With The Ex-Husband Karen Hamilton, author of The Perfect Girlfriend and The Last Wife, brings readers an exciting thriller-at-sea that is full of suspicion, luxury, and exotic locations. Deftly weaving in the events of the past that brought about the current danger in the main character’s life with the present-day mystery she finds herself embroiled in, Hamilton spins a riveting tale in a unique setting.
While Charlotte was married to Sam, their lives as crew members on luxury cruise ships gave them ample opportunity (and plenty of potential targets) for their various confidence schemes. This had been Sam’s life even before they met, but Charlotte never disputes that she was a very willing participant.
The Ex-Husband opens with the circumstances of their split, and from that point moves back and forth in time to both fill in the history of Charlotte and Sam’s relationship (as well as their various schemes) and to illustrate Charlotte’s current life as she seeks to finalise a divorce from Sam. Something or someone from the past, however, seems to have reappeared and begun to affect Charlotte’s post-Sam life. Though they have managed only sporadic messages back and forth, it is clear that both Sam and Charlotte have begun receiving mysterious threats. It seems like it must be a victim from their past—or is there a chance that Sam is only trying to manipulate Charlotte? It wouldn’t be the first time.
Believing she is, at least temporarily, escaping the situation and giving herself time to sort out what is really happening, Charlotte takes a position upon a small luxury yacht. It takes no time at all, however, for her to realise there is someone aboard the ship that knows exactly who Charlotte is and what she has done.
With claustrophobic tension, Hamilton allows the reader to be aboard the boat and to look over Charlotte’s shoulder as she tries to understand what is happening, who is behind it, and why. The feeling of being trapped aboard this beautiful yacht while being stalked by someone you may, or may not, know is palpable throughout what might best be described as a domestic thriller that has been moved to the high seas.
Fans of traditional mysteries, domestic thrillers, and revenge tales will all find something to rave about in The Ex-Husband!
The Ex-Husband is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
From international bestselling author Karen Hamilton comes another pulse-pounding domestic thriller set against a lush, tropical backdrop as a woman fleeing her past as a con artist finds herself trapped aboard a cruise ship with someone who not only knows about that past, but will stop at nothing to get revenge.
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.
But as the Cleobella sails through its glittering destinations, increasingly sinister events haunt the guests, and the turquoise waves and sun-drenched beaches give way to something darker. Someone knows what Charlotte did. Is it the blushing bride? The seemingly placid mother-in-law? Or the mysterious heiress?
Someone knows, and someone wants revenge—before the ship reaches its final port.
