The author, Jacqueline Ward, is a psychologist with an MBE for services to vulnerable people, and writes with authority and knowledge in How To Play Dead of the current deplorable situation in this country with two women dying each week as a result of domestic violence. In this novel the main character, Ria, works for the charity Safe Me helping women who have suffered domestic abuse. Her husband, Danny, is working in Dubai to clear their debts and raise enough money for a deposit on a house leaving Ria at home with their two childre, Jennifer and Simon. Ria's father is a very controlling man who disapproves of Danny so she doesn't have contact with him although she meets her mother every Saturday. Fortunately she gets more support from Danny's family. Ria receives a mobile 'phone in the post with footage of her walking away from work. The 'first look' ends with a text message 'I'm watching you' on the 'phone which Ria replies to with 'no shit Sherlock'. Domestic abuse is a very real problem and it is to be hoped that novels such as this will raise awareness. This promises to be a very tense psychological thriller and readers will hope that there is a good outcome for Ria, unlike so many other women. Looking forward to reading the rest of this book.