I was held spellbound from the first page to the last by this intricate and devious mystery. In a genre where it is difficult to stand out, The Dead Ex conjures up a captivating plot with plenty of suspense and surprises. Vicki narrates the story as one of 3 women that will do so throughout the book. Vicki’s ex-husband David has gone missing and there is growing evidence that she may have had something to do with it. Vicki is still in love with David, even though he is now married to Tanya, and those feelings get in the way of logic and rational decision making. She was also an ex-prison warden (and guvnor) so she is well trained in self-defence. Mix in epilepsy and we have a very strong cocktail of motive, excuse and capability. Vicki is developed as a great character with her flaws and abilities that don’t feel contrived for the sake of the story. Ten years earlier we hear from Scarlet, as her story is told alternately with Vicki’s. Scarlet is eight and with her manipulative and selfish mother is unscrupulously played into serving her purposes to the detriment of her own well-being and protection. Scarlet’s story is really sad as her mother is sentenced to prison and she is sent to foster homes. At times her story is heart-breaking and frustrating but always captivating. How damaging can negative and abusive childhood experiences be on the mental outlook and stability of a person? Scarlet, I wanted to keep safe but she carries out some immature and destructive actions that leave you discouraged. Just what a great character should do. The third woman, Helen’s story, joins the narration halfway through the book, just before David disappeared. She has an interest in seducing David and uses here looks and guile to get close to him. Needless to say, David doesn’t consider loyalty and his marriage vow even of the slightest importance, so it doesn’t take much for him and Helen to get together. These 3 storylines all come together in the final unravelling of the mystery. You may guess the twist early on but you will never be quite sure. Regardless, the story is brought to a climactic end. One little issue I have, but I believe this to be personal taste, is that I don’t like the last chapter jumping forward multiple years to give the reader a conclusive end – just let them create their own conclusions. Many thanks to Penguin Books (UK) Publishing Limited and NetGalley, for an ARC version of the book in return for an honest review.

Loved this book so easy to read and a great page turner. Great characters and twists and just so well put together. My third book from Jane Cory and she has become one of my favourite authors.

An extremely dark and twisty psychological thriller that will reel you in from the beginning. This was a book I couldn’t stop reading it was such a good read.

Written with a multiple first-person point-of-view, this narrative alternates between the present-day perspective of Vicky (the protagonist); the past storyline of a young girl called Scarlet; and an in-between timeline told from the perspective of a young woman called Helen. Vicky is a middle-aged woman, whose husband left her for his PA when he couldn’t cope with her debilitating illness of epilepsy. Vicky has recently upped sticks from London and settled into rural Cornwall, where she’s also had a big career change. Her past history isn’t revealed to begin with but is drip-fed throughout the story’s arc. This comes as quite a twist when it’s revealed so I won’t say what that is. Suffice to say this put a whole new spin on what I thought had happened to her in the past and how I thought she may have been connected to Scarlet. Scarlet is a damaged young girl whose mother uses her child’s innocence to deal drugs. When her mother is sent to prison, Scarlett is sent to abusive foster parents. Scarlett misses her mother terribly; although her mother constantly put Scarlet in danger, she still felt safe and loved. It seems Scarlet is the one who has received a harsher sentence than her mother. As the timelines converge and twists in the plot begin to unravel the backstory, we see the introduction of Helen, a young woman who David employs on work experience. We know her employment is no accident, but what is Helen’s connection to David? There is one clever twist after the other and I just loved how everything all connected up to each other. With Vicky having sporadic episodes of memory loss linked to her illness and medication, true to its genre, this sets up the unreliable first-person protagonist, making for a fast-paced page-turning plot. I recommend this book for anybody who likes Louise Jensen or Lisa Jewell. Under Literature Love’s rating scheme this novel has been awarded 5 out of 5 stars. This means: I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down. I recommend you stop what you’re doing and go and buy this book now! As well as having all the elements of a four-star review, this book transcends its genre. The language is original and compelling; characters jumped off the page; and twists in the plot left me gasping. This rare and exceptional book will be put forward for Literature Love’s top 10 books of the year. Thank you to Penguin Books, Jane Corry, and Netgalley for an Advance Review Copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

I have read ‘My Husband’s Wife’ by Jane Corry and thoroughly enjoyed it. ‘The Dead Ex’ did not disappoint. It was a highly enjoyable read. The plot is well constructed with the main character, Vicki, being involved in all three parts to the novel. As a central character she is flawed which made her compelling and I found myself wishing her well. In addition we meet Scarlet and Helen during the course of the story. Although these characters seem disconnected initially, there is always the feeling that they will join up and they certainly did. Vicki has epileptic seizures and this part is handled sympathetically but clearly by the author leaving the reader in no doubt how devastating this can be to those who suffer. This novel is full of lies, deceptions, affairs, rape and evil, which I couldn’t put down. Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Books UK and Jane Corry for my ARC in return from my honest review. Brilliant read. Highly recommended.