I had no idea what to expect from this book and was delighted at how much I enjoyed it! This was one of those books that caught my attention with the title and I decided to give it a go. I thought it got off to a little bit of a slow start but by chapter 2 I was hooked and didn't want to put it down. I loved the character of Ginny and liked that the author didn't rush her through her grief. Of course the rest of the widows are wonderful as well. How could you not like a group that takes Ginny into their circle right away and helps get her to become a part of the community. The mystery part of the story was also really well done. Being new to this small village and the people in it made the pool of suspects be just about everyone which certainly kept me on my toes. I liked that every suspect the group put forward could have been the killer with the info they had at the time. That there was more to Sophia's death than initially thought wasn't really a surprise, but I was very surprised in how it had all gone down. It was hard to feel too bad for the victims - they were not exactly good people themselves, but the killer was ready to go too far and it was clear did not care who else they took it in order to save themselves so in the end it was hard to feel bad for them. Other than the scene in the cemetery at the grave site the story also stayed pretty much in the real world so you could believe the widows would actually be able to solve the parts of the mystery that they did. I am definitely excited for book 2!

This is the first time that I have read anything by this author, so I didn’t exactly know what to expect, but a small English village, ladies of a certain age, a library full of books, and a suspicious death or two, are all of the things that I like to see in a good mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was quite refreshing to find an author who wrote about older women, widowed, making new lives on their own. Most of the mysteries I read are comprised of women in their 30s and 40s, something to which I can no longer completely relate. This was a pleasant change, with an interesting premise, and a thoroughly satisfying mystery. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this book.

Ginny is recently widowed and has moved to the rural cottage in Lancashire that she and her husband had chosen before his untimely death. Although in her early 60s Ginny takes on a new job as assistant librarian to make herself financially secure. Day 2 of her new job starts with Ginny finding the body of her boss and suspects it was not a natural death. In the story that unfolds, with a few more murders to add to the suspense, Ginny meets a delightful mix of characters including an independent cat who she adopts (or did he adopt her?) and a grumpy detective inspector who lives next door. The plot quickly develops with a smattering of red herrings and unexpected twists.

This is the first of the Widows’ Detective Club and I look forward to following Ginny and her eclectic group of friends as they face future challenges. A well crafted story, brilliantly told.

A well crafted cozy murder/mystery with widows of a certain age leading the hunt for the killer. Newly bereaved Ginnie has had other big changes in her life, the most recent of which is a move to a new area, where she doesnt know anyone. Her first week in her new job proves interesting in more ways than one, but certainly helps her get to know her fellow villagers. I like the premise of this but would have liked slightly more background on the other widows in the clique. However, it’s a well plotted story, I certainly didn’t work out the ending, which felt a bit rushed but I will definitely look out for the next in this series. 3 1/2 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This had everything I love about a cozy mystery—an excellent cast of (sometimes eccentric) characters, a quirky cat, a charming village…and a grumpy detective inspector who glares at everyone (I loved him!).

Recently widowed Ginny is a newcomer to Little Shaw, just like the reader (which I loved as it meant we learned about the village at the same time as she did). And OMG she’s working in a library! Perfect, right? When her awful boss is murdered, she finds herself dragged into helping to clear the name of her new friend’s daughter. She finds friends and foes along the way, is adopted by a determined cat, and finds herself downing shots of Drambuie in the village pub The Lost Goat. There were lots of twists and turns and the mystery kept me guessing right to the end. A great start to the series. Can’t wait to read the next one. Highly recommended!

This book is absolutely perfect if anyone's looking for a cozy, fun, fast paced mystery with humorous and endearing characters. Reading this book felt like being wrapped in a warm fuzzy blanket. The writing was so good and the plot was very entertaining and well paced. I adored Ginny throughout the entire book! I can't wait to read more from this author!

I love a cozy mystery, I absolutely love watching and reading cozy mystery that’s based in English village. It has a touch of similarity to the Thursday murder club which I love.
Ginny is recently widowed and trying to adjust to this new life and she also inherited a black cat. On top of everything she ends up finishing her ride bosses body. She decides to solve the mystery and the story really pulls you in. I really loved this and looking forward to next installment.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the eARC—these thoughts are my own!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “Old ladies solving mysteries” is one of my favourite genres!

Recently widowed Ginny Cole has moved to the small village of Little Shaw and got herself a part time job in the local library to help make ends meet. On only her second day in her new job she finds the body of her awful manager. She finds herself teamed up with the local group of widows who turn out to be the best friends she could ever find and they decide it’s up to them to investigate.

I love a cozy mystery and this one absolutely had me hooked. Brilliant characters and great storytelling which kept me guessing right up to the end.

I can’t wait to get stuck into book 2!

With thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the arcs of both books.

Recently widowed Ginny moves to the cottage she and her husband had planned for retirement. She gets a part-time job in the local village library and meets up with three other widows - similar ages, different lengths of widowhood and very different characters. Poor Ginny finds the main librarian, a very unpleasant character, dead, deals with this admirably, she was a doctor's wife and receptionist after all, and joins (well is inveigled by) the other widows to 'find the murderer' . I did get rather cross at their happily breaking in to houses and sympathised with the grumpy DI dealing with the case (and incidentally Ginny's neighbour). A lot of characters, dead and alive, either married to now or formerly several other characters so a job to follow who was who at times. Still, cosy mystery held together well by Ginny and I look forward to seeing what messes they get into next. A fairly light hearted easy read. Plus there is a formerly stray cat. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

I received a free copy of, The Widows' Guide to Murder, by Amanda Ashby, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book in The Widows Detective Club series. Ginny is a widow, and now she is also a crime solver. With the help of her widow friends, they are going to solve murders. I liked this cozy murder mystery.

This is an excellent story - once I began reading it, I couldn't put it down. I would have read it in a couple of days if I hadn't been so busy. The characters are believable and the story unfolded at an excellent pace - I loved it and will recommend it to all my friends.

The Widows’ Guide to Murder by Amanda Ashby is a fun and charming, small-town cosy mystery story.

When recently widowed, sixty-year-old Ginny Cole moves to the quaint village of Little Shaw, and starts a new job at the community library, she is expecting a quiet life. She soon befriends the local widows - crafty Hen, honest-to-a-fault JM, and incorrigible Tuppence, and becomes an accidental owner of a book-damaging black cat.

When she discovers the body of the rude library manager, Ginny and her fellow widows become amateur sleuths, determined to uncover the hidden truths within the small community…

What a fun read, filled with memorable characters, small-town charms, plenty of gossip, characters seeking revenge and my personal favourite, was the community library setting.

I adored the variety characters, including Ginny and her fellow widows. I was also surprisingly fond of Connor. I am hoping to read more about these characters in the next story.

Many thanks to Storm Publishing, Amanda Ashby and NetGalley, for the e-ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

The Widows’ Guide to Murder is the first book in a series. I am looking forward to the second book in the series, The Widows’ Guide to Backstabbing.

This was such a fun, cozy read. Ginny is starting over in a new town, when a murder happens that she gets entangled in.
Along the way she meets the other widows who welcome her in and help her get to know the town, while meddling in the murders that are happening.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC

Enjoyable cozy murder mystery. This book follows widow Ginny who has moved to a new village. There she meets fellow widows JM, Hen and Tuppence. They are members of the widows detective club and invite Ginny to join. A series of murders follow and the woman bumble around getting in the way of the police. I enjoyed this book although I felt the ending was rushed and you don't get to know the other widows as much as I would have liked. Overall I would like to read the next book in the series to see what the ladies get up to next. If you enjoy cozy mysteries this is a curl up on the couch with a cup of tea and a biscuit, kind of read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to read this book.

The Widow's Guide to Murder is a cozy little mystery that’s perfect for when you want something light but still engaging. The premise—a group of widows solving crimes in their small village—is charming, and it brings that warm, comforting vibe you expect from a cozy mystery. While it’s not groundbreaking, it has all the familiar elements that make this genre so cozy and fun.

✨ If you like...
❧ New beginnings
❧ Cozy mystery
❧ Sleuths

📖 The Story
Ginny Cole, a 60-year-old widow, moves to the quaint village of Little Shaw hoping to start fresh after her husband’s death. But her hopes for a quiet new life are dashed when she stumbles upon the body of Louisa Farnsworth, the local library manager. As the police seem to be overlooking important clues, Ginny teams up with other widows to form the Widows’ Detective Club. They dig into village gossip, old secrets, and even graveyards in an effort to find the real killer. But when another body turns up, Ginny begins to wonder if they’ve bitten off more than they can chew—and if her snooping might just make her the next target.

💭 My Thoughts
The main character, Ginny, was just a lovely presence. She’s sweet, warm, and has a gentle soul that made me immediately empathize with her. I really felt for her when she would talk to her late husband, hoping to hear his voice again—it’s such a universal feeling, and it hit home.

The cozy mystery vibes were spot on—easy, quick to read, and with just the right amount of charm. It was a fun escape, and I appreciated the focus on Ginny’s emotional journey and her bond with the other widows.

But, there were a few things that didn’t quite work for me. First off, the story wasn’t exactly unpredictable. I had a pretty good idea of where it was heading, and the ending felt a bit rushed. The reveal of the killer was a bit... far-fetched, especially considering it was all wrapped up in the last 15-20 pages. It didn’t quite make sense to me, and without giving away spoilers, let’s just say the “Clark Kent vs. Superman” moment was a bit... meh.

Also, while I liked the idea of the Widow’s Detective Club, I didn’t feel too connected to them. The other widows didn’t get much development, and one character, Hen, seemed to do little more than cry. I got it at first but it was a bit much after a while.

Overall, though, The Widow's Guide to Murder is a solid, fun read if you're looking for a cozy mystery that won’t require too much brainpower. It’s light, quick, and if you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll probably enjoy it.

⚠️ Content Warning
Grief (multiple deaths of significant others)

A unique spin on the cozy mystery book genre. I loved the group of widowed ladies, all of them bringing something different to the book. The mystery had me guessing to the end with all of the twists which I loved as well. Excited to read the next one.

The Widows’ Guide to Murder is a palate cleanser - a lighthearted and entertaining cosy mystery.
The main character is a likable older woman who, despite preferring a quiet life, finds herself drawn into a murder investigation. I enjoyed following her as she stepped outside her comfort zone and battled with grief. Her inner thoughts made her growth feel genuine.
One of the highlights of the book was the cozy atmosphere, particularly the library setting and, of course, the inclusion of a stray cat - because cats and books are always a winning combination. The humor and camaraderie among the main characters added to the novel’s charm, making it an easy and enjoyable read.
That said, the book had some drawbacks. The sheer number of side characters made things a bit confusing at times, and some of the twists and interactions felt overly far-fetched. While the story is set in Britain, aside from the abundance of tea, it didn’t always feel distinctly British. The pacing was steady for the most part but slowed down considerably toward the end, making the resolution feel a bit drawn out.

Ginny has moved to Little Shaw, as she and her husband had planned. But now she’s newly widowed and beginning a new job at the local library. Her new boss is rude and mean and on her second day at work, Ginny finds her body! Ginny has always been quiet and now she is adopted by a stray cat, included in a group of widows, and investigating the murder. Her life goes from isolated and predictable to busy and adventurous…and she likes it. This is a fun cozy mystery, full of twists and turns and likable, quirky characters. I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to the next in the series.
Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

Brilliant cozy mystery full of twists and turns with a great MC. This was a lot of fun. Highly recommend.

First time reading this author. I enjoyed the characters and the village setting. I like the older characters who have had different experiences and who bring those to the table to solve the murder.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.