This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

The Ex

Oliva Randall. Criminal defense lawyer that you want by your side if you’ve been accused of a crime. She’s tough. Strong. Determined. And wins. A lot.

When Olivia gets a phone call from a teenage girl saying her daddy needs Olivia’s help- it takes Olivia back 20 years. Back to the days when she was engaged. Because the daddy in question is Jack Harris. Author. Widower. And also known as Olivia’s ex.

Olivia takes the case because she knows Jack is innocent. He doesn’t have it in him to do the crime he’s been accused of. She knows this in the marrow of her bones. She knows that he’s being set up- because his story is almost too ridiculous to be anything but the truth.

As the evidence mounts against Jack, though, Olivia begins to wonder- how well does she know the Jack currently? And how well did she know the Jack of 20 years ago?

In the end- will Olivia wish she had left the past in the past? Or is Jack truly innocent?

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Right after I finished, THE EX- I tweeted “All Hail The Queen of Twisty-Twisty Suspense, Alafair Burke!” Listen,  I don’t pretend that Alafair is NOT one of my fav authors. She is. And I make no bones about it. From her Ellie Hatcher series to her stand-alones ( and naturally, I love her books with Mary Higgins Clark!) I read Alafair to be entertained. To be surprised. To close the book and then dance around fan-girling for a bit because I am THAT entertained.

THE EX combined all the things I love about Alafair- the twists and suspense with the things I love about my Law and Order repeat binge watching days- the courtroom drama.  What really got my brain all excited was the deliciousness of the “did he or didn’t he” plot. Alafair made a case for both sides- and when it all was laid  out there and the pieces of the puzzle was together- well, my face was all “What????????” And I mean that in the best way possible.

Likes:

The cover. I like covers for various reasons- but on a mystery/suspense book- I want one that makes me want to open it.

The plot. With a relatively large cast of characters- Alafair had much to balance- what the reader was to know at a certain point, what the reader could possibly suspect. What each character knew/suspected. While some characters may have felt a little out of left field at first- by the end, each one has a place in this mystery/suspense/courtroom drama.

Jack. He was delicious as a character. He had every reason to commit this crime. And yet, he had every reason to not commit this crime. He was a character that I was never quite sure where he was in the whole “did he/didn’t he?” But, that was ok. Because the played the heck outta his role.

 

Final thoughts: I’m an Alafair fan- so naturally I think this book is the cat’s pajamas. If you like twisty books- not scary- but twisty- this is the book for you to try. And if you’ve never experienced the joy of an Alafair book- well, what are you waiting on?

 

*This book was requested by Traveling With T from Edelweiss for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

*THE EX is a January 2016 Futuristic Friday selection by Traveling With T.*

 

Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,

T @ Traveling With T