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The Playroom
Kathryn and David are the ideal she, petite and pretty; he, dark, debonair and gifted. But beneath the smooth surface, unseen by their envious or admiring friends, splinters are beginning to form.
David suspects one of their two children is not his own, for plump and naughty Jeanetta does not conform with the controlled perfection with which he surrounds himself. Kathryn struggles to iron out family confrontations and maintain the calm of their lives together - but slowly things start to slip from her control. Bits of jewellery and items of clothing mysteriously go missing. David's mood swings become more irrational and violent. His drive to dominate and order the world he's created intensifies to the point of locking the playroom door and pocketing the key - a move that signals the final route into the chaos that will disrupt their perfect world.
David suspects one of their two children is not his own, for plump and naughty Jeanetta does not conform with the controlled perfection with which he surrounds himself. Kathryn struggles to iron out family confrontations and maintain the calm of their lives together - but slowly things start to slip from her control. Bits of jewellery and items of clothing mysteriously go missing. David's mood swings become more irrational and violent. His drive to dominate and order the world he's created intensifies to the point of locking the playroom door and pocketing the key - a move that signals the final route into the chaos that will disrupt their perfect world.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2003
130 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Frances Fyfield
82 books65 followersAka Frances Hegarty.
Frances Fyfield is a criminal lawyer, who lives in London and in Deal, by the sea which is her passion. She has won several awards, including the CWA Silver Dagger.
She grew up in rural Derbyshire, but spent most of her adult life in London, with long intervals in Norfolk and Deal, all inspiring places. She was educated mostly in convent schools; then studied English at Newcastle University and went on to qualify as a solicitor, working for what is now the Crown Prosecution Service, thus learning a bit about murder at second hand. She also worked for the Metropolitan Police.
Years later, writing became her real vocation. She also writes short stories for magazines and radio and is occasionally a contributor to Radio 4, (Front Row, Quote Unquote, Night Waves,) and presenter of Tales from the Stave.
Frances Fyfield is a criminal lawyer, who lives in London and in Deal, by the sea which is her passion. She has won several awards, including the CWA Silver Dagger.
She grew up in rural Derbyshire, but spent most of her adult life in London, with long intervals in Norfolk and Deal, all inspiring places. She was educated mostly in convent schools; then studied English at Newcastle University and went on to qualify as a solicitor, working for what is now the Crown Prosecution Service, thus learning a bit about murder at second hand. She also worked for the Metropolitan Police.
Years later, writing became her real vocation. She also writes short stories for magazines and radio and is occasionally a contributor to Radio 4, (Front Row, Quote Unquote, Night Waves,) and presenter of Tales from the Stave.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 16, 2010
‘But surely you know in that situation that you don’t have control’. We were talking about abusive relationships this morning and Anna didn’t get it. But Anna, my dear. The whole point of abusive relationships is that the abuser leaves you with this sense, just this sense that you do have some control. That if you do this, or don’t do that, or keep your desk neat, or cook this not that, then everything will be okay. They are nice to you sometimes, of course. Same thing. They need you to see that nice is possible, see what things are like if you do the right thing? Then I’m nice. They need to leave you with a modicum of self-respect because if you do hit absolute rock bottom, actually they have nothing with which to control you any more.
It’s on my mind to get this down now that I’ve spent a couple of hours talking about it, so I tell you a bit of my story because you can only sound half-convincing if you have ‘I’s in it.
Mid nineties. I’ve been living with the person in question for about nine years and I read this book, this one here, The Playroom. Probably Manny and Jordan would call it trash? I haven’t come to understand that term properly yet, but at any rate, it changed my life. All of a sudden I read a sentence that made my heart that very second drop out of my body through the chair, the floor, the earth and plummet right to the bottom side of the world somewhere. Oh. I’m in a straightforward abusive relationship.
Now, I would say I’m not completely dumb. Well, sort of dumb. I can’t imagine passing an IQ test. I’ve flunked shapes in holes since kindergarten, with the possible exception of sex. I say possible because it continues to startle me. ‘We’re going to put that in this?’ ‘You’re telling me this fits there?!!!’ As an act of faith, of course, faith in the practically infinite number of people who have done these things thus permitting the conclusion that the shapes do apparently fit in the holes I go along with it, but there is always a sense of surprise nonetheless. After sex I always feel a bit like going back to kindergarten and trying that thing they make you do with the cutout holes and the pieces you fit in the holes. I have an idea maybe I could do that after all. The feeling passes quickly enough.
So, dumb, certainly. The fact is I’d lived in this relationship for nine years and for about eight and a half of them I’d observed to myself that this was like an abusive relationshop. ‘Like’. Always ‘like’. Not for one second did it occur to me to take out that word. One might say I had particular reasons for being this dense. He was an alcoholic and that served as cover. Then when, most terribly, he gave up alcohol altogether I had what seemed a really rational idea that I was bearing the brunt of his difficult transition to relating with people sober and that things would change. There was always a reason to leave ‘like’ there. I’m sure there are always reasons for other people too. She’s (he’s) just jealous, just needs things to be neat, just this, just that. He’s (she’s) nice, really. And can’t you see things are better than they used to be? Look. As long as I do this then...or if I don't talk...or if I don't look....or when...then as long as...everything is okay. Really. Then everything is okay.
But then I read this book, read this sentence, read on and it might just as well have been my own life I was reading. I was so shocked that I hid the book after I’d read it. I guess he sensed that, sought out the book and read it. ‘That’s just like us,’ he said. With a sense of relief, it seemed obvious to me that if that was the case, that we both knew what things were like and we weren’t idiots that things would change, but they didn’t. Not one bit.
Attempt number one to get away was a dismal failure. When I went back I thought I’d die. But in fact I got a better plan together and attempt number two worked a treat.
What you understand, though, as a complete revelation if you are lucky, is that you have no control. You only thought you did. Once you realise that, then you can escape. I didn’t have anybody I was talking to, nobody pointed out the terribly obvious to me, but even if they had, I’m sure it wouldn’t have helped. You could have any number of people who love you telling you you are trapped in an abusive relationship, it really won’t help. It will come to you as your own revelation or it won’t. Those who watch you lovingly from a distance and see, can only hope for the best. That is my experience. But, then, I’m not good at accepting help. A more sensible person might – and did…
Later on after I’d escaped that person, he moved to the UK and an awfully bright but fucked up girl fell in love with him. I wanted to warn her off, but what’s the point of that? Like she was going to listen to me! But five years or so later, I knew she’d tried to get away now and then and failed. I decided to contact her like this. I wrote her an email describing in intimate detail her days, her life, conversations she had every day and ways she had of relating to the person she was trying to escape. I told her I could explain to her what she had to do to get away if she wanted. She wrote back a couple of days later, she said after she’d stopped crying and yes, she did want to know.
In one brutal email, this girl had discovered that she had no control over her life whatsoever. She had so little control that a stranger on the other side of the world who had never met her, knew everything about her life simply because I knew her life would be exactly like mine.
In a strange way we’d both realised what our situations were by reading about them. It took me two tries and a couple of years to get away. This girl was a good listener. She took everything I said to heart, did exactly what I said and got clean away before her partner could blink. It was clean, she never went back.
Admitting you do not have control over your life is a really painful thing to do. Understanding that even if you love a person and even if you think they love you, it doesn’t mean he/she isn’t an abuser, is very hard to come to terms with. I have no doubt that abusers love their victims and their victims love them. Still. Although there is good reason for the abuser to want the keep the relationship, the same does not pertain to the victim. They have nothing to gain whatsoever. They only think they do.
A bit later, I remember this. As you do take back your life and leave, he/she suggests they will kill you. Or, even harder from your point of view, kill themself. Again and again you are told you won't survive...and when that doesn't work, that she/he won't survive. You are made to feel weak and incapable on your own, or - desperation - that they are. One or other of you won't be able to function as a human being without the other. So you are made to feel.
When I left the first time, friends said to me, but how will he survive without you? When I went back I thought that's what want they all want, for me to die there. But, of course, they didn't know. Point is abusers are perfectly able to look weak if that is a useful thing to do. Second time around I just steeled myself. Ignored all those cries of sympathy for this person I was escaping. The friends all stayed true. You don't lose friends, you only fear that you will.
It’s on my mind to get this down now that I’ve spent a couple of hours talking about it, so I tell you a bit of my story because you can only sound half-convincing if you have ‘I’s in it.
Mid nineties. I’ve been living with the person in question for about nine years and I read this book, this one here, The Playroom. Probably Manny and Jordan would call it trash? I haven’t come to understand that term properly yet, but at any rate, it changed my life. All of a sudden I read a sentence that made my heart that very second drop out of my body through the chair, the floor, the earth and plummet right to the bottom side of the world somewhere. Oh. I’m in a straightforward abusive relationship.
Now, I would say I’m not completely dumb. Well, sort of dumb. I can’t imagine passing an IQ test. I’ve flunked shapes in holes since kindergarten, with the possible exception of sex. I say possible because it continues to startle me. ‘We’re going to put that in this?’ ‘You’re telling me this fits there?!!!’ As an act of faith, of course, faith in the practically infinite number of people who have done these things thus permitting the conclusion that the shapes do apparently fit in the holes I go along with it, but there is always a sense of surprise nonetheless. After sex I always feel a bit like going back to kindergarten and trying that thing they make you do with the cutout holes and the pieces you fit in the holes. I have an idea maybe I could do that after all. The feeling passes quickly enough.
So, dumb, certainly. The fact is I’d lived in this relationship for nine years and for about eight and a half of them I’d observed to myself that this was like an abusive relationshop. ‘Like’. Always ‘like’. Not for one second did it occur to me to take out that word. One might say I had particular reasons for being this dense. He was an alcoholic and that served as cover. Then when, most terribly, he gave up alcohol altogether I had what seemed a really rational idea that I was bearing the brunt of his difficult transition to relating with people sober and that things would change. There was always a reason to leave ‘like’ there. I’m sure there are always reasons for other people too. She’s (he’s) just jealous, just needs things to be neat, just this, just that. He’s (she’s) nice, really. And can’t you see things are better than they used to be? Look. As long as I do this then...or if I don't talk...or if I don't look....or when...then as long as...everything is okay. Really. Then everything is okay.
But then I read this book, read this sentence, read on and it might just as well have been my own life I was reading. I was so shocked that I hid the book after I’d read it. I guess he sensed that, sought out the book and read it. ‘That’s just like us,’ he said. With a sense of relief, it seemed obvious to me that if that was the case, that we both knew what things were like and we weren’t idiots that things would change, but they didn’t. Not one bit.
Attempt number one to get away was a dismal failure. When I went back I thought I’d die. But in fact I got a better plan together and attempt number two worked a treat.
What you understand, though, as a complete revelation if you are lucky, is that you have no control. You only thought you did. Once you realise that, then you can escape. I didn’t have anybody I was talking to, nobody pointed out the terribly obvious to me, but even if they had, I’m sure it wouldn’t have helped. You could have any number of people who love you telling you you are trapped in an abusive relationship, it really won’t help. It will come to you as your own revelation or it won’t. Those who watch you lovingly from a distance and see, can only hope for the best. That is my experience. But, then, I’m not good at accepting help. A more sensible person might – and did…
Later on after I’d escaped that person, he moved to the UK and an awfully bright but fucked up girl fell in love with him. I wanted to warn her off, but what’s the point of that? Like she was going to listen to me! But five years or so later, I knew she’d tried to get away now and then and failed. I decided to contact her like this. I wrote her an email describing in intimate detail her days, her life, conversations she had every day and ways she had of relating to the person she was trying to escape. I told her I could explain to her what she had to do to get away if she wanted. She wrote back a couple of days later, she said after she’d stopped crying and yes, she did want to know.
In one brutal email, this girl had discovered that she had no control over her life whatsoever. She had so little control that a stranger on the other side of the world who had never met her, knew everything about her life simply because I knew her life would be exactly like mine.
In a strange way we’d both realised what our situations were by reading about them. It took me two tries and a couple of years to get away. This girl was a good listener. She took everything I said to heart, did exactly what I said and got clean away before her partner could blink. It was clean, she never went back.
Admitting you do not have control over your life is a really painful thing to do. Understanding that even if you love a person and even if you think they love you, it doesn’t mean he/she isn’t an abuser, is very hard to come to terms with. I have no doubt that abusers love their victims and their victims love them. Still. Although there is good reason for the abuser to want the keep the relationship, the same does not pertain to the victim. They have nothing to gain whatsoever. They only think they do.
A bit later, I remember this. As you do take back your life and leave, he/she suggests they will kill you. Or, even harder from your point of view, kill themself. Again and again you are told you won't survive...and when that doesn't work, that she/he won't survive. You are made to feel weak and incapable on your own, or - desperation - that they are. One or other of you won't be able to function as a human being without the other. So you are made to feel.
When I left the first time, friends said to me, but how will he survive without you? When I went back I thought that's what want they all want, for me to die there. But, of course, they didn't know. Point is abusers are perfectly able to look weak if that is a useful thing to do. Second time around I just steeled myself. Ignored all those cries of sympathy for this person I was escaping. The friends all stayed true. You don't lose friends, you only fear that you will.
May 26, 2015
I'm not sure why I purchased this book, or what I expected from it (had I read some good reviews?), but it was quite odd and very disappointing.
Here are some marriages with minor league problems orbiting around the sun of dysfunction that is Katherine and David's union. Both are quite mad in their own ways, and if you are anything like me you'll get quite fed up with all the drama of the neighborhood long before the story comes to its sad, yet inevitable end.
That said, if you are feeling blue about your own marriage right now, and want to feel better, this book will do it for you!
Here are some marriages with minor league problems orbiting around the sun of dysfunction that is Katherine and David's union. Both are quite mad in their own ways, and if you are anything like me you'll get quite fed up with all the drama of the neighborhood long before the story comes to its sad, yet inevitable end.
That said, if you are feeling blue about your own marriage right now, and want to feel better, this book will do it for you!
June 30, 2015
This book enraged me. No one talked to each other. I wanted to beat Katherine. None of the characters were likable. The least detestable was Mary.
Did the little girl die? Ugh.
Did the little girl die? Ugh.
Read
July 27, 2016Terrifying!
I could NOT put this down.
I wonder if there's a sequel?
I could NOT put this down.
I wonder if there's a sequel?
July 28, 2011
This is not a beach read. That was my first mistake. The book drew me in with characters who were all fascinatingly flawed, showing through their multiple perspectives how each character perceived the others, and then how they truly acted and felt beneath the display and deception. Slightly more than halfway through, however, the horrible behavior of nearly all the characters began to overwhelm me, so that I found myself skimming through much of the last half of the book. The "shocking climax" promised by the dust jacket was the least shocking thing I've ever read; it was the only possible ending for the book, the one you saw coming from the very first moment. I finished the book feeling slightly abused myself, and wishing I could get some of the uglier actions of the characters out of my head. I admire the author for her exploration of the darker sides of human nature, but I will probably not be picking up any of her other novels or recommending this one to anyone else. I prefer my books much more on the lighter side.
February 2, 2020
I saw that the other reviewers gave this book 5 stars, but I didn't see it as a perfect book. 1) The author writes in an odd way. Her paragraphs are huge and long. There were so many thoughts and subjects smashed into the overlong paragraphs. If I had written such long paragraphs in my writing classes in college, I would have gotten bad grades for them. 2) Twice the author called Mary, Katherine's sister, Mary ALLENDALE instead of Mary Fox, her real name. 3) The alternating narration was confusing. Sometimes I read a whole page of a new chapter before realizing it was Susan, the next-door neighbor, speaking. I think the author should have put the character's name in the chapter heading. 4) After nearly 400 pages, the book ends on a cliffhanger!! What happened to David? Is he in jail? Where is Jeremy, with Child Protective Services? Did Jeanetta live or die? Is Katherine really pregnant? Will she be charged with any crime, or at least negligence? It seems to me that this book begs a sequel. I'm just dying to know what happens to the main characters.
July 12, 2025
The Play room by Frances Fyfield - OMG this was heart rending, I think that's why I finished it so quickly. I was literally hurtling towards the end to find out what was going to happen! I think this was Fyfields first book, I wanted to go back to some sort of chronological order (OCD) because I had read her books in the past and recently rediscovered her. Typical of a first book, it was like she couldn't wait to get the story out but at the same time she had many characters that she wanted to build that didn't really need to be there but that didn't distract from the story line of an abusive marriage, of mental health, guilt, controll, manipulation and ultimately possibly murder. I am almost glad it's over because it was mentally exhausting!
January 25, 2019
It was a struggle to even finish this book!!
Spoilers ahead...
Omg,I pride myself on ALWAYS finishing a book no matter how slow going it is but this one really tested me!
Then I finally get to the end and find you didn't finish the story!! Did the child live and if so who continued raising her???? What happened to the dad or for that matter the mom??? You left the readers hanging for answers.......
Spoilers ahead...
Omg,I pride myself on ALWAYS finishing a book no matter how slow going it is but this one really tested me!
Then I finally get to the end and find you didn't finish the story!! Did the child live and if so who continued raising her???? What happened to the dad or for that matter the mom??? You left the readers hanging for answers.......
February 18, 2019
Don't bother - undeveloped characters, confusing conversation, cruel with no explanation. The end for
those of you that can actually finish the book has no conclusive answers. What happens to David, is Jenetta dead, where's Jeremy, why is Mary even part of the story? Did all of the kittens have to be destroyed? This was a waste of time.
those of you that can actually finish the book has no conclusive answers. What happens to David, is Jenetta dead, where's Jeremy, why is Mary even part of the story? Did all of the kittens have to be destroyed? This was a waste of time.
February 13, 2019
What was this?
This book reminded me of a story my brother used to tell about a pink ping pong ball. He would have a few drinks in him and delightedly launch into this story, with little side stories that he made up along the way that had absolutely no relation to this ball. It was a flat one dimensional story to!d in monotone. I'm not quite sure why he told it, but suspect it was to see how long someone would sit and listen to (nothing). A person only got caught up in It once. He's gone now and we all miss him terribly, enough that we'd sit through another telling.
The reason for my saying all this is- I began to think he was telling this story from beyond the grave and laughing. Not only does this story have no point, but the characters have less appeal than the pink ping pong ball. I'm never quite sure who's doing and saying what but it's flat and pointless. The characters have the personality of paper dolls. They don't seem to like each other. I read the description again and if one's crazy, then all of them are, and the playroom is a big institution. One and a half chapters was all I could stand.
This book reminded me of a story my brother used to tell about a pink ping pong ball. He would have a few drinks in him and delightedly launch into this story, with little side stories that he made up along the way that had absolutely no relation to this ball. It was a flat one dimensional story to!d in monotone. I'm not quite sure why he told it, but suspect it was to see how long someone would sit and listen to (nothing). A person only got caught up in It once. He's gone now and we all miss him terribly, enough that we'd sit through another telling.
The reason for my saying all this is- I began to think he was telling this story from beyond the grave and laughing. Not only does this story have no point, but the characters have less appeal than the pink ping pong ball. I'm never quite sure who's doing and saying what but it's flat and pointless. The characters have the personality of paper dolls. They don't seem to like each other. I read the description again and if one's crazy, then all of them are, and the playroom is a big institution. One and a half chapters was all I could stand.
February 9, 2019
Didn't draw my interest
Very rarely am I unable to get through a book. I deleted this one from my Kindle after muddling through two chapters. I couldn't connect with any of the characters, and there was no indication of where the story was going, no suspense or drama, nothing to keep me engaged. I normally don't download a book without at least four stars, and I'm stymied what others saw in this.
Very rarely am I unable to get through a book. I deleted this one from my Kindle after muddling through two chapters. I couldn't connect with any of the characters, and there was no indication of where the story was going, no suspense or drama, nothing to keep me engaged. I normally don't download a book without at least four stars, and I'm stymied what others saw in this.
April 22, 2023
Spoiler review: Meant this to be a light mystery read, but there were lots of questions at the end. Reading other reviews I don't agree with - the "unnecessary" characters comments. These characters are all individuals so wrapped up in their own worlds that they make judgements about people which are far from the truth. Something horrific is going on, but they can't see if for prejudice. I think the writer left the ending intentionally vague to give emphasis to the evil that was perpetrated.
November 19, 2020
I read this book because I had been lent it. And I finished it (skimming through some more tedious bits) because I wanted to know what happened in the end. Not worth the effort. Now I have read other reviews and they are really mixed (some people loved the book!), but I'm glad it's not just me who finds the writing style tedious, and the characters frustrating.
August 4, 2023
It's been a while since I read Frances Fyfield and this, a domestic noir, dealing with a topic I find especially unnerving, with neither a courtroom nor policeman in sight, felt very different. Its vivid cast of characters propelled me through, and kept me reading, despite occasional disbelief, delivering as well-crafted a tale as ever.
January 21, 2019
Review
Very strange, disturbing book which was probably the intention. Can't say I really enjoyed it but I had to finish with a kind of fascination. I DID not like the ending.
Very strange, disturbing book which was probably the intention. Can't say I really enjoyed it but I had to finish with a kind of fascination. I DID not like the ending.
January 30, 2019
Strange read. I almost didn't finish it.
SPOILER:
Took a lot of concentration to figure who was speaking. Too many loose ends.
SPOILER:
Took a lot of concentration to figure who was speaking. Too many loose ends.
February 1, 2019
Not for me I guess.
Just could not get into this. Felt like useless information not leading anywhere clear. I gave up in it. I didnt see the point.
Just could not get into this. Felt like useless information not leading anywhere clear. I gave up in it. I didnt see the point.
February 9, 2019
This book has too many irrelevant characters and is hard to follow. The ending is horrible and nothing is developed. Written very one dimensional without any development to the main characters.
February 11, 2019
Difficult to read
Very difficult to read because of content. Brutality towards children and animals. Finally things got better in the end. Not for the faint of heart.
Very difficult to read because of content. Brutality towards children and animals. Finally things got better in the end. Not for the faint of heart.
July 30, 2019
Putrid, confusing little mess of a book. The characters were all hideous, stupid or both. Makes you want to keep turning the page, but not out of pleasure.
June 16, 2020
Much better than the reviews indicated...glad I decided to read it!
September 25, 2024
Chilling story of a monstrous gaslighting husband, but I couldn't quite believe in the wife's attitude to her children, especially when his cruelty turned on their daughter.
March 27, 2025
One of the most boring and monotonous books I have ever read. The plot could have been good, if not for her boring way of writing.
I wish I could even give it half a star. Horrendous.
I wish I could even give it half a star. Horrendous.
April 22, 2019
Too many loose ends
I can’t tell you how mad I am that I wasted my time reading this only to be left hanging like that!
I can’t tell you how mad I am that I wasted my time reading this only to be left hanging like that!
November 2, 2014
This book took me FOREVER to finish, which is a sign that it didn't hold my interest. I found much of it dry and unnecessary. Each chapter was written from a different character's perspective, which I found distracting and disruptive to the flow. I never really cared about any of the characters and only finished the book out of a sense of duty before being able to move onto a new novel. I would not recommend this book - even the ending was dissatisfying.
July 29, 2016
Truly spirals into madness and shows what we can make up about a situation to explain it away
July 29, 2014
Did not like this book, too many British references, too many unexplained events in plot
January 20, 2019
I throughly disliked this book! I only finished it because I spent money on it. I didn't like any of the characters and couldn't care less what happened to them!
November 12, 2019
This was so disjointed that I could not make sense of what the author wanted me to know. I was very disappointed in the whole plot. I would not recommend this book. It was totally a waste of time.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews