Playing Dead

by Julia Heaberlin
Playing Dead
Author: Julia Heaberlin
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Total Pages: 354
Release: 2012-05-29
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0345527011
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“A compelling family mystery that kept me turning the pages. Highly recommended.”—Margaret Maron, New York Times bestselling author of Three Day Town “Dear Tommie: Have you ever wondered about who you are?” The letter that turns Tommie McCloud’s world upside down arrives from a stranger only days after her father’s death. The woman who wrote it claims that Tommie is her daughter—and that she was kidnapped as a baby thirty-one years ago. Tommie wants to believe it’s all a hoax, but suddenly a girl who grew up on a Texas ranch finds herself linked to a horrific past: the slaughter of a family in Chicago, the murder of an Oklahoma beauty queen, and the kidnapping of a little girl named Adriana. Tommie races along a twisting, nightmarish path while an unseen stalker is determined to keep old secrets locked inside the dementia-battered brain of the woman who Tommie always thought was her real mother. With everything she has ever believed in question, and no one she can trust, Tommie must discover the truth about the girl who vanished—and the very real threats that still remain. “[Julia Heaberlin’s] voice is pitch perfect, and her story of one woman’s fierce struggle to reconcile her past with her present is gripping and powerful. An outstanding debut.”—Carla Buckley, author of Invisible

Playing Dead

by Elizabeth Greenwood
Playing Dead
Author: Elizabeth Greenwood
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 272
Release: 2016-08-09
Genre: True Crime
ISBN: 1476739366
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A darkly comic foray into the world of men and women who fake their own deaths, the consultants who help them disappear, and the private investigators who’ll stop at nothing to bring them back to life. “A delightful read for anyone tantalized by the prospect of disappearing without a trace.” —Erik Larson, New York Times bestselling author of Dead Wake “Delivers all the lo-fi spy shenanigans and caught-red-handed schadenfreude you’re hoping for.” —NPR “A lively romp.” —The Boston Globe “Grim fun.” —The New York Times “Brilliant topic, absorbing book.” —The Seattle Times “The most literally escapist summer read you could hope for.” —The Paris Review Is it still possible to fake your own death in the twenty-first century? With six figures of student loan debt, Elizabeth Greenwood was tempted to find out. So off she sets on a darkly comic foray into the world of death fraud, where for $30,000 a consultant can make you disappear—but your suspicious insurance company might hire a private detective to dig up your coffin...only to find it filled with rocks. Greenwood tracks down a British man who staged a kayaking accident and then returned to live in his own house while all his neighbors thought he was dead. She takes a call from Michael Jackson (no, he’s not dead—or so her new acquaintances would have her believe), stalks message boards for people contemplating pseudocide, and gathers intel on black market morgues in the Philippines, where she may or may not obtain some fraudulent goodies of her own. Along the way, she learns that love is a much less common motive than money, and that making your death look like a drowning virtually guarantees that you’ll be caught. (Disappearing while hiking, however, is a way great to go.) Playing Dead is a charmingly bizarre investigation in the vein of Jon Ronson and Mary Roach into our all-too-human desire to escape from the lives we lead, and the men and women desperate enough to give up their lives—and their families—to start again.

Play Dead

by Harlan Coben
Play Dead
Author: Harlan Coben
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 562
Release: 2010-09-28
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1101443618
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The worlds of celebrity and sports are brilliantly dissected and turned upside down in the debut thriller from the bestselling author and creator of the hit Netflix drama The Stranger. Theirs was a marriage made in tabloid heaven, but no sooner had supermodel Laura Ayars and Celtics star David Baskin said “I do” than tragedy struck. While honeymooning on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, David went out for a swim—and never returned. Now widowed and grieving, Laura has a thousand questions and no answers. Her search for the truth will draw her into a web of lies and deception that stretches back thirty years—while on the court at Boston Garden, a rookie phenom makes his spectacular debut...

Play Dead

by Francine J. Harris
Play Dead
Author: Francine J. Harris
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2016
Genre: Poetry
ISBN: 9781938584251
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Identity, gender, and race politics all collide ferociously in this unflinching collection that actively cuts through cultural and social constructs.

Playing Dead

by Monique Faison Ross
Playing Dead
Author: Monique Faison Ross
Publisher: WildBlue Press
Total Pages: 284
Release: 2019-07-30
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1948239329
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This domestic abuse survivor’s memoir shares an “engaging, powerful, and ultimately shocking story" of a bad marriage that ended in attempted murder (Lundy Bancroft, author of The Joyous Recovery). Monique Faison, the daughter of San Diego Charger’s football great Earl Faison, married her high school sweetheart soon after she discovered she was pregnant with his child. Her relationship with Chris had always been shaky, but his verbal abuse only increased—and then gave way to physical attacks. Eventually, Monique took their children and left. That was when the stalking and serious threats began. Nothing stopped him—not protection injunctions, police warnings, or even arrests. One fateful Monday morning, Chris kidnapped Monique in front of her children. After a nightmarish car ride that involved car crashes and rape, Chris beat her on the head with a shovel and abandoned her brutalized body in the woods, presuming she was dead. But playing dead was what saved her life.

Playing Dead

by Allison Brennan
Playing Dead
Author: Allison Brennan
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Total Pages: 482
Release: 2008-09-30
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0345502736
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DEAD MAN RUNNING Sentenced to death for crimes he didn’t commit, ex-cop Tom O’Brien is now a hunted fugitive. After fifteen years in prison, he’s determined to prove his innocence–but first he must convince his daughter, whose testimony helped put him behind bars, that he has damning evidence of a plot to frame him. Claire is no longer the naïve teenager who arrived home to find her mother and her mother’s lover shot dead and her father holding the murder weapon. She’s a successful fraud investigator who assumes everyone lies. Though Claire is convinced of her father’s guilt, curiosity propels her to look into the disappearance of a law student who claimed to have proof of Tom’s innocence. But seeking answers only leads to more questions, reinforcing Claire’s belief that there’s no one left to trust. Obsessed with the O’Brien case, FBI agent Mitch Bianchi befriends Claire under false pretenses, certain that Tom is not only innocent but in grave danger–and not just from the cops. As the three race toward the truth, a murderous conspiracy tightens its noose–and Claire becomes the target of an ice-cold psychopath who will kill to protect his secrets.

Play Dead (Paperback)

by Ted Dekker
Play Dead (Paperback)
Author: Ted Dekker
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2021-04-27
Genre: Austin (Tex.)
ISBN: 9781733571883
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"The discovery of two teenagers ritualistically murdered in a secluded Austin park outrages a nation already on the brink of tearing itself apart. The victims are the latest in an epidemic of deaths linked to a mysterious, underground virtual game known only as Play Dead. The forensic evidence soon points to Jamie Hamilton, a brilliant yet naive young man on the autism spectrum. But Angie Channing, a world-renown true crime writer, isn't so sure. Could such a seemingly innocent person be capable of clinical brutality? Why the rush to silence him? What secrets are hidden in the world of Play Dead that were worth killing for? What if Jamie is the key to something far more sinister? Angie quickly finds herself in a relentless game of cat and mouse that threatens far more than just her sanity or her life. How far will she go to uncover the shocking truth? Enter a psychological thriller ripped from tomorrow's headlines that will haunt you until the last page. It is said that nothing is as it seems in the halls of power and that some truths are far too dangerous for the common man. Until now"--Back cover.

Never Play Dead

by Tomi Lahren
Never Play Dead
Author: Tomi Lahren
Publisher: HarperCollins
Total Pages: 187
Release: 2019-07-02
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0062881957
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Stop thinking about who you might offend and start thinking about who you might inspire. Fans are always asking Tomi Lahren where she gained the confidence and candor that have made her who she is: a celebrated free-speech advocate, a conservative media star, and one of the most controversial pundits in America. In Never Play Dead, Tomi cheers on anyone, especially other young women willing to speak their minds. She takes readers on a tour of the internet trolls, political correctness police, campus activists, and condescending elites who never pass up a chance to quash honest debate. And she skewers the self-esteem movement that ironically discourages people from speaking up for themselves. She tells the story of how she worked her way out of South Dakota to television fame in LA, surviving social isolation, a truly terrible boyfriend, and awful workplaces. Along the way, she was tempted to follow everyone’s advice to keep quiet and bide her time, but she never did. This comes at a cost. Any time Tomi posts a video or sends out a tweet, it makes headlines. A video of a stranger throwing a glass of ice water at her and her parents went viral, and the president tweeted about it. She was fired at The Blaze because she wouldn’t toe the party line. However, it’s fine to lose followers as long as you never lose yourself. Whether you’ve been told you’re not good enough by parents, lovers, frenemies, bad bosses, or social media, it’s time to take Lahren’s advice and fight back. Free speech isn’t just saying what you want; it’s hearing what you don’t want to hear. Never Play Dead teaches you to shed your fear, find your inner strength, speak the truth, and never let the haters get you down.

Play Dead

by Angela Marsons
Play Dead
Author: Angela Marsons
Publisher: Bookouture
Total Pages: 455
Release: 2016-05-20
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1786810077
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The girl stared unseeing up to the blue sky. Her mouth was open, as if she was about to speak, to cry for help… but her voice had been silenced forever. When Detective Kim Stone and her team are sent to Westerley, a forensic research facility, they discover the body of a young woman, her mouth filled with soil. But she doesn’t belong there. It seems a killer has discovered the perfect cover for their crime. Kim breaks the devastating news of Jemima’s murder to her parents, who speak of a gentle soul with no enemies. Yet when Jemima’s sister confides in Kim that she was afraid to leave the house, Kim is certain that Jemima knew her killer, and is determined to find this brutal murderer before he strikes again. Scouring Jemima’s crime scene, Kim finds a hairgrip, decorated with a heart cut in two. Then a second woman is attacked and left for dead, her mouth crammed with dirt, just like Jemima’s. A similar hairgrip is found nearby. But when she wakes in hospital, she can’t remember what happened, only the sing-song rhyme one for you and one for me. As Kim stares into her tear-filled eyes, she vows to uncover what links the women. And when she learns they went to the same school, she knows the answers lie buried in the past. But then a third woman goes missing, and she knows time is running out. Can she find the truth before a twisted, damaged mind claims another life? An absolutely heart-pounding mystery thriller from multi-million-copy number one bestseller Angela Marsons that will have you hooked on the Detective Kim Stone series. Can be read as a standalone. Read what everyone is saying about Play Dead: ‘I read this book in one sitting, yes it really was that good … the perfect crime thriller, well plotted, great characters, suspense … and the most deviant and chilling serial killer… Utterly gripping and it's certainly going to be in my top reads… 5 stars out of 5 plus a glass of wine (to steady my nerves, after reading such a heart-pounding crime thriller).’ The Book Review Café, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow, wow, wow, I absolutely freaking loved it and without a shadow of doubt this is the best one yet… with this one being more gritty and tense. You crime book fans are seriously going to love it... I cannot recommend this book enough it's flippin fantastic or like they say in the Black Country Supa' smashin' great read!’ Chelle’s Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Hooks you and reels you in… Life gets put on hold until you've finished the latest offering in her AMAZING Kim Stone series… utterly fantastic.’ Reading Room with a View, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow. Give me a minute while I catch my breath, because I've just finished the latest Angela Marson's book… Ingest it by any means, just make sure you do. It is a riveting, blood-tingling, pulse pounding read that will take you on the journey that will play on your mind long after you've finished reading.’ Caroline-Writes, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This may well be the best thriller I have ever read. I could hardly breathe with the suspense and it was definitely a hardship to wrench myself away from the action.’ Redheaded Bookworm, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I defy anyone to turn away from the page. I was glued to this book.’ Book Addict Shaun, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The best book I've read all year so far… Dark, intense, spine-tingling and absolutely perfect.’ The Bookshelf Blog, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A thrilling, tense and nail biting read.’ Best Crime Books & More, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow, I didn't think Angela Marsons DI Kim Stone series could get any better, but this one really has blown me away! Fast paced and tension filled, I loved every second of this rollercoaster of a ride. How soon can the next one be released?’ Cal Turner Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐