The Ex
Prequel
Seven years after making her escape from an abusive marriage, Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman is settling into her position as medical examiner in the city of San Francisco. Doing what she loves, she can almost put the trauma of her past behind her. Until she confronts the case of a young woman, sixteen weeks pregnant.
Everything about the case says the woman took her own life. As hard as Schwartzman tries to make peace with the evidence in her head, something about the case won’t leave her alone. She’s all too aware of how similar the circumstances are to her own past. After all, she, too, was once sixteen weeks pregnant…
Going beyond her role in the morgue, Schwartzman digs into the boyfriend’s past, determined to find the truth behind the woman’s death, a fate she knows could easily have been her own.
“A writer whose work sucks me in and doesn’t let me go, Danielle’s newest story is a humdinger! Annabelle Schwartzman is a superb ME and Danielle is at the top of her game.”
—JT Ellison, New York Times bestselling author of Her Dark Lies
“The Ex is both a compelling character study and murder mystery, giving fans of Girard’s Annabelle Schwartzman series a closer look at their beloved ME. The weaving together of one investigator’s personal trauma with her insights to a case is also a brilliant stand-alone work of psychological suspense that is sure to satisfy lovers of all crime genres.”
— Wendy Walker, bestselling author of Don’t Look For Me
“Prepare to be wowed by THE EX! Page-turning action combined with fully-realized characters makes this Schwartzman saga a compulsively readable, heart-wrenching story I couldn’t put down! This moving drama of an active case that’s gone horribly wrong works as a stand-alone as well as a compelling addition to the long-standing, much-beloved series.”
— DJ Palmer, USA Today bestselling author of My Wife is Missing
“The Ex is the first Danielle Girard book I’ve read, and I am now going to snap up her entire backlist. With the perfect blend of emotion and suspense, excellent pacing, and a compelling, wonderfully vivid protagonist, Girard has created a gripping story of strength and conviction. She grabs your attention from the first line, keeping you captive until the tense, brilliant ending.”
— Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 national bestselling author of Watch Out For Her
“The Ex is clever, suspenseful, and packs an emotional punch. Prepare to read this taut and fast- paced thriller in one sitting!”
— Jeneva Rose, bestselling author of The Perfect Marriage and One of Us is Dead
“This story is a compelling and heart-breaking treasure. Only the talented Danielle Girard could combine a devious murder mystery with such an intense undercurrent of emotional depth. Empathy mixes with expertise in this riveting and original tale of marriage and motherhood and murder—and we are shown the hope that can come from survival. Do not miss this!”
— Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of Her Perfect Life
“Fans of Girard’s Annabelle Schwartzman series rejoice! Everyone’s favorite ME is back in The Ex, an expertly plotted and fast-paced addition to the series, a read-in-one sitting thriller.”
— Kimberly Belle, internationally bestselling author of My Darling Husband
“I fell in love with Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman from the very first page and devoured The Ex in one sitting. A gut-wrenching story of trauma and mystery told with impeccable detail and expertise. Schwartzman is officially my new favorite medical examiner and I can’t wait to dive into the series.”
— Lucinda Berry, bestselling author of Under Her Care and The Best of Friends
“A tense, emotional suspense loaded with character development and a smartly woven plot that will have you questioning everything you think you know.”
— Jaime Lynn Hendricks, bestselling author of Finding Tessa and It Could Be Anyone
“THE EX by Danielle Girard packs so much emotion it’ll stay with you long after you’ve finished reading. Shocking and disturbing, yet tender and caring, the descriptions and characters are so vivid and real, it’s as if you’re by Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman side. When she’s handed a case bearing striking familiarities to her own traumatic past, Annabelle won’t stop until the truth is uncovered, and you’ll hold your breath, hoping she does. A haunting, terrific read.”
— Hannah Mary McKinnon, internationally bestselling author of Never Coming Home.
“Dark and driven, The Ex is Danielle Girard at her absolute best. This story, full of deep grief, menacing memory, and pure suspense, will grab you and haunt you long after you’ve put it down. Girard is a master at weaving dangerous emotion with cold science, leaving her readers breathless. And if you haven’t met Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman, prepare to be obsessed.”
— Jennifer Pashley, award winning author of The Watcher
The Ex is a fast-paced, heart wrenching read. San Francisco medical examiner Annabelle Schwartzman is back, better than ever. Her case load includes a poisoned politician, the case she is supposed to focus on, and a pregnant young woman, Diane Reilly, a suspected suicide. Annabelle’s drawn to Reilly’s case for reasons made clear through poignant and terrifying flashbacks of her stalker ex Spencer. A quick, propulsive story. Fans of the series will love it.
— Kaira Rouda, USA Today and Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Next Wife and Somebody’s Home
“Clear your afternoon—once you begin this fast-paced, utterly engrossing novella, you won’t be able to put it down! Danielle Girard skillfully weaves a puzzling mystery together with scenes of emotional heft, resulting in a compelling, highly satisfying read.”
— Kathleen Barber, author of Truth Be Told
“A pitch-perfect mystery that will grip both existing fans of the series and those who are new to Annabelle Schwartzman alike. I raced through The Ex in one thrilling sitting and you will too.”
— Lisa Gray, bestselling author of the Jessica Shaw series