Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy, Crime, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Bi, Gay, Lesbian (Sapphic)
Reviewer: Jay
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About The Book
In 2011, Toby Soames dies from a freak accident on Hampstead Heath; Charlie Falk simply disappears. Two years later, Australian Adele Soames returns to London to be nearer her son and the places he loved. She is joined in her pilgrimages to the heath by Charlie. Charlie tells her things; unnerving things about his last day alive.
Enter DS Xandra Bentley, a member of Adele’s grief support group at St Bart’s. Xandra has worked on a number of cold cases of missing boys in the area and Adele’s information reignites her interest. As new evidence comes to light, Adele has the creeping dread that she is bringing danger closer to home.
The Review
Ex is a totally EXcellent novel which I would highly recommend to readers of various genres. (The author prefaces each chapter with an appropriate word beginning with ex so I feel justified in using the same technique.)
The story, which is beautifully written, works on a number of levels and through varied themes.
It is primarily a crime mystery set in London, with side trips to Manchester and Sydney, Australia. Xandra is the strong and competent detective who is striving to find a solution to cases of missing children. Adele is also seeking to solve the mystery, but her insights have a paranormal explanation which she is reluctant to share with Xandra. The book starts with the death of Adele’s son, which is not a mystery but which leads to information about the other cases. I will not go into detail about the paranormal element, because that would be a spoiler and the reader should enjoy the gradual unfolding of that arc of the story for themselves.
The child abuse that forms the basis of the crime is never described in detail but the implied horrors are certainly present so if this triggers you, be warned.
Adele’s family, both in UK and in Australia, is heavily involved in the solution, and we see the pressures of the situation unfold in family drama and distress. At the same time, we get Adele’s nephew coming out as gay at eighteen and also cross dressing, both of which cause more interpersonal stress. The author touches lightly but accurately on the misperception by some people of a connection between being gay and being a paedophile.
Adele has divorced since her son’s death, and is badly affected by feelings of guilt and a realization that perhaps she lived, earlier, in a fantasy of her own making with the ‘ex’ of the title. Her efforts at tidying and decluttering her house, which was once his, help towards Xandra’s eventual success.
The FF romance is simply and delicately told, and is very ‘slow burn’ but quite delightful. There’s also a well-drawn minor character – Jo, the local rector, who guides both Adele and Xandra in their search for justice for the children (and their families) and for their own peace of mind.
I was wholly gripped by the complexity of the plot, and by the main characters in the story. I was able to follow Xandra’s reasoning and reach conclusions at the same time as her, something not always the case with detective stories. Adele’s mental anguish was explored in detail and I found myself thinking of her as a friend whose welfare truly concerned me.
So for readers of detective fiction, no disappointments here. You can be assured that Xandra solves the case. For lovers of family dramas you will enjoy the portrayal of the various family members and their very real problems. For those seeking romance, there is pleasure in the eventual love developing between Adele and Xandra. As none of these themes is overwhelming to the detriment of the others, the book should appeal to a wide audience.
Whatever your tastes, buy this book or borrow it from the library. You won’t regret it!
The Reviewer
I’ve been doing book reviews on my website, crossposted or linked to various social media, for a few years. I read a number of genres but I really enjoy all kinds of speculative fiction so thought I’d like to share my views with you. I love sci fi and other speculative fiction because of the way it can, at its best, make us see ourselves in a new light. Quite apart from the exciting stories, of course! I used to be an English teacher, and I’m a writer (fantasy) so I can be quite critical about style etc. but I hope I can also appreciate properly some books that don’t appeal to me personally but might be simply perfect for others. I have, obviously, read widely, and continue to do so.