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rellimreads's review against another edition
4.0
While it took a bit to build momentum, once the story gets going it really gripped me. The idea of two widows who have nothing in common except for their husbands dying at the same murder scene was really unique. I liked that this is told from multiple perspectives including the hit man.
Kristen & Flora are opposites on so many levels and they have no reason to trust the other, but a tenuous allyship forms as they try to follow the clues. Lots of twists, turns, and unpredictable antagonists made for a great listen.
Narration:
I enjoyed Christine Lakin’s performance. She did a good job of differentiating all the character voices and personalities. Plus enhancing the emotional parts.
Kristen & Flora are opposites on so many levels and they have no reason to trust the other, but a tenuous allyship forms as they try to follow the clues. Lots of twists, turns, and unpredictable antagonists made for a great listen.
Narration:
I enjoyed Christine Lakin’s performance. She did a good job of differentiating all the character voices and personalities. Plus enhancing the emotional parts.
nicovreeland's review
3.0
It’s a serviceable thriller with an insanely over-complex ending. I feel like you’d need a corkboard and a full roll of red yarn to sort out all the connections and relationships that are revealed in the last 10% of this book. There are entire characters that, at the end, didn’t need to be in the novel.
jillmlong's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. The author did a fantastic job of giving each character enough shade that you didn't know who to believe or trust. Each character had motives and I couldn't wait to find out who did it and why.
rozlev's review
5.0
Great read that's hard to put down. Twists and turns. Interesting characters. I was guessing to the end.
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
Two widows form a bond as they investigate their husbands' murders and thwart the contract killer that's still on the loose coming for them. The premise for this one was so original (to me at least) I had a hard time putting it down. Lots of characters and backstories to keep track of but if you can keep it all sorted it's worth the satisfying ending. I also really enjoy suspense books that end on a last line that makes you know the story isn't really over and this one does that perfectly. Highly recommended for fans of good psychological mystery/thrillers.
smarcellus's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
marilynw's review against another edition
4.0
An Ambush of Widows by Jeff Abbott (Goodreads Author), Christine Lakin (Narrator)
Flora Zhang's wealthy husband has been murdered, along with another guy, in an empty warehouse in Austin. In New Orleans, Kirsten North gets a phone call saying that her husband is dead. The murder of their husbands brings Flora and Kirsten together but neither one of them trusts the other. Whose fault is it that their husbands are dead and who wanted them dead?
As we explore the past of Kirsten, her husband, and her foster brother, Zach, we know that this trio has/had secrets that needed to stay secret. But Flora's husband had his own secrets, too, secrets he kept from Flora, although she was willing to let them slide until those secrets blow up their life. Now both Flora and Kirsten are determined to find out what happened to their husbands and why they were meeting in an empty warehouse. Flora has her reputation to protect and Kirsten wants revenge. These two women can work together to find out the truth or they can bring each other down. All the while they are trying to fend off whoever is after them, too.
There are a lot of characters to keep track up with this story but I enjoyed the mystery and the fact that both women were willing to stand up to whoever had smashed a wrecking ball into their lives. But who to trust? Kirsten isn't even sure she can trust her foster brother. Flora isn't sure she can trust her husband's cousin, business partner, or best friend. And who hired the bumbling assassin? Don't mess with the widows!
Published July 6, 2021
Flora Zhang's wealthy husband has been murdered, along with another guy, in an empty warehouse in Austin. In New Orleans, Kirsten North gets a phone call saying that her husband is dead. The murder of their husbands brings Flora and Kirsten together but neither one of them trusts the other. Whose fault is it that their husbands are dead and who wanted them dead?
As we explore the past of Kirsten, her husband, and her foster brother, Zach, we know that this trio has/had secrets that needed to stay secret. But Flora's husband had his own secrets, too, secrets he kept from Flora, although she was willing to let them slide until those secrets blow up their life. Now both Flora and Kirsten are determined to find out what happened to their husbands and why they were meeting in an empty warehouse. Flora has her reputation to protect and Kirsten wants revenge. These two women can work together to find out the truth or they can bring each other down. All the while they are trying to fend off whoever is after them, too.
There are a lot of characters to keep track up with this story but I enjoyed the mystery and the fact that both women were willing to stand up to whoever had smashed a wrecking ball into their lives. But who to trust? Kirsten isn't even sure she can trust her foster brother. Flora isn't sure she can trust her husband's cousin, business partner, or best friend. And who hired the bumbling assassin? Don't mess with the widows!
Published July 6, 2021
professorplum318's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
brebeingwell's review
3.0
This book reads like a telenovela and all of the unappealing ways. There is not a single character in the book that doesn't have some sort of incredibly dramatic backstory. A couple foster kids that kill their foster parent and cover it up, mobsters/crime families, affairs, long lost children, and hit men. I think the book would benefit from a few characters without any dramatic backstory.
However, I still had a decent time reading it. The beginning was interesting, the middle is what really caught my attention, and then Abbott lost me a bit at the end. My favorite parts of the book were actually the "Past" chapters. Seeing Kirsten's relationship with her foster brother grow and seeing her love for Henry develop was really beautiful.
However, I still had a decent time reading it. The beginning was interesting, the middle is what really caught my attention, and then Abbott lost me a bit at the end. My favorite parts of the book were actually the "Past" chapters. Seeing Kirsten's relationship with her foster brother grow and seeing her love for Henry develop was really beautiful.