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toriss's review against another edition
5.0
*Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* 'The Dead Ex' is a fast-paced and fascinating novel that kept me hooked from the start until the very end. Ostensibly, the novel is focussed on the disappearance of David Goudman, the so called 'dead ex' of the story's title. There is much more to the story than that. At the beginning, the book seems to be about a number of different people living very different lives - young Scarlet, Vicki the aromatherapist in a seaside town, to photography student Helen. However, as the story unfolds, the characters' lives become intertwined until all is revealed at the end of the book. The book moves form the past to the present as the impact of people's actions is explored. A moving novel that also explores the ideas of foster care, the prison system and epilepsy. This book did not disappoint.
julied1's review against another edition
3.0
This thriller is about how Vicki copes after her life falls after her husband David leaves her and she is diagnosed with epilepsy. A ghost from the past comes back to haunt her present and she finds herself accused of a crime.
This is not an easy book to rate - I enjoyed the storyline but didn't like the change in part 2 when the story got over complicated and personally I didn't like the twist near the end or the final few chapters about the future, they felt rushed and almost an afterthought to add a twist.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC in return for an honest review.
This is not an easy book to rate - I enjoyed the storyline but didn't like the change in part 2 when the story got over complicated and personally I didn't like the twist near the end or the final few chapters about the future, they felt rushed and almost an afterthought to add a twist.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC in return for an honest review.
justacatandabook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
This is an enjoyable and twisty mystery centering on Vicki, an aromatherapist, whose life gets upended when her ex-husband turns up missing. The police suspect her, despite her claims that she hasn't seen him in years. The book intertwines Vicki's story with that of Scarlet, a young girl forced to help her mother deal drugs--and then watch her go to prison.
There isn't much to say here without major spoilers. There are multiple points of view that seem separate, but Corry weaves them together quite skillfully. It's fun trying to guess how everyone and everything relates together. It's all a little wild at times, but it's a good read to keep you interested and turning the pages.
There isn't much to say here without major spoilers. There are multiple points of view that seem separate, but Corry weaves them together quite skillfully. It's fun trying to guess how everyone and everything relates together. It's all a little wild at times, but it's a good read to keep you interested and turning the pages.
rainbowreviewskc's review against another edition
4.0
Gut Instinct Rating: 3.5
Characters: 4.25
Believability: 4
Uniqueness: 5
Writing Style: 4
Excitement Factor: 4
Story Line: 4
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 5
Audiobook Narration: 4
Overall: 4.28
Characters: 4.25
Believability: 4
Uniqueness: 5
Writing Style: 4
Excitement Factor: 4
Story Line: 4
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 5
Audiobook Narration: 4
Overall: 4.28
rolandwolfheart's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting story - you feel some empathy for the characters even if most of them are unlikable. There were some unexpected ideas ad endings but it was nothing so unique as to warrant five stars.
shanna_banana_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I was fascinated by this book from the get-go and could hardly put it down. The story is told from several different perspectives, and no one is telling the whole truth. The explorations of mother-daughter relationships, spousal relationships, the foster care system, prison system, and epilepsy was really interesting as well. The only flaw, for me, was the person behind several of the characters' actions. Highly recommend!
kristiefreeman's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I had whiplash this entire book, but in a good way! I had no idea who killed who until the end. So many characters/lovers it could have been.
lisa_d9's review against another edition
Did not enjoy. Too many characters and it just wasn’t interesting enough for me.
lukadu's review against another edition
2.0
This book was difficult to follow. Too many characters and not an obvious way in which they intersect until the book is half way through. The character development is highly questionable… a woman Vicky who is an aromatherapist but was a prison guard who also suffers from epilepsy and also marries a real estate investor turned arms dealer? Too unbelievable and convoluted just like the rest of the book. The other wife Tanya is left like a blank page, no details are given about her. And then there is Scarlett/ Helen telling another side of another hard to believe story. The whole book felt forced and unrelatable, the characters were unlikable and the plot forced and twisty in ways that were meant to shock but did not make sense. The worst part was the epilogue. So the author wanted to have no innocent parties here, so she made an attempt at further tainting someone’s character in a very unnecessary way. This book in my opinion was not successful and for thriller, mystery or who dun it books, you should read something else.