There isn't anything better than jumping into a new John Grisham novel. I was captivated from the first page. Simon Latch is an attorney who mostly files bankruptcy's for clients while he barely scrapes by. His marriage is on the rocks, his gambling debt is growing and his three kids are not all that approving of him.

Simon then gets a new client. An elderly woman who seems to have millions of dollars and no one to leave them too. Simon decides him writing her will and being the conservator of a big trust, paying him big bucks, would be in order. She agrees. So begins Simon becoming a lackey for his new client and she ends up dying from pneumonia or was it something else?

That is all I want to give away, but the story is a blast. The characters are what draw you in and the workings of the law keep you there. I loved everything about this book! Although, a follow up might be fun.

Thank you Penguin Random House and NetGalley for this early read. It is much appreciated.

What a great book. In the beginning I was wondering what direction this story was going to go in. Then the unthinkable happened. From then on it was all suspense that had me holding my breath at times. I would give this book six stars if I could.

Frightening and totally immersive novel highlighting the loopholes within the legal system and law enforcement... This is one of Grisham's best in a very long time and deserving of 5+ stars.... Exceptional character development and a plot stocked with murder, money, and lies that will keep you guessing until the final page... This book is Grisham at his finest!

John Grisham’s captivating novel, The Widow, explores the chilling concept of wrongful conviction, where an innocent person is wrongfully accused and imprisoned for a crime they didn’t commit. The novel delves into the unsettling premise of miscarriage of justice, building to an intense and suspenseful investigation that unravels the truth behind the crime and reveals the identity of the killer.

A marvelous murder mystery only John Grisham could create. Brilliant dialogue, much intrigue, well developed believable characters, fun plot twists, and skillful construction. What more could you want? Highly recommended! I enjoyed this book and hope we’ll be seeing more of these interesting new characters. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.

Truth is not always considered relevant in criminal proceedings. Join these characters on the journey of their life. The inner thoughts, their actions and the results will keep you turning the pages late into the night. Another fantastic legal suspense - definitely worth the read. This book wasprovided by the publisher and author through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own thoughts.

Whew!! This was a fantastic roller coaster ride.Just as you begin to think you know where it’s headed you realize it took a turn that wasn’t anticipated..A lovely legal thriller mystery.Mr Grisham has outdone himself with this book.He holds true to his forte…the legal thriller and blends it well with a mystery .I couldn’t stop reading and finished it in one day!
Thankyou Netgalley for this ARC

Another fantastic read! I was on the edge of my seat flipping pages just as quickly as possible to see what happened next....keeping me up way too late in the night reading.

Simon is a flawed man and mediocre lawyer, barely squeaking out a living, when his life imploded. He meets a lonley older lady with a big secret. Unfortunately, keeping her secret has a huge impact on his life and changes him forever.

Despite his many flaws, Simon is a likable character. I found myself invested in his story and wanting him to succeed. I really hope that this is the beginning of a new series, as I'd love to read about his future endeavors.

This is a must read for fans of the genre. The author is on my must read authors" list.

I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review on my Goodreads page. The official release is set for October 21, 2025.

After a brief detour into nonfiction last year, John Grisham returns to familiar territory with a fresh twist. His latest legal thriller blends courtroom/law practice drama with a classic whodunit mystery—offering fans something both familiar and new.

The story follows attorney Simon Latch, who lands in serious trouble after taking on the estate planning case of a wealthy widow with millions at stake. All the signature Grisham elements are here: high-stakes legal maneuvering, morally gray characters, unpredictable twists, and courtroom tension that keeps you turning the pages.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The characters are sharply drawn, and the plot moves at a brisk, satisfying pace with just enough red herrings to keep you guessing. I highly recommend this for longtime Grisham fans and newcomers alike—it’s sure to earn a permanent place on my bookshelf when it hits stores this fall.

More than just a legal thriller, John Grisham's 'The Widow' is a superb character study of a small-town lawyer on the ropes. I was particularly struck by the novel's gritty and realistic portrayal of the financial pressures of a general practice. While the mystery element is enjoyable, the novel's real strength is its exploration of the daily life of a professional just trying to keep his head above water. As a retired GP that specialized in anything coming through the door, the parallels to my own career were uncanny and deeply resonant. A highly recommended read for those who enjoy Grisham's signature storytelling with a strong dose of real-world insight.

I have not read any of John Grisham's books in awhile so I thought that I would give this one a try. Wow, what a great thriller! A lawyer takes a case from an elderly woman who presents herself as a wealthy widow. Twists and turns and the lawyer finds himself accused of murder of the woman. I thought that I had figured the mystery out halfway throught the book however, I was completely wrong. Kudos to Mr. Grisham for another great read!

Okay, okay — this book was such a good read.
Simon, a lawyer, finds himself in serious trouble after making some pretty desperate (and not-so-smart) decisions involving one of his clients. Now, he’s racing against time to prove his innocence before he ends up on death row.
The pacing was steady throughout, and I really liked how everything came together in the end.

John Grisham delivers another legal thriller packed with tension, small-town secrets, and unexpected alliances in The Widow. The story revolves around Simon, a modest small-town lawyer whose desire for financial security drives him to make a questionable decision—drafting a secret will that grants him control over the estate of a wealthy, elderly widow. What begins as a morally gray decision quickly spirals into a legal nightmare when the widow turns up dead and Simon becomes the prime suspect in her murder. With the town turning against him and the evidence stacking up, Simon’s only hope lies in an unlikely team: a gritty criminal defense lawyer who takes the case pro bono, a brilliant hacker couple with shady pasts, and a determined FBI agent with her own reasons for pursuing the truth. Grisham masterfully builds suspense while exploring the limits of loyalty, justice, and redemption. The legal maneuvers are sharp, the twists are clever, and the characters are textured—especially Simon, whose journey from ambition to desperation is as compelling as it is tragic. The Widow is a gripping courtroom drama meets investigative thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end.

The Widow is another fantastic addition to John Grisham’s already legendary body of work — and this time, he ventures into classic whodunit territory with absolute finesse. Grisham proves he’s just as skilled at building suspense and mystery as he is at crafting courtroom drama.

The pacing is taut, the characters are deeply compelling, and the small-town atmosphere crackles with tension. The twists are smart and well-timed, keeping you guessing until the very end. It’s refreshing to see Grisham step into a new subgenre and absolutely own it. The Widow might be his first whodunit, but I hope it’s not his last.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published Oct 2025.

Review of Uncorrected Proof

After eighteen years of bankruptcies, drunk drivers, delinquent child support, foreclosures, car wrecks, and dubious disabilities, attorney Simon F. Latch is burned out, trapped in a failed marriage, and essentially broke. The occasional updating of a will is generally uncomplicated and brings in a small sum that helps keep the firm going.

Today, the client is Eleanor Barnett who, it turns out had had her will updated by another local lawyer but is unhappy with some of its provisions and wants it redone. After a conversation with the widow, Simon realizes she is one of the richest clients ever to have come through his door.

However, it isn’t long before the case seems to crack; nothing is quite as it seems.

And then Simon finds himself charged with murder.

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Wrongful conviction gets its day in court in this intriguing tale from storyteller-master John Grisham. This is legal suspense at its finest as readers take a seat in the courtroom and contemplate the particulars of legal maneuvers and miscarriage of justice while, at the same time, finding themselves untangling a mystery.

Readers are pulled into the telling of this enthralling tale from the first page; with strong, well-developed, believable [but not necessarily likable] characters, a truly intricate and captivating plot, and enough suspense to keep them on the edge of their seats, they are sure to find themselves turning pages as fast as possible.

As the unfolding narrative slowly reveals the secrets and lies hidden within the twisty plot and the legal drama, this unputdownable book will keep readers engrossed from the first page to the unexpected denouement.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Doubleday Books / Doubleday and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
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