I’d like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Ex’ by Diane Saxon in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. On an exceptionally hot Summer’s day Zac Cheetham-Epstein finds his pregnant wife Imelda lying unconscious in the hallway with severe head injuries and the front door wide open. It’s only when DS Jenna Morgan arrives at the house that Zac realises their eleven-month-old son Joshua is missing. This will turn out to be the weirdest situation the team have every experienced. ‘The Ex’ is another thrilling episode in the Detective Jenna Morgan series and is every bit as exciting as those previously. From the beginning I’ve been gripped with the drama, tension and twists and turns and haven’t been able to stop reading, and on reaching the conclusion it’s shocking yet fits well with the story. I like the character of Jenna who, with her hardworking team of DC Mason Ellis and DC Ryan Downey, is dedicated to discovering the truth and finding the person responsible for the crime yet still has time for a private life outside the police station. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading this thriller and can definitely recommend it.

The Ex is the fourth in Diane Saxon's tremendous series featuring DS Jenna Morgan. In this cracking instalment, Jenna is suffering the effects of events from a previous case. She is called to Zak Cheetham-Epstein's plush three-storey Victorian home with the balcony overlooking stunning views of the River Severn. His new wife of three weeks, Imelda answered a knock at the front door and was subsequently attacked in a frenetic stabbing and then left for dead. Believing she is attending a domestic disturbance Jenna finds Imelda lying unconscious in the hallway with serious head injuries and bruising and cuts to her face. When Jenna interviews Zak about the situation he realises that his young son is missing from where he had been sleeping. I really enjoyed reading The Ex and couldn't put it down! With its many twists, I was desperate to reach the end. Having previously read book three, What She Saw in the series I was praying that this one would be equally as good... and it was! Set in the village and locale of Ironbridge, Shropshire, England, Jenna is a fascinating character; she is clearly committed and driven though she has struggles of her own. Diane Saxon has cast all of her characters well and they all have something great to contribute to the story. The plot was enthralling and as the story progressed my enthusiasm levels rose proportionately. On balance, The Ex is an intense, wickedly good, tense, sharp read that I highly recommend and I can't wait for book number five. I also intend to read the books I've missed. I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Boldwood Books via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC. Wow, I found this to be a real thrilling read. I really like the main character and enjoyed reading of her working rapport with her colleagues and loved the small glimpses into her home and personal life. I was drawn into the story right from the beginning and was hooked all the way through. I loved the authors writing style, thought some parts were so atmospheric and I could picture the characters and events in my mind as I read. The last quarter of the book literally had me on the edge of my seat! I thought this was a fast paced book full of suspense and feel the author wrote of mental health issues very realistically and how someone can easily slip through their support net with awful consequences. I loathed one character right from the beginning and by the end of the book felt sorry for her. Overall a great read, one I would recommend and I look forward to the next one.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC copy. I didn't realise when I requested this book that it is number 4 in the DS Jenna Morgan series. This did not stop it being a great stand alone due to the references back to the previous books. In fact it made me want to go back to the beginning and meet the characters properly. A 999 call from Zak and Imelda's home reports a terrible accident that has left Imelda with a serious head injury. When Jenna and her team arrive the scene points to a violent domestic incident. That is until Jenna discovers Zak and Imelda's 11 month old son is missing. Is this a domestic dispute gone wrong or has something more sinister happened? It becomes a race against time to find Joshua and unravel what actually happened. A real page turner.

A fabulous fourth outing for this detective who works so hard at solving crime! On one of the hottest days of the year, DS Jenna Morgan gets called out to a house where the husband has found his wife with head injuries. While questioning the husband, Zak, Jenna discovers that they have an eleven-month old son who can't be found. With the sun high in the sky, time is of the essence and the search is given high priority. Is it all accidental, or is there something more sinister going on? Even reading this in February, in Scotland, the heat of the day was palpable. Discovering what has gone on takes time-consuming, basic police work and the story is absolutely mesmerising; I really had no idea where it was going but it gave my brain a fine workout trying to get my ducks in a row! With a solid cast of characters - all well-developed and entirely believable - there is a perfect mix of personal and professional; just enough home details to make them human whilst working flat out on their case. Of course, I have to mention the adorable dog, always a bonus for me! There are some pivotal moments in the investigation which passed me by but popped into my head once I knew what had occurred. A gripping read, and a terrific addition to this cracking series! A full five stars from me, and worth each and every one along with my recommendation.