The Ex Files: A Novel About Four Women and Faith (Paperback)

by Victoria Christopher Murray (Author)
Key Phrases: Pastor Ford, Aunt Beverly, Bobby Johnson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In Murray's powerful testament to Christian fellowship and friendship (after 2006's A Sin and a Shame), four members of an L.A. prayer group find spiritual growth and heartache as they struggle with broken dreams. Drawn together by Hope Chapel's Pastor Beverly Ford, these African-American women stand at crossroads in their lives. For Sheridan Hart it's trying to choose between marrying her lover or going back to the bisexual Ex who left her for a man. Kendall Stewart deals with her rage over her younger sister and Ex falling in love, but must make a life or death choice when her sister becomes seriously ill. Asia Ingram wants revenge on the father of her six-year-old daughter, a retiring, married LA Laker who's decided to end their decade-long affair. Vanessa Martin copes badly in the aftermath of her husband Reed's shocking suicide, grappling with a growing depression that threatens her ability to go on. The engrossing transitions the women go through make compelling reading, but some readers might find some of Pastor Ford's wisdom a little off as she assures Sheridan that Quentin, her bi-sexual Ex, "wasn't born that way." Still, Murray's vivid portrait of how faith can move mountains and heal relationships should inspire her growing conservative fan base.
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Review
"The Ex Files is a moving-on song in four-part harmony."

-- Donna Grant and Virginia DeBerry, authors of Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made

"Once again, Victoria Christopher Murray has crafted a compelling, intriguing, and page-turning story that stays with you long after you've finished the book. This wonderful tale of four different women from vastly different backgrounds shows how we can all be bound by the common thread of faith."

-- ReShonda Tate Billingsley, bestselling author of Everybody Say Amen and I Know I've Been Changed

"My girl, Victoria Christopher Murray has done it again! I love her work and this book will bless you, so read it."

-- Michele Andrea Bowen, author of Church Folk, Second Sunday, and Holy Ghost Corner

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone (June 19, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416535519
• ISBN-13: 978-1416535515
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #76,491 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forgiveness Is The Key To Moving On, June 8, 2007

By	Donnica Copeland "http://sistatalkbookclub.we... (Marietta, GA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

APOOO Rating- 4.5

The Ex-Files brings four unlikely women together. They have all been hurt in some form or fashion by their exes. Murray brings Sheridan Hart back from Grown Folks Business. Sheridan is the leader of the prayer group. While it was two years ago that her husband left her for a man, she is still trying to cope with not having him in her life and moving on with someone new. Vanessa Martin puts on a great front for the group. She is coping with the death of her husband. It is so unbearable sometimes, that she wants to do anything to be with him again. Kendall Stewart caught her husband in bed with her sister. She decides to write them both off...no husband and no sister. But things quickly change and she is faced with stepping up for her family. Asia Ingrum is the youngest one of the group. She is also the only one that is not married. She was actually the mistress to a NBA player. He decides to make it work with his wife and leaves Asia AND her child alone.

Their pastor suggests that they come together in a prayer group and hopefully work through their situations. They soon realize they have a lot more in common then they first thought. You quickly become invested in each character. How will each of them deal with the end of a relationship? Murray does it again and definitely delivers a great story. This one will grip your heart.

Donnica Copeland
APOOO BookClub

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Believing in something..., July 29, 2007

By	The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

THE EX FILES is not a scientific read, quite the contrary. It is a simple yet compelling story about four women struggling with the loss of their partners.

-Sheridan's husband, of sixteen years, left her for a man. The marriage has been over for three years and she has a new man in her life. But, Sheridan never put an emotional end to the marriage and her indecisiveness may send her new man away; then her 'ex' re-enters her life.
-Kendall and her husband built a business together before they married. She catches him in bed with her sister and she is done. They divorce, but still share the business. Kendall wants them both to suffer, so when her 'ex' asks her to help save her sister's life, she refuses and distances herself from them.
-Asia is twenty-seven, and has never worked a day of her life. For the past ten years she has lived in hopes of marrying the NBA star who is her part time, live-in sponsor. But, he returns to his wife leaving her and their five-year-old daughter. Asia seeks serious revenge, but will it destroy her daughter?
-Vanessa was married for six years, and loved every day of it. For no apparent reason her husband committed suicide; it left a hole in her soul. She cannot deal with the painful emptiness.

Encouraged by their pastor, the four women meet and discover a similarity in their predicaments. With a foundation of prayer, they let God into their lives and develop a bond. Then a surprising tragedy forces them to gather spiritual strength, move past their respective heartbreaks, and seek forgiveness and redemption. THE EX FILES is emotionally charged with familiar characters, definitive storylines, and an engaging plot. The magnitude of this story puts emphasis on the power of prayer and resonates after the book is closed.

Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Weak, January 7, 2009

By	Emi (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

i was so disappointed with this book having already read tmptation and a sin and a shame, two great books by the way. in this book i feel like the plots are dragged on and the characters unrealistic. also the language is unsophisticated and doesn't flow. the plot is choppy. moreover the characters underdeveloped. especially vanessa, couldn't understand her motives and she seemed very whiny. moreover the characters situations in the book dont really change, they are not really "stronger". i feel like the author was forging religion in this book and trying way to hard. i will still read books by this author however i give this book a C.