I love a good domestic thriller, and this hit the spot for me. It was an easy read, and I kept trying to rush myself so that I could see what happened next! I’m looking forward to reading more from this author!

This twisty, dark novel begins with Beth bent over in panic, watching her young daughter Daisy desperately clamber up a climbing frame away from two teenage lads and their aggressive dog. We learn that Beth is unable to help as even the thought of setting foot in a playground gives rise to a panic attack and breathe a sigh of relief when a handsome stranger comes to the rescue… but why is Beth so terrified of playgrounds? Who is this stranger who can’t seem to stay away and starts to make himself indispensable? What nightmare has Beth’s other child, an older son named Ethan, got himself entangled in? This book keeps us guessing throughout, pacing the big reveals carefully.

I liked that the story was told by multiple narrators, and that we gradually gained more insight into Beth’s past as the story progressed. The book also deals with a number of serious and topical issues, with Ethan’s subplot laying bare every parent’s worst nightmare.

The three star rating is because I did find the novel slow at times… I kept reading because I wanted to know all the answers, but there were sections I had to make myself continue with. However, by the end I was glad that I persisted and the last few chapters were action-packed and full of adrenaline! This book is worth a read, especially if you prefer your thrillers on the slow burn side.

Thanks @netgalley and @bookouture for the opportunity to read an ARC of ‘The Playground’.

I love this book and I hope that they will give it a little oomph with the plot twist. I enjoyed reading it and it triggers my fears as a mother. Kudos to the author!

Far fetched but very easy thriller read about a woman who comes across a man in the playground who seemingly randomly saves the day….great read

2.5 stars rounded up. Ok. It seems I am in the minority here with this book, The Playground. It is basically a domestic thriller without a whole bunch of thrills. Beth is recently separated from Rory and living with her 2 children. Due to a past event, she is terrified to go into the playground. Her daughter gets chased by a dog and Beth cannot help her, because the daughter is in the playground. A stranger rescues the daughter and Beth is so grateful. She pretty quickly invites this stranger into her life.

I'm going to just stop here. I Love thrillers and can deal with most things such as the cliches, the repititious nature of some of them, the overdone nanny books, etc. I cannot deal with a really dumb protagonist. In what world does a woman with 2 small children just invite a stranger into their home? Other things happen during the book the just leave me shaking my head at her utter cluelessness.

Moving onward, the writing was great and the plot was interesting, but weak. I wasn't rushing through to see what happened. A sure sign that my interest was not piqued. Many will like this and the author did a tremendous job. I'm sure her other books are fantastic. This one just wasn't for me.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC. I greatly appreciate it. I recommend this book as I know many will like it.

S.D. Robertson's The Playground intricately weaves a gripping psychological thriller that navigates the delicate terrain of secrets and emotions. The story's foundation is an ordinary day at a playground, which quickly unravels into a web of suspense as a stranger enters the protagonist's life, triggering past traumas and hidden fears. Robertson's masterful storytelling skillfully interlaces past and present, immersing readers in the protagonist's vulnerability and internal turmoil. With richly layered characters, unexpected twists, and a poignant exploration of love and redemption, this book is truly worth reading.

I received this arc through netgalley.

It was an awesome read which kept me hooked from start to finish.

I would highly recommend

4 stars

This was a story like it was a complete tornado
I was with Daisy at the the playground
It was a normal day and she was climbing up a frame
Then she fell off it and there he suddenly appeared and he saved her life
I had an ARC

Beth has spent her life terrified of playgrounds after a horrific event happened to her as a teenager. As the years pass even her own children can’t enjoy the playground with her as she can not set one foot over the threshold. Then one day her daughter runs off into the park and as a terrible event unfolds Beth is frozen in fear unable to help. Thankfully a stranger appears and rescues her little girl just in time. As strangers become friends Beth’s life is about to take a turn she never expected and she is finally forced to face events from her past and as things take a more sinister turn can she really trust those people closest to her. I won’t say much more or it will ruin it but I could not put this book down it’s a great read.

Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, Action, intrigue, mystery, revenge, murder, great who done it, great plot twist, and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

A great read you won’t want to put down.

When I first started this story I thought I knew what would happen in the end. Then there was a shift and I wasn’t so sure.
I have to say too that I didn’t care for the main character Beth because what mother allows her own issues to interfere with the safety of her children?
When I thought about the mental aspect I had to give Beth’s character a chance to prove me wrong about her. I’m glad I did.

A great story for sure and an author I can’t wait
To read more of.

A small peek from the prologue:

𝔸 𝕙𝕖𝕗𝕥𝕪 𝕡𝕦𝕤𝕙 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕓𝕖𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕕 𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕤 𝕤𝕡𝕣𝕒𝕨𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕕 𝕒𝕘𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕥 𝕞𝕪 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝. 𝕆𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕪 𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕜𝕟𝕖𝕖𝕤, 𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕠𝕗𝕥, 𝕤𝕡𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕪 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕗𝕒𝕔𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℙ𝕝𝕒𝕪𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕.

I read the synopsis and truly believe it's best to go in as blind as you can, as I feel some reviews and the synopsis reveals too much information

The story is cleverly written, and the characters are well developed, and as you might have guessed, the premise is about an event that took place at a playground.

What took place there has plagued our protagonist her entire life, and it will come back to haunt her in an unimaginable way.
The slow build-up and the occasional hint sprinkled throughout leads up to a very satisfying conclusion


I liked the way Robertson touched on many sensitive subjects in this book. Mental heath, trauma, knife violence, and drugs.
Also, how the love of family can complete you .......or destroy you.

Thank you to Netgally and Bookature for the arc in exchange for a voluntary and honest review

I choose the majority of my books from bookstagram. I know what I like, but I like to see what’s “trending” in those genres I flock to. This book I picked all myself. I haven’t seen anything on it…YET!!! That will come I am sure because this novel was amazing! Its publish date is at the end of September so make note of this one! 📝

Tiny overview because please go in as blind as you can(I abbreviated this a lot)…….”I invited him into our lives after he saved my little girl on the one place I can’t ever go inside…The Playground. After what happened to me & where my childhood ended. I think he knows my biggest secret. If so he can destroy my family & all I have.”😱 Like what the what, right??

This book is part domestic thriller part psychological suspense. I couldn’t put it down from the very beginning. The story is incredibly clever and unique from anything I have ever read. It’s not “weird” either..I feel like the synopsis makes it sound “out there,” but it’s not! The twists are unsuspecting and brilliant. The ending was satisfying and I had all the feels after finishing this.🩵 @netgalley @bookouture & @sdrobertsonauthor..thanks for the fun & bravo 👏

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫..rounding up for Netgalley & goodreads!

So so glad I trusted my gut and went for this book! I wasn’t swayed by other reviews or anything . Y’all read it when it comes out!!! If you like Lisa Jewell you will love this authors writing. Trust me! ✍️📖🔥

The suspense on what happened in the playground builds up through out the first part of the book. You believe Billy is up to no good until it comes out he is Beth’s brother. Ethan is going through some heavy stuff with his mates.
I wasn’t expecting what happened in the playground to be Beth’s dad’s death! I was thinking of very different things happening. Then to find out that Billy isn’t her brother but actually the son of the man who killed Beth’s father was quite a twist!
I do feel like the language in the book felt a bit formal and proper like a conversation wouldn’t actually sound like how it was displayed but other than that, the story was quite good.

A really gripping read.
Well written characters and a very different storyline from the norm.
Kept me guessing until the very end.
Maybe a little far fetched ending.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

This is a great book. I really enjoyed it. I couldn't put it down. Kept me going. So many twists and turns

Thanks to NetGalley, and of course S.D. Robertson for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Playground.

What a book! I was immersed into the storyline from the very first chapter and couldn’t put the book down. The characters were easily relatable, with the right balance of intrigue, emotion and suspense.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

Wow, this book packs a lot of punches with lots of action and emotional rollercoasters to boot. It also isn’t afraid to cover lots of sensitive issues full on, such as knife crime, county lines and the criminal underworld.
The prose is very insightfully written, the descriptions of your first boyfriend as a teenager and the intensity of feelings, for one example, is captured perfectly and the open, honest and genuine style of writing on behalf of the main character really showcases her vulnerability and makes her even more likeable.
We are not party to all the secrets, as the reader, until near the end, but the slow build up and niggly hints of concern as brilliantly executed so the dark foreboding and sinister edge is sublime. I’m not entirely sure I’ll trust anyone again….
The overriding themes of love and family conquering all do come across well so are a good antedote to the darkness as is the ending. Brilliantly written and very original and clever premise, I seriously enjoyed this one.

“The Playground” is a thriller by S.D. Robertson. From the premise, it’s rather easy to tell that a playground features a lot in this story. There’s a playground in the set-up, there’s something bad that happens at a playground destroying a family, and there’s the ending conclusion that, again, features a playground. There is a lot going on in this book, but luckily it’s pretty easy to keep everyone (and their situations) straight. One of my issues is how, for lack of a better word, absolutely clueless the main character was - why did she just accept things (I mean, the story her son told her I found to be so far-out there it was almost like she had never been a teenager herself). While the soon-to-be ex wasn’t my favorite person, he was trying - so he got brownie points from me. As for the last 10% of the book - well, that was a roller coaster ride - fasten your seatbelt because things happen quickly. Was it believable? Not really - for a number of reasons that, unfortunately, would be a spoiler. I think if you like thrillers dealing with families, this might be up your alley. Overall, I’d give this one 3.5 stars.

Absolutely hooked from the first page. Well written with interesting and believable characters; Ethan reminded me of my own teen!!

I thought had this sussed but oh my, was I wrong!! Fab fab read, going to read all the author’s other novels now.