The Ex-Boyfriend by Rona Halsall
Genre: Domestic thriller, Psychological thriller
Read: 30th September 2020
Published: 30th September 2020
★★★★ 4 stars
DESCRIPTION:
He promised to love her until her dying day…
When Becca’s first love shows up on her social media feed, she can’t help but smile fondly. Once upon a time Connor was the love of her life, and though it was over ten years ago, he’s always held a place in her heart.
Then he sends her a message. He sounds happy – still kind and funny, still living across the world in Australia. But he wants to know everything about her life now. How can Becca tell him the truth? About her workaholic husband, her stressful job, and the challenges of caring for her elderly father and her longed-for, adorable but exhausting three-year-old daughter Mia?
Becca hesitates, knowing she shouldn’t even reply. But Connor lives on the other side of the world. Just how dangerous can becoming friends again be?
It feels harmless. Until Mia gets sick – in a way that no one can explain. And it starts to become clear – someone will do absolutely anything to make sure Becca never escapes her past…
A completely unputdownable psychological thriller – perfect for fans of My Lovely Wife, The Girl on the Train, and The Woman at the Window.
MY REVIEW:
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Rona Halsall's twisty domestic thriller THE EX-BOYFRIEND.
I must say, I was hooked from the very beginning despite the book's slow pace, so much so I read it in one sitting! It kept me up till gone 3am and I wasn't putting it down till I knew the outcome. THE EX-BOYFRIEND begins as a slow burn that builds up to an exciting twisted climax...leaving you breathless by its end. It covers mental illness, exploring the controversial issue of Factitious disorder imposed on another or FDIA (most commonly known as Munchhausen by proxy) interwoven with grief, narcissism and a whole web of complex relationships.
The focal point of this emotionally charged thriller is Becca, whose emotions are thrown into chaos when her ex-boyfriend Connor contacts her via Twitter. He was her first love, her best friend...the man she probably would have ended up with had life not taken a twist.
Ten years ago, Becca was the focus of an investigation at the hospital where she worked as a nurse after a series of incidents that put patients' lives at risk was linked to each of her shifts. Having been suspended with fingers pointing in her direction, Becca ultimately had a breakdown and at the behest of her friend Tina who had emigrated to Australia, Becca packed herself off on a holiday down under to refresh and recharge. It was there Becca met Connor, carefree spirit who did nothing but travel and surf. He was her best friend, her confidante, her lover. But with her biological clock ticking, Becca wanted to settle down and Connor just wanted to live free.
Then Becca received word that her mother had died so she flew back to the UK with the promise that she will return in a month. But nothing prepared Becca for the care her father needed at the loss of his lifelong partner...and Becca felt she couldn't leave him.
The day of her mother's funeral Becca meets Dean, the two begin dating and she soon finds herself pregnant. Dean has always wanted a family with children and so they marry and plan a life together. But Becca miscarries...again and again and again. By her fourth pregnancy, she is so worried about losing her baby she doesn't have time to enjoy the glow of pregnancy. And then Mia is born. Beautiful, sweet, adorable "mini me" Mia.
Now ten years after her return to the UK, Becca is working part time as a district nurse while Dean is busy building up his business. Disheartened by the fact that she never sees Dean anymore and when he is home he's not really present, Becca feels lost and lonely although 3 year old Mia keeps her busy.
So when Becca sees Connor pop up on her Twitter feed, she begins to reminisce about the those days wrapped in Connor's love. She sees no harm in responding to him and before long a conversation ensues where Connor confesses he has never stopped loving her. Becca begins to wonder what life might have been like had she returned to Australia. Would she and Connor have picked up where they left off? With many fond memories of those days, Becca can't help but feel like she needs someone to confide in...and Connor had been her best friend. And now he seems to want to know everything about her life.
One day after her childminder drops a bombshell on her that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer, Becca ropes her sister Kate in to watch Mia while she works. Kate is none too pleased but acquiesces reluctantly. Though Mia hates the car and screams protest at the mere idea of travelling in one, Becca manages to bundle her up and drive her the half hour away to her dad's place where Kate also lives. Her dad adores Mia and his face lights up upon seeing her and the two trundle off to get into mischief.
That night, Mia is violently ill as Becca spends the night changing and washing bed linen and bathing her little girl. The next morning, she is fine. Becca suspects a 24 hour bug but a couple of days later the same thing happens. Vomiting and diarrhoea and Mia crying in pain. Becca takes her in for blood tests, which come back clear. But whatever it is continues to plague Mia as she has several more attacks throughout the week, prompting Becca to do her own investigating. And then it hits her. Someone is poisoning Mia. But why?
But when Becca tries to get health professionals to take her concerns seriously, things go from bad to worse and suddenly Becca finds herself in the firing line. No one believes her and everyone suspects the worst of her. Becca has never felt so alone...she only has Connor to confide in.
But something isn't right. Things that he is saying Connor wouldn't normally say...but it has been ten years, right? Maybe he's changed. But can Becca trust him? Who else is there?
A compelling domestic thriller, THE EX-BOYFRIEND is a book where no one is exempt from suspicion. There are lies, secrets, deception and betrayal of the worst kind that keep you engaged right up to the end. And when the big reveal comes, the truth is more chilling and more sinister than Becca could have ever imagined. Without revealing the "who" I will say the person was my first suspect initally before I began looking at everyone else...for reasons I cannot divulge without spoiling it.
While the book began at a slow pace, it did hold my interest as I pondered where everything was going to fit in. But it wasn't until around 50% that it really picked up the pace and it was a race to the end from then on and I wouldn't rest until I had swiped the last page.
THE EX-BOYFRIEND is an intriguing nail biter of a read once it gets going that will have you engaged right up till the end. There are plenty of twists that keep you guessing with a complex web of secrets that make this a dark and thrilling read.
Another suspenseful read for fans of domestic thrillers.
I would like to thank #RonaHalsall, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheExBoyfriend in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Rona was born in Nottingham, grew up near Blackpool and went to college in Leeds. She then moved to Snowdonia, North Wales where she brought up her family while working as a business mentor.
She is an outdoorsy person and loves stomping up a mountain, walking the coastal paths and exploring the wonderful beaches on the Island while she's plotting how to kill off her next victim. She also makes sure she deletes her Google history on a regular basis, because... well, you can't be too careful when you spend your life researching new and ingenious ways for people to die.
She has three children and two step-children who are now grown up and leading varied and interesting lives, which provides plenty of ideas for new stories!
Rona lives on the Isle of Man with her husband, two dogs and three guinea pigs. She has been a bookworm since she was a child and now she's actually creating stories of her own, which still feels like a dream come true.
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