PSYCHO THRILLERS | Daily Mail Online

HOW TO PLAY DEAD

by Jacqueline Ward

(Corvus £8.99, 352 pp)

This is a clever title for a very thoughtful book about the complexities surrounding the victims of domestic abuse.

The author tackles the often unasked question: why do some women survive domestic abuse and others do not?

On the face of it, Ria Taylor is the successful operator of a Manchester refuge for abuse victims, but she is less confident when it comes to dealing with the anonymous threats she starts receiving herself.

An important and powerful part of the story is told through the diary of abuse victim Tanya, whose psychological insights are particularly moving. The mystery of exactly what in Ria’s past, or present, is placing her in danger is convincing. But at times you feel the author’s earnest interest in her subject gets in the way of telling a compelling story.

17 CHURCH ROW

by James Carol

(Zaffre £7.99, 416 pp)

A young couple and their four-year-old daughter, Bella, move into a technologically state-of-the-art house hoping for a fresh start following the tragic death of Bella’s twin sister, Grace.

At first, the convenience of their new home is merely distracting, but gradually the tech takes a more sinister turn, before becoming downright terrifying. The story explores the inbuilt tensions of what it means to be human in the age of technological advances — not the usual territory for thrillers.

Simple enough to not deter beginners, it is a guide to some of the science and philosophy behind artificial intelligence. Carol balances this with the emotional devastation of losing a child, in an original and horrifying way.

SOMEONE IS LYING

by Jenny Blackhurst

(Headline £7.99, 336 pp)

This story just needs a catchy theme tune (like Big Little Lies) and it would make the perfect, flashy murder-mystery TV series.

It’s a year since the accidental death of Erica, a privileged wife living in a luxury gated community in affluent Cheshire. Suddenly, a mysterious podcast starts claiming that Erica was actually murdered, gradually revealing the explosive secrets and possible motives of people who might have murdered her.

It’s a clever device that facilitates a twisty plot with lots of characters hiding juicy secrets. The well-observed backdrop of the lavish lifestyles of these women is a real bonus — the author understands the guilty pleasure of witnessing the misfortunes of women who seem to have it all.

It’s a giddy romp rather than a serious domestic noir.

To buy any book reviewed here (P&P is free), visit www.mailshop.co.uk or call 01603 648155