Linda L. Richards | The Next Ex

One Hollywood Producer. Five Ex-Wives. Endless Possibilities for Murder

The Next Ex: A Madeline Carter Novel
by Linda L. Richards
Published by MIRA Books December 2005
ISBN: 07783-2240-8

"For unforgettable characters and sheer suspense, remember Linda L. Richards' name." -- Gayle Lynds, author of The Last Spymaster

Former stockbroker-turned-day trader Madeline Carter agrees to teach the indulged wife of an A-list movie producer about the stock market. When said wife turns up dead, Madeline finds herself in the middle of a series of murders while inadvertently opening up a 40-year old cold case.

Praise for The Next Ex

When I read Mad Money, the series debut for day trader sleuth Madeline Carter, I knew Richards had something special going, but this next book confirms this and then some. The mystery -- who's killing off all the ex-wives of noted media mogul Maxi Livingston -- has lots of punch and plenty of surprises, but the best bits are simply Madeline describing her day (and making day trading fascinating and lively) and interacting with a wealth of strong supporting characters. If there's justice, many more people will be finding out how good Richards is, and soon." -- Sarah Weinman, Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind

"Turn off your phones, and lock the door. Once you begin reading the spell-binding The Next Ex by Linda L. Richards, you'll want no interruptions. From the swank estates of Beverly Hills to the hip actors' community in Malibu, Richards delivers hot scandal and cool nerves in the shade of Southern California palm trees. With verve and scalpel-like precision, Richards peels back layers of power and wealth to show all of us that the past is always present, and murder is never pretty. For unforgettable characters and sheer suspense, remember Linda L. Richards' name." -- Gayle Lynds, author of The Last Spymaster

"Linda L. Richards' The Next Ex is as smart and sophisticated as its heroine, Madeline Carter. And, like Madeline, it wears its knowledge lightly, guiding the reader through a wonderfully twisty story. But if the plot is engaging, the characters are even more so. This is a Hollywood crime novel for people who love that particular subgenre -- and even for those who think they don't. A bracingly intelligent whodunit." -- Laura Lippman author of To the Power of Three

"Richards has a winning way with character and has crafted a pleasing plot.... Readers craving a smart heroine will find a lot here to like." -- The Chicago Sun-Times

"... a solid whodunit and a quirky, fascinating character who's good fun to spend time with....Madeline Carter...is one of the best bets to invest your time in this year." -- The Oakland Press

"What any crime and mystery fan demands is great plot. Richards delivers the goods .... a refreshing hybrid of hardboiled and chic-lit..." -- The Vancouver Sun

"Be warned: this is one of those books that can ruin your whole day. It's unputdownable." -- Gulf Islands Driftwood

"Fantastic characterization, intricate plot, spellbinding suspense .... This was such a good book!" -- Morgan Chilson, Fresh Fiction

"All the clues needed to solve the mystery were available to me, but the author never insulted my intelligence. She even game me the opportunity to figure it out before the main character did. But will you be able to? Keep your eye on this author. She will go far!" -- Debra Fitch, Huntress Book Reviews

"The key to this intelligent who-done-it is that Linda Richards lays out the clues yet most of the audience will not 'read' them as they instead follow the stumbling 'Mad' detective fumble her way on the case. Fans will enjoy this fine Hollywood mystery staring a likable protaganist struggling to find who made Keesia The Next Ex of the mutiply married Maxi." -- Harriet Klausner

"This is a fast reading, well-written, mutilayered story, and sure to gain new fans for Ms. Richards." -- Betty Cox, Reader to Reader

"Madeline Carter is a very appealing and interesting character and The Next Ex a delightful mystery. It will be interesting to see where Linda L. Richards takes Madeline on her next adventure. -- Hidden Staircase Mystery Books

"Richards writes amusingly of the Hollywood scene, and Madeline is an amateur sleuth of intelligence and wit. One can only hope that there's a string of adventures on the horizon for her..." -- Romantic Times

"The Next Ex is a terrific book, with as much action as the NASDAQ on a typical day, and at least as many ups and downs .... Linda L. Richards knows her stuff. The Next Ex boasts a seamlessly constructed plot, full of surprises and impossible to put down .... Snappy, smart, and sophisticated, The Next Ex is a sinuously satisfying read that will leave readers clamoring for the next Madeline Carter novel." -- The Romance Readers Connection

Even by Hollywood standards, five is a big number when you're counting ex-wives.

Teaching an indulged wife to dabble in the stock market is the last thing former stockbroker Madeline Carter wants to do. But she's lived among the Hollywood elite just long enough to recognize the ubiquitous "favor for a favor" when she sees it, so she reluctantly agrees to tutor the current wife of "A" list film producer Maxi Livingston.

Up until a few days ago the only thing Madeline knew about Maxi was what she'd read in the tabloids. But she soon learns a whole lot more, including the fact that the current Mrs. Livingston has plans to build a nest egg for herself -- in the stock market. Interesting.

But "interesting" doesn't begin to cover it when Maxi's ex-wives are killed off one by one and Madeline finds herself in the middle of a scenario worthy of the most imaginative screenwriter -- where she is the prime suspect.

Very interesting, indeed.