter. I need an ambulance for her. I need an ambulance right now! My daughter is passed out and bleeding. She's bleeding everywhere."
From those first words author Nicole Trope had me hooked. This was one of the best books I've read.
This is a story about voices. It's a story about Tara who has lost her voice because of a traumatic experience. It's about Minnie who's buried her voice for years, losing herself in silence and isolation. It's about Liam who finds refuge in silence and about Kate who can't speak for herself just yet.
Nicole Trope is a brilliant writer she has a way of making the story flow from beginning to end. I don't give too many books 5 stars but this one deserved it.
I won this book from Goodreads.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive this book in a Goodreads giveaway. It's totally the kind of book I would normally read and I certainly wasn't disappointed. The plot flowed smoothly and the characters held a lot of credibility. I especially liked the way Tara's character was written as there were many points in the novel where I felt sympathy for Tara despite not knowing what had happened.
Sadly, I thought the ending was rushed, yet with an extra twenty or so pages this could have been remedied. But, all in all, it was fantastic book.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Another page-turner by Nicole Trope. Her stories are always gripping, relevant and thought provoking. She writes each character so well, endearing them to the reader with ease.

From the first dramatic scene, I could hardly put this book down. Each main character, for reasons of their own, have retreated into silence and secrets dominate their lives. Separated by mere seconds, their stories become intertwined and forever connected.

A great read.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by Nicole Trope. Gripping from the first page. Another example of how things that happen to you in your youth, can haunt you forever. How you think you know your children but you truly don't and how things can go unnoticed due to our busy lives. I think the scariest part of this book is the fact that people like Brent truly do exist! Looking forward to Nicole's next book.x

[Kathy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first line I was hooked!
I literally could not put The Secrets in Silence down and read it front cover to cover in one sitting.

I loved it, I found it well written, with an intriguing story line and the characters had me drawn into their worlds within 3 pages. I have already ordered Three Hours Late by Nicole Trope

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy moly, what a roller coaster ride of a book, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and i am loving this author, she captivates your from the first page and doesn't let go until the finishing paragraph :) I can't wait to read more of her books :)

[Pamela Pavkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secrets in Silence is a heartbreaking story written by Nicole Trope. This story has characters that will definitely make you want to reach in the book and shake them. I really connected with the young teenage girl, Tara, and the middle age obese woman Minnie. Tara has lost her ability to speak after a very traumatic event, Minnie has taken verbal abuse all of her life because of her size. But the three bullies in this story really made me angry. I love it when an author creates characters that you really like or really dislike because it makes the story come to life. I enjoyed the journey of Tara and Minnie, however, I wish there was more to the ending. This story really touches on problems that occur in today's society.

I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable response and all opinions are my own. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had no idea what I was about to read when I started this book - the beauty of a book club recommendation, followed by an eBook with no cover or synopsis to peruse before you get started. My younger daugher heard me discussing the first chapter with my rather older daughter, and she got incredibly freaked out. I found the story quite fascinating. It left me wondering how I would respond if in the shoes of several of the different characters. Don't know that I could be Alicia, living in the ever present shadow of a woman her husband is still in love with. Thought it was a little contrived the way the characters were all so neatly interrelated. The author provided an ending that seemed nice, but left a lot of ends untied if you think about it too much. Wish she'd given us a little more information about how it all really ended up.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was so much anger brewing in the child that sometimes Alicia feared for all of them. And now she had gone and done this terrible thing, This terrible, terrible thing.....

Tara has lost her voice. She knows there was pain and fear but she cannot remember anything else. Now she can only answer the questions with silence.

Minnie has buried her voice for years, losing herself in silence and isolation, keeping her secrets safe and her broken heart concealed.

Liam find refuge in silence, it is a place to go to when he cannot get the words out.

Kate cannot speak for herself just yet.

People are only separated from each other by moments, by fate and coincidence.

One teenage mistake, one shocking choice and one terrible night will lead to courage found, voices raised and the truth finally spoken.......

[Jo_Scho_Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because I love anything to do with Australia (even though there were barely any references to Australia within it, but never mind), oh and it was cheap on Amazon Kindle! Very easy to read, and the first two chapters had me absolutely hooked, so that was a great start. However, there wasn't much else to the story apart from the main plot and it was a bit too much of a coincidence how all of the characters became linked. But aside from that it was an easy and enjoyable read and I wouldn't say no to reading other books by this author.

[Sabrina Bilek · Rating 1 out of 5]

Na jaaaaa, mäßig spannend,alles sehr leicht durchschaubar , und leider dermaßen viele Zufälle, dass das mehr als unglaubwürdig wird .
Von den beteiligten Personen werden mehr als die Hälfte so dargestellt,als wären sie etwas dümmlich und das Ende ist das Unglaubwürdigste,was ich seit langem gelesen habe.
Minnie ist egal,dass das Haus abbrennt, die wirkliche Mutter belässt es einfach so,dass Minnie ihr Kind behält ohne Konsequenzen. Die 3 Kerle verbrennen und Liam kommt ohne Probleme überall schadlos durch .

Alles in allem der schlechteste Roman von Nicole Trope und nicht empfehlenswert.

[Danica Sketchley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t love this one as much as her other book I’ve read. It felt like it took a really long time to set up the story even though the bit that gets you hooked happened right at the start. Throughout the book the really long descriptions of things that happened in the past felt a bit unnecessary and got a bit annoying when you just wanna see where the actual storyline is going

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ended quick

Really enjoyed this book but then the end was just boom done. I would have loved 1 or 2 more chapters to really conclude the book. I get somewhat open endings but all her other books have a nice wrapped up ending and I really would have enjoyed that for these characters.

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by the wonderful Nicole Trope. This one was a little far fetched and left me scratching my head, but I was still gripped. Nicole Trope really sucks you in with her writing and I always feel like I'm on an emotional roller coaster when I read her stories.

[Bookphile · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a strange sort of book. It's a very slow character study, which is okay with me, but the story it told was hard to buy into. The ending also really stretched credulity. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't really like it either.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very readable book but I can’t bring myself to give it more than 3 stars because it was so unrealistic. If you can suspend your disbelief then you will enjoy it. Not bad but not the best of Nicole Trope’s books.

[churchclwindstream.net · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

Highly recommend this page turning heart stopping tear jerker of a book. You will not put it down until it’s finished and you will be left wanting more wanting the story to continue to see where Minnie and Tara go…..

[Erlene McKenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok but not as good as i hoped

After reading Boy under table i was really looking forward reading all her books. This was just too unbelievable for me.