Blake Nelson has three wives and every one of them seems a good candidate for his murder. The story is told from the wives pov and with each chapter i read, I was sure I knew who killed..... But I was so wrong and didn’t see the craziness.

Black Widow was a very absorbing, dark read which I really enjoyed.

Firstly I loved the three main characters in this book and how different they were to each other. The author has done a great job in making them seem very realistic so that the reader is instantly sympathetic towards them. They are each very unique characters who have their own opinions and ideas which I thought was very clever. The story is told from each of their point of views alternatively and I enjoyed getting to know them, especially their past which helped me understand more about them.

I’ve got a bit of a fascination with cults so I found it very intriguing to learn more about the Mormon church and what life is like in a polygamist marriage. I like the way the author manages to portray both sides in the story so that we understand both the morman’s side and what life in the Morman church looked like for the out side. Whilst the descriptions of the woman’s life did make me feel sympathetic towards the women I also felt a little bit frustrated with them as I felt they could have done more to help themselves.

Overall I really enjoyed this fast paced, absorbing book. The chapters are short and action packed making it a very easy book to read. I kept promising myself I would just read one more chapter and looked up to find two hours had gone by. There were lots of twist and turns which kept me guessing until the end as it seemed all three women had great reasons for wanting Blake Dead. This is the first book I have read by this author and I’ll look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Orion for my copy of this book.

This was a really interesting read. A gripping thriller but being based on true facts makes it even more chilling. I had to google to see if this was exaggerated but it isn't! An insight into the cult of the fundamental side of the mormon faith that separated many years ago and formed a sect that encourages polygamy. The story is really good. Narrated in short sharp chapters by each wife - a murder with a whodunnit. A great ending.

Wow. This book has left me practically speechless. Trying to start this review has been difficult. I thought I knew how this review might go. I probably would have started writing it 100 pages ago. Instead, I persisted and now that I've finished it, I don't have any idea where to begin.

Maybe I'll start with the basics: the book centers on a polygamist marriage. Three wives. One dead husband. Who dunnit?

Told from the perspective of each wife, you learn their particular back story while trying to piece together which may have been the one to off their husband.

Honestly, my opinion shifted once or twice, but I was pretty confident I knew who did it. At least I thought I did. Cate Quinn seemlessly lead me on though. It was until the very end that the true killer was revealed, an ending I never would have guessed.

The story handles particularly heavy topics without feeling weighty. At no point does the story lag or feel slow. If my schedule would have allowed it, I'd have read it in one sitting. This was the first book I've read of Cate Quinn's, but won't be my last!

Thank you Sourcebooks for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion. Hopefully, my book hangover won't last too long.

Wow this book.... I did not see that ending coming at all!​ Black Widows is a great murder mystery and I loved how the chapters were split by wife. Blake Nelson was a Mormon who married 3 wives, each wife had a unique personality but a tortured path. When I was reading this book I was like oh this wife definitely did it okay maybe this wife did it, I honestly had no clue and the twists and turns just kept coming.

As soon as I read the blurb for Black Widows I was definitely intrigued and wanted to dive straight in and see how this story was going to play out as it centred around a lifestyle that most of us know very little about, polygamy - the practise of marrying multiple spouses. Living in the middle of the Utah desert is husband Blake and his three wives Rachel, Emily and Tina. And when he's found dead, all eyes of the investigation were firmly on this marital arrangement and it's fair to say I never knew just who to believe.

The short chapter format worked really well especially as narrated in alternating chapters from each of the wives point of view so that we get to see just how different the women were, the role they played within the marriage and the dynamics between the three of them. It's not long before we discover that the original wife Rachel is more accustomed to this lifestyle as she grew up in a cult until her teenage years and as the story progressed I began to emphasise with her a little bit more, I found her pretty cold to begin with, as her deeply hidden memories come to surface and we see how she had suffered at the hands of 'family'.

As for the other two sister-wives, neither of them were brought up in the Mormon or Latter Day Saints faith so the lifestyle is completely alien to them but yet somehow Blake managed to draw them in as if he was their saviour. Emily was the second wife, but also the youngest, and really was completely naive. As the story progressed we see how badly she has been affected by the estrangement with her deeply religious mother and it's almost as if she was looking for that figure in Rachel even though she wasn't that much older than her. Life had led Tina down a dark path of vice and drugs on the streets of Las Vegas which is where her path crossed with Blake who offered her security.

As I learned more about each woman and what they had experienced, I found my opinions of them constantly changing especially when it came to who was responsible for killing Blake. Everyone had a motive and as I mentioned at the top, I really didn't know who to believe.

If I had to give any criticism it would be that I did find my concentration waning a little in the middle section of the book due to the repetitiveness of the same events playing out from each point of view. But that's only a small gripe in what was a gripping read especially the final 20% that I flew through in the middle of the night as I wanted to get to the truth and discover who our killer was.

Black Widows was an uncomfortable read at times with its dark and taboo subjects, but yet at the same time a compelling read with an unexpected surprise or two.

Murder, polygamy, plural marriage, a cult, abuse, addiction, Mormonism... 'Black Widows' has all that and more, in what is quite possibly one of the strangest yet most addictive books I've read so far.

So, a quick summary. Blake lives in a hidden ranch in Utah with his 3 wives. They're Mormon, and practice plural marriage (which the author makes very clear is NOT actually a part of the Mormon way of life, just something that a small group of fundamentalists choose to practice - she handles the potentially tricky subject in a very respectful way). But then Blake turns up murdered, and given how hidden away they are, it seems like that either Rachel, Emily or Tina has some explaining to do...

There's a lot of twists and turns along the way, and each of the 3 wives has their own unique backstory and plot, although I will say that Rachel's background is by far the most interesting to me. However, Tina's tale of converting from a Vegas hustler to a third wife in a Mormon household is also pretty unique! And Emily is just the strangest creature I've ever read about, alternating between being completely sweet and a little bit scary. You get to read from the perspective of each of the wives, alternating between the 3, which worked really well at letting you get to know them as well as building up the tension as the truth is gradually revealed.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It's bizarre, yes, both in plot and at times in tone, but I really enjoyed it and couldn't stop myself from staying up late to read it! And it had a brilliant ending: a surprise reveal followed by a lovely epilogue that revealed where everyone ended up. A thoroughly unique and all round brilliant read that I'd definitely recommend.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to be provided with an advance reading copy of this book by NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.

A brilliant read set in the Utah desert. I found this book just fascinating, focusing on Mormons that allow polygamy. That in itself was an interesting, disturbing read, but throw in a murder plot and this book truly took off.

An original storyline which I enjoyed reading. I liked the interaction between the wives and how this developed throughout the book. I found the spelling and grammatical mistakes rather annoying and felt that these should have been picked up by a proofreader.
Although I enjoyed this book there was something missing that I cannot quite put my finger on and so I am giving it 4 stars.
Thank you Netgalley and Orion Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this advance copy.

Sisterhood wins out in the end.

There are many layers to this story and it focuses on some complex issues and topics.

It took me a lot longer for me to read this book than it normally would as I found it complicated and hard to engage at points but when I got used to the writing style and characters I found the flow easy to follow.

This book took me outside of my comfort zone as it's not my usual choice but I saw it though to the end.

This book is so original and it gives the reader a glimpse into a completely unfamiliar life. It’s avowal slow burn but fast paced. I was barely able to put it down and read it over a couple of days. Totally compelling. Cate Quinn is one to watch.

When Blake Nelson is found dead in the middle of the desert, suspicion automatically points towards his wife. But which one? Rachel, Tina and Emily are part of the mormon community and all are married to Blake. Tension has been building so which one snapped?

I really enjoyed this! The background cult story kept me hooked. I liked how the wives all had completely different and complex personalities.

I don't know how accurate this was towards the mormon religion but it was fascinating to read about. The pacing was perfect and good little twists throughout.

I did catch on to the killer pretty early on but this didn't take away from ending due to how the story developed throughout. The author did a fantastic job with this one!

Thank you to Netgalley and Orion books for providing me with a copy to review

I didn’t see the ending coming until all was revealed which is good. However I felt it was a very long and drawn out story. Each wife had clearly not had great lives before marrying their husband Blake, but I don’t think it was much better after either.

This book unfortunately wasn’t one of my favourites and there are so many grammatical and spelling errors which really annoyed me. At first I thought it was the way the characters spoke but even if it was meant like that it made reading it very off putting.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this advance copy in return for my honest review.

Rachel, Emily and Tina live with their husband Blake Nelson on an isolated property in Utah. The three wives come from very different backgrounds but all live together in their Mormon marriage.

When Blake is found dead with suspicious injuries after he had gone out fishing, the police suspect the three wives. Which one hated him the most? It soon becomes apparent that there is tension between the wives and that they do not trust one another and are quite happy to point the finger.

This is such a great story. I loved the differences between the women and how they came to be Blake’s wives.

I was so desperate to find out who killed Blake that I ended up reading late into the night!! I kept changing my mind at who the culprit was.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

Blake Nelson is dead. Well, isn’t it obvious that his wife killed him? The question is … which one? You see, Blake was a Mormom – or a member of the Church of the Latter Day Saints. Apparently there is differentiation between the two though, as there is a division between those who believe in remaining in marriages that are monogamous and those who choose polygamy. Blake was clearly on the side that opted for polygamy as he had three wives at the time of his death. So … whodunit?

There’s his first wife, Rachel who comes across as the perfect wife: pure, dutiful and the perfect choice as a first wife to take the sister-wives to follow under her wing. Hmmm … that’s not quite how it turns out. Wife number two is Tina who Blake has brought into the ‘family’ from rehab. She’s an ex-drug addict and prostitute who hasn’t quite lost that sass and attitude that she needed to get by on the streets. Wife number three is timid, shy Emily who’s been lured away from her strict Catholic upbringing. But is she really as unassuming as she seems. She has quite a tenuous relationship with the truth.

The story unfolds in alternating chapters, each told in first person from each of the wives’ POV. In this clever way, we quickly get to know their personalities rather well. And just as quickly, the lies and secrets start to unravel, thick and fast. It’s soon evident that the ‘family’ that Blake Nelson had envisioned on his remote farmhouse plot, was not really the cohesive unit he’d dreamed of. These three women are certainly not the epitomy of God-fearing sister-wives that the Church Blake apparently holds in such high regard, would encourage one to seek out as life-partners!

Cate Quinn has very cleverly created an intricately woven narrative that will draw readers in and have them wondering what actually happened to Blake on that day when he went out fishing and never returned. Did he really know these women that he’d brought into his home, to make up his home? Did he honestly expect such vastly different people from hugely diverse backgrounds to co-habit happily within the laws and constraints of his Church? It’s a fascinating look at character comparisons and behaviours. And of course, it’s a very interesting birds-eye view into a world that I’m sure many of us are unfamiliar with: The Church of the Latter Day Saints. I rate it 4 stars.

A fascinating story illustrating the impact that religious beliefs can have, on those lower down in the hierarchy. Very sad life for most of the participants but reassuring in relation to the changes that can occur once the control is taken away.. Great conclusion with a twist in the tail.

This was a great read. Blake Nelson has been found dead, and his wife is suspected. BUT... Blake is a fundamentalist Mormon who practises polygamy. His three don't get on - but could one of them have killed him? Or is there more to this. Can it involve the "Homestead" from first wife Rachel's cult past? This was so disturbing, to think that this kind of lifestyle could still be happening in the modern world. Where women's wills are bowed to men. It was like a horror scene where you don't want to watch but can't look away. It is written in short chapters from the point of view of each of the wives, and very easy to follow and get a feel for each of the women. The police come over as human and understanding . A compulsive read. #netgalley #blackwidows

Oh wow! The Black Widows blows your mind and how! Your heart keeps beating loudly at every page you turn.

The author through the voices of Rachael Emily and Tina tells you the lives of three widows who lost their husband to a murder. I have to commend the author’s storytelling not just through one but three voices which remain consistent throughout the book and you see the voices evolve with every chapter

The author also explores themes of religions, the way the story builds around the condition of women with every new prophet taking birth at every nook and corner

There is chilly mist on the entire narrative of the book which keeps you waiting with bated breath to find out who the killer is.

You will keep running in circles and pin pointing the three widows and still wouldn’t be able to figure out which one it is.

The author sets the story in the laws of Utah,Las Vegas and the small communities that exists in this part of United States.

The pasts of the three widows will keep you engaged and you will find out yourself getting angry,sad and the fact it’s written so meticulously that you just can’t stop reading about the widows.

Don’t miss out on this one. Cate Quinn has really written about topics in the garb of a thriller which makes it even more creepy and gives you goosebumps

I really enjoyed this book. It had all the makings of a great thriller: deceitful characters, twists and turns, and short, action-packed chapters. To say I was engrossed was an understatement. I flew through this book eager to know the ending, but here's what I enjoyed along the way.

The characters. Rachel, Emily, and Tina are so different from each other. Safe to say, these differences make for some very interesting conflicts, but also some great character development as they are forced together to discover who exactly killed Blake. Likewise, each character brings a different element to the story. Through Rachel, we investigate the aftermath of growing up in a cult. Tina explores a life of vice and the journey towards living a better life, while with Emily, we see the effect of a negative mother-daughter relationship and the impact that has on a person's mental health.

Dark Widows also explores Mormonism tied with polygamy. However, do take note of the author's disclaimer at the beginning of the book: this is not a criticism or mockery of the religion. It is simply a fictional story that touches on Mormonism and the different ways people choose to live. Personally, I think these themes, especially polygamy, were treated rather respectfully instead of for pure entertainment value.

Besides the interesting themes and the surprise developments, this is genuinely a well-crafted story. Not a word was wasted and every single action slotted in to create a great story. It has me excited to see what Cate Quinn comes up with next!

Phew. I need a minute.
This was a dark, dark book. I had no idea which way it would turn by the end. Lots of twists, cleverly dropped at the end of each chapter to keep the reader engaged, and lots of grim secrets to discover. By the end of the book, it's hard for the reader to really work out what the biggest twist was, there were so many!
Add to that a whodunit, and I am SOLD! I changed my mind so many times I got dizzy!
I loved each chapter being from a different character, the three wives were SO different, and I loved them all for different reasons. Although I think I loved Tina's humour the most, she was SASSY!
I have always held a little fascination for Mormons, and cults, and this book was fascinating. Lots of research had clearly been done to further intensify the tension and drama.
This is a new author for me, but definitely one to look out for.