Review: The Widows by Jess Montgomery

The Widows

by Jess Montgomery

Publisher: Minotaur

Pages: 336

Format: ebook

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Kinship, Ohio, 1924: When Lily Ross learns that her husband, Daniel Ross, the town’s widely respected sheriff, is killed while transporting a prisoner, she is devastated and vows to avenge his death.

Hours after his funeral, a stranger appears at her door. Marvena Whitcomb, a coal miner’s widow, is unaware that Daniel has died, and begs to speak with him about her missing daughter.

From miles away but worlds apart, Lily and Marvena’s lives collide as they realize that Daniel was not the man that either of them believed him to be—and that his murder is far more complex than either of them could have imagined.

Kritters Thoughts:  The first in a series where you should definitely start at the beginning, with this one.  Lily Ross is married to the local sheriff and when he is found dead under interesting circumstances she finds herself filling in for him and becoming the first sheriff in Ohio.  She ends up investigating his death while also finding her in the middle of local drama as there are trouble in the mines and the wish to unionize.  

I absolutely loved this book.  I knew before I started the inspiration by the book and I think that made it an even better read for me.  Knowing that the author stumbled upon a few facts about the first female sheriff in Ohio and that is where this book started made the read that more interesting.  Lily Ross was such an interesting character to follow throughout the story.  

And with Marvena Whitcomb by her side as a widow of a coal miner who supported and helped with the unionizing movement, I loved reading chapters from her perspective also.  Marvena felt like a character that I had heard from before in a previous book that I had read about coal mining and the women who support their men in this extreme job.  

I loved the ups and downs of the story and the ease of reading.  The story just flew by in the best way possible! 


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Ebook 2019 Challenge: 64 out of 100