Gripping story of unrequited,imagined love. A good edition to this series where the characters continue to develop and grow. Lots of twists.

I read this book as a stand alone not realising that it was part of a series but as the story unfolded and reference was made to past events I guessed there was more to learn,

Nevertheless it was a great read delving into the mind of a psychotic Ex with a split personality hell bent on revenge.

DI Jenna and her team are tasked with finding missing toddler Joshua who went missing after his mother was brutally attack i their home and left for dead.

Full of drama, violence and trauma,

We all have that one ex that won’t accept it’s over but when it becomes stalking and potentially murderous it takes things to another level.

Zak has moved on, he’s married, he has a child and another on the way his ex is in his past and forgotten. However his ex has other ideas.

A brilliantly written tale that kept me gripped to the end. The scene with the dog handler had me in fits of laughter (my dad was a dog handler!) and the banter within the CID team gives light relief to a hard storyline of poor mental health and it’s repercussions.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A very enjoyable read!

I always love a good psychological thriller, and Diane Saxon did not disappoint!

The Ex - Diane Saxon

This is the latest in the DS Jenna Morgan series, I try to read series in order but it didn't hamper my enjoyment, everything is explained and it works as a standalone.

The characters are well portrayed and likeable, and the Police team are refreshingly normal, the locations are well described. If anything I would say there was sometimes a little too much explanation of events which slowed things down.

I enjoyed the book, though it is a bit gentler than a lot of the books I would choose. Jenna and team get a call on a pregnant woman unconscious with head injuries at home, on arrival the husband is distraught, even more so when informed that his eleven month old son Joshua is missing.

We know Ex, Emily is responsible for causing the head injuries and taking the baby and it's a race against time to try to find Joshua before any more harm is done. Emily was one of my favourites from her drunken breakdown at a works party to her schizophrenic voices telling her what to do.

Enjoyable overall, while I'm not rushing off to order the rest of the series I will definitely keep a look out for more from this author.

Amazon review as D.Blewitt


Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books

Man, this book was terrific from start to finish. It had me clenching my teeth the whole way through. One thing’s for sure, I am now a Diane Saxon fan.

A dark, mind-boggling story about the wrath of a scorned women that’s enough to leave you uncomfortable and unsettled with twists and turns that keeps the reader glued to the pages.

If you’re a fan of edge of your seat police procedural thrillers, this book is a must read.

The Ex by Diane Saxon is a psychological thriller that is the fourth book in the DS Jenna Morgan series, set in and around the village of Ironbridge in Shropshire. I have enjoyed this series from the beginning but they can be read as standalones, as always you just miss the little deeper understanding of Jenna.

In this book Jenna is called out to what she believes is a domestic disturbance. She arrives at the scene to find the paramedics doing their upmost to keep the victim alive. While this brings up traumatic memories as her partner was shot right next to her, she goes to speak to the victims husband who then mentions their 11 month old son, Joshua. Jenna searches the house and the baby is gone. She is given the information that Zac, the victims husband has an Ex that still isn't over him, Emily. Now Jenna has to find out who has attacked this woman and where is the baby? Could it be the ex? Or are these two incidents connected?

A thrilling and brilliant book to add to the series. This one does go down some dark paths and we see just how chilling it can become when Ex's and mental health are involved. A series that is as good as it was in the first book. Jenna has enough emotional baggage to really make the reader empathise with her. This story is a riveting one that has an original premise and Diane Saxon has dealt with the issue of mental health with sensitivity and you can clearly tell she has experience in this field.
This is a psychological thriller that has depth to the story and the twists, well you don't see them coming...at all.
Thanks to Rachel's Random.Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my copy of the book.

I had two main issues that held me back from really enjoying What She Saw previously. The first was that I entered the series late and I couldn’t forge a connection to the main characters. The good news is that I certainly felt a difference when reading The Ex. Having that extra bit of back story to Jenna, Mason, and Fliss really helped me understand a bit more and how their actions fit in with the overall story. I felt more invested in the book.

The second issue I had with What She Saw was Poppy’s side story, which I felt was a bit too lobbed in there for my liking. However, in The Ex, there is the perfect balance of chapters between Jenna and her team solving the case and the actions of the perpetrator. Personally, I much prefer books from the viewpoint of the victim or the villain rather than the police so this was a perfect blend for me.

The points above are quite personal to me and my preferences. As someone that is just looking for a good book, you should know that The Ex is a great read. It did take me a few chapters to get into it but the story gripped me in the end. I did have my suspicions of the outcome but it was formed through subtle hints, and the story wasn’t without its twists. Truly an addictive read!

I've read all the books in this series so far, and it's an addictive mix of police procedural and psychological suspense. The multi-layered plot encompasses a police investigation into an injured woman and a missing child. The second perspective is the antagonist's gaining insight into their state of mind, and motivation which is chilling and compelling.

The story's pacing reflects the steadiness and unpredictability of the police investigation and the intensity of the antagonist's actions and moods. The police team dynamic is authentic, and the believably written personal interactions balance the noir crime themes.

The suspense builds to an unexpected twist.

I received a copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Firstly I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on this Blog Tour.

This is my first book by Diane Saxon and what an excellent, thrilling and detailed read it was, with two incredibly written main characters.

The main theme of this book was generally how crazy an ex can make you feel but for me it was the mental health aspect that spoke to me. The main character Emily you could see was Mentally unwell from the offset and because this character was so incredibly well written and thought out – she had to have been my favourite, no matter how much I hated her at certain points.

This book will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

The Ex is the fourth book in Diane Saxon's gripping series of police procedurals centered around DS Jenna Morgan, her family and her dedicated team. The book can be read as a standalone, but I am really glad to have discovered a new series to follow.

DS Jenna Morgan is called to a scene of what appears at first glance a domestic accident. Well-meaning, gossipy neighbours waiting outside have already informed her that the newly married couple living in the house are very much in love with each other and are expecting a baby. Imelda must have had a horrifying fall. While paramedics are doing their job to save the young woman's life, Jenna discovers that the couple's eleven-month-old toddler Joshua is missing and the race against the clock begins...

I must say I was a bit apprehensive after reading the first chapter told from the ex's perspective. I knew dark and disturbing things lay ahead as Emily was clearly delusional. I have to say that it isn't easy to portray a character like her and make the reader ask the same question Jenna asks herself: how could it happen that a person with this kind of issues fell through the cracks in the system?

Jenna herself is a terrific police officer and you will sympathise with her and admire her. She has a great team and knows she can rely on them at all times to help her do the basic polic work, something the public rarely sees, keen as we are to focus on the results. The book successfully strikes the balance between the personal and professional, the balance that makes or breaks any police procedural.

I liked the narrative structure: we get to see the events from Emily's POV and also have to solve the mysteryby following Jenna and her team, so the reader is always 'in the know' and yet, there are a few twists that may surprise you. For me, the best thing was the level of detail: Diana Saxon really doesn't tell you, she shows and lets you draw your own conclusions and process the complex feelings this book is bound to stir.

A well-written, fast-paced police procedural /psycholigical thriller, The Ex is a gripping, addictive read, which I can wholeheartedly recommend to all the lovers of the genre. My first book by Diane Saxon and I am hooked. Count me in for all future instalments in the series!

Thank you to NetGalle, Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

I was pulled in for the very first paragraph. Gripping writing and needing to know more. The entire first chapter was absolutely captivating and terrifying in equal measures. Amazing writing.

The violent episodes are written so vividly they almost
Made me wince as if I was there! Emily’s entire POV is so jarring and vivid!

I really enjoyed that we had seen the main crime and then follows the police and husband trying to figure out what had happened and track them down.

I loved the ‘twist’ and although I definitely saw it coming it didn’t make it any less tense and fast paced.

I would definitely recommend this one.

The Ex is the fourth book in the DS Jenna Morgan series, and this one can be read as a standalone. Having only read one other, I did have a little bit of a feel for what I could expect with this one. Or so I thought...
The Ex is definitely one of the darker books I've read so far this year. It starts off with a bang, and it doesn't let up. It's a tense thriller that will have readers anxiously flipping through the pages to see how it will all play out.
Emily is immediately unlikable. I think she's one of the most unlikable characters I've ever read. She's absolutely insane. Not only is she hung up on her ex, Zak, but she refuses to believe he could ever want anyone other than her. She knows that if she only shows up on his doorstep, he'll immediately divorce his new wife and come running back to her. Can we say delusional?
When Zak's new wife refuses to get him for Emily, Emily loses her mind and attacks the pregnant Imelda, leaving her for dead. The only witness? The couple's young son.
Now it's up to Jenna to track down the crazy Emily and rescue Zak and Imelda's son before it's too late.
This is definitely a dark, sometimes disturbing read. It does contain some graphic violence which may trigger more sensitive readers.
There were a few times I had to set my Kindle down and walk away because it got a little tense. My anxiety was definitely through the roof while reading this one.
I enjoyed The Ex, though, and thought it was a really good psychological thriller. If you're a fan of the genre, or if you've read the other DS Jenna Morgan books, definitely give this one a go.
4.5 stars!

The Ex by Diane Saxon is a fast-paced, rollercoaster ride, that is very difficult to set down once you start reading. Diane Saxon’s writing is intelligent and compelling.

This is the story of a missing child, but the underlying obsession and sinister acts are downright chilling. It definitely pulled at my heart, and as I said, the writing is tight.

The characters are expertly crafted to feel real. Which is great in some aspects and scary in others, because there are some characters I just wouldn’t want to meet!

Overall, this was a compelling read that I would recommend giving a go.

Rating:

4/5☆

*I received a free copy of this book from Rachel’s Random Resources to review honestly on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*

I first met DS Jenna Morgan on the blog tour for What She Saw and loved it before realising it was part of a larger story. It didn’t take long for me to hunt down the other stories and catch up. So when I saw The Ex, I knew fate was playing a cruel game. A game involving unpredictable player who will do anything to win the game of like.

The book starts at the Cheetham-Epstein’s household. A happy family. The perfect life. But even the perfect family can have monsters in their past. DS Morgan receives a call to attend the Cheetham-Epstein’s property after a 911 call. She arrives to discover a pregnant mother assaulted and fighting for her life in the passage, her husband barely keeping it together and soon to discover things are more complicated than the seem. Especially when she discovers young Joshua is missing, their 11 month old son. As Imelda fights for her’s and her baby’s life, the clock is ticking on finding young Joshua alive.

So what did I think?

This book was fast paced, I enjoyed the high speed race to find the truth. It gripped me from the start, from the first point Emily comes in to play. You could not help but to enjoy the tension the investigation had to offer. It had more drama than a midweek soap opera, pulling you down the rabbit hole with little promises of more clues. I loved it. I love my crime and would happily binge watch Bones or Criminal Minds, and I would happily binge watch a whole series with a female detective as strong, complex and determined as DS Morgan. I also find Diane’s writing to be easy to get on with, quick, punchy and interesting.

I loved the cast of characters she brought to life on the pages. DS Morgan was always going be a favourite, she is such a strong willed personality, but not indestructible. She still comes across as flawed, damaged and relatable. The Cheetham-Epstein family are not as perfect as they seemed, but they are an honest and real family you could find on your street. Whilst Emily, the villian to our DS Hero, is scary. She could be that woman working on the computer a few doors down. I enjoyed the impact and unpredictability that Emily brought the stage. She is the cinder that started inferno of the story.

But most of all I enjoyed the story. I loved the twists and turns. The zigzags and false turns. It ragged you through the bushes, as you stalked the story trying to piece together the clues. The clues that always left you two steps behind. It had everything I love about a thriller and that it was not too predictable, even for a serial-killer fangirl who learnt her behavioural analysis skills from too much Criminal minds. So all I can say is that if you are like me and enjoy a side dish of crime with your dollop of crazed stalker; then this is the book for you. So check it out, add it to your TBR. Or better yet, give the first book a try as you may find your new, Crime filled addiction. I know I did.

This is the fourth book in the series featuring Telford’s DS Jenna Morgan based at Malinsgate Police Station. Things are a little more settled now, Jenna happy in a relationship with Chief Crown Prosecutor Adrian Hall, with her sister and housemate Fliss dating Jenna's detective partner DC Mason Ellis. The kidnap of Fliss and dog Domino (apologies to the author, I keep calling the dalmatian Dolmio and it has unfortunately stuck in my mind!) still looms large in all their memories and they have the ordeal of the court case to prosecute Frank Bartwell, the man who took Fliss, injured her dog and killed his own wife and baby to face soon. And after the events of book 3, they need a new dog walker into the bargain!!
The story begins with Emily Shenton, who was obsessed with her ex boyfriend Zak. He broke up with her and even left the company they both worked for to get away from her two years ago. She took to stalking him until receiving counselling and medication which finally helped. However on the night of company ball she overhears someone announcing that Zak Cheetham-Epstein has married a woman called Imelda. And now Emily is having a meltdown in the ladies. Her old obsession surges back and she lurks outside his new home, watching and waiting. Zak comes downstairs to find his wife of three weeks lying in a pool of blood in the hall. As the medics work to keep her alive and the police are called, it is only at that point that they realize eleven month old Joshua is nowhere to be found. Emily flees to the safety of her sister. The two women are very alike in some ways and polar opposites in others. While the detectives, led by Jenna and DI Taylor, struggle for leads and search for a missing child, the next part of the story is basically given over to what Emily does next, and then the final part is devoted to the police investigation as they search for a dangerous suspect in the middle of a crippling heatwave.
This is one of those stories where the reader is perfectly aware of the events that have taken place and the suspense is in watching the police try to make sense of the evidence and work out what has happened. It was great to see the same familiar cast of characters back, including DC Ryan Downey and my favourite, search dog PC Blue! The main police characters are very likeable, and have good working relationships as well as home lives. This was altogether an entertaining read with the pace kept up throughout and a twisty ending which was easy enough to work out but it was still exciting to see how it all panned out. 4.5*

When I started reading this book, I didn't know it was part of a series, but I think it works well even as a standalone.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I expected to. I like the first half of the book more than the second half, probably because it was more interesting. I liked the characters and I found them to be likeable.
There were so many parts where the author describes and explains events too much for my liking, making the book very slow-paced. I wasn't feeling any suspense. We knew who the killer was and who the victim was, so the rest was a bit anti-climatic.

Thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Diane Saxon for an eARC in return for an honest review.

This is a fantastic and very gripping psychological crime novel, and I agree it is perfect for fans of Cara Hunter and Carol Wyer.

This is Book 4 in the DS Jenna Morgan Series. I haven’t read any of the previous books, but I am definitely going to look into these as this one was brilliant.

As the story unravelled towards the end, I started to have suspicions that something wasn’t adding up, but never did I guess the actual ending! Very well written to hide that.
 
He book is written from the perspective of DS Jenna Morgan and also Emily, the other main Character of the book. I liked how each chapter had the date and time at the top, to really set the scene.

Emily is furious. She has just learnt that her ex has recently got married. She feels that if he only could see her again he would change his mind and be with her. She tracks him down and comes face to face with his wife. Jenna is on duty as a detective Sergeant when a call comes in of a sudden death. She arrives at the scene to find the paramedics doing all they can for the victim who is still alive. This brings back memories of when her police partner was shot right next to her. She also has a trauma of the disappearance of her sister a few years ago. She pulls herself together and speaks to the husband and he suddenly yells about their little boy of eighteen months Joshua. Jenna searches the house and the husband is the only one there- the little boy is either missing or has wandered off. I enjoyed this. I like Jenna and her tenacity and the fast pace of the read. We know whom the protagonist is but there are twists and turns along the way.
I didn't know that this was part of a series and although it stands alone I did feel I was missing out on what had previously happened with Jennas partner and her sister and most importantly the dog. Other than that, yes it stands on its own, maybe just my curiosity. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
(amazon done- misfits farm)

This is book 4. I have only read the book before but had no issues with keeping up.

Jenna gets a call to what she thinks is a woman who has suffered an accident but it turns out she has been attacked and her son kidnapped.
We actually get told who has taken the child but can Jenna work it out and find him. I really like Jenna and her sister and there partners. This is a good thriller and can't wait for the next book.