Apples Carstairs Books in Order

Written early in Ken Follett’s career under the pseudonym Simon Myles, the Apples Carstairs books are fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek caper thrillers that vividly capture the swinging vibe of the 1970s. Before he became a household name with historical epics and wartime spy dramas, Follett cut his teeth on these short, punchy novels, which were originally written to pay for car repairs. The series stands as a fascinating time capsule, showcasing a younger author experimenting with the mechanics of suspense, action, and pacing in a distinctly pulp-fiction style.

The protagonist, Apples Carstairs, is a far cry from the stoic spies or medieval builders of Follett’s later fame. A wealthy, clever, and unapologetically hedonistic businessman, Apples is a "champagne detective" who enjoys the finer things in life—fast Jaguars, high-society parties, and a rotating cast of glamorous lovers. He is not a professional investigator by trade; rather, he is a reluctant vigilante who stumbles into dangerous situations, usually driven by personal loyalty or a threat to his own comfortable lifestyle. With a sharp wit and a disregard for standard police procedure, he relies on his fortune and his street smarts to outwit powerful criminal organizations.

The trilogy begins with The Big Needle (also published as The Big Apple), where the stakes are deeply personal. After his estranged daughter is hospitalized from a heroin overdose, Apples launches a one-man war against a powerful drug syndicate. The trail leads him from the gritty London underworld to the sun-drenched streets of Marseilles, pitting him against a ruthless kingpin known only as "Mr. Big."

In the sequel, The Big Black, the tone shifts to international intrigue and blackmail. When a compromising photograph of Apples and his lovers threatens to derail a key Common Market negotiator, Apples must track down the source of the extortion. This mission takes him from Brussels to New York, where he faces off against a power-crazed tycoon in a high-stakes game of corporate and political cat-and-mouse.

The final entry, The Big Hit, plunges Apples into the corrupt heart of the music industry. When a famous rock musician friend calls him in a panic and dies shortly after, Apples exposes a deadly web of bribery and manipulation controlled by a mysterious figure pulling the strings behind the charts.

Unlike Follett’s later, more serious novels like Eye of the Needle or The Pillars of the Earth, these stories are lighter in tone, prioritizing entertainment and "cool" over historical weight. They offer fans a fun, retro glimpse into the author's development, featuring the rapid-fire plotting and narrative drive that would eventually become his trademark.