🍷 Book Review: The Ex-Wives Club by Sally Hepworth (Kindle Edition, Alibis Collection #2)
A snappy, suspenseful short story that blends murder mystery with biting wit—Sally Hepworth delivers a clever whodunit where three ex-wives gather weekly to toast their shared history… until their cheating ex turns up dead in his own freezer.
🧠 Overview
Published on June 2, 2025, The Ex-Wives Club is part of Amazon Original Stories’ Alibis Collection, a series of standalone shorts exploring deception, truth, and the stories people tell to protect themselves.
This 83-page novella centers on Ian Curley, a celebrity chef and serial philanderer who’s found dead in the walk-in freezer of his own restaurant. The prime suspects? His three ex-wives—Anita, Mary-Jane, and Rosie—who meet every Friday in the same booth to drink, gossip, and commiserate.
Each woman has a motive. Each has an alibi. And each has secrets. As the investigation unfolds, the story shifts between their perspectives and cleverly interspersed interview transcripts, building tension and teasing out the truth behind Ian’s demise.
🔍 Key Themes & Highlights
- 💔 Female solidarity – The ex-wives’ bond is both hilarious and heartfelt.
- 🔪 Murder mystery – Classic setup with a modern twist and a locked-room vibe.
- 🧠 Multiple POVs – Each woman’s voice adds depth and ambiguity.
- 🎭 Dark humor – Hepworth’s signature wit shines through the dialogue and character dynamics.
- 📄 Interview format – Adds a procedural flavor and keeps the pacing brisk.
“All aggrieved, each one has a motive and an alibi. And a brilliant detective has reservations.”
💬 Reader Reception
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: 3.49/5 from over 21,000 ratings
- 📖 Readers enjoy the ensemble cast, snappy pacing, and twist-filled structure.
- 🧾 Some felt the ending was a bit rushed or underwhelming, with the detective’s resolution lacking punch. Still, the concept and character interplay were widely praised.
⚠️ Considerations
- 📄 Short format – Best read as a one-sitting mystery snack, not a full-length thriller.
- 📚 Part of a collection – Stands alone, but shares thematic DNA with other Alibis stories.
- 🧠 Character-driven – Focuses more on relationships and motives than procedural detail.
🏁 Final Verdict
The Ex-Wives Club is a witty, fast-paced mystery that turns marital fallout into murder intrigue. It’s perfect for fans of domestic thrillers, ensemble casts, and stories where revenge is served cold—literally.
