3.75stars—THE WIDOW by Kaira Rouda is a stand alone, contemporary, adult political suspense story line focusing on Congressman Martin Asher, his social climbing wife Jody, and Washington Think Tank operator Mimi Smith.


Told from three first person perspectives (Martin, Jody and Mimi) THE WIDOW follows in the wake of the death of Congressman Martin Asher, an elected official facing the downfall of a rapidly building scandal. In the weeks before his only daughter’s lavish nuptials, Martin Asher takes ill and succumbs to his ailment on the day of the wedding. In an effort to keep her position as part of the political machine of Washington DC, Jody Asher invokes the Widow’s Succession, a little used practice that allows a widow to succeed or run for office upon the death of their politician spouse. Jody, ever the manipulator and power hungry politician’s wife, uses every dirty tactic available at her disposal but Jody has overestimated her popularity and her husband’s reputation on Capitol Hill. Facing down an aggressive,investigative reporter, a Think Tank manipulator whose own secrets are dangerous and dark, and a past shrouded in secrets and lies, Jody must tread carefully, in an effort to get what she believes she rightfully deserves.


THE WIDOW is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, manipulation and collusion. The fight for control is dirty; power is manipulated and abused; the political machine is deceitful, unethical and unscrupulous. Back room deals are the norm; blackmail is rampant; illegal and controversial deals are an everyday occurrence, and no one is above the ultimate betrayal. THE WIDOW is gritty and intriguing story of fiction; an up close and eye opening look at the what ifs, the probabilities, and the disturbing reality / unreality of the people in charge; the characters are relentless and destructive -politicians are a different breed of people, their humanity and hearts are non-existent.






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I truly loved this! I love politics and all things Congress, so reading from the POV of a Congressional spouse was fun. There is so much snarkiness and drama in this one and I loved the twists. I cannot wait to read this author again.

I’ll admit I went into this one completely blind. I had heard great things about this author and the cover was intriguing. I will admit I don’t usually go for political themed books, but I have to say this was better than expected once I realized exactly what I had gotten into. I liked the voices the narrators had (even if there were no likable characters in this story in my opinion at least. I really liked the tips that were strewn within the story I thought that was a unique touch. I didn’t find the twists as sharp and twisty as I might have liked but there were bits I hadn’t figured out which is always fun in a thriller. Politics is a dangerous game which one woman finds out when she uses the widow rule to run for her deceased husbands seat in congress. Overall I gave it 3.5 stars rounded up for being the kind of story I had to finish at one time.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5105007629

Could not get interested in this book. The characters were horrid and I wasn’t a fan of the political aspect. There was a decent twist at the end, but at that point, I just really didn’t care. Should’ve DNFed. 😬

This author's works can be hit or miss for me, but I feel like this was a hit. It's a somewhat familiar story that may have been told before, but I appreciated the fresh perspectives and characters.

Loved the cover, intrigued by the description. I don’t usually enjoy political thrillers but for some reason this one drew me in from the beginning and I soared thru it. Congressman Martin and Jodi Asher have been around the DC political scene for ages, maybe just a little too long. After Martin suddenly dies, Jodi decides it’s her time to shine and makes a bid to finish out Martin’s term, with the initial help of her best friend, Mimi, a lobbyist. Everything you ‘think’ Washington is hiding, Rouda brings to print. Martin is sneaky, Jodi is a conniving, cold sociopath. Mimi is on all sides looking out for her own agenda. Page turner from beginning to end!

Thanks to Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

This was a really fun read. All of the main characters were absolutely horrible people and I eagerly awaited each of them to get what they deserved. The politics angle was really interesting and makes one wonder how much of fiction could be real-life, especially after the past couple years.

This was such a great book that I read it in one sitting. The main character, Jody Asher, is the wife of a congressman. She is the kind of character you love to hate. She’s controlling, ruthless
conniving and self-centered. The truth is, though, I couldn’t get enough of her because she’s an utterly fascinating character. The story is told mainly in her voice, but also in the voices of Mimi, a frenemy of Jody’s who definitely is not who she appears to be, and Jody’s husband, Congressman Martin Asher, who takes bribes from lobbyists in order to provide Jody with the lavish lifestyle she demands which is far above the couple’s personal financial means. He’s a nervous wreck with an ambitious newspaper reporter hot on the trail of investigating his corruption. None of the major characters are likable, but they are very complex people who carry the plot brilliantly. This is a book with villains galore. I confess that I normally don’t enjoy reading books with characters who lack redeeming qualities, but I absolutely loved this one. Because the characters are so complex and drive the plot, the story twists and turns more than you would expect and it keeps you guessing. Another great thing about the book is that the author has an excellent writing style which causes the story to flow seamlessly.

Loved the cover and the first half of the book! Congressman Martin Asher has been in Congress for fifteen terms. He met his wife in law school. They have one daughter who is about to be married. I found myself racing through Part 1. From the title, the reader knows Martin is going to die. And he does in a very dramatic scene. I still do not get the Visine. Shortly into Part II, I lost interest several times. Too many plot lines. I did like the sections at the end of each chapter that had hints about being a Congressional wife. My thanks to Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
The opinions in this review are my own.

*** SPOILERS ***
The true hero in this story was Martin and he died right in the beginning.. so who are you left with? The villain. For me, Jody was the villain throughout this whole story and I wanted her to fail. She's selfish, self-centred, emotionless, and the only person that made her human was her husband. With all that said, I loved it!! The writing was incredible and I was thrust into the world of politics. I really enjoyed the multiple POV's, and how each character saw each other. It's my first time reading a book by Keira Rouda and it won't be my last :)

Keira Rouda does it again in my opinion! This is the fourth book I read by this author and I feel she will now be an automatic purchase for me at this point.

Just finished this one and I have to see it does rank up there with some of my favourite political psychological thrillers! Jody was a force to be reckoned with as she had to deal with the fall out of her husband’s death and took over his role in Congress. This book has no shortage of dirty politics or drama. Fast paced, dark and very unlikeable characters! Definitely 4-stars for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC version of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

Riveting political psychological thriller! I found myself simultaneously horrified by and cheering on Jody Asher as she goes from a congressman's wife to congresswoman and manages to gain the upper hand over those that would see the downfall of her husband and herself. Lots of twists and turns!

Well written book dealing with the dirty side of politics - the lives that live it and the ruthlessness that it is.

Wow, I really loved this domestic thriller. Lots of crazy happening here. Jody had a plan for her and her husband Martin. To have a successful political career. Jody was doing everything right to makes sure it happens. Then martin does something to totally mess it up, and a reporter gets word of the scandal waiting to happen and wants to expose him. But when Martin unexpectedly ends up dead, Jody wants to change the script, and take over. she'll stop at nothing to make sure it turns out the way she wants, but this reporter is refusing to let it go. Jody was so heartless and cutthroat…and she will make sure she gets what she wants.

This book really kept me on the edge of my seat. It has unlikeable characters and some unexpected twists…and Jody was hard core. Definitely a really good thriller.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

This book was so much dang fun to read! I knew from the very beginning I was going to love it, and I was totally sucked in from page one. I just sat here all day, avidly reading page after page, only getting up to grab some lunch (which I ate one-handed while I continued to read) and to refill my iced coffee (because caffeine).

I knew I would love a book about a total boss woman who decides to defend the legacy her and her husband built in Washington after he went and tarnished it like an idiot. What I didn’t expect was to love this greedy, ambitious, shallow, vain, unscrupulous, whip-smart, and borderline sociopathic boss woman so much. She’s everything I’ve always imagined the ideal politician’s wife to be, save that most politician’s wives don’t see people as toys that can be taken out and played with at will and then discarded carelessly when she feels they have no use anymore. Her lack of impulse control and her childlike understanding of politics only made me love her more, because it caused the book to edge on satire at times, showing the true colors behind all politicians: they are all just petty children looking to not be picked last for kickball on the playground. They are all adolescents in a high school cafeteria looking for the ideal place to sit for maximum popularity. They are all part of a clique facing the peer pressure to take this or try that. But Jody Asher? Jody Asher is a singular woman who wants to be Captain of the kickball team, the most popular girl in school whom everyone wants to sit next to at lunch, and never have to fit into a clique because she is every clique and everyone both loves her and fears her.

In short? She’s the Regina George of Washington D. C. and I am here for it.

This book would be a good book if it was just about Jody and her efforts to restore the glory of the Asher legacy her idiotic husband left her with, but Rouda adds a layer to the cake with a glorious game of bad blood between Jody and her college friend/Think Tank founder, Mimi. That whole layer of the cake should and will remain a huge spoiler should it be revealed in a review, so this reviewer will keep her trap shut and let you find out when you go to read the book, because it’s catty, juicy, and metaphorically bloody. In short, it’s a delight.

I’m here for all of Jody Asher’s blind ambitions and political fumblings, coasting on her husband’s years of service and a lot of hidden dirt to get what she wants. I’m here for her efforts to try and at least give somewhat of a crud about her fellow humans. Most of all, I’m here for what was just a really clever and sharp book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for granting me access to this title.

File Under: Thriller/Political Thriller/5 Star Books/Crime Fiction/Mystery/Suspense

As a Canadian, I don't know much about American politics, or about politics in general, really. Sorry not sorry, this is a fact- my attitude is controversial enough, I don't need to add anything else to it!

I flew through this book. My first by this author, and although I currently have two unread books by her on my bookshelves, she will definitely be an auto-buy author for me going forward.

THE WIDOW takes place in DC, and I loved the inside look at the Senate and what it takes to be a political figure's spouse. I appreciated learning that Kaira has personal experience with this, and I feel like that added credibility to the story.

If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller to finish off the year, look no further! I highly suggest adding this one to your cart.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for my gifted eARC.

Wow, this was a page turner! Hopefully elected officials are not all like these people. Power, politics, privilege and lies. All out to get what they want with their power. Even those that start out with stars in their eyes and patriotism in their hearts, are eventually swayed. The main character, Jody is a woman who doesn't know how to love, a women without a heart. Thrilling until the final page!

Despite the fact that as a Canadian I find the United States government structure a total mystery, I enjoyed this book. Jody Asher is a self-admitted sociopath who wants to be in a powerful position, whether it be as a Congressman's wife or as his replacement following his death. She's not at all likeable but she was certainly a strong, confident person.

The story is told from the viewpoints of Martin, Jody and Mimi Smith, a lobbyist who has been friends with the Ashers for many years and a woman with power of her own in Washington. Interspersed with their viewpoints are tips for newbies to the world of politics and Washington DC. This quick read is one of Kaira Rouda's better books of late but "Best Day Ever" is still my all-time favourite. It was interesting to read in the Acknowledgments that the author's husband served in the U.S. Congress at one time.

My thanks to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel. Publication date is December 1, 2022.

I tend to stay away from any Political type books as I usually don't like them. I went in blind with this one and it turned out alright. I really liked the author's writing style and how she added in little titbits of advice from one political wife to the next.

The story was believable enough but a few times it was a bit too over the top for me. It kept me engaged with a bit of a slow moment in the middle. Overall not a bad read.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I enjoyed this suspenseful and fictional tale of life in Washington D. C. as a member of Congress. Told in alternating perspectives of the major characters, I quickly turned the pages to see how it would all turn out. Unfortunately, I fear there were many true-to-life aspects of political life addressed within the story. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advance copy to read and review.