She won't take your name...but she'll take your life...She's stayed undetected for years. Since the first one. This time, she's up against a grumpy detective with his ass on the line.
Now, he's on her trail, and he won't stop until he has her in his grasp.
That is... unless he falls into her perilous trap, and becomes her next victim...
This is a black widow, spicy thriller. It will have scenes that may not be comfortable for all readers. Please take note to read the TW's before you dive in.
Widow is a standalone in the A Woman Scorned series of standalone dark romances where women take back their power.
Kate grew up in Western Sydney, in Australia, and remains there today. She has always loved the written word, being influenced by the likes of Edgar Allan Poe, JR Ward and Anne Rice, she ventured into writing at a young age.
Finally taking the plunge in 2016 and publishing for the first time. Ever since, she’s been trying to bring the worlds she’s created in her head to the page for everyone else to enjoy as much as she does.
When she’s not writing, she’s looking after her bevvy of pets including snakes, lizards, axolotls, birds, a turtle and a dog with her husband Kyle.
Thriller, strangers to lovers, HEA, serial killer, SA, knife play, drug use, torture, murder, arson, DV, sex slavery (mentioned), police procedure, strong FMC, slow burn.
I really enjoyed this serial killer thriller. Kate has done well with reminding me of the old movies about the black widows and has portrayed the FMC really well.
There was also a twist I found really interesting as I didn’t quite see it coming the way it did.
I really enjoyed this book and the ending which I actually didn’t see coming. It was a short read but I like how it was told over time so it didn’t feel rushed or hard to follow along with the story. I seriously loved how much we were made to hate Maurelle at the start but the story slowly convinced us to love and support her. Also the way they were both drawn to one another and toyed with each other was fun to read. Poor things were so confused by their own feelings.
Enjoyed the idea of the FMC. Thriller revenge story. Spicy scenes were SPICY! Remember to read the triggers!
I felt lost at points as the timeline wasn’t making a lot of sense to me. Wished there was more build up in the main characters tension and relationship.
It felt rushed, wanted more backstories with some of the characters.
Loved Maurelle. Strong fmc who’s out for revenge. Kane was great too. He’s a detective, who’s slightly morally grey and is tracking down a serial killer.
"𝒜𝓇𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒻𝑜𝓁𝓁𝑜𝓌𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓂𝑒, 𝒟𝑒𝓉𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝓋𝑒?"
The spice was hot, I absolutely loved the plot. There’s some twists that I was not expecting. I really enjoyed this book. This is a shorter read and I loved how fast paced it was. If you want a spicy, dark thriller I recommend so much!
Love a good serial killer book but with a distinct revenge plot. Really, serial killer books are my jam, but ones that are intwined with a sense of justice and not just mindless killing for the sake of killing are really just top notch.
Add in a cop who has a moral code, and some fatal attraction and this book is for you! I dont want to give anything away, as this book is pretty straight forward, no twists or turns so you really just need to read it for yourself to appreciate it.
ARC Review- loved this book. This book was intense. A dark romance with a happy ending. I could not get enough of Maurelle and Kane. The twisted love and protection Kane has for her. A must read. Fast paced.
This story was so good. You follow Maurelle and Kane. You quickly find that you are on the edge of your seat as it is a duel pov and many twists along the way. This book will keep you twisting right until the very end. The last twist is jaw dropping.
I very much enjoyed this book. It's perfect for a quick read. Was not expecting the ending but loved it. I love revenge stories. It was fast-paced but told over time. Seriously a very good book!
This was a pretty quick read but it didn’t feel like it. It was so good and the spice was great! The twist at the end…man I never saw it coming, I was shocked! Absolutely adored the ending!
If you're looking for a good, spicy, crime thriller then look no further. This is one intense story with an ending you won't see coming. It's a quick read that I couldn't put down.
Dark thriller that is indeed intense. A woman hell bent on revenge but will take out any man in her way. A detective who will do whatever it takes to find justice and bring her down. This is a storyline you will want to read in one setting. You will not want to put this book down until you know exactly what happens. You will think you know what is going to happen but let me tell you it will not be even close to what you are thinking. Reading this book is like watching criminal minds. Seriously it is that good. Maurelle is a black widow. But not for the reasons you may think. She will take you on quite the ride to justice not only for herself but for those she loves. Kane is a detective who is on the verge of retirement. But he is morally gray and will do whatever it takes to get this last case solved and the criminal put away. But will it be that easy? There is so much involved in this storyline. It will be a book that will stay in your mind long after reading it. How many black widows out there are just like the one in this book? Kate blew me away with this book and I could not be happier that I decided to take a chance and read it. Looking for a thriller with a strong female and a stalker detective who will do anything literally anything to solve the case. Highly recommend digging into this one.
Widow gave me serious Mindf*ck series vibes and considering how much I loved that series, that’s a big compliment.
Maurelle is the kind of FMC I will always root for. Sharp, unapologetic, and an absolute badass, she owns every scene she’s in. I loved how layered she was; strong without being untouchable, calculated but still deeply human.
And then there’s Kane 👀 A detective caught between doing his job and questioning where the line between right and wrong really sits. Watching him battle his growing feelings for Maurelle while trying to keep his morals (and control) intact added so much tension to the story. That internal conflict? Delicious.
Dark, gritty, morally grey, and emotionally charged. If you love a strong FMC, complex characters, and that delicious push-and-pull between justice and desire, this one is worth the read.
I genuinely do not know what to make of this book.
It wasn’t so much a spicy thriller as incompetent police work and a detective who hasn’t been laid in a long time attracted to the one person he shouldn’t be because he’s bored of his job and she’s hot.
This was just a continuous systematic abuse of police power, zero tension sexual scenes that didn’t really make sense to me and a revolving plot that didn’t really go anywhere.
I wasn’t cheering on any of the characters in this one. Definitely putting this in the not for me basket.
Thank you to the author for letting me read an ARC of this book. This is my honest opinion.
I loved Widow! It was intense and gripping from start to finish—a dark romance that still delivers a satisfying happy ending. Maurelle and Kane have an unforgettable connection, with Kane's fierce, almost obsessive protection over her making their relationship equal parts twisted and tender. Their chemistry is off the charts, and the story keeps you on edge the entire time.
This book is fast-paced and unputdownable; every chapter pulls you deeper into the complex dynamics between these characters. It’s a must-read for fans of dark romances who love emotional intensity and a truly satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended!
A fast-paced dark romance that kept me hooked from start to finish. I read this much quicker than most books I've picked up recently. The plot was intriguing, easy to follow, and had just the right amount of spice. What stood out to me was how the female lead takes on the morally gray role, which is something I haven't seen often in dark romance. The dynamic between the fugitive and detective was fresh and captivating, making the story feel both new and exciting.
Kane will have you in a love hate relationship from moment dot and Maurella.... Well she's to DIE for 😏
"my life is forfeit, and it had been since the day I was born. This way, I can bring them down with me and save the innocent woman they torture daily."
She is the Black Widow..... She is fast and cunning....
Oh my goodness!!!! I need more, this genre is INCREDIBLE, Kate focused on characters and past lives to bring you the most INCREDIBLE Dark Fiction.....
- it is a spicy thriller -does contain Trigger Warnings and i love seeing this "Your mental health is important." -i really love this book as its gave me the serial killer thrills. It did remind me of an old movie about the black widow and Kate did fantastic job on portayed the fmc so good! - I lovevthe twists in thus book and some I didn't even see coming . - it was a short read but I love it ! - omg that ending...... I wasn't expecting that - the author made us feel that we need to hate Maurelle in the beginning but over time... we begin to love and support her .
Thanks to the author for this arc. I absolutely loved this novella from beginning to end. This is a dark suspense novel with romance between a Widow who is named The Black Widow because she kills her husbands and she never gets caught. The detective who knows the most about her slowly gets feelings for her and as they go back and forth between him trying to take her down, she toys with him and they have a steamy little romance. Very fun and very fast read. I wanted more!
I really enjoyed this serial killer thriller and how it ended. It was a short read but I like how the author makes us change our point of view with Maurelle by the end of the book. The spicy scenes were spicy and really liked the MMC. There were some twists I didn’t see coming but overall it was a good book. Please check trigger warnings as this book may contain things that are not for everyone. I received a free copy of this book prior to its release and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This one reminded me of the mindf’ck series so much, which I loved! Detective meets girl who is a serial killer seeking revenge, and they fall hard for each other. It follows Maurelle and Kane as they overcome hurdles and admit their love for each other. I would loved to have seen more time being spent together for them really getting to know each other, however I really enjoyed it and it it’s a nice, spicy, thrilling one suitable for all the dark romance lovers 🖤🖤🖤
This read was a speed date - zero foreplay and straight to the main event. Needed some serious buildup and plot development to get me really invested. That sudden first “dance” between them? Out of left field. Yet, the black widow vibe and revenge plot twist had me curious, even if it felt like a premature celebration. Female-led revenge stories usually hook me quickly, but this one required a little more simmering. Once it simmer just enough I was hooked on her style of black widow!
I enjoyed this book overall, though there were moments when the plot jumped abruptly, leaving me a bit confused. The tension between the main characters was intense, capturing that perfect blend of fatal attraction. And the twist at the end genuinely surprised me, adding an extra layer to the suspense. If you're a fan of dark romance crime thrillers, this one will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat!
I really enjoyed this book. Quick read that didn’t feel rushed. I enjoyed the pace and development. Serial K thriller with a great plot and story. Read the TW, she gets spicy🌶️
I did not see the ending coming and normally I can guess 80% of the time. I was pleasantly surprised. Definitely worth a read!
Widow by Kate Bonham is a dark romance about a fierce woman caught up in a gritty, dangerous world. It’s packed with intense emotions, secrets, and high-stakes twists, perfect for fans of edgy romance with a suspenseful vibe. If you enjoy stories that blur the lines between love and revenge, this one’s got that and more.
Dual POV spicy thiller🌶️🔪 Quick read with a comfortable pace, an interesting plot and unexpected twist. I enjoyed the main character interactions😏 (I would have liked it to take a little bit longer to develop though) and I was quickly rooting for our bad guy FMC. The ending made my heart happy. Overall enjoyable read.
I really enjoyed this book! It gave The Mindf*ck series vibes which is my all time favorite thriller series.
I do wish there were more interactions with the main characters instead of quick scenes and I felt like the ending was kinda rushed but other than that I loved it.
I’m definitely buying a physical copy for a shelf trophy 💜
Widow is an interesting book that keeps you on your toes the whole time. The whole time I was reading I couldn’t decide which way this story was going to go. It was nice to read a book with a FMC that was seeking her own kind of justice and Detective Kane who started seeing things in black and white. It’s a short story but packs plenty of storyline and loads of spice.
I wanted to like this so much more than I did. This has the feminine rage that is timely and it has the same vibe as the MindF*ck series. However, this has a wired insta love where they barely interact but fall in love. The male main character made some comments that felt gross. It just all felt rushed and very flat.