Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
What if you found out that your family isn’t yours at all?
That’s what happens when a young man opens the door to a stranger who announces their babies were swapped at the hospital.
At first both sets of parents try to connect with each other and work something out, but of course when someone is a psychopath to begin with that’s never going to happen.
Entertaining and frightening for a parent.
That’s what happens when a young man opens the door to a stranger who announces their babies were swapped at the hospital.
At first both sets of parents try to connect with each other and work something out, but of course when someone is a psychopath to begin with that’s never going to happen.
Entertaining and frightening for a parent.
This book is a loooong wait for things to finally start happening. And once they do, they weren't exactly "unexpected." No surprises and to me, a "thriller" type book needs surprises.
Also, it's just really SAD for most of it. Very depressing book.
Also, it's just really SAD for most of it. Very depressing book.
☑️ the storytelling
☑️ the mind games
☑️ the short chapters
☑️ the suspense
☑️ the fulfilling ending
this plot is unlike any book ive read!
☑️ the mind games
☑️ the short chapters
☑️ the suspense
☑️ the fulfilling ending
this plot is unlike any book ive read!
This book had me caught up with the characters and feeling helpless and angry for the couple who do not have money and prestige but their lifestyle does not lend itself to help their situation- things are twisted, misinterpreted. It was a good thought provoking read.
A slow burn to begin with, as Pete and Maddie get the shock of their lives when Miles and a PI turn up at their door with a DNA test result proving their 2 year old is not their biological son. Switched at birth during a turbulent stay in the NICU with another premature baby, David - the book starts with them navigating their feelings and actions with their new “extended family”.
A fun plot device from Delaney however shows us (right away, not a spoiler) with court documents and email/text exchanges all is not well for long. This really worked for this story as you could see Pete and Maddie falling into a trusting, candid friendship with slick Miles and his timid wife Lisa. You cringe as Pete admits to losing Theo in the supermarket for 20 minutes and other admissions, knowing they will be turned against them in court.
It took awhile for me to get interested and Pete, the main character is such a wimp in so many ways I found myself getting frustrated with his rose coloured glasses. I found this to be a really gripping book once “things went bad” - you watched and felt terrible as everything seemed to go wrong. It also gives a lot of “what would you do” vibes and reveals some shocking methods of medical, policing and legal practices that really make you realise how much trust we put into some of these systems.
A fun plot device from Delaney however shows us (right away, not a spoiler) with court documents and email/text exchanges all is not well for long. This really worked for this story as you could see Pete and Maddie falling into a trusting, candid friendship with slick Miles and his timid wife Lisa. You cringe as Pete admits to losing Theo in the supermarket for 20 minutes and other admissions, knowing they will be turned against them in court.
It took awhile for me to get interested and Pete, the main character is such a wimp in so many ways I found myself getting frustrated with his rose coloured glasses. I found this to be a really gripping book once “things went bad” - you watched and felt terrible as everything seemed to go wrong. It also gives a lot of “what would you do” vibes and reveals some shocking methods of medical, policing and legal practices that really make you realise how much trust we put into some of these systems.
It's official; JP Delaney is amazing.
I like how all thrillers boil down to "TRUST NO ONE! THEY'RE ALL OUT TO GET YA!". This story has one of the most outlandish plots -switched babies- and two sets of seemingly civilized parents. Or are they?
They're not as perfect as they seem. There are secrets and hidden plots and loads of tension. It's not scary, per se, but it'll wrench your little trusting heart out. I don't even have kids and I was so stressed to the point I had to put the book down several times.
It has a little plot twist at the very end, I've noticed that's always the case in all of Delaney's books.
I like how all thrillers boil down to "TRUST NO ONE! THEY'RE ALL OUT TO GET YA!". This story has one of the most outlandish plots -switched babies- and two sets of seemingly civilized parents. Or are they?
They're not as perfect as they seem. There are secrets and hidden plots and loads of tension. It's not scary, per se, but it'll wrench your little trusting heart out. I don't even have kids and I was so stressed to the point I had to put the book down several times.
It has a little plot twist at the very end, I've noticed that's always the case in all of Delaney's books.
Read Completed 3/12/21 | 3.5 stars
An enjoyable read but I was looking for a tad more intrigue and suspense. It made me nervous dealing with the subjects of custody and the whole accidental (or "accidental") child swap but it wasn't really a suspenseful kind of nervous. The ending had a little twist but it wasn't really enough to solidify this as a better read for me. I still enjoyed the book but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it.
An enjoyable read but I was looking for a tad more intrigue and suspense. It made me nervous dealing with the subjects of custody and the whole accidental (or "accidental") child swap but it wasn't really a suspenseful kind of nervous. The ending had a little twist but it wasn't really enough to solidify this as a better read for me. I still enjoyed the book but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it.
4.5 stars
This was such a crazy fun read! Everything seems well at the start but you just know that shit's gonna hit the fan soon... and then it does! Suddenly the story moves so quickly and you are filled with all sorts of emotions throughout. I wouldn't have minded it being another 100 pages longer with every allegation and argument examined in court
✨ "What was that line from that old TV show? 'The innocent have nothing to fear.' And yet here we are, and I do fear. Fear losing my family, fear what the courts might order, fear what Miles Lambert might do in his unstoppable drive to get Theo back. But most of all, fear what I might find out."
This was such a crazy fun read! Everything seems well at the start but you just know that shit's gonna hit the fan soon... and then it does! Suddenly the story moves so quickly and you are filled with all sorts of emotions throughout. I wouldn't have minded it being another 100 pages longer with every allegation and argument examined in court
A creepy good story about the unthinkable....two babies are switched at birth. Two years later the birth father of one child comes knocking on the other parents' door. After initial shock, both families agree to make things work between them, but it soon becomes apparent that not everyone plays nice when they don't get their way. Plenty of suspense with heart-tugging too. You'll feel outrage, anger, frustration, heartbreak, and disbelief. Best of all, the ending delivers with satisfaction.
Playing Nice, J P Delaney. 4/5
What if you found out your family wasn’t yours at all? How far would you go to protect them? Pete Riley opens the door one morning to his worst nightmare, a stranger called Miles who reveals that his son isn’t actually his, but is in fact Miles’ son. Accidentally switched at birth. What follows unearths disturbing questions about the families involved, can they trust each other? The other parents? What do they all have to hide? What happens when they are done playing nice.
I LOVE J P Delaney, I am always here for any work he puts out. I absolutely love how he pivots on the “Thriller” genre. None of his books follow quite the same formula and I can never put them down, always finishing them in one sitting!
Playing Nice is a different kind of thriller yet again, from the moment Pete opens the door and Miles explains that Theo isn’t his child, that they’ve had their babies switched and the toddler he has raised, adored, loved and cherished for 2 years is not biologically his, but in fact, another child is, I had this feeling of absolute devastation and internal panic. It is so rare to find an author who can actually make you feel the way the characters do with such a real physical gut punch.
This again, is another thriller by J P Delaney with twist after twist after twist and just when you think the story has neatly wrapped itself in a bow, he delivers one final, brilliant knife to heart. Delaney is masterful with his craft, hooking you in immediately and keeping you hooked.
Excellent character development here as well, Delaney is skilled at writing both female and male perspectives credibly. Sometimes when writers juggle perspectives from both I find one narrative to be a little off, but not here, both perspectives flowed well together with distinctive voices.
His antagonist work here is excellent, I love finding an adversary I can truly hate and this story has a strong one. His research here is painstaking also.
It is hard to pick a favourite from Delaneys works, all are excellent, his quality doesn’t falter, but i think, on a personal level as a parent, this one strikes an even more terrifying chord.
This one is out August 6th and if you are a fan of Delaneys previous work or want to be hooked in by an unputdownable page turner, this is for you!
Thanks to #NetGalley, #JPDelaney and #QuercusBooks for my ARC of this book.
What if you found out your family wasn’t yours at all? How far would you go to protect them? Pete Riley opens the door one morning to his worst nightmare, a stranger called Miles who reveals that his son isn’t actually his, but is in fact Miles’ son. Accidentally switched at birth. What follows unearths disturbing questions about the families involved, can they trust each other? The other parents? What do they all have to hide? What happens when they are done playing nice.
I LOVE J P Delaney, I am always here for any work he puts out. I absolutely love how he pivots on the “Thriller” genre. None of his books follow quite the same formula and I can never put them down, always finishing them in one sitting!
Playing Nice is a different kind of thriller yet again, from the moment Pete opens the door and Miles explains that Theo isn’t his child, that they’ve had their babies switched and the toddler he has raised, adored, loved and cherished for 2 years is not biologically his, but in fact, another child is, I had this feeling of absolute devastation and internal panic. It is so rare to find an author who can actually make you feel the way the characters do with such a real physical gut punch.
This again, is another thriller by J P Delaney with twist after twist after twist and just when you think the story has neatly wrapped itself in a bow, he delivers one final, brilliant knife to heart. Delaney is masterful with his craft, hooking you in immediately and keeping you hooked.
Excellent character development here as well, Delaney is skilled at writing both female and male perspectives credibly. Sometimes when writers juggle perspectives from both I find one narrative to be a little off, but not here, both perspectives flowed well together with distinctive voices.
His antagonist work here is excellent, I love finding an adversary I can truly hate and this story has a strong one. His research here is painstaking also.
It is hard to pick a favourite from Delaneys works, all are excellent, his quality doesn’t falter, but i think, on a personal level as a parent, this one strikes an even more terrifying chord.
This one is out August 6th and if you are a fan of Delaneys previous work or want to be hooked in by an unputdownable page turner, this is for you!
Thanks to #NetGalley, #JPDelaney and #QuercusBooks for my ARC of this book.