I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

*How to Play Dead* by Jacqueline Ward tackles a powerful and challenging topic, aiming to address complex issues around abuse and survival. While the premise is intriguing and carries significant potential, the execution didn’t fully resonate with me. The pacing felt quite slow, with certain themes and plot points becoming repetitive over time, which made it difficult to stay engaged. Additionally, while the buildup seemed steady throughout most of the book, the ending felt surprisingly rushed and didn’t provide the closure I hoped for. Overall, although the story addresses a critical topic and may appeal to some readers, this one ultimately fell a bit flat for me.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience

Thank you for providing me with an advance review copy of this book. Enjoyed reading, would recommend....

Very interesting premise, and kept me glued to my kindle! A good fun read, which will keep your interest right to the end

A multi faceted tale that kept my interest throughout. Intriguing to see that even those who dole out advice to others find it difficult to follow

Characters were very interesting. Storyline was also very good. Not an easy read, maybe research the book a little due to sensitive issues but otherwise a fantastic read.

A good read, really keeps you guessing until the end. The subject matter is a difficult theme but it's incredibly well handled and woven into a psychological thriller.

I really enjoyed this book and would read more from this author. May have been first but won't he the last.

This is a difficult read so you have to be in the right place to read it, particularly given that domestic abuse has risen during lockdown. For those directly affected by it, you may want to give this a miss.

Ria is being pulled in all directions. Between looking after her family, dealing with an absent husband away for work all the time, and handling their financial problems, she's got a lot on her plate, but she still manages to prioritise her work at a women's refuge.

This novel digs deep into the issues surrounding domestic violence, not only from the women's perspective and why they stay with abusive men, but also the system that lets down those women in the first place. Ward handles a difficult subject with sensitivity and it's a well written book, but it's likely to be a little too close to the bone for some.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

I've never read this author b4 but I did enjoy the book all the way through.

The characters were good and way it was written.

A really good book about a sensitive subject matter. Well written story about domestic abuse. I read this in a couple of days as I could not put this down.

How to Play Dead is a thriller that follows Ria as she works at a Women's refuge and tries to cope with her life as a mother to two children whilst her husband is away for several weeks working. But whilst Ria, stresses over funding for "Safeme", the refuge, she is also being stalked by someone and she fears her safety and the safety of her children. This all brings back feelings and memories.of a terrible experience she had as.a.child. Can Ria keep her family safe? Can she keep this much needed "Safeme" open and keep helping these vulnerable women?

Jacqueline Ward deals with the difficult subject of domestic violence skilfully and with sensitivity. It is clear that she has experience of working within this environment. I found the pace good and it held me interest throughout. There are an interesting, cast of well crafted characters, each with stories of there own to tell. I enjoyed reading this book and found the writing excellent. There are several twists and reveals that I had figured out rather early on, which was a bit of a shame but I still enjoyed this book immensely.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Whilst interesting and such a rollercoaster of a read, this was such a heart wrenching book to read. The author captivates the coercive and terrifying behaviour that is inflicted by the perpetrator, and the impact felt so well.

This is certainly a way to highlight abuse and also the struggles that people trying to help are facing right now.
Ria really is a superwoman and I aspire to be just a little bit like her going forward.
Great read, very real in places.

An excellent debut. Ramps up the tension in this suspenseful thriller. Well written, with well drawn characters. A very good read.

Thank you NetGalley and Corvus for this advanced copy.
I hate to give anything away, but what a brilliant book. Great characters and set against a difficult backdrop. The book was sensitively written and gave a really good insight in the world of abuse and how it can be emotional and not only physical.
A great psychological thriller which I definitely recommended.

Firstly, I would like to thank Readers First and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC for an honest review.

This book comes with a huge trigger warning surrounding domestic abuse. I think Ward handles the topic well and is providing insight into the lives of survivors and victims to educate readers and spread awareness. The story follows the MC Ria who helps run a refuge for women that finds herself being stalked by someone from her past.

I enjoyed the small chapters, titled, Tanya, throughout the book as it was a piece of the puzzle that we didn't truly understand until nearer the end of the book. It was a glimpse into the life of someone who is domestically abused that really zoomed into the reality of the lives that Ria was helping. I found that Ria was very well rounded. She wasn't just a woman being stalked. She was a wife, mother, daughter (superwoman) which made the story feel really well rounded.

This isn't a conventional thriller but I was definitely finding it harder to fall to sleep. Every noise in my house became 'someone' and I commend Ward for this sense of tension that seems to run throughout the book. I did guess one of the small twists that happened nearer the end. I was sickened by the abusers and my heart broke for the abused. A well written thriller that spreads awareness for those who are voiceless.

How To Play Dead is a very powerful, hard hitting read.

The story is powerful yet sensitive and the characters are all well written and easy to visualise. The difficult subject of domestic abuse is dealt with in a very sensitive way.

The ending is very sad, and the book will definitely stay with me.

What an exhilarating, enticing read. Dealing with the topic of domestic violence is not something that is hugely talked about but Jacqueline Ward has certainly done this topic justice. Based around Ria Tailor who runs a safe haven for women trying to get out of violent relationhips. She is a wife and mother herself and grew up in an emotionally charged home so can emotionally understand their fears. But Ria has a stalker and with her husband working away is living a life of fear that someone is out to hurt her or her children.
Tanya is a prisoner in her own home living with an abuser. As their pasts begin to emerge the reader is taken on a twisted journey of discovery and secrets. A great page turner that I would definetly recommend.

Not what I was expecting - I'd heard some mixed reviews so I was intrigued - and pleasantly surprised actually very good