Critical Praise

“There can’t be a woman alive who hasn’t once realized, in a moment of panic, that she’s in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong man. Louise Doughty, more sure-footed with each novel, leads her unnerved reader into dark territory. A compelling and bravely written book.”
—Hilary Mantel, author of WOLF HALL and BRING UP THE BODIES

“At the start of Louise Doughty’s taut and psychologically persuasive novel we find [Yvonne] taking the witness stand at the Old Bailey, accused of complicity in a violent crime and about to be exposed in a highly damaging and compromising lie . . . This is a novel that explores the ease with which we can stray off our safe, familiar paths and become addicted to the stories we tell about ourselves. A disquieting, perceptive and gripping read.”
—Amber Pearson, Daily Mail

“Doughty controls the progress of this narrative beautifully, parsing out information with tantalising hints at what is to come . . . APPLE TREE YARD is a chilling novel, in part because of the unsparing light it shines on our ability to deceive ourselves. Doughty has a particular gift for unsettling stories, for making us ask difficult questions of ourselves . . . and this is her strongest book yet. It’s not a comfortable read, but it is entirely compelling.”
—Stephanie Merritt, The Observer (London)

“Doughty is a brilliant storyteller who knows how to build the suspense to breaking point.”
—Kate Saunders, The Times (London)

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