Private Investigator Vandy Myrick is still dealing with her daughters death, one day at time. She attends a school award banquet with Ingrid a teenager she befriended in book 1. Ingrid has a new boyfriend, and Vandy will meet him at the banquet, only to find out that he is the son of her ex, who also is also the guest of honor. Philip Bolden gives a drunken speech and things go downhill.
After a disturbance at the banquet Vandy meets up with Philip, and he wants to see the grave of their daughter, they end up spending the night together, and after that things get complicated.
Great twists and turns – looking forward to book 3

Delia Pitts created something special when she created Vandy Myrick.

I've been lucky enough to read both books in the series (and would eagerly & happily read more should Ms. Pitts write them & there be need of some readers), so I can confidently say that the second book is just as good as the first - which I loved.

The covers, the descriptions, the vibes... they give cozy mystery. But Vandy's world really is much more complex than the ordinary sort of cozy mystery. She's middle aged and she's a private investigator, rather than twenty-something and a bakery- or bookshop owner. She comes with a whole history of angst and a complex backstory that's woven seamlessly into the cases she solves.

Death of a Ex, like the first book in the series (Trouble in Queenstown) are also excellent commentaries on how family, and the grief that comes with loving and losing, translates across race and class in society.

I do think that it would be best to read the first book before this one. This one might work as a standalone but you'd be missing out on the rich, vivid world & character building that happened in the first novel. So read that, then read this.

You'll thank me.

Thanks to the author, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the chance to read & review this book.

The myster was fine, i didnt find anything overall special nor negative about the book. it was a decent paced book and held my attention enough to be able to finish it.

I really liked this mystery. Although I enjoyed the story, it was the undertones of social order and structure that was very well done. This is the first book I have read by this author and I will be picking up more.

Delilah Pitts continues Vandy Myrick's journey in Queenstown, NJ. This time, her skills as a private investigator are put to the test when she must solve the murder of her ex-husband.

This book presents an excellent opportunity to see Vandy's growth from the first installment, which is both relatable and commendable. She grapples with the profound loss of her daughter, and the demands of caring for her father, who suffers from dementia, are palpable. especially when she discovers that lies have been exchanged between him and her ex-husband, Phil. Vandy is left unsure of whom to trust.

However, secrets remain hidden when Phil is suddenly murdered.

"Death of an Ex" continues to explore themes of small-town dynamics, socioeconomic differences, and shifty politics. The relationships throughout the story made for a page-turning experience. The author skillfully maintains reader interest by highlighting the complexities of each character and their evolving relationships.

While there are some slight pacing issues, the overall experience remains enjoyable. Vandy’s character welcomes readers into her complicated world, and her relatable flaws make her journey compelling. "Death of an Ex" strikes a nice balance between cozy mystery and thrilling drama. This addition to the series is a strong one, and I believe that long-time readers will appreciate their return to Queenstown.

First book by this author and I thought it was pretty good. It was a mystery, yes, who killed her ex husband and who was he really, the man she knew and loved or? It deals with her grief over her daughter's tragic death and issues of racism and classism. At times, it was bit too descriptive for my taste but overall pretty good

Death of an Ex, by Delia Pitts, is the second book in a new series featuring Black female private investigator Vandy Myrick working in Queenstown, New Jersey. In this volume, Vandy seems softer and more introspective than in the first book—more compassionate and mature. She misses her mother and regrets that she never took the time to get to know her before her death. Almost three years have passed since her daughter’s tragic death, but Vandy’s grief is as raw as ever.
Shortly after the story opens, Vandy attends an awards banquet at Queenstown’s elite Rome prep school with Ingrid Ramirez, a spunky Latina teen who hired Vandy in the first book to prove her dead brother’s innocence in a murder investigation. Ingrid is a scholarship student who is being recognized at the ceremony for her academic excellence.
The guest of honor is Philip Bolden, Vandy’s ex-husband. The couple split just a few months after the birth of Monica, their only daughter, and have had little contact since. Coincidentally, Ingrid is dating Phil’s son, Tariq, a star athlete and budding artist.
After Phil drinks too much and makes a fool of himself during his speech at the banquet, embarrassing his wife and son and alienating the Rome School’s president, he and Vandy reconnect. She agrees to take him to the cemetery to visit Monica's grave. All the old physical chemistry between the former spouses is still there.
The morning after their night together, Phil is found shot to death in the parking lot next to Vandy’s office. He never made it back to his car after he left her place. Vandy might be the last person to see her ex alive—not that she’s going to admit it. But she vows to find out who was responsible for Phil’s murder. Since the police chief is one of Vandy’s former lovers, he agrees to let her help with the investigation.
Vandy’s sleuthing homes in on Phil’s wife and son, as well as some of the Rome School’s faculty, where Phil’s wife works as a guidance counselor. Vandy also learns about Phil’s shady business dealings. Following the money leads her on a circuitous path that even takes her to the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, where Vandy’s mother and daughter are buried.
The plot is twisty, and the relationships are complex. The reveal is a surprise but inevitable, as a good mystery’s ending should be.
The writing is excellent. Delia Pitts does a great job with description, character, and genuine emotion. And she doesn’t shy away from prickly social issues like race and class.
Thank you to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance copy in the hope of a review.

I was crushed by how bad this book was. I liked the first book, Trouble in Queenstown, and sincerely hoped the writing would improve. I was invested enough to request Death of an Ex. I was so disappointed by this book. Why are people vomiting at banquet hall tables? Why is an adult, a former cop and current private detective, ratting out a teenager in such a childish way? I can't read anything else by this author.

Back in New Jersey where Vandy is still dealing with the loss of her daughter but now she is looking into the missing of her ex. While doing so it is also bringing back memories and other feelings from the past about her time with her ex and from her daughter. All the while finding more about each. You still have Vandy though and that is what keeps this story going. A wonderful book with excellent characters.

A statement to how what our heart wants can blind us to what is real and in front of us. Vandy as a PI is pretty good at uncovering avenues to pursue and chasing down leads When she decides to throw herself into the investigation of her ex-husband's murder, she compromises herself. While uncovering who Phil really was to those around him, Vandy must also confront her past. I enjoyed how the single murder mushroomed into a larger crime. The author skillfully used Vandy's past memories to hide some truths. I made a lot of the connections, but still enjoyed the twists thrown into the mystery. A big thanks to Katie Layton of St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books) for granting me access to an ARC of this book! A great thriller that leaves nothing undone, but I can definitely see continuing Vandy's exploits.

Vandy Myrick is the only Black private investigator in Queenstown, NY. Recently having returned to “Q-town, keeping busy helps her deal with her ongoing grief of losing her daughter. Reconnecting with her ex husband offers a brighter future but he’s murdered and she’s on the case. Vandy connects with the people in Phil Bolden’s life, finding there was more to the man she was once married to then she realized. Phil was not a simple man multi-layered from being a parent to businessman to philanthropist. Who were his enemies let alone who would want to murder him? There are multiple threads to the story, relationships, race, social issues, and more providing a layered mystery to be solved. Characters range from likeable to sympathetic to totally unlikeable. The book is the second in Pitts' series but totally stands on its own. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur for the ARC.

Vandy Myrick is a PI that recently moved back to her hometown in NJ. This book is more than just a mystery and trying to find out who killed her ex, Phil Bolden. It also deals with race, class, dealing with loss and grief and politics. The book is good in regards to the twists that are added in the right spots, but I did feel like it droned on at times and I would find myself having to repeat the page as my mind wondered. Overall it was a solid story and I would try another book from Delia Pitts as this is a part of a series.

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, but I enjoyed it. My main note is about the title. It sounds like a cozy mystery, and it seems sort of trivial. However, the book’s opener showed me immediately that the tone of the title doesn’t fit the tone of the book at all. I wish it had a different title, but the cover suits the book and its tone in my opinion.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. There’s a little bit of a hard boiled PI style to Vandy’s first-person narration, which I really like, and the characters are well-developed and interesting. The mystery was gripping enough and kept me in suspense.

My gripes are minor in context, and the book is enjoyable and even thought-provoking in some ways. I recommend it if you like mysteries and racial and class concerns. As far as I know, you don’t have to have read book one to follow this book. I didn’t read the first book, and I didn’t feel lost at all.

*****3.5 stars*****

Thank you net galley for this arc. this book was so focused on vandy's struggles as she deals with grief and relationships. this was an engaging character driven mystery.

Delia Pitts’ Death of an Ex is a mystery that pulls you in with its twists, emotions, and complex characters. PI Vandy Myrick heads back to her hometown of Queenstown, New Jersey, and walks right into the murder of her ex-husband, Phil Bolden.

Phil was successful, charming, and knew how to get what he wanted….
but he also had a habit of using people and treating them like they were beneath him, including his own son. Plenty of people had a reason to want him dead, but Vandy has her own baggage to deal with too. She’s still coming to terms with her daughters death & drowning in the grief over it. It’s something she hasn’t been able to move past….. understandably!

What I really loved about this book is how it mixes mystery with raw emotion. Pitts doesn’t just focus on who killed Phil, but why, peeling back the layers of Queenstown and its people. The setting feels alive, and the supporting characters ~ like Phil’s son and wife ~ make the story even richer. There were some moments that made me cringe and others that genuinely shocked me!

Death of an Ex is an addictive, character-driven mystery that kept me hooked, and Vandy Myrick is a protagonist I won’t forget anytime soon.

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for a eArc of this story.

Vandy Myrick is a Black Private Investigator with a ton of emotional baggage. Returning to her hometown in New Jersey is both good and horrible for her at the same time. Still reeling from her daughter's senseless death, she is now aware that the child's absentee father has been murdered. She wants to know who and why. Good investigation with lots of twists and more. Riveting.
I requested and received a temporary copyrighted digital galley from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Avail Jul 15, 2025 ****review
#DeathOfAnEx by @deliapitts50 #VandyMyrickMysteriesBk2 @minotaur_books @stmartinspress
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Running into her ex was not expected but when his murder hits a bit too close to home, Vandy is determined to find out who killed Phil and why. This drama builds from a slow boil to cascading bubbles that does not disappoint, quickly becoming a page-turner as I had to know what happens next. The author did a great job with the visually descriptive narrative and engaging dialogue that made me see Queenstown through Vandy’s eyes. The mystery was nicely executed with a potential list of suspects, all who have been betrayed by Phil. I like how this was staged where the few twists and turns added to the suspense and intrigue of what was going on. The more Vandy digs into their motive, the more she uncovers, and it is by her persistent nature and to soothe her emotional soul, she discovers the one clue that puts a notch in the identity of the killer. This book is an excellent and grippingly enticing read and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Vandy Myrick is back with another mystery on her hands, only this time it’s very personal to her. Phil Bolden was her ex and father of her daughter. When he is murdered after leaving her house, Vandy is determined to find out who killed him. However, in the process she is about to find out more about Phil, his wife and son, and her community than she realizes was hiding beneath the surface.

This is the second book, I’ve read from Delia Pitts and both times I’ve very much enjoyed the characters, the interactions, the mystery, it’s all a neatly woven story with threads coming from every direction so the reader isn’t sure which thread will lead to a possible motive or even the killer. The author has the ability to take the story from each angle and allow the reader to figure out the mystery while adding suspense, misdirection, motive and heartache dance all together until the killer is revealed. Well done once again!

Another excellent book by Delia Pitts. I love the characters and the way the mystery unfolds. Well done!

Phil Bolden had a lot of charm and charisma, which made him successful with the ladies and successful in business. However, the way he took advantage of others to advance his own interests, and his condescending manner towards some people (including his son), meant there were numerous individuals with a motive for wanting him dead. Especially with her personal connection to the case, as Phil was her ex-husband, although the marriage ended years ago, Vandy Myrick will have a challenge figuring out who killed Phil. The story has plenty of twists and turns.