Apples Never Fall

 Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty is a mystery told with an enjoyable, stunning wit that I’ve come to expect from a Moriarty novel.

On an ordinary evening, a young, pretty woman randomly knocks at the door of retired tennis instructors Joy and Stan Delaney. This stranger, Savannah, claims she is a victim of domestic violence and has nowhere else to go. The Delaneys take her in and give her a place to stay indefinitely. What is Savannah really doing there was the question in my mind. 

A year after Savannah’s arrival, Joy goes missing and Stan is the prime suspect in her disappearance. Their marriage was on the rocks at this time. The detective handling the case, Christina Khoury, noted that the scratches on Stan’s face look like defensive wounds. Also, it was two of the Delaney children who reported her missing, not Stan, which also made Christina more suspicious of him. She interviews each of the Delaneys and senses the deep dysfunction within the family.

As the story unfolds, we learn about the Delaneys’ marriages, temperaments, betrayals, resentments, former tennis students, family dynamics and disappointing tennis careers. Although they are an interesting bunch of characters, much of the book is this - making me feel like the mystery of Joy's disappearance is lost in the family history. On the other hand, maybe the solution is hidden in all these details.

Halfway through Apples Never Fall, a piece of information about Stan’s family life is revealed. I believe this is key in knowing who Savannah is and why she’s there. I really thought I had it all figured out, but the more I read, the more I had doubts, which is a credit to Liane Moriarty’s writing. Just when you think you know what's going on, she throws you a subtle curve that keeps you guessing.

Finally, when the truth came out about Savannah. It was nothing that I imagined it would be, as hard as I tried. My initial reaction to her motivation was that it's sort of silly. However, by the time I finished the book, it made more sense to me. Additionally, the revelation that came out as a result of Savannah’s disclosure, I didn’t buy either at first, but after reading more and giving it some thought, I could see where the situation could be plausible.

And then, at last, the truth about what happened to Joy Delaney is revealed. It is somewhat of a surprise to me, I suppose. Honestly, I was too busy wondering what the deal was with Savannah that I really didn’t think about solving Joy’s disappearance.

While not a perfect book, there is more than enough there to recommend it. There were many moments - even at the height of its drama - when I found myself laughing out loud. Also, because it kept me guessing, I wanted to keep on reading.

I also have to acknowledge Caroline Lee, narrator of the audiobook. She truly makes a Moriarty novel a fun experience.

On a final note about Apples Never Fall, its story ends at the beginning of the pandemic. Moriarty’s writing about this period of time is spot-on and so eloquent, and of course, done with a little bit of humor too.

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