Deadly Desperate Widows is a riotous, high-stakes sequel that doubles down on glamour, grit, and murder in 1980s Providence. Written collaboratively by Kimberly Belle, Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan, and Vanessa Lillie, this second installment in The Widows series is a fizzy cocktail of noir mystery, feminist revenge fantasy, and campy drama—with just enough emotional depth to keep it grounded. The novel follows four unforgettable women, each widow of a mafia-linked law partner who died in a suspicious plane crash two years prior. Camille (Belle) has weaponized her Southern charm into a honey-trap business, catching cheating husbands for wealthy clients. Her arc especially her unexpected romance with Aiden—adds warmth to her otherwise razor-sharp persona. Meredith (Fargo), now a strip club owner, is framed for murder when the sleazy Mayor Tom drops dead in her champagne room. Her no-nonsense pragmatism and fierce loyalty make her a standout. Krystle (Lillie) is the emotional anchor, juggling the remnants of her husband’s law firm and her troubled son. Her evolution from rage to resilience is one of the book’s most satisfying threads. Justine (Holahan), a lawyer-in-training, is the most cerebral of the group, navigating legal minefields while questioning her own moral compass. Each widow is written by a different author, yet the voices blend seamlessly like four shades of lipstick in the same bullet. Set in 1987, the story kicks off with a bang—literally with Mayor Tom’s death triggering a cascade of betrayals, investigations, and power plays. As the women scramble to clear Meredith’s name, they uncover a conspiracy that pits widow against widow, first wife against second, and loyalty against survival. The pacing is brisk, the stakes are high, and the twists are deliciously over-the-top. Think Dynasty meets Big Little Lies, with a dash of Clue. Female empowerment is front and center, but never preachy. These women are messy, flawed, and unapologetically ambitious. Wealth and corruption are explored through the lens of privilege and reinvention. Friendship is the glue—and the grenade. The novel asks: how far would you go to protect your chosen family? The tone is campy but clever, with just enough emotional heft to keep the glitter from feeling hollow. Deadly Desperate Widows is pure escapist fun with a sharp edge. It’s a love letter to complicated women, big hair, and bigger secrets. If you’re craving a thriller that’s as stylish as it is smart, this one’s worth the ride. And if this is your first time meeting the Widows—brace yourself. They don’t just survive. They slay.

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of Desperate Deadly Widows by Vanessa Lillie, Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan, and Kimberly Belle.

“We didn’t just mourn the past. We rewrote the future.”

This sharp and addictive thriller anthology with a revenge-fueled feminist twist. It explores betrayal, justice, and the complexity of grief with gritty pacing and fierce female voices. Perfect for fans of Big Little Lies or short-form domestic suspense.
I’ll be sharing this review on Goodreads, Instagram, StoryGraph, B&N and Amazon.

“𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬, 𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧.”

The Widows are back in this fantastic fun follow-up!

Krystal, Justine, Meredith and Camille are hard at work trying to keep their late spouses’ firm afloat, while trying to balance their personal lives, When the mayor is poisoned in Meredith’s strip club, and Camille is under suspicion, it’s up to the Widows to prove her innocence, leading them deep into one of Rhode Island’s richest and most influential families. Will their newly formed friendship survive?

Kimberly Belle, Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan, and Vanessa Lillie craft a story that is just as much fun as the first book. I’m glad that the mob storyline remained in book 1, allowing for a new antagonist, meaning this story can be read as a standalone. All four women may be working hard and fiercely protective of each other, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t still be at each other’s throats and bring the drama when needed, in a true Dynasty-like fashion! Once again, I partly listened to the audiobook, and narrators Dina Pearlman, Karissa Vacker, Helen Laser, and Ariel Blake shine at bringing these characters to life, having me both laughing out loud and desperately wanting the story to continue with its well-placed reveals. The authors balance the over-the-top drama with salient points about land ownership of the Narragansett tribe and political corruption, which feels as timely now as in 1987. The Widows are independent and don’t need a man to save them; I really liked that Aiden and Rome act as support, letting the women take charge in solving the mystery (and shoutout to that character development for Rome too!).

Desperate Deadly Widows is another fun, dazzling thrill-ride of a story that has me greatly anticipating more antics from these women! Thank you to Sourcebooks, Raincoast Books, and NetGalley for the physical and digital ARCs!

The year is 1985. Four partners of a mafia-linked law firm die in a plane crash. Now their widows—an ex-model, a second wife, a sharp-tongued matriarch, and a secretive stripper—have to figure out what really happened… and stay alive doing it.

Think The First Wives Club meets the mob with big hair, sharp heels, and even sharper wit. Young Rich Widows is campy, twisty, and absolutely addictive. And Desperate Deadly Widows? A worthy, wilder sequel that dives even deeper.

Krystle is an absolute queen with the best one-liners, the new widow duo is a fun twist, and the 80s vibe is immaculate.

Nonstop fun. Total binge. Audible perfection. I need book 3—stat.

Set in 1987 Providence, Desperate Deadly Widows follows four fierce women rebuilding their lives after their mob-connected husbands die in a plane crash. When one of them is implicated in the mayor’s murder, the widows must reunite to uncover the truth—pitting loyalty, secrets, and survival against each other in this glam, gritty, high-stakes thriller.

I’m not sure I can fully put my finger on it, but I wanted more from this one. The mystery felt undercooked—it was pretty obvious who the culprit was from the jump, and I found myself frustrated that some of the women were so easily distracted by pretty faces when the truth was staring them down. I really wanted to love it, but it just didn’t deliver. The women felt underdeveloped beyond their looks or outfits, like the focus was more on their appearances than their actual depth or drive. Sadly, this one just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to NetGalley & Sourcebooks for the ARC.
2.5 stars

What can I say about this book other than I love the characters. Every single one of them is a strong, unique woman that deals with issues in their own way.

From the first book we know that each of these women lost their partners in a plane crash that left their firm in peril. Add 80s hair and the mob and you have suspense! Book 2 is no different. I do have a hard time keeping everyone straight but after two books I'm ready for book 3!

Definitely love the style in which this book was written. I love all the authors and can tell it's a collaboration. Despite being a collab, the story flows well.

Thank you Netgalley and @sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this titles. All my reviews are unbiased

Desperate Deadly Widows was a fun, easy read, full of suspense, mystery, secrets, and drama. While I enjoyed it, it didn't have the same impact for me as the first book, Young Rich Widows did.

It was great reading about Camille, Justine, Meredith, and Krystle again, and the murder mystery was intriguing. It kept me guessing right to the end.

3.5 stars from me.

Thanks to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, Kimberly Belle, Vanessa Lillie, Layne Fargo, and Cate Holahan, for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love these characters so much and the way they deal with drama in a smart, but also sometimes hilarious way!

Book 2 in The Widows series, DESPERATE DEADLY WIDOWS by Vanessa Lillie, Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan and Kimberly Belle asks how far will you go when you have nothing to lose, or everything to lose?

Two years after the plane carrying their husbands explodes, the widows are back! Krystal, trying to keep the law firm together, Justine learning the lawyerly ropes, Meredith owning the strip club and Camille who offers revenge for scorned women are faced with the dilemma when one of Camille‘s orchestrations goes horribly wrong and Mayor Tom is found dead. As the women try to figure out what happened they are racing against the clock and the police to try to clear Camille‘s name, all this while fighting one of Krystal’s former employees who is now poaching clients and meeting with mob bosses and rich ladies, the women are attempting to put the pieces together hoping to see the big picture. Will they accomplish their goals and save themselves or will Camilla or Meredith go to prison for murder?

I must say that I did not enjoy this one as much as the first in the series. As last time, there are so many characters that you need a dance card to keep them all straight and they’re not all pivotal to the story. This is a good read, however. The authors writing together makes for a good time and a few hours well spent. I look forward to seeing where the series goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Source Books for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
💅💣 Book Review: "DESPERATE DEADLY WIDOWS" by Vanessa Lillie, Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan, Kimberly Belle 💣💅
The Widows are back, baby, and they’re just as sassy, stylish, and scandalous as ever in "Desperate Deadly Widows!" I gave this one a fierce 4/5 stars and had an absolute blast reading it. If you like your thrillers with bite, sass, and a splash of dark humor, this is your next obsession. 💋🍾

It’s been two years since the infamous plane explosion took out their shady husbands (RIP-ish), and the ladies are thriving, mostly.

🍸Krystle is the fierce glue of the law firm, holding everything together with her unwavering willpower and her signature red lipstick.
🍸Justine’s faking it ‘til she makes it in law school.
🍸Meredith traded the pole for power and now owns the strip club she used to dance in.
🍸But it’s Camille who really knows how to turn up the drama. Orchestrating seductively scandalous revenge schemes is her specialty—until one of her tricks goes awry in the champagne room, landing her on the suspect list for the mayor’s murder. Plot twist! Suddenly, she’s the star of a thriller, and everyone’s on the edge of their seats!🎭🔪

What’s the cherry on top? Each character is penned by a different author, making them feel incredibly unique—imagine a murderous Real Housewives crossover but with four queens of suspense at the helm. 👠📖

So buckle up, bitches! If you loved the first book, you’re in for a treat. And if you’re a newbie to The Widows, get ready for one exhilarating ride! These widows aren’t just changing the game; they’re rewriting the whole damn rulebook!

❓Do you have what it takes to be one of these bad ass widows? 🅰️ I might have when I was young, but I'd rather just read about them now! 😱

Thank you to the author and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing this eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.

This took me a long time to get through. There are A LOT of female characters and I truly had a hard time remembering who was who. Granted, I didn't read the first book in the series so there's a chance that it would have been better if I had. I love the female friendship but something was missing from the plot to help propel the story along.

Desperate Deadly Widows was an interesting read. I liked the characters; however there were times where the story was a little slow. There was a lot happening at the same time but also nothing happening at all. I enjoyed the ending and the development of the friendship between the four women. There was definitely a great story about the relationships of adult women and especially those who have gone through tragedy as these women have. I loved Camille. She was definitely my favorite of the group. Meredith was also a powerful character. Krystle and Justine felt just okay to me. There were also times where this book felt like it wanted to be a cozy mystery but just didn't quite get there. Meredith and Camille gave that feel. It was an interesting crossover between a thriller and a cozy mystery. Overall, I enjoyed this one but it did feel a little too long and with a little too much going on at once.

I love this book even more than the first one in this drama filled series!!!!¡!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! More drama & scandal in this one to enjoy!!!!!!

A killer concept meets four powerhouse thriller voices in Desperate Deadly Widows, a propulsive and darkly satisfying ride through the tangled lives of women scorned—and unafraid to strike back.

When four very different women—each widowed under suspicious or downright scandalous circumstances—form a support group, it’s only a matter of time before secrets start to unravel. But grief is a powerful motivator… and so is rage. What begins as solidarity soon spins into something sharper: a pact, a plot, a blood-stained bond. Let’s just say these ladies aren’t lighting candles at memorials—they’re lighting matches.

Each author takes on a different character, creating a tightly woven, multi-POV narrative that somehow still feels cohesive. You can feel each woman’s distinct voice—witty, furious, fractured—but the transitions are smooth and the tension never slips. There’s a delicious sense of fun threaded through the book despite its darker themes, with biting commentary on marriage, power, and the way society treats "difficult" women.

It’s not quite a satire, not quite a straight thriller—more like Big Little Lies meets The First Wives Club, with a shot of vengeance and a body count. My only quibble? A few plot turns veer into the implausible, but honestly, it’s so entertaining I didn’t care.

Desperate Deadly Widows is the 2nd book from the writing team of Vanessa Lille, Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan and Kimberly Belle.
This story takes place two years after the events of the first book when a murder threatens their law firm, their friendships and their freedom. Lots of 80's references and nostalgia (although as someone who came of age in the 80's - the Jersey version is a lot different than the Southern version)
There's lots of action and humor. Each widow is written by a different author so their personalities are very different. At times the plot is predictable. It can be read as a standalone but it's better if you read the first one to get a grasp of the characters.

It'll be interesting to see what direction they go from here.

Thanks to NetGalley & Sourcebooks Landmark for the chance to read this book!

This was a REALLY great fast paced book, a lot of action, def no time to get bored, but a lot of characters to keep track of, it's very easy to get the "widows" confused for each other for a bit. Other then that it was a great read.

Desperate Deadly Widows is a sequel that can be read as a standalone, but absolutely makes more sense if you read in order.

The characters were fun and full of personality, but the writing of their relationships didn't really make it seem like they actually had any previous kind of connection/bond. This may have something to do with the multiple writers, but d9nt take that as it being a disjointed book. The story was well put together and written overall. I just feel I didn't get the full picture coming into it on book 2.

One aspect I truly enjoyed is the emphasis on the struggles of the indigenous people as their land is trying to be seized. Highlighting this brings to light some of the issues that just keep happening, and how recently still that tribal lands are being seized for greed.

✨ The Vibes ✨
Four widows who support women’s rights…and wrongs

📖 Read if…
✨ You prefer when thrillers are equally driven by characters and plot
✨ You love stories told from multiple POVs
✨ Sassy characters are your jam

The Widows are back and ready for more lies, chaos, and mystery!

Young Rich Widows was a favorite of mine a few years ago, and I was super excited to see it was getting a sequel, picking up in the aftermath of the first book. It was great to see where Krystle, Justine, Meredith, and Camille ended up and learn that they are just as strong and sassy as ever. The strength of this series lies in the characters. Each book is told through the four POVs of the women, and each has such a distinct voice, it’s impossible to pick a favorite. If you like thrillers, where you learn a lot about the characters and their personalities, this is a must read.

I do think it would be hard for someone to pick this book up if they haven’t read the first, so if you’re interested, make sure to start with Young Rich Widows. Both books are simultaneously suspenseful and laugh-out-loud hilarious, and are a great pick for someone looking to dip a toe in the thriller genre.

Desperate Deadly Widows is out now. Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the sequel to Young Rich Widows. It takes place a couple of years after the first book ends. Told from the points of view of each of the Widows, we follow them on the next case and catch up on their lives.
This book is fast-paced and a page turner. The overall story is interesting and keeps you engaged and reading. The only problem I had was the predictability of what would happen for the most part. Not how they would get there exactly, but who was responsible for the crimes was a little too obvious for me. It's still a good read, though.

In this second book in the series, you fall more in love with the widows and their crime solving abilities. They are so fun and I love this series and hoping that there will be more books in it! Highly recommend!