Anthony Capella

Original and fast paced psychological thriller with great twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.

I really liked this one, it a thriller/sci-fi type novel that really does make you sit up and take notice.
This is my first novel by JP Delaney and it certainly didn't disappoint, I like the Science fiction aspect of this story as it gave it a little edge and the plot is fast paced and really entertaining.

There's something I have to explain, my love," he says, taking your hand in his. "That wasn't a dream. It was an upload."
Abbie wakes in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. The man by her side explains that he's her husband. He's a titan of the tech world, the founder of one of Silicon Valley's most innovative startups. He tells Abbie she's a gifted artist, a doting mother to their young son, and the perfect wife.

I think this is the type of novel that some readers will love and others will find totally ridiculous but for me this really worked as it was different, entertaining, thought provoking and a little scary too.… (more)

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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