The Ex - Hardcover

Burke, Alafair

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0062390481 ISBN 13: 9780062390486

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2016

Synopsis

In this breakout standalone novel of suspense in the vein of Gone Girl and The Girl on a Train, a woman agrees to help an old boyfriend who has been framed for murder--but begins to suspect that she is the one being manipulated.

And look for Alafair Burke's latest heart-racing novel of psychological suspense, The Wife, coming in January 2018.

Twenty years ago she ruined his life. Now she has the chance to save it.

Widower Jack Harris has resisted the dating scene ever since the shooting of his wife Molly by a fifteen-year-old boy three years ago. An early morning run along the Hudson River changes that when he spots a woman in last night's party dress, barefoot, enjoying a champagne picnic alone, reading his favorite novel. Everything about her reminds him of what he used to have with Molly. Eager to help Jack find love again, his best friend posts a message on a popular website after he mentions the encounter. Days later, that same beautiful stranger responds and invites Jack to meet her in person at the waterfront. That's when Jack's world falls apart.

Olivia Randall is one of New York City's best criminal defense lawyers. When she hears that her former fiancé, Jack Harris, has been arrested for a triple homicide--and that one of the victims was connected to his wife's murder--there is no doubt in her mind as to his innocence. The only question is who would go to such great lengths to frame him--and why?

For Olivia, representing Jack is a way to make up for past regrets, to absolve herself of guilt from a tragic decision, a secret she has held for twenty years. But as the evidence against him mounts, she is forced to confront her doubts. The man she knew could not have done this. But what if she never really knew him?

About this title

Review:

"Riveting."--Entertainment Weekly

"Intriguing, suspenseful, compelling, insightful, surprising, and thoroughly satisfying -- The Ex is a great read."--Chris Pavone, The Accident and The Expats

"Strong characters and a plot that's handled deftly, despite its complexities, show Burke at the top of her game here. This is a compelling legal thriller with a strong emotional component grounded in a solid rational base, with a final twist to boot."--Library Journal, starred review

"Riveting.... Burke's protagonist, Olivia Randall, is a complicated woman with legal skills to match the Lincoln Lawyer.... Olivia proves she's at the top of her game as a criminal defense attorney. And with her pacey plot and fascinating characters, Burke proves she's at the top of hers."--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"With an all-too-real mass shooting in a richly-observed Manhattan as its springboard, The Ex is an expertly crafted, intricately woven novel that is as emotionally complex as it is riveting."--Kimberly McCreight, New York Times bestselling author of Reconstructing Amelia and Where They Found Her

"Enjoyable.... There's a great and satisfying surprise.... Worth the time."--USA Today, three stars

"Features smooth, engaging writing; a sharp, funny edge; and characters worth investing in. Burke has created some memorable female protagonists over the years, but Olivia might be the cream of the crop."--Kirkus

"Gripping.... Olivia makes an appealingly bold protagonist.... Burke keeps the suspense high throughout, prying open mysteries of relationships and perception."--Publishers Weekly

"Briskly told and packed with plot, The Ex rocks. . . . A nifty bit of fine suspense."--New York Journal of Books

"Superb.... Equal measures superlative mystery and crack courtroom thriller reminiscent of the great John Lescroart or the William Diehl classic "Primal Fear." We literally never know what's coming next, putty in Burke's devilishly adept hands as she shapes a wholly satisfying and brilliantly constructed whiz bang of a tale."--Providence Journal

Book Description:

Twenty years ago she ruined his life. Now she has the chance to save it.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0062390481
• ISBN 13: 9780062390486
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288