This is not a bad book by any means - but it has been marketed in a misleading fashion. The blurb suggests that this is a psychological thriller that would appeal to readers who enjoy the likes of Ruth Ware or Gillian McAllister ... that really isn't the case. This isn't a suspenseful fictional thriller at all - it is essentially a social crusade that addresses the very serious issues of domestic violence, stalking and rape.
I had already read and enjoyed Jacqueline Ward's previous novel, "Perfect Ten", so this, her next book, had been on my "to be read" list for a little while. I suppose I had been expecting something in a similar vein - and that seemed to be supported by any marketing messages I had read. It is, however, very different.
"How to Play Dead" is actually quite an uncomfortable and, at times, harrowing read. In certain respects it comes across more like an investigative piece of non-fiction. Domestic violence is at the heart of this story and that topic extends into other areas such as "gaslighting", stalking and rape. I applaud Jacqueline Ward for bringing such important topics to the fore and dealing with them in such a candid fashion.
As a vehicle to highlight these issues and the plight of people affected by them, this book hits the mark. As a piece of suspenseful thriller writing (psychological or otherwise), it doesn't.
I had already read and enjoyed Jacqueline Ward's previous novel, "Perfect Ten", so this, her next book, had been on my "to be read" list for a little while. I suppose I had been expecting something in a similar vein - and that seemed to be supported by any marketing messages I had read. It is, however, very different.
"How to Play Dead" is actually quite an uncomfortable and, at times, harrowing read. In certain respects it comes across more like an investigative piece of non-fiction. Domestic violence is at the heart of this story and that topic extends into other areas such as "gaslighting", stalking and rape. I applaud Jacqueline Ward for bringing such important topics to the fore and dealing with them in such a candid fashion.
As a vehicle to highlight these issues and the plight of people affected by them, this book hits the mark. As a piece of suspenseful thriller writing (psychological or otherwise), it doesn't.