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!!

I loved this book. It was just as good as book one. The characters are amazing and funny and everything you would expect them to be. Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc!

Thank you to Sourcebooks for the early electronic arc via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Book 2 in the The Widows series helmed by multiple authors. It's been a bit since the plane crash that took the lives of the husbands of said widows. Now they are scrambling to support themselves and in some cases, children and businesses left behind by their crooked attorney husband's deaths. This outing sees the women being framed for the murder of the town Mayor while a fight for Indigenous land and what will be built upon it rages in the background.

What I liked was the 1980's time frame backdrop. The mention of cell phones had me googling if they were even available back then. They were! Huge and known as bricks, but available. Of course, the shoulder pads and descriptions of hair were a fun throwback for me.

I also appreciated the plight of the indigenous people and who ultimately controls their land.

Entertaining enough but I'm thinking I should have read book one first. I found myself not able to connect to the characters as much without that background.

I read this immediately after reading Young Rich Widows and what a damn good time I had with these characters. Despite having four authors writing from four POVs, all of the characters, including the secondary characters, are brilliantly fleshed out. Cinematic, campy, and just a great reading experience.

I didn’t know this was a series and haven’t read the first book but the characters were great. The book was kind of slow going and took me a while to get through. I wasn’t attracted to the storyline which is why it took me a while to get through.

As much as I liked the first book in this series, I couldn't seem to get into this sequel as much. The female friendships felt stunted, and it felt like the widows didn't understand or support each other as much as they did in the first book. The writing style felt a little bit all over the place and difficult to follow.

Desperate Deadly Widows: Where Crime Meets Girl Power

Four mob-connected lawyers die in a plane crash. Their widows inherit a mess of secrets. Two years later, Providence's mayor turns up dead in a strip club. Welcome to 1987 Rhode Island, where big hair meets bigger troubles.

This collaboration between authors Vanessa Lillie, Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan, and Kimberly Belle crackles with wit and tension. The story follows our unlikely heroines as they navigate a world of neon lights and dark alleys, trying to keep their late husbands' law firm alive while dodging both the mob and the law.

At the heart of this nailbiter are the widows themselves - each distinctly drawn and delightfully complex. There's Krystle, desperately keeping the firm's lights on, and Justine, a budding lawyer with secrets of her own. These women aren't just survivors; they're fighters who've learned that sometimes your best allies are the ones who share your worst memories.

The authors weave humour through the darkness like a neon sign in a thunderstorm. Sure, there are dead bodies and conspiracies, but there's also friendship, wisecracks, and the kind of loyalty that only comes from having someone's back when the whole world's against you.

While some readers might need a flowchart to track all the players and plots, the story's heart beats steady and strong. It's about women who refused to be victims, choosing instead to be the heroes of their noir fantasy. For anyone who likes their thrillers with a side of sisterhood and their mysteries wrapped in hairspray and attitude, this book delivers.

I loved the first installment of this series. Unfortunately, this book fell flat. The characters were not full and vibrant like they were in the first book. I found myself caring less and less what happened to the women. I also found the writing to be a bit repetitive. I wish I liked it more!

As with with first book in this series I loved the 80"s setting, along with the descriptions of the women's hair and clothing. I did find the characters and their backstories harder to keep track of this time. Luckily I could remember enough from the first book but I would have liked it if the authors had recapped a little bit.

I also found the murder suspects a little hard to keep track of along with the other characters. There was sometimes too much going on along with the timeline was hard to follow. They kept jumping from one scene to another. That being said if the series is continued I would continue reading it. Lots of time in books like this the writers resort to having some characters becoming goofy and just doing outrageous things. Other than Krystle's strip scene that didn't happen in this book. Krystle's strip scene was the huge focus of the book or something that made her seem like she was losing it. It struck me as something her character would do.

This is the perfect eighties read! A fun ride with some murder and light romance thrown in! Loved it!

did we need a book 2 no.
I feel because book 1 really didnt set up as sequel the widows were scrounging for a story to be interesting
I think if more humor was injected it would have been 10000x better becuase the scene set up for laugh out loud comedy
"so the mayor enters the chapagne room and winds up dead with a stripper"
but this books focus was on adding even more characters into the mix and turned it into a whodunit...but it wasnt very mysterious.
I liked the audio and some characters were voiced really well to give that 80s jersey twang.
In general the book should have been a novella becuase the characters and fluff added to keep us going was lackluster

A historical mystery/thriller set in the 80's. The sequel to "The Young Rich Widows" shows how the Widows have persevered and grown since the events of the first book. Most importantly the Widows know they can rely on each other in the darkest of circumstances - when one of their own is suspected of murder.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the e-galley!