Review #3: Apple Tree Yard

Author: Louise Doughty

Rating: ★★★½

You need to know, that when I go into a bookshop, there is no way I'm just window shopping, I'm going to buy at least one book when I'm getting out of there. So it was no big surprise that on January 21st, I walked into Waterstones, and got out of the store with 5 books, one of them being Apple Tree Yard. The coincidence to this trip was that I started reading the book as soon as the series was going to be aired on BBC (January 22nd). So of course I had to finish reading the book first to watch the series and then be able to compare.

The story of Dr Yvonne Carmichael, a mid aged English geneticist, who is struggling with the strain of relationships in her own family life, finds a getaway when Mark Costley walks into her life and she begins a secret affair with him. To begin with, she is absolutely floored by this guy, his charm, the way she is able to talk to him with such ease when she hardly even knows the guy, and also the ease with which he seems to serenade her all the time into having sex at the most public of places. Life seems to take a new turn of thrill for her. However, there is one problem. She has no idea about his identity - where he works, where he lives, etc. The other addition is, she writes letters on her own computer addressed to Costley, something like a personal diary. Little does she realise that one single event is going to take away everything she holds dear to her, because of these two things.

This erotic thriller is absolutely engaging right from Page 1. It's got the makings of an extremely good book, there's drama, romance, eroticism, deceit, etc. - all indicating towards the fact that fiction is after all not that far from the truth. And the story is relatable to as well, whether a person would've experienced the events of the book or not. The only drawback of the book that I found was that it was too detailed. At the beginning it was a treat to read such detail, as it helped form an entire movie in my head, and I could imagine all the characters in the act, which should be the ability of every good fiction read. However, at some point, it does become a little of a drag.

Nonetheless, it was a really good read, and I'd suggest those interested in the genre of erotic thriller to actually give this book a go. Before you watch the series. Trust me, the series did not do complete justice to the book.

#thriller #erotic #books #bookreview