ABL Review At-A-Glance
Ø Title: The Widows
Ø My Rating: 4.25
Ø Genre: Historical Fiction
Ø Author:
Jess Montgomery
Jess Montgomery
Ø Format:
Paperback ARC*
Paperback ARC*
Ø Publication Date: January 8, 2019
Compare to:
Goodreads Synopsis
Hours after his funeral, a
stranger appears at her door. Marvena Whitcomb, a coal miner’s widow, is
unaware that Daniel has died, and begs to speak with him about her missing
daughter.
stranger appears at her door. Marvena Whitcomb, a coal miner’s widow, is
unaware that Daniel has died, and begs to speak with him about her missing
daughter.
From miles away but worlds
apart, Lily and Marvena’s lives collide as they realize that Daniel was not the
man that either of them believed him to be—and that his murder is far more
complex than either of them could have imagined.
apart, Lily and Marvena’s lives collide as they realize that Daniel was not the
man that either of them believed him to be—and that his murder is far more
complex than either of them could have imagined.
Inspired by the true story of
Ohio’s first female sheriff, this is a powerful debut about two women’s search
for justice as they take on the corruption at the heart of their community.
Ohio’s first female sheriff, this is a powerful debut about two women’s search
for justice as they take on the corruption at the heart of their community.
My Thoughts…
As a girl from a small, industrial town in
Southern Ohio, this book really grabbed me. Seriously, my sister, brother, and
grandparents live in Coal Grove, Ohio, my parents are from Coal Grove,
Ohio. My grandfather was a steel worker,
and my great grandfather died in a mill accident the night before my mother was
born. To say that I am familiar with and
grew up on stories like this is an understatement. And in case I wasn’t personally connected to
this story enough, I studied and became and Labor & Employment attorney and
worked specifically with unions.
Southern Ohio, this book really grabbed me. Seriously, my sister, brother, and
grandparents live in Coal Grove, Ohio, my parents are from Coal Grove,
Ohio. My grandfather was a steel worker,
and my great grandfather died in a mill accident the night before my mother was
born. To say that I am familiar with and
grew up on stories like this is an understatement. And in case I wasn’t personally connected to
this story enough, I studied and became and Labor & Employment attorney and
worked specifically with unions.
It was easy for me, personally, to visualize and
hear everything that happened in this book.
Even without my experiences, I believe the writing is so thorough and
descriptive that I wouldn’t have needed my own recollections. The characters
are perfectly described. I loved that I
never knew exactly who to trust, even until the end.
hear everything that happened in this book.
Even without my experiences, I believe the writing is so thorough and
descriptive that I wouldn’t have needed my own recollections. The characters
are perfectly described. I loved that I
never knew exactly who to trust, even until the end.
The beginning of the book is pretty
gripping. The story really starts with a
bang, but then slows down and settles in for some character building. At times, this weighed down the pace a
little, but without the added information, I wouldn’t have been as invested in
Lily and Marvena. By the end, I needed
for them to find justice and closure. In
this way, The Widows differs from a
lot of mysteries. Instead of only being
compelled by the plot, I was compelled by the characters and their journeys as
well.
gripping. The story really starts with a
bang, but then slows down and settles in for some character building. At times, this weighed down the pace a
little, but without the added information, I wouldn’t have been as invested in
Lily and Marvena. By the end, I needed
for them to find justice and closure. In
this way, The Widows differs from a
lot of mysteries. Instead of only being
compelled by the plot, I was compelled by the characters and their journeys as
well.
I would definitely recommend this book to
anyone, but especially those who love historical fiction in a rural setting.
anyone, but especially those who love historical fiction in a rural setting.
* Special thanks to Jess Montgomery, Minotaur Books, and TLC Book
Tours for providing a copy of The Widows in exchange for an honest review.
Tours for providing a copy of The Widows in exchange for an honest review.
Purchase Links
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