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Playing Nice cover art

Playing Nice

Written 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

What the critics say

"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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unexpected

It's been a long time since I have been surprised or had such strong emotions toward the story telling of a book that I have read
Pleasantly surprised

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Don't wait....download now....a must listen...

This was an awesome listen. Having the different readers really captured the essence and kept you on the edge of your seat.

The story was shocking, thrilling, startling, maddening all while trying to figure it out. When you think you have, another MAJOR twist happens. You honestly just can't believe what is happening. JP Delaney certainly dotted all i's and crossed all t's with this one.

BRAVO!!!!

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Good Book

The narration was excellent in this book. Clear characterization and tone kept me very much entertained. The story itself was very good and although the storyline was one we have heard before there were enough twists to make it really interesting as well as informative.

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Best book I’ve listened to in ages

A totally gripping story and entirely believable plot. I couldn’t stop listening until the end! Written and narrated with great empathy for the characters.

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1 person found this helpful

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Page turner

Totally had me wrapped up in the "what's next". Admittedly, there were times in this book I was frazzled and stressed out
for the main characters but started to see how it might be playing out. The end was a bit of a surprise though.

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Amazing plot twist and turns. Author had an uncanny ability to stir up some real emotions. Well done.

Loved all of it. It was riveting Really made you think the whole time. Just amazing all the way through

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One of the best I’ve listened to

Just get it. It held me in suspense until the end. I couldn’t stop listening to it.

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3 people found this helpful

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  • 2022-11-28

Amazing

One of the best audiobooks yet
Such a great story and narrator is excellent. Must listen

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Moving and thought provoking

This book is a must listen. It will really make you think about what constitutes family, and how love can change everything.

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Enjoyed this book

I have never listened to a book by JP Delaney and am so glad I did as the last few books I have listened to by other authors have been disappointing.
I thought the narration was very well done and each of the characters was easy to distinguish. It wasn't so much a psychological thriller, but more of a mystery and trying to figure out how it would end. It ended as I thought it would with a few surprises thrown in. All in all a good listen while driving, walking and completing some chores.
I will definitely be looking for more books by JP Delaney.

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