Breath catches in my throat and terror grips me as my daughter’s favourite jumper slides into focus. Time slows.

Helpless, I watch my precious little girl run into the road. Screeching tyres slice through the quiet afternoon.

Days from now, my friends will say the worst day of my life was all my fault…A bright and welcoming haven, the playgroup sits at the heart of the town, tucked away inside a red-brick building. The Nest should have been the safest place for my rosy-cheeked, pink-obsessed daughter, Florence.

Run by mothers like me, I trusted my newfound friends – Alice, Beth and Georgie – to take care of my child. But now my choice has left Florence fighting for her life.

My heart pounds thinking about what I will tell my husband, James. He stayed with me through the darkest times, and I thought some space would bring us closer.

But as I watch our little girl sleeping in a hospital bed, I know our relationship may never recover from this. How can I tell James what really happened if I don’t know myself? I can’t shake the feeling the other mothers are lying to me; they know I’d never let Florence leave the nursery by herself.

We’ve all got dangerous secrets we want to protect, but if they expose mine, will anyone, including my husband, believe me when I say I didn’t harm my daughter?A completely gripping psychological suspense about the dark price of protecting your family, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Adele Parks and Sally Hepworth. What readers are saying about The Playgroup:‘WHAT DID I JUST READ??… One wild ride!.

. .

I was addicted. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

I stayed up super late last night finishing it because I kept saying one more chapter… I am obsessed with this book!’ @mcreadssss_ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Had me hook, line and sinker from the very first page!… I always love Leah Mercer's books, but this is my new favourite!…The twists are incredible… Wow!’ Goodreads reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Incredible… I have whiplash from being pulled all ways… I was gripped… I was completely mesmerised… I couldn’t put my e-reader down. ’ Goodreads reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘GRIPPING… Quickly DEVOURED… So many DELICIOUS secrets… My mind was OFFICIALLY BLOWN!’ @stamperlady50 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Kept me guessing ‘til the end.

I read it in one day… a great read… I couldn’t put down. ’ NetGalley reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I was addicted from start to finish…read it in almost one sitting… Gripping… I was totally immersed.

’ Fiction Café ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Compulsive… I absolutely devoured this one… You will want to clear your afternoon to read this. ’Goodreads reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Gripping… I devoured it in a single evening… This ticked all the boxes… I was totally hooked.

’ Goodreads reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Absolutely brilliant… it kept me gripped… I finished it in record time. ’ Goodreads reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.