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The Good Widow: A Novel Paperback – June 1, 2017

3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 28,790 ratings

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Amazon Charts bestselling authors Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke make their suspense debut in this twisty, emotional thriller.

Elementary school teacher Jacqueline “Jacks” Morales’s marriage was far from perfect, but even in its ups and downs it was predictable, familiar. Or at least she thought it was…until two police officers showed up at her door with devastating news. Her husband of eight years, the one who should have been on a business trip to Kansas, had suffered a fatal car accident in Hawaii. And he wasn’t alone.

For Jacks, laying her husband to rest was hard. But it was even harder to think that his final moments belonged to another woman―one who had left behind her own grieving and bewildered fiancé. Nick, just as blindsided by the affair, wants answers. So he suggests that he and Jacks search for the truth together, retracing the doomed lovers’ last days in paradise.

Now, following the twisting path of that fateful road, Jacks is learning that nothing is ever as it seems. Not her marriage. Not her husband. And most certainly not his death…

"All the Little Raindrops: A Novel" by Mia Sheridan for $10.39
The chilling story of the abduction of two teenagers, their escape, and the dark secrets that, years later, bring them back to the scene of the crime. | Learn more

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Editorial Reviews

Review

A Publishers Weekly Best Summer Books 2017 Selection, Mystery/Thriller

“Fenton and Steinke deliver a complicated tale of love, loss, intrigue, and disaster....This drama keeps the pages turning with shocking twists until the bitter end. A great read; recommended for admirers of Jennifer Weiner and Rainbow Rowell.”
Library Journal

“Fans of Joy Fielding will appreciate the story’s fast pacing and sympathetic main character.…[a] solid psychological thriller…”
Publishers Weekly

“Fenton and Steinke’s talent for domestic drama comes through.…For readers who enjoy suspense writers like Nicci French.”
Booklist

“A fantastic thriller that will keep you on your toes…”
―Popsugar

“Accomplished authors Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke make their suspense debut with great skill and assurance in this enthralling novel of marital secrets and lies, grief and revelation.
The Good Widow led me along a winding, treacherous road and made a sharp, startling turn that I didn’t see coming. Unputdownable!” ―A. J. Banner, #1 Amazon bestselling author of The Good Neighbor and The Twilight Wife

“Liz Fenton's and Lisa Steinke’s
The Good Widow begins by asking what you would do if your spouse died in a place he wasn't supposed to be in with a woman he wasn't supposed to be with. What follows is a gut-wrenching thriller, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes darkly funny, but always a page-turner. And as you read it late into the night you'll look over at the person in bed next to you and wonder how well you really know him. A wild, skillfully-written ride!” ―David Bell, author of Since She Went Away

“An irresistible and twisty page-turner,
The Good Widow should come with a delicious warning: This is not the story you think it is." ―Deb Caletti, author of He's Gone

The Good Widow is both heartrending and suspenseful, deftly navigating Jacks' mourning and the loss of her less-than-perfect marriage. The writing is sharp and evocative, the Hawaiian setting is spectacular, and the ending was a wonderful, twisty surprise. A quintessential summer beach read!” ―Kate Moretti, New York Times bestselling author of The Vanishing Year

The Good Widow is a fresh take on your worst nightmare―your husband dies and he isn't where, or with who, he said he was. I ripped through these pages to see where Fenton and Steinke would take me, which ended up being somewhere unexpected in the best kind of way. You will not be sorry you read this!” ―Catherine McKenzie, bestselling author of Fractured and Hidden

About the Author

Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke have been best friends for more than twenty-five years. They’ve survived high school, college, and the publishing of three novels together. Liz lives in San Diego, California, with her husband and two children. Lisa, a former talk show producer, now lives in Chicago, Illinois, with her husband, daughter, and two bonus children. Visit Liz and Lisa at www.lizandlisa.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing (June 1, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 299 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1503943445
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1503943445
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 28,790 ratings

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Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
28,790 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story clever and interesting with many twists and turns. They describe the book as a fun, easy read with good writing style. The plot holds their interest and is described as an addictive and unputdownable page-turner. However, opinions differ on the pacing - some find it smooth and flowing smoothly, while others feel the first half is slow.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

673 customers mention "Story quality"509 positive164 negative

Customers find the story engaging with a clever plot and unexpected twists. They describe it as a well-written thriller with vivid descriptions of scenes.

"...The genres of this novel are Women’s Fiction, Suspense, and Mystery. The story is told in a timeline of past and present,by the various characters...." Read more

"...I did not see that coming. While the story held my interest and seemed well written, I'd put this book in the category of rainy-day-reading, or..." Read more

"...This book is EMOTIONAL suspense. Very similar to the Girl on the Train, but not as dark. My complaints:..." Read more

"...I enjoyed it a lot, I liked that it kept me engaged, interested, all the twists, and the ending, unexpected and satisfying...." Read more

614 customers mention "Readability"543 positive71 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They appreciate the authors' research and skill in crafting the characters. The story takes place on a trip to Maui.

"...This was a very easy and fun read and I found myself identifying with each of the situations and/or characters at different times throughout the..." Read more

"...authors descriptions of the scenery in Hawaii are breathtaking, and impressive.<br The authors write about ultimate betrayal, love,loss, family..." Read more

"...It's okay, just not memorable or especially uplifting." Read more

"...All in all, a good read and I’d recommend it." Read more

204 customers mention "Writing quality"166 positive38 negative

Customers enjoy the book's writing style and find it easy to read. They appreciate the authors' ability to present the story in a fantasy-like way that allows readers to immerse themselves in the story. The book is described as a quick, enjoyable read with beautiful scenery. Readers are able to understand Dylan's perspective and how her marriage has changed.

"...This was a very easy and fun read and I found myself identifying with each of the situations and/or characters at different times throughout the..." Read more

"...The authors descriptions of the scenery in Hawaii are breathtaking, and impressive.<br The authors write about ultimate betrayal, love,loss,..." Read more

"...I did not see that coming. While the story held my interest and seemed well written, I'd put this book in the category of rainy-day-reading, or..." Read more

"...I love Liz and Lisa's writing style, the way they present the story, something about the way they write, makes this book a different one from all..." Read more

154 customers mention "Interest"134 positive20 negative

Customers find the book engaging and addictive. They say it holds their attention from beginning to end, with no dull moments. The mystery captures their interest from the first page and is worth reading.

"...In terms of the story, I enjoyed it a lot, I liked that it kept me engaged, interested, all the twists, and the ending, unexpected and satisfying...." Read more

"4.5 stars The Good Widow is a terrifically fun and engrossing read!..." Read more

"...I pretty much guessed everything that happened, it was so exciting to read it unfold...." Read more

"What an amazing ride this book took me on! I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out the truth surrounding the lives of the characters...." Read more

57 customers mention "Page turner"50 positive7 negative

Customers find the book engaging with twists and turns on every page. They appreciate the glimpses into the characters' lives and consider it a good read under the covers.

"...An absolute page turner with a stunning ending. I found I could not read the latter part of the book before I went to bed . . ...." Read more

"...It was a page turner for me and has an unexpected twist at the end." Read more

"They did it again, another great read. This book was a page turner and I enjoyed it and read it in a couple of days...." Read more

"The Good Widow was a true page-turner, a thrilling romance novel with an unexpected twist...." Read more

134 customers mention "Pacing"77 positive57 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing of the book. Some find it smooth and engaging, with a slow build of tension and suspense. Others feel the first half is slow and disjointed, with an abrupt ending that leaves many unanswered questions.

"...This was a very easy and fun read and I found myself identifying with each of the situations and/or characters at different times throughout the..." Read more

"The flow of this novel is somewhat disjointed...." Read more

"...bouncing around from one character in time to another, the story flows smoothly...." Read more

"...Her grief. It was real. It was complex and messy and confusing...." Read more

133 customers mention "Character development"93 positive40 negative

Customers have different views on the character development. Some find the characters well-developed and appreciate the progression of Jack's character from someone who seemed to wallow into someone. However, others feel the characters are not very likable, the main character makes stupid nonsensical decisions, and there is a flatness to the characters. There are also complaints about multiple characters with weird names.

"...I find that the authors describe their characters as complex, and complicated...." Read more

"...For me Jacks is a brave character, she tries to make sense of everything happening to her, how her life changes in a matter of minutes, all that she..." Read more

"...The characters are not very likeable...." Read more

"...The characters are realistic, crafted with small observations that bring them to life...." Read more

26 customers mention "Difficulty to put down"15 positive11 negative

Customers have different views on the book's difficulty to put down. Some find it engaging and hard to put down, while others find it tedious and boring. The book starts out well but takes a long time to get interesting for some readers.

"...Easy to pick up and down in the airport and snatch it in pics. Nice story and like able characters...." Read more

"...It’s not a thriller and it has very little suspense. It took forever to get to the twist, and honestly it wasn’t that munch of a twist either...." Read more

"I read this over two days while in bed with an injury. Found it hard to put down and enjoyed reading it...." Read more

"...Storyline was tedious and ending was predictable. It was a chore to finish it." Read more

Twisted ending.
4 out of 5 stars
Twisted ending.
Jacqueline “Jacks” Morales is in a state of total confusion after she finds out that her husband has died in a car accident in Hawaii because he was supposed to be on a work trip to Kansas. Up until this point, Jacks thought she had a pretty good marriage. Sure there were issues, but every married couple argues, right? They had been together for 8 years and she had never once considered that he might have an affair. There has to be some mistake. James has to be in Kansas. The shock is compounded when she finds out James wasn’t alone. He was having an affair with a woman named Dylan, who also died in the accident.Unable to deal with both the betrayal and the death at the same time, she is just vulnerable enough to accept the offer of Dylan’s fiancé Nick to go with him to Hawaii to try to discover what they had been doing there and to try to gain some semblance of closure.While in Hawaii she and Nick are able to find out things they didn’t know and they also find some solace there. Jacks’ sister Beth just wants her to come home to heal, but Jacks knows she has to see this through if she is ever going to feel normal again.With a twist that you may see coming and one that you may not see, this is a good book that I really enjoyed.Jacks is a loving, caring, and sacrificing person that I truly hoped would find happiness again. I felt she deserved it and the more I read, the more I liked her and the more I pulled for her.Nick is also devastated by the loss of Dylan and is so good with Jacks, making sure that she is comfortable and is able to handle everything that comes her way. He becomes her rock and together they are great at helping each other through a very difficult timeIf you are looking for a good book and a quick read, check out The Good Widow. Not only the writing and the plot, but also the descriptions of Hawaii will make you want to jump on a plane, go there, and do all the excursions that are described. I love reading about new places and this was no exception. Beautifully descriptive and quite well-written.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2017
    This was a book I could've easily finished in a day but found myself purposely taking my time to prolong the book. It's so hard for me to find completely absorbing books like this because I am very picky. This was a very easy and fun read and I found myself identifying with each of the situations and/or characters at different times throughout the twist and turns and revelations. Jacks was, unfortunately, hard for me to like as a person. I rarely dislike main protagonists and almost always choose their "side" in books. But I felt like Jacks seemed really selfish and wimpy with so many fears of this and that and it started to get annoying. It wasn't annoying to read, just felt like if I were James or Nick or whoever was traveling with her and she was being such a wet blanket, I'd feel annoyed by her. I also felt like she struggled with borderline alcoholism. In light of all of these things, although I'd never condone James' choices, I almost started to feel sorry for him. There were many times I felt sorry for Jacks as well, so I wasn't choosing his "side" over hers at all, just struggled with liking her or feeling empathy for her about some things. I guess this is what I mean by saying I could relate with each of the characters at times throughout the book. None of this is a negative or a complaint about the book--to me that's part of what makes a great book great. I love really being drawn in and feeling like I'm living in the story. My single complaint about the book was that there was not an epilogue or final chapter tying up the last loose end, which was how James reacted to Dylan's secret, or at least something from his point of view. In fact I felt like that's the direction the authors were leading us with the discovery of an item that was made towards the end of the book, but alas it was not to be. I don't like ambiguous endings or "choose your own" type of endings. I read other people's stories because they're telling me the story--I'm not telling myself or I'd just write my own! Haha. So that's the only reason for a 4 star rating for me. Loved it, would definitely read more by these authors in the future. Definitely worth reading! Perfect beach or vacay book.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2017
    it was amazing

    Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke authors of “The Good Widow” have written an amazing and intriguing novel.

    The genres of this novel are Women’s Fiction, Suspense, and Mystery. The story is told in a timeline of past and present,by the various characters.

    I find that the authors describe their characters as complex, and complicated. Jacks Morales, an elementary teacher is told by two policeman that her husband James has been in a fatal accident in Hawaii. Jacks is shocked because her husband of eight years was supposed to be in Kansas. In addition to this devastating news, Jacks finds out that James was with another women.

    The other woman’s fiance, Nick, approaches Jacks and suggests that they can get answers to see if they can move on, and get closure by going to Hawaii to the scene of the accident. Both Jacks and Nick seem overwhelmed by the accident, and their lost significant others.

    As I was reading, I was waiting for “more”. I could feel the suspense mounting. There were twists and turns in the plot,and emotional turmoil within the characters. There are secrets.

    The authors descriptions of the scenery in Hawaii are breathtaking, and impressive.

    The authors write about ultimate betrayal, love,loss, family and hope. As I finished the story I am left pondering, do we really know the people we are close with? Is it better to know the truth or not?

    I would highly recommend this entertaining novel. I received an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
    6 likes

    Reading Progress
    March 28, 2017 – Started Reading
    April 9, 2017 – Finished Reading

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    message 1: by Lisa - rated it 5 stars
    Apr 11, 2017 08:27AM

    Lisa Steinke
    Thank you! so happy you enjoyed the book!

    reply | delete | flag *

    message 2: by Linda - rated it 5 stars
    Apr 11, 2017 08:30AM

    Linda Zagon
    Lisa wrote: "Thank you! so happy you enjoyed the book!"

    I loved it. I can't wait for the discussion group on May 10.
    Best regards, Linda

    reply | edit | delete | flag *

    message 3: by Lisa (new) - rated it 5 stars
    Apr 11, 2017 08:44AM

    Lisa Steinke
    So thrilled! And thank you also for reviewing the book here! It's so helpful!

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    Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke authors of “The Good Widow” have written an amazing and intriguing novel.The genres of this novel are Women’s Fiction, Suspense, and Mystery. The story is told in a timeline of past and present,by the various characters.I find that the authors describe their characters as complex, and complicated. Jacks Morales, an elementary teacher is told by two policeman that her husband James has been in a fatal accident in Hawaii. Jacks is shocked because her husband of eight years was supposed to be in Kansas. In addition to this devastating news, Jacks finds out that James was with another women.The other woman’s fiance, Nick, approaches Jacks and suggests that they can get answers to see if they can move on, and get closure by going to Hawaii to the scene of the accident. Both Jacks and Nick seem overwhelmed by the accident, and their lost significant others.As I was reading, I was waiting for “more”. I could feel the suspense mounting. There were twists and turns in the plot,and emotional turmoil within the characters. There are secrets.The authors descriptions of the scenery in Hawaii are breathtaking, and impressive.<br The authors write about ultimate betrayal, love,loss, family and hope. As I finished the story I am left pondering, do we really know the people we are close with? Is it better to know the truth or not?I would highly recommend this entertaining novel. I received an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2017
    The flow of this novel is somewhat disjointed. The story is divided into Dylan's 3rd person point of view "Before", and Jacqueline, "Jacks,"first person point of view "Before" and "After". The event which separates the two time periods is a car crash in which Dylan and Jack's husband, James, are killed. (That is revealed by page 2 of Chapter 2, so it's not really a spoiler.) The three points of view continue to jump back and forth throughout the novel, most of which reads as mystery and illicit romance.

    For me, the "thriller" aspect started about mid-way through chapter 35 (of 43), and got real creepy real fast. I did not see that coming. While the story held my interest and seemed well written, I'd put this book in the category of rainy-day-reading, or nothing-better-to-do reading. It's okay, just not memorable or especially uplifting.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Khushal Chand
    4.0 out of 5 stars Ok
    Reviewed in India on June 19, 2019
  • Linda Pfeiffer
    4.0 out of 5 stars It took two women to write the story of one Good Widow
    Reviewed in Canada on October 6, 2017
    When Jacqueline Morales is informed that her husband has died in Maui, she is shocked and dismayed as you would think a new widow would be. But when she learns that her husband was not only in Hawaii as opposed to Kansas where he said he was going on business, but he was not alone. He was accompanied by a woman named Dylan Matthews who was also in the car with him when it careened off the cliff on the road to Hana. It was also true that she shared his hotel room and took the same flight to Hawaii with him days before. Then Dylan's fiancee, Nick Ford lands on Jacks doorstep demanding to know why her husband James was with his fiancee in Maui. His suggestion is that they travel together to the scene of the accident and try to piece together what happened and when the affair began.

    From here to the end of the book it's slow going as the authors flesh out all the characters and give you more of the back story. Then with only about 5% of the book left to the end, it suddenly takes a turn and becomes psychologically dark, riveting and then finally the conclusion you may not have been expecting.

    I was going to give this only 3 stars as I found it very slow at first, but then I read biographical notes about the authors once I'd finished and decided that I really did like the story and can't figure out another way they could have gone to make it faster. So it's four stars.
  • Dallass
    4.0 out of 5 stars A twist within a twist.
    Reviewed in Australia on July 4, 2024
    This is only the second book of this authors that I’ve picked up, and honestly, it was just as great a read. The premise piqued my interest, and I devoured this first thing this morning - meaning I’m getting a late start to my chores. It’s 10am, and as I cradle my hot mug of tea, I have the sneaking suspicion that this story, with these characters, will live rent free in my mind for quite a long time. Will definitely be looking into more books by these two authors.

    4.5 stars
  • Mrs H
    4.0 out of 5 stars A very enjoyable read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2017
    I almost felt spoilt for choice with the Kindle First choices this month. In the end I plumped for this one, and I'm glad I did.

    The book was promoted as domestic suspense, and initially I was left wondering about the suspense aspect. In the beginning I savoured the story as it was is well written and flows beautifully, then things we learnt during its course are knocked off kilter and then overturned. At that point my reading speed picked up in order to find out what happens next. It was gripping.

    For me it isn't a problem that the story is somewhat far-fetched in places; it is a work of fiction, after all, and the authors are allowed some artistic licence and I can ignore these aspects. Of more distraction to me were a number of typos in the text; if they had been absent I would have given this 4.5 stars.
  • Shirley oickle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Dumbfounded Widow.I
    Reviewed in Canada on January 11, 2018
    Loved the book, but stupid Jacks. She sure didn'tknow her husband at all. James did want to hurt her,but he didn't know how to r
    Tell

    Great book. Loved it. Wanted to scream at Jacks so many times, though. She certainly didn'tknow her husband like she thought she did. I KNOW James WA Ted to tell her aboutthe affair,but didn'the want to hurt her. He loved two women,hence, his mood. To get involved with another man so quickly and to someone who wasn't truthworthy, was too much. If something seems to good to be true , it usually is. Keep writing, the book keep me intrigued?