When Sara leaves her high-flying London life to move to Dublin, her only concern is her nine-year-old daughter, Lexie. For Lexie's sake she tries to get to know other mothers at the school gates, but they appear uninterested - particularly their leader, the beautiful and charismatic Vanessa, whose daughter rules the playground.

After a simple misunderstanding between Vanessa and Sara, none of the other kids at school want anything to do with Lexie. Desperate to mend fences, Sara offers to look after Vanessa's daughter one afternoon. But when the playdate ends in catastrophe, Vanessa is convinced that what happened wasn't an accident.

With allegations flying in all directions, Sara is forced to ask herself what she has unleashed? And how far a mother will go to protect her daughter?

A startling and deliciously pitch-dark story from leafy suburbia

Praise for The Playdate

“Fiendishly plotted and immensely entertaining. Perfect for fans of Andrea Mara or Ashley Audrain”

Liz Nugent

“Original, dark, and brilliantly observed, The Playdate is utterly absorbing. A one-sitting read”

Andrea Mara

“The stuff of suburban nightmares. Dillon has written an expertly crafted book that is both compulsively readable and leaves you feeling uncomfortable, because of how close to reality it feels. With an ending you won’t see coming, it’ll have you glued to every page, tensely awaiting this tidy group of yummy-mummies to combust”

Disha Bose

“A terrifying, taut thrill-ride that'll have your heart thumping and your mind whirring – terrific!”

Gill Perdue