This is the start of a new series and it is one that I would highly recommend, I loved it and have book 2 ready to read which I can’t wait for. Ginny is very down to earth in the way she thinks and goes about solving crimes and has made lots of new quirky and interesting friends. It’s a nice, cosy mystery and I look forward to seeing how the series develops.

Fans of cosy murder mysteries and senior citizens behaving badly will enjoy this - as I did. The senior sleuths are unlikely but fiercely loyal friends plus adorably fun and funny from calling people toads, gooses or ninnies to digging up graveyards and YouTubing how to pick locks. Then pair them with a dead librarian and a close-knit village rife with gossips and secrets and and you've got an entertaining and heartwarming murder mystery. Whilst not necessarily a must-read, it's a solid, fun four-star read - and what looks to be the first in a new series.

This is ideal for lovers of Agatha Christie, Richard Osman and Robert Thorogood. It’s a cosy murder mystery set in a village in Lancashire. A murder occurs and some of the villagers get involved in solving it. In this case, it’s a Quartet of widowed ladies. Throw in some accommodating police officers and the ladies get to work it all out. The second in the series The Widows’ Guide to Backstabbing is the follow up. Delightful and engaging. Perfect for Mother’s Day!

After the death of her beloved husband, Ginny Cole, is left with no choice but to start over. She's heartbroken and misses him dearly, but it cannot be changed. What is going to change is Ginny's life. She decides to move to the village of Little Shaw for her fresh start, and she needs to get a job. She's happy, though also nervous, when she ends up securing a position as a librarian's assistant.

She's never worked at a library before, but she loves to read and it seems like it could be a fun and fulfilling job. Her unlikable new boss, Louisa, is startlingly rude, but Ginny just supposes that's something she will have to get used to. At least the volunteers seem lovely, and she imagines she'll fit in with time. Her hopes of an easy transition are nixed though, when on her second-day on the job she discovers a dead body in the library. Now Ginny finds herself thrust head-first into local scandals and secrets.

She ends up being approached and befriended by a small group of local widows, feisty and full of fun, the lot of them, who take Ginny under their wing and start to include her in their activities. Of course, their current activity is getting to the bottom of this murder mystery. One of the widows, her daughter, Alyson, is currently the prime suspect. The women know she's not guilty, meaning the killer is still out there, and they plan to find them.

This is such a strong start to a new Cozy Mystery series. This main character, Ginny, is definitely one I could picture myself enjoying for many books to come. Bonus points: in this book, she adopts an adorably-cheeky black cat that she names, Edgar. He's so cute!

I loved the friend group that Ginny gets brought into as well. They all know what it's like to be in her shoes, and I think she found strength in their friendship. It was incredibly healing for Ginny and she really needed that. Ginny's character arc was very well done. Watching her coming into her own, I'm definitely looking forward to more of that as the series continues.

There's also a teenage volunteer, Connor, who I hope is a recurring character in the series. I feel like he and Ginny could end up having a sort of grandparent/child relationship and it's so sweet to read about. I enjoyed how Ginny is new to town, so you get to learn all about the townsfolk at the same time she does. It makes it feel really natural. I also appreciated how logical Ginny is in such a realistic way. She doesn't have OTT-powers of deductive reasoning like some sleuths.

While I had a few issues at the conclusion, overall, I adored this. The library, the cat, the hilarious group of widows; well played, Amanda Ashby. I'm looking forward to more!! I would definitely recommend this to Cozy Mystery fans who love small town settings and slightly older protagonists. Full of humor and heart, this one shouldn't be missed.

Thank you so much, Storm Publishing, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the next book soon!

Ginny is recently widowed and finding life hard on her own.
She decides on a fresh start and moves to the village of Little Shaw and begins working in the local library .
Her boss Louisa is obnoxious and manages to upset a lot of people .
One day Ginny arrives for work and the library is closed inside she finds Louisa’s body .
Ginny is a bit of an inquisitive person ( nosey) and joins forces with a group of widows in the hope of finding the killer .
The writing makes for an easy read .
The characters are likeable and this is a solid start to a new cosy mystery series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

Thank you firstly for the NetGalley copy. My first time reviewing a book pre-publication !!

I loved this book! So very easy to binge read - which I did.

Ginny is recently widowed and struggling with her loss. She moves to a pretty village in Lancashire and a new job in her local library. She tentatively makes friends with Hen, JM and Tuppence, three fellow widows. So far, so cosy.

When Ginny discovers her horrible boss, Louisa, dead, Ginny’s life becomes far too fast paced and she and her friends become amateur sleuths!

I found the story to be initially fairly slow paced but half way through, I felt Ginny’s all too common panic at the speed of events that she felt so uncomfortable with. The last third of the book was so fast paced and made a cosy thriller become a rollercoaster! I really enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend. I will be reading the next in the series as I loved the characters and look forward to seeing how they develop.

Okay, this book was so much fun! The Widows’ Guide to Murder is a cozy, fast-paced murder mystery that kept me entertained from start to finish.
Ginny Cole just wants a fresh start after losing her husband. She moves to Little Shaw Village, gets a job at the library, and is just settling in when she finds her rude, unpleasant boss dead. Suddenly she’s caught up in a murder investigation alongside a group of hilarious widows who take sleuthing way too seriously. Before she knows it, she’s sneaking into graveyards at night, dodging danger, and questioning how her quiet life took such a chaotic turn.

I loved how the story balanced humor, mystery, and heart. The Widows’ Detective Club was the perfect mix of nosy and lovable, and their antics had me laughing. The library setting, the black cat (because what’s a cozy mystery without one), and all the small-town drama made this such an engaging read. Plus, the twists kept me on my toes. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, boom, curveball.

The only reason this isn’t a full five stars is that some parts were a tiny bit far-fetched, but honestly, I didn’t care because I was having such a great time. If you love cozy mysteries with quirky characters and an unpredictable whodunit, The Widows’ Guide to Murder needs to be on your list.

4.5 stars. Can’t wait to pick up the next book in the series.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Amanda Ashby, and the Storm Publishing for this copy.

𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞s
- As Henrich Heine said, “Wherever they burn books they will also, in the end, burn human beings”.’
- Ginny had the feeling that Harold Rowe liked books better than people.

I usually go more for the darker mysteries, but this was a lot of fun.

Ginny is newly widowed and has moved to Little Shaw, a small village in the English countryside, to take a job as a library assistant. When the head librarian is found dead shortly after she starts her job, Ginny is drawn into an unofficial investigation. A few other widows include her in their group as they try to clear Alyson, the daughter of Hen. The mystery eventually encompasses several other suspects and there are enough crumbs scattered to successfully deflect suspicion until the end. Along the way, Ginny and her friends investigate several of the main suspects and get involved in shenanigans like digging up a body in search of clues and rescuing the temporary head librarian from a fire. She befriends Connor, a young man doing volunteer work at the library. There's a stray cat with an uncanny ability to point out hidden clues to Ginny. And her next-door neighbor, DI Wallace, is both frustrated and impressed by the widows' interference in his case.

Overall, it's a great start to a series and I look forward to more from Ginny and her friends, JM, Tuppence and Hen. The writing is good and keeps your interest with a well-plotted mystery and a lot of quirky humor. It's a delightful read and I'm sure these ladies will be getting into more predicaments soon.

A Widow's Guide to Murder is full of quirky characters and compelling mysteries.Ginny recently moved to a small quaint town and quickly realizes it's not as charming as it seems. While adjusting to life there, she discovers it's many secrets. If you like shows like Agatha Raisin's Murder Mysteries or Murder, She Wrote, you'll love this.

✨ARC Review ✨

4⭐

If you're in the mood for a delightful cozy mystery, "The Widow's Guide to Murder" by Amanda Ashby is a fantastic pick! Set in a charming small town, this book features an eclectic group of widows who band together to solve a murder. Think of it as a fun mash-up of "The Golden Girls" and "Murder She Wrote," with plenty of twists to keep you on your toes.

The characters are a hoot! There’s one widow who's always knitting and baking up a storm, another who has taken up breaking and entering after mastering lock picking from YouTube, and a third who dabbled in law school and insists on dishing out legal advice full of jargon. Then we have our main character, who really pulls this quirky crew together with her clever plans and charming personality, making her the go-to for information in their little escapades.

The dialogue sparkles with humor—seriously, I was in stitches! The older characters don’t hold back, and I loved every witty exchange. There were moments that had me in tears from laughing so hard. Here are a few gems:

“I prefer cold hard cash, but Hen – she won’t let us gamble anymore. Not since the stripe poker incident.”

“Now that right there is a power move. That stray car has been hanging around for weeks and seems to like tormenting Louisa just as much as Esme does.”

“I’m very rusty, and I do hate not knowing how everything works and where the paperclips should live.”

[JM] “I’m exercising my fifth right amendments. And I will be advising my clients to do the same.” Ginny wasn’t sure if JM realized that they lived in the United Kingdom and weren’t covered by the American Constitution. Still, it didn’t seem like a good time to mention it.

“I am cold. I am tired. It’s been a very long day. So could someone give me a good reason not to throw you all in jail?”

“And you’ve had a very long day, which is bound to make anyone hangry. Maybe you should have something to eat?” [Hen pushes plate of sandwiches towards DI Wallace]

“What we’re saying is our case is waterproof, and you can’t touch us.”

“So I can get a warrant to exhume the body, and to remind myself that I don’t have the energy to arrest four women who are trying to put me in a grave of my own.”

Amid all the laughs, the book also thoughtfully touches on the theme of loss. The author does a wonderful job illustrating how loss can affect people and how different coping mechanisms can help or hinder us. This theme runs through both the main and secondary characters, giving the story a beautifully rounded feel.

Even with the murder mystery element and its heavier moments, the tone remains light and entertaining throughout. It's easy to read and follow, with a nice mix of twists—some easier to guess and others that pack more of a punch. But honestly, I was just enjoying the ride! I can't wait to dive into the next book!

Big Thanks to Netgalley & Amanda Ashby for the gifted ARC.

This is a really enjoyable cosy crime book with lots of quirky and interesting characters. The detectives are older characters and the story does move at a steady pace but it's entrapping and still keeps you gripped. i haven't ready anything by Amanda Ashby before but I definitely will be reading the others in the series

I really enjoyed this cosy mystery. Ginny is a widow who carries through with her late husbands plan of moving from the city to a small village. Here she finds work as a part-time library assistant, only to discover that her new boss is something of an ogre and seems have made enemies with nearly all of the users of the service.
When Ginny discovers her boss has been murdered, she is taken aback and regretting her decision to move to the country. She soon finds herself though, taken under the wing of a small group of local widows who are looking for ways to occupy their time.
Ginny finds herself stepping right out of her comfort zone and eventually out of her grief.
Thank you Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

Endearing, eccentric characters (all widows), all quite vociferous in their views was not quite what Ginny expected when she moved to this small village after the death of her husband. Ginny was retiring, not forceful, taking a back seat and quite drab. Getting a job as an assistant librarian was for her a way to assimilate into village life. She didn’t anticipate her boss Louisa being a nasty piece of work but to find her murdered on the second day of her work at the library was overwhelming.

Lots of suspects because Louisa only made enemies wherever she went. The Detective in charge was not interested in theories put by the group of women, however sensible or ridiculous they were. Detective Wallace was also Ginny’s neighbour which did not help as he looked on them all as an irritant.

Complicated scenarios and relationships in this cozy. All the women had distinctive personalities which made for a very united, tolerant whole.

Idyllic Village Murders…
The first outing in the Widows Detective Club series of mysteries and Ginny’s move to a quaint and idyllic countryside village seems doomed from the outset. Thinking that she’s already had enough bad luck to last a lifetime, imagine her surprise when upon arrival at her new home she falls headlong into a murder. Enjoyable and entertaining cosy mystery with a cast of colourful characters and a well imagined setting. A promising start to a new series.

I really enjoyed this small English village cozy mystery! The characters were interesting and I hope to get to know them better in future books! I liked this book very much as an opening to a series and I look forward to reading the next ones!
Plot-wise, the stakes felt high enough to be interested in the mystery, and I enjoyed the twists and turns.
Ginny is so likeable as a detective and a widow trying to find her place in this small community. Hen, Tuppence, and JM are a great sleuthing crew, and I look forward to getting to know them better as the series goes on. The supporting characters are well drawn, from Connor at the library (who I'm really rooting for!) to grumpy Wallace next door. I especially like Edgar!
All in all, an excellent cozy read!

I was a little apprehensive going into this one. Sometimes, when you have elderly sleuths in cozies, it tends to get a little silly and is short on substance. That is not the case with this series and I loved it! The characters are quirky but well-developed and have common sense (except the whole not having the cell phone with you at all times but that’s quickly remedied), and the setting is quaint and welcoming. Besides the mystery, there are some tough topics covered as well, primarily coping with the loss of loved ones, which added a little heft to the book but was well balanced with the humor and shenanigans of the club. I enjoyed getting to know Ginny and her new friends, following along as they investigated the murders in town. Looking forward to the next in the series!

The Widows' Guide to Murder by Amanda Ashby.
There are a lot of cosy elements in The Widows' Guide to Murder (the first instalment in the "Widows' Detective Club" series). Ginny Cole is a widow who has just moved into a quaint cottage in Little Shaw. She dreams of a peaceful retirement, working part-time at the village library- she's even adopted by a cat- but her plans take a sharp turn when she literally stumbles over the body of her disagreeable boss, Louisa.

What unfolds is a charming tale of mischief and mayhem packed with humour and heart as Ginny teams up with a quirky band of fellow widows to solve the case. Initially hesitant, Ginny quickly finds herself plunging into the world of amateur sleuthing, determined to clear the name of Alyson, the daughter of one of her new friends, who has been wrongfully implicated in the murder. With every twist and turn, Ginny's journey transforms from being a rule-abiding citizen into an unexpected heroine—much to the aggravation of her neighbour, Detective Inspector Wallace, who's not particularly thrilled with the widows and their meddling.

With humour and intrigue, this book has twists that keep you on your toes. If you, like me, enjoy a cosy mystery sprinkled with humour and a touch of whimsy, this book should definitely be on your TBR pile!

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the eARC, allowing me to dive into this delightful whodunit!

Big thumbs up! 👍

Body count: 4, a surprisingly high number for such a cosy mystery!

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The Widows' Guide to Murder by Amanda Ashby is an entertaining, fun-filled cozy mystery that introduces us to Ginny Cole, a recent widow who is trying to navigate her new life in the village of Little Shaw. Ginny moves into a cottage with plans to retire peacefully, but her quiet life is upended when she finds the body of her rude and unlikable boss, Louisa, at her new job as a library assistant. This marks the beginning of Ginny’s unexpected journey into sleuthing and friendship with three other widows—Hen, Tuppence, and JD.

What starts as a reluctant investigation soon turns into a delightful series of misadventures as Ginny and her fellow widows get on the wrong side of the law, all while trying to clear the name of Alyson, the daughter of one of the widows, who is a prime suspect. The dynamic between the widows is fantastic, with each woman bringing her own unique personality to the team. Despite being a rule-follower and having a fear of getting arrested, Ginny finds herself doing things she never imagined, much to the annoyance of the local detective, who isn’t thrilled about their interference.

This book is filled with humor, intrigue, and plenty of twists that keep you guessing. The charming setting, the lovable characters, and the delightful cat Edgar make for an enjoyable read. I found myself cheering on Ginny and her new friends as they unraveled secrets and solved the case. The mystery is well-crafted, and while the plot is light-hearted, it’s full of heart and humor.

The Widows' Guide to Murder is the first book in a promising new series, and I can’t wait for the next installment, The Widows' Guide to Backstabbing. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a touch of humor and a cast of quirky, endearing characters, this one is definitely worth picking up!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this eARC for reading and reviewing!!

I enjoyed this book but didn’t love it. Perhaps I was just tired this week, but I had trouble sticking with it and it took me longer to finish than I expected. Maybe this just happens with the first book in a cozy series but the pacing felt a little slow. I enjoyed the small town setting, the library, and the characters. I will definitely consider reading the next book in the series.

This is the first book in The Widows' Detective Club series. Recently widowed Ginny moves to Little Shaw to start her new job as a librarian. She arrives for her second day in the job and finds the body of her boss. She quickly finds herself thrust into a friendship group with three other widows while they try and solve the murder.

This was such an easy read and a great mystery to follow along with. There certainly wasn't a lack of suspects and the clues were there all along. Ginny is a great main character, especially when she is trying to keep the other widows in check. I laughed out loud a few times at their escapades! I'm going straight into the second book and hopefully it's just as good.