I’m not entirely convinced that something actually happened in this book, but I was hooked from the start.

Mystery surrounding a tennis family set in Australia with mixed POV and dual timelines? I’m sold.

Joy just wants a grandchild from one of her four children now that she and her husband, Stan, have retired and sold their tennis business. Instead, a woman named Savannah enters their life and drama ensues after bombs are dropped at a family meal. Just a few months later, Joy goes missing on Valentine’s Day. What happened and who is responsable? 

Two children think the Dad may be responsible and the other two think he has nothing to do with it. Who is right?

The twists did sometimes catch me off guard and as soon as I was caught off guard, there would be another narrator from either the past or the ‘now’. I liked that the plot didn’t feel stale even though it didn’t cover much time. 

I enjoyed the banter surrounding the family regarding each of them and their tennis careers (or lack thereof) plus the inclusion of changing family dynamics. 

Moriarty got the gossip that happens on the tennis court spot on - and honestly I had to laugh because I could picture this exact banter at my tennis club. 

Oh, and the ending? Well that caused my jaw to drop and a “What the hell?” to leave my mouth. I even rewound my audiobook to make sure I was hearing the narrator correctly. 

Also, here are some title ideas that make more sense because apples weren’t actually mentioned that much:

Game, Set, Poor Communication

Mixed Doubles and Mixed Signals

Confusion Off the Court