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Bring Him Home
Originally titled The Child Who Was Silent
Where is he? Where’s my beloved child with his father’s blue eyes and a halo of golden curls? My little boy is out there on his own. Please keep him safe, I silently beg, please, please just keep him safe.
‘Your son is missing,’ they say, and life as I know it is over. ‘Where would he go?’ the police ask. ‘Where would he be?’ my daughter begs.
My heart races as images flash in my mind. The cabin we rent every autumn, surrounded by fiery red maple trees. Voices raised. Tears falling. A marriage falling apart. And worst of all my husband telling our child, Theo, to run.
The rest is a blank in my memory. If I close my eyes I can almost see it. A betrayal that has left me alone, in tatters, grieving for what we had.
It wasn’t meant to be like that. It should have been precious time as a family, with boardgames, walks in the mountain and pancakes for breakfast.
Instead my little one has vanished. ‘They are looking for him,’ the nurse told me, ‘but the storm is slowing down the search.’
The police think Theo has the answers, that he knows what tore our family apart. But I have no idea where he is. No clue if he is safe. And that’s the most terrifying thing of all…
A completely gripping, beautifully written and totally heartbreaking page-turner, which examines what happens behind closed doors, and the secrets that can shatter a family. Fans of Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain and Liane Moriarty will be totally addicted to this breathtaking novel.
Where is he? Where’s my beloved child with his father’s blue eyes and a halo of golden curls? My little boy is out there on his own. Please keep him safe, I silently beg, please, please just keep him safe.
‘Your son is missing,’ they say, and life as I know it is over. ‘Where would he go?’ the police ask. ‘Where would he be?’ my daughter begs.
My heart races as images flash in my mind. The cabin we rent every autumn, surrounded by fiery red maple trees. Voices raised. Tears falling. A marriage falling apart. And worst of all my husband telling our child, Theo, to run.
The rest is a blank in my memory. If I close my eyes I can almost see it. A betrayal that has left me alone, in tatters, grieving for what we had.
It wasn’t meant to be like that. It should have been precious time as a family, with boardgames, walks in the mountain and pancakes for breakfast.
Instead my little one has vanished. ‘They are looking for him,’ the nurse told me, ‘but the storm is slowing down the search.’
The police think Theo has the answers, that he knows what tore our family apart. But I have no idea where he is. No clue if he is safe. And that’s the most terrifying thing of all…
A completely gripping, beautifully written and totally heartbreaking page-turner, which examines what happens behind closed doors, and the secrets that can shatter a family. Fans of Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain and Liane Moriarty will be totally addicted to this breathtaking novel.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2021
718 people are currently reading
836 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Trope
44 books1,935 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: What Have You Done?-October 17th 2025
Next publication: A Perfectly Nice Family: March 6th 2026
She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children
Current Publication: What Have You Done?-October 17th 2025
Next publication: A Perfectly Nice Family: March 6th 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
March 29, 2021
This was a good story, nicely written but unfortunately I could never bring myself to actually believe it. There were too many coincidences for my peace of mind.
Nevertheless the story was emotional, Theo was an absolute charmer and there was plenty of tension about what was going to happen. Still somehow I was never involved in what was happening and it was easy to put the book down when real,life called.
I can understand why people are rating it highly.It just wasn't for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book
Nevertheless the story was emotional, Theo was an absolute charmer and there was plenty of tension about what was going to happen. Still somehow I was never involved in what was happening and it was easy to put the book down when real,life called.
I can understand why people are rating it highly.It just wasn't for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book
March 27, 2021
Kaycee was at the bar where she was every Saturday night, when she received a phone call to say her parents had been involved in an incident. Kaycee was also drunk, but Jonah took her to the Blue Mountains where the holiday cabin was, and where she learned her brother, Theo, autistic and non verbal, was missing. The disgust Kaycee felt at herself, the fear she felt at the possibility of losing her whole family, the terror she felt when she thought of eleven-year-old Theo out there alone in the storm. Kaycee vowed things would change…
With Cecelia in the hospital bed, bruised and fearful, unable to speak; Nick, her husband, fighting for his life in surgery, the surgeons unsure if he would make it, and Theo missing, Cecelia was grateful to see Kaycee by her side. But still she couldn’t talk, she was afraid to remember, afraid of what would happen. Would Theo be found? The storm was violent, he would be cold – the search wasn’t able to go into full swing because of the weather.
Bring Him Home (originally titled The Child Who was Silent) is a breathtakingly brilliant novel by accomplished Aussie writer, Nicole Trope, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I couldn’t put it down; the pace was electric, my worry for the safety of Theo, especially as I neared the ending, was real. The characters were exceptionally well written, with most touching my heart. I wanted to hug Rose, especially when she started singing ‘This Little Light of Mine’. Bring Him Home is, in my opinion, the author’s best in a while and also, one I highly recommend.
With thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
With Cecelia in the hospital bed, bruised and fearful, unable to speak; Nick, her husband, fighting for his life in surgery, the surgeons unsure if he would make it, and Theo missing, Cecelia was grateful to see Kaycee by her side. But still she couldn’t talk, she was afraid to remember, afraid of what would happen. Would Theo be found? The storm was violent, he would be cold – the search wasn’t able to go into full swing because of the weather.
Bring Him Home (originally titled The Child Who was Silent) is a breathtakingly brilliant novel by accomplished Aussie writer, Nicole Trope, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I couldn’t put it down; the pace was electric, my worry for the safety of Theo, especially as I neared the ending, was real. The characters were exceptionally well written, with most touching my heart. I wanted to hug Rose, especially when she started singing ‘This Little Light of Mine’. Bring Him Home is, in my opinion, the author’s best in a while and also, one I highly recommend.
With thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2021
4.5 stars
Nicole Trope has depicted, with stark reality, a family on the edge of collapse in this intriguing and moving story.
Told through the eyes of multiple characters with a compelling mystery running through the heart of the story Trope explores the complexity of PTSD when Cecilia is found leaning over her injured husband with a knife in her hand. She is unable to speak and can't remember what happened.
Set in the holiday cabins in the heart of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. The area is deluged by rain and communications have been cut which adds to the tense atmosphere.
The couples autistic son, Theo, is missing. Through Theo Trope explores the mind of an autistic child. Although I know nothing about autism it came across as believable.
Eighty-four year old Rose who has lived in one of the cabins all her life gives us a view of autism in the 50's & 60's as she looks back at the prejudices and problems she faced with her autistic brother and the lack of support and understanding then.
I have to admit Theo and Rose really stole the show in this story. Rose's story is heartbreaking. She is a strong determined woman and she had wonderful support from her nephew.
Teenaged Kaycee highlights the affect having a sibling with a disability has on siblings.
The story is filled with villains and heroes and a few twists and turns that will have you reeling. However ultimately it is a story of family, of supporting each other in times of crisis and an undying connection that goes beyond the grave.
This is an easy read which had me totally immersed and staying up late to finish the story.
*I received my copy from the publisher via Netgalley
Nicole Trope has depicted, with stark reality, a family on the edge of collapse in this intriguing and moving story.
Told through the eyes of multiple characters with a compelling mystery running through the heart of the story Trope explores the complexity of PTSD when Cecilia is found leaning over her injured husband with a knife in her hand. She is unable to speak and can't remember what happened.
Set in the holiday cabins in the heart of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. The area is deluged by rain and communications have been cut which adds to the tense atmosphere.
The couples autistic son, Theo, is missing. Through Theo Trope explores the mind of an autistic child. Although I know nothing about autism it came across as believable.
Eighty-four year old Rose who has lived in one of the cabins all her life gives us a view of autism in the 50's & 60's as she looks back at the prejudices and problems she faced with her autistic brother and the lack of support and understanding then.
I have to admit Theo and Rose really stole the show in this story. Rose's story is heartbreaking. She is a strong determined woman and she had wonderful support from her nephew.
Teenaged Kaycee highlights the affect having a sibling with a disability has on siblings.
The story is filled with villains and heroes and a few twists and turns that will have you reeling. However ultimately it is a story of family, of supporting each other in times of crisis and an undying connection that goes beyond the grave.
This is an easy read which had me totally immersed and staying up late to finish the story.
*I received my copy from the publisher via Netgalley
August 28, 2025
~4.5~
The cover and description are both misleading. The boy on the cover looks 6, maybe 7. Theo is 11 and tall for his age. Moreover, Theo, as the blurb implies, didn't run away. He was told to run and get help, and that's what he did.
This story isn't about Theo vanishing. It's about a crime Theo witnessed. It's not about searching for Theo. It's about what Theo saw, what he knows, whom he can trust.
I don't know why the publisher chose to market Bring Him Home this way (even the title doesn't fit), but it doesn't do the book justice.
Told from multiple POVs, including Theo's (who's on the autism spectrum and nonverbal) and Rose's (an 85-year-old recluse who grew up with an autistic brother), this story is about what it means to be a family, secrets buried but not forgotten, the invisible strings that bind us, and the human connections we all seek.
The characters are multi-layered and interesting, their voices distinct.
Most of the narrative is set in the present, but Rose's memories give us a glimpse of another time, one where there was no word for "autism" and neurodivergent people were treated no better than cattle bound for slaughter. How many people lived and died like Rose's brother Lionel? It doesn't bear thinking about.
The story moves at a fast clip, careening toward the inevitable conclusion. Readers will figure out what happened to make Theo run for help prior to the big reveal, but it doesn't make this intricately plotted story any less exciting or poignant.
I've read three Nicole Trope books so far and liked them all, but this one's my favorite.
The cover and description are both misleading. The boy on the cover looks 6, maybe 7. Theo is 11 and tall for his age. Moreover, Theo, as the blurb implies, didn't run away. He was told to run and get help, and that's what he did.
This story isn't about Theo vanishing. It's about a crime Theo witnessed. It's not about searching for Theo. It's about what Theo saw, what he knows, whom he can trust.
I don't know why the publisher chose to market Bring Him Home this way (even the title doesn't fit), but it doesn't do the book justice.
Told from multiple POVs, including Theo's (who's on the autism spectrum and nonverbal) and Rose's (an 85-year-old recluse who grew up with an autistic brother), this story is about what it means to be a family, secrets buried but not forgotten, the invisible strings that bind us, and the human connections we all seek.
The characters are multi-layered and interesting, their voices distinct.
Most of the narrative is set in the present, but Rose's memories give us a glimpse of another time, one where there was no word for "autism" and neurodivergent people were treated no better than cattle bound for slaughter. How many people lived and died like Rose's brother Lionel? It doesn't bear thinking about.
The story moves at a fast clip, careening toward the inevitable conclusion. Readers will figure out what happened to make Theo run for help prior to the big reveal, but it doesn't make this intricately plotted story any less exciting or poignant.
I've read three Nicole Trope books so far and liked them all, but this one's my favorite.
March 26, 2021
''Your son is missing'' they say, and life as i know it is over.
My heart races as images flash in my mind. The cabin we rent every atumn. Voices raised. Tears falling. A marriage falling apart. And worst of all, my husband telling our child, Theo, to run.
I'm quickly becoming a huge fan of Nicole Trope. This is the second book of hers that i've read.
Something bad has happened and eleven year old Theo, who's autistic, is missing. His dad had told him to run. But there's a terrible storm. Luckily Theo is found by the lovely Rose. Rose and Theo were my favourite characters. The story is told from multiple points of view. It's an easy book to read and it kept my attention throughout. The characters are complex and they all have their own backstory. This is such a poignant and beautifully written story. Have the tissues ready, you'll nedd them at least twice.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Bookouture and the author #NicoleTrope for my ARC of #BringHimHome in exchange for an honest review.
My heart races as images flash in my mind. The cabin we rent every atumn. Voices raised. Tears falling. A marriage falling apart. And worst of all, my husband telling our child, Theo, to run.
I'm quickly becoming a huge fan of Nicole Trope. This is the second book of hers that i've read.
Something bad has happened and eleven year old Theo, who's autistic, is missing. His dad had told him to run. But there's a terrible storm. Luckily Theo is found by the lovely Rose. Rose and Theo were my favourite characters. The story is told from multiple points of view. It's an easy book to read and it kept my attention throughout. The characters are complex and they all have their own backstory. This is such a poignant and beautifully written story. Have the tissues ready, you'll nedd them at least twice.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Bookouture and the author #NicoleTrope for my ARC of #BringHimHome in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2021
The Child Who Was Silent by Nicole Trope is an emotional read that, once started, I could not put down. I have previously loved books from this author, and this latest is, perhaps, her best yet.
A family is on the brink of collapse. Heart surgeon Nick, wife Cecilia, daughter Kaycee, and son Theo seem, by all outward appearances, to have it all. But beneath the surface is a marriage in trouble, a daughter who feels forgotten, and a son negotiating everday life while living with autism. A final trip to a beloved cabin will determine this family's fate going forward, though not in the way that any of them could have expected. When eleven year old Theo goes missing, the race is on to find this precious child who holds the key to unravelling the troubling events that have transpired in the woods.
This is a gripping story that will have you emotionally invested from the very first page. Beautifully told from alternating voices, and shifting between past and present, Ms Trope has created a memorable cast of characters who will stay with you long after you leave them. 4.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
A family is on the brink of collapse. Heart surgeon Nick, wife Cecilia, daughter Kaycee, and son Theo seem, by all outward appearances, to have it all. But beneath the surface is a marriage in trouble, a daughter who feels forgotten, and a son negotiating everday life while living with autism. A final trip to a beloved cabin will determine this family's fate going forward, though not in the way that any of them could have expected. When eleven year old Theo goes missing, the race is on to find this precious child who holds the key to unravelling the troubling events that have transpired in the woods.
This is a gripping story that will have you emotionally invested from the very first page. Beautifully told from alternating voices, and shifting between past and present, Ms Trope has created a memorable cast of characters who will stay with you long after you leave them. 4.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
March 30, 2021
She was seen bending over her husband, large knife in her hand. He had been stabbed in the chest. When the police arrived, she was almost catatonic. She has flashes of memory... staying in a rented cabin ... a marriage teetering on the edge ... and worst of all her husband telling their young son .. RUN!
Where is her son? The hospital nurse tells her the search for him has slowed because of the storm. The police think the boy has the answers to what happened that night. But she has no idea where he is. Did someone take him? Did he run so far he got lost?
Please, please keep him safe she thinks .... but if they find him and he tells what he knows, she may not survive. But if he isn't found .. how will she survive that?
This is a heart-wrenching tale of a family torn apart at the seams. A well written page-turner with solidly described characters standing in the midst of an internal and external storm, swirling with non-stop action. Suspense starts at the very beginning and holds steady until the final unexpected conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
March 18, 2021
4.5 stars rounded up. The Child Who Was Silent by Nicole Trope is an emotional read that I read straight through, once I started. This is my first book by Nicole Trope but I will definitely be checking out her backlist. The book opens with a tourist getting lost walking in the woods surrounding the cabins she is staying in. When she stumbles upon another cabin within the resort, she knocks on the door to use their phone. The door opens, and she finds a scene she never expected. Thus begins the investigation into who stabbed heart surgeon, Nick and where is Theo, their 11 year old son with autism?
This is the story of a family that is unravelling. Nick, wife Cecilia, daughter Kaycee, and son Theo present as a happy and successful family, but they are struggling. The marriage is in trouble, Kaycee is falling apart at university, feeling forgotten and second place in her mother's life, and Theo is the youngest child who is smothered by his mother due to his autism. This trip to the cabin is Cecelia's effort to begin the journey to put their lives back together, but what happened in that cabin? I really like the way this story is told. There are multiple POVs but they fit together well. I really liked all the characters, especially as I watched Kaycee evolve during this story. Theo is a great character. Yes, he has autism, but he has a lot locked up inside. Seeing him struggle and put aside his fears is a bit unrealistic (my grandson has autism and I know how difficult this would be) but it is done in a believable way. The addition of Rose, the older woman who lives in an isolated cabin was brilliant. I do not want to give the plot of this story away, but suffice it to say, there is suspense, some twists and edge of your seat moments. The alternating POVs, the shifts from past to present and the sinister character who flits in and out, all had me totally invested from the first page. I definitely recommend this story. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
This is the story of a family that is unravelling. Nick, wife Cecilia, daughter Kaycee, and son Theo present as a happy and successful family, but they are struggling. The marriage is in trouble, Kaycee is falling apart at university, feeling forgotten and second place in her mother's life, and Theo is the youngest child who is smothered by his mother due to his autism. This trip to the cabin is Cecelia's effort to begin the journey to put their lives back together, but what happened in that cabin? I really like the way this story is told. There are multiple POVs but they fit together well. I really liked all the characters, especially as I watched Kaycee evolve during this story. Theo is a great character. Yes, he has autism, but he has a lot locked up inside. Seeing him struggle and put aside his fears is a bit unrealistic (my grandson has autism and I know how difficult this would be) but it is done in a believable way. The addition of Rose, the older woman who lives in an isolated cabin was brilliant. I do not want to give the plot of this story away, but suffice it to say, there is suspense, some twists and edge of your seat moments. The alternating POVs, the shifts from past to present and the sinister character who flits in and out, all had me totally invested from the first page. I definitely recommend this story. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
April 1, 2021
Bring Him Home is the second book I have read from author, Nicole Trope. I do have to say Trope writes some emotional tear jerker stories that are not always an easy read, but they are heartfelt and honest and definitely unputdownable.
When the police arrive, Cecilia is left holding the knife while her husband, Nick, lies bleeding on the floor next to her. Cecilia is unable to speak and fearing the worst, the police think she has stabbed her husband and carts the both of them off to the nearest hospital. Their nineteen year old daughter, Kaycee receives the call from the police letting her know to come to the hospital as soon as possible as her parents have had an accident, but there is no mention of her young austitic brother, Theo being found. What ensues is a race against time to find Theo while a brutal storm pelts down all around them. Does Theo hold the truth of what happened in the tiny cabin?
This story is so raw and so emotional. We don’t really know what happened in the cabin other than Cecilia holding a knife over her husband as he is bleeding. What we do know is the family is fractured. There are problems in the marriage and little by little the full story slowly gets revealed.
The story is told through multiple POV’s including that of 85 year old Rose, a long time resident who lives in a cabin in the woods. Each story weaves together where we finally get to see the bigger picture as we put all of the puzzle pieces together.
Trope did an excellent job with Theo portraying his autism and you can really feel for this small child and all that he is going through while trying to get help while being nonverbal. His characterization was just phenomenal especially how he connects with Rose given her own childhood and having an autistic brother, though at that time autism was really not a diagnosis that was used for someone with a disability.
I really enjoyed this tory and felt connected to all of the characters and all of the struggles they went through individually. There is such a strong theme in this story as well, that of hope. And if you love emotional page turners I would definitely recommend reading Bring Him Home. This is a definite five star read for me.
When the police arrive, Cecilia is left holding the knife while her husband, Nick, lies bleeding on the floor next to her. Cecilia is unable to speak and fearing the worst, the police think she has stabbed her husband and carts the both of them off to the nearest hospital. Their nineteen year old daughter, Kaycee receives the call from the police letting her know to come to the hospital as soon as possible as her parents have had an accident, but there is no mention of her young austitic brother, Theo being found. What ensues is a race against time to find Theo while a brutal storm pelts down all around them. Does Theo hold the truth of what happened in the tiny cabin?
This story is so raw and so emotional. We don’t really know what happened in the cabin other than Cecilia holding a knife over her husband as he is bleeding. What we do know is the family is fractured. There are problems in the marriage and little by little the full story slowly gets revealed.
The story is told through multiple POV’s including that of 85 year old Rose, a long time resident who lives in a cabin in the woods. Each story weaves together where we finally get to see the bigger picture as we put all of the puzzle pieces together.
Trope did an excellent job with Theo portraying his autism and you can really feel for this small child and all that he is going through while trying to get help while being nonverbal. His characterization was just phenomenal especially how he connects with Rose given her own childhood and having an autistic brother, though at that time autism was really not a diagnosis that was used for someone with a disability.
I really enjoyed this tory and felt connected to all of the characters and all of the struggles they went through individually. There is such a strong theme in this story as well, that of hope. And if you love emotional page turners I would definitely recommend reading Bring Him Home. This is a definite five star read for me.
March 8, 2021
Kaycee receives a call at college that something horrible has happened to her parents and that her autistic brother Theo is missing in the bush. Bring him home has a wide range of emotions: anger, fear, happiness, regret, love and so much more. Theo is by far the star of this book, closely followed by an elderly woman named Rose. I like the sensitive way this book talks about autism. I want to give Theo a tight hug and sing "this little light of mine" to him. A great read. I will look for other books by this author.
Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the arc
Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the arc
April 2, 2021
This is a story where the chapters flick between the different characters. It starts off with a serious incident that has everyone asking questions.
There were three characters who really stood out to me through out this story and that was Theo, Kacey and Rose. The author gave me great insight into what it is like not just for a child with autism but for the rest of the family also. The chapters from Theo's point of view especially pulled on my heart strings.
I was quickly invested in what had happened and what was currently happening within the story. There were lots of questions running through my mind and I was desperate to find out what had gone on. Whilst things seem fairly straight forward, they are anything but and it made for a suspenseful and at times, tense read.
Bring Him Home was an addictive read that kept me turning the pages. I loved getting to know the characters and finding out more about them. The author played with my mind somewhat as I thought what happens at the start was pretty clear cut but I learned I shouldn't take things at face value and my thoughts on certain characters changed over the course of the story. I really enjoyed the authors style of writing and it had me totally engrossed. Great book!
There were three characters who really stood out to me through out this story and that was Theo, Kacey and Rose. The author gave me great insight into what it is like not just for a child with autism but for the rest of the family also. The chapters from Theo's point of view especially pulled on my heart strings.
I was quickly invested in what had happened and what was currently happening within the story. There were lots of questions running through my mind and I was desperate to find out what had gone on. Whilst things seem fairly straight forward, they are anything but and it made for a suspenseful and at times, tense read.
Bring Him Home was an addictive read that kept me turning the pages. I loved getting to know the characters and finding out more about them. The author played with my mind somewhat as I thought what happens at the start was pretty clear cut but I learned I shouldn't take things at face value and my thoughts on certain characters changed over the course of the story. I really enjoyed the authors style of writing and it had me totally engrossed. Great book!
June 27, 2022
Setting: Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia.
Amber is staying in a holiday lodge in the Blue Mountains but has got lost whilst out on a walk in the woods. Finally stumbling across another holiday lodge, she can't initially get an answer so goes inside - where she sees a woman kneeling over the body of a man, holding a blood-stained knife...
The woman is Cecilia and the stabbed man is her husband, Nick, a heart surgeon. The emergency services take them both to hospital - Cecilia is mute through shock and her husband is rushed into surgery. Only when the police contact the couple's daughter, Kaycee, do they realise that the couple's 11-year-old autistic son, Theo, is missing. In the midst of a terrible rainstorm, a search is launched for Theo....
The story is told from the points of view of several characters, including Cecilia, Theo and Kaycee - also Rose who, at 83 years old, lives permanently in a nearby cabin and encounters the runaway Theo.
This is a great story, as I have come to expect from this author - great characters and back stories to explain all that led up to the stabbing incident, together with much interesting information relating to autism - 9/10.
Amber is staying in a holiday lodge in the Blue Mountains but has got lost whilst out on a walk in the woods. Finally stumbling across another holiday lodge, she can't initially get an answer so goes inside - where she sees a woman kneeling over the body of a man, holding a blood-stained knife...
The woman is Cecilia and the stabbed man is her husband, Nick, a heart surgeon. The emergency services take them both to hospital - Cecilia is mute through shock and her husband is rushed into surgery. Only when the police contact the couple's daughter, Kaycee, do they realise that the couple's 11-year-old autistic son, Theo, is missing. In the midst of a terrible rainstorm, a search is launched for Theo....
The story is told from the points of view of several characters, including Cecilia, Theo and Kaycee - also Rose who, at 83 years old, lives permanently in a nearby cabin and encounters the runaway Theo.
This is a great story, as I have come to expect from this author - great characters and back stories to explain all that led up to the stabbing incident, together with much interesting information relating to autism - 9/10.
June 7, 2025
DNF 36%
Jestem tak znudzona, że nie mam w ogóle ochoty, ani potrzeby, żeby wracać do tej historii.
Jestem tak znudzona, że nie mam w ogóle ochoty, ani potrzeby, żeby wracać do tej historii.
March 17, 2021
★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Nicole Trope's emotional tale BRING HIM HOME (formerly titled "The Child Who Was Silent" ).
As a fellow Australian, I am a huge fan of Nicole Trope and am always looking forward to the next one (though I still haven't read them all...lol) Her books are based in Sydney and/or the Blue Mountains both of which I am familiar with and, although some places she does fictionalise, the areas about which she writes I can visualise. In BRING HIM HOME, the village of Mt Watson is fictional and possibly a play on the actual area Mt Wilson, particularly as one of the character's surnames is Wilson.
I also have to say that the original title "The Child Who Was Silent" I believe is a far better title than BRING HIM HOME because while it is a mystery, it is also Theo's story. And Theo is the child who was silent. I think they should have left the title as is.
The story opens with a young woman, Amber, lost in the bush and trying to find her way out. She comes across a cabin and hopes they will be able to help her find her way out. She knocks. There is no answer. The door is slightly ajar so she pushes it open whilst calling out "Hello?" She ventures into the living area and cannot believe what her eyes are seeing. A man lays prone on a cream rug with a woman seated beside him, holding a knife. Amber screams and flees the scene, calling for help immediately.
It is clear from the beginning that something has terrible happened at the cabin that day but Cecelia cannot remember anything. She remembers her and Nick arguing, something they have done a lot of in recent times, and then her husband telling her son "Run, Theo! Get help!" But why did he tell him to run? Was Nick scared? Of who? Of her? The police certainly think she stabbed him and now she is being held for attempted murder. But she loves Nick - why would she stab him? But she was found holding the knife. But try as she might, Cecelia cannot recall what actually happened. She only remembers fragments. It's like a sheet of opaque glass has been erected in her brain, preventing her from remembering. The psychiatrist they had come see her told her that it was her brain's way of protecting her. Protecting her from what? What does she need protecting from? The truth? That she DID stab Nick? But it's hopeless...no matter how much she tries she just cannot remember. And even if she could remember, she couldn't tell them anyway because when she opens her mouth to talk nothing comes out. Cecelia has become silent, just like Theo.
Her beloved Theo. Where is he? Nick told him to run and get help...but it's cold and raining relentlessly out there and Theo doesn't like shoes. He doesn't wear them. So he will be out in the cold, the dark and with no shoes to protect his feet from the bush. The police tell her they have a search party out there looking for him but with thie relentless rain it is hindering the search for him. She and Nick have always told Theo to shelter in place, they have instilled it in him. Shelter in place. So with any luck Theo will be sheltering in place somewhere out of the rain until somebody can find him.
Eighty five year old Rose has lived in her bush cabin for most of her life. She lived there with her mother, sister and little brother Lionel. But they have all gone now and it's just Rose. She loves to wake in the morning and hear the bush awaken. The sounds of the birds, the call of the wild. But this morning, Rose hears a different sound. Last night she thought it was possums under the cabin but this morning she's not so sure. Now it's like a keening sound of something, or someone, in distress. As she goes out in her dressing gown to investigate, she sees a shape and tells it "get out of here" but it soon becomes clear that it's a little boy. And he is clearly distressed. She softens her voice and coaxes him out and leads him back inside the cabin where it is warm. He is soaked through and wearing no shoes - he must be frozen to the bone, especially if he has been there all night. She asks him if he is hungry and he nods his head. So she gives him her toast. As Rose observes the boy, she is aware that he is different and not like other children. His behaviour and demeanour are similar to that of her brother Lionel, and society didn't understand him back in those days. But it's with her knowledge and experience with Lionel that she knows how to treat this young boy. She asks him his name and he starts signing rapidly to her. It's been so long she can't keep up with his speed and asks him to slow down. Slowly he spells out his name. Theo.
Rose knows from experience that people like Theo don't like to be touched. Instead she lets him lead. At the moment he is happy eating toast and lining up her sets of knives, forks and spoons. When he gets distressed about the odd number of them, she merely takes away some of the others to make them all the same. She knows people like Theo. When thunder booms loudly overhead, Theo shrieks and hides under the table. Lionel used to do that too. So Rose climbs down and sits under the table with him and, although he doesn't like to be touched, he does allow her to hold him tightly until the thunder subsides. But what to do with the child? What happened to him? Why was he under her cabin? Where were his parents? Someone must be missing him? She asks Theo and he begins to tell her in his broken language that he needs help.
I am Theo. I am help. Dad told me to run, so I ran. I get help. I found Rose. Rose is help. It's wet. I'm cold. I shelter in place. Mum told me "Theo, shelter in place." Dad told me to shelter in place. So I shelter in place. I found Rose. Rose is help. Too many words. Too much noise. I bang my head on the floor to stop the noise. But dad said "Run, Theo. Get help!" I get help. Rose is help.
BRING HIM HOME is a touching, poignant and beautifully written tale centring around Theo, an eleven year old boy with autism. The pace is slow to begin with and it is not until around 50% that the story really comes into itself and from then on I couldn't swipe the pages quick enough to reach the end. At first the reader is thoroughly confused as to what happened in the cabin and it is told in such a way that keeps us in the dark until just the right time. When the pieces began falling into place, I soon put them together so the ending wasn't a surprise. But that didn't deter me from enjoying this beautiful story.
The characters are well developed and are honest as well as vulnerable but completely likeable. While I was frustrated with Cecelia, who could speak, at her sudden silence. Why could she not tell what happened? At least, what she remembers? What was stopping her? Why did she not remember? And why has she suddenly become silent? The daughter Kaycee who came up from Sydney with the barman from the bar she was drinking at in tow to help find her missing brother. I loved Jonah. He was there for Kaycee and he helped with the search...and yet he didn't have to drive her 100+km to the Blue Mountains when she drunkenly asked him to. And he didn't have to stay either...but he did.
But my favourite character was Rose, who lives a secluded life in her cabin in the bush, carrying a trauma of her own from her past that still haunts her. She has a beautiful understanding soul and a heart of gold as she helps the family through her care, kindness and understanding with Theo.
Theo himself was a remarkable character also. Despite his difficulties and the challenges he faces with his autism, he understands what he is meant to do. Despite being out of his comfort zone, he reaches out for help and to help. OMG...there were a couple of times in the book that I was in tears with regards to Theo. I'm not overly maternal and don't generally cry over children but this...I was so moved by one particular scene that I literally bawled. It was so beautiful, so moving and oh so touching I could have cried...and I did.
Nicole has done a wonderful job in encapsulating the world of an autistic child, which must be a feat in itself. They see the world so differently to us that it is so hard to understand just what the world is like through their eyes. I think Nicole captured it beautifully. She made Theo seem so real and so relatable that even the most hardened hearts could have wrapped their arms around him...had he been comfortable with that. I will never hear "This Little Light of Mine" in the same way again.
Although I pieced together the twist and saw it coming, I still thoroughly enjoyed BRING HIM HOME...more than I thought I would. When I began and I found the pace somewhat slow and Theo's narrative very repetitive - but that's how it is in his world - I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the book as much as Nicole's previous ones. But I was wrong. Once that pace picked up and I started piecing things together, I couldn't devour it quick enough.
Beautifully descriptive and tender, BRING HIM HOME will pull at your heart strings and bring tears to your eyes. Have the tissues handy because there are a few scenes in which you will need them, so touching they are.
While BRING HIM HOME is a mystery, the focus is mainly on Theo. It is his story and his journey to get help for his family. It is for this reason I believe the titled should have remained "The Child Who Was Silent" ...because he was and he is the focus throughout. It is about learning about Theo, growing with Theo and then searching for Theo. It is about looking at the world through Theo's eyes and about understanding him. He is the child who was silent so for me that title is far more appropriate and fitting.
BRING HIM HOME is the story of a little boy lost, a mother traumatised, a father fighting for his life, and a daughter (who has always felt forgotten) left to pick up the pieces. A beautiful, moving and emotional read that I thoroughly recommend!
I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #NetGalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #BringHimHome #TheChildWhoWasSilent in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Nicole Trope's emotional tale BRING HIM HOME (formerly titled "The Child Who Was Silent" ).
As a fellow Australian, I am a huge fan of Nicole Trope and am always looking forward to the next one (though I still haven't read them all...lol) Her books are based in Sydney and/or the Blue Mountains both of which I am familiar with and, although some places she does fictionalise, the areas about which she writes I can visualise. In BRING HIM HOME, the village of Mt Watson is fictional and possibly a play on the actual area Mt Wilson, particularly as one of the character's surnames is Wilson.
I also have to say that the original title "The Child Who Was Silent" I believe is a far better title than BRING HIM HOME because while it is a mystery, it is also Theo's story. And Theo is the child who was silent. I think they should have left the title as is.
The story opens with a young woman, Amber, lost in the bush and trying to find her way out. She comes across a cabin and hopes they will be able to help her find her way out. She knocks. There is no answer. The door is slightly ajar so she pushes it open whilst calling out "Hello?" She ventures into the living area and cannot believe what her eyes are seeing. A man lays prone on a cream rug with a woman seated beside him, holding a knife. Amber screams and flees the scene, calling for help immediately.
It is clear from the beginning that something has terrible happened at the cabin that day but Cecelia cannot remember anything. She remembers her and Nick arguing, something they have done a lot of in recent times, and then her husband telling her son "Run, Theo! Get help!" But why did he tell him to run? Was Nick scared? Of who? Of her? The police certainly think she stabbed him and now she is being held for attempted murder. But she loves Nick - why would she stab him? But she was found holding the knife. But try as she might, Cecelia cannot recall what actually happened. She only remembers fragments. It's like a sheet of opaque glass has been erected in her brain, preventing her from remembering. The psychiatrist they had come see her told her that it was her brain's way of protecting her. Protecting her from what? What does she need protecting from? The truth? That she DID stab Nick? But it's hopeless...no matter how much she tries she just cannot remember. And even if she could remember, she couldn't tell them anyway because when she opens her mouth to talk nothing comes out. Cecelia has become silent, just like Theo.
Her beloved Theo. Where is he? Nick told him to run and get help...but it's cold and raining relentlessly out there and Theo doesn't like shoes. He doesn't wear them. So he will be out in the cold, the dark and with no shoes to protect his feet from the bush. The police tell her they have a search party out there looking for him but with thie relentless rain it is hindering the search for him. She and Nick have always told Theo to shelter in place, they have instilled it in him. Shelter in place. So with any luck Theo will be sheltering in place somewhere out of the rain until somebody can find him.
Eighty five year old Rose has lived in her bush cabin for most of her life. She lived there with her mother, sister and little brother Lionel. But they have all gone now and it's just Rose. She loves to wake in the morning and hear the bush awaken. The sounds of the birds, the call of the wild. But this morning, Rose hears a different sound. Last night she thought it was possums under the cabin but this morning she's not so sure. Now it's like a keening sound of something, or someone, in distress. As she goes out in her dressing gown to investigate, she sees a shape and tells it "get out of here" but it soon becomes clear that it's a little boy. And he is clearly distressed. She softens her voice and coaxes him out and leads him back inside the cabin where it is warm. He is soaked through and wearing no shoes - he must be frozen to the bone, especially if he has been there all night. She asks him if he is hungry and he nods his head. So she gives him her toast. As Rose observes the boy, she is aware that he is different and not like other children. His behaviour and demeanour are similar to that of her brother Lionel, and society didn't understand him back in those days. But it's with her knowledge and experience with Lionel that she knows how to treat this young boy. She asks him his name and he starts signing rapidly to her. It's been so long she can't keep up with his speed and asks him to slow down. Slowly he spells out his name. Theo.
Rose knows from experience that people like Theo don't like to be touched. Instead she lets him lead. At the moment he is happy eating toast and lining up her sets of knives, forks and spoons. When he gets distressed about the odd number of them, she merely takes away some of the others to make them all the same. She knows people like Theo. When thunder booms loudly overhead, Theo shrieks and hides under the table. Lionel used to do that too. So Rose climbs down and sits under the table with him and, although he doesn't like to be touched, he does allow her to hold him tightly until the thunder subsides. But what to do with the child? What happened to him? Why was he under her cabin? Where were his parents? Someone must be missing him? She asks Theo and he begins to tell her in his broken language that he needs help.
I am Theo. I am help. Dad told me to run, so I ran. I get help. I found Rose. Rose is help. It's wet. I'm cold. I shelter in place. Mum told me "Theo, shelter in place." Dad told me to shelter in place. So I shelter in place. I found Rose. Rose is help. Too many words. Too much noise. I bang my head on the floor to stop the noise. But dad said "Run, Theo. Get help!" I get help. Rose is help.
BRING HIM HOME is a touching, poignant and beautifully written tale centring around Theo, an eleven year old boy with autism. The pace is slow to begin with and it is not until around 50% that the story really comes into itself and from then on I couldn't swipe the pages quick enough to reach the end. At first the reader is thoroughly confused as to what happened in the cabin and it is told in such a way that keeps us in the dark until just the right time. When the pieces began falling into place, I soon put them together so the ending wasn't a surprise. But that didn't deter me from enjoying this beautiful story.
The characters are well developed and are honest as well as vulnerable but completely likeable. While I was frustrated with Cecelia, who could speak, at her sudden silence. Why could she not tell what happened? At least, what she remembers? What was stopping her? Why did she not remember? And why has she suddenly become silent? The daughter Kaycee who came up from Sydney with the barman from the bar she was drinking at in tow to help find her missing brother. I loved Jonah. He was there for Kaycee and he helped with the search...and yet he didn't have to drive her 100+km to the Blue Mountains when she drunkenly asked him to. And he didn't have to stay either...but he did.
But my favourite character was Rose, who lives a secluded life in her cabin in the bush, carrying a trauma of her own from her past that still haunts her. She has a beautiful understanding soul and a heart of gold as she helps the family through her care, kindness and understanding with Theo.
Theo himself was a remarkable character also. Despite his difficulties and the challenges he faces with his autism, he understands what he is meant to do. Despite being out of his comfort zone, he reaches out for help and to help. OMG...there were a couple of times in the book that I was in tears with regards to Theo. I'm not overly maternal and don't generally cry over children but this...I was so moved by one particular scene that I literally bawled. It was so beautiful, so moving and oh so touching I could have cried...and I did.
Nicole has done a wonderful job in encapsulating the world of an autistic child, which must be a feat in itself. They see the world so differently to us that it is so hard to understand just what the world is like through their eyes. I think Nicole captured it beautifully. She made Theo seem so real and so relatable that even the most hardened hearts could have wrapped their arms around him...had he been comfortable with that. I will never hear "This Little Light of Mine" in the same way again.
Although I pieced together the twist and saw it coming, I still thoroughly enjoyed BRING HIM HOME...more than I thought I would. When I began and I found the pace somewhat slow and Theo's narrative very repetitive - but that's how it is in his world - I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the book as much as Nicole's previous ones. But I was wrong. Once that pace picked up and I started piecing things together, I couldn't devour it quick enough.
Beautifully descriptive and tender, BRING HIM HOME will pull at your heart strings and bring tears to your eyes. Have the tissues handy because there are a few scenes in which you will need them, so touching they are.
While BRING HIM HOME is a mystery, the focus is mainly on Theo. It is his story and his journey to get help for his family. It is for this reason I believe the titled should have remained "The Child Who Was Silent" ...because he was and he is the focus throughout. It is about learning about Theo, growing with Theo and then searching for Theo. It is about looking at the world through Theo's eyes and about understanding him. He is the child who was silent so for me that title is far more appropriate and fitting.
BRING HIM HOME is the story of a little boy lost, a mother traumatised, a father fighting for his life, and a daughter (who has always felt forgotten) left to pick up the pieces. A beautiful, moving and emotional read that I thoroughly recommend!
I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #NetGalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #BringHimHome #TheChildWhoWasSilent in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
March 17, 2022
Powieść „Gdzie jesteś synku” to moja pierwsza styczność z twórczością Nicole Trope, ale zaraz po niej miałam możliwość czytania przedpremierowo kolejnej wydanej na naszym rynku książki autorki „Zaginiony chłopiec”. Opinię o tej drugiej mieliście już napisana, czas najwyższy napisać i o pierwszej. Tym bardziej, że jest równie porywająca!
Thriller psychologiczny to jeden z moich ulubionych gatunków i od pierwszych stron czuć, że jest to również gatunek, w którym autorka czuje się jak ryba w wodzie. Znakomicie buduje napięcie, niepokój i emocje, przede wszystkim emocje. Przestrzenią, w której się obracamy są trudne relacje rodzinne prowadzące do tragedii, ale również świat postrzegany przez dziecko ze spektrum autyzmu.
Autorka stopniowo odkrywa przed nami problemy rodziny, w której życiu pojawia się dziecko wymagające szczególnej opieki, innego podejścia. Nie sposób uniknąć napięć, które narastają gdy matka poświęca cały swój czas i myśli tylko jednemu dziecku, nie znajdując już w sercu miejsca dla córki i męża. Z czasem tworzą mur wzajemnych niedopowiedzeń, skrywanych wyrzutów i braku zrozumienia.
Nicole Trope odpowiednio dawkuje również szczegóły i motywy tragedii, od której zaczyna się powieść. Faktem jest, że Cecelia zostaje odnaleziona z nożem w ręku przy ciężko rannym mężu i z dziurą w pamięci. Czy to ona ugodziła Nicka? I gdzie jest Theo? Ostatnie co pamięta, to że mąż kazał mu biec po pomoc.
Dlaczego Cecelia przestała mówić? Komu zagrażają odkryte tajemnice, również te sprzed wielu lat? Czy Theo przetrwa w nieprzyjaznym dla niego otoczeniu i sprowadzi pomóc?
To jedna z tych powieści, których nie chce się odłożyć nawet na chwilę, by jak najszybciej poznać jej zakończenie. To również jedna z tych ukazujących siłę więzów rodzinnych, które pozornie zerwane umacniają się w chwilach próby.
Thriller psychologiczny to jeden z moich ulubionych gatunków i od pierwszych stron czuć, że jest to również gatunek, w którym autorka czuje się jak ryba w wodzie. Znakomicie buduje napięcie, niepokój i emocje, przede wszystkim emocje. Przestrzenią, w której się obracamy są trudne relacje rodzinne prowadzące do tragedii, ale również świat postrzegany przez dziecko ze spektrum autyzmu.
Autorka stopniowo odkrywa przed nami problemy rodziny, w której życiu pojawia się dziecko wymagające szczególnej opieki, innego podejścia. Nie sposób uniknąć napięć, które narastają gdy matka poświęca cały swój czas i myśli tylko jednemu dziecku, nie znajdując już w sercu miejsca dla córki i męża. Z czasem tworzą mur wzajemnych niedopowiedzeń, skrywanych wyrzutów i braku zrozumienia.
Nicole Trope odpowiednio dawkuje również szczegóły i motywy tragedii, od której zaczyna się powieść. Faktem jest, że Cecelia zostaje odnaleziona z nożem w ręku przy ciężko rannym mężu i z dziurą w pamięci. Czy to ona ugodziła Nicka? I gdzie jest Theo? Ostatnie co pamięta, to że mąż kazał mu biec po pomoc.
Dlaczego Cecelia przestała mówić? Komu zagrażają odkryte tajemnice, również te sprzed wielu lat? Czy Theo przetrwa w nieprzyjaznym dla niego otoczeniu i sprowadzi pomóc?
To jedna z tych powieści, których nie chce się odłożyć nawet na chwilę, by jak najszybciej poznać jej zakończenie. To również jedna z tych ukazujących siłę więzów rodzinnych, które pozornie zerwane umacniają się w chwilach próby.
January 14, 2026
“No one can be angrier with you than your teenage daughter, and no one knows how to skewer you with barbed comments like she does.”
Cecelia, her husband Nick, and their 11-year-old son Theo are vacationing in the Australian wilderness when something terrible happens. Nick is fighting for his life, Theo is missing, and Cecelia is trying to remember what happened. Did she hurt her husband? Where is Theo, and is he in danger? As the police work to find her son, her memory starts coming back and it’s worse than she feared…
This author is very similar to Freida McFadden in that her books are usually fast paced, engrossing, and twisty. This book certainly was. I don’t know what the deal is with this publisher (bookouture) but with every book I’ve ever read from them, the back cover blurb is not entirely accurate. Yes, Theo is missing through most of the book, but the reader knows where he is, even though his family does not. This is more a story of Cecelia, Theo, oldest daughter Kaycee, and others trying to put together the picture of what happened to Nick that night in their cabin. Told in multiple POVs between various characters, the reader is meant to put the pieces together and figure out how each character relates to the others. Theo is autistic and nonverbal, and I can’t speak to how accurately that character was portrayed, but if you have a special needs child, you may want to steer clear of this book—it’s a big part of the plot (how his autism affects the family, his older sister, etc.). I did have suspicions about one of the twists but not another, and overall, this was a good read that I enjoyed. I didn’t have trouble putting it down, but I was invested when I was reading it. I recommend this author if you like Freida or are interested in a multiple POV thriller that is a quick read.
4.25⭐️
Cecelia, her husband Nick, and their 11-year-old son Theo are vacationing in the Australian wilderness when something terrible happens. Nick is fighting for his life, Theo is missing, and Cecelia is trying to remember what happened. Did she hurt her husband? Where is Theo, and is he in danger? As the police work to find her son, her memory starts coming back and it’s worse than she feared…
This author is very similar to Freida McFadden in that her books are usually fast paced, engrossing, and twisty. This book certainly was. I don’t know what the deal is with this publisher (bookouture) but with every book I’ve ever read from them, the back cover blurb is not entirely accurate. Yes, Theo is missing through most of the book, but the reader knows where he is, even though his family does not. This is more a story of Cecelia, Theo, oldest daughter Kaycee, and others trying to put together the picture of what happened to Nick that night in their cabin. Told in multiple POVs between various characters, the reader is meant to put the pieces together and figure out how each character relates to the others. Theo is autistic and nonverbal, and I can’t speak to how accurately that character was portrayed, but if you have a special needs child, you may want to steer clear of this book—it’s a big part of the plot (how his autism affects the family, his older sister, etc.). I did have suspicions about one of the twists but not another, and overall, this was a good read that I enjoyed. I didn’t have trouble putting it down, but I was invested when I was reading it. I recommend this author if you like Freida or are interested in a multiple POV thriller that is a quick read.
4.25⭐️
February 20, 2021
This incredible book is the story of a little boy lost, a mother traumatised, a father fighting for his life, and a daughter (who has always felt forgotten) left to pick up the pieces. It is a fast paced, unputdownable crime thriller that will move you to tears. An absolutely sensational read!!
I felt like I read this book with my heart in my mouth as I tried to piece together what happened that tragic day, and my heart went out to this disconnected family for the pain they were going through and the circumstances they found themselves in after a tragic crime left them all broken and confused.
I especially adored the character Rose and also the little boy Theo (he is such a gorgeous child). Rose is a lovely old lady living an isolated life in a cabin in the bush, where she has resided her entire life. Living in seclusion with trauma of her own that she carries with her, this beautiful soul has a heart of gold as she helps the family through her care, understanding, bravery and kindness.
Beautifully descriptive, tender, and with well built characters and believability, this book will pull at your heart strings and have you anxious with worry and hope for this family. It had me in tears multiple times and is such a thrilling, emotional and engaging read. I cannot recommend it highly enough! 5 beautiful stars!
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. I truly enjoyed this so very much! 😍
March 30, 2021
First, I want to thank Nicole Trope, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
Ohh WOW!! Nicole Trope you pulled hard and I mean hard on my heartstrings with Bring Me Home!! This is one unforgettable book that will stay with you til after you finish it! It was very suspenseful, emotional, heartbreaking, and at times educational as well.
Nicole did an amazing job painting a mental picture of the breathtaking autumn view in one of the first scenes. I could totally see myself spending some quality time there.
Bring him home introduces you to one of my favorite characters in the book that stole my heart! Theo an mute autistic little boy who witnessed something horrid no child should ever witness captured my heart. Nicole definitely did her research on Autism because it showed. I found his character incredibly fascinating.
Another character I really enjoyed was Jonah. He had a huge heart of gold and was there for Kaycee through thick and thin when nobody else was. Now there is a real man for you!
I will admit that there was one beautiful scene that made me tear up with happy tears.
This is one of Nicole’s best stories that I have read of hers. I would be really interested in a sequel to follow up with the family.
Ohh WOW!! Nicole Trope you pulled hard and I mean hard on my heartstrings with Bring Me Home!! This is one unforgettable book that will stay with you til after you finish it! It was very suspenseful, emotional, heartbreaking, and at times educational as well.
Nicole did an amazing job painting a mental picture of the breathtaking autumn view in one of the first scenes. I could totally see myself spending some quality time there.
Bring him home introduces you to one of my favorite characters in the book that stole my heart! Theo an mute autistic little boy who witnessed something horrid no child should ever witness captured my heart. Nicole definitely did her research on Autism because it showed. I found his character incredibly fascinating.
Another character I really enjoyed was Jonah. He had a huge heart of gold and was there for Kaycee through thick and thin when nobody else was. Now there is a real man for you!
I will admit that there was one beautiful scene that made me tear up with happy tears.
This is one of Nicole’s best stories that I have read of hers. I would be really interested in a sequel to follow up with the family.
April 3, 2021
3.5
I’m torn by this book. I liked most of the story itself, but I’m uncomfortable with the author writing from the perspective of a child with autism when she doesn’t have autism and doesn’t personally know anyone with autism, outside of those she said she interviewed to write this book. This, of course, begs bigger questions about writing, but I don’t want to go too deep into that here. So, I find myself in the position of not knowing exactly how to review it. But, I’ll do my best, and you can make your own decision.
To read my full review, please follow my blog at: https://www.bookwormerin.com
I’m torn by this book. I liked most of the story itself, but I’m uncomfortable with the author writing from the perspective of a child with autism when she doesn’t have autism and doesn’t personally know anyone with autism, outside of those she said she interviewed to write this book. This, of course, begs bigger questions about writing, but I don’t want to go too deep into that here. So, I find myself in the position of not knowing exactly how to review it. But, I’ll do my best, and you can make your own decision.
To read my full review, please follow my blog at: https://www.bookwormerin.com
July 25, 2023
wspaniała książka, opowiada dużo o tym jak myśli osoba z autyzmem, pomaga lepiej zrozumieć i tłumaczy niektóre zachowania. zdecydowanie polecam
February 23, 2022
Wyjątkowe połączenie portretu psychologicznego chłopca ze spektrum z wątkiem kryminalnym. Czyli magiczna, trzymająca w napięciu książka pozwalająca zajrzeć w umysł nieneurotypowego, młodego, niezwykłego i odważnego człowieka.
March 21, 2021
What a book! One of those stories where you can’t put it down as you are drawn in by the characters, the suspense and the need to know what happened right through to the chilling ending.
A family go to spend the weekend at a cabin in the woods, previously their happy place. Then suddenly we have a badly injured Dad, a Mum who cannot find the words to defend herself as she is suspected of murder, Theo, their son, who is missing after his Dad told him to run and daughter Kaycee rushing back from college to make sense of what has happened.
Theo is such a wonderful character. He is autistic and the author is very clever in showing the world from his standpoint. His tender relationship with Rose and her back story with her brother add another dimension to the story.
Kaycee has always felt abandoned as her mother concentrated wholly on Theo. The family were falling apart before the traumatic incident that starts the book.
Gradually things are pieced together and the awful truth is revealed but only after the reader has been taken in a rollercoaster of emotions along with the characters.
I have long been a fan of Nicole Trope and she has written some amazing novels but this is the best yet.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance review copy.
A family go to spend the weekend at a cabin in the woods, previously their happy place. Then suddenly we have a badly injured Dad, a Mum who cannot find the words to defend herself as she is suspected of murder, Theo, their son, who is missing after his Dad told him to run and daughter Kaycee rushing back from college to make sense of what has happened.
Theo is such a wonderful character. He is autistic and the author is very clever in showing the world from his standpoint. His tender relationship with Rose and her back story with her brother add another dimension to the story.
Kaycee has always felt abandoned as her mother concentrated wholly on Theo. The family were falling apart before the traumatic incident that starts the book.
Gradually things are pieced together and the awful truth is revealed but only after the reader has been taken in a rollercoaster of emotions along with the characters.
I have long been a fan of Nicole Trope and she has written some amazing novels but this is the best yet.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance review copy.
March 3, 2021
My first reaction to this book was, confusion. This was supposed to be a story about a lost little boy, why am I reading about some woman lost in the woods? Soon the pieces star to come together however.
Something terrible happened at the cabin that day, but Cecelia just can't remember anything. Except, she remembers her husband telling her darling baby boy to run. Now he is in emergency surgery to save his life, and her son is nowhere to be found.
I think this story was beautiful and well written. Getting the perspective of that was happening from so many different views really enhanced the experience of reading this story.
I think I've learned though, that I prefer to experience stories like this as a show or movie, just personal preference, I did enjoy this book though.
Doubt I'll be reading any thrillers/mysteries about kids again any time soon. It makes my Mommy hear hurt.
I really enjoyed Jonah and Theo as characters. Also, Rose. I'm not sure I can comment on how Theo's autism is portrayed, it seems accurate to my experience, but I am not autistic. I think it's really nice to get some representation in fiction though.
*This eARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Something terrible happened at the cabin that day, but Cecelia just can't remember anything. Except, she remembers her husband telling her darling baby boy to run. Now he is in emergency surgery to save his life, and her son is nowhere to be found.
I think this story was beautiful and well written. Getting the perspective of that was happening from so many different views really enhanced the experience of reading this story.
I think I've learned though, that I prefer to experience stories like this as a show or movie, just personal preference, I did enjoy this book though.
Doubt I'll be reading any thrillers/mysteries about kids again any time soon. It makes my Mommy hear hurt.
I really enjoyed Jonah and Theo as characters. Also, Rose. I'm not sure I can comment on how Theo's autism is portrayed, it seems accurate to my experience, but I am not autistic. I think it's really nice to get some representation in fiction though.
*This eARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2021
This emotionally charged story is told from the perspectives of four,vivid,well rounded characters, Cecelia, her daughter Kaycee, eleven year old Theo who is autistic and an elderly lady called Rose.It's a enthralling tale that very often slips back in time where the reader is taking through the character's background stories and the trials and tribulations of their pasts.
Being the parent of a child who is autistic can be difficult at times especially if you also have other children. It's very often a case of finding the right balance and trying to divide your time equally between all the members of your family. Sometimes, you subconsciously find yourself favouring the child that you feel needs your care the most which can,inevitably result in others feeling neglected. My daughter has mentioned, in the past that it sometimes appears as if I favour our son Thomas who is on the autism spectrum so I could fully understand and empathise with both Cecelia and Kaycee's conflicting feelings,emotions and how relations within the family had become so strained. Cecilia and her husband Nick's marriage certainly appeared to have its issues but were things really so bad behind closed doors that Cecelia had been forced to stab him? Had she really lost the ability to speak or was she lying to protect herself....or somebody else? Why had Nick instructed a vulnerable young boy to run out into the rain lashed,freezing cold wilderness without proper clothing or any shoes?
Nothing adds more tension to a story than have a vulnerable child as one of the main characters. I thought that young Theo was a wonderful character and although I don't know what goes on inside the head of someone who has autism,I thought that the author's portrayals of Theo's thoughts,actions and behaviour came across as realistic and believable. There was parts of Theo's story that have me a better insight and understanding of some of my own son's actions and behaviour.
Rose was a wonderful character who lived in a isolated cabin in the woods and spent a lot of her time talking to a picture of her dead sister Mary. Rose was a kind and caring individual who had experience with dealing with someone who had autism due to her brother Lionel being on the autistic spectrum when he was alive. Sadly,when Rose was younger, people who had any type of disability where treated very badly,ridiculed and called horrible names. The way that Lionel was treated by both the residents of the nearby town and the staff of the care home who were supposed to take care of him was very shocking but sadly very realistic for the times. As the story unfolded,we discovered that Rose had a secret,something from her past that she didn't like thinking about. A shocking event that,although it had happened a long time ago could possibility be connected to events that were unfolding in the present day.
As with all Nicole Trope's books this is a beautifully written, emotionally charged story that causes the reader to experience a myriad of emotions and pulls at your heart strings at times. It's not a fast paced story but it's a enthralling page turner which has a added dash of mystery that keeps the reader guessing. Despite the fact that we now live in the 21st century, autism still has many grey areas and I thought that the author had written about the subject with care and sensitivity. I thought this was a very enjoyable read and it's very highly recommended.
Being the parent of a child who is autistic can be difficult at times especially if you also have other children. It's very often a case of finding the right balance and trying to divide your time equally between all the members of your family. Sometimes, you subconsciously find yourself favouring the child that you feel needs your care the most which can,inevitably result in others feeling neglected. My daughter has mentioned, in the past that it sometimes appears as if I favour our son Thomas who is on the autism spectrum so I could fully understand and empathise with both Cecelia and Kaycee's conflicting feelings,emotions and how relations within the family had become so strained. Cecilia and her husband Nick's marriage certainly appeared to have its issues but were things really so bad behind closed doors that Cecelia had been forced to stab him? Had she really lost the ability to speak or was she lying to protect herself....or somebody else? Why had Nick instructed a vulnerable young boy to run out into the rain lashed,freezing cold wilderness without proper clothing or any shoes?
Nothing adds more tension to a story than have a vulnerable child as one of the main characters. I thought that young Theo was a wonderful character and although I don't know what goes on inside the head of someone who has autism,I thought that the author's portrayals of Theo's thoughts,actions and behaviour came across as realistic and believable. There was parts of Theo's story that have me a better insight and understanding of some of my own son's actions and behaviour.
Rose was a wonderful character who lived in a isolated cabin in the woods and spent a lot of her time talking to a picture of her dead sister Mary. Rose was a kind and caring individual who had experience with dealing with someone who had autism due to her brother Lionel being on the autistic spectrum when he was alive. Sadly,when Rose was younger, people who had any type of disability where treated very badly,ridiculed and called horrible names. The way that Lionel was treated by both the residents of the nearby town and the staff of the care home who were supposed to take care of him was very shocking but sadly very realistic for the times. As the story unfolded,we discovered that Rose had a secret,something from her past that she didn't like thinking about. A shocking event that,although it had happened a long time ago could possibility be connected to events that were unfolding in the present day.
As with all Nicole Trope's books this is a beautifully written, emotionally charged story that causes the reader to experience a myriad of emotions and pulls at your heart strings at times. It's not a fast paced story but it's a enthralling page turner which has a added dash of mystery that keeps the reader guessing. Despite the fact that we now live in the 21st century, autism still has many grey areas and I thought that the author had written about the subject with care and sensitivity. I thought this was a very enjoyable read and it's very highly recommended.
July 13, 2022
Do połowy książki byłam naprawdę wciągnięta w sytuację. Początek zapowiadał się mega obiecująco.
Polubiłam warstwę obyczajową. Uważam, że autorka dobrze pokazała zarówno piękne momenty jak i trudności w życiu z dzieckiem autystycznym. Podziwiałam Cecylię i jej determinację, by nauczyć Theo jak najlepiej funkcjonować w otaczającym go świecie. Jako czytelnicy obserwujemy zmęczenie samotną walką i towarzyszy nam uczucie, że nikt nie docenia tej ciężkiej pracy. Miałam ochotę potrząsnąć mężem kobiety choć równocześnie rozumiałam także jego perspektywę. Małżeństwo przechodzi poważny kryzys. Sytuacja przerasta obydwie strony. Brakuje chwili na rozmowę, Cecylii towarzyszy zmęczenie, a Nickowi rezygnacja z walki o uwagę żony. To moment kiedy miałam ochotę wstrząsnąć kobietą i krzyknąć ,,zostaw syna na chwilę, poradzi sobie! Wypij kawę z mężem i zapytaj, jak mu minął dzień!”. Wydaje mi się, że jesteśmy w stanie zrozumieć perspektywę obu stron i jedynie kibicować, by udało im się mimo wszystko dogadać.
W tym wszystkim jest jeszcze siostra Theo, która ma poczucie, że straciła mamę kiedy urodził się brat. Zawsze była odsunięta na bok, bo przecież jakoś sobie poradzi, a brat potrzebuje opieki. Pretensje, które rosną wewnątrz, powodują zagubienie w dorosłym życiu i oddalenie się od rodziny. Aż do feralnego dnia. Zagubienie dziewczyny było oddane świetnie.
Problem z książką polegał dla mnie na tym, że oprócz obserwowania rodziny, mamy także wątek tajemniczego zdarzenia w domku. Moim zdaniem łatwo można domyśleć się wszystkiego, a chociaż dodatkowy wątek z Rose dodawał wiele wstrząsających szczegółów, one również w pewnym momencie są łatwe do wywnioskowania. Uważam, że książkę broni warstwa obyczajowa, nie element zagadki, na który liczyłam.
Największy problem jednak mam z tym, co dzieje się w głowie matki Theo. Nie rozumiem jej myślenia, polegającego na ,,nic nie powiem, to on nie skrzywdzi mojego syna”. Przecież wystarczyło powiedzieć, o co chodziło i w ten sposób odsunąć niechcianą osobę od poszukiwań. Wyjście z założenia, że i tak nikt by ci nie uwierzył, siedzenie cicho i liczenie na to, że synowi nic nie będzie wydaje mi się najgłupszym możliwym posunięciem. Niby autorka daje na to usprawiedliwienie, ale do mnie ono nie dociera. Nie jestem w stanie do końca w nie uwierzyć i strasznie mi się to gryzło. Dlaczego ktoś chciałby siedzieć cicho, być oskarżonym o usiłowanie morderstwa i zastanawiać się, czy złoczyńca nie dopadnie jej syna, kiedy wystarczyło po prostu poinformować o szczegółach zdarzenia? Czy naprawdę to lepsze od podejścia ,,i tak nikt mi nie uwierzy”? Być może gryzie mi się to, bo ja bym po prostu zrobiła inaczej i nie rozumiem wyboru Cecylii.
Ostatecznie, wychodzi na to, że nie jestem specjalną fanką wątku zagubienia Theo ani zakończenia, ale lubię warstwę obyczajową. Kto by pomyślał?
Polubiłam warstwę obyczajową. Uważam, że autorka dobrze pokazała zarówno piękne momenty jak i trudności w życiu z dzieckiem autystycznym. Podziwiałam Cecylię i jej determinację, by nauczyć Theo jak najlepiej funkcjonować w otaczającym go świecie. Jako czytelnicy obserwujemy zmęczenie samotną walką i towarzyszy nam uczucie, że nikt nie docenia tej ciężkiej pracy. Miałam ochotę potrząsnąć mężem kobiety choć równocześnie rozumiałam także jego perspektywę. Małżeństwo przechodzi poważny kryzys. Sytuacja przerasta obydwie strony. Brakuje chwili na rozmowę, Cecylii towarzyszy zmęczenie, a Nickowi rezygnacja z walki o uwagę żony. To moment kiedy miałam ochotę wstrząsnąć kobietą i krzyknąć ,,zostaw syna na chwilę, poradzi sobie! Wypij kawę z mężem i zapytaj, jak mu minął dzień!”. Wydaje mi się, że jesteśmy w stanie zrozumieć perspektywę obu stron i jedynie kibicować, by udało im się mimo wszystko dogadać.
W tym wszystkim jest jeszcze siostra Theo, która ma poczucie, że straciła mamę kiedy urodził się brat. Zawsze była odsunięta na bok, bo przecież jakoś sobie poradzi, a brat potrzebuje opieki. Pretensje, które rosną wewnątrz, powodują zagubienie w dorosłym życiu i oddalenie się od rodziny. Aż do feralnego dnia. Zagubienie dziewczyny było oddane świetnie.
Problem z książką polegał dla mnie na tym, że oprócz obserwowania rodziny, mamy także wątek tajemniczego zdarzenia w domku. Moim zdaniem łatwo można domyśleć się wszystkiego, a chociaż dodatkowy wątek z Rose dodawał wiele wstrząsających szczegółów, one również w pewnym momencie są łatwe do wywnioskowania. Uważam, że książkę broni warstwa obyczajowa, nie element zagadki, na który liczyłam.
Największy problem jednak mam z tym, co dzieje się w głowie matki Theo. Nie rozumiem jej myślenia, polegającego na ,,nic nie powiem, to on nie skrzywdzi mojego syna”. Przecież wystarczyło powiedzieć, o co chodziło i w ten sposób odsunąć niechcianą osobę od poszukiwań. Wyjście z założenia, że i tak nikt by ci nie uwierzył, siedzenie cicho i liczenie na to, że synowi nic nie będzie wydaje mi się najgłupszym możliwym posunięciem. Niby autorka daje na to usprawiedliwienie, ale do mnie ono nie dociera. Nie jestem w stanie do końca w nie uwierzyć i strasznie mi się to gryzło. Dlaczego ktoś chciałby siedzieć cicho, być oskarżonym o usiłowanie morderstwa i zastanawiać się, czy złoczyńca nie dopadnie jej syna, kiedy wystarczyło po prostu poinformować o szczegółach zdarzenia? Czy naprawdę to lepsze od podejścia ,,i tak nikt mi nie uwierzy”? Być może gryzie mi się to, bo ja bym po prostu zrobiła inaczej i nie rozumiem wyboru Cecylii.
Ostatecznie, wychodzi na to, że nie jestem specjalną fanką wątku zagubienia Theo ani zakończenia, ale lubię warstwę obyczajową. Kto by pomyślał?
March 2, 2021
My Review:
What to say about Nicole Trope’s new book? Well the first thing that comes to mind is OMG. The second that comes to mind is Fantastic. Then the third and last thing that comes to mind is Loved. OMG that book was really Fantastic and I Loved it so much. I do have to say that this author is on my top 10 Favorite Author List so whenever I see that she has a new book coming out I jump for joy. I get so excited like a kid in a candy store.
This book was about a family that has drifted apart. They decide to take one last trip together to try and fix what is broken. A fight breaks out and their son was told to run and get help. Now he is missing and no where to be found. What happened in that cabin? Where is their son? Is he ok? Can this family be made whole again?
I want to start off by saying that I have read almost all of this authors books and this one tops the cake. I just loved this one so much. I can’t say a single bad thing about this book. Now on to characters. My favorite character was Theo. He was such an inspirational and brave little boy. With all the problems he had to overcome to get help for his parents and Rose it really made me in awe of him. I don’t know what I would do if I were in his shoes. I don’t know if I could ever be as brave of a soul as he was. I’m afraid of everything including my shadow. You couldn’t have written a better character. On to the plot. I loved the story line. It is the reason why I made it through this book so quickly. I read well into the night and until I could not see the words on the pages anymore. I just had to make sure everyone was going to be ok otherwise I know I wouldn’t have been able to sleep. Last and not least the ending. That ending was twisted and wicked. I couldn’t believe who was after this poor family and why it was done. That person was a very bad and got what they deserved in the end. I also want to say that the epilogue did wrap up all the stray pieces of the story and put it into a nice tight bow. There was no questions that were left unanswered. I love it when a book does that. I can’t wait for Nicole Trope’s next book. I will be counting down the long, slow, painful days until her next book.
Between the plot, characters and all the twists in this book it made it an easy and fast read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
What to say about Nicole Trope’s new book? Well the first thing that comes to mind is OMG. The second that comes to mind is Fantastic. Then the third and last thing that comes to mind is Loved. OMG that book was really Fantastic and I Loved it so much. I do have to say that this author is on my top 10 Favorite Author List so whenever I see that she has a new book coming out I jump for joy. I get so excited like a kid in a candy store.
This book was about a family that has drifted apart. They decide to take one last trip together to try and fix what is broken. A fight breaks out and their son was told to run and get help. Now he is missing and no where to be found. What happened in that cabin? Where is their son? Is he ok? Can this family be made whole again?
I want to start off by saying that I have read almost all of this authors books and this one tops the cake. I just loved this one so much. I can’t say a single bad thing about this book. Now on to characters. My favorite character was Theo. He was such an inspirational and brave little boy. With all the problems he had to overcome to get help for his parents and Rose it really made me in awe of him. I don’t know what I would do if I were in his shoes. I don’t know if I could ever be as brave of a soul as he was. I’m afraid of everything including my shadow. You couldn’t have written a better character. On to the plot. I loved the story line. It is the reason why I made it through this book so quickly. I read well into the night and until I could not see the words on the pages anymore. I just had to make sure everyone was going to be ok otherwise I know I wouldn’t have been able to sleep. Last and not least the ending. That ending was twisted and wicked. I couldn’t believe who was after this poor family and why it was done. That person was a very bad and got what they deserved in the end. I also want to say that the epilogue did wrap up all the stray pieces of the story and put it into a nice tight bow. There was no questions that were left unanswered. I love it when a book does that. I can’t wait for Nicole Trope’s next book. I will be counting down the long, slow, painful days until her next book.
Between the plot, characters and all the twists in this book it made it an easy and fast read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
April 18, 2021
Bring Him Home, set in the Australian Blue Mountains, packs an emotional punch right from its tense start as a holidaymaker stumbles into a horrendous scene. Theo’s father lies badly wounded and his mother, Cecelia, is bending over him with a bloody knife.
Theo’s father asks him to run for help – a huge ask, as Theo is autistic and non-verbal. It’s his lucky day, however, as he happens to stumble on an elderly lady, Rose, whose brother was on the autism spectrum. She recognises Theo’s mannerisms and inability to speak, and works out how to connect with him. Rose is empathetic, wise and gentle. She manages to get Theo to communicate not only what happened, but who was responsible. When Theo explains, Rose realises it’s urgent they get help. There’s a monstrous rain storm, but the only way Theo is going to accomplish the mission his father set for him is if they venture out into the storm together.
The stabbing is a wake-up call for Theo’s sister, Kaycee, who is losing herself in alcohol at university. Called home, she finds her brother lost and both parents in hospital. Her father will survive, but her mother is too traumatised to speak, so the mystery of who stabbed him remains unsolved. Was it Cecelia, or Theo, or someone else altogether?
Kaycee is not the only one to grow out of the experience, which acts as a catalyst for change in many lives.
The story had me tensed up all the way through. It was cleverly plotted and well-written, with pacing that kept the suspense going. I was frantically worried as Theo, who battled to communicate, and Rose, frail and elderly, battled their way through the rain to find help.
I enjoyed the parallels and great contrasts between Rose’s brother, Lionel, and Theo. Both on the autism spectrum, they were viewed and treated very differently. There are other, surprising, connections between past and present as well, as Rose’s past comes back to haunt her.
I found this an emotional and enjoyable read. (One warning though: the song, This Little Light of Mine, will be an earworm for weeks afterwards!)
Theo’s father asks him to run for help – a huge ask, as Theo is autistic and non-verbal. It’s his lucky day, however, as he happens to stumble on an elderly lady, Rose, whose brother was on the autism spectrum. She recognises Theo’s mannerisms and inability to speak, and works out how to connect with him. Rose is empathetic, wise and gentle. She manages to get Theo to communicate not only what happened, but who was responsible. When Theo explains, Rose realises it’s urgent they get help. There’s a monstrous rain storm, but the only way Theo is going to accomplish the mission his father set for him is if they venture out into the storm together.
The stabbing is a wake-up call for Theo’s sister, Kaycee, who is losing herself in alcohol at university. Called home, she finds her brother lost and both parents in hospital. Her father will survive, but her mother is too traumatised to speak, so the mystery of who stabbed him remains unsolved. Was it Cecelia, or Theo, or someone else altogether?
Kaycee is not the only one to grow out of the experience, which acts as a catalyst for change in many lives.
The story had me tensed up all the way through. It was cleverly plotted and well-written, with pacing that kept the suspense going. I was frantically worried as Theo, who battled to communicate, and Rose, frail and elderly, battled their way through the rain to find help.
I enjoyed the parallels and great contrasts between Rose’s brother, Lionel, and Theo. Both on the autism spectrum, they were viewed and treated very differently. There are other, surprising, connections between past and present as well, as Rose’s past comes back to haunt her.
I found this an emotional and enjoyable read. (One warning though: the song, This Little Light of Mine, will be an earworm for weeks afterwards!)
February 11, 2025
"Gdzie jesteś synku?" pochłonęłam w dwa wieczory. Historia opisana z perspektywy kilku osób. Czyta się jednym tchem i chętnie zaczyna się kolejny rozdział.
Zwyczajny wyjazd do domku w australijskim buszu okazał się dla rodziny Somerton tragiczny. Ojciec walczy o życie w szpitalu, matka pod wpływem tragedii straciła głos, a syn zniknął bez śladu po tym jak ojciec kazał mu biec i szukać pomocy. Theo ma jedenaście lat i jest chłopcem ze spectrum autyzmu... nie mówi, nie wie, że się zgubił i nie reaguje na swoje imię. Biegnąc przed siebie trafił do domku rdzennej mieszkanki, która będzie próbowała mu pomóc. Wszyscy wokół poszukują chłopca, gdyż jedynym świadkiem tragedii. Matka Theo staje się główną podejrzaną. Czy odnajdą dziecko pomimo niedogodnych warunków pogodowych? Kto tak naprawdę dokonał tej przerażającej zbrodni?
To niezwykle poruszająca i bolesna historia o rodzinie, która na co dzień zmaga się z wychowywaniem dziecka z autyzmem. Genialnie ujęty świat dziecka autystycznego. Gdzie wiele bodźców potrafi przytłoczyć. Gdzie komunikacja jest wyzwaniem.
Nicole Trope zarysowała mocno historię, pełną niepewności, napięcia, które towarzyszy nam podczas poszukiwania chłopca. Ta historia skłania nas również do wielu ważnych i głębokich przemyśleń. Pokazuje jak choroba oraz brak rozmowy i interakcji mogą wpłynąć na najbardziej trwałą i kochającą rodzinę. Możemy odczuć, to z czym zmaga się chłopiec. Czytając odczuwałam masę emocji. Począwszy od strachu, po złość i irytację.
Jestem zadowolona z lektury. I ze swej strony bardzo polecam tę pozycję.
Zwyczajny wyjazd do domku w australijskim buszu okazał się dla rodziny Somerton tragiczny. Ojciec walczy o życie w szpitalu, matka pod wpływem tragedii straciła głos, a syn zniknął bez śladu po tym jak ojciec kazał mu biec i szukać pomocy. Theo ma jedenaście lat i jest chłopcem ze spectrum autyzmu... nie mówi, nie wie, że się zgubił i nie reaguje na swoje imię. Biegnąc przed siebie trafił do domku rdzennej mieszkanki, która będzie próbowała mu pomóc. Wszyscy wokół poszukują chłopca, gdyż jedynym świadkiem tragedii. Matka Theo staje się główną podejrzaną. Czy odnajdą dziecko pomimo niedogodnych warunków pogodowych? Kto tak naprawdę dokonał tej przerażającej zbrodni?
To niezwykle poruszająca i bolesna historia o rodzinie, która na co dzień zmaga się z wychowywaniem dziecka z autyzmem. Genialnie ujęty świat dziecka autystycznego. Gdzie wiele bodźców potrafi przytłoczyć. Gdzie komunikacja jest wyzwaniem.
Nicole Trope zarysowała mocno historię, pełną niepewności, napięcia, które towarzyszy nam podczas poszukiwania chłopca. Ta historia skłania nas również do wielu ważnych i głębokich przemyśleń. Pokazuje jak choroba oraz brak rozmowy i interakcji mogą wpłynąć na najbardziej trwałą i kochającą rodzinę. Możemy odczuć, to z czym zmaga się chłopiec. Czytając odczuwałam masę emocji. Począwszy od strachu, po złość i irytację.
Jestem zadowolona z lektury. I ze swej strony bardzo polecam tę pozycję.
April 13, 2021
A tourist stumbles across a violent scene: a man has been stabbed, his wife holds the knife, and their autistic son is missing. Can the search party find Theo and bring him back safely...?
Bring Him Home has a dramatic start! Author Nicole Trope throws us straight into the action as tourist Amber finds the ugly family situation. Cecelia is unable to speak and cannot let the police or hospital know what really happened. Her husband is being operated on and their daughter is drunk at a uni bar. It takes a while to realise that 11 year old Theo is missing.
Luckily, Theo finds shelter with Rose and a new plot thread begins as she reminisces about her brother Lionel who also had autism but society treated him very differently. She feels like she let down her brother so helping Theo offers her the chance to redeem herself and find peace in her old age.
The plot is delivered in a linear way with some overlap so that we can see different characters' perceptions of events. This is particularly useful to compare how Theo sees the world in contrast to the neurotypical characters.
I enjoyed all of the different points of views that the author includes. However, it really is Theo's voice that shines through. His perspective makes this book totally unique and engaging. The treatment of autism is handled sensitively but doesn't shy away from a continued lack of understanding of the condition.
Bring Him Home has family drama, social commentary and is just a fascinating book.
Bring Him Home has a dramatic start! Author Nicole Trope throws us straight into the action as tourist Amber finds the ugly family situation. Cecelia is unable to speak and cannot let the police or hospital know what really happened. Her husband is being operated on and their daughter is drunk at a uni bar. It takes a while to realise that 11 year old Theo is missing.
Luckily, Theo finds shelter with Rose and a new plot thread begins as she reminisces about her brother Lionel who also had autism but society treated him very differently. She feels like she let down her brother so helping Theo offers her the chance to redeem herself and find peace in her old age.
The plot is delivered in a linear way with some overlap so that we can see different characters' perceptions of events. This is particularly useful to compare how Theo sees the world in contrast to the neurotypical characters.
I enjoyed all of the different points of views that the author includes. However, it really is Theo's voice that shines through. His perspective makes this book totally unique and engaging. The treatment of autism is handled sensitively but doesn't shy away from a continued lack of understanding of the condition.
Bring Him Home has family drama, social commentary and is just a fascinating book.
April 22, 2021
Emotional, memorable and gripping are just some of the words I would describe Nicole Trope’s latest story about a beautiful family on the surface but looking deeper there’s trouble, pain, danger and a whole lot of secrets.
Husband and surgeon Nick, wife and mother Cecelia, children Kaycee and Theo are the picture perfect family.
But nothing is as it seems, a marriage is falling apart and they travel to the family cabin in the mountains to work through the pain.
Kaycee receives a call from the police, telling her she must immediately come to the hospital, there’s been an tragic incident and Theo, her brother with autism has disappeared.
What really happened in the cabin ?
Who is telling the truth ?
Who is lying ?
It’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out.
A raw, realistic, honest and heart wrenching tale that will have asking the questions and flipping the pages quickly to the find the final reveal.
There’s no time to think, Nicole gets straight into the drama in the first chapter, setting the scene for the whole book and grabbing the readers attention from the very first page.
Told from numerous characters point of view, giving their stories, past and present and really creating an atmosphere in the narrative.
A cleverly plotted with a few twists along the way and beautifully written sensitive story of hope, courage, love and the special bond of family.
I’m looking forward to delving into Nicole’s back catalogue.
Husband and surgeon Nick, wife and mother Cecelia, children Kaycee and Theo are the picture perfect family.
But nothing is as it seems, a marriage is falling apart and they travel to the family cabin in the mountains to work through the pain.
Kaycee receives a call from the police, telling her she must immediately come to the hospital, there’s been an tragic incident and Theo, her brother with autism has disappeared.
What really happened in the cabin ?
Who is telling the truth ?
Who is lying ?
It’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out.
A raw, realistic, honest and heart wrenching tale that will have asking the questions and flipping the pages quickly to the find the final reveal.
There’s no time to think, Nicole gets straight into the drama in the first chapter, setting the scene for the whole book and grabbing the readers attention from the very first page.
Told from numerous characters point of view, giving their stories, past and present and really creating an atmosphere in the narrative.
A cleverly plotted with a few twists along the way and beautifully written sensitive story of hope, courage, love and the special bond of family.
I’m looking forward to delving into Nicole’s back catalogue.
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