In this breakout standalone novel of suspense in the vein of Gone Girl and The Girl on a Train, a woman agrees to help an old boyfriend who has been framed for murder—but begins to suspect that she is the one being manipulated.

And look for Alafair Burke’s latest heart-racing novel of psychological suspense, The Wife, coming in January 2018.

Twenty years ago she ruined his life.
Now she has the chance to save it.
Widower Jack Harris has resisted the dating scene ever since the shooting of his wife Molly by a fifteen-year-old boy three years ago. An early morning run along the Hudson River changes that when he spots a woman in last night’s party dress, barefoot, enjoying a champagne picnic alone, reading his favorite novel. Everything about her reminds him of what he used to have with Molly. Eager to help Jack find love again, his best friend posts a message on a popular website after he mentions the encounter. Days later, that same beautiful stranger responds and invites Jack to meet her in person at the waterfront. That’s when Jack’s world falls apart. Olivia Randall is one of New York City’s best criminal defense lawyers. When she hears that her former fiancé, Jack Harris, has been arrested for a triple homicide—and that one of the victims was connected to his wife’s murder—there is no doubt in her mind as to his innocence. The only question is who would go to such great lengths to frame him—and why? For Olivia, representing Jack is a way to make up for past regrets, to absolve herself of guilt from a tragic decision, a secret she has held for twenty years. But as the evidence against him mounts, she is forced to confront her doubts. The man she knew could not have done this. But what if she never really knew him?

Reader Reviews

Katie B

(3/5)

Nov 21, 2024

3.5 starsThis was my first time reading a book written by Alafair Burke, and because I found this one to be a pretty decent read, I would love to check out her other books. I liked that this one featured a lawyer as the main character because it seems like I read a ton of police detective books but rarely get around to reading more legal based books. So this was a nice change of pace.Criminal defense lawyer Olivia Randall has been asked to represent her former fiancé, Jack Harris, who has been a...

Maxine (Booklover Catlady)

Hmm...This book to me was like expecting the next chapter to be painted with a stunning azure blue that really took my breath away instead to find I'd ended up with magnolia...again. A book with enormous potential but it just lacked the spark required to make it a page turner. And for heaven's sake stop comparing books to The Girl on the Train, it creates an expectation. One that this book did not live up to.Twenty years ago she ruined his life. Now she has the chance to save it.Widower Jack Har...

Paromjit

(5/5)

I have read many Alafair Burke books and found them to be complex, multi-layered stories with gripping and compelling narratives. This courtroom legal drama is no different and I loved it. Olivia is a flawed person but exceptional criminal defense lawyer. She feels a burden of guilt after breaking a relationship with Jack Harris and the suffering she caused twenty years ago.Jack is now on a murder charge and his daughter pleads with Olivia to defend him. Despite others warning her against doing

Chelsea Humphrey

(4/5)

Still undecided on a rating. I was thoroughly sucked in, the pacing was good, but a bit forgettable in comparison to Burke's other work. Currently a 3.5 rounded to 4 because it's Alafair Burke and she's queen. Full review tomorrow.FULL REVIEW:Still feeling like a 3.5 star rating is accurate. This story has been done many times before but I still enjoyed reading it. I sure will be glad when 70% of all books stop trying to be "The Next Gone Girl or TGOTT". It seems all books with this blurb on it

Liz

3.5 stars, rounded upI've often said that some books make perfect audiobooks. This is one such book. It moves at a nice brisk pace. It was just complicated enough to keep me on my toes and to keep me focused. In addition to the current murder mystery and legal thriller aspects, we are slowly given Olivia and Jack’s backstory. From early on, I had a decent idea of who the murderer was. But there were enough twists so that I was never completely convinced I had it right. Burke does a wonderful job...

Victoria

After reading The Wife earlier this year and impressed with Burke’s writing, I looked into her backlist and was rewarded with this legal thriller/mystery reminiscent of early Scott Turow. Interesting characters with rich back stories, compelling writing that delved into the nuances of the legal system without becoming didactic and a plot that had me guessing everyone’s motivations. Were my suspicions correct? Yes, but Burke gives you enough reasons to doubt everyone and that alone made it captiv...

Julie

The EX by Alafair Burke is a 2016 Harper publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The legal thriller has gone through many adjustments, especially over the last five or six years. Courtroom dramas appear to be dead in the water as fewer attorneys actually step foot into a courtroom anymore. Now, so called legal thrillers have lawyers doing all the crime solving, making them more like amateur sleuths than attorneys. No one ev...

Barbara

Olivia Randall, a fortysomething criminal defense attorney in New York City, hasn't seen her former fiancé Jack Harris in decades. Thus Olivia is surprised to get a call from Jack's teenage daughter Buckley, who's worried about her dad. It turns out Jack is accused of murdering three people, one of whom is a man named Malcolm Neely. Neely's disturbed son - who should have been institutionalized - killed Jack's wife Molly during a shooting spree, and the police speculate that this was a revenge k...

Jennifer

The Ex is a standalone legal/mystery novel written by former prosecutor and current professor of criminal law and procedure: Alafair Burke. I didn't realize beforehand, but this novel apparently falls into that small genre I don't care for: legal thrillers/detective mysteries. I usually just save myself the time and annoyance by DNF'ing and moving on. But with The Ex, I continued because I actually enjoyed following the legal component (especially in light of the author's profession!!) and I fou...

Debbie Oliphant

I love discovering a new author and I am clearly late for the party. WOW, this book did not disappoint. This story was fast paced and I couldn't put it down. You are guessing until the very end, and the ending was a shocker. I am a new fan to this author and look forward to more.

PattyMacDotComma

4.5★I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and their entanglements in each other’s past and the complications that have led to today.Olivia Randall is a girl-about-town NY lawyer who is awakened from sleeping off a hangover when her phone rings just before noon. She takes the details from her office about some kid who keeps calling her, then prods her bed partner, reminding him his wife’s plane is due to land. She’s that kind of girl . . . a 43-year-old girl.The desperate young girl calling her is

Gary

This is a good legal thriller that you will find difficult to put down. The plot is revealed steadily throughout and keeps the reader intrigued. Olivia Randall is one of New York City’s best criminal defence lawyers. When she gets a phone call informing her that her former fiancee has been arrested for a triple homicide there is no doubt in her mind as to his innocence. The only question is who would go to such great lengths to frame him, and why? Olivia wants to represent Jack but the more evid...

Subscribe to Read | $0.00

Popular Genres

Subscribe to Read | $0.00

The Ex

The Ex

The Ex

More books from Alafair Burke

The Wife

The Better Sister

You Don't Own Me

The Sleeping Beauty Killer

Piece of My Heart (Under Suspicion, #7)

Long Gone

If You Were Here

Find Me

Piece of My Heart

The Ex

Never Tell

Dead Connection

All Day and a Night

Reader Reviews