The trouble started when Eve decided to tutor a few children with learning disabilities. They vary in ages, both boys and girls, and have different challenges to overcome. But Eve delights in having seven young people bringing warmth to her home on those special days. Eve and Eric have three children themselves, one of whom is dyslexic, so the idea serves as a double benefit. Meanwhile, Paul and Melissa’s daughter Izzy, the eldest of the class, experiences difficulty with certain subjects that they desperately want to see improved. And Martin and Grace have an underachieving son who they hope can find his wings with Eve’s help. The other siblings often go along for fun and amusement. Besides, Eve makes great cookies.

Eve and Eric live in a large house on wooded acreage, a veritable wonderland for imaginative kids. But while the young ones relish the freedom to roam, Eric cautions Eve that she needs to rein them in a bit more. Being something of a free spirit, she ignores his warning with a dismissive wave of her hand. If only she hadn’t, maybe things would’ve turned out differently.

"In THE PLAYGROUND, tension mounts slowly and steadily until, almost before you know it, you’re on the edge of your seat. Jane Shemilt will push your heart into your throat and have you gulping to the end."

See, it didn’t take long before the three couples struck up a friendship, one that grew deeper and closer over the weeks. Soon, they began having parties at the big house, drinking and dancing by the bonfire while the children played in the woods, making up games. Their parents ought to have been paying attention to those games. But they were preoccupied with their own interests, and maybe stepping over the line now and then. Was it the booze or something else? It might have been a mixture of one woman who wanted more from her husband, one man who suffered from a confidence crisis, and one wife in a relationship without control reaching a breaking point.

In any case, those bonfire parties became a hotbed for resentment. The adults forgot their real priorities, their interactions turned not so innocent, and the children were left without supervision.

Inevitably, someone got hurt. When it happened, they were all taken by complete surprise. The lessons, cookie making and parties had been so much fun. But somewhere along the way, the fun turned deadly. Outwardly, the three couples seemed like everyday families with average children who, despite the range in ages, played well together. Didn’t they? But, wait, if that were true, why would at least one of the children be reluctant to join in their made-up games? And the adults, they were simply normal, upstanding, intelligent people. Right? Oh, but how far afield they strayed. And how easily they were duped. Now, with hindsight, it is hard to understand how any of this could have happened. How could they not have seen what was coming? Day by day, ever so subtly, their lives fell apart.

None of us knows what goes on behind closed doors. There, secrets lurk that can kill. In THE PLAYGROUND, tension mounts slowly and steadily until, almost before you know it, you’re on the edge of your seat. Jane Shemilt will push your heart into your throat and have you gulping to the end. Well done.