We know that apples don’t fall far from the tree, and Liane Moriarty knows how to drive the point home with her well-rounded, engaging, relatable characters. For top billing, she creates Stan and Joy Delaney, tennis champs, prior owners of a tennis academy, and parents of four adult tennis players. They have a long-term marriage and work relationship. Their offspring are treasured in their lives even though not one of their children has become a world-renowned tennis star. Additionally, none has maintained a long-term relationship stable enough to produce a grandchild. Joy wonders what she and Stan might have done wrong in modeling marriage, but she also believes they have done many things right since all four children are independent and successful, depending on how you measure success.
The Delaney children, Amy, Logan, Brooke, and Troy, live on somewhat different life paths, but they are seemingly together in spirit when Joy, their mother, disappears. While trying to figure out where Mom might have gone or whether someone, such as their father was capable of murdering her, we learn much about their upbringing and family dynamics. We also become acquainted with Harry Haddad, a tennis star who began his early tennis career with Stan Delaney but left for a different coach and tennis center. Another interesting character who could also be a murder suspect is Savannah, a pathological liar who convinces Stan and Joy to allow her to live with them.
There are many exciting plot points and conversations that provide intrigue to this well-crafted novel. Liane Moriarty is the master storyteller, and this is one of her finest works.
