The Ex-Wife
Page 31
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‘Who are you?’ she whispers.
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When her beloved father dies, Josie is devastated to uncover a secret life he has led with another family: a half-sister, Valentina, born in the same week, in the same hospital. They look so physically alike they could be mistaken for twins. But the similarities end there.
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As an unlikely bond begins to form between them, Josie finds herself drawn into Valentina’s complex world; a world where Josie no longer has to be the good girl her father raised her to be. Could the same reckless, self-destructive streak that runs through Valentina’s blood, be running through her own?
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Could Josie be capable of more than she had ever imagined? Could she be capable of murder? One of them is.
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A tense and claustrophobic read that will keep you turning pages into the night. Perfect for fans of Louise Jensen, Claire Douglas and Sue Fortin.
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What readers are saying about Jess Ryder:
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‘I was hooked in from the very first page of this gripping, fast-paced story of secrets, relationships and betrayals. I really enjoyed this thrilling debut and would have given it more than five stars if I could.’ Nicki’s Life of Crime
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‘This is without a doubt the best psychological thriller I have read this year….OMG this book is so damn good!… Just one more chapter I kept telling myself, then before I knew it I had devoured it in one day. If you are looking for a fast-paced engaging read this is the book I highly recommend giving it 5 massive stars.’ Chelle’s Book Reviews 5*
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A Letter from Jess
Thank you for reading The Ex Wife – I hope you found it an entertaining read. If so, I’d be grateful if could find the time to post a brief, constructive review. As an avid reader myself, I find the views of fellow readers very helpful when deciding which book to read next. And as a writer, I love hearing from enthusiastic readers. If you want to hear when my next book will be released, you can keep up to date by signing up at the link below. Your email address will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.
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www.bookouture.com/jess-ryder/
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One of the challenges I set myself for this novel was to explore two opposing characters. I was particularly interested in Jen’s remorse and her struggles to find redemption. When reading thrillers, I often find myself wondering how the villain of the piece feels once their wickedness has been uncovered, but by then, the book is usually over. By setting the story in two different timescales, I was able to give the reader a chance to understand how Jen had come to act in the way she did. In contrast, Nick feels no guilt for what he’s done, only anger that he didn’t get away with it. For his character I drew on a documentary I saw about a murderer in prison who blamed his dead girlfriend for his incarceration.
Sadly, many marriages fail, and for a variety of reasons. When third parties are involved, our sympathies tend to lie with the rejected partner, and we find it hard to approve of ‘home-breakers’. However, the truth is usually far more complicated than that. In this story, both women are victims of a ruthless, selfish man. Although sworn enemies, they ultimately join forces and fight back.
As I researched the novel, I was fascinated – and appalled – by the experiences of mothers and fathers whose children have been abducted by the other parent. Although there is legal action that can be taken against the offending parent, resolving the situation can be a harrowing, time-consuming and extremely expensive process. Legal aid in the UK is only available where there is evidence of violent abuse or a threat to the child’s safety. It seems wrong to me that only the rich can pursue justice, and I hope the novel might provoke some thoughts on this subject.
If you enjoyed The Ex Wife, you might want to try my other psychological thrillers – Lie to Me and The Good Sister. I’m also writing a new novel, due to be published later this year, so please keep an eye out for that, too. It’s easy to get in touch with me via my Facebook page, Goodreads, Twitter or my Jess Ryder website.
Thanks again for reading The Ex Wife. I hope to hear from you soon.
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Jess Ryder
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www.jessryder.co.uk
Also by Jess Ryder
The Ex-Wife
The Good Sister
Lie To Me
Lie to Me
A gripping psychological thriller with a shocking twist
‘I was hooked in from the very first page of this gripping, fast-paced story of secrets, relationships and betrayals.’ Nicki’s Life of Crime
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Out now!
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Three minutes. That’s all it takes for Meredith’s entire world to fall apart when she watches the videotape of her four-year-old self with Becca, the mother who abandoned her.
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Meredith can’t believe what her eyes have seen. Yet what if her memory has locked away the painful reality of her childhood? Can there be any truth in the strange and dangerous story her mother forced her to tell on camera?
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The search for answers leads Meredith to Darkwater Pool, the scene of the murder of a young woman, Cara, over 30 years ago. What could possibly be the link between her mother and the victim?
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To find the truth Meredith must search through a past that is not her own. The problem is, she’s not the only one looking…
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A dark, compulsive psychological thriller that will keep you up all night. Perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Louise Jensen.
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Out now!
Acknowledgements
The supposedly lonely art of novel-writing involves a surprising amount of collaboration, and I would like to thank the following:
Brenda Page, who works as my researcher. I only have to lift the phone with a query and she is off to hunt down the answer.
Retired coroner Helen Warriner for her invaluable advice about determining death in complicated cases. If I’ve made any mistakes, they are mine and mine alone.
My literary agent, Rowan Lawton of Furniss Lawton, and her colleague Rory Scarfe. I’m lucky to work with such a dynamic and supportive agency.
Everyone on the fabulous Bookouture team, but in particular my editor, Lydia Vassar-Smith. Her enthusiasm and commitment are very inspiring. Also Jessie Botterill, who gave me some very helpful feedback during the early stages of this book.
My husband David, my four ‘children’ and their partners, my parents and my mother-in-law. Together we make a great family team, helping each other through the ups and downs of life and work. Couldn’t do it without you all.
And finally, a special thank you to my grandsons Leo and Saul, who helped me remember what it’s like to look after little ones.
Published by Bookouture
An imprint of StoryFire Ltd.
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ
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www.bookouture.com
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Copyright © Jess Ryder 2018
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Jess Ryder has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work.
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organisation
s, places and events other than those clearly in the public domain, are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
ISBN: 978-1-78681-404-3