Dead Ex

By: Harley Jane Kozak

Narrated by: Deanna Hurst

Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

When David Zetrakis, the producer of a popular soap opera, is found shot to death, Wollie Shelley finds herself caught up in the murder. Zetrakis was one of the many Mr. Wrongs in Wollie's career as a serial dater, and her friend Joey has emerged as the media's prime suspect. A hot-tempered celebrity who had dated Zetrakis and was fired from his show some years ago, Joey has inherited a million-dollar Klimt painting from him. But Joey is not the only potential suspect.

Zetrakis left lots of nice bequests to the cast and crew of the show. And as the dating correspondent on a talk show called SoapDirt, Wollie, who's required to dine and dish with the stars, quickly discovers that the behind-the-scenes intrigues of television soaps are as highly charged as the on-screen shenanigans.

Make another date with amateur sleuth Wollie Shelley in Dating Is Murder.

©2007 Harley Jane Kozak (P)2007 BBC Audiobooks America

Critic Reviews

"A Greek mythology twist and crackling insider insight into the fascinating soap opera world enhance this clever whodunit." (Publishers Weekly)

Compelling

This is a interesting listen. I enjoyed the characters and plot, with lots of twists, although I'm not sure I'd compare it to Evanovich, which I have seen several times.

The writing kept me engaged, and the narrator was fine.

I'd also like to point out that this is the third book in the series, with the first book: Dating Dead Men not yet available at Audible. I was slightly confused and listened to this last book first.

Off to listen to Dating is Murder now...

Funny and makes you want to keep listening!

I have an hour commute to work each way and this book made the drive so fun. Very light, funny, and leaves you wanting to know what will happen next.

Wolly strikes again

Wolly and her friends are back and better than ever. After reading Dead Ex I wanted to go back and re-read the previous two books.
If you have not read Dating Dead Men, do so.
Wolly, her brother and Uncle are a good time.

Surprisingly enjoyable

I like Wollie. I really do. I like her friends and the way she keeps getting into zany adventures. While the first book started off quickly, this one starts much slower. The pace in the first half was a little slow and by the time the plot begins to move faster in the second half I had lost interest in it. Fortunately, the characters are strong, and that helps keep the entire book interesting. Kozak's writing is energetic, intelligent, witty, and entertaining. For that reason I will listen to the next book. I do wish Doc and Ruby would return.

good pacing and solid entertainment

If you could sum up Dead Ex in three words, what would they be?

entertaining, funny, satisfying

What did you like best about this story?

it kept my attention, it had great visuals, the characters were kooky, it made me want to do laundry or drive to work or continue on the stair machine (my audio book activities)

What does Deanna Hurst bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She has a great voice. I am a fast reader, I would have finished this book in a day on an airplane. I enjoyed her reading.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

the gods are everywhere

Any additional comments?

I picked this because someone said there are books you want at an airport when you are stuck, and this is definitely in that category. It's fun. I want a book to distract me from something like the stair machine or traffic. This does a great job.

vapid

Maybe I'm not understanding the trend in mystery towards romance, but I just don't see what the protagonists relationship with her FBI boyfriend had to do with the story line at all except as a way of interjecting sex into every chapter. One would think that such a person in the story would be able to figure out a way to either help his new girlfriend out of her predicaments, or remain mysterious and shadowy while really pulling the strings behind the scenes. But no, hes just window dressing for intimacy, commitment issues and middle aged thigh clenching (yuch) that get in the way of what could actually be a great story line and well loved characters.

I think this author will soon outgrow her genre and actually write something thought provoking. I could tell it was there under a surface of Dolce and Gabana, Hollywood-isms and vapid man-rating.

Boring

I found this book boring, hard to follow and the ending totally unbelievable. Sorry I wasted a credit on this one.

a fun read

Would you consider the audio edition of Dead Ex to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version. I did enjoy the audio version and I thought the narrator did a good job with the characters, especially the main character, Wollie.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dead Ex?

There were several memorable moments, but without any spoilers, I will say that I enjoyed many of the zany characters and the way Wollie interacted with them.

Which scene was your favorite?

The car ride with her uncle Theo, her brother and Apollo.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were some tense moments, but most of the book made me smile.

Any additional comments?

I thought this book was fun and enjoyable. I agree with the comparisons to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, although I think Wollie seems more down to earth and relatable than the Stephanie Plum.

Not the best in the series but good

Like the other books in the series, this book is funny, witty, and light hearted. Once again, Wolly is pulled into an investigation. This time it is to save her best friend Joey. Making Joey the prime suspect in the murder forced and some of the scenes were unrealistic at best. At times in the book the plot dragged. All in all it is an entertaining story. I will probably buy the next in the series.

This book makes me glad to be a Hollywood outsider

The story is only okay and seems a bit cookie cutter. There are a lot of alluded to sexual escapades, and Hollywood attitudes (looks are everything, relationships are based on sex and gaining power, actors are flaky, etc.) run rampant. As a mid-westerner who loves a great plot driven by action and believable characters, this book left me wishing there had been a bit more to the people and the story, but if you want something simply entertaining and enjoyable without much depth, then you'll love it.