Pete and Maddie were expecting a baby boy. They had been to a wedding reception and when she didn’t feel the baby move she went for a check up and got admitted immediately. Their baby, Theo, was born. He was premature when born in a private hospital then transferred to NICU at St Alexanders to help him survive or otherwise he could die. Little did they know the heartache that was in store for them

Two years later there was a knock at the door. Pete Riley answers to find Miles Lambert and Don Maguire on his doorstep. Two strangers that he has never met before but he had spotted lurking near Theo’s nursery that morning with a woman. Miles advises, ‘there was no easy way for him to do this so he’s just going to just say it. Prepare yourself for a shock. Theo is not your son. He’s mine!’

Pete can’t take it in. This can’t be right. He’s devastated. Pete mentions that Theo got a bit physical at nursery sometimes but they were working on it. Miles said, ‘he was the same at that age.’ Miles was asking a lot of questions about Theo.

I broke the news to Maddie over the phone by letting her know, ‘Theo was ok but there was a man and a private detective that had just called round. He reckons Theo is not our son, somehow the babies were switched at birth. In the NICU at St Alexanders. I researched Miles Lambert. Also, swapped babies on google. We were in a grey area due to the babies age, perhaps that was why they were doing it now. When Maddie got home we discussed it. Maddie wanted to know how he found out that Theo wasn’t his son but Miles hadn’t said. Theo did look like Miles whereas David looked like Maddie and she liked the picture when I showed her.

We had to get together with the other couple and sort something out but we didn’t want to give up Theo. He was our son, regardless of what Miles Lambert said! It seemed like they had obviously had a head start and consulted some lawyers, got a DNA test done as well. Some ground rules had to be sorted out.

Pete, Maddie and Theo went to meet the Lamberts at their house. They hadn’t been forewarned about David’s health conditions so it came as a bit of a shock to them. The house was massive and they had a nanny to look after David. Both families agree they are happy with the status quo and wouldn’t want to swap them back. They want them to become part of each other’s lives.

Unfortunately, with the families beginning a lawsuit against the hospital, it opens a whole can of worms for Pete and Maddie as their entire life is turned upside down and their relationship is tested to the limit. It appears Miles Lambert is being quite underhand and feels sure he will get Theo back, possibly leaving Pete and Maddie with no child. They have to learn to up their game but play inside the rules.

This was a brilliant psychological thriller which I read through the night in one sitting, I had to know how it ended! The plot was great, well thought out and excellently written. It was written in diary style and each entry said whose it was. I was hooked from the start and didn’t see the ending coming.

#PlayingNicely @QuercusBooks

Every parent's worst nightmare comes true for Pete Riley when he answers the door to a stranger only to be told that his son, Theo, is not his biological son at all, but the son of this stranger, Miles Lambert. As an investigation is launched into how such a mix up could have happened, the two families try to navigate their new circumstances and come to an arrangement where they can co-parent the two children. But with Miles's behaviour becoming increasingly erratic, and his temper increasingly frayed, the Rileys find themselves living in a nightmare they could never have imagined...

I really enjoyed this edgy, nerve jangling thriller. The character of Miles was a little too evil-villain for my liking, but the other characters were well-drawn and realistic, and I like how the author used their own flaws against them. This one kept me on the edge of my seat, and rarely have I wanted a character to suffer a terrible fate as much as I wished it for Miles Lambert!

Taut, twisty, and a really enjoyable read.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley who provided me with a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! A clever and heart wrenching psychological thriller that kept me guessing to the very end, be prepared for an emotional ride especially if you are a parent. I have read all of JP Delaney’s previous books and I think this one is my new favourite.

My thanks to Quercus Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Playing Nice’ by J.P. Delaney in exchange for an honest review.

Last year I read Delaney’s ‘The Perfect Wife’ and was extremely impressed and so was looking forward to his latest thriller.

The nightmare for Pete Riley and his partner Maddie begins when he answers the door to Miles Lambert, who breaks the devastating news that Theo, their two-year-old son, actually isn’t theirs but was mixed up at birth with the Lambert’s son, David.

To make the situation more complicated both Theo and David were ‘premmies’ born on the same day and both admitted to a NICU, which is where the mixup occurred.

The two families, including Miles’ wife Lucy, agree that rather than swap the boys back that they will try to find a more flexible way to proceed.

It would be a pretty dull thriller if things stopped there. No, the differences in lifestyles and personalities of the parents quickly start causing problems. Their plan to sue the hospitals involved also triggers an investigation. No further details in order to avoid spoilers.

Even though I am not a parent, I could appreciate the dilemma faced by Pete and Maddie.

This was a cracking thriller, again cementing Delaney’s reputation for me as a top-notch author of domestic noir/psychological thrillers.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Thank you to @netgalley and Quercus Books for allowing me to read this ARC!

Two babies swapped at birth, shocking discovery but will it all go as smoothly as things first seem?

First of all the main thing I loved about this book, is its so fast paced. None of it dragged on & I found myself wanted to carry on reading because I wanted to know what was going to happen next! A few things were predictable and I did guess part of the plot however this didn't make me not enjoy it and there was still some twists that got me.

The main reason what lost a star for me, was the ending. There was things throughout that made me think that wouldn't happen but then again it is fiction. But the ending.. I'm not sure. I feel as though some people will be happy with the ending, however I do wish things would've been slightly different.

Overall it was a brilliant read, good storyline and I definitely want to try more of JP's books!

JP Delaney has done it again!!

A brilliant book that I could not put down!

The story is told by Maddie and Pete, parents of Theo....or so they think. They have struggled with Theo’s premature birth and Maddie’s breakdown which followed. They have come through it and are building a life they both enjoy.

Until Miles arrives that is. He brings news that will throw their lives into more chaos than they could have imagined.

The book keeps you hooked from start to finish and throws in some twists along the way.

Astonishingly good!

So this one for me was a slow burner to start. I could see where this this was going, but I was eager to see how this was going to play out for Pete and Maddie. And when all the pennies began to drop, they left huge craters. This is a flat out, jaw dropping thrill of a ride. Whilst you need to dispel some of the “this would never happen in real life, surely!” thoughts, just go along with it. And I have to say, I felt the ending was very satisfying.

This book pulls you in right from the start. Your 2 year old son isn’t your child, how would you cope with that? The story has a fast pace with surprising twists as the story unfolds. You have to keep reading to find out just where it will go next. It does go to places that seem a shade fanciful but then the whole situation is a total drama. Most enjoyable read.

I could not put this down and read in one day! A story of normal, flawed people just getting on with their lives as best they can. Suddenly one day you find out that the child you have loved and cherished for 2 years is not, in fact, your biological child. That is when the nightmare begins and lives are ruined.
This book had me hooked from the first page, desperate to know what was going to happen next and left me thinking and considering what I would do long after I finished it.
Riveting!
Many thanks to Netgalley/J. P. Delaney/Quercus Books for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

4.5 stars
JP Delaney is one of the authors whose books I read without looking at the blurb, as although all very different, they are always guaranteed to be well-written, interesting and gripping. Playing Nice is no exception - a compulsive and fascinating story, full of twists and OMG! moments. At the same time it explores so many themes: from parenting, families and relationships to mental healths issues, feminism, our social care system and NHS. I truly couldn’t put it down.

Having previously really enjoyed J P Delaney’s ‘The Perfect Wife’ I was excited to get approved for the ARC for ‘Playing Nice’. Whereas The Perfect Wife was more a sci-fi thriller this is a lot more of a domestic, psychological thriller and it really shows off the author’s range. It’s an interesting and terrifying premise – a family get a knock at the door to tell them that the child that they have been parenting for 2.5 years doesn’t biologically belong to them due to a mix-up at the hospital.

What I really enjoyed about this book was just how well everything was planned out by the author. It’s paced so well - everything is revealed slowly with the stakes getting just a little higher each time. There’s a sinister undertone to book even from the initial few chapters and it pulls you in to wanting to find out more – I finished the book in just two sittings. It’s also nicely researched and nothing felt over the top of out of the realms of realism.

The book is narrated in alternate chapters between parents Pete and Maddie. They both have secrets to keep and a lot of these are not revealed to the reader until further in the plot-line which makes them both feel like unreliable narrators at times. As there are only two narrators you really get a chance to get to know them and they feel well-rounded and grounded in reality. The ending of the book has a nice mini-twist and it really is a satisfying ending for a stand-alone thriller – it doesn’t wrap up everything in a nice bow but leaves you with enough to not need more but to keep you thinking about it long after you put it down.

Overall Playing Nice is a great psychological thriller which is nicely plotted, well paced and has some seriously sinister undertones – highly recommended. Thank you to NetGalley & Quercus Books for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

You hear a knock at the door.

You answer the door.

You are told that the toddler you would do anything for is not actually your son; the chaos following a traumatic delivery has resulted in the most egregious error imaginable.

This is the situation that Pete Riley finds himself in at the start of this book when Miles Lambert and a solicitor knock at his door. The two couples involved in the situation initially try to reach an amicable solution to the situation, but it very quickly becomes apparent that Miles will stop at nothing to gain full custody of both children. What follows is an intelligent psychological thriller, full of shocking twists and turns, secrets and revelations and the lengths a parent will go to in order to protect a beloved child.

At the core of the book are some intriguing psychological questions. What exactly does it mean to be a parent, and for a child, is it nature or nurture that forms personality and behavioural traits.

I was completely enthralled by this book, and can safely say that J.P. Delaney is rapidly becoming one of my favourite authors.

My thanks go to the publishers and Net Galley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Pete Riley answers the door one morning and let's in a parents worst nightmare. Miles Lambert, a stranger, breaks devastating news that Pete's son, Theo, isn't actually his son., he the Lamberts. Theo had been switched at birth at the hospital. For Pete and his partner, Maddie and the little boy they've been raising, life will never be the same again. The two families are still reeling from the shock.

Pete and Maddie, and Miles and Lucy's twoclear old sons were accidently switched at birth. A mistake that was made in hospital when the wrong name bands were put on the babies. Miles and Lucy's child, David has birth defects that need special care. This story must be every parents worst nightmare. There's a little relief when both sets of parents agree that they love the son they've raised and don't want to switch them. They just want to be involved in each other's life. This is a gripping and compelling read. I went through all the emotions with Pete and Maddie. The story is told from Pete and Maddie's point of view and covers: deceit, mental health issues, betrayal, secrets and lies. This is a great read.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Quercus Books and the author J.P Delaney for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pete opens the door to shocking and jaw dropping news of his son and the book never lets up that suspense! Definitely action packed to the end!

I would firstly like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I always, always look forward to this author's books, and I certainly wasn't disappointed.
What a read! This book had me gripped, and on edge the whole way through. I'm not even a parent, and this book gave me a lot of anxiety to read. Being told that the child isn't yours, and was in fact swapped at birth?!?! Just heart-stoppingly devastating.
I really felt for the characters and desperately hoped for a happy ending!
And that ending?!?!
Another outstanding read from this author. Can't wait for the next!

Well, its been a while, but after initially reading the first 15% last night, I have devoured the rest of it today!
What an absolute page turner. The build up of tension is almost unnoticeable to the point that before you know it you are halfway through and can't put it down!
Brilliant characters and a scary, yet believable story about two premature babies being swapped in the NICU not long after their births.
Two years later, Pete gets a knock on his door with the news that no parent wants to hear, that the son he and his wife have raised for the past two years isn't theirs.
What follows is the story of how they try to resolve the situation with the other family and how far each will go to make sure that their children are safe.
Gripping, addictive and will make you wonder how far you would go to protect your family.

4.5 Stars from me

I swear I read this entire book with my mouth open in a shocked pose!

My mind raced with 'what would I do...?', I know this eventuality is incredibly rare but the fact that it does actually happen is mind blowing. How do you ever deal with that - whatever you chose is essentially wrong! How unthinkably awful.

Much like in The Girl Before, JP Delaney has penned an absolute stonker of a psychological thriller which will leave you reeling.

There are high levels of tension throughout and once I got started and 'the swap' had been discovered I read and read and read until the book was done - I had to see how it all turned out. I had plenty of theories on how it would end but none of them was right!

Super gripping - the perfect distraction from the Lockdown and the heat right now!

JP Delaney is such an amazing writer, this book is like nothing I have ever read before. I read this book in one day, I just couldn't get enough.

"What if you found out that your family isn't yours at all? How far would you go to protect them?"

Peter and Maggie have a 2 year old called Theo. After full time dad, Pete, comes back from dropping Theo off at nursery theres a knock at the door. The man, Miles, is standing at the door and looks exactly like his 2 year old, accompanied by a private investigator. They explain, with a DNA test that Theo isn't actually their son. Miles explains that there has been a mix up wile the two children were being transferred to the NICU. This means that Peter and Maggie's biological son, David is living with Miles and Lucy Lambert.

This runs smoothly at first and it looks like the families will come to a mutual agreement regarding the children, choosing not to swap them but have an active role in both of their lives. Unfortunately after some boundary issues from Miles it's clear that things are going to be complicated.

This type of storyline is not one i would normally pick up, but after reading another by the same author that I couldn't put down, I was intrigued. I just couldn't put the book down, I wanted to know how everything would unravel and the fate of the children. Such a perfect blend of posological thriller and family drama.

Wow - I absolutely loved this. It was definitely one of those books that once you start you literally can't stop - a real page-turner.

It's a really difficult book to talk about without spoiling the plot but what I can say is that it was a real roller-coaster. There were so many twists and turns and different elements to this story. The author says in the acknowledgement that he wanted to write about ordinary people who try to resolve a near-impossible situation with compromise and dialogue. And, that's Pete and Maddie - two completely normal people, both with good qualities and flaws, who try to play nicely in the nightmare situation of finding out their son is not theirs, and another polar opposite couple is bringing up their birth son.

And, you gotta feel for poor Maddie and Pete as they reel from one mishap to another. Granted they bring a lot of it on themselves, but the things that happen to them are all fairly innocuous in themselves and the type of things that could happen to anyone but they take on a different meaning and importance in court. Its a terrifyingly view of how quickly events can escalate into a legal nightmare. For example, in court googling parenting advice is no longer normal, responsible behaviour but can be used as a sign of incompetence. What I liked is that I too read something and thought nothing of it but then later got a feeling of dread as I suddenly realised how it was going to play out just before it did. I was kept in an almost constant state of anxiety as the tension built and built as the story twisted and developed towards its conclusion.

I've not read this author before (I definitely will be in future) but apparently this is quite different to his previous work although I understand his stories are always base on ethical quandaries. And, this one was truly thought-provoking exploring a variety of hard-hitting topics including mental illness, gender roles in parenting, nature vs nurture, and child protection.

The psychopathy test was a nice touch.....and I'm pleased to say I'm not. But, it was enlightening to understand there's scales of psychopathy and the impact of nature vs nurture on someone's likelihood of becoming a psychopath.

I don't feel that I've done this book justice with my review but as I said it's so hard to explain why it's so good without giving anything away. I will just urge you read it yourself and it's undoubtedly the best psychological thriller I've read this year.

I found this book a slow burner which took me a long while to get into. I usually really like this author but this novel was a disappointment. Just ok and not the gripping storyline I had expected. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.