Having read Alice Hunter’s previous books I was delighted to receive the arc for Bad Apple. However I feel this isn’t her best book. The plot premise was sound but unfortunately the character of Becky the ex detective was unbelievable; I just don’t believe she could have been a good asset to Greater Manchester Police is her cavalier handling of evidence, her inability to make safe and sensible decisions and her lack of astuteness in assessing other characters. There were moments of repetition which became irritating and the plot twist was evident early on. Having said all that I will continue to read Alice Hunter’s books as I’m hoping this was a slight blip.

This was such a exciting book to read, I was engrossed and had so many ideas of what was going on, my main thought was completely wrong 🤦🏼‍♀️ (I trusted noone not even Becky 😂) but I loved all the developments and seeing what would happen next.

I loved Becky and her determination to prove herself right, this novel shows how corrupt some people (not just the police!) and use their power to abuse others or to help cover up abuse of power.

If you are looking for a clever psychological thriller to get your heart racing, add this to your TBR.

I was definitely not prepared for the twist at the end of this one! A little unrealistic but somehow it worked as it wasn’t a happy ending tied up nicely in a bow.

The premise of the story is that even though Becky has reported her husband and fellow police officer John for terrible crimes, he has faced no consequences. In fact, he is still on the force and she has been fired. Hard to justify that it’s just “one bad apple” on the police force as that’s a systemic failure… But I digress. Surprise surprise, John wants revenge on Becky and she spends the rest of the novel a) trying to identify and get justice for his victims, and b) trying to stay alive.

This could have been slightly faster paced but overall a good premise and, as I said, a good twist!

3.5 stars rounded up.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.

Overall rating : 3*
Writing skill : 3*
Plot: 3*
Pace: 4*
Characters: 3*
Twist: 3*

This was a really quick and easy to read thriller. The blurb was super intriguing and I’d previously loved other books by this author.
I was left frowning through bits of this book and found I’ve been left with a few plot holes and numerous questions.
The characters were okay, but I found quite a few of their characteristic descriptions repetitive and stereotypical.
If thrillers aren’t your usual go-to then I think you could read and enjoy this wholeheartedly, but as someone who reads thrillers and police procedurals a lot, I was left a bit disappointed.
I will continue to read more from this author however, but just chalk that this one missed the mark for me.

Thank you to Avon books UK & NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the topics covered within this book in terms of violence against woman and how far the characters had to go to get justice, even when the perpetuator was a police officer. I think it really highlighted some difficult subjects in todays society.

The main reason this book only got three stars was more a formatting issue. I think this could be due to having a proof copy prior to release date however from reading it on a kindle I found it difficult to follow which impacted on my overall reading experience off the book

Absolutely loved this, it had everything you could possibly want in a physiological thriller.

When Becky learns the truth about her husband her world comes crashing down in more ways than one. Becky builds up the courage to report him hoping justice will prevail but John keeps his job as a police officer. Becky is left with nothing, but when you have nothing to lose what’s stopping you seeking justice.

Honestly this blow my mind, I was on the edge of my seat, telling Becky what to do and how to go about it. Becky’s resilience was second to none, having been a detective herself she knew all the tricks to try and catch her husband.

There were some moments in the book which made me tear up the thought of what this trusted police officer was doing and what he was able to get away with. The ending was brilliant and honestly even though I saw some of it coming, my jaw still dropped with the audacity of this man.

Synopsis - Becky is trying to prove that her ex-husband John was a corrupted police officer with a record. As she tries to enlist the help of her former colleagues to finally bring justice and bring down John, Becky tries to maintain acquaintance with John's new girlfriend Nina. As the story progresses with Becky's life in potential danger, will Becky finally succeed in bringing justice and arresting John?

Good points - I actually like the premise of the story. Here you get a corrupted police officer and Becky was determined to bring justice. The story overall was well written. I was actually engrossed into the story as a result, wondering if Becky is finally able to bring justice and bring John down.

Bad points - The only thing I didn't like about the book was the end--and it was also slightly repetitive which made reading the whole book slightly boring as a result. Otherwise, this book would have been a good thriller.

Overall verdict - This book has a premise--the story is over all well written although the repetitive words in certain areas made the book slightly boring to read The plot was great and overall, this was a great thriller book. Worth 4 stars in my opinion.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the book. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

"Bad Apple" by Alice Hunter is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. Becky's journey to uncover the truth about her husband's dark secrets is both compelling and heart-wrenching.
As she navigates a world filled with betrayal and deceit, I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. The pacing is perfect, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I followed Becky's relentless pursuit of justice.
Hunter's writing is sharp and engaging, drawing me deeper into the story with each twist and turn.
While I appreciated the timely and thought-provoking premise, I felt slightly let down by the ending but that won’t stop me from wanting to read more by the author in the future.
"Bad Apple" is a thrilling and addictive read that I recommend to fans of psychological thrillers.

Very grateful to the publisher for my copy, opinions are my own.

This is my first book by Alice Feeney, thank you to NetGalley, Alice and Avon books for my advanced copy.

The book kicks off from the very beginning throwing us straight in the midst of everything. Set in Manchester (my home city) Becky used to be a detective with Greater Manchester Police until she found out something shocking about her husband who is also a detective with GMP. The discovery loses Becky her job, husband and home, but she won’t give up easily until she can prove what she knows about her now ex-husband. She sets off on a one woman mission to uncover the truth and put him to their colleagues and friends, putting herself in danger and receiving threats.

I found this to be a good read, easy to follow however somewhat repetitive. The storyline highlights the #metoo women’s campaign, to try and achieve justice and for a future for women without sexual violence and assault.

This is a great thriller.
Becky is trying to pick her life back up after finding out her husband is a rapist. She reports him but his felllow Police officers stick with him and cover for him.
Becky was also with the Police, but is quickly dismissed as a liar.
She finds herself in a tiny flat in a dodgy area but is determined to make people believe her about John.
Some of her activities are a bit far fetched but I did feel for her going up against a well respected Police officer.
This is a great read.
Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Bad Apple is an exciting, read all night kind of thriller that all fans of thrillers love!!!!!!! Finished this book in one sitting

My first Alice Hunter book but definitely not my last. The characters were outstanding and kept me reading long into the night. Dark and creepy with some terrifying moments. Addicting to boot! Tough subject matter that kept me hooked nonstop.
Thank you NetGalley and Alice Hunter for the opportunity to read and review this.

Great murder mystery that really gets you hooked immediately and keeps you there, I feel like I went through so many emotions trying to figure out everything. I really enjoyed this one!

Far too slow for a thriller. I was hoping it was just a slow burn - but I just couldn't get immersed as much as I wanted to. I think some of it was due to the fact that the situation just infuriated me. It made me so so angry! (But I know things like this happen all the time! Even more frustrated!)
Not the best thriller, but just OK.

Ah, Bad Apple, a novel that promised much but, regrettably, delivered somewhat less. Penned by Alice Hunter, this book marked my first foray into her literary world, and it's fair to say that it has left me more perplexed than enchanted.
At the heart of this narrative is Becky, formerly a detective, who finds her life unravelled after making grave accusations against her husband, also a detective. The premise itself starts on a stark note: Becky loses her job while her husband’s career seemingly remains untarnished. This setup, meant to evoke a sense of injustice and ignite the fuse of an enthralling plot, unfortunately, spirals into a series of implausible events. The decisions Becky makes are staggeringly ill-judged for someone with her background in law enforcement. Her actions border on the absurd rather than the astute, and this discord grates on one’s sensibilities as a reader.
As the story progresses, Becky's journey into the quagmire of proving her husband's guilt becomes tedious. The narrative desperately needed a robust backbone to make her quest believable or, at the very least, compelling. The 'big twist', intended as the climactic revelation, was predictable and lacked the impact necessary to redeem the earlier parts of the book.
That said, there were elements that kept me tethered to the pages—particularly the sections labelled 'then', which offered a nostalgic reprieve from the current frustrations. These passages hinted at potential, suggesting depth and a narrative complexity that I wished had been more prevalent throughout.
The portrayal of Becky, which was meant to be the linchpin of the story, was perhaps the most disheartening aspect. Her lack of procedural rigour, the careless handling of potential evidence, and a baffling obliviousness to the dangers that might be closer than she imagined—all these painted a portrait of a protagonist hard to root for. The authenticity of her character as an ex-police officer was, sadly, not on the mark.
In conclusion, Bad Apple was a tale that could have been a deliciously dark and twisted journey but ended up feeling more like an under-baked pie—lukewarm and lacking. While it hasn't quite encouraged me to delve further into Hunter's oeuvre, those fleeting moments of intrigue within the book might just be enough for other readers to take the plunge. For me, however, the book was a lesson in frustration, dressed up in a mystery that promised far more than it delivered.

Becky finds evidence that her husband is a vile person. But, justice didn't prevail. John was given a promotion and Becky was kicked from the force. Becky's strong charatraits meant she wouldn't take this lying down. And so results in a quest to out her now ex-husband John. But, will it be plain sailing? Will there be bent cops in the way? And will she get and keep the evidence she needs.

Perfectly paced. This story kept me engaged throughout the narrative. We are told the story mainly from Beckys POV. Interspersed within are a few chapters from differing characters who give us the reader a hint of unease. Is Becky a reliable narrator?

I had so many theories whilst reading this story. As is the case with psychological thrillers, there are a few twists and turns along the way. Some I figured and some just smacked me in the face to be made to look a fool. How didn't I see some of these twist?

Anyway, Bad Apple was a good pacy read. Kept me engaged.

I love Hunter’s The Serial Killer's Family series! So it was a no brainer to jump at the opportunity to read and review Bad Apple by Alice Hunter.
I found it engrossing and captivating from the start all the way to the finish.
A suspenseful and taut page-turner that is impossible to put down!

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

After having loved the authors previous books I thought that Bad Apple had such a strong premise to it, and actually the story itself was really interesting and timely. However I did feel let down by the ending, I think that things were not totally wrapped up and things didn't make sense to me, it fell really close to the trope of *woman with anxiety isn't believed* which I really dont appreciate.

What do you do when you discover your husband, a highly regarded police officer, is a potential rapist? This is the dilemma faced by Becky Lawson, who is also a police officer, when she finds something that blows her world apart. She does the decent thing and reports it to the authorities but ends up losing everything, her marriage; her home and her career, because nobody believes that John Lawson could possibly be that man and, with no evidence, no charges are brought against him. Becky then finds out that he's now living with another woman and her young daughter and, fearing for their safety, she sets out on a very dangerous path to bring him down once and for all.

Bad Apple is the latest thriller by Alice Hunter, whose previous books I've loved and this one was no exception. This is a well written, fast paced, rollercoaster of a read which grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go till the end. It's a tale of secrets and deception, highlighting how far one man will go to cover up his misdemeanours and the power he had to ensure everyone else kept quiet about them too. I loved the dogged determination of Becky to try and bring her ex husband down, to protect any future women that could come up against this monster and gain justice for those that already had, although she really didn't do herself any favours in the process and also learnt that you can't always trust those you thought were on your side. This is an action packed thriller with an unexpected twist at the end which I highly recommend and would love to see it adapted to a tv series.

I'd like to thank Avon Books and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

I liked how this was written. The intrigue and suspense had me flying through the chapters. There was clearly more than just a single ‘bad apple’. It’s truly disturbing to consider the possibility of corruption within the policing system and even worse to see how it can be covered up / allowed to continue rotting .
Thank You to NetGalley, Avon Books UK, and Alice Hunter for the invitation/opportunity to enjoy this ARC.