A Perfectly Nice Family
Stephanie cradles her coffee and gazes out to the little house at the end of her garden. The family who just moved in seem perfectly nice, if a little odd. And it’s only now that Stephanie if she can see them, they can see everything inside her house, too…
Single mother Stephanie is more than happy to welcome the Kempsto her property. Tragically, they have just lost everything in a fire. The rent money means Stephanie can keep her children in this beautiful, rambling home – so expensive to run, since the divorce – all while helping the Kemps get back on their feet.
Jason Kemp is so handy, always offering to fix things. But his wife Cecelia finds a reason to knock on Stephanie’s door every day. Their teenage daughter is sullen and rude. Then one day, Cecelia says the strangest thing…
“You know what teenagers are like. I would have sworn that she set our house on fire in a fit of rage.”
It must be a joke. Stephanie smiles weakly. The Kemps have been through so much, she tells herself.
But when she opens her eyes in the middle of the night to the sound of unfamiliar footsteps on the staircase, Stephanie realises she has made a dangerous mistake. A mistake she may not survive…
Nicole Trope
Nicole Trope writes psychological thrillers about families in crisis and the secrets we keep from ourselves and others. She has always been fascinated by the stories behind the headlines and published her first novel in 2012. In 2026 she will publish her 20th novel with Bookouture.


