Black Widows

Cate Quinn knows how to keep you guessing! Black Widows is a total page-turner that you'll want to read all in one sitting.

What is this about?

Blake is dead, and one of his three wives killed him -- and each thinks one of the other ones killed him.

What else is this about?

Some deft characterisation makes each of these women distinct, complex characters that kept me riveted to the end. I didn't even realise how close I was to the end.


Black Widows is a book that exceeded all my expectations. Before I start talking about the wives, let me talk about the plot.

Blake Nelson is dead 

Blake Nelson and his wives live on a remote parcel of land, far from the law and gossips where he and his wives can live in peace. Blake has removed himself from the religion he grew up with much to his family's disgust, and his mother who cannot believe her son has left their family like this.

He is not anything like his wives expected, and is prone to bouts of depression that they each recall during the book. When he is murdered, suspicion falls on the wives because of the circumstances and location of his death.

The wives: Rachel, Emily and Tina

Each wife is able to tell their story in this book, with chapters going from one to the other and then the third with ease. I was seriously riveted by how Quinn created and developed these women, using their contrasting POVs to tell the tale of their life with Blake and each other. No-one knew all of him, but all were jealous of what the other women had of him.

As the story develops, we realise that Blake was far more manipulative than anyone gave him credit for,  preying on his wives and their insecurities with skill to get them to marry him. The truth of marriage with him was never what they expected, but they couldn't rely on each other to be able to understand him better because they were always at odds with each other.

At the same time this means that the wives suspect each other of his murder. Quinn makes each into a complex woman, with their own hopes and fears and needs (from Blake) before she lets them begin to understand each other as the book progresses.

That's what I enjoyed -- that the women were learning about each other as much as we were learning about them.

Each woman is distinct, and Quinn creates them with efficient prose, within the confines of the plot.  Free from Blake and his needs they begin to understand each other and themselves better -- and inbetween all this is the far more complicated plot than the blurb would have you believe.

There are secrets laid bare with far reaching consequences for them all, but most especially Rachel. She is the epitome of the wive that Blake wanted -- who does the right thing, does what he wants and accepts whatever he tells her to. Even though there are central elements that revolve around Rachel, Quinn never lets that overtake the book -- Tina's and Emily's stories are as valid and important to the story with each complementing each other's and the plot.

Now I have repeated myself several times in this review, but let me finish by saying it again: Quinn has created a trio of complex women at the centre of this mystery, each with their own story to tell. They were far more than their husband thought they were.

What do you expect when a man marries thrice and doesn't get divorced at all. All these three resenting wives in one home, trying to adjust to his ways, preparing for the end of days? Also it doesn't help that the house is in the middle of nowhere in the desert in Utah. Well, you can certainly expect him to die mysteriously. And who killed him? Well, that's what this book is for, innit?
Rachel, sister-wife one: pious, dutiful, secretive and has a traumatic past.
Emily, sister-wife two: timid, curious with a tendency to lie.
Tina, sister-wife three: bold, cynical and a former drug addict (among other things) from Las Vegas.
This book was a crazy ride. The narration was from the POVs of the wives, each with their unique thought process and style. But even with multiple POVs it was quite easy to follow. The cult angle was interesting and sad too. Because so much of it is real. Its a wonder that women survive and thrive in this world despite what they are put through. All of these wives suffered differently but their pain was the unifier.
But despite the harrowing events, the narration was interesting and witty and at times funny. The book got a bit slow in the middle. And the whole aspect of polygamy was a bit unbelievable. I do not know much about The Latter Day Saints and their old ways but I will be trying to learn more about this branch of Christianity. Can people do that? Get married to more than one person, in this present century?
I loved reading this book and if you are searching for a thriller with different troupes, this book is for you!
Thank you Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the E-ARC.