This is book 2 in a series and since I have not read book 1, I had a hard time connecting with the characters. It starts off with a murder right away which kept me engaged at first. But then it fell flat during the middle. I just had a hard time with the whole story but will still give it 3 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The widows are back in Book #2 co-written by four successful women authors about four struggling women who learn they are stronger and better together. When their husbands were murdered in YOUNG RICH WIDOWS, we met the team of Romero, Tavani, Kelly and Romero, a more unlikely legal team could not be found. At the end of the first book, the widows have solved the murders and decided to continue the legal office run by their husbands. Now they realize just how much they don't know as the world around them seems determined to see them fail. But failure is not in the plan.

this series was born during the pandemic but the widows seem to have gained a fan club that insists on keeping track of the four women who have grown and matured together into an unbeatable force of nature.

Thank you Sourcebooks for the gifted digital ARC!

It was so fun to be back in the world of the widows. I found this one pretty predictable but I still enjoyed how the story progressed, and I think it's so fun that each author writes each of our characters. If you've ever wondered which author wrote which character, I tracked that info down for you:

Layne Fargo - Meredith
Kimberly Belle - Camille
Cate Holahan - Justine
Vanessa Lillie - Krystal

I'm impressed that even with this many authors contributing to the book, the writing is smooth and not at all clunky. I would not be one bit mad to revisit these characters again in the future!

Desperate Deadly Widows pub date is April 8.

DNF at 33%…

I am having a hard time connecting to some of the characters. Did not notice the fine print that this was a sequel… so I obviously didn’t know about the first book and just dived right in…. I was hooked from the beginning but then as I went on, more characters came in to the story, and I can’t manage to remember which voice is who’s. I found some characters insufferable, hard to keep following through, sorry 😕

I was once again lured in by an intriguing blurb and an interesting cover, and failed to notice this is book two! I really probably should have read book one first, but this was still an amazing read (even if I did feel a little lost about who was who for a while there!) Definitely going back to read book one (and while this one WAS manageable as a standalone, I'd probably recommend reading in order so you get all the MC's backstories!)

💄 T H R O W B A C K T U E S D A Y review 💄 featuring “Desperate Deadly Widows” by Kimberly Belle, Layne Fargo, Vanessa Lillie and Cate Holahan!

MY RATING: 🖤🖤🖤.5/5

Your favourite widows are back at it again with this throwback to 1987 in Providence, Rhode Island! It’s been two years since their law firm husbands blew up in a plane and left the widows to pick up all the mob affiliated pieces!

An “arrangement” gone wrong results in Mayor Tom tragically dying while in the champagne room at the strip club. The widows must team up together to keep one of them out of prison for the mayor’s murder. The widows are getting framed, but by WHO?? The hunt is on to find out #whodunit before time runs out!

🍿 Much like the first book in this series, this book is a wild ride full of chaos, juicy drama, plot twists and kick ass girl power! The collaboration of authors is amazing and each one adds their own flair to the story and the characters! If you enjoy Desperate Housewives and Real Housewives then this series is for you!

Thank you kindly to @kimberlybellebooks @laynefargo @vanessalillie @cateholahan @bookmarked @netgalley for my #gifted digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on April 8, 2025!

The widows are back in the follow up to the smash hit Young Rich Widows. The hair is big, the outfits outrageous, and the widows are still sorting out the mess their husbands left behind, when the death of the mayor of Providence threatens to take away all that they have fought to regain. Set in Providence, RI in 1987, the story unfolds in a city that has a character all its own. From scorned wives, to corrupt politicians, to greedy developers planning a complete reimagination of the city, there’s a lot to untangle. And the widows find themselves wondering if they can trust each other as they try to find the real murderer and clear one of their own.

Another tour de force from the writing team of Vanessa Lillie, Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan and Kimberly Belle. Five Stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the opportunity to read an advance review copy.

Another wild and crazy ride with these widows. This time one and then another is accused of murder. Of course, the widows need to solve the murder which insures that the reader will be well entertained. I noticed that one reviewer had not read the first book in this series. She found it confusing to keep everyone straight. I can definitely see that this would be a problem. This is not a stand alone and should not be read that way. If you haven’t read the first, start there and, I promise, you will want to read this one too!

Well they did it again! A great read about friendship, women helping women and doing what needs to be done to achieve success in a man’s world!

Loved the storyline, kept me hooked and needing to know more! I loved that even the bad “guys” were women!

First thanks to Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this one before it was published. While it was a bit different from what I'm used to this book definitely kept me entertained. I had not realized it was a sequel so now want to check out the first one.
Story shows how women can come together and empower each other in a man's world.

loved the premise but not the execution. in an effort to give the book an 80s feel and each woman to have an individual voice the dialogue was a bit cliché.

Book 2 in a series and may have been more cohesive if I had read the first. A lot of characters and pov so keeping track of who’s who was tough.
Don’t understand the Paris vs Casino and why that would lead to murder.
Wanted more 80’s and some of the details didn’t match the time frame.
Fun distraction but I wasn’t always sure what was what because of the vast cast of characters.

The widows come together when one of their own is under suspicion for murdering the mayor. I can’t remember having more fun listening to an audiobook! The widows are smart, tough and snarky. Very good read.

Thank you @netgalley for my advance copy! I absolutely loved Young Rich Widows so I was so excited to get back to the widows and their shenanigans!

If you are looking for a funny, suspenseful who dun it with vibrant characters, 80’s setting and some “Real Housewives” vibes look no further. All four women have a unique voice and are totally different, just like YRW and are still doing bad bitch things, just like YRW however, the twists in this one and the sisterhood is strong!!! I don’t want to give anything away, just know if you loved the first, you will also love this.

Review for “Desperate Deadly Widows”

1. Plot Uniqueness : 3/5
2. Pacing and Coherence : 3.5/5
3. Emotional and intellectual Engagement : 3.5/5
4. Twists and turns : 3/5
5. Protagonists Character Development : 3.5/5
6. support character development : 3/5
7. Setting and atmosphere : 4/5
8. Chapter Organization : 4/5
9. Conclusion and tied loose ends : 3.5/5
10. Overall rating of book : 3.5/5

Desperate Deadly Widows is a thrilling and twisted collaboration from four talented authors—Vanessa Lillie, Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan, and Kimberly Belle—that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. This gripping psychological thriller explores the lives of four women whose personal tragedies intertwine, leading to a shocking and dangerous series of events. Each author brings their unique style and perspective to the table, weaving a complex, suspenseful narrative full of twists, secrets, and betrayals.

The premise of the novel is compelling: the four women, each of whom has experienced the death of their husbands under suspicious or mysterious circumstances, find themselves drawn together by their shared trauma. As the story unfolds, the tension builds, and the line between friend and foe becomes increasingly blurred. The characters are well-developed, and each woman’s backstory adds depth to the plot. The exploration of grief, loss, and revenge is skillfully done, offering an emotional foundation to the thriller elements.

What stands out in Desperate Deadly Widows is the strong pacing and the unpredictability of the plot. Just when you think you’ve figured out where the story is headed, the authors throw in unexpected twists that challenge your assumptions. The suspense is palpable, and there are plenty of moments that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

However, the novel occasionally feels a bit crowded due to the multiple points of view and the large number of characters. At times, it can be difficult to keep track of who’s who and fully invest in all the storylines, especially with the quick shifts between different perspectives. While the writing is generally strong, some sections may feel a bit overstuffed with details that detract from the otherwise taut narrative.

Despite these minor drawbacks, Desperate Deadly Widows is a fast-paced and engaging read that delivers on its promise of suspense and intrigue. The emotional depth and the intricate web of relationships make it a standout in the genre of psychological thrillers. Fans of dark, twisty tales with complex characters will find plenty to enjoy in this collaborative novel, and the unpredictable finale will leave readers thinking long after the final page.

A group of women, all recently widowed from a plane crash that was later revealed to be murder, find themselves entangled in a dangerous conspiracy when one of them becomes implicated in the mysterious death of a powerful mayor, forcing them to band together to uncover the truth and clear their names, while navigating the complex dynamics of their fractured friendship and the secrets each woman holds.

I would highly suggest the audio versus the digital read for this one. I was going back and forth and the audio definitely helped make this one finishable.

It wasn’t a bad story, I was just bored. It was a good murder mystery with action and twists to engage the reader- I just didn’t enjoy all the narrators, so it wasn’t that great for me.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the advanced electronic copy Desperate Deadly Widows. All opinions are my own.

This book is funny, snarky, and full of fun one-liners amongst women that find themselves thrown together yet again in this sequel to Rich, Young Widows. I loved both books, but felt the first one was just overall a better story. In Desperate Deadly Widows, there are a lot of relatable themes such as girl power and women’s strength in relying on one another. The characters were all so different but meshed together very well – their humorous banter was awesome. I was a child/teen in the ’80 (oh my gosh, I am old) and I loved all the 80’s references. It made me think of neon, 80’s bands, and Aqua Net – so I loved that aspect.

I received an ARC of this book but was able to download the audible version as well. I started the book listening to it, but quickly changed so that I could better understand who was talking. I ended up doing an immersive read and enjoyed having both formats.

Since this book/series was created to be an "audible original" it may be better as an audio book. I read it and felt like the 4 women (written by 4 different authors) were very disconnected. It was a fun book to read since it was set in the late 80's in Providence, RI and really gives bad b*tch vibes. They are tough women, still dealing with the unexpected death of their husbands.

This book also deals with a serious subject, stealing indigenous peoples land by any means necessary.

Overall, a good women's power thriller with some hilarious women that push the patriarchy in the 1980's.

I had no idea this was a series so I had to back track a bit but this book is soooo good and well written. I loved but the characters. It was a slow burn but worth the read. So excited to see more from this author!!