The Widow [review]

The Widow by Fiona Barton[Synopsis]

When the police started asking questions, Jean Taylor turned into a different woman. One who enabled her and her husband to carry on, when more bad things began to happen…
But that woman’s husband died last week. And Jean doesn’t have to be her anymore.
There’s a lot Jean hasn’t said over the years about the crime her husband was suspected of committing. She was too busy being the perfect wife, standing by her man while living with the accusing glares and the anonymous harassment.
Now there’s no reason to stay quiet. There are people who want to hear her story. They want to know what it was like living with that man. She can tell them that there were secrets. There always are in a marriage.
The truth—that’s all anyone wants. But the one lesson Jean has learned in the last few years is that she can make people believe anything…

The Widow
[My Review]
I didn’t know what to expect when I started this novel; I didn’t know much about it previously but what I saw from the synopsis really intrigued me so I was eagerly anticipating reading The Widow.
It had me hooked from the very first page- and by first page, I mean the ‘Dear Reader’ section that comes before the story has even begun. Fiona Barton speaks about her past as a journalist and how this career, which involves a lot of ‘watching people’, inspired this story.
Firstly, Fiona Barton’s writing is just brilliant. The story is so full of suspense, and is crafted in a way that slowly reveals more and more as you immerse yourself in it. I couldn’t stop reading as I tried to guess what the widow really knew about her husband, and I truly savoured every word!
The characters are crated so well, they’re incredibly believable and really make you want to read on. ‘The Widow’, Jean Taylor, was a hard one to figure out – but I guess that’s the beauty of the story. You see various points of view including the reporter, Kate, and DetectiveSparkes, and this gives you an insight into how other people percieve Jean and what they might be thinking about her. I really enjoyed reading the differing viewpoints and stories, and learning more of what exactly Jean knows- or doesn’t know.
I would highly recommend this book. It’s a well written, brilliant story which leaves you thinking about it after you’ve finished. A brilliant debut and an author I’d certainly like to read more of in the future!
[Rating: 5/5]
The Widow will be published in the UK on January 14th 2016.
* Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in return for an honest review *

0 comments

  1. I think I’ll enjoy this one! As soon as I’ve read all the books I’ve committed myself too for blog tours etc, or if I can even find a day to squeeze it in, I’m going to read it. I’ve just read another review and said exactly what Cleo did – that I think we’ll see a lot of this book this year! Super review btw.

  2. Thank you so much! 🙂 I’m exactly the same, quite snowed under with books I’ve committed to reviewing at the moment so I never feel like I can read any others until I’ve finished those- but I think this one is worth it! 🙂

  3. I’ll have to squeeze it in somewhere – having said that, I’ve just read a review of the latest Eva Dolan and it made me desperately want to read THAT! I’m so greedy when it comes to reading books – I always have several on the go at once!

    • I know the feeling, my to read list is horrendously long but I just can’t stop adding them- greedy! I love having lots of great books to look forward to though 🙂

  4. […] The Food of Love by Amanda Prowse // See my review here. All I Ever Wanted by Lucy Dillon // See my review here. The Beautiful Dead by Belinda Bauer // See my review here. After You Die (DI Zigic and DS Ferreira #3) by Eva Dolan // See my review here. The Widow by Fiona Barton // See my review here. […]

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