The Ex

The Ex is the eleventh novel by former police prosecutor and American author, Alafair Burke. When hung-over lawyer, Olivia Randall wakes to a request from a teenager concerned about her missing father, she's ready to dismiss this as "not my problem". But the teen is Buckley Harris, sixteen year old daughter of her one-time fiancé, Jackson Harris. And Olivia owes Harris, big-time, for something that happened twenty years earlier.

Olivia tracks Jack down at First Precinct, and quickly assesses the situation: things are much worse that her good-guy ex believes. His proximity to the early morning shooting, coupled with his strange excuse for being there, the identity of one of the victims and certain evidence found in his apartment, lead to his being charged with a triple count of murder. And despite their history, he wants Olivia to defend him. Against her better judgement, and that of her law partner, she agrees.

As the investigation proceeds and her team uncovers evidence to bolster Jack's defence, Olivia wavers between her initial conviction that Jack could not have done this and doubting his innocence. Does Olivia's guilt about the past colour her judgement as she deals with the evidence that is uncovered? Is Jack's story so bizarre that it has to be true, or is this a meticulously planned revenge killing?

Burke has crafted a clever tale that has an original plot littered with twists, clues and red herrings. The pace is fast, the characters are credible and all the more appealing for their flaws. While the most astute reader may deduce the identity of the killer amongst an abundance of characters with motive, means and opportunity, the need to know the "how and why" will keep the pages turning; most readers will be kept guessing until the shocking conclusion. A brilliant read!