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!

Four powerhouse thriller authors – Vanessa Lillie, Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan, and Kimberly Belle – join forces in Desperate Deadly Widows, a novel that's as wickedly fun as it is suspenseful. This isn't just a story; it's a high-octane thrill ride that will leave you breathless and begging for more.

Imagine a support group for widows... with a twist. These women aren't just grieving; they're starting to suspect their husbands' deaths were anything but accidental. And as they dig deeper, they uncover a conspiracy that's as twisted as it is deadly.

With each author bringing their unique voice and talent to the table, this collaboration is a masterclass in suspense. The plot crackles with energy, the characters are sharp and compelling, and the twists? Oh, the twists will leave you reeling.

If you crave a thriller that's smart, sexy, and utterly addictive, Desperate Deadly Widows is your next must-read. Prepare for a wild ride where alliances shift, secrets explode, and the only thing more dangerous than grief is the truth.

The widows are back… I just love the 80’s vibe and it’s so interesting how the characters are all written by a different author and how the story just flows perfectly. The widows are trying to keep the practice going and then the mayor ends up dead on the club Meredith owns with Camille it’s a crazy fun ride as the widows need to save themselves and find out who did it before it’s too late

Sneaky, witty, sexy, and suspenseful.
meridith is bad ass, these widows are crazy and will stop at nothing for the truth.

The first book was real housewives with murder, this is like 6 mo later but still with murder and more bad assness

I had it figured out who "did" tell deed but not who orchestrated it and I knew it was coming but the blows were undetectable.

Such a great fun read, I read this in 1 sitting!
(Highly recommend you read the first one before, it's referenced alot)

I love how diverse these characters are but how they are there for each other. It is how female friendships should be. Good mystery. Was unsure who did what till the end. I really hope there is still.more adventure and hijinks.

This was everything that someone who grew up in the 80s could ever want! From the clothing descriptions, hairstyles, using landlines, even the cars - it was so nostalgic. It was a campy who done it that reminded me of Knots Landing or Dallas! I loved it!

Thank You Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC of this book.

I first listened to the audiobooks version of this book before the actual copy was released. So i was really excited about the actual copy of this book. The story is set in the 1980s that features four widows, Krystle, Justine, Meredith, and Camille. In this book the mayor is found dead and it's a really great journey to go along to see what actually happened to the mayor. I do recommend reading the first book, Young Rich Widows first as this book is the sequel.

I absolutely love collaborative writing, and this seemed to be an interesting twist on revenge themes and womanhood. It's great when women can work together for a common goal as they do in this series, but I wish the connections had been stronger. I felt like they were still keeping each other at arms length.

I did not read the first book in this series, but this one does fill in enough of the gaps you don't really have to have read it to understand what is going on. The concept is interesting -- the stripper taking over the strip club, the law firm under new, female management, and some new business that's part private investigator, part law breaker. However, I didn't connect with these characters like I wanted to. I kept stopping to figure out who was who, and that just took me out of the story too many times in the first half, which made for a slow reading experience.

This second book in the series just didn’t live up to the first one IMO. The story was ok , although a bit convoluted , and it was fast paced . But I was kind of disappointed in the characters . In the first book we saw growth and a strong friendship developing between these four women ; this book just fell like them around trying to figure out a not so great mystery 🤷🏼‍♀️

Deadly Desperate Widows delivers a fun, nostalgic ride through all things ’80s—from the fashion and music to the pop culture references that bring the era to life. The humor and snarky tone are definite highlights, keeping the story lively even when the stakes rise. Each character is well-developed with unique personalities and backstories, but they often feel more like individuals placed in the same story rather than a cohesive group. That lack of connection made some interactions feel a bit disjointed. Still, the murder mystery is solid, with a few clever twists that keep the pages turning. While it didn’t fully hit the mark in terms of character dynamics, it’s an entertaining read overall for fans of quirky mysteries and retro vibes.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This was a fun little mystery from some of my favorite authors. This is a fun book set in the 80s with big hair and even bigger shoulder pads.

This is the second in a duology and I loved this one as much as the first! I listened to the first one and this one I read as an E Arc. I could hear their voices while reading this and definitely recommend listening to it! It was funny and suspenseful
Also posted on Goodreads

Desperate Deadly Widows is the second book of The Widows series, following Young Rich Widows. I read it as a standalone and enjoyed it so much that I went and bought Young Rich Widows!
I loved everything about this book- the 80s setting, the big haired shoulder-pad wearing diva widows, the mystery and suspense after the mayor is murdered.. loved it all! I appreciated that each woman had a different personality yet meshed so well with each other. Definitely a captivating read!
Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, Vanessa Lillie, Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan, and Kimberly Belle for this one!

It’s 1987, the era of big hair and shoulder pads, and 2 years after a plane crash made 4 women widows. Now, the Widows are back running businesses like the bosses they are! The Mayor is murdered. Then one widow is accused, then another. They band together and end up putting themselves in peril before ultimately solving the mystery.

This is a follow up to Young Rich Widows. Even though I haven’t read the first book, the authors did a wonderful job of merging the two books. I really didn’t feel lost and followed this story fairly easy, and it definitely made me add YRW to my list to get more background and understanding. Each chapter is dedicated to a different character, written by a popular thriller writer. I did have an issue at the beginning keeping the women straight, but by a few chapters in, I had it all figured out. This was such a fun read that had me quickly turning the pages. I loved their big personalities, watching them come into their own, taking back their lives. The authors note at the end hint at more adventures for these women. I look forward to continuing on their journey.

Thanks to NetGalley and SourcebooksLandmark for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

DNF around 50%

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I really wanted to love this book. I loved Young Rich Widows. It was funny and interesting and a genuine who-dun-it.

This book....this book is more about the widows' lives than the murder that they all are embroiled in. Every single one of them is spending more time thinking about their love lives than the case. Krystle is more abrasive than she was last time, which makes me hate her instead of like her like I did the last book.

I tried to push through, going so far as to get it on Audible premium thinking I was missing the accents of the narrators from book one. Nope, I just didn't like where these stories were going.

This writing team was great but I wish they would have done a new book instead of a sequel. The ending of the first book should have been the end.

If you are looking for a thrilling big hair, shoulder padded world of 1987 then look no further than Desperate Deadly Widows. Since it is written by four authors that feature four different female protagonists each character’s voice was distinct and enriched the narrative perspective. Left reeling from the lose of their husbands from a plane crash,, Krystle, Camille, Justine and Meredith must now rebuild their lives while facing unimaginable challenges.

Read this if you like:
-multiple POVs
-character driven story with strong female leads
-the neon imperfect world of the late 1980s with vivid description of place
-light mystery with added humour
-themes of female empowerment and solidarity in a man’s world, reinventing yourself, female friendships and overcoming betrayals
-some twists with a satisfying ending that leads some area for future storylines

My rating 3.5 out of 5

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this eARC that will be published April 8 2025.

I really liked this one! I received an ARC of this but didn’t realize it was #2 of the series. I did end up reading the first one in order to make sure I had back story but I don’t think it was necessarily needed to still enjoy the book. Great, fun read. Cute and witty.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!