Review: The Good Widow

Summary: Elementary school teacher Jacqueline “Jacks” Morales’s marriage was far from perfect, but even in its ups and downs it was predictable, familiar. Or at least she thought it was…until two police officers showed up at her door with devastating news. Her husband of eight years, the one who should have been on a business trip to Kansas, had suffered a fatal car accident in Hawaii. And he wasn’t alone.

For Jacks, laying her husband to rest was hard. But it was even harder to think that his final moments belonged to another woman—one who had left behind her own grieving and bewildered fiancé. Nick, just as blindsided by the affair, wants answers. So he suggests that he and Jacks search for the truth together, retracing the doomed lovers’ last days in paradise.

Now, following the twisting path of that fateful road, Jacks is learning that nothing is ever as it seems. Not her marriage. Not her husband. And most certainly not his death… -- Lake Union

I was very happy to learn that Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke had a new book available. I have enjoyed their women's fiction novels in the past, and it was exciting to see that they were trying something a little new for them -- a thriller! Their latest book is titled THE GOOD WIDOW and it was a very good read!

THE GOOD WIDOW tells the story of Jacks, a woman whose husband recently died in a car wreck. Her marriage was far from perfect; however, Jacks discovers that her husband James was in Hawaii (not Kansas City like she thought) and with another woman! Needless to say, Jacks was shocked and almost stops functioning.

Meanwhile, Nick is also surprised to learn that his fiancee's is dead... and that she was with another man. He is also in a tremendous amount of pain, but he wants to understand what happened. So, he approaches Jacks and asks her to go to Hawaii with him to get some answers. Together, they try to relive the last days of their loved ones.

What Jacks discovers about her husband's hidden life is shocking to say the least. However, the pain she feels is nothing compared to what she learns about herself!

Like most of Ms. Fenton and Ms. Steinke's novels, I enjoyed THE GOOD WIDOW quite a bit. I am still amazed that they can live apart, yet write a novel together -- pretty cool, right? I appreciated the character development, especially Jacks; and I like that the book took a rather dark turn. I will admit that I wasn't entirely surprised by the ending, but I still think the book managed to be an overall intriguing read.

One thing I really liked was how they brought the character of Jacks to life. I felt the portrayal of a grieving widow was extremely realistic, and I really thought they captured the essence of the betrayal she felt as she learned the truth about her husband. In addition, I enjoyed that I felt so much sympathy towards her. My heart seriously broke as she was forced to explore her marriage, her insecurities, and the decisions she made.

I also enjoyed the suspense aspect of THE GOOD WIDOW and think it's a great addition to your beach or pool bag. While I do think many readers will figure things out fairly early on, it still was a well plotted mystery... and a little bit creepy. The book is fast-paced and the setting of Hawaii doesn't hurt either.

In conclusion, THE GOOD WIDOW is a fun summer read that will definitely entertain you. Recommended to fans of suspense stories as well as fans of women's fiction.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.