Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
A clear 5 star read for me. The book is about the complexities of domestic abuse and the way in which women can be controlled and manipulated to such an extent that they are trapped, live in fear and suffer violence and psychological damage. There might not be a key locking these women behind a door but still they are unable to escape and be free. The book is not autobiographical or a self-help manual. It is a highly readable and enjoyable work of fiction. That isn't to say the topic isn't distressing but some very strong messages for the reality of domestic abuse are conveyed within a story that allows us into the fictional lives of Ria and Janice who head up SafeMe, a refuge and support centre for women and children, providing accommodation and all sorts of support services for victims as well as the perpetrators. I am well aware that domestic abuse can affect men but in this book it is the women who are trying to survive abusive relationships with their menfolk.
The book is also a thriller as at the heart of the story is the danger that Superwoman Ria faces from a man from the past. The plot is intricate and tells the stories of many different women, some who survive and one in particular who doesn't. There are links to a past event in Ria's teenage life, the very difficult relationship she has with her parents and frequent 'flashbacks' to friend Alice which leaves you wondering what did happen to Ria's best friend
There are sections of the book where the writing is faint.to signify the disintegration of a woman's strength and ability to fight back. Such a clever tool for illuminating the very real plight of how women in abusive relationships cease to exist, for themselves and also to the outside world, which often cries 'Just leave!'
Tender, uplifting, inspiring and heartbreaking this fictional story is a more palatable way of providing real insight into real women's lives and the real plights they suffer. And as this is a real problem in the real world, there is a section at the back of the book dedicated to supplying any reader who is experiencing domestic abuse with real helplines and support networks to contact.
The book is also a thriller as at the heart of the story is the danger that Superwoman Ria faces from a man from the past. The plot is intricate and tells the stories of many different women, some who survive and one in particular who doesn't. There are links to a past event in Ria's teenage life, the very difficult relationship she has with her parents and frequent 'flashbacks' to friend Alice which leaves you wondering what did happen to Ria's best friend
There are sections of the book where the writing is faint.to signify the disintegration of a woman's strength and ability to fight back. Such a clever tool for illuminating the very real plight of how women in abusive relationships cease to exist, for themselves and also to the outside world, which often cries 'Just leave!'
Tender, uplifting, inspiring and heartbreaking this fictional story is a more palatable way of providing real insight into real women's lives and the real plights they suffer. And as this is a real problem in the real world, there is a section at the back of the book dedicated to supplying any reader who is experiencing domestic abuse with real helplines and support networks to contact.
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death
After reading the First Look of How to Play Dead, I was super excited to actually win a copy. The cover piqued my interest right away too; so it seems we do judge books by their covers! It started out really well; a promising premise with realistically flawed characters. Although it was obvious quite quickly that it would be a 'slow burner', I had hoped it would pick up in pace, intensity, atmosphere as the story progressed. However this sadly wasn't really the case. Whilst the story did gain a bit more momentum, I had already figured out what direction it was taking and how it was going to end. I admittedly did skim read large chunks as well, especially once I realised my strong hunch was in fact correct. A bit disappointing really so only gets 2 stars from me
Ria Taylor works at SafeMe, a place that helps domestic abuse survivors (not victims!). She is married to Danny who is away for work and they have two children. A mobile phone is sent to Ria at work and she soon receives bizarre texts. Who is doing this to her and why?
Alongside Ria's story, we have the diary entries from a woman named Tanya who appears to be suffering from domestic abuse although she tries to justify it.
The two stories tie together and although I'd guessed what was going to happen early on, I felt that I couldn't put it down because I just had to see if I was right!
It is written so well with regards to the domestic abuse aspect and it's great to see that all the relevant helplines were listed at the end.
Alongside Ria's story, we have the diary entries from a woman named Tanya who appears to be suffering from domestic abuse although she tries to justify it.
The two stories tie together and although I'd guessed what was going to happen early on, I felt that I couldn't put it down because I just had to see if I was right!
It is written so well with regards to the domestic abuse aspect and it's great to see that all the relevant helplines were listed at the end.
From reading the blurb and looking at the cover, I never thought that this book was about. In general I guessed that it had something to do with stalking, but it was much more than that. I loved the way that it counted down to what the main character was waiting for, which built up suspense throughout the novel. Also, the way that it was from Ria's perspective because it gave such a heart wrenching and realistic account of something that happens to many women in the real world.
I loved the character of Ria, her personality and everything about her made me love her straight away. I liked how the author switched between both sister and that in the end, everything came together.
Overall, it was a touching book that kept me hooked the entire time.
I loved the character of Ria, her personality and everything about her made me love her straight away. I liked how the author switched between both sister and that in the end, everything came together.
Overall, it was a touching book that kept me hooked the entire time.
I was kindly sent this from Readers First.
This story is a powerful one, following Ria, who works as the head of SafeMe a place that helps women to escape from abusive relationships. However I just dint think the story was executed well. Parts felt unpolished, there were lots of spelling mistakes and none of the 'twists' were actually a twist for me as I saw it all coming. Ive rated it 3 stars though because from about half way in I was invested enough not to DNF it, but I thought the powerful story line was not done justice by the author.
The story follows two storylines and It is really difficult to say what I want to say without giving any spoilers, but I just think that the book could have been so much more powerful and impactful but the author didn't quite pull it off.
This story is a powerful one, following Ria, who works as the head of SafeMe a place that helps women to escape from abusive relationships. However I just dint think the story was executed well. Parts felt unpolished, there were lots of spelling mistakes and none of the 'twists' were actually a twist for me as I saw it all coming. Ive rated it 3 stars though because from about half way in I was invested enough not to DNF it, but I thought the powerful story line was not done justice by the author.
The story follows two storylines and It is really difficult to say what I want to say without giving any spoilers, but I just think that the book could have been so much more powerful and impactful but the author didn't quite pull it off.
Ria's passion in life is running a refuge for abused women. Like a lot women, she juggles career, marriage, family, and other responsibilities while also struggling financially. She's a tough one, known as Superwoman. She protects the endangered women at the refuge, as well as dealing with their abusive partners who will go to any lengths to get them back under their control. Added to all that, Ria's husband is working out of the country, the refuge is in danger of being closed due to funding, and she's being stalked.
The tension runs high in this story. All the characters are well developed, likable or not. Both the victims and the abusers are portrayed believably without resorting to stereotypes. The story is both heartbreaking and affirming, as victims either give up or grow stronger.
How to Play Dead can be hard to read if you've not experienced domestic abuse or being stalked. Unfortunately, a lot of us have experienced either one or both of these things, and for us this can be an upsetting book. So, be aware of the triggering aspect, if need be.
The subject is dealt with sensitively while still portraying the brutality, the misogyny, the narcissism, and the psychological damage being abused causes. The author has written with compassion and understanding.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atlantic Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The tension runs high in this story. All the characters are well developed, likable or not. Both the victims and the abusers are portrayed believably without resorting to stereotypes. The story is both heartbreaking and affirming, as victims either give up or grow stronger.
How to Play Dead can be hard to read if you've not experienced domestic abuse or being stalked. Unfortunately, a lot of us have experienced either one or both of these things, and for us this can be an upsetting book. So, be aware of the triggering aspect, if need be.
The subject is dealt with sensitively while still portraying the brutality, the misogyny, the narcissism, and the psychological damage being abused causes. The author has written with compassion and understanding.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atlantic Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is told from two perspectives. First, Ria who helps domestic abuse victims and runs a women's shelter called SafeMe. Second, the diary entries of a domestic abuse victim, Tanya.
Overall, I liked the story and learning more about the work done for people living in abusive situations, it was really interesting. Unfortunately, I found the ending a little too quick and neatly tied up. I also grew frustrated that Ria wasn't seeking help, telling her husband about the strange messages, and going to the police with every new development.
Overall, I liked the story and learning more about the work done for people living in abusive situations, it was really interesting. Unfortunately, I found the ending a little too quick and neatly tied up. I also grew frustrated that Ria wasn't seeking help, telling her husband about the strange messages, and going to the police with every new development.
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 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.
DNF at 65%. I really tried to like this book but I found the central character just too stupid. She knew what was happening, knew what she had to do but still refused to do it. As a woman who worked in that career and was aware of the signs of stalking and threatening behaviour and yet she didn't act in accordance with her knowledge.
Character too stupid to live.
Character too stupid to live.