The Foster Family: A totally unputdownable and heart-pounding psychological thriller

This was a psychological thriller that had me sitting on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, and even crying a few times, while I wished Howard Ealy into the deepest pits of Hell.There are three stories going at once. One with a mysterious girl that a man finds at bus stop. She's beaten badly, yet no one stops to help her. Just this one guy who wants to call the police or an ambulance, both to which she refuses, so he lets her recuperate in his apartment, sleeping on the couch and giving her his bedroom. He doesn't know who she is or what she is capable of and she won't tell him her name or tell her who beat her up. He respects that and respects her. It had the makings for him doing something unseemly to her, but he never did one thing out of line.The second story is the foster family and their foster child, Joe, who is five. Elizabeth and Howard Ealy are his foster parents. Theirs is a tumultuous relationship because Howard is freaking psychopath. He was unpredictable, cunning, a liar, manipulative--oh, he was everything I despise in a person. The way he treated Elizabeth was typical of a person like him and deplorable. But the way he treated Joe made me cringe.The third story is about Gordon Perry, the old man who lives across the street from the house where the Ealy's are taking a holiday. He's 80, has a son, Malcom, a granddaughter, Del, is widowed, and either has Alzheimer's or dementia. He has memory problems that he's fully aware of and writes notes to himself to remind himself of things. He's close to Malcom and I loved Malcom's patience with him and the way Gordon listened to every word he said. Gordon has befriended Elizabeth and Joe and has seen Howard in action and even called the police, but they didn't act on that. They were more worried about Gordon living on his own.Joe goes missing and the stories unravel at rocket speed. Blame is pushed around, truths are revealed, and all three stories come together with a slam-dunk.I enjoyed this book very much and will likely read more by this author.

I thought I had the ending figured out early on but enjoyed a few twists and turns to a different ending. The performing was quite pleasant. I liked that each chapter was titled by character. The fictional story addresses a social issue that is all to prevalent today. The only thing that put me off a bit was that the storyline jumped around a little too much, making it hard to follow at times. I would read other books by this author.

Wanting control and an explosive temper are the common markers of an abusive man in a domestic relationship. Although it can also be a woman, a large percentage of abusers are men. This is a story of what it took for one woman to get out of that situation. The story would have been better if it didn't go back and forth on the timelines.

This book kept me turning pages into the night. Having had a friend in an abusive relationship, I was able to better understand Elizabeth. I'll be reading more from this author.

I was drawn to this book from the first chapter. It is a very real description of what happens behind closed doors. The characters touch you and weave their way into your heart... staying with you long past the last page.

Don't think it was a psychological thriller, but it was a really easy book to read and get into. Am anxious to read some other books by her.

Put your life and everything in it on hold as once you start her books you have no choice ! Great characters and all you want and need in a psychological thriller !!!

The book is very good; it looks onto our Child Welfare system which is so broken that I got angry numerous times reading.This would be a great book for higher education to recommend.

In their holiday home, a stone’s throw from the beach, Elizabeth dials the police with trembling hands. ‘My little boy, he’s missing.’Elizabeth is Joe’s foster mother, but she loves him like her own. The five-year-old, who adores superheroes and watching the birds outside, is the child she has dreamed of. As she looks into the garden, where he was playing just moments ago, her heart feels like it has been ripped from her chest.She was meant to save Joe from his birth mother who almost harmed his chances at life. The woman who has been trying to desperately get him back.She was meant to protect Joe from her husband. The man who, right now, lies to the police, saying he was making breakfast when Joe disappeared. Who squeezes her shoulder, ordering her to be quiet.She was meant to look after Joe. They are just footsteps from the ocean, and little Joe can’t swim.Then Joe’s tiny blue sandal is found in the water. If the worst has happened – the unimaginable – Elizabeth will never forgive herself. Because what if the secret she has been keeping for years, the guilt eating her alive, has somehow hurt her little boy?It’s time to tell the truth – even if it means losing the child who is her whole world. Even if it could be the death of her.What a gripping read.Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.Recommend reading.I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

I've not read a book like this before, and have never heard of the author. However, it is by far, one of the best books I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed this and as we delved deeper into the story, I just found that I was getting closer and closer to the edge of my seat. This is also the only book that has had me a bit choked up towards the end. This book was so sad but yet a real eye opener. I would love a second book but I know what that means for one of the characters and thinking about it breaks my heart.This was one of my favourite reads ever and if you're looking for a book you can't put down, I highly recommend this one.

This book had me hooked from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down as I wanted to know what was going to happen next. A brilliant read and definitely recommended.My normal authors are Crime Writers so this was a complete change of direction for me but I would certainly put this author within the writing genres of Patricia Cornwall, Michael Connolly, Karin Slaughter and Kathy Reichs, to name but a few.Well done Nicole Trope, I cannot wait to read more of your books as you are now officially my favourite writer of all time.Well done. Brilliant writing.

This book did exactly what they said it would do. Edge of the seat stuff. Had me reading until late at night. I honestly couldn't put it down. I admit it was uncomfortable read at times but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend it to others... come to think of it, I just texted a friend to tell her about it.

I really loved this story & think Nicole Trope is a very gifted & talented author. I literally couldn't put this down. I hated Howard, loved Gordon & wanted to shake Elizabeth! I would go as far as to say this is one of my all time favourite books & I read a lot!!! Highly recommend this.