'The Ex' is compelling legal thriller by Alafair Burke

"The Ex" (Harper), by Alafair Burke

An attorney represents a man who's accused of committing multiple homicides and who also happens to be her ex-fiance in Alafair Burke's latest page-turner, "The Ex."

Olivia Randall, a criminal defense attorney in New York, receives an urgent phone call from a teenage girl who says she needs her help. She's the daughter of Olivia's ex-fiance, Jack Harris.

Harris is an acclaimed writer who lost his wife in a public shooting three years earlier and is now raising his daughter by himself. He sees a beautiful woman in a park, and thanks to a website posting an "I saw you" ad, he gets a response. They agree to meet. The woman doesn't show up for their meeting, but soon after he leaves, three people are killed in a shooting.

Olivia arrives at the prison to learn the truth. She still feels guilty about how she treated Jack when they were engaged (it didn't end well). She believes he's innocent, and so does his daughter.

Jack swears he didn't kill anyone, but then forensics discovers gunshot residue on his shirt. The evidence continues to build against him, and Olivia begins to have her doubts. Does she believe he's innocent because of their past or is he truly being framed? Or worse, is he guilty and taking advantage of their prior relationship?

Burke tells a compelling legal thriller that will have readers baffled until the final reveal. Like an onion, every layer peeled off further deepens the mystery. Burke knows how to write, and Olivia Randall is one of her most authentic characters. No one would object if this is the start of a new series.