Whenever a book tackles a difficult and delicate subject it’s always a gamble as to how it will come across to the readers. Jacqueline Ward has managed to broach of domestic violence delicately and sensitively, although some of the more graphic descriptions of events may be a trigger for anyone who has had experience of an abusive relationship.

Ria is the main character, a wife, mother and manager of a women’s refuge whose partner Danny has gone to work on an international contract which will earn him more money in 30 days than he would usually make in many months. They want to put the money aside and buy a house, something Danny has wanted for a very long time.

Not long after Danny leaves, Ria is nervous and unused to being alone with their two children. At the centre, she receives a mobile phone, upon which frightening messages begin to appear. From here, things escalate quickly, Ria’s is being stalked, and is even physically threatened – but why? Is this something from her past that is catching up with her, or is it someone angry that their abused wife has found somewhere safe to escape to?

There are a couple of side threads here, a harrowing account of an abused partner, an ongoing battle to save the centre from corrupt politicians who are in league with a high-profile local criminal who is no stranger to wife-beating himself, and Ria and Danny’s respective families, and what they bring to the story.

While I enjoyed this book overall, there were a couple of things that niggled me. I guessed one of the major twists just after it was introduced at around 20% through the book. That thread was really predictable to me, and although I wasn’t quite sure how it was going to fit in, I knew what was happening. The dialogue between Ria and the abused women at the refuge is very well written, and it’s frustrating and upsetting in equal measure when you begin to understand why some of them keep going back, or why they can’t really leave, and how the system fails them again and again. There were certain things that Ria did in relation to the sinister messages that she was receiving that left me thinking…why - why would someone experienced in this field allow this type of behaviour to continue? Why, knowing that you mustn’t give control to an abuser, didn’t she just throw the random phone away the second she got a frightening message on it? It seemed really odd to me that she continuously read and replied to the messages and I think it felt a bit too obviously like a plot device. Also, the last day of the contract decision really annoyed me – it seemed like a massive waste of time to go through what they did to make that kind of choice – but I don’t want to spoil it, if you get to the end, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

All that said, it is a challenging and thought-provoking book, and although I felt it dragged sometimes, I did need to read to the end to find out what happened. It’s not perfect, but there is plenty to recommend it and the author does deal with an incredibly delicate subject with sensitivity and insight.

Ria Taylor runs a safe haven for domestic abuse victims, things take a dramatic turn when it appears she has got herself a stalker. Tanya is a victim of domestic abuse, locked away, unable to leave because of her controlling partner, she sees no way out and writes a diary that she keeps hidden in the hope of one day being free. How to play dead is a gripping read and has twists and turns throughout.

This was a hard one for me to review.
It didn’t grab me like usual thrillers do and I had to persevere with it before I felt things started to happen. However, the author has tackled the issue domestic abuse in a hard hitting and powerful way.

The characters are likeable and you sympathise with them hugely about the injustice of domestic abuse and how helpless the women feel. But I felt the plot was predictable and sluggish - some parts were very drawn out.

Firstly thank you to Net galley and Atlantic Books for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a roller-coaster of an uncomfortable read. Told mainly from the POV of Ria Taylor who works as a support worker in a women’s refuge. It deals with the subject of domestic abuse and rape and does so in a very honest, open way. This means that in places it is a shocking and emotive read. However, it’s also a very compelling one too, the author draws you into the lives of Ria, her family and the women whom she she supports and I found myself reading ‘one more chapter’ way into the night. I was particularly moved by Tanya’s inserts and found myself horrified at the way in which she was bullied and cowed and controlled. The saddest thing is realising that this is not a novel for some women but desperate reality. Thought provoking and disturbing.

Well what a read, this was a book that drew me in and kept me gripped till the very end. A story that was well written on the horrific daily goings on of life and domestic abuse that many women endure in their lives, and what children in those families have to witness. Ria our “superwoman” of the story is battling with her own demons while trying to run a centre to help care for these women and children. Her own life becomes embroiled in that of the women and their abusers, and yet also bringing to light the process and red tape involved with funding these types of services and what a fantastic role it plays for the women needing the help to survive. This could have been a true story and I feel the author touched on a delicate subject with clarity and sadness domestic abuse inflicts, the pain and suffering of domineering partners. I really good read and I have to admit I kept me wondering who it was most of the way through, but in the end my suspicions were confirmed as I got to the last few chapters.

Ria is manager of a women's refuge. She is used to dealing with husbands who cannot see what they do is wrong. However, Ria has a secret and now someone is sending her messages and flowers and following her.
Who can she trust and will she get to them before they get to her and her family?

A hard hitting story about domestic abuse and it impact on people and their families. Not a subject I know a lot about, so this book is to be commended for highlighting what goes on and potentially how limited help can be for people who find themselves in this situation. It also explained how the law is limited in what it can do and often is unable to protect the vulnerable victims. The story was well written but the ending was rather sudden and predictable.

I was totally enthralled by How to Play Dead throughout the whole book.

Ria is both wife and mother, she’s the very centre of her family. She works as a manager for SafeMe, a refuge for women who have been driven from their homes by their partners.

Whilst her husband is away she starts to receive sinister messages. Someone is watching her and seems to know something about her. She knows she should seek help but as things escalate she needs to decide - should she run, or hide?

From the very first page I was drawn in and devoured this book in a couple of day’s.

Brilliantly written it will entertain to the very end. Thank you to NetGalley, Atlantic Books and the author for the chance to review.

I’m afraid I didn’t really enjoy this book. I’m really disappointed as I read ‘Perfect Ten’ earlier on this year and this author immediately went on my favourite list. However, this book has changed my mind; I’m wondering if ‘Perfect Ten’ was just a one-off or if it was this book in particular that I didn’t feel connected to rather than it being a problem with the author!
It had such a slow start that it took me ages to get into it. There were a few moments of intrigue, but they weren’t enough for me to keep wanting to pick up the book and desperately read it. I did persevere only because I wanted to know the outcome, but it felt like it took me an age to finish it. As another reviewer has mentioned it really dragged and the count down of days didn’t help.
The subject matter also made it a challenging read. It was very hard-hitting and emotional and really tough to get through.
Some of the scenes seemed slightly disjointed, one minute Ria was doing or thinking something then with a click of fingers she was onto something else. I felt a little whiplashed trying to keep up with the story and what was going on.
I wasn’t that enamoured by the main character, Ria, either she felt a bit one dimensional to me, and I just couldn’t relate to her at all.
So, I’m really sorry, but this book wasn’t for me. I understand that a lot of people will feel a connection to the subject matter and for that reason will ‘enjoy’ it a lot more.

This is a superb novel that ensnares the mind! A fantastic read with a superb plot and character list. Simply brilliant!

This book was very well written, and I was hooked from the start. Some people may find this book triggering, and it certainly wasn't an easy read although I enjoyed it

A story of a woman being stalked whilst her husband is away. The main character was well written and her job was amazing. It was interesting and a quick read.

A great cat and mouse book, with the main character Ria struggling to keep her family life together whilst being stalked by someone unknown. With her husband away working it is left to her to try and put the pieces together and work out who it is. It is also a book about domestic abuse and gives an insight into how these men (or women) control their victims and why the victims often don’t just ‘walk away’. A great ending too, although a little rushed.

I found this about 50% too long. The story and associated themes were strong but dragged out over too extended a period, so the tension dropped and I became frustrated at the pace. The tale starts at Day 29 and counts down, but the repetitive nature of this meant that I was audibly sighing at Day 19 and wishing they would just get on with it! There are also multiple narrators, one with a timeline and one without so that can be confusing at first.
I didn't hate it; in fact I was keen to find out how it would end, but there were definitely pacing issues.

Wow. Fantastic book just shows,how an event in your past can shape your career and future. Ria,went through a traumatic experience in her teens and lost her best friend at the same time. Her parents never believed what happened or at least didn't want to acknowledge it did happen. Alice, Ria's best friend runs off with her much older boyfriend believing he loves her and Ri a wants him all to herself.

Can things be put right or will they never see each other again?

Thank you Net galley for letting me read this book in exchange for a fair review.

I loved this book, I was hooked from the first page, the storyline pulled me in, I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Jacqueline Ward for the copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

Hard hitting and emotional but very well written book on the terrors of domestic violence and how mental abuse is often equally as bad as physical abuse.

Domestic violence isn't an easy subject but this book told a story whilst discussing the plight of women in fear. Well written and thought provoking.

One of the best books I have read this year. Fabulously strong characters and we have two stories that seem unrelated then twist together and we get the full horror of the plot. Great writing, a book about strong women that has you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the last chapter. As the pace of the story increased I couldn't put the book down, thus it was a quick read and one I didn't want to end. It explores the fear of victims of abuse and if the closest you ever get to domestic violence is this book you will still feel the fear, hold your breath while scenes play out and shed a tear for the ones who are caught in the web of no escape.

A stark, realistic look at domestic abuse which demonstrates what a complex and difficult subject it is. It's hard to understand why anyone would remain in abusive relationships but the abusers are masters at convincing their victims that they are to blame.
Ria's reaction to her situation was harder to fathom. I understand why she kept quiet about the events when she was 15, or gives up on trying to get anyone to believe her but when she finds herself threatened as an adult you would expect her to immediately tell people. Why would she not follow her own advice? I find myself getting increasingly irritated and frustrated with her.
That said it is a good, if at times, painful read and my thanks go to Netgalley, the author and publisher for this copy.