TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED. . .In a quiet London suburb, a group of mothers relies on each other for friendship, favors, and gossip. But some of them shouldn’t be trusted, and others have dark secrets. When Callie moved into her new neighborhood, she thought it would be easy to fit in. The other parents have been strangely hostile, though, and her frail daughter Rae is finding it impossible to make friends. Suzy, with her rich husband and her three energetic children, has been the only one to reach out, although their friendship has recently felt inexplicably strained. Now the police have suggested that someone dangerous may be living in their neighborhood, and the atmosphere feels even more toxic. Then there’s the matter of Callie’s ex-husband, and the shocking truth behind their divorce . . . a truth that she would do anything to hide.Review“British author Millar’s engrossing debut offers an unsettling, realistic view of friendships, gossip, and loneliness . . . What starts as a quiet story about neighbors soon builds into a gripping psychological thriller.”—Publishers Weekly(starred review)
“Millar’s well-drawn characters and impeccably structured plot instantly grab the reader and may leave parents wondering who to trust with their children. A supremely accomplished debut thriller by a writer to watch.”—Booklist(starred review)
“A disturbing psychological thriller that probes the insular lives of social misfits in a London suburb.”—New York Times Book Review
“A must-read that will tap into every mother's primal fears.”—Sophie Hannah
“Like the best thrillers, it is quietly creepy and expertly crafted. Add it to your book club reading list now.”—Stylist Magazine
“Taut, page-turning and surprising.”—Cleveland Plain Dealer
“A captivating psychological thriller . . . The writing is taut, the action slow building, the emotions intense, and the climax explosive, making it a must read for all.”—Lori’s Reading Corner
“Millar’s gripping thriller has anxious moms in its crosshairs.”—People
“The Playdateis an intriguing psychological thriller that starts as a treatise on how well even best friends and neighbors truly know each other before turning into a taut chiller . . . Readers will appreciate Louise Miller’s thought-provoking drama as the masks slowly come off.”—The Mystery Gazette
“Suspenseful . . . I couldn't put the book down till I had gotten to the end.” (Book Dilettante) About the AuthorLouise Millarwas raised in Scotland. She began her journalism career in music and film magazines. A former senior editor atMarie Claire, she has written forRed,Psychologies,Stella, theObserver,Glamour,Stylist, andThe Guardian. She lives in London with her husband and daughters.