I really do love reading about true crime because the old adage, truth is stranger than fiction is very true. This book proves that point. Meet The Black Widow by Linda Calvey gives the reader a detailed look inside the world of gangsters and criminal activities. Plus it takes place in England and I pretty much love everything that hails from over there including books.

Growing up after the war in the East End of London, Linda falls in with local gangsters including the Krays, Freddie Foreman and Ronnie Cook. When the love of her life, Mickey Calvey, is gunned down on a job gone wrong, Linda resolves to carry on his work.

But in 1990, after years of living in fear of her lover Ronnie Cook, Linda finds herself accused of his murder alongside Danny Reece, in a trial that shocks the nation. Still, Linda sticks to her code of honour, refusing to confess.

Until now…

After 18 years behind bars alongside notorious names including Rose West and Myra Hindley, she is released. This is the final truth about her life and what happened the day Ronnie Cook was murdered.

If you are a fan of true crime as I am, you are going to want to read this book! What an insane life the author has lived. Get it here.

The Black Widow is a interesting true crime book. The book is well written and answers some questions about why things happen to land her in prison.

I don't often read autobiographies but I was intrigued by the premise of this book. Told from her rearly years to the present day we find out more about Linda and how she came to be one of the longest serving female prisoners. This book certainly glamourises the life of crime at times, although of course there are the ultimate consequences such as death and prison covered too. I would have liked to find out more about the long term impact this had on her children who must have experienced a very unsettled childhood, which is touched upon. but not explored in much detail, i imagine to keep their prrivacy. Overall, the book was a good read. It now comes down to a matter of who you believe..... was she unfortunately caught up in the situation or was it cold blooded and planned!

This was a great read! It felt like I was reading fiction, but it was true! The author's raw writing truly makes this book great, as she laid everything on the table, good and bad about the choices she made.

I don't know why Linda Calvey was a robber when it is quite clear that she should have been a writer.

WOW! Sit down, pour a glass of wine, and settle in. This is one book that you can't put down.
I had to stop reading and double check to make sure that this book was a true crime and not fiction. It read like a fictional account, but its all real.
I was hooked from the time of her first boyfriend. That no good for nothing two timing loser to the shocking death of her lover Ronnie.
She has lived quite a life.
I think she has her next life as a writer!
Loved it!

This is a true crime story that's told from the heart of the author, Linda Calvey. She holds nothing back, she tells it all. She's been married four times and widowed four times. Linda has rubbed shoulders with some infamous gangsters including the Krays, Freddie Foreman and Ronnie Cook. In 1990, Linda was convicted of killing her lover, a crime she did not commit. She was given a double sentence because she would not admit to the crime. While inside, she met notorious child killers Rose West and Myra Hindley. Since her release she has lived a quiet life. She married a local businessman. I found this book interesting and only put it down to sleep. If your a fan of true life crime. I recommend this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Mirror Books and the author Linda Calvey for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A very honest and frank account of the author's life in a world of criminals.I would recommend reading it if you like memoirs. Fascinating insight. My thanks to Net Galley for my ARC. reviews on Goodreads and Facebook, Amazon to follow on publication day.

Wow, what an incredible story about a legendary female gangster. Prior to reading this I wasn’t familiar with Linda Calvey. However, by reading this book, I was quickly introduced to a memorable cast of characters. In fact, if it weren’t for the fact that this is a memoir, I would have thought this was fiction as some of the moments are just unthinkable. I really enjoyed this book but it’s not for those who are squeamish.

Thanks to NetGalley for this eARC which I received for free in exchange for the honest review which I posted above.

What an exciting cast of characters this turned out to have! And what a wild ride of a life Linda Calvey lived. This is quite a true life crime story, and an amazing one at that from England. If I hadn’t had an important appointment, I probably would have tried to read it from start to finish. As it was, I was sniffling at the big, sad part during the few moments I got to peek at it again just before my appointment! Why do they have to interrupt my reading time? I love the Cockney language in it, the highs and lows, and highs again and Linda’s can-do attitude and ability to stand up for herself.

If you know anything about true crime, you’ll recognize plenty of names in this book as it goes along. I recommend it highly for memoir readers who are familiar withnames like the Krays, East Enders, etc. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Linda Calvey, and the publisher