3.5* rounded down

The Widow’s Guide to Murder seemed like it would be a sweet, cozy mystery. It had all the elements I enjoy in the summary: a cozy small town, an older woman, new friends and a library. I should have loved this, but it fell a little short. That’s not to say it was bad; it was not bad. It just didn’t work as well for me as other, similar cozy mysteries.

Ginny is a lonely widow, whose husband has just recently passed. She’s lived a very quiet life. Her husband was a doctor and she ran his office, but now that he’s gone, she has moved away and she needs to find new ways to fill her time and find some joy.

The small town of Little Shaw offers her a part-time job in a library and a small community in which to get involved. Except the library manager is a horribly rude woman whom no one likes and she just happens to turn up dead. Of course, Ginny finds her and she happens to notice a little detail that alerts the police that this may not be a simple death.

This is the extent of Ginny’s character. She has seen any number of things at her husband’s office and she has a good heart. She’s a bit too much of a goody-goody; it becomes a bit annoying until towards the end when she actually makes choices rather than getting carried along. She meets three widows in town and they pull her into their circle, which is wonderful for Ginny. Yet, when the prime suspect is one of their daughters, Ginny and the others can’t not look into the details. They need to prove her innocence.

The mystery winds around the town and in learning all the details the author also manages to give the reader a lot of background on the town and its characters. It’s a lovely set up for a series. My issue was that I didn’t feel engaged. There was very little hook to pull me in and the town didn’t feel alive enough for me to care about the characters and what happens to them. Ginny only meets the suspected murderer after the widows ask for her help. We don’t know this woman enough to actually believe she must absolutely be innocent and to care that she be innocent.

When the mystery finally winds down, all the loose ends are tied off. The murderer had an interesting story and I was surprised, but I wasn’t invested enough for it to be a revelation. A large part of a book working for me is the world and the background or the characters feeling really alive. It ruins the experience if it doesn’t feel like it could be real. The characters here are a bit flat.

The three widows Ginny meets are all old biddies and it seems like they were written to ensure they fell into different boxes. There’s the sweet old lady, the brash one and the lesbian. We don’t really learn much more about them than this. Even Ginny is flat. She has family that keeps calling her to move back because she can’t be trusted to look after herself and she considers it multiple times. Yet, she also sticks her nose in other people’s business? It doesn’t really track. It destroys the magic when the fabric that makes up the story doesn’t feel alive.

Otherwise, the mystery had lots of details and was interesting. I’ll probably pick up the sequel but I won’t be running for it. I hope it works a little better than this one did.

Grief, Retirement, and Murder all in one! Following Ginny and her new found widowed-friends navigate a crazy mess they’ve dragged into was very entertaining! I can’t wait to dive into the second book!

This was my first book by this author - and the start of a new series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - there was murder, mystery, suspense and a surprising outcome.
The book was well written and the characters are developing nicely and gelling together well. It makes book 2 well worth waiting for.

The ladies came together to make the Widows Murder Club - because they had all lost their partners but lived in the same village - in fact it seems libraries and librarians are a dangerous combination! What trouble can books get you into? There is no resemblance to a similar series of books about a murder club.

To provide much more information would give too many spoilers but I thoroughly recommend this book and I imagine the series

A very quick gentle read, perfect for anyone who likes cosy crime with likeable quirky characters. I'd love to know where this perfect village is, with a thriving library, shops, police station and a bus service!

This fast-paced cozy mystery had me laughing. The quirky group of widows are the perfect mix of hilarious and endearing — I couldn't get enough of their banter and dynamics. Each character brought something unique to the table, making them feel like a real-life group of friends you’d want to hang out with (even if they do find themselves tangled up in all sorts of mischief!).

That said, while the ragtag group of widows are quirky, I didn’t find the the mystery plot as gripping as I was hoping for, nor did it leave me super curious to know what happens next. Also, there are a few moments in the book that just stretched my suspension of disbelief too far. Some of the wild decisions the widows made felt a little too unbelievable for me to fully buy into, which took me out of the story for a bit.

Despite its flaws, though, the humor and charm of the characters kept me entertained. If you’re looking for a cozy mystery set in a small town with quirky characters, this one’s definitely worth checking out!

The first book by Amanda Ashby I have read and the first book in a new series. I think it fits into the cost mystery genre but without the humour of a Richard Osman book. Always good to write from insight and this author has worked in a library and has been a volunteer manager which are part of the storyline. Looking forward to reading book two very shortly.

This is the first in a new series by Amanda Ashby, a new author to me. The synopsis sounded interesting so, I requested this ARC from Netgalley.
I thought it was well crafted and written. It deals with a new widow trying to deal with the death of her husband, a move to a new town, a new job, and an unlikeable boss.

I found it a plausible read. I had empathy for Ginny. The new friends she makes help her deal with her day-to-day existence and eventually allow her to grow and feel comfortable with her new life.

I was given and advanced e-copy from Netgally and these are my own opinions.

First of all, a huge thank you to Storm Publishing and Amanda Ashby for this amazing opportunity. I have been dying to read this book ever since I saw the cover. It really captured my attention to be honest.

When I started reading this book, I was really having a hard time getting into it.
Maybe because it's very narrative for me and I tend to find that kind of writing style... I wouldn't say boring, but it tends to make me sleepy.

Around 50% or 60% of the book, that's when the story finally piqued my interest.
The widows were chaotic as hell, and they literally bring so much excitement and fun all throughout the story.
All of them have different characteristics, but they all have the same goal.

Overall, I give this book a 4-star rating because I enjoyed reading it and I hope Widows will be more chaotic in the second book.
I can't wait for their next murder mystery adventure!

"The Widow's Guide to Murder" is the first book in a new cozy mystery series about Ginny Cole and her group of friends who solve mysteries. Amanda Ashby has put together an interesting and enjoyable story, though it starts off a bit slow. Once the characters are introduced and the mystery gets going, it becomes a real pleasure to read. If you love cozy mysteries like "The Thursday Murder Club" or the classic Miss Marple stories, you'll enjoy this book.

The book is well-written, with characters that feel real and relatable. Throughout the story, I felt like I got to know Ginny and the other widows well. The mystery itself is clever, with several twists towards the end, and a surprising finish. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Despite being a murder mystery, this story is uplifting, optimistic, and wonderfully cozy.

Ginny is a widow and has moved to a quiet village to start new. She gets a job at the library to meet people and is suddenly thrust into the murder of her boss. Along with friends she meets who are also widows they decide to investigate. Then another murder happens and the Widows Detective Club begins.
A delightful journey of murder and mystery. Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the chance to read this story.

I love a good detective series- especially one with a MFC! This thoroughly enjoyed and excited for more in the series! Kept me hooked and enjoying all throughout and shocked by the surprises. Worth the read for sure!

This wondrous cozy crime with a twist, soothed my soul. Perfect for this march, just get that cup of tea and hunker down in your reading space. I read this twice, because that strong female main character really made me happy. I loved the way the murder plot was developed. I am rally glad I could go straight to book 2 after this, because this book willl give you a withdrawal feeling.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced e-book copy.

The Widows’ Guide to Murder by Amanda Ashby was a hoot! Ginny Cole moved to Little Shaw Village shortly after her husband passed away. She lived a quiet life until she discovered the murdered body of Luisa Farnsworth.

Ginny’s life quickly turns chaotic, but manages to make friends in the process. Like Ginny, they’re all widows. They come together and form the Widows’ Detective Club.

I thoroughly enjoyed the widows coming together and causing trouble. These amateur sleuths often find themselves in crazy predicaments, and they quickly realize they’re way in over their heads. The author threw me for a loop just when I thought I had it figured out! This cozy mystery will keep you guessing until the very end.

The Widow's Guide to Murder was an absolute delight from start to finish! Ginny is such a fantastic protagonist—smart, witty, and determined to solve the case despite being a "newcomer" to the village. The quirky group of widows in the Detective Club had me laughing and cheering for them at every turn. The mystery itself was gripping, with plenty of twists and secrets to uncover. I loved how the story balanced the cozy atmosphere of the village with the suspense of a killer lurking nearby. The characters were so endearing, and the plot kept me on my toes. A charming and thoroughly enjoyable read!

**rounded up from 4.5 stars**

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC of ”The Widows’ Guide to Murder” in exchange for my honest opinion. This is a lighter take on a murder mystery that centers around a group of widows trying to solve the crime. I enjoyed Ginny’s character and that so much of the setting took place in a library. There were so many characters introduced with just bits and pieces of a backstory that often left me confused. The ending seemed a bit abrupt, but overall an enjoyable read.

Widowhood hits Ginny Cole hard. Although she’s moved house and seeks a fresh start in Little Shaw, she cannot stop speaking aloud to her husband as if he were still present with her. She hopes that her new job as Library Assistant will satisfy her desire for social connections and provide her with a purpose again.

So, a few days into her post, the last thing Ginny expects (including the acerbic, unlikeable and totally unhelpful Louise Farnsworth as her Library Manager) is to discover said person’s dead body sprawled on the floor when she opens the door which impatient book lovers have been waiting outside wondering why it wasn’t ajar yet.

Murmurs and rumours escalate when it’s determined that Louisa has been murdered. Ginny has already tentatively made new friends with fellow widows JM, Tuppence, and Hen. Desperate to see justice done and protect the innocent, they decide to take matters into their own hands when Hen’s daughter Alison comes under suspicion due to a threatening letter she once sent Louisa.

Their antics incense DI Wallace who’s on the case and happens to be Ginny’s next-door neighbour. Though they exasperate him tremendously at first, he slowly begins to take them seriously. And when another murder occurs, it makes Ginny and her friends targets and potential victims themselves.

I loved these colourful Widows’ Detective Agency characters and how they support one another. There are several twists and turns to the story to maintain interest and make the denouement hard to guess. A delightful cozy crime mystery which whets the appetite for book 2 in this series. Grateful thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC.

Thank you NetGalley, Amanda Ashby, & Storm Publishing for an E-ARC of The Widows' Guide to Murder!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: March 3rd, 2025


Synopsis:

Ginny Cole doesn’t want to be a widow. She’d rather not be forcibly adopted by an opinionated black cat. And she’d give anything not to have just found the murdered body of her rude and dislikeable new boss…So she’s as surprised as anyone to realise that she doesn’t hate being on the wrong side of the law, searching a graveyard for evidence in the company of three fellow widows, and doing a whole host of un-Ginny-like things in order to solve a fiendish mystery.It was a bumpy start, but Ginny might even be starting to like her new life. Certainly well enough that when her sleuthing puts her too close for the killer’s comfort, she’ll do whatever it takes to hold onto it…


Review:

The first book in The Widows Detective Club series, The Widows’ Guide to Murder is a fun cozy murder mystery. Such an entertaining and fun cozy murder mystery. I was immediately immersed in the story! The group of widows are so charming, adorable and quirky - you want to be their friends and join their group. I can't wait to read the next book, and I can't wait to see what trouble the widows get into next. Had everything I love about a cozy mystery-an excellent cast of (sometimes eccentric) characters, a quirky cat, a charming village...and a grumpy detective inspector who glares at everyone A wonderful, fast-paced murder mystery, with fun, quirky, characters, and a good storyline makes this a great read. I look forward to reading more tales in this series!


If you love Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, Robert Thorogood and The Thursday Murder Club mysteries, you’ll adore this charming cozy mystery full of thrilling twists and endearing characters.

After the unexpected death of her husband, Ginny moves to the village of Little Shaw. Ginny’s husband was her whole life. She’s elected a move and has found a job at the local library to augment her income. But she’s not interested in becoming friends with the local widow’s group. Or planning on adopting a black cat, or becoming involved in solving a murder. But Ginny’s new life does not resemble her old life. Join her in her first adventure. Great mystery, interesting town characters, and definitely more adventure than Ginny has ever had. Loved this and looking forward to the next in this series. #netgalley

Sort of four widows who eventually solve some murders. The heroine Ginny is a newbie to a northern town where everybody knows each other.

A fast paced, light-hearted story following Ginny Cole, a recent widow, as she finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery in an otherwise peaceful village. Teamed up with four other widows, it is not their mission to find the perpetrator before the wrong person ends up behind the bars.

I enjoyed the read, and I cannot wait to see what the sequel holds! The writing style is almost nostalgic, and I love the casual representation of the marginalised groups.

If you enjoy light reads that still keep the mind engaged, actively following the clues, this book is the one for you!

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity!