Member Reviews
Another excellent thriller from J.P Delaney! I used to work in family law and so I had a bit of an insight into the legal technicalities (which were almost completely accurate!) but never had I come across a case like this. There were many twists and turns and all characters were under suspicion at points in the book. I didn’t guess the very ending at all - a brilliant end to the book for sure!
This story is every parents’ nightmare. A mix up at birth and two couples are raising each other’s child, but the skill in this masterclass of writing is to give one of the characters a nasty side while the other three seem pretty decent people - or are they? It begs the question about what you would do in these invidious circumstances. A really great read and a well researched book.
Wow what an amazing book, very thought-provoking and keeps you interested throughout. I couldn't put this book down.
There was nothing I didn't like about this book. From the opening pages to the surprising conclusion, it had it all! Each character was relateable, and brought together a disturbing and believable plot, with enough twists and turns to keep you reading on with bated breath. I thoroughly recommend this novel,and thank both Netgalley and the Publishers for giving me this ARC.
Wow, what an amazing thought provoking book....so complex and so gripping. I simply couldn’t put it down! Loved it!!!!!
Playing Nice by J.P. Delaney it’s an incredibly emotional, page-turning thriller that I was unable to put down.
A young couple Maddie and Pete have been faced with every parents’ worst nightmare when a simple knock on their door has changed their life for ever.
The book tackles very difficult questions and dilemma: nature or nurture, the child’s best interest and how much you can scarify for your loved ones. I have found the author’s writing to be very convincing. As a mum I was constantly asking myself what I would do in a similar situation and I was terrified by it’s prospect. It’s also a great insight into character study of psychopaths and how they develop from early age.
I’ve found the book to be truly addictive and very suspenseful with amazing and at the same time terrifying plot. I’ll definitely recommend this novel to anyone who likes psychological thrillers.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 ok stars
This book started great, a tragic story of babies being accidentally swapped in hospital.
However the development of Mile’s character and the way the story then went disappointed me. It became a bit farcical and so many threads were unrealistic - the CAFCASS actions, the social worker actions, the police actions re the Manga, the multiple hit and runs.
The ending wasn’t what I expected but by that point I didn’t like any of the characters so had little investment in what happened.
Oooh I liked this book.
The premise was great and the characters were believable, if some were unlikable!
It was fast paced and the style of writing was great!
Loved this! Another great thriller from this author. Thrillers have been disappointing me recently as they are predictable or same old, but this one stands out. I definitely recommend! Thank you for letting me have an advanced copy.
To their bewilderment, Maddie and Pete discover that their two year old son is actually the birth child of another couple, the result of a mix-up during a transfer between hospitals, and that their own child has been raised by this other couple.
Initially, the atmosphere is conciliatory between the two sets of parents but it eventually becomes apparent that one couple are not prepared to compromise. Lawyers become involved, social work reports are prepared and the police also become involved. Can the courts exercise the wisdom of Solomon in deciding custody?
Told by Maddie and Pete and supplemented by extracts from police and social work reports, this is a real page turner of a novel. There is a real sense of dread in the first half of the story and the tension is racked up as the odds mount against Maddie and Pete.
Unfortunately, the resolution is rather forced and unrealistic which undermines the emotional impact of the story up to that point. Still well worth reading.
Playing Nice tells the heartbreaking story of David and Theo who are switched at birth.
When Pete and Maddie discover that their son Theo is not biologically theirs, their life is turned upside down. Miles and Lucy, whose son David is biologically Pete and Maddie's, want to fight for compensation from the NHS. The story tells of both couples and how they deal with this difficult situation.
Then there's the twist.
I won't say anymore, but JP Delaney kept me guessing how the story would end.
Another great story that had me gripped from the start.
Thanks for Net Galley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
This really did pose an outstandingly difficult dilemma. I found myself consistently asking, ‘What would I do in this situation?’
Delaney maintained this tension throughout and made it even more intriguing with the addition of a thriller plot. The writing swings between emotion and tense action, providing a gripping read, although the ending seemed just a touch unbelievable to me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus (Ballantine Books, Penguin Random House) for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
Playing Nice is a story about two seemingly decent families that unbeknownst to them, had their babies swapped at birth. Not a spoiler! The book begins with someone dropping this bombshell two years down the line and then follows the devastation and ethical dilemmas of the families involved.
The questions you as a reader start to wonder are – is this true? And if so, who was responsible?
The book was well written and researched – no faults there. But for me, it was the character profiles that let this novel down. I found their reactions unrealistic at times, and there was a distinct lack of parental passion that this situation would have surely provoked. They just didn’t fit with the excellent premise and story arc – which is such a shame.
I enjoyed JP Delaney’s earlier novel, The Girl Before, the excellent combination of suspense and character development kept me turning the pages! With Playing Nice, as much as the story flowed along nicely, I found it hard to become invested. I’m left with mixed views. I liked it, but felt no rush to find out what was happening next – which is unusual for me when reading psychological thrillers.
I’ve been a fan of JP Delaney ever since reading The Girl Before and continuously find his books difficult to put down. I stayed up late to finish this book & thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot, pace and characterisation were absolutely fantastic and at no point did I know what was going to happen. Seamless writer and highly recommend. 4/5 stars
This book is a proper page-turner. Once I started it I was reluctant to put it down, I kept wanting to see what happened next. The story is told from the point of view of different characters so if chopping and changing narrators isn't your thing then this isn't for you. However, I really enjoyed seeing the story develop from the side of different characters and as this book really kept me hooked maybe give it a go. The storyline provides tension and I could really emphasise for the characters and felt dispair and frustration for their situation. A great read
Zusammen mit Pete Riley und seiner Frau Maddie erfährt man völlig überraschend von der Vertauschung der Babys Theo und David. Schnell werden die möglichen Auswirkungen, die Tragweite klar. Es kommt zur ersten Begegnung mit Miles Lambert und seiner Frau Lucy. Alle versuchen zunächst im Sinne der zweijährigen Kinder einvernehmlich und harmonisch mit der Situation umzugehen. Die ersten Kapitel geben eine gute Einführung in die Geschichte, können emotional überzeugen. Der Hintergrund für den Titel des Buches wird schnell verständlich. In die Erzählung werden in abwechselnden Kapiteln Beweisstücke aus Gerichtsakten eingeflochten. Sie ergänzen die Schilderungen hervorragend und lassen einen unterschwellig rätseln, um welche Auseinandersetzung es da wohl gehen mag.
Man ahnt schnell, dass zwischen den Paaren Konflikte in der Luft liegen, wie wird das wohl weitergehen, fragt man sich und dann kommt ein erster ganz übler Verdacht auf. Auch wenn bald klar wird, wer hier der Bösewicht ist, geht das Buch sehr spannend weiter.
Das Tempo zieht an und die Situation der Paare entwickelt sich Schlag auf Schlag auf ungeahnte Weise weiter. Die Auseinandersetzungen, die entstehen fesseln ans Buch. Viel dreht sich um die Frage, ob bei Kindern die Veranlagung oder die Erziehung stärkeren Einfluss auf die Entwicklung haben. Man kann interessantes über Psychopaten erfahren.
Es kommt zu einem passenden Ende, das überraschen kann.
Für mich einer der besten Thriller dieses Jahr.
I'm a massive fan of JP Delaney ever since The Girl Before. I went into this book literally with my eyes closed without knowing any details about it. Just knew I wanted to read it because of the author.
After a few pages I already knew I absolutely loved the concept - what would you do if you found out your baby isn't yours and you're raising someone else's child?
The narrative is told to the reader in alternate characters through Maddie and Pete who are trying to come to terms with the shocking news that their beloved son Theo isn't their biological child. The day when Miles comes knocking on their door revealing their babies were switched at birth sets off a series of events that will keep you turning pages late into the night.
Playing Nice raises and explores questions such as
A) Should a child be raised by their biological parents or those people who have been looking after them, providing love and stability
B) How big of a role do genetics and environment play in shaping children's personalities
It's an incredibly easy read (in search of a better term), yet full of twists and moral dilemmas that give plenty of food for thought.
Having said that, the ending ruined the fun for me. It felt far fetched, unrealistic and unnecessary. I'd have liked a different outcome and the final twist should've been completely left out.
Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the book overall and I definitely recommend if thrillers are your cup of tea.
You know I'll still be reading any and all work this author puts out into the world!
Wow! This has to be my favourite book of the year so far. I just loved it, so much so that I was up reading in the middle of the night.
I was hooked from the word go – a knock on the door turns couple Pete and Maddie’s world upside down. They have been told that they are not the birth parents of their lively son 2 year old Theo and the centre of their universe while their birth son, David is being brought up by wealthy couple Miles and Lucy. Initially things are good between both couples who try to work out an amicable solution but as the book goes on things take a nasty twist.
This book tackles everything including relationships, legal battles, medical, personality disorders - the author must have had to put in a lot of research before writing and tackling some of the issues in it. It had me questioning throughout what you I would do as a parent if this happened and also asking how this could have happened, and kept me turning the pages to see what had happened in this case.
Highly recommend – five stars***** . I will certainly be watching out for the next offering from JP Delaney!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Quercus Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Fabulous ! I really loved this book. I really look forward to this authors new books you always get a brilliant twist ! 10/10
WOW what a great read!! Such an unusual storyline which gripped you from the first page to the last! A real thought provoking storyline which highlighted how innocent discussions can be twisted to mean something else entirely. Highly recommend this book