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Black Widow
This is an alternate cover editions for ASIN B00NBDOGBC.
A steamy Southern summer. A beautiful ex-con. A burned-out cop.
And a killer on the loose.
Wrongly convicted of her husband’s brutal murder, Kathryn McAllister has spent the last four years in a North Carolina prison for a crime she didn’t commit. When new evidence leads to the overturn of her conviction, Kathryn returns to the sleepy little town of Elba, North Carolina, determined to clear her name and find Michael McAllister’s killer.
Police chief Nick DiSalvo has come to Elba to bury himself someplace where he can forget his past and pretend he was born the day he drove into town. His plan is working until Kathryn McAllister walks through the door of his office, hell-bent on justice.
Drawn to each other by an irresistible heat, Nick and Kat are at cross-purposes. He wants her out of his hair; she wants to bag a killer. When the sizzling attraction between them explodes into full-blown passion, they discover that in this picturesque Southern town of many secrets, nothing is as it appears. As they draw nearer to discovering the identity of Michael McAllister’s killer, they unearth a secret so terrible that one individual would stop at nothing—including killing again—to keep them from uncovering it.
This is a re-release of a previously published book. Includes adult language and situations.(less)
A steamy Southern summer. A beautiful ex-con. A burned-out cop.
And a killer on the loose.
Wrongly convicted of her husband’s brutal murder, Kathryn McAllister has spent the last four years in a North Carolina prison for a crime she didn’t commit. When new evidence leads to the overturn of her conviction, Kathryn returns to the sleepy little town of Elba, North Carolina, determined to clear her name and find Michael McAllister’s killer.
Police chief Nick DiSalvo has come to Elba to bury himself someplace where he can forget his past and pretend he was born the day he drove into town. His plan is working until Kathryn McAllister walks through the door of his office, hell-bent on justice.
Drawn to each other by an irresistible heat, Nick and Kat are at cross-purposes. He wants her out of his hair; she wants to bag a killer. When the sizzling attraction between them explodes into full-blown passion, they discover that in this picturesque Southern town of many secrets, nothing is as it appears. As they draw nearer to discovering the identity of Michael McAllister’s killer, they unearth a secret so terrible that one individual would stop at nothing—including killing again—to keep them from uncovering it.
This is a re-release of a previously published book. Includes adult language and situations.(less)
Unknown Binding
First published December 1, 1999
27 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
Laurie Breton
27 books204 followersLaurie Breton is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic suspense and women's fiction. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her two grown children and with her two grandchildren, who are the light of her life. If you went looking, you might find her at the beach, or attending a sidewalk art festival, or walking the streets of Boston. Laurie lives in a small town in Maine with her husband and two adorable dogs named River and Jasmine.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 4, 2020
4 Solid Stars
Don't you love it when you stumble upon an underhyped author with storytelling skills that could put a lot of overhyped authors to shame?
I was so sceptical but three murders, one arrest and one hot romance later, I can already tell this author and I have a lot of catching up to do.
On to the next one.
Don't you love it when you stumble upon an underhyped author with storytelling skills that could put a lot of overhyped authors to shame?
I was so sceptical but three murders, one arrest and one hot romance later, I can already tell this author and I have a lot of catching up to do.
On to the next one.
September 8, 2014
3.5 stars!
As a huge fan of this author’s Jackson Falls series, I was really curious to see how much I’d like her latest romantic suspense book. While I ended up enjoying it overall, I can’t help but be a little bit disappointed. I’ve come to know this author who takes the time and book space to give her stories depth, evoke emotion, and develop character relationships. Sadly, all three were missing in this book. Nevertheless, I did like the suspense aspect of the story; it’s just the romance part that completely fell flat for me.
****************************
The book starts off with a harrowing prologue that leads up to Michael McAllister’s murder and how his wife (the heroine) is accused of killing him. Fast forward 4 years and a hardened Kathryn McAllister walks free from prison after new evidence is presented that overturns her conviction. She heads back to town with one goal: nab Michael’s real killer and clear her name once and for all despite her lawyer encouraging her not to.
New police chief Nick DiSalvo is at a crossroads in both his personal and work life. Only a few days on the job and he runs into Kathryn who is intent on dragging out the old murder case for reinvestigation. It’s pretty much hate at first sight when they meet as Kathryn is cold and bitter from her years in prison while Nick recognizes her as the talked-about murderess. But after multiple break-ins and an attempt on her life, Kathryn starts to warm up to Nick as he seems to be one of the few people who genuinely wants to help her.
****************************
Let’s start with the positive – I adored the setting for this book. It’s contemporary but this small southern town still has the mores of people in the time of the Civil War where racial discrimination was blatant. I loved that this book explored this little blast from the past and it added a nice quality to the story. I also thought the suspense part was great. There were a few twists I didn’t see coming at all and I liked how the author tied in history with the final reveal.
And now for the bad part – to be blunt, the romance sucked. A few rolls in the hay does not constitute as ‘romance’ in my book. Kathryn was such a tough, unbreakable, yet deeply hurt woman so it’s hard for me to accept that she’s spill all her secrets and details about her personal life to Nick, a guy she barely knows in such a short time frame. On the other side, Nick is divorced and has a teenage daughter and is practically married to his job. There was no relationship development whatsoever. I get that in romantic suspense books a lot of the romance is dropped to focus on the suspense but the ‘I-love-yous’ were too unbelievable in this book. An epilogue would’ve helped but sadly there wasn’t one. This book has one of the most rushed endings I’ve ever read.
Despite my gripes with the romance part, this book was unputdownable. It was gripping and I finished it in 2 hours. If you’re okay with more suspense than romance and want a super fast-paced read, this book is a good choice.
As a huge fan of this author’s Jackson Falls series, I was really curious to see how much I’d like her latest romantic suspense book. While I ended up enjoying it overall, I can’t help but be a little bit disappointed. I’ve come to know this author who takes the time and book space to give her stories depth, evoke emotion, and develop character relationships. Sadly, all three were missing in this book. Nevertheless, I did like the suspense aspect of the story; it’s just the romance part that completely fell flat for me.
****************************
The book starts off with a harrowing prologue that leads up to Michael McAllister’s murder and how his wife (the heroine) is accused of killing him. Fast forward 4 years and a hardened Kathryn McAllister walks free from prison after new evidence is presented that overturns her conviction. She heads back to town with one goal: nab Michael’s real killer and clear her name once and for all despite her lawyer encouraging her not to.
New police chief Nick DiSalvo is at a crossroads in both his personal and work life. Only a few days on the job and he runs into Kathryn who is intent on dragging out the old murder case for reinvestigation. It’s pretty much hate at first sight when they meet as Kathryn is cold and bitter from her years in prison while Nick recognizes her as the talked-about murderess. But after multiple break-ins and an attempt on her life, Kathryn starts to warm up to Nick as he seems to be one of the few people who genuinely wants to help her.
****************************
Let’s start with the positive – I adored the setting for this book. It’s contemporary but this small southern town still has the mores of people in the time of the Civil War where racial discrimination was blatant. I loved that this book explored this little blast from the past and it added a nice quality to the story. I also thought the suspense part was great. There were a few twists I didn’t see coming at all and I liked how the author tied in history with the final reveal.
And now for the bad part – to be blunt, the romance sucked. A few rolls in the hay does not constitute as ‘romance’ in my book. Kathryn was such a tough, unbreakable, yet deeply hurt woman so it’s hard for me to accept that she’s spill all her secrets and details about her personal life to Nick, a guy she barely knows in such a short time frame. On the other side, Nick is divorced and has a teenage daughter and is practically married to his job. There was no relationship development whatsoever. I get that in romantic suspense books a lot of the romance is dropped to focus on the suspense but the ‘I-love-yous’ were too unbelievable in this book. An epilogue would’ve helped but sadly there wasn’t one. This book has one of the most rushed endings I’ve ever read.
Despite my gripes with the romance part, this book was unputdownable. It was gripping and I finished it in 2 hours. If you’re okay with more suspense than romance and want a super fast-paced read, this book is a good choice.
November 29, 2018
A Southern Gothic Linda Howard-esque suspense/thriller that was surprisingly fun. Setting is either late 1990s or early 2000s as there are references to the H's teenage daughter's Leonardo de Caprio and Mariah Carey's posters and the Police Chief has a pager not a cell. Kind of refreshing when he has to ask to use a phone, a land line, to call in to the office.
PLOT
The Yankee heroine was convicted of killing her husband of just a few years. Her conviction was overturned, and she is now back in the North Carolina, very small and very Southern town for answers.
Her MIL hates her as well as some of the other small town biddies, and there is someone out to drive her away via threats, rattlesnakes, graffiti on the car and so far.
Handsome new Police Chief, also a Yankee, who gets the hots for her then buys her a dog for protection, and it's sexy times.
I'm not going to give too many details about the mystery/suspense angle, but it's mired in small town sensibilities, and the black/white power exchange in what is still a segregated South in this book and its time setting. More than one evil doer, but it's a sliding scale of evil.
Some major (huge) plot holes but what suspense novel doesn't have them. Enjoyable read.
PLOT
The Yankee heroine was convicted of killing her husband of just a few years. Her conviction was overturned, and she is now back in the North Carolina, very small and very Southern town for answers.
Her MIL hates her as well as some of the other small town biddies, and there is someone out to drive her away via threats, rattlesnakes, graffiti on the car and so far.
Handsome new Police Chief, also a Yankee, who gets the hots for her then buys her a dog for protection, and it's sexy times.
I'm not going to give too many details about the mystery/suspense angle, but it's mired in small town sensibilities, and the black/white power exchange in what is still a segregated South in this book and its time setting. More than one evil doer, but it's a sliding scale of evil.
Some major (huge) plot holes but what suspense novel doesn't have them. Enjoyable read.
March 29, 2021
First and foremost the writing was good if a little dated. It is romantic suspense and there is a lot of sub plots, secondary characters and maybe unnecessary drama to make the suspense allusive. But I think I picked this from someone's good chemistry shelf and the two main characters had that.
I enjoyed the read but really felt sorry for the heroine, she had to tell him he had to acknowledge her in broad day light and not just have sex with her, when his daughter showed up it was really an added layer that just detracted from the angst in the romance.
The ending or chase at the end felt long and I would have preferred more time with the MC's talking through their crap instead of her witnessing him hugging his ex-wife. There was nothing going on but it didn't seem enough that he would wait so many days to find out where and what she was doing at 99% he shows up again... near the end I needed more from the hero, why he loved Katherine, did his ex wife ask him back, what made Kathryn different etc...
Still I read and enjoyed over a few days
I enjoyed the read but really felt sorry for the heroine, she had to tell him he had to acknowledge her in broad day light and not just have sex with her, when his daughter showed up it was really an added layer that just detracted from the angst in the romance.
The ending or chase at the end felt long and I would have preferred more time with the MC's talking through their crap instead of her witnessing him hugging his ex-wife. There was nothing going on but it didn't seem enough that he would wait so many days to find out where and what she was doing at 99% he shows up again... near the end I needed more from the hero, why he loved Katherine, did his ex wife ask him back, what made Kathryn different etc...
Still I read and enjoyed over a few days
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2010
BLACK WIDOW is a romantic suspense with characters that have depth. A big city cop who has tried to leave behind a damaged past, a woman who was young and innocent before stumbling onto something that sent her to jail and a mish-mash of secondary characters that keep the reader wondering who killed Michael McAllister.
Michael McAllister was a beloved son, who returned to his native town and was about to hit the big time as an architect. His wife, Kathryn, has always believed in him. Young but struggling, things are finally looking up when Michael is found dead.
Kathryn McAllister was a naive woman when she was found guilty of her husband's death and sent to prison. Four years later her conviction is overturned and she is on a mission: find her husband's killer and make him/her pay. Kathryn is now faced with an unforgiving mother-in-law and citizens from the small community who can't seem to open their eyes that something is wrong: twisted-with-lies wrong.
The residents of Elba, North Carolina find it too easy to believe that Kathryn, who is originally from Boston, is guilty. When Kathryn meets Nick their personalities clash. Nick is from Brooklyn with over a decade on the force before moving south. He knows that the majority of people who claim their innocence are really guilty so why should she be any different? Elba is not prosperous; it is a rural hamlet that in some ways is stuck in time. The setting is in the late twentieth century but the civil war lingers and some people do not like change.
Secrets engross the plot; racism exists, and the community is not drug-free. Yet despite all the problems there are some good people who love their town and want what is best. Both Nick and Kathryn are flawed but who isn't? I found myself drawn to their plight and the growing attraction between them.
Don't skip ahead or you will miss learning an important detail that will help you understand the storyline. I would have given it five stars but there were some instances that needed more explanation than was given. If you can get past those unanswered questions and you enjoy this genre you should approve of BLACK WIDOW. I did.
Michael McAllister was a beloved son, who returned to his native town and was about to hit the big time as an architect. His wife, Kathryn, has always believed in him. Young but struggling, things are finally looking up when Michael is found dead.
Kathryn McAllister was a naive woman when she was found guilty of her husband's death and sent to prison. Four years later her conviction is overturned and she is on a mission: find her husband's killer and make him/her pay. Kathryn is now faced with an unforgiving mother-in-law and citizens from the small community who can't seem to open their eyes that something is wrong: twisted-with-lies wrong.
The residents of Elba, North Carolina find it too easy to believe that Kathryn, who is originally from Boston, is guilty. When Kathryn meets Nick their personalities clash. Nick is from Brooklyn with over a decade on the force before moving south. He knows that the majority of people who claim their innocence are really guilty so why should she be any different? Elba is not prosperous; it is a rural hamlet that in some ways is stuck in time. The setting is in the late twentieth century but the civil war lingers and some people do not like change.
Secrets engross the plot; racism exists, and the community is not drug-free. Yet despite all the problems there are some good people who love their town and want what is best. Both Nick and Kathryn are flawed but who isn't? I found myself drawn to their plight and the growing attraction between them.
Don't skip ahead or you will miss learning an important detail that will help you understand the storyline. I would have given it five stars but there were some instances that needed more explanation than was given. If you can get past those unanswered questions and you enjoy this genre you should approve of BLACK WIDOW. I did.
August 20, 2014
Muy entretenido. La trama del suspense está muy bien, trabajada, con pasado, historia y con media población involucrada de una manera u otra, con lo cual, hasta que la autora lo descubre, no sé sabe bien quién es quién. Me ha gustado.
El romance no está mal, pero sí un poco flojo. No hay mucha descripción acerca de los sentimientos de los protagonistas, con lo cual, coge por sorpresa cuando empiezan a actuar y empieza a haber un acercamiento, nos lo cuentan todo a “toro pasado”. Lo mejor es que a pesar de que hay insta-lust, sólo lo sabemos porque los propios protagonistas lo reconocen a mitad de la historia, así que los lectores no lo sabemos a priori, la relación se va montando poco a poco, aunque hubiese sido de agradecer un poco de diálogo interior (y que conste que no soy fan de él) para poner al lector sobre aviso.
Aún así, lo dicho. Personajes que no hacen tonterías, trama sólida, abanico de “posibles malos” y muy entretenido.
El final del romance ha sido flojillo, recurriendo a los desgastados recursos de “falta de diálogo” y “suposiciones erróneas” para la “separación”, pero como la autora no se regodea en ese aspecto de la historia y lo soluciona relativamente rápido no me ha chocado en exceso.
Recomendable.
El romance no está mal, pero sí un poco flojo. No hay mucha descripción acerca de los sentimientos de los protagonistas, con lo cual, coge por sorpresa cuando empiezan a actuar y empieza a haber un acercamiento, nos lo cuentan todo a “toro pasado”. Lo mejor es que a pesar de que hay insta-lust, sólo lo sabemos porque los propios protagonistas lo reconocen a mitad de la historia, así que los lectores no lo sabemos a priori, la relación se va montando poco a poco, aunque hubiese sido de agradecer un poco de diálogo interior (y que conste que no soy fan de él) para poner al lector sobre aviso.
Aún así, lo dicho. Personajes que no hacen tonterías, trama sólida, abanico de “posibles malos” y muy entretenido.
El final del romance ha sido flojillo, recurriendo a los desgastados recursos de “falta de diálogo” y “suposiciones erróneas” para la “separación”, pero como la autora no se regodea en ese aspecto de la historia y lo soluciona relativamente rápido no me ha chocado en exceso.
Recomendable.
April 30, 2013
A murder in a small southern town leaves an innocent woman in jail. She is released when new evidence overturns her conviction. In comes a handsome sheriff from New York that is faced with keeping the peace in his new town. How will the prideful town treat the newly released Katherine when southern grudges run deep? Full of down home secrets and full of mystery, Laurie Breton expands her range as an author. From Jackson Falls to Black Widow she never fails to blow her readers away. More than a romantic mystery, this is a full on thriller to the end.
May 29, 2014
3.5 stars
A solid romantic suspense story!
A solid romantic suspense story!
January 24, 2022
I liked this book and how detailed the plot was but I wanted to see more characters.
I liked Kathryn and Nick but I wanted to see more of them getting to know each other and their relationship developing as it seemed a bit quick with how they went from being suspicious of each other to sleeping together.
There were some side characters but they were all in the background. This was a small town and I wanted to see more of that shown. Linda was a side character that was only shown maybe three times but she was hilarious.
Nick had a daughter who should have been shown more as most of the time it was like she didn’t exist.
I liked finding out what happened in the past and while I didn’t like those characters, I didn’t guess who did the things that happened.
I didn’t like that at the end the characters decide to start over.
I might try more books by this author as I liked this book but I think that it should have been a bit longer to show more characters.
I liked Kathryn and Nick but I wanted to see more of them getting to know each other and their relationship developing as it seemed a bit quick with how they went from being suspicious of each other to sleeping together.
There were some side characters but they were all in the background. This was a small town and I wanted to see more of that shown. Linda was a side character that was only shown maybe three times but she was hilarious.
Nick had a daughter who should have been shown more as most of the time it was like she didn’t exist.
I liked finding out what happened in the past and while I didn’t like those characters, I didn’t guess who did the things that happened.
I didn’t like that at the end the characters decide to start over.
I might try more books by this author as I liked this book but I think that it should have been a bit longer to show more characters.
June 5, 2018
When Kathryn McAllister returns home from her daily run, she finds her husband Michael stabbed in the chest with her sewing shears. She panics and pulls them out and runs screaming into the street. She is promptly arrested, found guilty and sentence to prison.
Now 4 years later, after her attorney located a witness who stated she saw Kathryn running by her home at the time of the murder, Kathryn is released from prison. She returns to her husband's home town to find out who really murdered him.
Nick DiSalvo is the new police chief in this small town after being a NYC detective for years. He is divorced with a teenage daughter. When the two meet, he doesn't know if he believes Kathryn is innocent, but the more he gets to know her, the more he is convinced the killer is still out there.
As they dig deeper and deeper into the events of the past, more and more secrets are coming to light, including the scandalous things that happened in the home where Michael and Kathryn lived.
This story kept me involved and guessing and I wasn't sure who could be trusted because it seemed everyone had something to hide. Another hit for me by this author.
Now 4 years later, after her attorney located a witness who stated she saw Kathryn running by her home at the time of the murder, Kathryn is released from prison. She returns to her husband's home town to find out who really murdered him.
Nick DiSalvo is the new police chief in this small town after being a NYC detective for years. He is divorced with a teenage daughter. When the two meet, he doesn't know if he believes Kathryn is innocent, but the more he gets to know her, the more he is convinced the killer is still out there.
As they dig deeper and deeper into the events of the past, more and more secrets are coming to light, including the scandalous things that happened in the home where Michael and Kathryn lived.
This story kept me involved and guessing and I wasn't sure who could be trusted because it seemed everyone had something to hide. Another hit for me by this author.
November 6, 2017
Such a good book! This murder mystery will have you hooked from the beginning to the end and will not disappoint!
March 21, 2019
I really liked this. I’m going to read some more by this author.
Too many “goddamns” and it’s dated by technology. Pagers anyone?
But I was hooked.
Too many “goddamns” and it’s dated by technology. Pagers anyone?
But I was hooked.
February 12, 2017
Great read
It was great. I couldn't put down. She is Ono strong lady. The church was fun and Nick and his daughter fit wright in.
It was great. I couldn't put down. She is Ono strong lady. The church was fun and Nick and his daughter fit wright in.
September 8, 2016
Black widow
Great book. Keep me on my toes to the very end. I have read just about everything she has written. If you love a good suspense book read Laurie Breton. You can't go wrong. I love her. Great Author.
Great book. Keep me on my toes to the very end. I have read just about everything she has written. If you love a good suspense book read Laurie Breton. You can't go wrong. I love her. Great Author.
July 30, 2014
This is an older book but I just finished it and I have to say that it is an AWESOME book! I was so sad to have it end. This book is very well written, and you will absolutely love the characters and you will certainly be rooting for them! I found Laurie Breton books when Amazon offered the 1st book of the Jackson Falls series for free. I have found her books to be great and have been working my way thru them all! This book was very suspenseful and the romance was just perfect! If you love to read romantic suspense then you will not be disappointed in this book!
December 4, 2012
I highly recommend this book if you love suspense/thriller/romance novels. A terrific mystery that was executed well, that moved at a good pace, and included well-developed, strong characters. I even loved the ending. There was no declarations of love even though it was evident, and unlike other novels, the H/h left the gossip-riddled, small-minded little town together to start their new lives in a new city.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2014
Another amazing book by Laurie Brenton!!!!! Two in the morning and just finished it! I couldn't put it down all day! It was suspense with a love story all wrapped in an amazing story! Just simply WOW! Love all of Laurie Brenton's books!
August 10, 2014
Fantastic romance/suspense that was hard to put down.
Only complaint I have and I have it a bit these days is why oh why was there no Epilogue. Epilogues seem to be out of favour and it's a personal disappointment to me because I always love that glimpse into the future of the HEA.
Only complaint I have and I have it a bit these days is why oh why was there no Epilogue. Epilogues seem to be out of favour and it's a personal disappointment to me because I always love that glimpse into the future of the HEA.
March 26, 2015
WOW!!!
This is a really good book. I loved the story - have never really read anything before that had the love story and the mystery and the edge of your seat excitement. This is a fantastic read!!
This is a really good book. I loved the story - have never really read anything before that had the love story and the mystery and the edge of your seat excitement. This is a fantastic read!!
September 27, 2016
Loved it ! Start to finish!!!!!
This was a really good book! I enjoyed all of it! Great characters, good action, steamy romance, & a bit of humor thrown in!!!!! Good job!!!!! Picking my next Laurie Breton book right now!
This was a really good book! I enjoyed all of it! Great characters, good action, steamy romance, & a bit of humor thrown in!!!!! Good job!!!!! Picking my next Laurie Breton book right now!
August 14, 2014
A really enjoyable, fast-paced romantic suspense. I will be looking for more by this author.
October 14, 2014
I really enjoyed most of this book. there was one part towards the end that I didn't think was realistic enough. It was a small part. I really enjoyed the end of the book!
June 23, 2015
Black widow
Awesome story with strong characters and an intense story line that will keep you guessing I loved it I'm definitely reading more of her books
Awesome story with strong characters and an intense story line that will keep you guessing I loved it I'm definitely reading more of her books
April 9, 2016
This book was amazing! A compilation of all the things I love to read. Thank you!!
November 6, 2015
Another amazing book by Laurie!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews