Anthony Capella

I don't typically read sci-fi, and I can't even remember what motivated me to pick this up in the first place. But this book hooked me right from the start and I couldn't get enough of it! I loved the concepts introduce here (likely not new to real sci-fi fans, but some of them were new to me). I also loved the way this story circled around Danny, the young boy with autism (son of two main characters-ish). IF there was anything I didn't like about this book was the fact that it was largely written in 2nd person. I got used to it, but I don't typically care for reading things written that way.… (more)

Pete Riley and Maddy Wilson are domestic partners who live in London with their two-year-old son, Theo. They have their share of troubles: the spark in their relationship has begun to fade; while Maddie works in advertising, Pete, a journalist, was laid off and has not succeeded in his efforts to reignite his career; money is tight; and Pete (a stay-at-home dad) is warned by his son's school that Theo becomes verbally and physically aggressive when he does not get his way.

These problems pale in comparison with what comes next. A handsome and well-spoken man, Miles Lambert, shows up one day with a private investigator. It seems that Lambert's newborn was in the neonatal intensive care unit with Pete and Maddie's baby boy after Lucy, Miles' wife, and Maddie gave birth prematurely. A DNA test proves that Theo is actually the Lamberts' biological child. Miles and Lucy have been raising Maddie and Pete's natural son, David, who has special needs and requires a great deal of care. This tragic mix-up raises heartbreaking questions for which there are no easy answers.

J P Delaney's "Playing Nice" (what a great title with a delicious double meaning) is a tour-de-force, a domestic thriller that not only moves along at a rapid pace, but also explores such provocative themes as mental health challenges; contrasting parenting styles; the flaws in England's family court system; and the ways in which intense pressure and uncertainty can bring out a person's best and worst traits. Pete and Maddie take turns as narrators. They are flawed but well-meaning individuals who are no match for Miles, a chameleon who oozes charm when it suits him and attacks anyone who defies him. In addition to Pete and Maddie's accounts, there are intriguing mini-chapters that contain court reports, legal documents, text messages, and statements from social workers. The plot twists are gut-wrenching; we cannot anticipate how this chilling tale will end. "Playing Nice" is an addictive work of psychological and legal suspense that, once begun, is difficult to put down.
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What a wild ride! This had a similar feel to a usual domestic thriller novel, except the wife in question isn't even the wife in question!

After the mysterious disappearance of Abbie Cullen-Scott, her husband Tim Scott uses his tech business to create a "cobot" (a companion robot) in her image. He uses photos, texts, and social media to mimic Abbie's personality almost exactly. At first, it seems that he's only done this out of grief so that he can have his wife back. As time goes on, cobot Abbie begins to wonder if that is his true intentions or if there is something more sinister going on.

The story is told in two different time lines and perspectives. One timeline is from the perspective of cobot Abbie after her creation, and the second is told from the perspective of someone inside the tech company long before human Abbie disappeared. Sometimes when an author uses this method, it breaks up the rhythm or I find that I like one perspective way more than the other. This was not the case here, as I loved them both and I found it difficult to put the book down at any point.

Most of all, I loved the misdirection and plot twists. I was pretty convinced I knew what was going on about 4 or 5 times before the end, but WOW, I never did see that ending coming!

Great read for those who love domestic thrillers with a little bit of sci-fi sprinkled in!

Thank you to NetGalley and to Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.… (more)