I liked this one, but it didn’t quite hit the same way the first two did. There were just so many characters, and it got a little hard to keep up, which made it tough to really stay connected to the story. That said, it still had the fun banter and light humor I love about this series, so it wasn’t a total miss. It just felt like it was missing a little of the magic the earlier books had. Still enjoyable, just not my favorite of the bunch. 2.5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this arc!

This book was chock full of happenings. A skull is discovered, a wedding is stopped, there's a jealous exm rival villages, deep secrets and no DI Wallace and Ginny and gang have to navigate all this to solve an old and new muder to bring the two young lovebirds back together and married.

Lots of twists and turns and deadends made this an interesting read.

#netgalley #TheWidowsGuidetoSkulduggery

This third installment in the Widow’s Guide to Murder series is just as fun as the first two. Ginny, Hen, Tuppence and JM are back for another hilarious mystery that they have no business solving but still solve anyway. So fun!

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The Widows’ Guide to Skulduggery, the third novel in The Widows’ Detective Club series, is a wonderfully delightful cozy mystery. Ginny and her friends do have a bad habit of stumbling into murder scenes. Even a wedding isn’t safe when Colin, the dog meant to carry the rings, drops a skull at the bride’s feet. This is a great read. I love the storyline and the quirky characters. I look forward to the next book in this series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Widows' Guide to Skulduggery: An unputdownable cozy crime novel is book #3 in The Widows' Detective Club series by Amanda Ashby.

This book is a great addition to the series. Ginny is attending a wedding that is interrupted in a most unusual way. Did the dog find his “treasure” by accident or was it planted in an attempt to stop the wedding? This was an interesting mystery for the widows to investigate. As much as I enjoy the mystery, my favorite part of this series is the characters. They are well written and entertaining. I look forward to more of this series!

Thank you to the author, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The groom’s family does not want the wedding to go through. So when the dog they insisted partake in the ceremony deposits a skull at the feet of the bride, the wedding is off. Who could stoop to such a low to stop the marriage? The skull is bad enough on its own but when it is discovered to be the skull of a woman who was murdered by her husband twenty years ago, there are more questions than just who was responsible for a cruel trick. For instance, where has the skull been all this time and did the possessor of the skull have something to do with her death. Things are complicated by the animosity between the posh town from which the groom hails and the somewhat down market town where the bride, Ginny and Ginny’s friends live.

The feud is ages old. There is such disdain for the neighbouring town that when Ginny and her cohorts decide to solve the mystery of the skull, they are stymied everywhere they turn. But these ladies are clever and determined and they discover there are more things afoot in the present than just the discovery of the skull and the disruption of the wedding. Dark things. And as they inch closer to solving the mystery, those who most want it hidden resort to extreme measures that could mean more death.

Those who dismiss the four friends do so at their jeopardy. They are smart and spunky and each brings different skills to the table. They figure out the answers and in the process bring rapprochement to the warring towns. Five purrs and two paws up.

I was,drawn into this book from page one.
With vivid characters, humour, and layers of deceit, this is really engrossing tale.
I enjoyed reading it immensely.

Ginny is attending the wedding of Colin's sister, Grace, in the next town over. It's a staunch and uncomfortable affair with tensions brewing up until the nuptials, as both towns believe in a curse that affects anyone who crosses the town borders. It only gets worse when a skull shows up, and brings the entire event to a disastrous halt.

*****

We're back in Little Shaw again for the third book in this cozy detective series. Just like with the others, we get the brigade of Ginny and her widow friends together to solve a local murder, with the usual ample quirks worked in.

I loved that this was a different setup than the other two, with the initial case already being closed, the ladies needing to infiltrate a new town, and Wallace being away on vacation. They were all able to move freely, not be told off by police, and also had new challenges and opportunities outside of their home town gossip. It made for a cozy mystery that still had the same vibes as the first two novels, but didn't feel repetitive, with so many new characters and scenes worked in.

I loved seeing Ginny grow outside of her grief, as well as the characters from previous novels brought back in in new and developing roles. Overall this was the perfect cozy mystery with a comical ending in the nick of time, and was exactly what I look forward to in this series.

*****

Thank you to Storm Publishing for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am loving this series and another visit to Little Shaw was another exciting installment, Ginny Cole is attending a friend’s wedding when the dog, who was ring bearer, after running and digging in the church yard dropped a skull at the bride’s feet, well this stopped the wedding and Ginny is again with her friends from the Widows’ Detective club using their sleuthing skills to get the answers.

The two families involved in the wedding do not get along as one of them comes from the next village and there has been some sort of feud between the two villages for way too long to remember but when the skull turns out to belong to a woman murdered twenty years ago and that case was never investigated correctly as far as Ginny, Tuppence, MJ and Hen are concerned they are going to make sure that they do especially when the bride’s notorious family has asked them to do so.

What they uncover was a terrible plot but when another body is discovered and this one is one of the peopled Ginny and team had been talking to the plot thickens and with DI Wallace away on holidays and DI Sterling in charge of the investigation The Widows’ Detective Club are not happy and determined to get answers.

This is a fabulous installment in the series one that I highly recommend Ginny and the ladies are so easy to like and they leave no stone unturned in their hunt for answers and I am thrilled that there will be more in the series. I loved this one witty fun and a fabulous cosy mystery.

My thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for my copy to read and review.

This was a fun follow-up to the other Widow's Guide books. Perfect for a cozy mystery section. The characters are real and well-rounded and the storyline is complicated enough that this requires a little focus, but it doesn't have the creep factor that thrillers have, which is great for readers who like the puzzle aspect of murder but not the gore.
This series is an auto-buy for my store now!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amanda Ashby for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Widow's Guide to Skulduggery coming out June 30, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Somehow, I missed the second book in the series. I really enjoyed the first book so I was excited to receive this. I really love murder mystery books. I think the characters are really fun. I would definitely read more books in this series.

I’m so happy to be back in Amanda Ashby’s cozy mystery series—this is book 3, and it’s just as delightful as the first two! The atmosphere is charming, the mystery is engaging, and the characters are truly the cherry on top. Especially Ginny, the main character—returning to her and her quirky group of friends feels like getting a warm hug from an old friend.

What makes this series shine is the cast: well-developed, funny, and full of personality. The murder mystery is just the right level of tricky—not too easy, not too complex—and the cozy setting makes it all the more enjoyable. While each book has a standalone mystery, I’d definitely recommend starting with book 1 to really get to know the characters and their relationships.

If you’re looking for something fun, heartwarming, a little dramatic, and full of cozy crime-solving, this series is a gem. Highly recommend the whole series!

A fun, magical cozy with a biting edge. I loved the clever writing, strong female leads, and mix of dark humor and witchy charm. It’s cozy, and perfect for fans of practical magic with a twist.

This is the third book in the series, but I had no trouble jumping right in. After finishing this book, I’m eager to go back and read the first two. The story pulled me in blending mystery, charm, and small-town drama in just the right way.

A wedding is abruptly halted by the discovery of an old skull, reopening a long-cold case and setting off a wave of gossip. As the mystery deepens, a new murder adds fresh complications. Rivalries between neighboring towns (reminded me of Parks and Rec’s Pawnee vs. Eagleton) add fun tension, while a group of determined widows-turned-sleuths brings warmth and wit to the investigation.

One plot point that gave me pause was the abrupt decision by Grace and Theo to call off their engagement. While the town gossip about a supposed “curse” added intrigue, the sudden dissolution of their relationship felt a bit underdeveloped. I found myself wishing for more context or emotional buildup to that moment.

Also, while the mystery kept me engaged, the ending arrived too quickly and didn’t feel fully earned. The resolution came with minimal groundwork, and I was left wishing for a bit more development before the final reveal.

Still, the character dynamics, especially among Ginny, JM, Hen, and Tuppence, were strong and engaging. Despite coming in mid-series, I had no trouble getting to know Ginny and her group of detective friends. The writing does a great job of weaving in enough backstory for new readers while keeping the pace brisk and engaging for returning fans.

The mystery, peppered with moments of humor and heartfelt reflection, makes this a satisfying read.

The Widow's Guide to Skulduggery

This is the third book in this series, but the first one I’ve read. This did not detract from the story for me, as any needed references to earlier events were smoothly woven in. It was a good escape book as it was a somewhat easy read (I did keep confusing a couple sets of characters) with a solid mystery to unravel. The rivalry between villages was an interesting plot point, but the snooty wealthy vs the poor was over the top and missed the mark as humorous for me. There are elements of other cozies I enjoy - the interest of a crime family in the success of the amateur sleuths, older main characters who play on their weaknesses to learn what they need to, and a good balance between dialogue, thoughts, and environmental description. All in all, it was a decent read, but probably not a series I’ll add to my “must read” pile.

Thank you to Storm Publishing, Netgalley, and the author for access to this fun cozy mystery.

The Widows’ Guide to Skulduggery is the third book in The Widows’ Detective Club series and it is great to meet up with Ginny, Tuppence, JM, and Hen once again.

Connor’s sister Grace is about to marry local “royalty,” Theo Faulkner, who comes from Walton-on-Marsh, a touristy type of town located near Little Shaw. There is mention of a curse and when a skull is dropped at Grace’s feet by Theo’s family dog, the curse is blamed. Reading about the groom’s family attending the wedding wearing black, you know things aren’t looking too good for Grace’s future with this family.

The skull belonged to Lesley Charlton, a woman who died 20 years ago, killed by her husband. As a result of the skull episode, Grace calls off the wedding. I felt that Grace calling off the wedding was an extreme reaction, but when your fiancé’s family hates you, maybe she thought it was for the best. However, Grace’s grandmother wants the detective club to find out who planted the skull at the church to ruin her granddaughter’s wedding. To me the question was why wasn’t the skull with Lesley’s body to begin with and where has it been all this time? The ladies discover who planted the skull, and that person ends up murdered. They then investigate the murder to find the connection between the skull and the current death.

Unfortunately, we don’t get grumpy DI Wallace in this book until the end because he is on vacation. The description of the people living in Walton-on-Marsh and how they look down on the people of Little Shaw is pretty funny, especially at the tea shop. I think readers will enjoy the women of the detective club, Grace’s family (especially her grandmother) and the story of how maps were made in the past and how that affected towns. I think people will be surprised by the killer and the end with Wallace is pretty funny. Please let’s have more books in this series because these ladies and the town are a delight.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another very entertaining book in this series!

Everyone looks forward to a wedding, and Ginny Cole is no different. But, when a skull turns up in the churchyard and the betrothed couple end up at daggers drawn, something is afoot. Ginny and her friends can't resist looking into the matter and they begin to suspect that it isn't so much about the skull, more about breaking up the wedding . . .

This is the third series with Ginny and her friends and each one just gets better. It's never obvious where it's heading, but such fun in getting there! Well-written, packed with great characters this is a series I hope continues. For me, 4.5* and a definite recommendation to all mystery lovers.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley.

Ginny is attending the wedding of Grace and Theo. Some guests on Theo's side are behaving badly in the form of trying to convince him not to marry Grace. Then Colin, Theo's mother's dog digs up a skull and everything goes to hell in a handcart.
In the aftermath of the wedding that never was, Maureen, Grace's grandmother asks Ginny and her friends to look into what happened because her son Joey, is threatening to return and wreck havoc to find out what happened. No one wants this to happen as he is a wanted man with very little impulse control.
As Ginny and her friends dig deep, certain things come to light which in turn cause a chain reaction of bad events.
Another easy to read murder mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed.

This is the third book in the series but it didn't matter I hadn't read the second.

It has all of the key characters and was really fun. A little obvious but a cosy read.

Thanks for the arc.

Another fun one from Amanda Ashby. I do love Ginny and her coconspirator band of amateur sleuths.
The return to Little Shaw was more interesting this time. with the history between them and their posh rivals in Walton-On-Marsh. The class difference and favoritism (looking at you DI Sterling) were well critiqued.

The mystery was not so obvious, it took me a while to see the dots connecting.
I missed Wallace but Anita and Bent were sufficient police representation.
I also enjoyed Ginny's journey as a widow, coming to terms with loss, loneliness and not expecting her late husband to respond to her etc.
The ladies using the address book as an indexed note keeper was such a cute touch.
This was a good palate cleanser, fun for a cozy weekend. I look forward to more books in the future.

Thank you Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC.