A review by rhianne
The Widows' Guide to Skulduggery by Amanda Ashby

hopeful mysterious

4.5

In the third instalment of the Widows' Detective Club series, THE WIDOW'S GUIDE TO SKULDUGGERY, we return to the small village of Little Shaw when the discovery of a human skull on a wedding day threatens to tear the happy couple and their families apart. We follow Ginny as she and her group of friends (and fellow widows) investigate the truth behind a long-solved murder case and unravel an old village rivalry. 

Review Summary (spoiler-free)

Rating: 4.5* (not quite 5* due to large cast making it a little harder to keep track of, mystery sometimes far-fetched but not a big deal)
Pages: 280
Vibes: small community, family/village rivalry, mystery
Verdict: If you like cosy mysteries I absolutely recommend this series - read it in order though, or you might be a bit lost with the cast list! 

With relatable characters and twists at every turn, this is an un-put-downable cosy mystery with surprisingly good representation of small British village bickering/rivalry. What really sets it apart, though, is the interweaving of widowhood, grief and aging. The author touches on them delicately - even with humour - without dwelling, without cliché and in a way that feels wholly organic to the characters who still find room to grow. Grief becomes a person's new normal, and it's comforting to see this represented - don't worry, this book doesn't wave it around as a giant plot point and it's still cosy.

With thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing & Amanda Ashby for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.