Having read all of Alice Hunter's previous books, I thought I knew what to expect from Bad Apple. I was wrong. The other main characters normally had one safe place but for Becky, there was nowhere she could go to be safe. She's constantly on edge and I felt that through the writing. There were times when I had to stop reading because my blood pressure couldn't take the tension! I felt everything Becky was feeling.

When reading this, the case of David Carrick and his victims was at the back of my mind. The term 'bad apple' doesn't come close to the horror of his crimes. I think Alice Hunter has reflected this well in her story. All too often, claims are dismissed. Becky's dogged determination in the pursuit of justice is portrayed incredibly well.

A strong, thematic and tense read.

This is centred on police procedures that are twisted and very often biased towards men. It does have a great premise running throughout as to who do you trust with anything that matters, especially when it is your life. Rebecca (Beca) discovers that her husband John is corrupt and is an opportunist rapist. They et divorced but she loses her job in the police whilst he gets promoted. The whole story is based upon her trying to uncover this corruption and to protect John's latest girlfriend from him and his illegal activities. The theme of police corruption and abusive behaviour runs throughout the story. Becca has anxiety attacks that appear to have started when she discovered John's rape attacks.
A good read with an unexpected ending

When it comes to domestic thrillers there is literally not a theme more exciting to explore than the theme of not really knowing the person you are living with, sharing your secrets, who knows you the best. There is a visceral fear to that notion that strikes a chord with many readers.
This is essentially what drew me to the synopsis of the novel since I am not familiar with author's work and I am sorry to say, we weren't a match.
The book opens with Becky Lawson receiving some bad news. Her ex-husband John who worked with her in Manchester Police is not only getting away but being promoted even though she reported him because she found out he is a rapist and he abused his position. As a result she is the one who is kicked from the job, forced to leave the house she was sharing with him and move to a crappy apartment in a crappy part of town and with ever-dwindling money she spends her days being mad how unfair it is. She finds out he has a new girlfriend who has a daughter and realizes she has to do everything to bring him to justice.

Sounds intriguing, right? I expected some type of Enough/Black and Blue situation considering the similarities, but literally nothing worked for me.
I'll start with the title and what the book focuses on. The thing that bothered me about this is that John is a cop and both he and Becca used to work for the police which meant that the "Bad Apple"- a metaphor for a bad and/or corrupt person in a group- is in this novel more tied to him being a bad cop making the entire system that protects him corrupt. John is a "Bad Apple" in the Greater Manchester Police when, to be quite honest, being a rapist makes him a bad apple both as a man and human being and author simply doesn't focus on that part of his "badness" as much as she focuses on the fact police is corrupt. Rebecca seems more mad system failed her for doing the right thing than she was when she find out her husband abuses his job to rape women. A LOT of this novel is devoted to his job when, I would argue, people like him don't really need a badge to rape, they just need an opportunity. But author approached this like he is Vic Mackey, but instead of extortion, drug dealing and other, well known crimes tied to police corruption he rapes women regularly and it didn't sit well with me to just file this as a character trait and focus on the fact he is a corrupt cop more.
Which bring me to whole other thing: It was not even that well done setup that would justify focusing on a police corruption plot. In fact, nothing made sense. I was actually convinced that a lot of things Becca was suspecting and seeing and experiencing in the aftermath of her leaving the job due to John's misdeeds are actually in her head. It was mentioned she has severe anxiety attacks, so I thought that Shutter Island twist is the only thing that would make sense of the plot. Her omnipotent husband, her neighbors, deep-fake pictures, the fact that everyone in town he recently moved to is on the conspiracy like they are Insmouth residents and that people who are suppose to be helping her are not helpful at all and, she a trained cop, is sharing every information with them are just some of the things that happened. Well, I can confidently say THAT twist would make it a better plot than this over the top, illogical story we got.
I am sorry this one didn't work for me, but it may work for someone who is not that much bothered by ott plot and can turn their brain off. I was very readable and fastpaced and I can see other readers having fun.

Thank you for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed reading this book. The main character Rebecca stayed true to her beliefs, and still tried to continue with what she’d started while on the force, while trying to figure out who she could trust.

Grab a copy you won’t be disappointed

Loved this one! Becky Lawson’s life has been shattered.
When she discovered her husband, John – a trusted policeman – was a monster, she reported him. But her faith in the system was crushed when it didn't lead to any charges or consequences.
Now, John lives freely with a new girlfriend and her young daughter, while Becky battles guilt over missing the obvious signs.
Determined for justice, Becky hunts him down. But John wants her silenced – at any cost. Becky knows only one of them can survive, and she’ll do anything to make sure it’s her.
Becky must tread carefully though, because John isn’t the only bad apple lurking in the shadows… mystery and intrigue...themes running throughout this book, written by a talented and gifted author...this is a book that reads like true life...enjoy...The book was sent to me by Netgalley for review.

Pretty intense read. Becky is married to a police man who may or may not be a bad apple. This story encompasses her divorce and subsequent fall from grace all because she dared expose him for what he is. How many people will be drawn into the mess and will Becky get the justice she needs. Lots of twists and unexpected turns made for a great read.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc

Thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me to read and review this title. I love Alice Hunters other ‘The Serial Killer’s…’ titles however I found this book a bit of a struggle to get through. I personally found the main character quite unlikeable and some parts of the story quite confusing. The end was very pacy and twisty which I enjoyed.

"Bad Apple" spins a riveting tale that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. Becky, married to Detective John, knows his facade as a respected officer and family man hides a dark truth—he's a predator who preys on women. Despite Becky's efforts to expose him, his influential connections shield him from justice. Determined to bring him down, Becky embarks on a dangerous mission, knowing only one of them will survive.

Alice Hunter masterfully portrays Becky as a complex protagonist, blurring the lines between reality and imagination. The narrative keeps readers guessing, unsure of whom to trust as paranoia and distrust grip the story. Through skillful storytelling, Hunter unveils John's heinous crimes gradually, alternating between past and present.

The seamless pacing and clear chapter markers make for an effortless read, propelling readers through the intricate plot filled with suspense and mystery. "Bad Apple" sheds light on the disturbing reality of corrupt authority figures exploiting their power, a theme all too familiar in today's news.

This is a nail biting read which keeps you hooked from the very first page. There are twists and turns and false pathways all through this book and I loved it although some of the characters were loathsome and evil lurked where it wasn’t really expected or wanted. Ten out of ten.

Bad Apple by Alice Hunter is a suspenseful thriller. The main character is Becky Lawson, and the story is told in two parts: "Becky Then" and "Becky Now."

When Becky discovered her husband, John, a trusted policeman, was a monster, she reported him. But her faith in the system was crushed when it didn't lead to any charges or consequences.

Now, John lives freely with a new girlfriend and her young daughter, while Becky battles guilt over missing the obvious signs.

Determined for justice, Becky hunts him down. But John wants her silenced. Becky knows only one can survive, and she’ll do anything to ensure it’s her.

Her husband, John, was a real creep. I liked Becky and the plot. The ending was good and satisfying. I would probably recommend this book and would read more by this author.

#NetGalley

This was really suspenseful as the book weaved through the alternate timelines. The author portrayed Becky in a way that made me question everything I was reading. It was a bit repetitive at times but overall enjoyable. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. When Becky Lawson discovers that her fellow police officer John is a rapist, she has no hesitation in reporting him. She is horrified when nothing happens and she ends up leaving the force. However, she is determined to find more evidence of John's crimes and to bring him to justice. But John has friends in high places and is equally determined to stop Becky at any cost. This is a fast paced thriller that will keep you guessing to the end.
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

Great thriller ..
Dark in places , and twists that didn’t expect.. Still thinking over the epilogue… and wondering who was on the other end of the phone call ..

Thankyou NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

This was just way too intense for me - but a very good thriller if you can stomach the subject matter!

Fast paced thriller, the writing builds up the tension in the story.

Few twists, some a little predictable but still a really good read.

It does have some topics in that can be sensitive for some readers

I enjoyed reading The Serial Killer’s Wife by Alice Hunter several years ago and was excited to dive into Bad Apple. Becky Lawson had it all, a great career as a police officer and a handsome, loving detective husband. Until it all came crashing down when she found evidence that he was hiding a dark side. Nobody believed her and Becky lost everything. Now she is living in a run down flat, almost broke and alone. Obsessed with taking down her ex husband and bringing him to justice, Becky will stop at nothing. With the help of two former colleagues, she works to find the evidence to take him down for good. The only problem is that there are bad apples everywhere.
All in all, I enjoyed the book. There were parts that were a little too far fetched to really be believable, but for the most part it was a good story.

You assume the police are there to keep you safe, but what happens when they abuse their power?

Becky is married to John, both are detectives. Becky uncovers that her husband has been abusing his power as a policeman to commit heinous crimes. She reports John, but no one believes her enough to take it seriously. In pursuing justice she loses her husband, her home and her job, but she doesn't let that stop her.

This was a thrilling read, gripping from the begining right to the end. It goes back and forth between current day and the past which I really enjoyed as it revealed the history along with the current events.

I would highly recommend this book. Such a great read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the published for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bad Apple by A. Hunter, published by Avon Books UK, is a fast paced, complex page turner that had me breathlessly craving more.
Becky is an ex-cop who lost everything. Her job, her home, her marriage, and she's driven by revenge. She wants to bring her ex John to justice.
Literally unputdownable, a read in one sitting book that had me guessing til the last page.
Blurb:
How can you live with yourself when you find out the man you love is rotten? Trusted officer. Family man. Monster. Becky's life has been shattered. When she discovered her husband, John – a policeman she once trusted – was a monster, she reported him. But it didn't lead to any charges. Now, John lives freely with a new girlfriend and her daughter – while Becky battles guilt for missing the obvious signs. Determined for justice, Becky confronts John. But he targets her. He wants her silenced – and at any cost. And now, survival is the only option because he’s not the only bad apple lurking in the shadows… A gripping psychological suspense about betrayal, courage, and the darkness that can hide behind a seemingly trustworthy façade.

This is another well written, intelligent and engaging read by Alice Hunter.
I really enjoyed this book and it screams to be made into a tv drama.
This author is fast becoming one of my favourite psychological thriller writers.

3.5 stars.

This was a great read that dealt with some difficult topics. It was almost like watching a movie- I was anxious and on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. The plot was suspenseful and gripping, and the plot was well paced. I enjoyed the different timelines, especially since not much time was spent in the past; rather, the shifts to the past were at the perfect intervals to provide just enough information to keep the plot moving.

The FMC was frustrating at times. As much as I understood her motivations and her drive, her actions didn't seem to line up with her profession. She didn't think things through and, as a former police officer, you would expect her to handle things in a very different way.

Although the ending was satisfying, there were a lot of unanswered questions and things that seemed to be teased throughout the book that were left hanging. I'm not sure if this is part of a series, but I needed more closure with several plot points.

Overall I had a very good time reading this and would recommend it to friends who enjoy thrillers.