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The Ex (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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  Hardcover, July 31, 1996 -- $2.15 $0.01
  Paperback, May 31, 1997 -- $3.99 $0.01
  Audio, Cassette, September 30, 1996 $18.00 $15.80 $0.75
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

He's won an Edgar Award and several Shamus Awards (including, in 1995, a Lifetime Achievement Award), but Lutz (Burn, 1995) isn't likely to collect any prizes for this brisk but lightweight and predictable psychothriller. Anyone who's seen the movies Fatal Attraction or Single White Female (the latter filmed from Lutz's novel SWF Seeks Same) will anticipate many of this novel's twists and turns, which follow Hollywood's formula for stalk-and-slash stories; in fact, this work is based on a screenplay of the same title that's currently in production from producer/director Mark Lester. The villain here is ravishing redhead Deirdre Chandler, who, after killing a guard while escaping from a state mental institution, heads for Manhattan and her ex-husband, literary agent David Jones. Never mind that David has remarried; in no time, Deirdre works her way back into his life, moving into his apartment building and serving as the new babysitter for his son, Michael, after she kills off the old one. David's sweet young wife, Molly, wrinkles her nose at Deirdre early on, but before she can take action the femme fatale has kidnapped Michael, leading to a familiar climax, awash in blood. Characterization throughout is simple but convincing, particularly David's self-loathing as he falls in sexual thrall to Deirdre. Lutz offers a few over-the-top scenes, including a coupling in a funeral parlor, to spice up the story; but what he's serving here is yesterday's meal all the same.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist

After a messy divorce, David Jones has moved to New York for a fresh start: new job, new wife, three-year-old son. Then his ex-wife, Deirdre, walks out of a mental institution and back into David's life, determined to recapture him even if she must destroy his current life to do so. David doesn't help himself. Only when she has lodged herself in his apartment building and his family is in physical danger does he reach out to the police. The versatile Lutz, author of two ongoing detective series as well as numerous other thrillers, is mining the same vein here--New York, big apartment buildings, rampant terror--he exploited so well in S.W.F. Seeks Same (1990), which became the hit movie Single White Female. It's no coincidence that this novel has also been optioned for a big-screen treatment. Still, Lutz readers may be disappointed; he's done better work. On the other hand, Lutz is a fine craftsman, even when his material is a bit predictable, and the movie tie-in is certain to create demand. Wes Lukowsky
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 262 pages
  • Publisher: Kensington; Library Edition edition (August 1, 1996)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1575660784
  • ISBN-13: 978-1575660783
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,183,038 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

2 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
2.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars We miss Fred Carver, January 14, 2006
By Drummer (Fort Myers, FL USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Ex (Pinnacle Books Fiction) (Paperback)
It's hard to believe that _The Ex_ was written by the same author who gave us the excellent Fred Carver detective series. Those books had memorable characters (who can ever forget the corrupt cop, McGregor?), compelling plots, a keen sense of place, and an anti-hero protagonist we could care about. The same can be said for his Alo Nudger series.

This book has none of that. It's like a script from a bad TV movie. The characters are cardboard cut-outs, and the plot is utterly predictable. The final scene is completely illogical. The prose style is prosaic and simplistic--very much unlike the wry, terse style in the Carver books. It wouldn't surprise me if this one was ghost-written.

Lutz has won many awards for his earlier detective novels. I suppose he's moved into mass-market commercialism so he can bank some money. Can't blame him--but too bad for his long-time fans.
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7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars 'The Ex' is a somewhat boring erotic thriller, September 11, 1998
By A Customer
John Lutz didn't do a very good job on this one. The story is atypical and jumps over many holes in the plot. Lutz starts out with Deidre, a beautiful pyscho, escaping from a mental institution. She immediately heads to New York to try and rendezvous with her ex-husband David after several years. David has already re-married though and has a son. No problem for Deidre. Immediately Deidre begins to work herself back into David's life. David's wife Molly is immediately suspicious of Deidre. But David defends his ex-wife and Molly quiets her suspicions. Before long, Deidre has seduced David into having sex with her again. At the same time Deidre is stalking Molly and beginning to convince her she's going insane. Fairly soon, Deidre has schemed her way into their apartment building. A little after that she murders their babysitter and uses David to convince Molly to let Deidre babysit their son, Michael. After this the novel grows repetitive. The only breaks are the steamy sex scenes where Deidre repeatedly shows how much control she has over her ex-husband.(at one time she handcuffs him in a funeral parlor and forces him to have sex.) David meanwhile seems to give himself up to Deidre in exchange for sex while he begins to neglect his own wife. Deidre also is busy harassing Molly. Molly becomes a basket case as whenever she goes jogging Deidre dons a disguise and follows her, repeatedly threatening her. Deidre even begins to wear Molly's clothes. Soon David is sending Molly to a physciatrist while Deidre repeatedly forces him to have sex. She has begun videotaping him and her making love and using it as blackmail. Meanwhile she has been making friends with Michael. During one scene Deidre has sex with David and then leaves the apartment and attempts to kill Molly. David, ever the loving husband, tells Molly that she was simply imagining Deirdre trying to kill her. Anyways it begins to shift. Deirdre calls the apartment and leaves a message for Molly that says she's sleeping with David. Then she heads down to their apartment and erases it since there not home. While there she pleasures herself on Molly's side of the bed and leaves the mess for Molly to see. David finds it first and cleans it and then makes an excuse to leave the apartment and heads to Deirdre. Once he's up there he doesn't chew her out but merely has sex with her in a shower. After this Deirdre(who seemed to be on the verge of victory) blows it by kidnapping Michael. David fesses up to Molly about the affair. Molly and David rush to save Michael and it all ends with a climactic showdown between Deirdre and Molly. Ultimately, David kills Molly to keep having sex with Deirdre. No. Seriously if you want to know the end(like you don't already) you ought to read this book. Overall, the book was very predictable. It gets mired down in useless sub-plots. About the only good parts are the explicit sex scenes between Deirdre and David and when we get to read how Deirdre sees the whole situation. So basically if you're looking for a guilty pleasures book, read this one.
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