Apple Tree Yard

A Novel

By: Louise Doughty

Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson

Length: 14 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

An intelligent, erotically charged thriller with deep moral implications

Yvonne Carmichael, renowned geneticist, public authority, happily married mother of two, sits in the accused box. The charge is murder. Across the courtroom, not meeting her eye, sits her alleged accomplice. He wears the beautiful pin-striped suit he wore on their first meeting in the Houses of Parliament, when he put his hand on her elbow, guided her to a deserted and ancient chapel, and began to undress her. As the barrister’s voice grows low and sinuous, Yvonne realizes she’s lost herself and the life she’d built so carefully to a man who never existed at all.

After their first liaison, Yvonne’s lover tells her very little about himself, but she comes to suspect his secrecy has an explanation connected with the British government. So thrilled and absorbed is she in her newfound sexual power that she fails to notice the real danger about to blindside her from a seemingly innocuous angle. Then, reeling from an act of violence, Yvonne discovers that her desire for justice and revenge has already been compromised. Everything hinges on one night in a dark little alley called Apple Tree Yard.

©2013 Louise Doughty (P)2013 Canongate Books Ltd. in partnership with Faber and Faber Ltd. and used by arrangement, all rights reserved. Published by Brilliance Audio.

Couldn't stop listening!

If you could sum up Apple Tree Yard in three words, what would they be?

Psychological thriller.

What did you like best about this story?

The narration by Juliet Stevenson is incredible and really brought the protagonist, Yvonne, to life. I was on the "edge of my seat" most of the time. Although it presents as a thriller / crime / trial story, the poignant background of Yvonne, which is revealed as the story goes along, explains much about the plot developments.

Have you listened to any of Juliet Stevenson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, Persuasion. She is wonderful. Loved the Politician's Wife, too!

Wow

Surprised by how much this impacts the reader. Totally worth the journey. Really thought provoking. Loved the performance.

Innocence or Guilt?

Amazing psychological study of adultery and the dark secrets of the human heart ❤️

Really on the fence about this one

There were parts of this book that I really liked - mainly the narration, which is fantastic. And the writing is very good. But the main character is - I can't make up my mind. She's in her early fifties, and supposedly really accomplished...but. It's not that she does something sort of wild once; it's that she carries on - and what was wild once just becomes pretty stupid. I'm trying to avoid a spoiler here; so let's just say: What did she think was going on? I have a hard time buying that a supposedly intelligent person would get herself into this predicament. And, no, it's not the old 'you never really know anyone thing.' Because she doesn't even try to know. I mean, come on. Really? And by the end, honestly, she was getting on my nerves. On the other hand, I listened to the whole thing...

Brilliant narration helped curious book

I struggle with how to file away this book in my brain.....In some ways, this is a standard story where we are teased with the ending (we start knowing that the narrator Yvonne is in the dock charged with a crime) and then we are relayed the story of how an ordinary person got involved in problems and the criminal justice system. But in other ways, it's a complex story of how one decision can lead to a downward spiral out of control and turn a middle-class wife and mother into a person her friends and family wouldn't even recognize.

The thing I know for sure is that Juliet Stevenson did a wonderful job of narration; in fact, she was the prime reason I purchased this book in the first place. The writing is good (some of the courtroom scenes are very tense and difficult), and I actually liked the complexity of the narrator -- she seems very ordinary at first and probably thinks that of herself, but it's an illusion eventually made clear to all.

Strange Story, Brilliantly Done

Like many reviewers I had difficulty with the underlying assumption of the story but the writing and the narration were so good that it did not hinder my involvement. In fact I took it as a method for a good author to take a character and put her in an odd place to build the framework for the fiction.

If you like this book I recommend "Sweet Tooth" by Ian McEwan and also narrated by Juliet Stevenson. It seems almost like a sequel (or prequel).

apple tree yard

I loved this book! the narrator was excellent, the story was good enough to keep my attention, and I certainly wanted to find out how it ended. Highly recommended!!

Skillfully written - grim story

Had I known before hand what this novel was about I wouldn’t have read it. Disturbing, raw humanity portrayed in all its ugly mess - how our imperfections in deceit, our ability to rationalize our actions, our vanity, desires, brutality, and our clawing need to have everything that will make us feel whole, needed, superior, victimized, survivors, and the rest of the gambit of what it is to be human. Victim blaming as one of lawyers greedy gleeful tactics… pretty disgusting. All that said, it was very skillfully written - just not my cup of tea.

A surprising, entertaining, exceptional listen.

Where does Apple Tree Yard rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top ten, of hundreds.

What did you like best about this story?

The way I was forced to admit I had been enjoying my own smug judgments. I was unable to maintain that attitude for long, as characters came alive and their flaws no longer wholly defined them. Also, the book went in a direction I didn't see coming and it really stunned me, which made me realize I'd been underestimating the novel even as I'd been enjoying it tremendously.

Which character – as performed by Juliet Stevenson – was your favorite?

Guy. I practically fell in love with him just for his extemporaneous demonstration as he explains why, in the face of unexpected threat, the limbic system will trump the cerebral cortex. That short scene told so much about him, even as he had so much to deal with he was still loyal and protective.
Juliet Stevenson was terrific throughout the book, I can't think of a character she did not perform well. Now that I think about it, the narration was so good I should have mentioned it above- what I liked best. But it was such a good narration that I didn't think much about it, I was so caught up in the story.

Any additional comments?

BUY THIS NOVEL! It's costs less than $13, and thru Dec 17th it is $9.09. headline . It's worth a credit, or a higher cost, the low price is just one more reason to buy.

Very good

Not usually my type of book but this one got me interested and kept me going. It’s a love story and thriller. The performance was first rate.