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Playing Nice

By: JP Delaney
Narrated by: Ben Elliot, Amelia Cormack, Peter Forbes
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Publisher's summary

What if you found out that your family isn’t yours at all? How far would you go to protect them? A gripping new psychological thriller from the best-selling author of The Girl Before....

"[JP] Delaney takes domestic suspense beyond its comfort zone.” (Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review)

Pete Riley answers the door one morning and lets in a parent's worst nightmare. On his doorstep is Miles Lambert, a stranger who breaks the devastating news that Pete's son, Theo, isn't actually his son - he is the Lamberts', switched at birth by an understaffed hospital while their real son was sent home with Miles and his wife, Lucy. For Pete, his partner Maddie, and the little boy they've been raising for the past two years, life will never be the same again.

The two families, reeling from the shock, take comfort in shared good intentions, eagerly entwining their very different lives in the hope of becoming one unconventional modern family. But a plan to sue the hospital triggers an official investigation that unearths some disturbing questions about the night their children were switched. How much can they trust the other parents - or even each other? What secrets are hidden behind the Lamberts' glossy front door? Stretched to the breaking point, Pete and Maddie discover they will each stop at nothing to keep their family safe.

They are done playing nice.

©2020 JP Delaney (P)2020 Random House Audio
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Critic reviews

"When it comes to ordinary families faced with terrifying dilemmas, there is no one better than JP Delaney. He is King of Thrillers, and Playing Nice is his best book yet. His chilling, compelling and oh-so-real books force us to confront our darkest fears - and question how far we would go to protect those we love.... Brilliant." (Fiona Cummins, author of Rattle)

"A nightmarish scenario drives this gripping psychological thriller...Genuinely surprising twists reveal just how far a parent will go for the sake of a child. This is domestic suspense at its most unsettling.” (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Playing Nice

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    3 out of 5 stars

Just Okay

This book held my attention the whole time. There were parts that made me want to find more household chores to do so I could keep listening on my headphones. However, some seriously implausible moments are scattered throughout.

I don’t have a child, but I’ve never known a two year old to be so advanced as to draw people that can be easily identifiable. And a catapult outside of a castle! What? A catapult would be tricky for an adult in a game of Pictionary.

Also, can we PLEASE do away with the awful trope of “we’re not going to call the police to help with this situation because they won’t believe us”. Perhaps clue them in to what’s going on? And THEN take off in your car to handle a solo crusade to save the day! Okay. Rant over. This book is worth the credit. Go for it.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Stunning story

Captivating from the first chapter. Couldn't wait to get back to it. Great performances too!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

entertaining!

I enjoyer this book. I listened while walking thru thr park/city/working. meaning it's good to multitask.
it was so good and then I got a little over it but still good enough to want to continue. I loved the performances! I listened at 1.3x speed btw

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Outstanding!!!

Rarely do I find a book I can’t stop listening to. Finally once again I find a book like that. Loved every minute of it. A must listen.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Couldn’t put it down

Oh my gosh this is the best book I’ve listened to in a really long time. Good people caught up in an awful situation, trusting that good intentions in a fair system would prevail. Only to have the rug pulled out from them at every turn. Fabulous psychological thriller. Can’t wait to find more by this author.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Couldn’t wait to listen every day!

This kept my interest the entire way- not easy to do!
The reader was excellent! The story line full! Highly recommend

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Loved it!

An interesting and captivating story, went through it in only 2 days. Nice surprise to find a male author writing women characters as human beings and not cliches.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Frustratingly good.

One of those storylines that gets so frustrating! Great performers and really quite well done.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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I would love to know how this ends, it was making me too anxious to finish

have 4 1/2 hours to go, and I just can’t make myself listen to anymore, it is so anxiety making.

It’s very well written, and very well performed, but it was a story where you can see how someone’s innocent actions are twisted and distorted and used against them,, their situation getting worse and worse and worse.
If you like psychological thrillers, I would highly recommend it, if you have a low tolerance for anxiety, stay clear

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Ignore the bad reviews

Interesting story kept me going till the end - don’t mess with with a mad mom

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