Cover Image: The Widow

The Widow

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Wow another great book from this author . Very tense throughout with great female characters. I enjoyed every minute of this book and raced through to the end to find out the outcome . I would highly recommend this book , definitely a 5 star read from me

Was this review helpful?

What another INCREDIBLE book by K. L. Slater! I could not put this down and ended up being very tired in work the next day as it had kept me up all night!

Was this review helpful?

Kate's husband has recently died and the questions are building up about his involvement in the disappearance of a young woman in the village. Slowly the fingers start to point towards Kate, with the community believing she knows more than she's letting on. Can Kate protect her daughter from the mayhem and help find out the truth?⁣

There is so much more to this story that gets revealed the more you read on and this is why psychological thrillers are my absolute favourite! I have loved K.L. Slater's previous books so it was no surprise that I enjoyed The Widow. With a fast paced storyline, short chapters and multiple POV's, this book kept me intrigued right until the end.

Was this review helpful?

The widow by K.L. Slater.
This was a very good read. Great story. I did like Kate and Donna. How they were with each other. I surprised myself with how quickly I read this. I love this author. I loved the cover. This is one author I would read without read the blurb. 5*.

Was this review helpful?

A most engaging read. From the first pages to the last it was an amusement park ride full of emotions. You think you believe something to be true but is it ? A story of families and what it takes to keep them together. So good.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc

Was this review helpful?

Kate and Michael Shaw are the parents of Tansy, age 6. They are happy in their town and have many friends. Michael is the manager of a local estate and Kate works as a temporary teacher.

Donna, Paul and their daughter Ellie are friends of the Shaws, plus their daughters are the same age and good friends. Donna’s sister went missing some years ago and was never seen again.

Suzy Baros is a single mom to her son, Aleks. She has immigrated to England from Poland. She is a very pretty person and Kate wants to be friends with her. Donna is somewhat skeptical of making friends with Suzy because she sees how her husband Paul admires her and knowing he has had affairs in the past, she doesn’t want him around her.

One night at a Christmas tree lighting fete, Suzy suddenly goes missing and the entire community is searching for her. Kate takes her son in and cares for him while the search is on.

When Michael is hit and killed by a large truck that suspiciously looks like suicide, Kate’s world is turned upside down. Could he have had something to do with Suzy’s disappearance?

This is a very good book that opens up several difference plots that all manage to knit together into one big mystery. Once again, this author has written a magnificent book that I know will appeal to readers everywhere.

Copy provided by the NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Kate Shaw is a strong female character in this standalone new book by a favourite author.

There are many characters that intrigued me, especially Suzy, and more so after her disappearance and when Michael gets interrogated about her. Somehow, between the time he leaves the police quarters and his home, he impedes a lorry and the aftermath is not a good one, leaving Kate a widow and a single mother. Of course, she believes in him and tries to protect him at all times when she has to confront all the reasons that points towards her husband as being the culprit for Suzy’s disappearance.

Some very interesting twists I haven’t expected and let me doubtful of my theories. I felt bad for Kate having to deal with so much hardship and while I totally understood Suzy’s reasons to hide, the pace of these turns wasn’t as I was used from the author, but overall, it all made it for a few great reading hours.

Was this review helpful?

Well written thriller with twists after every turn along the myriad paths of this book. Kate, Michael, and Tansy are loving their lives until Suzy and Aleks arrive from Poland. Suddenly tension arises as the parents drop off and pick up their children at school. It trickles into the lives of those living in the small town and begins to cause irreparable damage as Suzy suddenly disappears. Fingers are pointed and marriages are suddenly on shaky ground. What happened to Suzy? K. L. Slater leads us down several paths, all plausible but then…. Kate was definitely an interesting character I am looking forward to learning more about.
This kept me reading long into the night. Loved the ending. Many many thanks to K.L. Slater, Bookouture, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of this just published book. Please keep writing as I am definitely a fan.

Was this review helpful?

Absolutely phenomenal thriller. Twisty and unexpected, a lovely and idyllic setting. I didn't expect to like the main character as much as I did; I fully envisioned getting sick of the protagonist's optimism, but it was actually refreshing in a sea of consistently bleak characters common to this genre. Really wonderful, immersive plot and solid character development.

Was this review helpful?

What do you do when your husband is the chief suspect in the disappearance and possible murder of a young woman? What do you do when he lies to you? When you suspect him of having an affair?

This is Kate’s dilemma. Her solid marriage to Michael Shaw, property manager at Wadebridge estate, father of their young daughter Tansy, is cracking under pressure after Suzy Baros vanishes during a Christmas fair. Then Michael, after being questioned by the police, dies in what may or not have been a traffic accident. Kate is devastated and desperate to clear his name for Tansy’s sake. Even though her neighbors turn against her, Kate continues her own investigation until a shocking and unexpected conclusion reveal secrets that main characters have been hiding.

The Widow is another sold bestseller from K.L. Slater. Well-described characters, an intriguing location and a complicated plot make this thriller unputdownable. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and K.L. Slater for this ARC.

Was this review helpful?

The Widow is another worthy piece of work from one of my favourite authors. Unsurprisingly I absolutely loved this book! I have now read eight of K.L. Slater's books and found each of them so masterfully written and compelling. The Widow has many surprising twists and turns. It features Kate Shaw whose husband, Michael is questioned for the murder of Suzy Baros, a young Polish woman, and throws himself in front of a lorry in an apparent attempt at suicide. I was so keen to find out what was going to happen next that I read The Widow in a single sitting. Set over different timelines, the prologue and plot are immediately arresting. Highly recommended with no hesitation so grab yourself a copy!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Was this review helpful?

Kate Shaw is the widow whose husband, Michael, appears to commit suicide by throwing himself into the path of an oncoming lorry, while under investigation for murder. Kate finds it hard to believe that her loving, hard-working husband could be responsible for the murder of missing Suzy Baros, a young Polish woman recently arrived in their village of Lynwick with her young son. However, all the evidence is pointing his way and Kate knows Michael has been keeping secrets from her.

Author K.L. Slater has written another intense suspense novel with plenty of her trademark twists and sudden revelations. The novel centres around relationships - the good, the bad and the ugly. The characters are well drawn, especially Kate and Michael, Michael’s boss Mrs Wadebridge and Suzy’s son Aleks, bewildered and just wanting his mother back. Although the pace is a bit jerky, speeding up and then slowing down again, it was a novel that kept me wondering what was really going on. The final revelations were unexpected and although I felt they not quite in character for one of the people involved, it was overall an enjoyable, fast read with plenty of unexpected twists.

Was this review helpful?

Today I am on K.L Slater's new release The Widow' book tour for Bookouture. One writer who always brings a fabulous story is K.L Slater. The Widow is no exception. A psychological thriller that had my pulse pounding from the start.
I wouldn't say this story is just a psychological thriller, I would say it has a mystery element to it as well, which made for a very intriguing and enthralling read. I really could not put this down. The characters are so vivid they jump out at you. The author has such skill in drawing the reader into the story by creating a twisty and turning story that makes you think you have cracked it, only to discover it's not what you think.
I loved the build up of suspense all the way through. The plotline is fabulous, the tension is almost palpable and the ending...well you just really need to read it!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy of the book.

Was this review helpful?

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Widow' by K.L Slater.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for K.L Slater, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 12th November 2021.

This is the third book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Girl She Wanted' and 'The Marriage' which I highly recommend.


I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'If you like Gone Girl, The Girl on The Train and The Wife Between Us then you will love The Widow. ' I am a huge fan of 'Gone Girl' and 'The Girl On The Train' so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of K. L Slater and if this is half as good as 'The Marriage' and 'The Girl She Wanted' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue and 56 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is set in Cornwall, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 UK 🇬🇧 and Poland 🇵🇱 . I always seem to get on with books that are set in the UK better as I am from Wales and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book. I have actually spent many holidays and days out in Cornwall so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise anywhere.


This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists are Kate, DI Helena Price, Irene and Jakub Jasinski. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of bith first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.

OMG!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!!!! I DID NOT EXPECT THAT!!! MIND BLOWN MUCH!!!

Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and I could here the trees in the woods rustling throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.

I was absolutely absorbed throughout this page turner. It is filled with tension, suspense, lies, secrets and omg the twists!!! I DID NOT see any of them coming!!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS K.L Slater!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but by God you did that over and over and over!!! What an ending!!! One of the most gripping unputdownable nerve wracking psychological thrillers I have EVER read!!! You lady have one hell of a talent and I cannot wait to get hold of your previous and future books. I cannot remember the last time I was so hooked by a book but you managed that big time!!! The storyline is filled with love, romance, friendship, shocks, suspense, tension, deceit and murder. There was not one, two but at least 3 explosive bombshells I did not see coming!!! There was so much going on and it was very fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Clear your schedule before you start as I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down!! Practically every chapter ended on a cliff hanger so no way could I put it down!! Absolutely hooked!! I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!!!

It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.

I was completely invested in both the storyline and the characters. Each of the characters had their own unique personalities and I felt differently about each of them. I really liked Kate and felt so sorry on both her and Tansy throughout the book. The storyline portrayed village life perfectly and I really do feel that what Kate went through is what many families of criminals go through on a daily basis. I was glad for her friendship with Donna who, although they had their difficulties and problems, stood by her in the end. Paul was a typical scumbag and I couldn't stand him from the start. I won't say too much about Michael as I don't want to spoil it for future readers or about a few of the other characters. I actually really liked the DI Helena Price and I thought her relationship with DS Kane Brewster was brilliant. They made me laugh a few times especially Helena and her sarcastic attitude and Brewster with his scooby snacks!! All in all a great mix of characters that worked well with this storyline.


This is exactly why you are in my top author Club K.L Slater and your book is one of the best psychological thrillers I have EVER READ!! Bring on the next one!!! I cannot wait!!! Here's to the next success 🥂

Overall an absolutely heart racing, never wracking, unputdownable addictive psychological thriller!!!


Genres covered in this novel include Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, and Psychological Fiction amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'Gone Girl' , 'The Girl on The Train', 'The Wife Between Us' and anyone looking for an explosive thriller filled with bombshells you won't see coming!!



382 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews

#TheWidow #Bookouture #KLSlater #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@KLSlater @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86

https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86

https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?ref=bookmarks

https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__tn__=%2As-R

Was this review helpful?

☑️ A missing girl
☑️ A missing woman
☑️ A missing man
☑️ An unexplained death
☑️ Infidelity

It’s all there in K.L. Slater’s latest thriller, The Widow.

As usual Slater can do no wrong in my eyes. I will always recommend and continue to read her books.

Thank you @netgalley and @bookouture for the advanced copy for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Kate’s husband is questioned by the police about a missing woman. Later he steps in front of a moving lorry. Kate is insistent that her late husband is innocent and she will do whatever she can to protect herself and her daughter.

This is a thriller that will keep you guessing until the end as there are lots of twists and turns. Unfortunately I struggled to connect with the characters and that spoiled my enjoyment of this book also in places I found the story moved too slow to keep my interest.

Was this review helpful?

Oh my gosh, I really loved this book. I cancelled everything for two evenings and just read it non-stop.

I love this author’s books, they are always guaranteed to be completely compelling, but this one was particularly good.

It starts with a really arresting prologue, which later links in with the events that preceded it. It’s atmospheric and chilling, and it’s got a very clever plot.

It’s told from several characters’ points of view, and we get little snippets of clues from various sources, but even so, I did not see the twists coming in this book at all.

This book is a perfect blend of thriller, crime, a little bit of police procedural, and even a background love story. Nothing is what you expect it to be, but by the end it all comes together and makes perfect sense.

I raced through the pages of this totally gripping book. It is totally compulsive reading and would make a fabulous TV drama. Definitely one for thriller and crime fans, one that I’d highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

This psychological thriller kept me guessing the entire time. Every time I thought I had figured out where the book was headed, it veered the other way. It’s full of twists based on the secrets and lies of the characters. It made me think about how well do you know the people you spend time with.

It was such an easy read that I flew through it in just over a day. I was impressed how Kate stood by her husband as he was investigated by the police and the evidence started to pile up against him.

I’d recommend this to anyone that loves family centric psychological thrillers.

Was this review helpful?

This was a very disturbing but good read.

Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish and could not get enough of.

This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good thriller!!
Absolutely loved the characters, the plot, the tension -  impossible to put it down.
Certainly recommended!

Was this review helpful?

The book had all the great components of KL Slater's books. The twist that you never see coming, and the subject deals with multiple social issues of our times. Once you start you cannot put the book down. The characters are well developed and the main character's dilemma is real and as readers, we can feel her desperation. The Widow is a must-read book from KL Slater. And if you have never read her book, please you have to start now to get blown away by her stories.

Was this review helpful?