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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
Original Review Here
This book has been compared to Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. If you have been following my reviews, you’ll know I didn’t enjoy either. It made me apprehensive to read this book. Thankfully, the comparisons didn’t do it any justice at all. The Widow is the first crime thriller of this type that I have thoroughly enjoyed.
The plot is told across different time periods and from different perspectives, slowly piecing together what happened when Bella went missing. The weaving of the narrations is masterful, for you are never able to see the big picture, even when looking back at events from the latest dates. It kept me gripped the whole way through and I was unable to figure out any of the twists and conclusions along the way. That was refreshing – for having read the other books, I was already on my guard for twists. Still, they took me by surprise.
The narrators are likeable. From detective Bob to journalist Kate, even to “the widow” Jean. Jean is portrayed as weak and vulnerable throughout, but the reader can still empathise with the characters. Bob and Kate are stronger, helping to drive the narration forward at a steady pace without the emotional attachment that Jean has – they keep the plot moving while Jean fills in the blanks.
Barton’s writing style is gripping throughout. The split narration is effective in keeping the reader gripped and she knows just how much detail to give away to act as a hook. All three characters are developed enough you want the best outcome for them and the book – for me – was a real page turner. It’s been a while since a book has drawn me in that effectively.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Widow and would recommend it to anyone who likes a mystery/thriller. While it does have some of the same traits as Gone Girl, I would not compare the two books. I do not feel it does this book justice and was nearly enough to turn me away from it. Thankfully, I didn’t let it stop me and was hooked from beginning to end.
This book has been compared to Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. If you have been following my reviews, you’ll know I didn’t enjoy either. It made me apprehensive to read this book. Thankfully, the comparisons didn’t do it any justice at all. The Widow is the first crime thriller of this type that I have thoroughly enjoyed.
The plot is told across different time periods and from different perspectives, slowly piecing together what happened when Bella went missing. The weaving of the narrations is masterful, for you are never able to see the big picture, even when looking back at events from the latest dates. It kept me gripped the whole way through and I was unable to figure out any of the twists and conclusions along the way. That was refreshing – for having read the other books, I was already on my guard for twists. Still, they took me by surprise.
The narrators are likeable. From detective Bob to journalist Kate, even to “the widow” Jean. Jean is portrayed as weak and vulnerable throughout, but the reader can still empathise with the characters. Bob and Kate are stronger, helping to drive the narration forward at a steady pace without the emotional attachment that Jean has – they keep the plot moving while Jean fills in the blanks.
Barton’s writing style is gripping throughout. The split narration is effective in keeping the reader gripped and she knows just how much detail to give away to act as a hook. All three characters are developed enough you want the best outcome for them and the book – for me – was a real page turner. It’s been a while since a book has drawn me in that effectively.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Widow and would recommend it to anyone who likes a mystery/thriller. While it does have some of the same traits as Gone Girl, I would not compare the two books. I do not feel it does this book justice and was nearly enough to turn me away from it. Thankfully, I didn’t let it stop me and was hooked from beginning to end.
Good characters. Unique perspective. I couldn't put it down towards the end.
2/5 stars
This was so weird... at some points this book gripped me and but it fell flat pretty quickly and it was boring and God the husband was fucking weird.
This was so weird... at some points this book gripped me and but it fell flat pretty quickly and it was boring and God the husband was fucking weird.
Thrillers are a genre I really enjoy, so I was excited when I received this ARC in the mail from NAL. It was a quick read but sadly lacked the suspense and build up that most thrillers have. The story held my interest but there was never a climactic moment to get my pulse racing... overall it was a decent debut from Fiona Barton, but I don't know that I would recommend it to others. The author definitely has talent so it will be interesting to see what she comes out with next.
This is a DNF for me. I rented the audiobook and found myself just playing faster and faster to try to get to something interesting. At the 50% mark I finally just called it. Not for me, which is sad, because I’d love a good series right now.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first part was very intriguing, and I read the book in only two sittings. However, the ending was not at all surprising.
It’s ok. The story was interesting, but underwhelming.
Very gripping read. The kind of book you sneak read whenever you have a spare minute. Could guess where the story was headed, but still intriguing to see how it would all unfold. Looking forward to more from this author.