I’m at the stage as a reader where the fast-paced, full-of-twists mystery books don’t intrigue me in the way that they used to. Liane Moriarty’s “Apples Never Fall” is the perfect step away from the poorly-written young adult thrillers into the more well-thought-out mystery/drama genre that demands my attention.
Moriarty is best known for her novels “Big Little Lies” and “Nine Perfect Strangers,” which both now have television adaptations. “Apples Never Fall” is her latest release, which hit the shelves on Sep. 14. Though I had not read Moriarty’s work before, I will definitely be picking up her earlier books since “Apples Never Fall” was such an enjoyable read.
What makes “Apples Never Fall” so unique compared to other mysteries is the seemingly two different plot lines it follows. The first is what one would expect — a mystery. Joy Delaney, a wife and mother to four adult children, goes missing, leaving behind a strange text message to her kids and a fallen bike near the family home. As the story continues, more clues are uncovered and new characters are introduced, which dips into the second plot line: family drama.
The Delaney family used to have it all: a famous tennis academy, a house full of kids and a passionate marriage. The story begins with all of the children grown up, and focuses on some unexpected themes for a mystery book, such as the loneliness of an empty-nester, complex family dynamics and dimming romance. It was refreshing to not always be reading about the mystery, and to see the unexpected imperfections of the Delaney’s earlier lives. Through flashbacks and dialogue, Moriarty succeeds in making the Delaneys feel like a real family.
The point of view varies each chapter, which, in my opinion, is a smart stylistic choice. In most mysteries I’ve read, they’re heavily plot-focused and the characters are mainly one-dimensional. Moriarty offers more than a single complex character; instead, she provides perspectives from the whole family, making each family member multi-dimensional and realistic.
Some scenes took on the point of view of a service worker, like a waitress or an Uber driver, eavesdropping on the family’s conversation — a unique choice on Moriarty’s end. Those chapters were my favorite since it felt like I, too, was overhearing something I shouldn’t.
Originally, I was a bit disappointed by the lack of intensity of the plot twists in the story. There were a few twists, but nothing that made my jaw drop. That being said, this is why Moriarty’s work stands out among other mystery books. She doesn’t go for the easy and exciting story, she goes for the one that makes sense.
The plot was well-thought-out and had no holes, which is hard to come across in mysteries filled with plot twists. Best of all, the ending of the story felt whole and complete. There was no cliffhanger and all of the clues and character conflicts in the story wrap up perfectly by the end of the novel.
Moriarty’s character-driven plot, unique perspectives and relatable characters made “Apples Never Fall” one of my favorite mystery books of all time. Despite the lack of surprising twists, it was a beyond satisfying read.
Edited by Elise Mulligan | emulligan@themaneater.com
