I definitely enjoy Grisham’s fiction more than his non fiction. This was an interesting read, but I was disappointed with the ending and the abruptness of it. But, it will be. Abig seller!

Fast moving who done it in typical JG fashion. Lawyers with dishonest clients and the creepy family members to go along for the ride. John Grisham at his finest. Thank you NG for the ARC.

Greed, loneliness, deceit all play a part in Grisham’s latest, a combined mystery/legal drama. Simon Latch is an attorney in a small Virginia town who has hit a bad patch…his marriage is disintegrating, he is gambling too much, and his law practice doesn’t cover the bills. When a seemingly sweet old woman asks for his help with her estate, the wheels start turning and Latch sees a way out of his bad times. What results finds Latch in a deep hole that he needs lots of help to dig out of. An enjoyable, quick read for fans of legal stories with some “whodunnit” mixed in.
Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for an advance copy for review.

The latest by John Grisham is said to be different from his others- it's not. But, Grisham novels are always engaging and fun--The Widow doesn't disappoint. But to say it's not like his other 51 books would be a mistake.

Eleanor Barnett is not your ideal client. She's 85, vague, thin-skinned, and needy. Terrible combination. Simon Latch is a small-town lawyer down on his luck. His client list is drying up and his marriage is over. He sleeps in his office, he calls it The Closet. One day, Eleanor Barnett comes in with a lofty story of being wealthy and needing a friend. Sadly, Simon falls for both.

To say that this is a mystery would be a misnomer. It is a legal thriller with a "did he do it?" subtitle.
But Grisham is a wizard at legal thrillers and this fits right into his niche writing style.

Looking for a solid mystery? This is not your title.

I was expecting something a little more out of left field when I saw that John Grisham was writing a pure whodunnit. This isn't really that. It's still very much a legal thriller, just one that devolves into a really fun mystery more than a courtroom showdown. Definitely worth a read. Mr. Grisham rarely disappoints, no matter what genre he is taking on.

I was given an ARC copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Another good read by Mr. Grisham. I saw it described as a whodunit but I felt like it was a lawyer read like usual although there is a death involved in the story.

Simon Latch is a lawyer in rural Virginia. Eleanor Barnett, an elderly widow, comes into this office to have her will rewritten. Eleanor says she has no living relatives or friends and says she is quite wealthy. Eleanor does have 2 stepsons but according to her neither she or her late husband want them to inherit any of their assets. Simon draws up a new will for Eleanor and befriends her as the story goes along. Eleanor ends up dying and Simon is accused of killing her. A trial ensues. Pick this book up in October to read all about Simon and Eleanor and find out what happens at the trial and after.

This is another brilliant story by Grisham. It was gripping and meaningful. I’m sure this is fiction based on real stories of innocents being imprisoned. It will open your eyes to how easy it is to get accused and have no way out.

It's Grisham. It's wonderful. We all wait for the next one and immediately jump on it and he never disappoints. I loved the characters in this one and it was certainly a satisfying read. More, please!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I loved it.

The Widow- This was superb in my opinion. I give “The Widow” a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

Simon Latch, small town Attorney, gambler and soon divorcee. When Eleanor Barnett enters his office one day, his financial problems may just be over as she reveals how wealthy she is OR is she???

I’ll be honest, while reading, I didn’t know WHERE the story was going..I didn’t know WHERE it would all finally end. I try to guess as I read. I stopped guessing and decided to just enjoy the ride as I sipped homemade whiskey sours (made by me).

J. Grisham is just a magnificent storyteller. You’ll want to read this one.

Oh my, John Grisham has hit a home run…. He’s back. I have read almost every one of John’s books and in the past few years I almost felt like he was missing something, but not anymore. I hope this one is a great seller for him. I loved it.
Until retirement a few months back, I worked for a large medical group, and I truly hope our electronic medical records system was a bit harder to hack into than what this story says. Zander and her friend were quite techy. I loved the storyline, the pacing was great, and it kept my full attention all the way through. I listened to it via Kindle voice view in one day, it is a fast paced hard to put down read.
I can’t explain what it is, but a great author has the ability to pull you in, get you hooked, and your emotions take over and you start rooting for the good guy. John Grisham is a great author. High 5 stars.
This is my own opinion expressed in this review. Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books.

Well, I liked the story and I didn't like the story. The book seemed to drag for me. The ending just ended. The beginning of the book was good but the second half was just going over the first half of the book. The character Simon is who I liked and kept me reading to the end.

John Grisham at his finest. A lawyer is accused of murdering his elderly client. Did he do it? If not, can he find who did it? Greatly enjoyed this book. Quick read.

I have enjoyed John Grisham’s courtroom thrillers, so I thought I would check this one out, seeing as it has been described as a departure from his other novels. It was definitely that. Fast-paced, very detailed, interesting plot. I hope he writes more like this in the future.

Another golden ring for Grisham.
Simon Latch is an attorney getting by, by the skin of his teeth; barely making ends meet in his
very lackluster law firm and office.
And then one day the widow Barrett walks in with tales of incredible wealth and the need for a new attorney to
draw up an updated will and help her with her legal affairs. And for a while, Simon thinks his life is about
to take an upturn.
Until she dies after an accident and he is accused of her murder.
A great legal and riveting mystery story unraveled in the inimitable way that only Grisham has
of making complicated and convoluted seem and sound easily comprehensible.
Bravo, once again.
Movie???????? Netflix series??????

A small town lawyer writes a will for a wealthy widow, and he gets in over his head befriending her. When she died after a car crash she was responsible for, he became the primary suspect in her murder. What happens after he's convicted of that murder is where John Grisham's mastery of this type of story shines. Surprise after surprise kept me reading late into the night. I loved it!

A great, tense and unique story. I was drawn in immediately and it never eased. I found the perspective interesting, but pretty unrealistic. Really good read.

Simon Latch is a small town lawyer bored with his job and no longer in love with his wife. Then in walks a new client a widow with money and he can envision how his life will change. She needs a new will and Simon is more than happy to provide it along with friendship to a lonely old woman. This is a great novel taking you through all the twists and turns of the legal system. Simon is a faulty human and easily relatable. I love how John Grisham writes as I find myself following along and ever twist is believable. Another great book!

John Grisham is an auto buy for me. I have loved his books from the start. I love the legal aspects of his books, love the southern settings, and love all the twists and turns that you get with his novels.

The Widow is the story of Simon Latch, a small town attorney who is barely making ends meet. His marriage has fallen apart, he's living at the office, and his life looks nothing like he thought it would. When an old lady, Eleanor, comes into his office to set up a will, his life takes a positive turn. Eleanor is wealthy, and her will gives Simon a chance to get his life back on track. When Eleanor is murdered, Simon is the prime suspect and he has to find the real killer and clear his name.

This book just didn't hit the mark for me. The first half of the book is a slog. There were so many "lunches" with Eleanor, Simon trying to find ways to get information from her, Simon complaining about finances. It was very repetitive and seemed to drag. After the murder, the pace of the book picked up, but there were still some places that I thought could have been condensed. And the ending just felt so sudden - it seemed more that Grisham just stopped writing instead of finishing the novel.

Overall, 3 ​⭐s. Not my favorite John Grisham book, but I'm still a fan!

Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for an advanced copy of the book. It's scheduled to be published on October 21, 2025.

So many twists and turns!!!! Grisham has done it again! I love Simon so much!!!!!! I pulled and rooted for him the whole time and was absolutely immersed in the storyline!!!! I absolutely loved this one! Cannot recommend it enough!

WOW!! Grisham did it again!! And this time a murder mystery involving semi-shady lawyers, a senile little old lady, a police department with blinders ... all those goodies to make a great story. Add in interesting characters, good dialogue, credible plot and you end up with another fantastic Grisham book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for the ARC.