In writing a review for this book, it would be so easy to give away important secrets which are the mystery which keeps you reading or listening! Most of the book is about Charlotte although because we also hear a back story, we hear quite a bit about Sam, her 'partner in crime'. I've never read a book quite like it and think it would make a great colourful film, perhaps with a touch of humour or at least 'tongue in cheek' to the script/acting. Great fun escapism! Well done Karen.

Without doubt the attraction to this thriller was the promise of time spent vicariously on beautiful super yachts touring the Caribbean..

Charlotte and Sam are ‘hustlers’, married to each other and a life of crime fleecing rich tourists on board luxury yachts. They have a ‘code of honour’ which means they only target passengers who can afford to lose money but their scruples and boundaries are disappearing, a man dies and then Sam sets Charlotte up. Years later Charlotte is working on board a luxury yacht; Sam is missing presumed dead, but who is sending her threatening messages…is Sam on board?

I listened to this on audio and read the hard copy. I found this combination worked really well. The narrator sounded just like I imagined the voice of Charlotte but she did read very slowly and I found that I wanted to read faster, particularly at key points when things became more tense.

This is a perfect light pool side read, with descriptions of glistening seas, opulent lifestyles and luxurious yachts. Neither Sam nor Charlotte are characters that I could feel any great affection for. That doesn’t always matter and I was reminded of classic films featuring conmen/hustlers where you just marvel at their audacity and ingenuity rather than their moral compass. This book is a slow starter, building up the back story of the relationship between the two characters. What was interesting for me was the way Charlotte’s affection for Sam draws her deeper and deeper into a life of crime. Things get more tense towards the end as it is clear someone is really after Charlotte and being on board a superyacht feels more dangerous than glamourous.

With many thanks to Netgalley and Headline for my digital copy of this audiobook.

(3.5)
This book takes place on the high seas and is filled with lies, cons, and a little bit of mystery.
Charlotte has an offer that she just can’t refuse. She has a rather dishonest past but now she’s trying very hard to stay on the right track. When she was younger she married Sam, a man who turned out to be charming and sweet talking but also a con artist.
Now, Charlotte finds out that Sam is missing. Before he disappeared he left her some very cryptic messages claiming someone was threatening him. This isn’t entirely hard for her to believe because someone is threatening her as well.
Charlotte takes a job on a luxury cruise ship, the Cleobella, as an assistant for an engagement party. She’s hoping it’ll get her far away from whoever is threatening her.
Soon enough though Charlotte begins to worry. Things get more and more sinister for the guests and for her as well. Someone on this ship knows exactly what Charlotte did and she really has no idea who.
This was alright. It’s well written but at times it feels like not much is happening. Granted, it is slowly moving towards an unexpected ending and it’s worth it when you get there but at times it just seems like words without a lot of story.
Still, this is well written, has good characters, and is definitely worth checking out.

The Ex-Husband by Karen Hamilton Narrated by: Nathalie Buscombe was an excellent fast-paced, audio book I can recommend this audiobook enough. This was. is an engaging, well written book that will have you gripped from the beginning till the very end. The narrator was superb throughout especially as I had to put my air pods in and listen to it all day whilst doing things around my farmhouse! Superb book I loved it!

I highly recommend tis audio book

Thank you to Headline Audio and NetGalley UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Charlotte is the main character in this story, and we are shown how, in the past, she got caught up in bad lifestyle choices with her husband Sam. Nowadays, she wants to get away from all this drama, but someone is threatening her, and Sam has gone missing. Will she be able to find him and will she be able to evade the person who is trying to scare her?

I enjoyed this book, and the narrator was very good. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Fancy a trip away this summer? Who wouldn't want to stay on a super yacht in the Bahamas, sea spray in the air, sun on your cheeks, cocktail in hand? Everyone, except for Charlotte. Because someone in this paradise wants her dead.

Although the closest I'm going to get to a yacht on the clear blue waters of the Carribean is a barge on the Bath–Bristol canal, the audiobook of THE EX-HUSBAND completely transported me across the seas. I was totally invested in the story of Charlotte's journey to untangle the web of secrets left behind by her ex, Sam, and @nattiebuscombe's narration was totally gripping. Although I thought the dual timeline might not work so well in audio, there wasn't any confusion and I found myself compelled to keep listening, desperate to find out the twist at the end. Whatever format you pick it up in, you're sure to love this perfect summer read.

Thank you to the publisher and author for this #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book flipped back and forth between two timelines. One laying the groundwork for the situations our character finds herself in, and one where we see our character's situation getting progressively more difficult.

Charlotte is one of those characters who isn't very likeable due to the things she has done, however, I really didn't want to see anything bad happening to her. She has a way about her that has you rooting for her, throughout the book.

There are some wonderful settings, and the descriptions of beautiful beaches and white sandy shorelines really had me imagining the settings of the book while listening.

There was a huge twist at the end, which I didn't even see coming, and I just love it when something like that surprises me in a book.

The narrator did a wonderful job of the different voices. She was particularly good at the haughty voices of the wealthy clients on board the yacht.

A really enjoyable book!

When Charlotte met Sam, he introduced her to the con-artist lifestyle. They seek out targets while on a cruise ship. As time goes by, Charlotte is uncomfortable with Sam’s tactics and they separate. Then Sam goes missing and Charlotte receives threatening messages from someone that knows more than they should. Who on board could know about Charlottes truth?
Told from Charlottes point of view in the present and when she first met Sam. An interesting book, more suspense than thriller.
Bit of a slow starts but picks up towards the end when you need to understand the who and why.

I enjoyed audiobook of ‘The Ex-husband’. The main character Charlotte is a conwoman who’s criminal past with her ex husband has started to catch up with her. The story is gripping and full of descriptive detail with interesting twists and turns. The complicated web created between the cast of characters is unraveled as the story progresses revealing that no one is a good person.

A thoroughly absorbing read and definitely worth investing your time in this. Characters well defined and a good page turning feeling.

Really really sorry but I did not enjoy the story and the audible was just boring.
So much lacking in storyline, I could not wait for it to be over....

This was an audiobook listen for me.
Charlotte has a murky past with her ex husband Sam. She's trying to turn over a new leaf and carry on with her life bit someone doesn't want her to forget what she has done.
I didn't really enjoy this. The main character wasn't very likable and It seemed like a really slow burn. It also felt obvious very early on who was going to be the one who was trying to to worry Charlotte. Thanks to netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

I loved listening to this fast paced book. i couldn’t decide if I liked or despised the main character, the main mystery wasn’t mind blowing but it was interested enough, I did love the setting and the cruises made me want to take one, a good fun mystery although abit far fetched!

This took me a little while to get into the story, but I did enjoy it in the end. I liked the past and present storytelling point of view, and the ending was good but I was expecting a little bit more drama at the end!

The book opens with us meeting Charlotte and her husband Sam- con artists separated at a cruise terminal- intentional or not? The book starts well with a good pace but then slows to a painful crawl describing how both got to this point (through flicking back and forth/ past to present). Neither character is likeable at first but I did warm to Charlotte when she tried to go on the straight and narrow- but when her ex- husband goes missing- I started to be curious about my thoughts towards Charlotte.
I had to try hard to remain engaged in the middle- lost its pace.
Intrigued enough to finish it but was left feeling like I wanted to rewrite the ending. Has great potential but needs to keep the suspense rather than over descriptive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Audio for letting me review this audiobook in exchange for an honest review

A thoroughly unlikeable main character, an extremely obvious tormentor and very little plot twist. And yet so curious I still had to get to the end. The narrator is great and makes this book but I can’t begin to describe how much I dislike Charlotte (and Sam)…and in fact, the majority of the characters with maybe the exception of Lewis and JJ. I think for me the premise of something bad happening to anyone of them spurred me on to continue this book and don’t get me wrong I’m glad I did. Just wow these are not a nice bunch of people.

This is the review of the audiobook version of this book.

The story starts off interesting as con woman Charlotte is left at the airport customs by her partner in crime and husband Sam, but the story then slows down and it’s seriously dragged out, so much so that I found it really hard to keep interested.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Audio for letting me review this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Now this is a story you cant take seriously - it was fun and especially working out who had it in for Charlotte (who I did want to shake at times). The narrator added a certain element to it and I honestly dont think I would have enjoyed it as much if I wasnt listening to it. It was a really good listen but please just take it for what it is - nice diversion from life. The lifestyles are just so overthetop.

I was given a free copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

This was an OK listen with what started off as a good storyline that then seemed to lose its momentum midway through
I found myself drifting away from the storyline and having to re-listen to a chapters to get back on track and by the time I found out what had happened to Sam I didn't really care

Not one of the best listens I have had but again certainly not the worst

***Audio ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.co.uk in return for an honest review ***

Whilst I enjoyed this book I struggled very much to empathise with Charlotte the main character. However, I enjoyed the audio narration and finished the book in a matter of days.

The book is told from both a present and past perspective allowing the story to move forward with little clues and hints as to what might be coming next which kept me drawn in. I suspected the character targeting Charlotte from early on but was certainly nearly swayed a few times! I would definitely look into this authors previous books and keep an eye out for her in the future.