Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the arc of this book. The Widows' Guide to Skulduggery is book three in The Widows' Detective Club. I love this series. The books are cozy mysteries. This book is nicely paced and drags you into the story. I read this book in one sitting. This book is a light read. My only compliant about this book is I missed the interactions with DI Wallace. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

The Widows' Guide to Skulduggery is book 3 in Amanda Ashby's cozy mystery series, The Widows' Detective Club. I had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of book 2, and was pleased to also get approved for an advanced copy of this book.

Ginny Cole is a relatively new resident in the small town of Little Shaw, and is attending the wedding of Grace a young Little Shaw resident, and Theo a resident of the nearby town of Walton-on-Marsh. The towns have a long standing rivalry, so when an old skull makes an appearance at the wedding, rumours that the infamous curse affecting the two villages makes an appearance.

The Widows' club into which Ginny has been accepted are asked by the bride's aunt to identify the person who she believes sabotaged the wedding, and to be fair, there were a number of people who seemed thrilled that the wedding was stopped, not the least of which is Theo's former girlfriend.

Since the skull appears to have been part of an old mystery, and the investigation is not involving a murder, Ginny reluctantly allows herself to be drawn into the investigation, but soon it' clear things are much more dangerous than they first appeared.

With an abundance of suspects to investigate, and many secrets to be revealed, The Widows' Guide to Skulduggery was a fun, entertaining mystery. I did miss Ginny's next door neighbour in this novel as he was a really fun character, but if you know who I'm talking about, don't worry, he's just away temporarily.

The books have interesting mysteries, but are relatively light so are quick reads, and I look forward to reading more of this series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed this next book in this cozy mystery series. The author is building up an interesting cast of characters that recur, and also fleshing out the setting and environs. I feel like this could become a really successful series. I very much like the main character and her widow friends. The author deals compassionately with the issue of grief which I very much appreciate. I will highly recommend this series to readers of cozy mysteries!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

This is the third outing of the ladies of Little Shaw and it it's just as good as the first two. The characters are well developed and believable and the plot keeps you engaged right until the end. Fabulous. I can't wait for the next installment.

The ring-bearing dog at a wedding brings more than expected - a human skull. More chaos ensues coupled with the existing chaos of two highly disparate and at odds families. Amongst the guests are our intrepid Widow' Detective Club ladies - Ginny, Hen, Tuppence and JM. The skull is old, the police not interested. Ginny and Co investigate and uncover family feuds, village feuds, ancient murder, a local curse and so on. Even having read the previous books there are a lot of characters with similar sounding names to unravel/keep track. It's a cosy murder mystery, the ladies do a lot of talking to people and then repeating those conversations with their friends so a bit repetitive at times. The police are antagonistic this time but then Wallace is in New Zealand. I'm glad that he appears briefly at the end and, hopefully, will see of the acting DI. She's just unpleasant. He can be unpleasant but is obviously concerned at the ladies' meddling/investigation in previous books. Didn't quite hit the mark for me this time, manly because of the repetition but the mostly unpleasant Walton-on-Marsh villagers. 3.5* rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

The Widows Guide To Skulguggery is a cozy little mystery with Ginny,, Hen, Tuppence and JM. A group of friends who always seem to get in the middle of a murder. This time the murder actually stopped a wedding. Right before the ceremony was to start one of the guests dog came trying out with a skull that he dug up in the garden. The only problem with this was that it seems to be a skull that was belonging to a victim from 20 years ago. How to scope from 20 years ago and up at this wedding. Speculation has it that with the two families viewing somebody from either family planted it so they could break up the bride and groom but who would do such a thing?

The Widows Detective Club which our lovely friends on our cold start on a crusade to find out who would have planted this skull and why do they have to go to break up our happy couple? While they are investigating family secrets the village rivalries all start to pop up. Since Inspector Wallace is away on vacation, Ginny feels they will be able to help out until they meet his counterpart from the neighboring village. As you can see, she is not a fan of our lovely ladies and wants them to stay clear of this investigation. Will they is the question.? Especially when Ginny finds herself in a very bad and dangerous situation with one of the suspects. Will the ladies figure this out? Will Ginny be safe in time and who will be the one saving her.?

This is the third book in the series. I was very happy that I was approved to read this because I really enjoy this fun loving mystery. The characters are cute and they reminds me of a group of grannies who just seemed to stumble upon murder and mayhem. They are lovable and funny and the town itself feels like a place that you would love to go and visit. This is just a fun series and I hope it continues.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. I truly hope Ms. Ashby continues to write more adventures of our lovely ladies. I truly enjoyed this and would recommend it to all my friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC.

This is book 3 in The Widows' Detective Club series and I would really recommend to read them in order though you don't have to.

Ginny Cole, 60, recently widowed, has moved to Middle Cottage, Little Shaw for a fresh start, and got herself a part-time job in the local library. She is on good terms with her 19 year old colleague Connor West so when his sister Grace is getting married to Theo Faulkner from a neighbouring rival village, she is happy to accept an invitation.

However, at the church, dog Colin digs up a skull and drops it in front of the blushing bride, reigniting talks of a curse when village lines are not respected. The skull is found to belong to teacher Lesley Charlton who was apparently murdered by her husband twenty years ago. Together with Hen, JM and Tuppence, the unofficial Widows Detective Club starts sleuthing, safe in the knowledge that the police has closed the case. But then a fresh murder happens.

The cast is enormous but most of them are just there in the background to round out the community. I felt extremely entertained by this motley crew of community characters, and I love feisty, elderly women just doing what they want, although unfortunately the other widows felt somewhat underdeveloped. The plot was also really interesting, and full of female friendship and village life. Recommended as this incredibly warmhearted cosy mystery with great characters is cracking good fun.

Picture the scene: you're in the grounds of a beautiful church, dressed up in your wedding guest finery. The best man and chief bridesmaid are hurling insults at each other. The photographer is in a strop. The bride is close to tears. Then Colin, beloved terrier of the groom's mother, runs up to the bride and drops a skull at her feet. 💀
Who wanted to sabotage the wedding? How did Colin find the skull so easily? Whose skull was it? Who better to find out, than Little Shaw's answer to Miss Marple. They're not going to have an easy time though, given the rivalry between Little Shaw and the neighbouring village of Walton-on-Marsh.🔎
The Widow's Guide to Skullduggery was as quirky and chaotic as its predecessors, but moved along at a faster pace. A fun read, that was engrossing and entertaining. I was thrilled to see that a character who was introduced in book 2, made a welcome return. I hope he will remain a fixture throughout. 🔎
Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

A fabulous cosy mystery story, with the third story in the Widows’ Detective Series.

Ginny, the community librarian of Little Shaw is attending a local wedding when a Jack Russell gatecrashes the day, with a human skull. Observant Ginny, and her friends Hen, JM, and Tuppence suspect sabotage, as the families of the bride and groom are long-term rivals.

Soon enough the widows, fellow library supporters and other Little Shaw community members are involved in a make-shift investigation to untangle long-held grudges, village rivalries and a suspected devious plot (or two).

I just adore this series and am excited to know what is next in store for Ginny and the community of Little Shaw.

With thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this story, in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoy humorous, cosy mysteries, with a memorable cast of characters, then give this a read.

The Widows Guide to Skulduggery is a delightful cozy mystery that hooks you from the first page and doesn’t let go. This is my first encounter with this author, and I’m thrilled to discover it’s part of a series, with two earlier books to dive into. The story centers on Ginny and her quirky “Murder Club” friends—JM, Tuppence, and Hen—whose amateur sleuthing is as charming as it is relentless.

The plot kicks off with a bang when a Jack Russell bounds into Grace and Theo’s wedding, brandishing a human skull. This grim discovery derails the nuptials, reignites a bitter rivalry between two villages, and sets the stage for a classic whodunit. Ginny, suspecting sabotage, leads her fellow widows in unraveling a tangled web of family feuds, ancient grudges, and buried secrets. When a fresh body surfaces, the stakes soar, and the investigation takes on a life of its own.

What makes this book shine is its infectious energy. The pace is brisk, and the characters are an absolute delight—Ginny and her crew are witty, determined, and wonderfully human. I found myself racing to pick the book up again, a sure sign of its grip. The small-town setting, complete with a helpful map at the start, adds to the immersive charm, though I longed for a character list to navigate the crowded first chapter more easily. (A small critique: why don’t all authors include this?)

The mystery itself is engaging, with enough twists to keep you guessing without feeling contrived. The police’s disinterest in the twenty-year-old skull gives Ginny and her friends free rein, making their meddling both plausible and fun. The interplay of village rivalries and personal motives is deftly woven, culminating in a satisfying resolution.

If you love cozy mysteries with vibrant characters, a touch of humor, and a plot that keeps you hooked, this book is a must-read. I’m already eager to backtrack to the earlier books in the series and join Ginny’s Murder Club for more adventures.

I’m rating this 4.5/5. A thoroughly enjoyable read, with a minor wish for a character guide to ease the early chapters. Highly recommended for cozy mystery fans!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Amanda Ashby for providing me with an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Widow's Guide to Skulduggery, the third book in the Widows' Detective Club series by Amanda Ashby is a solid addition and a book that easily stands on its own, if you haven't read the first two.
This tale has a Hatfield and Mckoy vibe, only here it isn't just families feuding, it's entire villages. There are two mysteries for the club to solve - the current one of who disrupted the wedding of two lovers from opposing villages, and the historical one of who killed the victim to whom the long missing skull belongs. As Ginny and her intrepid partners start to investigate the first, they unwittingly uncover clues to the second, with far reaching consequences for the residents of both villages.
Ashby has written another fast-paced mystery, with compelling characters and plenty of intrigue.
I enjoyed reading the ARC of #TheWidowsGuidetoSkulduggery provided by #StormPublishing and #NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with this eARC. It was an absolute delight to read this cozy mystery!

The premise was very interesting. When a 20 years old skull disrupts Ginny’s friend’s wedding and a family feud ends up being the center of attention she knows she had to find out whose skull is that and solve the mystery. Especially when police shows almost no
Interest.

So she is in the midst of it with the other widows that are her partner in crimes! It turns out it’s a very deep plot that’s been in brewing for decades.

Really liked the book, easy and interesting read. I will most definitely read the backlogs of this series!

Thanks again NetGalley and publisher for the eARC.

This is the third book in the Widow’s Guide series. They re all fun, light hearted books that fit comfortably into the cosy mystery genre. I’ve loved them all so far, and I’m looking forward to more.
In this book, Ginny and her friends find themselves trying to determine who left a skull in a church garden, where it was found by a dog and disrupted a wedding that was about to take place. Plenty of potential suspects are identified, and the ladies lurch from one difficulty to another attempting to rule them in or out.
These books are well worth a look, and this one comfortably stands alone, without having read the first two.

Two warring villages, a curse, several deaths including historical ones, a cast of many mixed characters and an interrupted wedding. All the ingredients for a classic cozy. And I do love a classic cozy. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Great story, this series gets better with each book, as we learn more about the 4 ladies of the Widows' Detective Club. This time there's a skull dropped at the feet of the bride by the ringbearer dog, a twenty year old murder, a town that never was, and a twist. Ginny and her friends have to dig deep to solve this one! Brilliant.
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Amanda Ashby for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is the second book I have read in this series. I have thoroughly enjoyed both. As with any good series the characters become more familiar and more interesting. The plot is good and it is a great gentle read.

When a human skull is found on church grounds just prior to a wedding, it causes the wedding to be canceled. Ginny Cole and her three friends seek to find out where the skull came from, and if someone planted it as a means to prevent the wedding. The investigation uncovers a lot more skeletons, literally and figuratively, and the four women are caught up in the middle of a murder investigation.

I've read one other title in this series and once again enjoyed the quirky characters and all the happenings in and around the small village library. These books are not marketed as cozy mysteries, but, in my mind at least, they qualify since they have an engaging puzzle without being overly violent or intense. An enjoyable read with a nice cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Ginny, Hen, Tuppence and JM are back as the detective club (“We’re not a detective club!”…) after a human skull is dug up in the grounds of a friend’s wedding and dropped at the bride’s feet by the groom’s mother’s dog.
The bride and groom are from two very different families from two neighbouring villages who really do not mix. Because the skull is found out to be from solved case the police of Walton-on-Marsh are not interested that it’s ruined the wedding and cemented the fact that any mixing of the villages are cursed.
It’s up to the widows to work out who planted the skull in an attempt to break up the wedding and how it relates to a 20 year old murder.

I thoroughly enjoyed this 3rd book in this cozy crime series. Full of humour, twists and turns but beneath the mystery were threads of grief, aging, and widowhood—handled with heart and subtlety. The widows’ bond, their determination, and the small-village secrets made this both a page-turner and a feel-good read.

With thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

What do you do when a dog interrupts a wedding holding a skull in its mouth? Of course you and your pals investigate the mystery. What follows is an absorbing, informative plot that uncovers a centuries old mystery and a vengeful murder. There is some grea5 characterisation, not only those who investigate, but even the subsidiary characters are interesting. There is some great world building with the rivalry between two villages brought out well. I liked the way that snobbish attitudes were frowned upon, making this a really enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this arc!

God I love this series. This one might be my favorite yet. The women are crazy and I love the Little Shaw. My only complaint was Wallace wasn't in the book enough! He wasn't stressed by Ginny and the rest of the women.

The books pacing was a lot better than the other books, and I didn't find myself slowing down. I finished it in a day!

Thank you, Amanda, for a cozy mystery!