Playing Nice

A Novel

By: JP Delaney

Narrated by: Ben Elliot, Amelia Cormack, Peter Forbes

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 bestselling author of The Girl Before. . . .

Don’t miss the BritBox streaming series Playing Nice!

“[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.

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

“Many thrillers require some suspension of disbelief, but not this one—its psychological soundness is what makes it both utterly terrifying and compelling. These masterfully drawn characters wouldn’t let me go until I raced my way to the final page. Playing Nice deserves a spot at the very top of every reader’s TBR pile.”—Stephanie Wrobel, author of Darling Rose Gold

“JP Delaney has done it again: whip smart prose and a cracking concept. . . . Compulsive from start to finish!”—Lesley Kara, internationally bestselling author of The Rumor

“A nightmarsh 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

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.

Stunning story

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

I thought I knew where it was going, but I was really wrong

I don’t usually enjoy books with multiple points of view, but this story wouldn’t have done as well with a single point of view. There were a few times where there were I began to lose interest, but it had a way of always drawing me back in. The ending was completely unexpected

Really good!

The personalities were well complete and the discussion of sociopaths very chilling. Pete was a great character.

Hooked right away

When my son was born, a movie or TV mini-series about switched at birth had just come out and my mother was so fearful it might happen that she followed the nurses while he was cleaned up and a bracelet was placed on his ankle. He was also in the nic unit for 10 days.

I enjoyed this story immensely and recommend it.

I know some don’t like how some characters responded but I ask….how do you know how you would respond???