This is a book that deals with the difficult subject of domestic violence. Ria and Janice run a refuge for women who are escaping violent relationships. It's a difficult job, but Ria has a loving husband and 2 young children. Ria's husband Danny is working away in Dubai for a month when she starts to be convinced that someone is stalking her. In her job, partners of the women at the refuge could want revenge. But something bad happened to Ria when she was 15, something she's never told anyone about, and she starts to think that what's happening now is connected to those events. This is a really good read which will keep you guessing to the end. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
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What a good book albeit very difficult to read in places due to the content of the story. Ria comes from a troubled background in her teenage years, one of the things being missing a good friend. She eventually finds happiness with Danny who unfortunately is not “good enough” for her as far as her father is concerned which causes an even bigger rift in the family. She starts work at a womens refuge and meet Janice who is of a like mind and they run this together becoming very close. Ria and Janice come across as very strong women who have to be I guess to do the job they do. More dramas one of which is to keep the refuge funded and open for these vulnerable people. The story takes us through the dramas of abused families and that is a difficult place to be as she takes on their troubles. She becomes very close to one lady called Sheila and that is cause for concern as Sheila has a very difficult marriage and decisions for her are difficult and choosing the right path becomes intolerable. Danny goes abroad to work for a month and Ria’s story becomes entwined with strange happenings – do not want to give too much away. We should all read this book and take on board other peoples lives which can be so difficult. Would love to have known whether Ria and Danny achieved the goal they were aiming for. Enjoyed this book and would recommend it most definitely. I did not feel at first that the title did the book any favours but the more I think about it the more I realise this really works well for the character Tanya and her role in the book which is heart rendering

This is a hard-hitting, gripping story about domestic abuse and racism. Ria, a mother and manager of a refuge for people suffering from domestic abuse becomes a victim herself. She is being watched and stalked, receiving dark, sinister messages and photos which become increasingly threatening.

Tension and pace increase as the story unfolds, Ria is trying to cope with a demanding job along with being stalked and caring for her children. This is a compelling, gutsy story which takes you into a dark world consisting mainly of women who have been controlled and abused by their partners who escape to the refuge, yet keep returning to their partners. A pattern which keeps repeating.

Several chapters of the book are written from Tanya’s viewpoint; she is a victim controlled, dominated and violently abused by her partner, working, receiving no wages, believing everything is her fault, and seemingly no means of escape. The story explores the mindset of unfortunate people who are in this situation, left with no self-esteem, and is a must read for everyone.

The book is so well written and researched, with several twists and turns which make the story a compelling page-turner. Believable, likeable, empathetic characters, intriguing fast-paced story, I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

Oh my! This was a dark, gritty and sinister read but what a ride! I was absolutely gripped from the start. It shines light on the very real struggle of lots of women living with abusive and controlling partners and challenges the myth that they could ‘just leave’. The ending was so cleverly scripted, I gasped out loud. Simply brilliant, a must read.

This is a raw, hard-hitting read that highlights the horrific ordeals that domestic abuse victims endure. It is graphic in places and does not hold back, which may be an issue for some.
Following main character Ria's narrative, we learn that she is the manager of an underfunded refuge and is working hard to make sure all the ladies and children that access the services are safe. Her husband is away working for a month, so she is very concerned when she receives a mobile phone through the post and starts to recieve weird texts and pictures on it. Thinking it is one of the abusers trying to scare her, she ignores it and gets on with her work while counting down the days until Danny gets home.
A second storyline runs throughout the story, diary entries by a lady called Tanya. She is suffering at the hands of an abuser and her accounts of what she has to deal with are horrific.
This was not an easy or enjoyable read, but the writing wass excellent and the author has done a brilliant job of highlighting a very important topic.

An average read with some thought provoking moments - lacked the ‘oomph’ for me to make it unputdownable. Decent characters and a brilliant idea, just not as engaging as I hoped.

Oh my! This was a dark, gritty and sinister read but what a ride! I was absolutely gripped from the start. It shines light on the very real struggle of lots of women living with abusive and controlling partners and challenges the myth that they could ‘just leave’. The ending was so cleverly scripted, I gasped out loud. Simply brilliant, a must read.

Ria and Janice are the unsung heroes of SafeMe women’s refuge, battling the war against abuse, providing a safe haven for women and their children escaping their horrors whilst also struggling to obtain funding for their specialist services.
Fierce, hard as nails, brave and compassionate, Ria clearly has personal reasons for doing this job which are gradually revealed as she becomes the victim of a stalker. Will she practice what she preaches on a daily basis or will she continue to keep her past demons buried??The narrative switches between Ria’s daily life whilst husband Danny is away working and Tanya who is currently trapped in an abusive relationship. The link between the two is apparent but to discover how and why you’ll need to read for yourself!
Whilst the subject matter is grim, the writing is such that I quickly became engrossed in the lives of Ria, Tanya and these women, so in that sense it’s incredibly easy to read. You can’t help but to be moved by Sheila’s story as she is a wonderful character with so many of the traits necessary to endure a life dominated and defined by abuse . It’s her storyline that will really tug at your heartstrings.
I think the author writes sensitively and also with a touch of black humour that almost makes you forget this is a work of fiction. For me the storyline is a tribute to those involved with this type of work as well as all those who have escaped years of abuse and been able to move on with their lives.
My only criticism is that I felt the ending was a bit rushed, with certain strands wrapped up rather quickly. Plus it is fairly obvious to see where the storyline is heading. Whilst this novel is marketed as a thriller, don’t think this is your usual ‘whodunnit big reveal unexpected twist kind of book. This should unsettle you and make you think about the issues raised and the way they are dealt with and would be an excellent choice for book group discussions.
Thought provoking, heartbreaking and inspiring I thoroughly recommend this novel. The characters and the women they represent will stay with you long after you’ve read the last page.
Thanks as always to the author and publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.

DNF-26%
This one really wasn't for me at all, I thought this was going to be an edge of your seat psychological thriller and it was more a drama centring around a refuge with some suspense thrown in.
The terror and mystery for me was the secondary concern here with the everyday mundanity of Ri's life at home and work taking centre-stage.
It was at heart a story focusing more on its relationships and connections and less on the mystery and suspense.
The story spotlights Ri a mother and wife who works for a charity assisting abused spouses.
She receives a mysterious phone and through this medium, someone claims to be watching her leaving her messages and sending her videos and pictures.
I gave this till 26% which was a quarter way through so quite a chunk and I still couldn't connect or be at all invested within the narrative.
As I said earlier this wasn't what I was expecting from this and I found the pace to be very slow and plodding indeed and ultimately I was bored and then found myself skimming before losing interest completely.
The writing itself here was fine this just wasn't to my taste and I thought the blurb itself was a tad misleading as well.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of How to Play Dead.

A wonderful inspirational book that I believe every woman should read. The statistics of how many women are killed by their abusive other halves is frightening to say the least. I loved the story line, great descriptions of characters and the events that are ongoing both around the refuge and to Ria. I wanted to give Ria a big hug and tell her to tell Danny and everyone else what was happening to her as she deserved not to have that additional worry. I thought that the childrens' jingle was lovely and she did not take offence as so may people would do. The jingle showed that they also cared for her as a person and did not look at her as a pure authoritarian figure.
I did guess very early on who was behind the stalking but it took most of the book to explain the why.
Highly recommend this book as good reading but also to all to understand what can happen and how easily people can get controlled and often with dire consequences.
This book deals with abuse to women and has led me to wonder what happens to the small minority of women who are abusive/controlling to men. As far as I can see nothing is ever done to help these and it seems wrong to even mention such a thing. I am sure that men would hide more than women as it would hurt their ego to admit a problem such as this.

Ria runs SafeMe that looks after victims of domestic abuse. Shes trying to sort funding whilst looking after the women there and her own family troubles. When she starts getting creepy messages and it looks like she has a stalker but who is he and just what secret is Ria hiding from the past.

This is a very powerful read and deals with some hard hitting stuff relating to abuse. It's hard reading at times but it reads sensitively and honest to the subject. The book switches between Ria and a young woman's diary. Its very sad at times yet theres some hopeful and uplifting moments too. The ending is not how I wanted it to end but it's more honest this way and the way these situations often are. I found it an interesting read that had me constantly turning the pages over. Hard hitting, raw and real.

My thanks to Atlantic Books Corvus for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘How to Play Dead’ by Jacqueline Ward in exchange for an honest review.

This domestic noir dealt with a number of difficult and sensitive subjects including sexual assault, gaslighting, domestic violence, and stalking.

Ria Taylor is the co-manager of SafeMe, a domestic violence refuge. When her husband, Danny, takes a lucrative one month overseas contract that will get their family out of debt, Ria is left missing him. Then she receives a cheap mobile phone in the post with a video taken without her knowledge and the message: ‘I am watching you’. Eek!

Things continue to escalate. There are also chapters told in the form of a diary written by Tanya, an abused wife. Eventually the two storylines converge.

I found it hard to relate to Ria; finding both her inability to handle her finances and her passivity with respect to her stalker frustrating. Also, she didn’t seem very understanding of her husband undertaking work away from home and was more focused on her need for him to be with her. This was apparent even before the stalking began.

However, even if this novel wasn’t quite my cup of tea, I did feel that it covered important topics and could potentially prove very educational and even a lifeline for someone in an abusive relationship. I was also glad that Jacqueline Ward included a list of organisations and helplines at the end of the book.

Really enjoyed this. The character of Ria was so well-written she felt like a familiar friend by the end of the book. Dealing sensitively with domestic violence and abuse the book is incredibly easy to read and I finished it on 2 sittings. Great read.

Ria is the manager of a women's refuge centre supporting women and their children who are in abusive relationships and helping them find a safe place to live. From the very start of the novel it gives you a harrowing insight into domestic violence: you meet the women who are affected by this crime, the perpetrators, discover the complexities of the abuse and are given statistics about how many women are affected and killed by their partners. All in all not an easy read.

Not only did the novel contain the theme of domestic violence, Ria was also suffering from threatening texts by her own stalker. This section in the book, although unsettling was more in keeping with your typical thriller genre and made it an intriguing, fast paced read. As the story continued disturbing diary extracts from Tanya were introduced which added to the tension and pace.

The novel weaves from present day to the past with alternating chapters from different characters view points, which I loved. I found Ria to be a bit needy and I got frustrated with her at times. The book was very well written with realistic characters and the themes portrayed in a profound, informative and sensitive manner.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atlantic Books for allowing me to read a copy of this book before publication and to the author Jacqueline Ward for such an insightful novel.

This is a story of abusive relationships, the shelter they can seek safety in and the effect that it has on the whole family. It is graphic, hard-hitting bottom line reading with no holds barred so some readers may find it too upsetting. The story is told by two characters, Ria is the manager of 'Be Safe', a refuge for families that have escaped an abusive home and Tanya who is living in an extremely abusive relationship.
Ria's husband is working away from home when she is sent a cheap mobile and the first of many disturbing messages and images. This sets her on the hunt for whoever is doing this. Is it the revenge of someone's partner, a stalker or another reason? But the centre is always brimming with new women and families while their estranged partners sit intimidatingly across the road watching from the pub. There is a constant battle for funding and court hearings so Ria really has her work cut out, her days full and her mind in turmoil.
There are so many families and abused women here but it follows the life of Sheila who is quite a character and her abusive wealthy, money buys anything and anyone, husband.
When the story switches to Tanya I must admit that it was really hard-hitting reading and I thought how can this happen, but it does because it isn't done overnight, it is done over time and that is how these women are conditioned by their partner.
I loved the story that the author wound around the main characters, which explained a lot of particular behaviours and choice of partners. A gripping, frightening and unfortunately, believable story. Compelling reading.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

Ria Taylor is the manager of SafeMe a domestic abuse charity helping women and their children start new lives. Ria puts 100% into helping these women while desperately trying to find funding to keep the charity afloat.

The book counts down to the return of her husband Danny, who is in Dubai for 29 days as a shop fitter. The money he will earn will get them out of debt and hopefully provide a deposit to purchase a house.

When Ria receives a mobile phone in the post she starts getting messages saying someone is watching her, she starts to worry for her safety and that of her children’s. Is it a disgruntled husband of a wife she is helping, or is this someone from her secret past.

The book alternates chapters with the diary of Tanya, living with Al, who is controlling and abusive towards her. The 2 stories run parallel to one another joining seamlessly at the end.

This book was hard hitting, you read in the press all the time about domestic violence leading to deaths, making this book very real.

Very thought provoking and this will stay with me long after finishing it.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

From start to finish you will not want to put this book down. It keeps your interest throughout almost n a way keeps you hanging right until the very end.
Expect the unexpected with this one.
Excellent story, beautiful writing.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Atlantic Books for gifting me this book in exchange for my honest review

How To Play Dead surpassed my every expectation. It was extensively researched and so well-written about a subject close to my heart. Ria Taylor and best friend Janice run a domestic violence refuge called SafeMe. Constantly fighting for funding they are facing potential closure which would mean the loss of a wraparound service for victims of domestic violence. Ria herself grew up with a violent father and also experienced an extremely traumatic event as a teenager. She is determined to give all victims of abuse and coercive control a voice, and the support they need to rebuild their lives in safety. Used to protecting her clients, she now has to do all she can to protect herself and her children when she receives threatening messages and filmed footage that a stalker has made of her. Interspersed with Ria's story are diary extracts from Tanya, who documents her life living with an abusive partner, Alan. He controls all aspects of her life - he takes her money, he tells her what to wear, who she can see, and even keeps her locked in when he goes out. She begins by blaming herself, thinking that it is her fault for annoying him, or even that she is crazy. But as she writes more, she begins to find an inner strength and knows that the fault lies fully in the hands of her abuser.

As Ria begins to suspect that her stalker is someone from her past, the threads of her and Tanya's story begin to become entwined and the dramatic climax to their story is breath-taking.

How To Play Dead is a story of hope and courage and resilience - 'Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women'. Maya Angelou.

This book is based on domestic violence. Clearly that is not as easy subject to write about as an author unless you have actually lived it yourself. However Jacqueline Ward has done this and, as somebody who has gone through an abusive relationship, I have to say, she has written this with care and understanding. I found the book riveting and struggled to put it down. One of the best books I have read in a long time.

An interesting read the story covers the topic of domestic abuse and a woman’s refuge.
Not an easy subject to read about it even though it was just fiction.
Hard to read in parts but a good book