Another John Grisham legal novel that I couldn't put down until I had read the entire book. This compelling story takes place in rural Virginia, where the economy is struggling, affecting much of the population, including the legal community.
Simon Latch is an attorney accused of murder in the death of an elderly client. The question of his innocence or guilt is at the heart of this novel, and if you're like me, you will find yourself going back and forth regarding your opinion.
Don't miss this compelling novel; once again, John Grisham does not miss a beat.




I received an ARC for free and gave my honest opinion voluntarily.

This book was excellent!! It was my 1st book by John Grisham and will not be my last.
I'd only ever seen his books that turned to movies and loved them now I'm a book fan for life.

Simon is a small town bankruptcy/estate lawyer who's just getting by.
His marriage is basically over and his kids are a mess over it. He gets a visit from a widow to redo her will and she claims to secretly have millions in stocks. He takes over and doesn't let his secretary know. He dreams of what he could do with her trust. The Widow doesn't have any family her late husband has 2 sons who are after the will. Things go crazy when the Widow dies in the hospital shortly after a car accident but suspicions turn to Simon that point to him. He's in for the fight of his life to prove he had nothing to do with her death. I was drawn in right away and could not put this book down.

John Grisham’s The Widow is another gripping legal thriller. Simon Hatch, a lawyer from Virginia, meets Eleanor, a lonely widow who needs a new will to protect her late husband’s fortune in Coca-Cola and Walmart stock from her two older, not-so-great step sons. Since she has no family, Simon agrees to help and becomes her friend. But as Simon becomes her right-hand man, Eleanor falls ill and dies, either from pneumonia or something else. The book is filled with clever dialogue, suspenseful plot twists and a well-crafted story. Highly recommend.

John Grisham has always been a bit of a mixed bag for me. For every Jake Brigance or Camino novel that I can’t stop recommending, there’s something like The Exchange that just didn’t work for me. So it was with a cautious mix of hope and skepticism that I opened The Widow, not quite sure what to expect.

I needn’t have worried—The Widow is Grisham in top form.

The premise is instantly engaging, built around a central mystery that had me flipping pages, constantly wondering: Was she? Or wasn’t she? Marketed as Grisham’s first whodunit, this legal thriller leans into the genre’s strengths with compelling courtroom scenes, layered characters, and just enough ambiguity to keep you questioning everyone's motives.

While I found the setup a little too slow-paced (the plot doesn’t really get moving until about 40% in), even then I couldn’t put the book down. Simon is a relatable, grounded protagonist you want to root for. Cora, on the other hand, is everything people love to hate about high-powered attorneys—cold, calculating, and ruthless. And I couldn’t help but feel that Raymond was a spiritual cousin to Lucien Wilbanks, one of my all-time favorite Grisham characters. I wouldn’t have minded a cameo or at least a character in the mold of Harry Rex, either.

Though not quite Grisham at his absolute best, The Widow is certainly Grisham at his very, very good. Fans of his legal thrillers will find plenty to love here, and I genuinely hope this won’t be his last foray into mystery-driven storytelling.

Recommended for fans of legal thrillers, courtroom drama, and smart, slow-burn mysteries.

Such an interesting read! I haven't read a Grisham book in a couple of years and don't really know why. I've been missing out! I enjoyed this storyline so much, but I did find that it dragged on at times. Overall, excellent read!

The Widow by John Grisham is just another example of why John Grisham is such a popular author. His topics are complex enough to keep readers attention but not so much so as to keep his books from being enjoyable to read. The Widow is a woman, Eleanor Barnett, who goes into a law office saying she needs a simple will, but she is not forthcoming with all the necessary details.

Simon Latch is the lawyer whose office Eleanor finds herself. She states that she had another attorney who set himself up as the executor of her estate, takes a large fee after her passing, and as well making himself the beneficiary of her estate. She tells Simon that the will makes her uncomfortable. Simon is horrified that an attorney is his town would set things up that way and agrees to write her will. Although she lives modestly, she tells him her husband had a lot of stock in Coca Cola and Walmart. She is wealthy and has no real beneficiaries. This makes Simon much more interested in writing her will.

However, Eleanor’s dead husband had two sons who are not good people, and she does not want them to inherit her wealth. Thus ensues much of the situation that makes the book worthy of John Grisham’s name. Readers will enjoy this book even if they don’t normally read Grisham. The story is all too real.

Thanks to Netgalley for the prepublication copy to read and review.

I just LOVE John Grisham's books and I was able to receive an ARC from NetGalley for this soon to be released book.

Grabs you from the first page. Loved the "nice old lady" character and Simon's interactions with her. Loved the twists and turns and especially the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Simon Latch, a small town lawyer in rural VA, has a wealthy widow ask for a new will. Months later she has a car accident and everything changes. Simon ends up separated, in debt, and on trial for murder. It’s a great plot that holds your interest with a surprising ending.

There is no explicit sex, gruesome killing, or foul language. It’s just a great murder mystery.

John Grisham writes legal drama so very well. It is always interesting to see where he plans to take readers, and in The Widow, readers will find themselves thoroughly entertained. Simon Latch goes through the motions every day. He gets up, interacts with his kids and wife, goes to work, and comes home. As a lawyer in rural Virginia, he handles wills and other small-town legal needs. A new client arrives in his office, and he finds himself more interested in law than he has been in many years. The new client, Eleanor Barnett, is unhappy with her will. When she dies, she does not want her stepsons to inherit anything. As a wealthy widow, she needs to designate where her fortune will end up. Simon knows that this client could be the answer to his financial troubles. He asks Eleanor for specific financial information, and she is suddenly hesitant to share it. How can he draft a new will if he can't verify her finances? Simon embarks on a campaign to soothe Eleanor's concerns by getting to know her better. He is facing divorce, and his bookie wants to be paid. Simon must balance these pressures and hope to reach his goal of a financial windfall.

While it seems ambitious for separation, divorce, addiction, murder, and mental illness to be covered in one book, this is Grisham's forte. I always enjoy Grisham's characters. He imbues each character with depth that enhances the story. Simon is a relatable character. After floating along, he is suddenly jarred into action. The final twists and turns of this book answer all the questions you have and provide the perfect ending. Mystery, thriller, and Grisham fans should all love this new book. I highly recommend this book.

Grisham at His Finest – A Haunting, Gripping Legal Thriller!

John Grisham delivers a masterclass in suspense with The Widow. This novel exceeded every expectation I had going in. From the very first page, I was completely immersed in a dark, layered mystery that blends courtroom drama, small-town secrets, and emotional depth in a way only Grisham can deliver.

The pacing is flawless—building tension through every twist and revelation—while the characters are deeply human and authentically flawed. The widow at the center of the story is complex and compelling, and her journey kept me riveted from start to finish.

As an early reader through NetGalley, I feel incredibly lucky to have experienced this unforgettable story before its official release. Grisham proves once again why he’s the master of the legal thriller, but The Widow goes even further—exploring grief, guilt, and justice in ways that feel both timeless and urgent.

Highly recommended for longtime fans and new readers alike. This one will stay with me for a long time.

Well done!

Grisham at his absolute best—and with a twist I didn’t see coming.

This is not just another legal thriller—it’s a full-on whodunit wrapped in small-town secrets, old money, and a murder charge that will have you questioning everything. The Widow builds tension masterfully, balancing courtroom stakes with real human drama.

Simon Latch is a compelling, flawed, and deeply believable protagonist. Watching his life unravel—and then fight for his name and future—had me completely hooked. The pacing is razor-sharp, the clues are perfectly placed, and the ending? Satisfying and earned.

Grisham’s first true mystery delivers all the legal suspense you’d expect, but layered with even more intrigue and character depth. Highly recommend for fans of fast reads that don’t sacrifice story.

The Widow by John Grisham. This is one of my favorite books by John Grisham. Loved the character, Eleanor who engagingly gets her way by acting like a doty, sweet old lady. Appearances can be deceiving. Simon Latch, a small town lawyer, meets with Eleanor and his life is turned upside down and sideways. Classic Grisham with a mystery to solve. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Mr Grisham, Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

THE WIDOW - What can I say. The Widow is another success story written by Mr. Grisham. Well written, interesting, intriguing, and immersing, and definitely a page turner and a one-sit read. I have not ever been disappointed with any book written by this talented author. I'm just excited to read his latest book as I was after I read his first all those many years ago. Source: Netgalley. 5*

I always look forward to the next book by John Grisham. His latest, “The Widow,” did not disappoint.

Simon F. Latch, Attorney and Counselor at Law, was leading a life of quiet desperation. His professional life was pretty boring and his marriage was going down the tubes.

Enter Ms. Eleanor Barnett, age 85, who isn’t happy with the will prepared by another lawyer. During her interview with Simon, Ms. Barnett lets slip that she has a huge amount of stock.

After so many routine wills and bankruptcies, could this be possible? Simon wants to believe her.

Thus begins a wild ride of a story where neither Simon nor the reader (or me, at least) could discern what was true and what was cut from whole cloth. I recommend “The Widow.” I think it’s a whodunit with a difference. A significant part of the time I was smiling as I read; Ms. Barnett was a character with a capital C. I was finished with the book before I knew it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.

Greed, Deception, Murder and Backstabbing, Everything you want in a novel that you will not be able to put down. I was totally engrossed in the jaw dropping cliffhangers. Could this scenario really happen? You bet it could! That’s why this is such a great story. You can put yourself right smack dab in the middle of Simon’s life, asking yourself, right or wrong, what path would I take? Even if you think you’d go down the right path, would you, if your back was up against the wall? Mr. Grisham knocked this one out of the ballpark. I highly recommend this gem. I hope everyone enjoys this read as much as I did.
Thank You To NetGalley, The Author John Grisham and the Publisher Doubleday Books, for allowing me this ARC for my honest opinion.

Simon Latch is a small time lawyer who takes on a case which makes him a lot of money. The client is in an accident and the story isn’t adding up. Simon finds himself being blamed for a murder in which he’s the only person he trusts to prove his innocence.

Somehow this was my first book by John Grisham. I always figured his type of books weren’t for me. However, I did enjoy this legal thriller. It’s fun to go outside of my comfort zone once and a while. It was kind of cliche, but I’m surprised I liked it as much as I did and I’m glad I gave it a chance. It was well paced and the characters were fleshed out. It kept my interest with it’s intrigue. I would recommend this book if you like the premise.
Thank you NetGalley and Doubleday for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

I love a good straightforward Grisham story. It is just what I want to dive into and I read in one weekend. The stories are never the same and the characters honest and real. I thought it might turn out with a little more of a twist at the end, but still a compelling story.

The Widow by John Grisham is a satisfying legal mystery thriller and offers another stellar work from this bestselling author. The protagonist, Simon, is a small-town lawyer barely staying afloat—drowning in debt, struggling with a failing marriage, and battling a gambling addiction. His modest practice offers little financial relief, compounding the pressures of his life.

A glimmer of hope appears when Simon is asked to help a wealthy widow draft a new will. Her previous attorney has inserted legal language making himself the primary beneficiary, and Simon sees an opportunity to do the right thing by crafting a will free of deceit.

But human nature, and desperation, intervene. As the story unfolds, Simon finds himself tempted by the potential financial gain. What begins as a noble act morphs into a risky entanglement. When a death occurs and Simon’s involvement with the new will comes under scrutiny, he becomes the prime suspect. The novel shifts into high gear as Simon scrambles to solve the mystery and prove his innocence before it’s too late.

What I loved most about The Widow were the noir-like elements reminiscent of James M. Cain—watching a flawed protagonist slide into moral compromise made for an absorbing, slow-burn experience. Though the courtroom scenes occasionally felt repetitive, the novel as a whole gripped me with its steady tension and psychological depth.

While not quite a page-turner, The Widow earns a spot among my top ten Grisham novels for its layered characters and morally complex plot.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book, with the invitation to leave an honest review.

I forget how much I love John Grisham’s style in-between his novel releases and was once again so pleasantly reminded of that.

The Widow is a captivating read I simply breezed through. It was so delightfully suspenseful that it was impossible to put down. The story centers around Simon, a small town layer, who struggles to keep his business above water and his marriage afloat. He gets caught up in a murder scheme and is accused of the crime, following by quite a bit of intriguing courtroom drama with a surprising resolution.

Through the whole story, Grisham keeps Simon and all the other characters thoroughly real, flawed and human. Simon is not, strictly speaking, an entirely positive character, but that is what brings the reader to root for him. The narrative from his point of view describes his honest thoughts on his life, his marriage and ultimately his predicament of being accused of a murder. He is real in a very relatable way to the reader and this was a page turner right until the very last page.

As a minor side-note, I am also very familiar with Virginia, so really enjoyed references to many cities and spots throughout the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this incredibly engaging book!

I had not read a Grisham novel for a few years.
Latch seemed to have trouble with relationships. His wife, clients, secretary….problems with them all.
He also had a gambling problem. He wasn’t one of my favorite characters. He didn’t treat Eleanor right, she needed a friend.
But the book still kept my attention until towards the end. I thought it wrapped up too quickly.. It seemed to just be oh let’s pick that guy, seems like a good murderer. So I was disappointed.
Thank you Net galley for the arc copy.