4/5 Stars – Fun, Twisty, and Comfortably Cozy

Amanda Ashby’s The Widows’ Guide to Backstabbing is a delightfully entertaining cozy mystery filled with humor, sass, and just the right amount of intrigue. The premise—widows navigating secrets, scandals, and small-town drama—offers both laugh-out-loud moments and clever twists that keep the pages turning.

Ashby balances sharp wit with warmth, creating characters who feel both quirky and endearing. The mystery itself is engaging without being overly dark, making it a perfect pick for fans of cozy crime who like their whodunits lighthearted yet clever.

Though a few plot turns are a touch predictable, the novel’s charm, pacing, and lively voice more than make up for it. The Widows’ Guide to Backstabbing is exactly what it promises to be: totally addictive and thoroughly enjoyable.

The Widows’ Guide to Backstabbing is the second book in the Widows’ Detective Club series by Australian-born New Zealand author, Amanda Ashby. Only there for moral support for her friend, Tuppence Wilde, Little Shaw’s library manager Ginny Cole is shocked to find unpopular haberdasher, Timothy Harlow in his shop’s back room in a pool of blood, a pair of sewing scissors protruding from his back.

DI James Wallace quickly warns Ginny and her friends off investigating, but when Milos Petrovic, secret boyfriend of Harlow’s daughter, Megan is arrested for the murder, on what seems to be rather slim evidence, Megan’s distress sees the women determined to help.

All this is happening in the run-up to the thirty-year anniversary of Little Shaw’s Spring Fete and Gala, and Ginny has never seen the level of competitiveness it induces. With Timothy firmly installed as the celebrity judge and weather guru, the organisers, Sandra and Peter Skye have to find another judge for the sixty-five categories of local arts, crafts, produce and baking.

Eighteen-year-old library volunteer, Connor finds himself accompanying the group he keeps referring to as the Detective Club; Ginny somehow ends up unofficial cake judge, which meets the approval of her library patrons when she shares this bounty; worryingly, someone cuts the brake-line on Ginny’s car; her cat Edgar has developed kleptomaniacal tendencies, his thefts causing quite a bit of friction between competing villagers.

There’s quite a bit of silliness, both from the widows and those they try to help: in response to a calendar date, a button and the mode of death, Megan asserts “Mancini always made the costumes for the local theatre company and often performs in the productions. And he loves Shakespeare. And he’s Italian. This proves he killed my father.”

Wild conclusions are jumped to, and the widows get the wrong end of the stick multiple times, embarrassing themselves with unfounded accusations. Ginny’s fear of her policeman neighbour seems exaggerated beyond ridiculous. Hopefully, the third instalment The Widows’ Guide to Skulduggery, will see an improvement in this cosy British crime series.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Storm Publishing

Ginny and friends are back investigating again when they find the owner of the local haberdashery murdered. He also was the much hated judge of the local fete, and they need to figure out if his death is related to his business or the fete.

I liked this one a lot, but not quite as much as the first one! I think that was more just the mystery and clues compared to the first one. It was still a good mystery overall, and I'm really enjoying these characters. I can't wait to see what awaits Ginny next!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a common review for the three instalments out of this series. A lovely, entertaining, and fast paced series featuring a twisty, surprising and entertaining mystery
Loved it, highly recommended
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Widows' Guide to Backstabbing is a delightful return to the charming, if murder-prone, village of Little Shaw. This cozy mystery, the second in "The Widows' Detective Club" series, sees librarian Ginny Cole and her fellow widows once again stumbling into a murder investigation when a body is found in the local haberdashery.
A great read.

I enjoyed this book however it felt a bit surface level at times. The person responsible was such a minor character i didnt know who they were but maybe that's a reflection on my reading skills.
Still entertaining and i liked the characters although wallace being always moody was wearing a bit thin by the end.

Given a free copy via Netgalley.

The Widows’ Guide to Backstabbing by Amanda Ashby is the second book in The Widows’ Detective Club series. I found the second installment to be just as charming as The Widows’ Guide to Murder. I like the setting (I am an anglophile) of Little Shaw (who can resist a cozy English village). I find the widows to be entertaining, and I love Ginny’s cat, Edgar, who likes to cause mischief (he has taken to bringing home other people’s belongings). The characters are well crafted and lovable. The mystery was fun. The ladies used a murder board this time. DI Wallace should not be so dismissive of the widows’ (they will grow on him). Many secrets come to light during the investigation. There are twists, turns, and sabotage. You do need to suspend your disbelief at times (there will be eye rolling). There is a good wrap up at the end. I am looking forward to the widows’ next adventure.

The Widows' Guide to Murder is the second Widows' Detective Club village cozy mystery by Amanda Ashby. Released 10th March 2025, it's 270 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU.

Small village cozies are perennially popular and it's lovely to find a solid series. The book is populated by small town eccentrics, undercurrents of rage, jealousy, and scandal, into which the new local village library assistant has been unceremoniously thrust without warning. It checks all the boxes: intelligent late middle aged sensible widow/librarian, small town gossip, an outlandish ensemble cast of apparently harmless oddball characters, and a satisfying resolution and epilogue.

Compared to the first book in the series, this one is a bit more scattered, with a host of secondary characters who are a bit of a handful to keep track of, but overall, still readable and enjoyable.

It's not derivative, but fans of Robert Thorogood (Marlow Murder Club), Janice Hallett, and Richard Osman will find a lot to like here. The author has a genuinely good grasp of character and setting, good pacing, and a satisfying denouement and conclusion.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 8 hours 54 minutes and is capably read by series narrator Diana Croft. She has a well modulated alto voice and an impressive command of regional accents (East London, Midlands, etc), and switches seamlessly between a range of ages and male and female (even Scottish) without a hiccup. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.

Four stars. It's a diverting read. It would be a great choice for home library, or a binge/buddy read. There are two books extant in the series, with a third due out at the end of June 2025.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Widows' Guide to Backstabbing by Amanda Ashby

This is book two in the Widows' Detective Club Series.

Ginny has taken on the role of Little Shaw's new library manager, and she's settling into life in the small village with her group of friends and her kleptomaniac cat, Edger. Life gets more complicated when she stumbles upon a body in the haberdashery store while helping her friend Hen return some fabric.

The victim is the spring fete judge, Timothy Harlow, who isn't known for his charm; after Ginny and Tuppence find the body, they call the police and receive a stern warning from Ginny's neighbour, DI Wallace, to stay out of the investigation but the victim's daughter, Megan, comes to them with questions, the widows can't sit idly by. They're convinced the main suspect is innocent and are determined to help Megan get to the bottom of the mystery.

Between her work at the library, returning 'gifts' that Edgar has stolen and whipping up marmalade for the spring fete, Ginny and her crew attack the puzzle and create an arts and crafts style felt murder board, possibly my favourite cosy mystery prop ever! The Widows' Guide to Backstabbing Village has all my favourite cosy mystery tropes, library shenanigans, busybodies, arts and crafts, a naughty cat, rival bakers... If you like The Thursday Murder Club, The Marlow Murder Club or The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up, then I think you'll enjoy the Widows' Guide series.

Body Count = 2

Thumbs up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.

#NetGalley #StormPublishing

#Bookstagram #booksdeevaareads #2025bookshelf #goreadabook #allthebooks #booknerd #Designer #GraphicDesign #DesignNerd #designdeevaa #CreativeLife #DesignInspiration #ArtAndDesign #Designer #Grapcan'tsign #DesignNerd #murdermystery

Ginny is settling in well to her new home and town, mainly thanks to the widows (Tuppence, JM, Helen) of the town who took her under their somewhat chaotic but warm arms. Ginny is also now the manager of the library, and is keeping the peace between volunteers, finding people what they want, and looking out for her teen employee Connor.

When Ginny accompanies Tuppence to the local haberdashery, they find the owner stabbed in the back and very much dead. Ginny is upset, but calls in the police, and listens to Detective Wallace's stern warning NOT to get involved.

That works out till Megan, the deeply distraught daughter of the owner shows up, and the widows decide they must investigate, since Megan's boyfriend is taken in for questioning, and Megan is convinced he's innocent.

Despite Ginny's reluctance, she joins in, and though they turn up numerous clues and red herrings, they do get closer to finding out who the killer is. At the same time, Ginny's cat Edgar keeps bringing home odd things, though in this case it's two sets recipe cards that two local bakers, who are at loggerheads, have reported missing.

The widows' sleuthing is haphazard and well intentioned, though it's usually Ginny who makes the big breakthroughs, as she does here, to her horror.

This is light, silly fun, and a nice diversion. Ginny is a good person, and however frustrating I sometimes find the widows chaotic behaviour, their hearts are in the right place, and they have proven to be good friends to Ginny, the likeable, quiet, and somewhat anxious main character.

On to the next book!

Thank you to Netgalley and to Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Ginny is back and with another murder!! Ginny and her friends are back at it again.
I really liked the first one but I felt this one was a lot slower than the first one. I do like the characters and the small town charm of the books. \

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

Same review basically as the other book in this series. Writing is good, story is interesting enough, just something about it didn’t grab my attention as much as it should have. It took me quite a bit longer to finish than I normally do because nothing about it made me want to go back.

This is the second book in this series that follows a recently widowed and newly head librarian as she an her friends become involved in another murder investigation. The characters in this series are interesting, and the case had enough twists to keep the story going. If you enjoy cozy mysteries as I do you might enjoy this addition.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Another fun book in the series. I love Ginny and her possie and secretly like Wallace too.his gruffness and frustration is so over shadowed by his caring. The mystery was nuanced and peeled layer by layer to get to the villian. Nicely written, well paced and even though the cast of characters is long, each has a role to play.

#netgalley #TheWidowsGuidetoBackstabbing

It was such a joy to return to Little Shaw in this second instalment of Amanda Ashby’s delightful cosy crime series. I absolutely loved being back with Ginny and her wonderful widow friends - JD, Tuppence, and Hen.

This fabulous foursome have become quite the amateur sleuths, despite DI Wallace’s repeated (and often ignored) requests to leave the investigating to the professionals!

Since moving to the village, Ginny has now stumbled across her second murder victim - this time it's Timothy Harlow, the owner of the local haberdashery shop and a celebrity judge for the upcoming Little Shaw Spring Fete.

Found stabbed in the back with a pair of scissors, his death throws the fete plans into chaos and raises plenty of questions. Can the show still go on? And more importantly—who killed Timothy?

While the police quickly arrest a suspect, Timothy’s daughter Megan insists they’ve got the wrong person.

Naturally, the widows can't resist taking on the case, complete with a brand-new mobile murder board and a growing list of suspects.

Meanwhile, Ginny’s cat Edgar is causing mischief of his own—bringing home mysterious objects and unwittingly helping to uncover hidden village secrets.

Ginny soon finds herself playing negotiator between neighbours, which just might lead to some valuable clues...

This is another charming, funny, and twist-filled mystery, packed with secrets, love affairs, rivalries, and plenty of red herrings.

Amanda Ashby continues to deliver well-paced plotting, witty dialogue, and an endearing sense of community that makes Little Shaw such a pleasure to visit.

The bond between the widows is a true highlight—heartfelt, hilarious, and refreshingly empowering.

With danger never too far behind, you’ll be turning the pages eager to find out if Ginny and her friends will crack the case before DI Wallace and whether they’ll come out unscathed.

A thoroughly enjoyable read, perfect for fans of cosy crime. I can’t wait for book three!

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"The Widows' Guide to Backstabbing" delivered exactly what I hoped the second part would – familiar characters, new secrets and more fun mayhem in the charming little town of Little Shaw. Ginny Cole is slowly settling into her new life, and although grief still lingers in the background, she has now not only accepted the company of the widows, but practically lives and breathes with them.

This time the story begins with another murder – the owner of the small town's beloved haberdashery shop is stabbed in the back with a pair of scissors, and Ginny is the one to discover him in the back of the shop. Timothy Harlow, judge of the Spring Festival, was not a popular figure among the locals, so there are plenty of suspects. Ginny – driven by curiosity, logic and a sense of justice – is once again drawn into an investigation, once again with the inevitable trio. JM, Hen and Tuppence continue to form an unbreakable unit, however different they may be. The team dynamics are now even livelier, even more cohesive and full of humour, making every moment with them a pleasure.

The spring fete, the homemade jam, the kleptomaniac cat (who is also impossible not to love), and the secret relationships, old grievances and petty revenges that lurk beneath the surface of the small town all serve as a backdrop that is both charming and unsettling. Behind the idyllic view of the small town, there is always something stirring – and Amanda Ashby builds it masterfully in this part too.

It was especially enjoyable to watch Ginny evolve – simultaneously trying to keep her common sense while being forced to confront again and again that the world is far more complicated than the familiar and well-ordered life she lived before her husband's death. And Amanda Ashby is at her best this time again, just when we think everything is clear, she adds another twist to the story. This part brings all the strengths of the previous book – likeable characters, well-dosed suspense, and a community you want to belong to, even if it means solving a murder with them.

I highly recommend this novel to all fans of cozy mysteries. I'm already looking forward to what the third part has in store – because one thing is for sure: life is never dull with these widows.

The next book in the Widows Detective Club series and it is just as amazing as the first. I was so excited to continue on with an adventure with Ginny. Just when you think life is normal Ginny goes and finds a body, again. This time it's the arrogant shop owner of the haberdashery. Stabbed. Ginny is once again swept into the middle of things and needs to solve the mystery. Along with her friends they try to solve the crime themselves. She soon discovers the quiet town isn't so quiet after all. It is full of rivalries, affairs and hidden secrets. Can she solve it before more danger finds her?
It's a fun on the edge of your seat mystery. Twists and turns you never expect. Once again I love the characters,like her friend Hen who is obsessed with crafts. Asby gives a real story with such great detail we become a part of the mystery. The story is easy to follow yet keep you guessing. You will love this adventure. I can't wait for more.

Oh my god this was so freaking good!
I really enjoyed sitting down and reading and honestly read it in one sitting’!

Ginny Cole is now the head librarian at Little Shaw library and is enjoying her job and adapting to her life as a widow.
One day after leaving work she visits the haberdashery shop and find a body and it’s not looking like a death from natural causes due to the scissors sticking out of its back.
Ginny along with her friends (also widows) have become amateur sleuths and don’t have to think twice about investigating this death.
This book is full of village charm and likeable characters that make it an enjoyable and entertaining read.
There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader interested and a great addition to the cosy mystery series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

The village of Little Shaw in Lancashire is proving to be as murder prone as the villages of Midsomer when Ginny Cole, the new head Librarian, finds another body in suspicious circumstances. Harlow is the owner of a haberdashery store and a local celebrity. Despite his overeager sense of self-worth, he had many enemies, which meant many suspects. Ginny and the other widows are determined to investigate when they believe the police have arrested the wrong person. What I like about this story is the number of mistakes the amateur sleuths make in their investigations. It gives the mystery an authenticity and allows the reader to suspend belief on the number of murders the village has. The mystery has a multitude of motives, and it makes immersive reading. I like the amateur sleuths, the web of lies and secrets the village community reveals and the conclusion.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.