Such a fan of this writing group, I might have requested this book and the previous one from this group (Young Rich Widows) because of my love for Layne Fargo but I stayed for the fun, seamless storytelling that captures the decadence and materialism of the 1980s but also offers a story about a diverse, engaging set of women, drawn together through a series of complicated events that keep them connected, and gives them a lot of opportunities to be strong, at times cunning, and highly capable of handling all that life throws at them, and with style and flare.

The biggest standout, other than a truly fun set of characters and a fun story, is how seamless and well developed this story is; each character is well developed (and you don't need to read the first book to enjoy and follow this book because the characters are well developed) and the story flows, even as different characters have their own stories and chapters/perspectives. It's clear the writing group has fun with their characters and plot development and that makes this a big win for me.

This book is a thrilling and unputdownable ride from start to finish. The author expertly blends suspense, mystery, and emotional depth to create a story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The characters are richly developed, with each widow's backstory adding layers of intrigue and sympathy. The characters are complex, flawed yet relatable characters which makes this book incredibly engaging. The plot twists and turns in unexpected ways, which kept guessing until the very end. The pacing is brisk, ensuring there's never a dull moment.
I appreciated the themes of resilience, justice, and the bonds between women. The camaraderie and shared struggles among the widows add an emotional heft to the narrative, creating a powerful and moving story. While there are a few predictable moments, the overall storyline remains compelling and satisfying.

This is a must-read for fans of suspenseful thrillers. Highly recommended for those who love a good mystery with strong, dynamic characters.

I have to say, as a reader who came into this book rather blind with any of the characters, I appreciate the authors writing this as though it was your first time reading their book. While the authors do refer back to the other story, it’s mainly for clarification and the ties between each of the women so the reader can understand and follow along.

I highly appreciate the fact that each woman and main character in this book was written with extreme clarity and definition as to who that person was. What this means is as you read, you can visualize that person, and you become more attached to the story.

I love that these characters don’t actually seem to “like“ each other but they’re tied to each other because of the other incidents from the first book. They will fiercely protect and support each other, but there aren’t a whole lot of best-friend feelings going around. That can be a good thing.

The plot is very convoluted and leaves you guessing as the authors weave their path of clues for you to follow. The authors do it right by including humor, Snark, attitude, and fierce support for each other. They humanize this story completely for us.

Desperate Deadly Widows is a story of strength and bold women doing whatever it takes to protect each other and their business. A good murder mystery with action and twists to engage and delight.

I did noooot realize this was a sequel (that was my bad lol)

But, it did make me want to read the first one! I think the widows felt a bit disconnected from each other and I would not recommend reading this one first. There was nothing ground breaking that happened in the story but it was enjoyable enough. The ending was a bit all over the place and I think things got a little too sappy in the last chapter for my taste.

Release: April 7, 2025
Publisher: Source books Landmark
-Kimberly Belle, Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan, Vanessa Lillie
 
Rating: 4.25 ★ 

"Desperate Deadly Widows" is a gripping anthology that brings together the talents of Kimberly Belle, Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan, and Vanessa Lillie. Each story dives into the complexities of love, betrayal, and revenge, all through the lens of women who have lost their husbands under mysterious circumstances.
The writing is sharp and immersive, drawing you into each widow’s emotional turmoil and desperate actions. Each author brings a unique voice and perspective, creating a diverse tapestry of narratives that explore the darker sides of grief and survival. The twists are unpredictable, keeping you on the edge of your seat as secrets unfold and motivations are revealed.
I particularly appreciated how the stories intertwine themes of empowerment and vengeance, showcasing the lengths to which these women will go to reclaim their lives. The pacing is well-crafted, with tension building steadily until the explosive conclusions.
Overall, "Desperate Deadly Widows" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. It’s a compelling collection that not only entertains but also challenges the reader to consider the complexities of morality in desperate situations.

Favorite Quote: 

"In the shadows of loss, we find our true selves—and sometimes, that self is far more dangerous than we ever imagined."

The four different narrators did a great job, however, I do wish that the narrator stayed with their character even when from a different narrator’s point of view. The plot was a little slow and overall I found the book to be just okay.

I really liked the first book in this series, but this one was kinda a flop. The overall plot wasn’t as interesting there got to be too many side characters and stories that took away from the main story. I was honestly kind of bored? Which is weird to experience reading a thriller/mystery. I feel like this sequel wasn’t needed and I wouldn’t recommend reading past book 1.

I really like wanted to love this book as much as I loved the first one but unfortunately I did not. Typically, once I start a book I can’t put it down but with this one I really struggled to get into it. I love the widow characters but something was missing for me in this book!

Set in 1987, Desperately Deadly Widows (book 2) takes place 2 years after the deadly plane crash that made these four women widows and in some serious debt to the mob (see book 1 Young Rich Widows if you haven’t read it yet)

Now, 2 years after the crash;
Krystle is trying to keep the law firm afloat
Justine is working at the law firm while also studying for the bar exam. Meredith is now the owner of the strip club she used to dance at
And Camille is running honey trap schemes

But when Camille is hired to run a honey trap scheme on the Mayor, things go horribly wrong and Camille finds herself at the top of the suspect list.
The four widows need to work together to figure out who really wanted the Mayor dead.
These four women have strong personalities and they are a total force to be reckoned with.
Lies, secrets and lots of backstabbing keeps you completely hooked on this story and I hope there will be a book #3!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #SourceBooks for my advanced ebook to read and review

I read the first book back in April…….Young Rich Widows. When I saw this book, I hit the “request” button so fast, praying it would be approved. This one was every bit as good as the first book, and actually, it was better. Definitely held my interest. I love the idea of four different authors each writing for one of the four main characters. A very unique concept. Good, satisfying ending. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

I couldn’t wait to read the return of the widows. This is such a great easy read. It’s like Desperate Housewives set in the 80’s! The four widows are trying to keep their law firm afloat and run into all sorts of trouble. A good twisty mystery will keep you on your toes with some humorous moments.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a digital ARC of the second in the Widow series by the powerhouse writing team of Vanessa Lillie, Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan and Kimberly Belle. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Following all the adventures that happened in the first book, Young Rich Widows, it's 1987 in Rhode Island, two years since the plane crash that killed four law-firm partners. The four widows have had to regroup, facing the reality of their new lives. Krystle fights to keep the law firm afloat, while Justine is in law school. Meredith owns and runs the strip club where she once danced, and Camille orchestrates schemes for scorned women. However, one of her arrangements goes wrong and the mayor is now dead in the club. The widows must work together or else go down together.

These are just such fun books, taking you back to all the excesses of the 80s. There's enough here to be able to read this one as a stand alone, but do yourself a favor and start with the first. The audiobook was fabulous (available now on Audible, just like the first!) and had me laughing along at the widows' antics. But there's a mystery to be solved before one of the widows ends up in jail, and there are plenty of questionable suspects. Loved how this shows strong women supporting each other no matter what.

While it’s already out as an audiobook, the written novel is coming April 8, 2025. The Windows of the Law Firm are back and are moving forward with their lives, if only others would stop setting them up! Each of the widows has moved forward with a new career path after the deaths of their husband but when tragedy befalls one of them, they team up again to try to solve whodunit. Overall, I enjoyed this one more than the first, especially the twists along the way and the writing feels more YA. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I really enjoyed the first book and knew I would be in for another treat with this one. Although this wasn’t as amazing as the first book I will say that I was not disappointed. The ladies have kept me thoroughly entertained with their shenanigans and dialogue. The plot, narration, comedy and grit made this book a really enjoyable one. The addition of new characters was surprisingly well done considering I sometimes hate change. These women are smart, witty and admirable characters who know exactly what they want and how to get it. I will say that I would love to join the team again if there will be another book.

Desperate Deadly Widows was just as good as the first book! I loved catching up with my favorite widows and seeing how they are holding up! It is of the times in the most fun way!

The widows are at it again! This was a page turning thrill ride. I was laughing and cheering the widows on the whole way. A great follow up.
Thank you to net galley for my early e galley for my honest opinion.

Unfortunately I could not get through this. I did not like the first book of this series however unfortunately, because I have enjoyed other books by this author. Thank you for the opportunity however.

This was the perfect book for me now. It was so good and kept me turning pages. I laughed. I cried. I cringed. I had all the feels. Mostly I enjoyed all the laughter. It felt so good to laugh...

The follow up to Rich Young Widows, this was just as good. It starts out with excitement. The mayor is murdered and of course one of the strippers is accused of his murder. While she does look extremely guilty did she do it? Or could it have been her boss/friend. Maybe his wife. Or ex-wife. Maybe even his son. The list is endless. What did Mayor Tom do or not do to get himself murdered?

This book is so good. It keeps you guessing and turning the pages. The four widows, Krystle, Camille, Justine, and Meredith, became fast friends after their husbands were killed in a plane crash that proved to be murder in Rich Young Widows. You got a good look into each of their lives. How they stood together through so much. Friendships are the best. Sometimes it's stronger than family. Or is a family. What these women go through in this book tests the bonds many times. But in the end they stand strong. No matter what.

I enjoyed this book so much. It was spot on terrific. A joy and pleasure to read. It was a fun read with a few twists thrown in for good measure. To keep you on your toes.

Thank you #NetGalley and #SourceBooksLandmark, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts.

Five big stars.

Someone has framed these women for killing the mayor and they are determined to find out who. And like any good whodunit mystery. Their motives aplenty everywhere they turn. Somebody has a motive to have killed the mayor. And it's up to these women to unravel the mystery in time.

This book absolutely screams the '80s and that was a very fun element to help enrich the story. There were a lot of really funny comedically timed moments that added to the characters.

However, on the other hand, the widows themselves felt very disconnected from each other. Almost like there wasn't really any friendship or anything between them so it does take you out of the story at times.

Elements of this book felt like they were friends, but there were a lot of moments where I felt like you needed a couple chapters or a scene or two added in to really help cement the fact that they were truly friends because it almost felt very superficial friendship. I did love the fact that these women are very self-sufficient. They don't need a man or anyone else to ride in like a white Knight and save them. They are going to save themselves.

This sits very middle of the road for me. There were moments that I truly enjoyed this, but some that feel kind of flat. That being said, if there is a third book, I can see myself picking it up to go along with these women in their journey.

This book is delicious! I loved the first book and this one was great as well. The Widows have to come together again to save one of the women. I feel like the 80s setting is so well laid out and referenced it almost feels like a character in itself. I really hope there are more widows books coming.