***Audio ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.co.uk in return for an honest review ***

Whilst I enjoyed this book I struggled very much to empathise with Charlotte the main character. However, I enjoyed the audio narration and finished the book in a matter of days.

The book is told from both a present and past perspective allowing the story to move forward with little clues and hints as to what might be coming next which kept me drawn in. I suspected the character targeting Charlotte from early on but was certainly nearly swayed a few times! I would definitely look into this authors previous books and keep an eye out for her in the future.

Husband and wife team, Charlotte and Sam, are con-artists, they work on luxury cruise ships and prey on wealthy tourists. When Sam double crosses Charlotte she leaves him, seeking a divorce. A year later Charlotte receives a mysterious message from Sam telling her to be careful. Then comes the devastating news that Sam is missing, presumed dead. Charlotte begins to receive threatening messages from an unknown caller demanding the money her and Sam stole - or else! Charlotte flees, taking a job on a luxury super-yacht, hoping to outrun trouble.

The story switches between "then" and "now". The "then" part gives us the back story, how Sam and Charlotte met and fell in love. Slowly we discover that Sam is a thief and Charlotte is slowly drawn into his web of deceit, enjoying both the thrill and the ill-gotten gains of their crimes.

As the story switches to the "now" we discover that Charlotte is being threatened and decides that by joining the crew of a super-yacht she will evade harm. Unfortunately even out at sea the threatening messages continue and Charlotte realises that someone on the yacht is responsible.

I found it impossible to have any sympathy for Charlotte, a con-artist with no redeeming qualities. She is motivated by pure greed but tries to explain it away by saying that they are stealing from wealthy people who can afford it.

As the "then" and "now" stories converged the tension increases. Almost anyone on the yacht, guests and crew, could be responsible. Following a series of accidents you do begin to wonder if Charlotte is going to survive at all. Throughout there's also that nagging question, is Sam really dead or is this another elaborate con?

Fast-paced and gripping.

Charlotte meets croupier Sam on a cruise and, caught up in their whirlwind romance, she begins working on the same ships so they can be together. Before long, the novelty begins to wear off. The reality is a lot less glamorous than Charlotte had envisioned. She begrudges the stark comparison with the wealth and entitlement of the holidaymakers, and the amount of time and attention Sam lavishes on the female guests instead of spending his spare time with her. Their relationship starts to crumble and they part ways.

Out of the blue, Charlotte receives a message from Sam, followed by a series of anonymous threats, and her world is thrown upside-down all over again. Needing to escape the threats and blackmail before her whole life unravels, she takes a job aboard a luxury super yacht, but danger seems to follow her at every turn

Reading other reviews they say it’s a slow burn and it is. I love an audiobook and a good one is in my ears all day round the house. The only disappointment is that it finished to soon. I want to know what happen next. More!

Yeah, I'm not happy at all that that's finished! If there isn't a sequel to The Ex Husband then I am going to hunt down Karen Hamilton and hold her hostage until it is complete. Joke! Nah, seriously, there has to be one there is SO so so much unfinished business here and the appeal is just too great.

The Ex Husband is a fast-paced, intelligent multi level read. It's fun and extravagant and totally moreish. This would be an amazing beach read this summer for sure. I absolutely fell into the debauchery with the greed of Charlotte “Lotte" Wilson and became enthralled with the chase danger of what happens next.

5/5

This was an extremely slow burn and I found it hard to keep interested for the duration of the listen. As with a lot of slow burns there’s usually the reward of an explosive or I never saw it coming outcome but it just didnt get that. The storyline had potential but I found it was really dragged out and lacked the gripping twists and turns. The narrator did a good job and her voice did keep me engaged when I found my interest declining. I didn’t really care for the characters or what even happened to Sam. Not for me unfortunately.

2.5/5 🌟🌟/🌟

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline Audio for the opportunity to listen to #TheExHusband

The premise of this story had the potential to be a fantastic read. It was slow to start and didn’t really grip me . I persevered and towards the end it seemed to hot up, but was a bit rushed. I liked that some of the female characters were strong and Independent.

I really really enjoyed this! The narrator for the audiobook I enjoyed and my only pet peeve with the audiobook was that the narrator did seem to speak pretty slowly throughout it but I simply increased the listening speed to x1.25 and that solved the issue.
The story itself was interesting and kept me hooked. We follow Charlotte and it starts with alternating between 'then' and 'now' until the 'then' catches up with the start of the story. I really enjoyed hearing the story that way as we got to see the events which lead to Charlotte meeting her husband, Sam and everything that went on between them to lead to the position she's in now. It was a great story which built throughout and definitely kept me hooked and wanting to find out what was going to happen next. I also didn't see the twists that came at the end which was a pleasant surprise!
I've read this and also 'The Perfect Girlfriend' which I loved by Karen Hamilton and I'd definitely recommend picking this up in the you're looking for a slow building thriller.

The Ex Husband is very, very slow. And what is the obsession with today’s authors, of jumping backwards and forwards in the time lines, it makes it very confusing, none of the characters were very pleasant which makes it hard to relate to them although I would say it is worth jumping to the end as that was good, but shame about the first 3/4’s

This was a slow starter. I didn't immediately warm to either of the main characters. I found it didn't really get going until I was 50% in. It jumps back and forth in time to when Charlotte meets Sam and their lives on cruise ships begin, and then back to the present where he has gone missing and there is a threat towards Charlotte. I found I didn't much care for their antics and found all the cruise ship past a tad dull. There isn't enough drama and anticipation to keep me interested. Once Charlotte finally goes on a party cruise as a personal assistant with someone sending her threatening notes it starts to picks up the pace and I'm now invested in the story and want to keep reading.
I enjoyed the threat of the looming mysterious someone from her past that keeps tripping Charlotte up on and around the boat. But I feel I didn't much care for the party at large being self entitled rich folks. There is a decent enough twist and big reveal towards the end but it just didn't capture me sadly.

I give it a watery 3 Lucy Stars ⭐⭐⭐

The Ex-Husband by Karen Hamilton
Narrated by Nathalie Buscombe

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK and I am leaving this review voluntarily

It’s an offer she can’t refuse…and might not survive.

Charlotte has an unsavory past, but she’s on the straight and narrow these days. She was so young then—she married the wrong man, falling for Sam’s sweet-talking charm and charisma, and got caught up in his con artist games.

If only she’d left him before things went too far.

Now Sam is missing. But before he disappeared, he left urgent, cryptic messages about someone threatening him—someone who has been threatening Charlotte, too.
So Charlotte takes a job as a personal assistant for an engagement party aboard a private luxury cruise ship, the Cleobella, to get far away from anyone who means her harm.

I found this such a gripping read, as the reader we are taken on a journey through Charlotte's life both before and after Sam goes missing. Full of twists and turns this book will take you on a journey of excitement and tension. I had my suspicions about who was playing games with Charlotte but even the reveal took me by surprise.

A very enjoyable read, brought to life by Nathalie in a way that just managed to add more humour to the situation.

Rating 4/5

I am a huge fan of Karen Hamilton and was so excited to be given the chance to review this by Headline.
This was the perfect escape to a tropical climate while stuck in the dreary rain! Sam and Charlotte, the perfect couple working on cruise ships and scamming everyone they meet. After realising that Sam was only out to look after himself Charlotte now on her own tries to turn her life around. Out of the blue Sam starts to text Charlotte and then a sinister message arrives saying that “I know what you did” Charlotte worries that her past might just catch up with her. An opportunity to work on a luxury yacht in the Caribbean seems to be the escape that Charlotte needs. Set in both present day and the past this audio book was a fun suspense filled read. Everyone was a suspect, and no one could be trusted. The development of the character Charlotte had me hating her and then cheering her on. This was a fantastic easy read

Thank you to NetGalley, Headline Audio and Karen Hamilton for an audio ARC in return for an honest review.

Con-artist couple Charlotte and Sam have been living the high-life for years. Until they separate and go their separate ways. Months later Charlotte receive cryptic messages from Sam and the words ‘Bon Voyage’, their code work for ‘it’s hit the fan”. Sam has disappeared and Charlotte gets a “too good to miss opportunity” on a super yacht.

‘The Ex-Husband’ is similar to so many other books I’ve read but also, so different. The beginning felt a little slow due to setting the scene. However, this was a very pleasant read! It goes from sexy to one hundred in minutes. It is dark, gritting and a little spooky!
The perfect thriller to escape with this year. It is narrated by Nathalie Buscombe which simply adds even more horror
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Rich characterizations, realistic emotions, and a lovely story make for a can't-put-it-down emotional read. Oh my GOSH!!!!!! I read this emotionally charged, compellingbook in one sitting. Whoa,my emotions are ALL over the place!!! Wow!!! Wow!!! Wow!!! This book is a total page-turner and will keep you guessing with every page.

This book will transport you to a super yacht in the Caribbean. Charlotte is an event planner working on the trip. Whilst abroad she starts receiving messages and clues alluding to her past life. Her life now is in danger.

In flash backs we hear about her life with Sam. A man she met whilst working as a travel agent on a cruise trip. He lured her away from her job to spend her life at sea and with him. Between them they build up a lucrative career. But not in the way you would think.

Flash backs happen throughout the book to bring you up to speed. The story will leave you wondering if Charlotte could ever leave her past truly behind her especially when her ex husband goes missing. The narrator was able to bring the story to life and led to many enjoyable hours listening.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to hear a copy of the audiobook.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thankyou #netgalley #karenhamilton ##headlineaudio for a audiobook copy of this book for a honest review:)
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5⭐️ For the narrator : Natalie buscombe

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It’s a very long story,slow psychological thriller that make you intrigued at end.
There are some hits and miss on the story but it actually made sounds so good with a narrator .
It was transitioning to the present and past so it has two different timelines.
The only thing that I was put out on how does charlottes character is wheather should I be sympathetic or not. This is the part I’m quite confuse that I have to rewind some other parts. But other than that the end was worth the wait .



❤️Shaye.reads

Thank you for this advanced copy. The narrator was kind of annoying to me, so it was easy for my wind to wander. This book started out good, sounded good, but sadly it just fell flat to me. Some parts were shocks; some parts were predictable. I just didn't really care for it....too slow in the middle.

Charlotte and Sam were in a toxic relationship. They were con artists, he was very much in the driving seat and Charlotte went along for the ride. Told over two different timelines, then and now. I found most of the book quite entertaining. It was well written and I enjoyed the flawed characters. The reveal was a bit unrealistic but I loved the ending.

I listened to this on audiobook and I enjoyed the narrator.

I was really excited to read this book, but sadly it just didn't live up to expectations.

The Ex-Husband is split between two time frames - 'then' and 'now' - and tells the story of Charlotte. We learn that Charlotte meets Sam and is swept up into a whirlwind romance; the couple make their money by working together to con passengers on the cruise ship they both work on. In the present story, Sam has disappeared and is presumed dead, but Charlotte keeps getting little hints to suggest that he is still around, but are they clues or warnings?

I listened to the audiobook of this story and I thought that it started well, I was hooked from the first chapter. However, as it went on, I just found it a bit dull and honestly almost gave up on it numerous times. The story had potential but it just didn't hit the mark for me.

My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.