Just Play Along: A Thriller

by Beau Savage

Survival isn't always fight or flight.

When tragedy strikes, Erin races to the hospital to be by her brother's side—but never makes it. A flat tire on a lonely road. A stranger with a kind smile. A car ride straight into a nightmare.

She awakens in a child’s bedroom. Pink walls, glittery drawings, a collection of dolls… and no way out. Erin’s captor offers her a mind-boggling play the part of his sickly sister, and in return Erin will be freed when all is said and done.

But the truth is far darker than Erin imagines. This house hides many deadly secrets, and she will need to rely on more than basic instincts if she hopes to escape. Because survival isn’t always fight or flight.

Sometimes you must play along to stay alive.

Genres: Thriller, Horror, Mystery, Mental Health, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 12, 2025

Reviews

[Shhh ... I’m Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m usually not into thrillers, but Beau never disappoints. I’ve read all of them and they come with major suspense!

I read this book so fast and couldn’t put it down.

Constantly trying to figure out where it all falls together, and let’s just say - I never guessed that 😂 the twists are TRUE twists! Wow - what did I read?

Another great read and I love reading the mind of a great author!

[tiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.11

“At the end of the day, it’s all just a matter of perspective, isn’t it?”

What a ride! This thriller pulled me in from the very first chapter and didn’t let go. The twists at the end were unpredictable and perfectly paced. I enjoyed it even more than I expected and would absolutely love to see it on the big screen.

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just Play Along by Beau Savage is a gripping thriller that kept me on edge, marking a strong first time into this author’s work and I could not stop reading. The intense premise—Erin’s terrifying ordeal after a seemingly kind stranger turns sinister—delivers heart-pounding suspense and clever twists. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen next, another twist!

[Haley Mowry · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who loves thrillers and has high expectations for them, Beau delivers every single time, and Just Play Along is no different.

Beau’s thrillers, in my opinion, are so good for a number of reasons, all of which seem to go against the aspects of many other thrillers.

1. Smart protagonists. So many thriller writers rely on the unreliable narrator or the ignorant woman. Not Beau. The characters actually seem to have brains.

2. Unpredictable twists. Beau’s twists are well thought out and creative, and they aren’t easy to guess. They’re the kinds of twists that make me want to reread the book to find hints along the way.

3. Memorable storylines. I feel like I forget the storylines of 99% of the thrillers I read, but I remember both of Beau’s other books clearly and I know I’ll remember this one as well.

4. Gripping storylines. It never fails. Beau sends me a book, I read it in less than 48 hours. I even stayed awake at 3:30 am after feeding my baby to finish this one because I was so hooked.

Just Play Along was unsettling, atmospheric, and creative. The twist actually blew my mind. I did NOT see it coming in the slightest. I loved the alternating storylines and watching how they all eventually weaved together. The characters were complex and well written. I feel like I knew all of the characters well by the end of the book.

Thank you so very much to Beau for making me a part of the ARC team. Every time I receive a new book it feels like Christmas morning. I recommend all of Beau’s books to thriller lovers!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep, this was exactly what I love in a thriller!!

Unhinged people make everything better.

[Kelly Wetherell · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. not a good story line in my opinion. I felt like it could have been written by me. PS I am not an author and never will be. we chose this as a book club book and when we discussed it I was truly happy I didn't finish it.

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s so much I want to say about this book but I can’t. The whole thing is one huge spoiler. Nobody is as they seem, and some issues are far deeper than the reader realizes until almost the very end. After I finished, I found myself going back to reread certain sections of the book and was thinking, “Now it makes sense…”

The ending was great. I absolutely love how everything played out. And unlike The 11th Hour Motel that needed an epilogue desperately but didn’t have one, Just Play Along: A Thriller does show some of the characters a few months down the road.

This was a really good book. The story moves along quickly, and there are no unnecessary or overly descriptive paragraphs. You get the feel for the book and the characters without a bunch of miscellaneous stuff thrown in. I was very happy with how everything came together.

A very easy 5 stars.

Full review can be found at -

[Jacquetta Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erin is on a mission to save her brother Theo and Kenny is on a mission to save his sister Mel. But their missions aren't the same but so different they are painful. The pain they end up going through may not last and it may not be helpful to anyone at all.

Kenny's mom is a problem, his sister is sick but mom is trying to help her. Theo has been in the hospital and can't figure out why he cant find his sister, she won't answer his calls. 

Can Theo find Erin? Can Kenny rescue Mel?

If you like horror/terror, you will like this new book by Beau Savage.

[Jennifer L. Sholar · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is somewhat of a spoiler in my review so stop reading now if you don’t want to see!!!!!


I don’t usually write reviews, but I had to for this book. This book was the perfect twisty psychological thriller I love. The twist I never saw coming! Wow! I had to go back and reread a few parts because of that. Total Norman Bates vibes. If you love these types of books you will love this.

[Brian Krup · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a slow burn but leads to some shocking twists. My only complaint is we don’t get to find out what happens to Kenny.

[Adriana DeVault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

What a twisty ride!! I was pleasantly surprised by all the twists and turns in this book. I loved the multiple perspectives.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤯blew my mind

This is my first time reading a beau savage book, Wow! That’s all I can say without spoilers. Will definitely be reading more of his books.

[HaleyK · Rating 4 out of 5]

once again, Beau writes a winner. his thrillers keep you on the edge of your seat and invested from page one. this is my 3rd thriller by Beau and he is still an auto buy author for me

[Emily Perryman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I fell woe the synopsis with this one. It’s not that i didn’t like it… it was just boring and bland. Also, maybe it’s just me but I didn’t get it? Am i supposed to be left wondering if these characters were real or just imagined? And i still don’t really know the why? Like just crazy? Cool i guess.

[christine blase dizon · Rating 2 out of 5]

i got bored

Maybe it's just not my kind of book. There's no excitement here. Some reviewed this book as hard to put down, but I did not even finish the first chapter.

[Carley Ruston · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 16%.

I was bored, the synopsis sounded good, but it moved too slow and I was surprised I made it as far as I did

[Ashley Parker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Issa no for me dawg

[Marissa Dunton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had me gripped from the very beginning. I didn’t see that massive twist coming and it was my favorite read of the year so far!

[linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect quick read… and omg what a phenomenal story!

In the beginning I was a little confused with where the story line was going, due to the perfectly integrated plot twist..(I hate reviews that read like the back page synopsis that tends to give away a large portion of the story itself so I am not going to be that specific in my wording here) the characters in the book for the most part where well developed to allow you a sense of knowing what lead them to be the “people” they became in the story I do wish there had been a little more details added to the backstory for each one of the characters instead of the vague hints that leaves the reader to interpret what exactly may have happened but to do so would have ruined the quick read aspect of the book. Sadly you come across many examples of the main characters history and they are far too often overlooked until similar scenarios occur although hopefully not as extreme as this plot line details in real life. This story had my emotions all over the chart from hating the perpetrator to feeling heartbreakingly sorry for them and while the outcome was somewhat surprising the writer did include many clues that foreshadowed the ending while skillfully diverting one’s suspicions enough to keep me hooked and reading despite it being well past my bedtime as I had to find out how the story would end .. now this part I can give away as it’s not pertaining to the novel itself for me the biggest surprise of all was finding out that Beau Savage is one and the same as another favorite author that I love to get lost in their tales of horror Abe Moss , and this is definitely a proof of just how diversely talented he is as I did not suspect that these two entirely different styles of writing both came from the same creative mind which is why my 4 star book rating was immediately upgraded to a 5 star novelist rating.

[The Honest Bookmark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just Play Along by Beau Savage absolutely had my heart racing and my mind doing laps. I never fully knew what to expect, and just when I thought I had it figured out, the story would shift and send me spiraling in a completely different direction. I usually crack thrillers wide open early on, but this one? It kept its secrets locked tight until the very moment it wanted to reveal them—and I loved that.

Plot: unpredictable in the best way. I was constantly on edge, trying to piece things together and still getting it wrong.

Characters: every single one felt real and fully formed. Erin especially—her desperation to save her brother and the nightmare she ends up in felt way too close to reality. Her thoughts, her reactions… all of it felt exactly how someone in her position would respond. Kenny has me itching for more though. I need his backstory like I need air—I want to understand what shaped him into who he is. And Mama? She kept me completely off balance. I never knew where she stood until everything clicked into place.

Ending: I LOVED it. No spoilers, but I genuinely didn’t see it coming. I do wish we had just a tiny bit more closure, but at the same time, it still felt satisfying.

If you love thrillers that actually keep you guessing instead of handing you the answer early, this one delivers.

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler review because I couldn’t find an adequate one.

If the movie quote, “A boy’s best friend is his mother.” rings a bell, JUST PLAY ALONG will make more sense. Erin and her younger brother grew up in foster care. Following a cryptic call, she worries he’s suicidal again. On her way, she blows a tire, Kenny, a creepy stranger agrees to give her a ride. Instead, he kidnaps her, instructing that she won’t be hurt if she pretends to be his ill sister for their mentally ill mother. Erin realizes mama has been poisoning the food in what appears to be Munchausen’s by Proxy . Luckily writer Beau Savage wrote Erin to be astute enough to prevent readers from screaming at the pages for her to get a clue.
Fast forward Kenny is Mama and the real sister he thinks is in the shed. Mama murdered at least 2 husbands, enlisting Kenny’s help. Kenny has kidnapped and killed other young women to play his sister. He may have killed mama after she killed his sister.
Following his release from the hospital, Erin’s brother comes to her rescue using a family tracking app. He rescues Erin and together they stab Kenny and get away. Kenny dies still talking to mama.

I enjoyed the book despite figuring out most of the twists and I’ll look for more books by this writer.

[Sheri Corriero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thriller by Beau Savage aka Abe Moss. I have read a lot of Abe Moss’s stories and loved them, so I wanted to see how these stories were. In this book, Erin is abducted. She had a flat tire and had to take a ride from a stranger. She wakes up in a child’s room. She is told she had to play the role of his sickly sister to survive, and he will let her go later. I love the creepiness of this. Imagine getting taken and told you have to play the role of another person to survive. Erin has to ‘play along’ until she can figure out how to save herself. Things in the house get twisty and I was on the edge of my seat. There isn’t any supernatural aspects like the Abe Moss stories, just a great thriller.

[maps_to_nowhere · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those rare books that hooked me within the first two chapters and then completely blew my mind by the end. If you want a story that will make you question everything, you need to read this.

Solid thriller/mystery premise: Erin is abducted and forced into a bizarre game of make-believe to survive, pretending to be her captor's sister. Simple, right? Wrong. The author is playing chess while you're playing checkers. You get hints that make you feel smart, like you've figured it out. I promise you, you haven't. That ending had me saying, "WTF, that makes no sense!"... until I started thinking. The clues are there, subtle, but they are there. This is a must-read for anyone who loves a thriller that genuinely earns its twist.

[Toni H · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young lady, Erin, received a cryptic message from her brother and rushes to his apartment to see if he is ok. Upon arrival, she discovers he tried to take his life. On the way riding to the hospital, her car breaks down and she accepts a ride from a complete stranger proving to take her to the hospital. However he has other plans. When she wakes up she is in a child’s room, realizing she has been kidnapped. Her kidnapper tells her he will release her soon but she has to play the part of his sickly sister. The longer she stays in the crazy house she discovers more bizarre things. Her biggest goal is trying stay alive and to escape the situation.

[Donetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

This book had me captivated until the end. I enjoyed the characters.
Although at the end, I was a little disappointed due to seeing "Psycho."
It took me awhile to figure out what was going on and that's a good thing.
I was hoping the ending would be different with Kenny but I enjoyed Erin and Theo's memories.
The book has triggers of depression and suicide attempts with the theme of foster care, however the author wrote about the topics with a natural grace.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys creepy thrillers. I will definitely be reading more novels by the author.

[Jeff Bradford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my third book by Beau Savage and it was equally exciting as the othe two. This story follows a story of a dysfuntional family that live deep in the woods. A mother with signs of dementia, a daughter that is bed ridden with an illness and a son who attempts to care from them after being abandoned by their Father. That is what they want you to believe but it all changes when a girl is abducted to become a part of the family. Let the twist begin.
This is a quick read because you can't put it down once you start.
Highly recommend!!
Also check out Night Sweats and The 11th Hour Motel.

[Jax · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erin is an ordinary older sister who’s fought her way through foster care with her younger brother. Now adults and busy with their own lives, things take a huge spiral when her brother attempts to take his own life and she breaks down on the side of the road trying to make it to the hospital. Will she escape the clutches of her captors? And is everything ever really as it seems?

Wow. Beau did it again. This read has so much complexity and the perfect amount of suspense and mystery with little breadcrumbs that all click into place towards the end. I couldn’t put this down.

[karin whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Erin gets an odd message from her younger brother, she knows something is wrong, when she rushes to his apartment her fears are on point. He's locked in the bathroom. His roommate kicks the door in to find him bleeding, the ambulance arrives. She is rushing to catch up when she has a flat tire. She doesn't make it, and the heart of the story begins, grab a pot of coffee, you are going to be reading all day and night. Twists abound, and they don't stop up to the ending. It'll blow your mind!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I debated between a 3* and 4* rating. I settled on 3* because it was so predictable for me. Having read other novels by Beau (aka Abe Moss), I was left a little disappointed with this one. Because it was so predictable for me, I found most of the story was just dragging along without much substance. I love this author and the majority of what he's written. It was a good psychological thriller. It would have been nice at the end to find out if the responding police found everything/everyone at the house where Erin was kept.

[Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wildly imaginative! Suspenseful and thrilling! Great, multi-faceted characters. Very unique plot. Vivid descriptions. This was a fast-paced, interesting read, that I found I did not want to put down! Kept me glued to the pages from the first page to the last.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.