The Ex-Husband

By: Samantha Hayes

Narrated by: Lucy Paterson

Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

You thought you were safe. Until he moved in next door....

I haven’t lived here long. The house is small and a little run-down, but each piece of faded floral wallpaper I peel away feels like unwrapping the second chance I never thought I’d get. I’m finally free to wear what I want, and I don’t flinch when I accidently burn dinner. My new home is warm, and the kids are safe inside. Anywhere would feel idyllic after the nightmare marriage I’ve just escaped.

But then I see my ex-husband Craig stroll past my window and let himself into the house next door. Fear chokes me. How did he find me? Does he want me back or to destroy me for good?

As the removals van pulls away, Craig tells me it’s just a coincidence, that we can all get along and be good neighbors. But at night I lie awake listening to the sound of laughter and lovemaking through the thin wall that separates us, wondering if his new girlfriend is safe. And in the morning, I rifle through his trash, trying to guess his next move. I know how crazy I look, but I’d do anything to protect my children.

Weeks later, when the night air fills with smoke and this quiet street dances with blue and red flashing police lights, all the secrets behind our two closed doors will be revealed. But after everything that’s happened, will anyone believe I’m innocent?

Fans of The Wife Between Us, The Family Upstairs, and The Girl on the Train will be totally hooked!

Everyone is talking about Samantha Hayes:

"Jaw-dropping… I did literally gasp and say, 'No way!' out loud… And at the end, I just sat there thinking, 'What the hell did I just read?'...freaking awesome.... The twists do not stop until the very last page." (Fireflies & Free Kicks, 5 stars)

"Wow! This book was so. damn. fabulous!... Had me gasping in shock many times! The twists were insane right up to last page!... OMG! I never saw it coming! I can’t give this twisted book enough spine-tingling stars!... A must read!" (Two Girls and a Book Obsession, 5 stars)

©2022 Samantha Hayes (P)2022 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

Pathetic and irrational women!!!!!

I can't believe that in this day and age, women are still made out to be so stupid, emotional, and unable to deal with any kind of issue without becoming emotional and irrational. So sad that this book couldn't have made the woman smarter than they did. It would have been a much better book.

Narrator ruined it

The narrator was so overly dramatic that it was impossible to pay attention to the story.

So disappointing

This book was ridiculous. The characters unbelievable and just plain silly. I’ve enjoyed many of the authors other books
but this one was hard to even finish. Waste of a credit.

I mean, when does it end.....

This story you just have to give up on. no person would take such abuse without taking legal action. I gave up because it became too ridiculous to waste any more time on.

Loved loved this book!

Awesome story line. I thought that it was predictable but wasnr. It was suspensefull and I enjoyed listening.

Worst narration I’ve heard

The sample was not enough to make a good decision. The narration is horrible. The main character is so weak and whiny. And every time she whined, the narrator made horrible sounds. I wish I’d never used a credit for this.

Great book. Questionable narration.

This book is definitely a better read than a listen. I don’t feel the narrator does it justice. The main character Lea is frustrated and whiny for a good amount of the story and rightfully so. However, whenever Lea is frustrated or crying the narrator switches up her voice to make Lea sound like she turned into a 100 year old grandma! I swear I pictured Rose at the end of the movie, Titanic whenever the narrator did this. It was really weird. But the story was good! Still worth a listen. Just ignore Lea sounding like she’s going from late 30’s to 100 years old whenever she gets upset.

Pretty good

I’m confused about the other saying she killed Craig. Someone plz help me understand.

The narrator was good until she had to say something with feeling. Then, it was terrible.

trash

without a doubt the worst book I've read in years. do yourself a favor. stay away

Weak and whiny

Weak and whiny main character who does nothing but complain. This is hardly suspenseful as advertised. Basically a woman who had a bad divorce, has a situation where her ex-husband and his new woman move in next-door. The whole book has her whining and complaining and dealing with it. Possibly even worse than the pathetic nature of the main character was the nasally and annoying voice of the narrator. Save yourself a credit. I wish I had.

Dreadful acting

Oh dear. The acting in this is dreadful. I cringed each time the narrator acted out “nooooooo!” Or anything equally as cringeworthy. The only person I could bear being narrated was Gabe. It didn’t help that the character of Leah was completely one dimensional, but the hammy acting was the cherry on top of a really awful cake. And I can’t even bring myself to describe how awful the narrator acted as Craig. She somehow made a handsome middle aged man sound like a 70 year old crawling back to the sheltered living accommodation after a night on the booze and fags at the local.

The premise was good but the characters needed more to bring them to life - not just on audible but kindle too as I read when I couldn’t put myself through any further listening.

So disappointed!

The narrator made me feel so cringy when listening to her. When she read the book, she was perfect but the character voices, with the exception of Gabe, were just awful. I also feel that narrators just read the book and don’t take time to add the nuances to what the book instructs. When the narrator reads a line in her normal volume voice but it is followed up with “Leah whispered” it’s irritating. Read the book and narrate how the book reads.

Also, the storyline was nowhere near what I expect of Samantha Hayes and can only assume this was an “off day” because all her others that I’ve read, are great. I also feel that these characters lacked realism. What youngster calls her brother “Sprat”? What mother keeps calling her daughter “Daaaahling!” It’s not Ab Fab. Where is the grit? Where is the realism? Are all characters in books these days from perfect families who have no personality? I didn’t feel sorry for Leah due to the poor narration, the whole plot was lazy and the ending left me saying; “was that it!!!!”
Swerve this book if I were you and save yourself a credit.

didn't disappoint

From the beginning this book draws you into its convoluted plot and then carries you along a fast flowing stream of doings until suddenly you reach a precipice and the resulting waterfall of events with protruding rocks that suddenly change the course of its flow into a spiral of 'wow I didn't see that coming'. The narration didn't disappoint either.

Terrible narrating

I had to return this title. The narration was so whiney. I persevered for a bit but it got to the point I couldn’t listen to it any longer. It spoiled the story.

Dull

Boring, no twists or turns. Awful narrating to the point of irritating to listen.

OK

I would not have thought this was a Samantha Hayes book, quite different from her other books - and not as good.