Name: Amy Maddess's review of Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty
Item: Apple Tree Yard
Rating: 4
Author: Amy Maddess

Louise Doughty

'Once you start you can't stop reading. Terrific.' HELEN DUNMORE Yvonne Carmichael has worked hard to achieve the life she always wanted: a high-flying career in genetics, a beautiful home, a good relationship with her husband and their two grown-up children. Then one day she meets a stranger at the Houses of Parliament and, on impulse, begins a passionate affair with him - a decision that will put everything she values at risk. At first she believes she can keep the relationship separate from the rest of her life, but she can't control what happens next. All of her careful plans spiral into greater deceit and, eventually, a life-changing act of violence. Apple Tree Yard is a psychological thriller about one woman's adultery and an insightful examination of the values we live by and the choices we make, from an acclaimed writer at the height of her powers.

Apple Tree Yard

Amy Maddess

The bestselling psychological thriller from Louise Doughty Yvonne Carmichael has a high-flying career, a beautiful home and a good marriage. But when she meets a stranger she is drawn into a passionate affair. Keeping the two halves of her life separate seems easy at first. But she can't control what happens next. Shortlisted for the CWA Steel Dagger for Best Thriller and the Specsavers National Book Awards Crime & Thriller of the Year

Sam Missingham

There were a few elements I didn't quite buy, but a great page-turner nonetheless

Sonja H

Teile der Geschichte sind nicht schlüssig, aber ansonsten ein gut geschriebenes und spannendes Buch.

Eleanor Luhar

Who doesn't like a good thriller novel?

The narrative of this book is quite unique, being recalled as an account from the past. Yvonne, the narrator, often refers to "now" and unknown events that have yet to take place in the story. This definitely builds the suspense a lot.

Yvonne takes us through the development of her extramarrital relationship with the unknown "you" (or "X" as she refers to him in her letters). Later, we will learn the identity of Yvonne's lover, but throughout the book we are given only speculations about his life that Yvonne theorises to be accurate.

This affair is, I suppose, both shocking and familiar at the same time. Yvonne is a successful, loved wife and mother with a safe home and good career. She loves her husband and her children. Her affair is, in this respect, unexpected and outrageous. But at the same time, as Yvonne summarises at the end of the novel, her "one-off" offence falls perfectly into the typical category of people like her. People who do not cheat on their partners because they don't love them. Unline "you", who cheats repeatedly for the excitement of it.

Most of the book is dedicated to the devlopment of the relationship, with other details of Yvonne's life and comments about the present included here and there. Yvonne is eventually sexually assaulted by a coworker/acquaintance. Amazingly, this event leads to Yvonne being on trial for murder.

The court case is described fantastically, with plenty of detail about all the little things that really set the scene. The narrative throughout the book is also fantastic - it really has the 'feel' of a middle-aged woman. 3.5 stars.

Alexandra Gillgrass

SPOILERS INCLUDED 

After watching the BBC drama I was super intrigued to read the book to see if there were any more clues as to what was really going on and in general, I just really loved the series and wanted a more in-depth look at the story and these characters. 

The one word I would use to describe Doughty's writing is, effortless. It's been a while since I've felt myself completely immersed in a book, not wanting to put it down and this read really helped me out of my book slump which I've been in for quite some time. Her flair for making her characters so realistic and relatable really shines through Yvonne's character. Her desperation, her thoughts, her feelings, her insatiable lust, but also her indisputable ordinariness. 

She really succeeded in making Mark's character so mysterious and intriguing, yet soft and tender all at the same time, not an easy feat. His professionalism mixed with his extracurricular activities with Yvonne made for a really interesting character. One that the audience knew to be hiding something, but at the same time I thought Yvonne did right in trusting him throughout the entirety of the book, actually, despite what happened, I still think that. 

I loved the storyline between these two people. The idea that they're both middle-aged, leading pretty ordinary lives and both embark on this wild affair really captured my imagination. The fact that neither of them knew all that much about each other but had this mutual lust and I believe, love that made them mad for each other was really captured on the page and really made me root for them even though what they were doing was 'wrong'. 

I love that this book wasn't rushed. That Doughty took the time to really develop these characters not as two individuals that committed acts which many would be ashamed of, but as simply being human. I really resonated with both these characters and actually thought they made a killer team. 

I can't really write this review without addressing the well written but horrendous rape scene. As a woman, this scene really stuck with me. But even more so what stuck with me was the time after the attack, the bruising, the soreness and most of all the guilt and the shame. Doughty did a wonderful job in depicting what it must be like to be a woman in that situation, not knowing what to do or who to tell if anybody at all. 

My only real criticism was that the court case could have been shortened down. While obviously, it was super important to include it I didn't think it needed to take the last quarter of the book quite so fully. 

Lastly, I loved the little twist at the end. I think it was open to interpretation whether Yvonne actually said this to Mark or whether she just fantasized that she did. Either way, I know Doughty is coming out with a sequel from Mark's point of view and I'm so excited to read on. Thumbs up from me!

Amy Maddess &
Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty

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Amy Maddess &Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty

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Amy Maddess &
Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty