The Bad Apple

by Rosie Goodwin

A mother and son on the run. A new beginning. A past they cannot escape.

An unforgettable saga of love, escapism and intrigue from the bestselling author of No One's Girl, Mothering Sunday and The Little Angel, The Bad Apple is sure to leave you hungry for more. Perfect for fans of Shelia Newberry and Dilly Court.

'Rosie Goodwin is a born storyteller - she'll make you cry, she'll make you laugh, but most of all you'll care for her characters and lose yourself in her story. An author destined for the top' - Jeannie Johnson

Louise Hart has endured a great deal of pain from her callous husband Paul, but one cold December night in 1959 she can take no more. She and her son Davey escape their Coventry high-rise flat and flee to Tanglewood, the dilapidated ivy-clad mansion where her mother Dolly runs an animal sanctuary. Miserable and frightened, Louise longs to turn her back on the past, and create a happy new life for Davey. But Paul is in trouble with men more dangerous than himself. Unable to pay his debts, he blackmails Louise and those who love her, keeping a shadowy presence in their lives. Even the arrival of Charlie Fox, a stranger who becomes a true friend, cannot guarantee that the future will be safe...

What Amazon readers are saying about The Bad Apple :

'Rosie's writing style enables you to envision the characters so clearly they seem to be truly alive. She hooks you in and you can't get loose from her gripping words! This story has surprising twists also. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it makes you think . I'm a fairly fast reader, but it took 1/2 a box of tissues and nearly an hour for me to get through 3 pages near the end of this book because I couldn't stop sobbing!'

'This is the first book I have read by Rosie Goodwin and to say it's fantastic is an understatement! I couldn't put it down and it had me reaching for the tissues on more than one occasion. It's the most believable and touching book I have ever read '

Genres: Fiction

374 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 7, 2004

About the author

Before becoming a writer, I was a Placement Support Worker and foster carer, and worked in the social services department after completing a teacher training course. Many children have joined my family over the years. I still live in Nuneaton, where many of my books are set, with my husband, Trevor, and our beloved dogs.

I was thrilled to discover that I'd become one of the top 250 most-borrowed library authors in the UK, and would like to thank all of you who have taken out my books over the last few years! I love meeting my readers and am always pleased to hear from you. I hope you will all continue to get in touch and please do sign up for my newsletter!

Reviews

[poppie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Rosie Goodwin. Maybe a little predictable but there was a little bit of everything in this story - sorrow and heartache, a bit of suspense as well as some humour but thankfully a happy ending.

[Lili · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read, predictable but quite enjoyable. There is lots of geographic information i.e. streets, stations etc (Nuneaton) but it doesn't have the descriptive power to visualise a West Midlands Town. I thought it is written somewhat in the style of a latter day Cookson.

[ELAINE STANLEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant Book

This is the first Rosie Goodwin book I have read & it will not be the last.It goes through all your emotions happy sad & has you on the edge of your seat.Winston was a character of his own he certainly made me smile

[janet watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

One of them book you have to keep reading to find out what happened next. Highly recommended. Brilliant author. Congratulations

[Mrs Margaret Maher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book

This book is very good a different kind of story well worth reading . I really like this author's work. Enjoy

[JANET PARKER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing from start to finish

This book had so many twists and turns bringing up different emotions as I read it reading the last chapter to the epilogue I was in tears. Brilliant

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosie Goodwin never fails to disappoint and this book was no exception. Very well written and hard to put down. Recommended.

[H LLOYD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait to start my next book

[Marilyn Rust · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my word what a fabulous book. It’s got every genre going, crime, romance, suspense, happiness, sadness, just the sort of book i love. Well recommended.

[janice kordek · Rating 5 out of 5]

The bad apple

As usual a brilliantly powerful story from Rosie Goodwin about a family who run a dog's home and a daughter who leaves her violent husband to help her mum lots of sadness but also a or of happiness involved well worth a read

[kathleen davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully,breathtaking book x

Amazing book as always by an amazing author. I always adore Rosie's books. Very engrossing and hard to put down.

[Shirley Dawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Rosie's books but I found myself getting a bit frustrated with this one. Although it was another good story, some parts did not seem to sit well with me.

Firstly, I found it quite amazing that nothing was said about the first lot of money that Louise took from Dolly's tin to give to Paul. They had very little money so it would have been very noticeable.

Secondly, when you have a person like Paul slinking around, threatening and demanding money, would you not keep the doors locked at all times?

Thirdly, I can't believe that no one heard the noise when Paul broke in and attacked Dolly. The whole household would have woken.

Lastly, to my mind there was a little too much about Paul suddenly turning up and demanding money. Every time either Louise or Dolly were on their own, he suddenly appeared. It became so much that I found myself expecting him!

Apart from the above, it was still an enjoyable story.

[Paul Adler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably one of if not thee best book I have read, and I have read a few. Rosie Goodwin was born and lives in my hometown of Nuneaton, and I know well and could picture the places mentioned in the book. This story though would be just as good wherever it was based whether it was Blackpool Liverpool or London, it just happened to be Nuneaton. The story was full of everything happiness,sadness,joy and laughter to name a few emotions. The story was gripping from start to finish. Won’t give too much of the plot away as you need to read the book to find out how good it is. If you read this book you will be glad you did, and if you don’t you have missed a treat.
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thoroughly good read. Think BTBradford - without so much ' plush' . There is a hint toward lost or hidden wealth. Just enough to give buoyancy to an otherwise sad or sentimental story.
Convincingly 50's going into 60's Midlands uk.
A few sudden dramatic turns keep the story balanced and above the mawkish.
The book blurb might leave a asual selector wondering if it will be too lightweight.
This was another of my enforced newsagency chrstmas holiday bargain box buys.
Not at all sorry and will look for the author again.

[rosalind wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enthralling

You only have to read the first few lines to find yourself immersed in this powerful story. Very quickly you get a picture of the characters and you are drawn into the struggle of the main character and everything she's up against. I did not want to put the book down, you just want to go d out what was going to happen next. The story moves along at a fair pace and it is definitely another success for the author Rosie Goodwin

[Ali Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosie Goodwin NEVER fails! I love her books and if I am ever in a reading slump I know I can rely on her to pull me out. This one I think might be her first book albeit with the more modern cover, was just a lovely read, yes it had parts that made me cry as always but nonetheless it was a lovely story.

[Lorna Milton · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book

There were times when I almost gave up surrounding the sadness of this tale. And there were times when I totally disliked Louise due to her unfeeling temperament. Rosie brings drama and surprise to all her books and this one was no exception.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A feel good period romance albeit the 1950’s, girl fallen on hard times finds a safe haven and after much hardship all is rosy! Echoes of Catherine Cookson. Predictable and made me want to knock some heads together but otherwise a pleasant read.

[sandra simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read couldn't put it down

[daniellecarr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book . One my favorites. I even shed a tear at the end . Beautiful book

[Gloria Nestor · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it although did make me shed a tear a coupe of times

[Linda Hobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Chitra Muralikrishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book to cuddle to and read on a rainy day...

[Izabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book 📖. I absolutely loved 😍

[janet laureen taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this down

A really good read with lots of twists and turns
Kept me wanting to invisage the ending and I wasn't disappointed

[Andrea]

As always a gripping story, you start, to care about the characters.

[Jue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this old fashioned story of heartache, crime, love and struggle. So easy to read, well written, a bit far fetched /dramatic in places, but adds to the impatience of not being able to gobble the pages up quick enough.

[Daniel Lomax]

I mean I don't, but she's from Nuneaton and she's Made It, so I suppose I will.