This was twisty and unpredictable - a well-plotted mystery that's outside my usual zone. Not always easy - some of the subject matter is a bit fraught - but a page-turner.

Laurie’s baby girl disappears right from under her nose, while she is selling pies in the town’s annual apple festival. The only sign that the baby was ever there is the stuffed toy forlornly dropped in front of the selling booth.
Based on witness testimonies claiming they haven't seen a baby with Laurie that day and thanks to her abusive ex-husband spreading rumors that Laurie is unstable and downright crazy, nobody believes that somebody has taken the baby. They assume either Laurie has misplaced her and can’t remember where, or else she has harmed the baby and the kidnapping scenario is just an act.
Has Laurie lost her mind? Why can’t she remember if the baby was with her that day or not?
Whom can she trust? Whom should she run from?
Apple of My Eye is an engaging but dark story told from multiple point of views, jumping back and forth in time.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and the NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy.

This was a fast paced thriller that grabbed me and didn't let me go! The characters and plot were well developed and the twists kept coming!

A fast paced thriller. The characters are well developed and the plot and the subplots are interesting and keep you hooked till the last page.
An interesting and entertaining book.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

Laurie has postpartum psychosis (?). She has a terrifying episode at the Jackson, Ohio, Apple Festival and spurs on controversy as to whether she is "insane". As a 2nd grade teacher, Laurie is working at the pie table where her dramatic scene first takes place for the population of Jackson. Her daughter, Emily, ( 9 months old) is missing! Brad, a firefighter, happens to be at the festival with his son, Luke. Brad hears screams and finds Laurie, his neighbor, (whom he is quite smitten by) experiencing a strange kind of trauma. The (hated) Sheriff, Tilton, also goes to find out what is going on and all he manages to do is make Laurie react in a stronger way. Laurie's husband, Jake, has recently passed away - leaving Laurie a widow..


Minor plots weave throughout the story: explosion at a house nearby, a kiddie porn ring has been thriving, Mark (fire investigator) and his wife Norma have problems, and Brad's ex-wife is a "winner".


Yet, as time goes on, these smaller plots weave into the main story. As time goes on, a lot ( some things quite unexpected) becomes revealed to the reader. Although there are interwoven timelines, as well, they are not too much of a problem as can be found in some books. The plots are clear and quite well thought out. Characters are well developed and timing of events spot-on. A fast read ! Very enjoyable !


Many thanks to the author, Christine Barfknecht and NetGalley for a fun ride!

3.5 Stars

Laurie's husband, Jake, has really done a number on her. He's abusive, both physically and verbally. He hits her and pretends he didn't ... telling her she must have walked into a cabinet again. He tells her family, her friends, her employer that she is mentally unstable. He worries about her taking care of their infant, Emily.

One of the best days in her life was when her husband was declared dead ... driving while intoxicated, he ran off the road and drowned in the canal.

One of the worst days in her life is the day that Emily goes missing. Emily insists she saw her husband and she's afraid he took her. No one really believes her ... in fact, the sheriff refuses to even look for the baby. He, instead, cuffs her and admits her to the psychiatric ward of the hospital. The only one who listens to her is Brad, her next door neighbor, but they sedate her and won't let him in to see her.

There are story plots wrapped around sub lots to keep the reader intrigued and trying to guess where all the puzzle pieces fit. Brad is a firefighter, learning the ropes of being an arson investigator. He's got an ex-wife who's determined to keep his 6-year-old-son away from him. His boss, Mark, has his own problems. His daughter is missing.. but that's something she's been doing for a while. She's involved with drugs and several people have seen her hanging around the neighborhood.

All these plots merge together to create a riveting mystery and a surprise ending.

Many thanks to the author - publisher and Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.