How to Play Dead

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.