Lady In The Lake drama vs book: How is the Apple TV+ series different to the book?

Watch the trailer for Lady in the Lake

Lady In The Lake has been brought to life for TV and book lovers are curious to find out how the series differs from the original novel. 

Crime thriller Lady In The Lake began on Friday, July 19, on Apple TV+ with only the first two of seven episodes released onto the streamer. 

Based on the best-selling 2019 book of the same name by author Laura Lippman, Lady In The Lake, the drama sees Jewish housewife Maddie Schwartz (played by Natalie Portman) turn her attention to investigating two murders. 

How is Apple TV+’s Lady In The Lake different from the book? Alternative names

Some of the names of the biggest characters in the show have been changed for the Apple TV+ series. 

Tessie Durst, the 11-year-old Jewish girl whose body is discovered by Maddie, is actually called Tessie Fine in the novel.

Fellow victim Cleo Johnson (Moses Ingram) was actually Cleo Sherwood in the original source material and while Maddie’s name stays the same, she insists on being referred to by her maiden name, Morgenstern. 

There is no indication as to why these small changes have been made for the show.

Lady In The Lake drama vs book: How is the Apple TV series different to the book? (Image: APPLE TV PLUS)

Lady In The Lake: Cleo's husband Slappy Johnson doesn't exist in the books. (Image: APPLE TV PLUS) New characters

Some of the biggest characters in Lady In The Lake have been added especially for the drama and do not feature in the book. 

Politician Myrtle Summer (Angela Robinson), boxer Reggie Robinson (Josiah Cross) and Cleo’s husband Slappy Johnson (Byron Bowers) were all added to the plot. 

Cleo’s room mate Latetia who is in the novel, doesn’t feature in Apple TV+’s adaptation and is instead replaced by her childhood best friend Dora Carter (Jennifer Mogbock). 

Maddie’s connection to the Dursts 

Maddie has a deeper connection with the Durst family than is mentioned in Lippman’s novel. 

It is discovered that Maddie had a relationship with Allan Durst (David Corenswet), the father of murdered youngster Tessie, when they were in high school. 

She was also abused by Allan’s dad which adds another layer to her ties to the Durst family.

Lady In The Lake: Maddie had a relationship with the father of murdered 11-year-old Tessie. (Image: APPLE TV PLUS) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

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Cleo’s jobs

While the novel sees Cleo just work as a bartender at businessman Shell Gordan’s club, she is juggling a number of jobs in the show. 

She also works as a bookkeeper for Shell and models clothes in department store windows which is how her path first crosses with Maddie’s. 

A single new episode is now going to drop on Apple TV+ every week until the finale which airs on Friday, August 23. 

Lady In The Lake is available to watch on Apple TV+.

Lady In The Lake drama vs book: How is the Apple TV+ series different to the book?

Lady In The Lake drama vs book: How is the Apple TV+ series different to the book?

Lady In The Lake drama vs book: How is the Apple TV+ series different to the book?

Lady In The Lake drama vs book: How is the Apple TV+ series different to the book?

Lady In The Lake drama vs book: How is the Apple TV+ series different to the book?