What a compelling story! Monique lived her life with dignity and courage but sometimes that is not enough to keep you safe. Most people are innately predisposed to be optimistic and trust that others will do the right thing. This memoir will make you rethink this and is told in a way that carries you along the journey with the family. Highly recommended.

Unbelievable that someone could hurt someone like that. Author had to go through years of abuse with her children, which I can't even imagine. Reading her story gave me some hope. Someone very close to me is going through abuse as well. Thank to author for remarkable story.

Thanks to author,publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free,it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

This is a heartbreaking story of abuse and its consequences. So many people's lives were changed forever. It is not easy to read of such circumstances. I understand that the author had multiple head injuries caused by the attack and therefore her brain function is compromised. This comes through in the way the book is written.

Playing Dead is a book that speaks out for staying single, and never getting married. Monique and Chris don’t seem to have really done their homework before getting hitched. It’s like they suddenly woke up that way one morning and find they really don’t like it and need someone to blame. Chris is a perfectionist and loves to point out what his wife isn’t doing right, and that is just about everything and all the time to him. He enjoys doing it too, in a very nasty way when the mood strikes,

They fight all the time because of it, and soon Monique fights back by bringing up his string of low paying jobs that contribute little to the family’s income problems and continue to keep them on the precipice of losing their apartment.

This book follows their deteriorating marriage, as Monique debates leaving. But she’s now got three children and they are still broke. Chris has already threatened to take off with the children if he gets even a whiff of her planning to leave. He’s become unstable and violent at times, which frightens her. Chris is a ticking time bomb that no one is taking seriously enough. Until it’s too late.

True crime lovers might want to check this one out. It’s super creepy how extreme this guy spirals out of control over his marriage ending. It’s enough to give you nightmares. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Monique Faison Ross with Gary Krebs, and the publisher.