This was a fantastic read that I didn’t want to put down! My first from Kiara Rouda, but won’t be my last!

This novel explores a wife’s desire for power amongst the corruption of DC. I’ve never read a book centered around political drama, but this was written to expose corruption and give you characters you love to hate.

If you’re looking for a suspense novel that’s different yet captivating, I recommend picking this up when it comes out December 2022. **Thank You to NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book.**

I love this author and thoroughly enjoyed this political domestic thriller. The main character is brilliant and ruthless and I really enjoyed her story. Highly recommended xx

You cannot go wrong with any books by Kaira Rouda. I’m such a big fan of her novels, you just know they are going to have twists and turns and usually, a few characters are not what they seem so there are always surprises. This month, if you are a member of Amazon Prime, you can get The Widow as your Kindle First Reads! I HIGHLY recommend it, you won’t be sorry.

Here is the scoop:

Jody Asher had a plan. Her charismatic husband, Martin, would be a political icon. She, the charming wife, would fuel his success. For fifteen congressional terms, they were the golden couple on the Hill. Life was good. Until he wasn’t.

Martin’s secret affair with a young staffer doesn’t bother Jody personally. But professionally? It’s a legacy killer. Soon a reporter gets word of this scandal in the making, and Martin’s indiscretions threaten to ruin everything Jody has accomplished.

When Martin suddenly dies, it’s a chance to change the narrative—but the reporter won’t let go of his lead. As the balance of power shifts in the Asher house and on the Hill, it’s time for Jody to take control. And there’s nothing the ruthless widow won’t do to secure the future she’s entitled to. Even if she has a secret of her own.

The Widow will be published on December 1.

Okay, I'm in love. I love thrillers, but a thriller about politics? Yes, please. Jody is wicked, power-hungry, and also quite witty. This book doesn't take itself too seriously; I'd describe it as part House of Cards and part soap opera. I quite loved how each chapter had different points of view. Definite page-turner. Thanks for the advance review copy.

A husband with secrets. A wife with no limits. Could anything be more intriguing?

This was my first Kaira Rouda book and it kept me engaged the whole time. A quick page turner which gives you an inner glimpse of America’s shrouded in mystery political scheme. Obviously it’s filled with backstabbing, lies, corruption, bribery and Communist spies! A perfectly timed read with all the political charged vibes going on in America these days.

Not a single character is likable in this book, wait I take it back, the daughter is but we only get a few cameos of her. The wife, the husband, the VP, their colleagues, their friends… all terrible people. Honestly, felt perfect for a novel about the House of Representatives. Despite not liking anybody, you quickly get wrapped up in the games in place and can’t wait to see how each person meets their downfall. You’re not rooting for a winner, you are wanting to see how they all get what they deserve.

What gave this novel a unique edge was the old fashioned advice pieces from Jody Asher (the wife of Congressman Asher). He has served for 30 years and times have changed from the old spouse role wives used to fill to now women serving in Congress themselves. These time warp advice pieces on decorum help the reader understand Jody and the role and life she is trying desperately to preserve.

I recommend this book to anybody intrigued by political drama, strong female characters, unlikeable characters or a quick engaging page turner,

The Widow takes you into the political realm of Washington D.C. Here crooked government officials abound. It seems you can pay anyone to vote the way you want them to. Congressman Martin Asher is under intense scrutiny for his wrongdoings and has received threats that he will be exposed. The stress Asher is under literally makes him drop dead at his daughter’s wedding. Jody, his wife, decides to go ahead and run for his seat to finish out the term. However, she has some ulterior motives that don’t exactly make her popular in the political circle.

Kaira Rouda did an amazing job developing the character of Jody. Her personality had me hooked and I kept reading to find out what she would do next. I didn’t entirely love the political aspect of the book. I felt a bit dissatisfied with the ending. For that reason, I rated it 3/5 stars. However, the character development was amazing! I’m sure others will love the political aspect way more than I did.

I throughly enjoyed this book. It is a little different then what I was expecting. It was a page turner because I had to know what was coming next. It captured me right from the first page to the last. I read it in 24 hours and it has been a while since I have flown through a book that fast. If you like drama, secrets, and politics I highly recommend reading it.

This is a fun, fast paced, page turner filled with secrets and lies and all the drama of politics! I have loved all of Kaira Rouda’s books and this one was no exception. Loved the political story set in DC and all the unlivable characters. This was an addictive story to read, hard to put down! Thank you NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is available for purchase on December 1, 2022.

Ok kaira is a genius when it comes to book writing and this one was amazing!! I look forward to her books whenever one comes out and this one is definitely top of my list!

Political intrigue and rich people behaving badly? What's not to love? Unfortunately, while the premise was promising for The Widow, the plot ultimately became convoluted and lost me. This is an amazon first read choice for November, so you have an opportunity to read it for free if you are a prime member and can make your own decision!

Thank you to Amazon for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

The "Queen" of psychological suspense thrillers, Kaira Rouda returns following Somebody's Home (5 stars) with her first book—set in Washington, DC—THE WIDOW, inspired after spending time with her husband in Washington when he was elected to Congress in 2018.

Get ready for this unputdownable political thriller with scandal, glitz, and glamour on Capitol Hill and Kaira's signature deviously wicked, ruthless characters combined with the dark humor she is known for!

In THE WIDOW, Rouda imagines how this unofficial tradition in American politics where women are either appointed or elected to fill their late husbands' Congressional seats —can help prove how far a wife will go to hide her husband's traitorous secrets and protect her family's legacy.

How this idea can lead to the ultimate perilous power struggle.

THE WIDOW centers around a scheming, ruthless power-driven wife who plots to off her congressman husband after discovering he's been having an affair with a young staffer.

Meet Jody and Martin Asher. They are the "golden" power couple on the Hill. Martin has served 15 congressional terms, and he and his wife, Jody, enjoy the good life.

Jody loves all the prestige and power of being a Capitol Hill wife, and their daughter is about to be married. This will be a huge event with no expense spared.

Their only daughter, Charlotte, is getting married in what will be a DC society wedding. At the same time, reporters threaten to publish a story that may ruin Martin's political career.

There is much stress surrounding the wedding costs, and of course, Jody is focused on appearances and how to preserve political power. There is also the family of the groom to worry about.

However, Martin has a secret affair with a young staffer, Sarah. She is an intern, new, gorgeous, and a big flirt. Jody will not have this ruin her perfectly constructed life. She has to keep up appearances.

Jody Asher, whose spot atop the pinnacle of DC power, is compromised when a reporter threatens to expose her congressman husband's affair. A suspicious heart attack follows as Jody seeks to cling to her husband's seat.

The book title is an allusion to the "Widow's Mandate" — a common US political practice in which wives often take up the jobs of their deceased husbands who held public office.

When Martin dies suddenly and unexpectedly, what lengths will Jody go to preserve his legacy?

It is a chance to change the narrative,― but the reporter won't let go of his lead. As the balance of power shifts in the Asher house and on the Hill, it's time for Jody to take control. And there's nothing the ruthless widow won't do to secure the future she's entitled to. Even if she has a secret of her own.

What a great book! Rouda is perfect for penning this one with her first-hand experience in Washington. It has all the drama, scandal, politics, greed, deceit, cutthroat, corruption, secrets, lies, and power you expect with her novels.

The author draws you in with her character's manipulation and power combined with dark wit. Readers will love/hate Jody as she lines up perfectly with Rouda's characters from previous books with all her backstabbing and trickery.

Kaira creatively opens each chapter with fascinating, helpful tips for new Congressional spouses and staffers, which are so much fun.

Smart and timely, this book will pull you in from the first page and keep you turning into the wee hours of the morning.

Visceral and alluring, THE WIDOW is a riveting novel about marriage, privilege, power, and lies in the cutthroat world of international politics.

A massive fan of the author and have read all her books. No one can spin a story like Kaira! Highly recommend each of them.

UPCOMING INTERVIEW: Stay tuned for my #AuthorElevatorSeries Interview with Kaira coming Dec 1st where we go behind the scenes of the book and the author. This one will be so much fun. Sign up for my email newsletter to have it delivered to your inbox on pub date. Do not miss it.

A special thank you to #ThomasandMercer and #NetGalley for an eARC to read, review, and enjoy.

Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 🌟 STARS
Pub Date: Dec 1, 2022
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This was a psychological thriller centered around DC politics - the power, the prestige, and of course, the deception. I enjoyed the author's previous books and went in not knowing the premise of this one and was disappointed since I'm not a fan of politics (it's all just a bunch of lies IMO).

The main character, Jody, has been the wife of a congressman for over 30 years. She loves being a part of the political life. Jody was a horrible character, as was her husband, Martin. There was a lot of political drama in this book, and I kept waiting for something big to happen... nothing did that was too surprising.

Overall, I like the author's writing style and her storytelling ability, but I just didn't connect with the plot or characters much in this one.

I have long been a fan of Kaira Rouda thrillers, always fun and addictive to read. The Widow was a different read from her, as it was set in the world of politics in DC. Now, everything I know about US politics comes from watching The West Wing and House of Cards. So, it did take a little while to get into this story with so much political jargon. It was still and enjoyable read, with some very unlikeable characters (as you would expect in a political book!)

Jody and Martin Asher are part of the furniture in DC. Martin is a well-liked and successful congressman, and his wife Jody has been there every step of the way. But now it appears that Martin has been a naughty boy and the press have got wind of the story. He is about to be exposed - and then he dies suddenly. Jody can't imagine life anywhere else, so she has to make a decision about her future and will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

Thanks to Thomas and Mercer and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes December 1st

The Widow by Kaira Sturdivant Rouda is a fast pace suspense that is just perfect for this Fall! While reading, told hubby just one more chapter only buzzing through three more! Grandson's soccer game was the only reason i put it down but couldn't stop thinking about what Jody or Mimi would do next!

Planned by Jody Asher. Martin, her affable spouse, would become a political legend. The attractive wife would contribute to his achievement. They served fifteen terms in Congress and were regarded as the Hill’s ideal pair. Life was good. before ceasing to be. Jody isn’t directly bothered by Martin’s covert liaison with a young member of the staff. professional, though? It destroys heritage. Soon, word of this developing scandal reaches a reporter, and Martin’s transgressions pose a threat to everything Jody has worked so hard to achieve. When Martin passes away unexpectedly, there is an opportunity to rewrite the story, but the reporter won’t give up on his lead. It’s time for Jody to assume leadership as the balance of power in the Asher household and on the Hill shifts. And the vicious widow will do whatever to ensure the future to which she is legally entitled. even if she has a secret.

With its advice on decorum for Congressional wives, this book struck me as being surprisingly retro as soon as I started reading it. But I soon understood that our narrator, not the author, was responsible for this dinosaur mentality and that it was purposeful. However, it sadly resulted in a character I found annoying right away. But afterward, I found myself sucked into the plot’s excitement and drama. Then I would get annoyed by some sort of trite political subplot. I would then resume enjoying my writing after that. The universe of the main character then irritates me once more. It was brilliantly done, but it dragged on for me because I didn’t care for any of the characters.

The book’s ending contains a few shocks, but not enough to win me over. I understood that this was a political topic, but the amount of politics in it was just too much for me. I found the drama to be overly complicated and unnecessarily confusing, and I found it difficult to fully understand many of the character’s actions and behaviors. The conclusion was far too drawn out, and I didn’t enjoy it. There were a few surprises, but I honestly simply wanted the book to stop when I read them. Simply put, I thought it veered off course midway through. This book will appeal to readers who like political intrigue, unrest, secrets, watching characters battle to solve problems, strong female characters, unrest, and turbulence.

The Widow is a compelling read that has you turning the pages to see who will fall from grace next.

Jody is the widow of Martin Asher and a longtime Congressman held in high regard .

When he dies suddenly Jody must protect herself at all costs and ensure her feature no matter who she walks over.

Jody is not the nicest of people, some would say she has no empathy or feelings for anyone including her daughter . She does however know how to the play game.

Jody is up against some people that are as nasty if not nastier than herself .

Can anyone win if you can call it that.

The pages turn quickly as the lights stay on.

Kaira Rouda knows how to reel you in and keep you reading and The Widow is no exception.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for another spellbinding read.

The Widow is another great read by Kaira Rouda! Martin Asher, a Congressman for over 30 years and his (in every way possible) supporting wife Jody are the perfect Washington, D.C. power couple or so it seems! When an affair and talk of other scandalous behavior comes to the surface they will do anything to keep their place in society. Jody is a very strong character that is so selfish you don't know if you should love or hate her. When she becomes a widow - which is the title of the book so it gives nothing away - it's amazing to see what she will do. She is not giving up her lifestyle she has worked so hard for!

The Widow by Kaira Eouda
Publish date Dec 1 2022

Martin Asher is a congressman and Jody Asher his wife has been a huge support for him. She also has her own ambitions so when he dies she takes his place and gets very involved.

I had so many mixed feelings about this book. There was not ONE likeable character. In fact they were all pretty horrific in nature. The only thing that was redeemable about this book was the story did keep me hooked. I had to keep reading to see how it ended.

I have read books by this author and I don't think rthis is one of her best.

I wouldn't recommend this but it's not a bad book just not great.

Jody Asher has been the wife of a congressman for thirty years. Shel loves the power, prestige and money the position brings to her life. There is also the political intrigue to consider and their daughters wedding to organize. Jody's world begins to unravel when her husband Martin ends up being accused of several illegalities. And then Martin dies. What follows is political intrigue amplified.
Jody is a strange character. She loves power and money, but does not know how to interact with people. She's quite unlikable, like most of the other characters, the only exception being Charlotte, Jody's daughter. But even she is quite drab and flavourless.
The beginning was good and engaging. For a long time I was expecting something, anything, to happen. But it never did. Characters have these long meandering inner monologues, that go on and on and only offer repetition. Dialogue is simple and also often repetitive. I can not call this book a mystery. There a some twists in the end, but as they are hinted in the story and don't come as a big surprise.
I liked the tips for new Congressmembers or their spouses between every chapter. An interesting fact was learning that the autor was once one of the Congressional spouses.

If you are going to be a politician’s wife, this has a ton of value for you. As for me, it was definitely a slow burn. This was a solid character driven plot with lots of drama, political drama, family drama and more drama for your mama