The Ex-Girlfriend’s Murder Club Review: A Twisty Cozy Mystery with Revenge, Romance, and a Body Count

Read time: 4 minutes

🎧 Listened in audio
📢 Narrated by Carolyn Kang
⏱ Duration: 10 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Harlequin Audio & MIRA

Book Blurb:

Three women discover they’ve been dating the same man and plan to confront him together—but instead, they find him dead. With motive, opportunity, and their DNA all over the scene, they quickly become prime suspects. Determined to prove their innocence, the unlikely trio teams up to investigate. As they dig deeper, they uncover a long list of people who had reasons to want him gone. Balancing secrets, lies, and unexpected alliances, they must solve the murder before they’re blamed for it—while navigating a case that’s far messier than they imagined.

Let’s talk … murder!!!

I was expecting chaotic revenge energy and light mystery vibes. But what I got was a wild, twisty, genuinely unpredictable mystery that had me gasping out loud. Gloria Chao doesn’t just write a cozy mystery with comedic flair. She writes a propulsive whodunit that zigzags in ways I absolutely did not see coming. I can’t tell you what happens without spoiling the ride, but trust me, this book earns its twists.

Here’s the thing though. The pacing is a roller coaster. The opening grabs you by the collar with a dead body, panic, and immediate stakes. Then the middle softens into slower, investigative beats, character bonding, and romantic tension with a certain detective who’s very good at his job (and very easy on the imagination). I didn’t mind the breather. It let me get attached to Kat, Olivia, and Elle. The final act is a sprint of revelations, confrontations, and an ending that stuck the landing so hard, I immediately wanted a sequel.

Also, the dynamic between the three women is such a win. There’s humor, tension, and that messy “we’re stuck together now” energy that makes cozy mysteries so fun. Carolyn Kang’s narration adds an extra layer of personality, really bringing out the distinct voices and comedic timing. It’s sharp, entertaining, and just a little bit chaotic.

Would I recommend it?

If you love cozy mysteries with humor, strong female dynamics, and twists that actually twist, this is a solid pick. It’s not perfect pacing-wise, but the payoff absolutely makes up for it. This is the kind of book that sneaks up on you and then refuses to let go by the end.

If You Loved This, Read Next:

1. Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto — Accidental body disposal meets chaotic family dynamics and a wedding gone wrong. Same energy, different disaster.
   Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
2. Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano — A single mom accidentally becomes a murder suspect while trying to survive deadlines and daycare. Hilarious, twisty, and fiercely relatable.
   Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
3. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman — If you loved the amateur sleuthing and ensemble cast, this group of retirement home detectives will charm your socks off.
   Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
4. Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney — For fans of unreliable narrators and marriages with secrets so big they might be deadly.
   Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
5. One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus — High school detention, a suspicious death, and everyone’s a suspect. YA, but the same “whodunit with sass” vibe.
   Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy

Ever Been Betrayed by a Charmer?

Have you ever dated someone who turned out to be juggling more than just schedules? Or found yourself rooting for fictional women to commit light crimes? Let’s talk messy exes and mystery mayhem in the comments.

Book Links:

Want to purchase this or any of your favorite books while supporting a local bookstore? Consider purchasing using the sites below. These sites work with independent local bookstore owners to fulfill your book orders. #SupportLocal

Indiebookstores.ca | Bookshop.org
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
Check out more books from Harlequin Audio & MIRA