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The Widows’ Detective Club #3
The Widows’ Guide to Skulduggery
When a human skull gatecrashes her friends’ big day, it officially becomes the worst wedding Ginny Cole has ever been to. But as the assembled guests await the police, the two families staring daggers at each other across the aisle, Ginny starts to suspect that these nuptials were deliberately sabotaged. Together with her fellow widows in crime-solving, JM, Tuppence and Hen, she decides to uncover who wanted this marriage dead on arrival.
The police have no interest in a twenty-year-old skull, so Ginny and her friends have free reign to investigate. But untangling a web of family feuds and ancient village rivalries soon escalates into much more when a new body turns up…
The widows have stumbled into a devious plot decades in the making, but can they find their way to the truth before one of them joins the village body count…?
The police have no interest in a twenty-year-old skull, so Ginny and her friends have free reign to investigate. But untangling a web of family feuds and ancient village rivalries soon escalates into much more when a new body turns up…
The widows have stumbled into a devious plot decades in the making, but can they find their way to the truth before one of them joins the village body count…?
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Published June 30, 2025
59 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Ashby
29 books428 followersAmanda Ashby was born in Australia but now lives in New Zealand where she writes romance, young adult and middle grade books. She also works in a library, owns far too many vintage tablecloths and likes to delight her family by constantly rearranging the furniture.
She has a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Queensland and is married with two children. Her debut book was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award, and her first young adult book was listed by the New York Public Libraryʼs Stuff for the Teen Age. Because she’s mysterious she also writes middle grade books under the name, Catherine Holt and hopes that all this writing won’t interfere with her Netflix schedule.
She also runs writing workshops and loves to speak to people about Buffy (er, she means writing). See her Website for more information.
She has a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Queensland and is married with two children. Her debut book was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award, and her first young adult book was listed by the New York Public Libraryʼs Stuff for the Teen Age. Because she’s mysterious she also writes middle grade books under the name, Catherine Holt and hopes that all this writing won’t interfere with her Netflix schedule.
She also runs writing workshops and loves to speak to people about Buffy (er, she means writing). See her Website for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
June 26, 2025
The third book in this series and somehow I missed number two! This did not affect my enjoyment of number three.
Ginny Cole is attending a friends wedding when a guest's dog presents the bride with an unexpected and unwanted gift of a human skull. The police are called, the wedding is cancelled, and Ginny and her fellow members of the Widows Detective Club set out to solve the mystery and get the wedding happening again.
A fun story with entertaining characters and an interesting mystery. Now I must find book 2.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Ginny Cole is attending a friends wedding when a guest's dog presents the bride with an unexpected and unwanted gift of a human skull. The police are called, the wedding is cancelled, and Ginny and her fellow members of the Widows Detective Club set out to solve the mystery and get the wedding happening again.
A fun story with entertaining characters and an interesting mystery. Now I must find book 2.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 4, 2025
IT’S DONE ✔️😮💨🥱😬
I have loved this series so far and was counting down the days to the release of its third, and final, instalment…this cozy crime series has found a place in my heart….until now 😕
I hate to say it, but unfortunately I did not click with this book at all. I don’t understand because I LOVED the previous 2 books but this story just did not work for me.
Firstly, aside from the 4 widows of the murder club, I didn’t care for any of the characters, and so I didn’t care much for the conclusion. In the first 2 books, the strength of the story lay among the characters.
Furthermore, there were far too many different leads, all of which kept coming up short. It was frustrating to say the least. Instead of the fun and cozy crime that I had expected, I was met with an illogical and random story that seemed to have no direction.
It did, however, retain some of its original charm thanks to Ginny and the gang…"I think we could all use a cup of tea.’ ‘Tea? You’ve been held at knifepoint and you just want tea?’ 🫖
I am so torn because I loved the first 2 books and would highly recommend them, but maybe just stop after book 2 🫠
2.5 🌟🌟✨
I have loved this series so far and was counting down the days to the release of its third, and final, instalment…this cozy crime series has found a place in my heart….until now 😕
I hate to say it, but unfortunately I did not click with this book at all. I don’t understand because I LOVED the previous 2 books but this story just did not work for me.
Firstly, aside from the 4 widows of the murder club, I didn’t care for any of the characters, and so I didn’t care much for the conclusion. In the first 2 books, the strength of the story lay among the characters.
Furthermore, there were far too many different leads, all of which kept coming up short. It was frustrating to say the least. Instead of the fun and cozy crime that I had expected, I was met with an illogical and random story that seemed to have no direction.
It did, however, retain some of its original charm thanks to Ginny and the gang…"I think we could all use a cup of tea.’ ‘Tea? You’ve been held at knifepoint and you just want tea?’ 🫖
I am so torn because I loved the first 2 books and would highly recommend them, but maybe just stop after book 2 🫠
2.5 🌟🌟✨
August 29, 2025
**3.5-stars rounded up**
The Widows' Guide to Skulduggery is the 3rd-book in Amanda Ashby's Cozy Mystery series, The Widows' Detective Club.
As the name suggests, the stories center around a group of older women, all widowed, who work together and end up solving mysteries in their local area. Our MC is Ginny Cole, who after recently losing her husband, moves to the village of Little Shaw looking for a fresh start.
We get all of the stories from Ginny's perspective and I think Ashby has done an incredible job building out her character. I adore her so much.
When Ginny moves to the area, she gets a new job at the local library, and also gets befriended by a group of women, who really take her under their wings, as she begins the process of trying to move on with her life after the loss of her beloved husband.
At this point, she's solved a couple of cases with her friends and they're all becoming quite comfortable with their new labels as amateur sleuths.
The mystery kicks off at wedding, when the canine ringbearer uncovers a skull that happens to have belonged to a local woman who was killed 20-years prior.
The wedding was already tense, as the two families hail from rival villages, so the skull is the nail in the coffin so to speak. The police get called in, and the ceremony gets called off.
Ginny and the rest of the widow detectives feel terribly for their young friend who has called off her wedding. They suspect that someone may have placed the skull there purposefully in order to break the couple up, but who would do such a terrible thing?
With a few suspects in mind, they kick off another stellar investigation, which ends up spanning 2-towns, 2-decades and involves a colorfully-catty set of characters.
While I wouldn't say the mystery of this 3rd-installment, was the most intriguing for me, probably my least favorite of the series thus far, TBH, I'm nevertheless so comfortable with this group of characters at this point, I hardly minded.
I like being with them. I'd be down for any mystery they want to get involved in. Additionally, I feel like every series has books you connect with more than others, and even though this wasn't my favorite, it was still a lot of fun.
It could just be that it is a different sort of mystery. It doesn't read as a straight up murder mystery from the start, though it does eventually turn in that direction.
I'm genuinely pleased with it overall. It got wild, and I loved how the Widows really put themselves out there in this one. They were each following leads, thinking on their feet and working together in a super compelling way.
Thank you, Storm Publishing, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I am quite fond of this series at this point, and as mentioned, love the women in this group.
I hope they're back in many more mysteries to come!!
The Widows' Guide to Skulduggery is the 3rd-book in Amanda Ashby's Cozy Mystery series, The Widows' Detective Club.
As the name suggests, the stories center around a group of older women, all widowed, who work together and end up solving mysteries in their local area. Our MC is Ginny Cole, who after recently losing her husband, moves to the village of Little Shaw looking for a fresh start.
We get all of the stories from Ginny's perspective and I think Ashby has done an incredible job building out her character. I adore her so much.
When Ginny moves to the area, she gets a new job at the local library, and also gets befriended by a group of women, who really take her under their wings, as she begins the process of trying to move on with her life after the loss of her beloved husband.
At this point, she's solved a couple of cases with her friends and they're all becoming quite comfortable with their new labels as amateur sleuths.
The mystery kicks off at wedding, when the canine ringbearer uncovers a skull that happens to have belonged to a local woman who was killed 20-years prior.
The wedding was already tense, as the two families hail from rival villages, so the skull is the nail in the coffin so to speak. The police get called in, and the ceremony gets called off.
Ginny and the rest of the widow detectives feel terribly for their young friend who has called off her wedding. They suspect that someone may have placed the skull there purposefully in order to break the couple up, but who would do such a terrible thing?
With a few suspects in mind, they kick off another stellar investigation, which ends up spanning 2-towns, 2-decades and involves a colorfully-catty set of characters.
While I wouldn't say the mystery of this 3rd-installment, was the most intriguing for me, probably my least favorite of the series thus far, TBH, I'm nevertheless so comfortable with this group of characters at this point, I hardly minded.
I like being with them. I'd be down for any mystery they want to get involved in. Additionally, I feel like every series has books you connect with more than others, and even though this wasn't my favorite, it was still a lot of fun.
It could just be that it is a different sort of mystery. It doesn't read as a straight up murder mystery from the start, though it does eventually turn in that direction.
I'm genuinely pleased with it overall. It got wild, and I loved how the Widows really put themselves out there in this one. They were each following leads, thinking on their feet and working together in a super compelling way.
Thank you, Storm Publishing, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I am quite fond of this series at this point, and as mentioned, love the women in this group.
I hope they're back in many more mysteries to come!!
July 2, 2025
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.
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.
November 10, 2025
Another great who-done-it read from Amanda Ashby!
For once, I FINALLY was NOT correct in my guess. Which is awesome! Being right in guessing murders is a bummer to me.
An old-fashioned murder mystery starts with a dog digging up a buried skull and a wedding going sideways.
Lots of red-herrings, sketchy people, lying people, a few not very likable people, and people with lots of secrets (old AND new secrets).
I received a free copy of this book from the author, and I am giving you my honest review.
For once, I FINALLY was NOT correct in my guess. Which is awesome! Being right in guessing murders is a bummer to me.
An old-fashioned murder mystery starts with a dog digging up a buried skull and a wedding going sideways.
Lots of red-herrings, sketchy people, lying people, a few not very likable people, and people with lots of secrets (old AND new secrets).
I received a free copy of this book from the author, and I am giving you my honest review.
May 26, 2025
Little Shaw’s librarian Ginny Cole is attending a wedding which, from the start, has been a little strained! When a skull rolls to a stop at the feet of the bride, chaos reigns, and it's clear no-one will be getting married anytime soon! After it becomes clear the skull is part of a case years earlier, the police lose interest, meaning Ginny and her three friends can investigate to their hearts content. Secrets, village rivalries, and an unapproachable new police inspector mean the four sleuths are left to decipher everything themselves, but when a second murder takes place and the danger increases they find they're once again at the centre of everything!
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Storm Publishing, but the opinions expressed are my own. Book three in this fun series is the best yet. It's definitely found its feet, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Storm Publishing, but the opinions expressed are my own. Book three in this fun series is the best yet. It's definitely found its feet, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
August 26, 2025
The third entry in the Widows' Guide series opens with a wedding between two people from very different backgrounds: Grace is from Little Shaw and her family is known for their criminal ways, while Theo comes from a noble family in a neighbouring town, Walton, and his mother is not happy about the marriage. Neither is his best man or his former girlfriend, also in attendance.
Right before the ceremony, a dog locates and drops a skull down in front of the wedding party, calling a halt to the proceedings, as police must now be called in.
Grace, convinced that this is a sign that she's not meant to marry Theo, calls off the wedding and goes into hiding at Ginny's, while Ginny and the other widows decide to investigate. Ginny is apprised that there is a longstanding curse on anyone attempting to get involved with those in Theo's town, and acrimony has reigned between the two towns for centuries.
Wading through superstition, Ginny and company slowly tease out various motives and secrets, and, not only solve who put the skull in the churchyard, but who also killed the person whose skull it is (a twenty-year-old mystery).
It's another enjoyable, cozy mystery from author Amanda Ashby, and I was entertained throughout. Ginny continues to grow in confidence.,DI Wallace makes only a small appearance, though Ginny's amusing and opinionated cat Edgar gets his little paw prints on things, and I hope there are more adventures in store for these widows and good friends.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Right before the ceremony, a dog locates and drops a skull down in front of the wedding party, calling a halt to the proceedings, as police must now be called in.
Grace, convinced that this is a sign that she's not meant to marry Theo, calls off the wedding and goes into hiding at Ginny's, while Ginny and the other widows decide to investigate. Ginny is apprised that there is a longstanding curse on anyone attempting to get involved with those in Theo's town, and acrimony has reigned between the two towns for centuries.
Wading through superstition, Ginny and company slowly tease out various motives and secrets, and, not only solve who put the skull in the churchyard, but who also killed the person whose skull it is (a twenty-year-old mystery).
It's another enjoyable, cozy mystery from author Amanda Ashby, and I was entertained throughout. Ginny continues to grow in confidence.,DI Wallace makes only a small appearance, though Ginny's amusing and opinionated cat Edgar gets his little paw prints on things, and I hope there are more adventures in store for these widows and good friends.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.
June 1, 2025
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!
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!
May 19, 2025
This is book 3 in a fun series that, for me, is a read to the exclusion of life!
If I had to be a widow, I’d want these folks to be my family, hands down.
To cut to the chase, thereby eliminating the chance of revealing anything
ahead of its time: The friends have an exciting time as one of their group
has found love and is to marry. As is their experience, murder is going to
interfere with the day, right to the moment they’re sent home by the DCI,
who tells them they’ve become, “surplus to requirements!” May I share
that this is oh-so-far above the manner in which my Police husband would
offer this command, which is what so endears me to this series!
Also, not unexpected, is Ginny, finally back in her library, which I’d been
missing…when all is put to rights, there is enough of a commotion from
this event to work in the next installment, for which we are already waiting.
My thanks to Storm Publishing via NetGalley for the download copy of
this exceptional book for review purposes.
If I had to be a widow, I’d want these folks to be my family, hands down.
To cut to the chase, thereby eliminating the chance of revealing anything
ahead of its time: The friends have an exciting time as one of their group
has found love and is to marry. As is their experience, murder is going to
interfere with the day, right to the moment they’re sent home by the DCI,
who tells them they’ve become, “surplus to requirements!” May I share
that this is oh-so-far above the manner in which my Police husband would
offer this command, which is what so endears me to this series!
Also, not unexpected, is Ginny, finally back in her library, which I’d been
missing…when all is put to rights, there is enough of a commotion from
this event to work in the next installment, for which we are already waiting.
My thanks to Storm Publishing via NetGalley for the download copy of
this exceptional book for review purposes.
dnf
June 24, 2025**A huge thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC, this in no way affects my honest, and unbiased review**
DNF'ing at page 75 (33%) due to the overuse of 'adjectives/adverbs/chunky af writing'
I didn't read book 1 or 2 from this series. I wasn't aware it was book 3 when I requested it on NetGalley, and none of my libraries have copies of the previous books. I could only find them on Kindle Unlimited and Audible, neither of which I have due to lack of funds. I wish I had access to them to see if the writing is different, maybe the editor pushed for this in later books or something.
Here are some examples of what I feel are way too chunky writing;
"At the mention of Annabel's name Cynthia's face completely closed, her haughty expression slipping smoothly back on"
"Tuppence bobbed her head, her gray curls spiralling (spelled wrong in the book) out around her"
"the fourth woman shot back" "Cynthia flushed and bowed her head" "Tuppence interjected" "Tuppence ploughed on" "Cynthia choked and turned away" "Tuppence explained in a sunny voice" "the second woman grimaced" "the third one coughed (but not in a sick sense)" "Ginny blinked" "the third woman chimed in" "Ginny tentatively asked" "Ginny sighed" "Cynthia's frosty expression melted slightly" "woman two let out a distressed wail, her eyes going wide"
All of those appear in just a span of barely 10 pages!
It's like the author just used a thesaurus on every single word, and made sure every single line got a quirky adjective/adverb/action added.
DNF'ing at page 75 (33%) due to the overuse of 'adjectives/adverbs/chunky af writing'
I didn't read book 1 or 2 from this series. I wasn't aware it was book 3 when I requested it on NetGalley, and none of my libraries have copies of the previous books. I could only find them on Kindle Unlimited and Audible, neither of which I have due to lack of funds. I wish I had access to them to see if the writing is different, maybe the editor pushed for this in later books or something.
Here are some examples of what I feel are way too chunky writing;
"At the mention of Annabel's name Cynthia's face completely closed, her haughty expression slipping smoothly back on"
"Tuppence bobbed her head, her gray curls spiralling (spelled wrong in the book) out around her"
"the fourth woman shot back" "Cynthia flushed and bowed her head" "Tuppence interjected" "Tuppence ploughed on" "Cynthia choked and turned away" "Tuppence explained in a sunny voice" "the second woman grimaced" "the third one coughed (but not in a sick sense)" "Ginny blinked" "the third woman chimed in" "Ginny tentatively asked" "Ginny sighed" "Cynthia's frosty expression melted slightly" "woman two let out a distressed wail, her eyes going wide"
All of those appear in just a span of barely 10 pages!
It's like the author just used a thesaurus on every single word, and made sure every single line got a quirky adjective/adverb/action added.
June 5, 2025
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.
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.
June 25, 2025
The quad of lovable but rebellious amateur sleuths are back. You'd think a wedding in small village would be a peaceful affair but village scandal, local politics and a detached skull are about to put the wedding in disarray!
Ginny, Tuppence, Hen, and JM really are a bunch of like minded individuals who have found their tribe. When they've come through some of the toughest times together, now they get to help a young village resident get the HEA she so deserves.
There were enough twists in the story to keep everything fresh and moving at a decent pace. Unravelling the threads of the story and gasping at the big reveal (did not see that one coming I'll admit). I've never seen a truer depiction of the bickering that can happen between the close villages in the countryside - you'd think the next village over would as well be on the moon to some, LOL.
It was nice to see more of the local police teams and a certain Scottish Transplant PC continues to be one of my favourite secondary characters. However, that new DI we met, can't stand her and I really hope we've seen the back of her! I did feel sorry for poor Wallace I'll admit. Only home for a few hours and still gets no peace and quiet!
Ginny, Tuppence, Hen, and JM really are a bunch of like minded individuals who have found their tribe. When they've come through some of the toughest times together, now they get to help a young village resident get the HEA she so deserves.
There were enough twists in the story to keep everything fresh and moving at a decent pace. Unravelling the threads of the story and gasping at the big reveal (did not see that one coming I'll admit). I've never seen a truer depiction of the bickering that can happen between the close villages in the countryside - you'd think the next village over would as well be on the moon to some, LOL.
It was nice to see more of the local police teams and a certain Scottish Transplant PC continues to be one of my favourite secondary characters. However, that new DI we met, can't stand her and I really hope we've seen the back of her! I did feel sorry for poor Wallace I'll admit. Only home for a few hours and still gets no peace and quiet!
May 28, 2025
When a skull is found at a wedding, the widows suspect that the wedding has been sabotaged. Once another body is uncovered, Ginny and her friends must uncover family secrets and village rivalries to get to the truth. An enjoyable cozy mystery.
May 19, 2025
#TheWidowsGuidetoSkulduggery #NetGalley is the first book I've read by this author and I absolutely loved it.
Ginny, Hen, Tuppance, and JM are wonderful characters who made this story come alive.
While Ginny is attending a wedding of two people from very different backgrounds, a bizarre occurrence turns the wedding into a possible murder investigation.
The bride to be is devastated, the groom is shattered, but his family seems quite pleased with this turn of events.
Ginny and her friends are asked to look into the situation, which involves a human skull, and a decades long mystery.
This story is well done and I enjoyed every bit of it.
I'm looking forward to reading the previous books and any new ones the author adds to the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
Ginny, Hen, Tuppance, and JM are wonderful characters who made this story come alive.
While Ginny is attending a wedding of two people from very different backgrounds, a bizarre occurrence turns the wedding into a possible murder investigation.
The bride to be is devastated, the groom is shattered, but his family seems quite pleased with this turn of events.
Ginny and her friends are asked to look into the situation, which involves a human skull, and a decades long mystery.
This story is well done and I enjoyed every bit of it.
I'm looking forward to reading the previous books and any new ones the author adds to the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
July 9, 2025
"The Widows' Guide to Skullduggery" is the third instalment in The Widows' Detective Club Mystery series by Amanda Ashby, and it's another entertaining read. Set in the charming village of Little Shaw, England, the story follows the bond between the four widows as they navigate another intriguing mystery.
The characters are well-crafted and lovable, especially Ginny's mischievous cat, who steals the show with his charming personality. We learn more about Colin’s family as his sister Grace’s wedding is interrupted by the discovery of a human skull!
The quirky characters and sense of community in Little Shaw add to the novel's charm.
The mystery is well-plotted, with plenty of twists to keep readers engaged until the very end. I enjoyed guessing and second-guessing the outcome, and I managed to piece together the clues before Ginny did.
Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and heartwarming fiction. Amanda Ashby's writing is engaging, and her characters are lovable and well-crafted. I highly recommend this charming novel and look forward to the next instalment in the series.
I requested and received an advance readers copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The characters are well-crafted and lovable, especially Ginny's mischievous cat, who steals the show with his charming personality. We learn more about Colin’s family as his sister Grace’s wedding is interrupted by the discovery of a human skull!
The quirky characters and sense of community in Little Shaw add to the novel's charm.
The mystery is well-plotted, with plenty of twists to keep readers engaged until the very end. I enjoyed guessing and second-guessing the outcome, and I managed to piece together the clues before Ginny did.
Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and heartwarming fiction. Amanda Ashby's writing is engaging, and her characters are lovable and well-crafted. I highly recommend this charming novel and look forward to the next instalment in the series.
I requested and received an advance readers copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 27, 2025
The Widows’ Guide to Skulduggery is book 3 in the Widows’ Detective Club by Amanda Ashby. Chaos reigns at a wedding, and tempers flare, but everything comes to a stop when Colin, the groom’s family dog, makes an unexpected appearance. Tuppence, JM, Hen and Ginny are all widows, and friends, and have come together in the past as the Widows’ Detective Club to investigate previous murders. This time it is to find out who is trying to stop the wedding of Grace and Theo Faulkner. But what happens when a dead body is found. I love the community spirit in Little Shaw, although with that comes everyone knowing everyone’s business. There are still secrets hidden and I love the way they are teased out. Grace’s mother, Maureen, calls the Club together to investigate and to welcome them, she mixes them all cocktails. It is her hobby. She is a wonderful character. Quite out there. There is humour throughout, and it is an easy but very enjoyable read with so many wonderful characters and a lovely setting.
June 30, 2025
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Widows’ Guide to Skulduggery is the third Widows' Detective Club village cozy mystery by Amanda Ashby. Released 30th June 2025, it's 280 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU.
Small village cozies are perennially popular and it's lovely to find a solid series. The book is populated by small town eccentrics, undercurrents of rage, jealousy, and scandal, into which the new local village librarian has been unceremoniously thrust without warning. It checks all the boxes: intelligent late middle aged sensible widow/librarian, small town gossip, an outlandish ensemble cast of apparently harmless oddball characters, and a satisfying resolution and epilogue.
Compared to the first books in the series, the series has found a footing and more surety in the plotting, with a host of secondary characters who are a bit of a handful to keep track of, but overall, still readable and enjoyable.
It's not derivative, but fans of Robert Thorogood (Marlow Murder Club), Janice Hallett, and Richard Osman will find a lot to like here. The author has a genuinely good grasp of character and setting, good pacing, and a satisfying denouement and conclusion.
The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 8 hours 40 minutes and is capably read by series narrator Diana Croft. She has a well modulated alto voice and an impressive command of regional accents (East London, Midlands, etc), and switches seamlessly between a range of ages and male and female (even Scottish) without a hiccup. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.
Four stars. It's a diverting read. It would be a great choice for home library, or a binge/buddy read. There are now three books extant in the series.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Widows’ Guide to Skulduggery is the third Widows' Detective Club village cozy mystery by Amanda Ashby. Released 30th June 2025, it's 280 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU.
Small village cozies are perennially popular and it's lovely to find a solid series. The book is populated by small town eccentrics, undercurrents of rage, jealousy, and scandal, into which the new local village librarian has been unceremoniously thrust without warning. It checks all the boxes: intelligent late middle aged sensible widow/librarian, small town gossip, an outlandish ensemble cast of apparently harmless oddball characters, and a satisfying resolution and epilogue.
Compared to the first books in the series, the series has found a footing and more surety in the plotting, with a host of secondary characters who are a bit of a handful to keep track of, but overall, still readable and enjoyable.
It's not derivative, but fans of Robert Thorogood (Marlow Murder Club), Janice Hallett, and Richard Osman will find a lot to like here. The author has a genuinely good grasp of character and setting, good pacing, and a satisfying denouement and conclusion.
The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 8 hours 40 minutes and is capably read by series narrator Diana Croft. She has a well modulated alto voice and an impressive command of regional accents (East London, Midlands, etc), and switches seamlessly between a range of ages and male and female (even Scottish) without a hiccup. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.
Four stars. It's a diverting read. It would be a great choice for home library, or a binge/buddy read. There are now three books extant in the series.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
June 30, 2025
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 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.
June 30, 2025
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.
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.
May 21, 2025
This is a cozy mystery written for light reading, though I found it heavy-going and throughly predictable. There's a library, a cat, and a cartoon village rivalry which would give the Hatfields and McCoys a few tips.
This book follows a group of four late-aged women who fill their time investigating murders, or in this case a curse that is strong enough to break up Romeo and Juliet.
This is the 3rd book in the series for Ginny Cole and her murder club. The premise of the series is that a widow could relocate and have happy, friend-filled, adventures in a second life. Some readers will find this fantasy alluring, though the grief of losing a spouse permeates the book. We have our heroine but there's a whole collection of folks doing that actual investigations. The characters aren't very distinct so it's hard to follow, or know why there, are four when one or two could get the job done.
Lots of the plot is under-researched and contrived so that the investigators can't find answers. But they seem to be looking in the wrong places or stopped by artificial road blocked constructed by the author. I was willing to go with the flow, but the ending just pissed me off. The author's plot gymnastics to get her heroine in place for the big reveal just took things a step too far. I deducted an entire star just for the ending. It's a slap in the face for any thoughtful mystery reader.
It feels like I should go back and read the first two books in the series before this one. The author tries to get the reader up to speed about the characters, but I was more than a little lost in all the new people and relationships tossed into the first chapter. Not to mention the curse and a gruesome find.
The characters are written for an older generation who seem to wear their technophobia as a badge of honor. The audience for this type of book is definitely aging-out.
This book follows a group of four late-aged women who fill their time investigating murders, or in this case a curse that is strong enough to break up Romeo and Juliet.
This is the 3rd book in the series for Ginny Cole and her murder club. The premise of the series is that a widow could relocate and have happy, friend-filled, adventures in a second life. Some readers will find this fantasy alluring, though the grief of losing a spouse permeates the book. We have our heroine but there's a whole collection of folks doing that actual investigations. The characters aren't very distinct so it's hard to follow, or know why there, are four when one or two could get the job done.
Lots of the plot is under-researched and contrived so that the investigators can't find answers. But they seem to be looking in the wrong places or stopped by artificial road blocked constructed by the author. I was willing to go with the flow, but the ending just pissed me off. The author's plot gymnastics to get her heroine in place for the big reveal just took things a step too far. I deducted an entire star just for the ending. It's a slap in the face for any thoughtful mystery reader.
It feels like I should go back and read the first two books in the series before this one. The author tries to get the reader up to speed about the characters, but I was more than a little lost in all the new people and relationships tossed into the first chapter. Not to mention the curse and a gruesome find.
The characters are written for an older generation who seem to wear their technophobia as a badge of honor. The audience for this type of book is definitely aging-out.
July 16, 2025
I requested this from NetGalley before realizing it was book three in a series—but how could I resist a title with the word skulduggery in it?
Set in a mythical English village that could almost pass for rural Ireland with its endless cups of tea, this cosy mystery was a delight. From the moment a human skull crashes a wedding, Ginny and her fellow widowed amateur sleuths—JM, Tuppence, and Hen—get drawn into a mystery laced with old grudges, family feuds, and charming village drama.
Even though I hadn’t read the previous books, I still enjoyed getting to know Ginny, (I will grab any book featuring a library or a librarian) with a wry sense of humour and a job that “literally requires her to read the latest Lisa Jewell” (who is an auto-buy author for me!). I loved her relatable quirks—like preferring bikini shopping over certain encounters (no spoilers), and attending a “shake and shuffle” fitness class—and her friendship circle, complete with duck-egg blue dinner invitations and relatable introvert Connor, who declares “that was way too much peopling for this time of day.” – these characters are my people!
There were only a handful of moments where I felt I’d have known the characters more deeply had I read books one and two, but it certainly didn’t stop me from enjoying the story. The mystery had depth and a little twist, but it was the tone—that warm, witty, tea-and-biscuits energy—that really won me over.
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.
I can’t wait to recommend my book club try this series.
Perfect for fans of: Richard Osman and anyone who loves their mysteries with heart, humour, and a whole lot of tea.
Set in a mythical English village that could almost pass for rural Ireland with its endless cups of tea, this cosy mystery was a delight. From the moment a human skull crashes a wedding, Ginny and her fellow widowed amateur sleuths—JM, Tuppence, and Hen—get drawn into a mystery laced with old grudges, family feuds, and charming village drama.
Even though I hadn’t read the previous books, I still enjoyed getting to know Ginny, (I will grab any book featuring a library or a librarian) with a wry sense of humour and a job that “literally requires her to read the latest Lisa Jewell” (who is an auto-buy author for me!). I loved her relatable quirks—like preferring bikini shopping over certain encounters (no spoilers), and attending a “shake and shuffle” fitness class—and her friendship circle, complete with duck-egg blue dinner invitations and relatable introvert Connor, who declares “that was way too much peopling for this time of day.” – these characters are my people!
There were only a handful of moments where I felt I’d have known the characters more deeply had I read books one and two, but it certainly didn’t stop me from enjoying the story. The mystery had depth and a little twist, but it was the tone—that warm, witty, tea-and-biscuits energy—that really won me over.
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.
I can’t wait to recommend my book club try this series.
Perfect for fans of: Richard Osman and anyone who loves their mysteries with heart, humour, and a whole lot of tea.
June 9, 2025
3.5 stars
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.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced digital copy of this book. This review is my personal opinion.
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.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced digital copy of this book. This review is my personal opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Goodness, I loved this book! The 'retirees/widows/widowers solve crime' genre has somewhat been done to death but I'm all for repetition if it's been done well. And this has been done well indeed! Not having read the first two books, I crash landed onto the third without any frame of reference for the characters or running themes/plots but that wasn't a deterrent as the previous two were hardly mentioned in this.
I love the ladies in Little Shaw, a fictional Lancashire village who go around sleuthing and get involved in another mystery when a skull shows up to disrupt the wedding of son of one of the noble families of Walton-on-Marsh to the daughter of one of the working class families of Little Shaw. A fabled curse that supposedly strikes everytime a Little Shaw resident decides to marry a Walton-on-Marsh resident is said to be the cause, but of course, our ladies have to prove the curse is very much a fiction.......
This book starts off strong and involves a cold case that very much melds together with the present to bring out the history of the two feuding villages with a startling twist at the end that neatly ties it all together. The book is well written and well paced. I understand that DI Wallace was an important character in the first two books and in this instalment, is on an overseas holiday so his absence is felt. Nonetheless, the ladies do well in their investigation and the book is an entertaining cozy mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
I would highly recommend this and look forward to reading the first two books in the series.
4 stars/5.
Goodness, I loved this book! The 'retirees/widows/widowers solve crime' genre has somewhat been done to death but I'm all for repetition if it's been done well. And this has been done well indeed! Not having read the first two books, I crash landed onto the third without any frame of reference for the characters or running themes/plots but that wasn't a deterrent as the previous two were hardly mentioned in this.
I love the ladies in Little Shaw, a fictional Lancashire village who go around sleuthing and get involved in another mystery when a skull shows up to disrupt the wedding of son of one of the noble families of Walton-on-Marsh to the daughter of one of the working class families of Little Shaw. A fabled curse that supposedly strikes everytime a Little Shaw resident decides to marry a Walton-on-Marsh resident is said to be the cause, but of course, our ladies have to prove the curse is very much a fiction.......
This book starts off strong and involves a cold case that very much melds together with the present to bring out the history of the two feuding villages with a startling twist at the end that neatly ties it all together. The book is well written and well paced. I understand that DI Wallace was an important character in the first two books and in this instalment, is on an overseas holiday so his absence is felt. Nonetheless, the ladies do well in their investigation and the book is an entertaining cozy mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
I would highly recommend this and look forward to reading the first two books in the series.
4 stars/5.
August 30, 2025
Ginny Cole just wanted to attend her friend’s wedding in peace. Instead, the ceremony grinds to a halt when the ring-bearer dog unearths a skull in the churchyard—and drops it right at the bride’s feet. With curses, family rivalries, and a 20-year-old unsolved murder suddenly back in the spotlight, it’s up to Ginny and the Widows’ Detective Club to uncover the truth before old secrets ruin more than just a marriage.
This is the third entry in Amanda Ashby’s Widows’ Detective Club series, and it might be the most entertaining yet. The setup is delightfully dramatic—sabotaged wedding, feuding villages, and a mystery buried (literally) for decades. Ginny and her friends are as witty and resourceful as ever, each bringing a different strength to the sleuthing. I particularly enjoyed how their investigation stretched beyond Little Shaw, giving us fresh settings and an even wider cast of colorful, suspicious characters.
What makes this series shine, though, is the heart beneath the humor. Ginny continues to grow—moving forward from grief, finding her voice, and leaning into her unexpected role as an amateur detective. And of course, Edgar the cat once again adds his own brand of snarky paw prints to the mystery.
The pacing was spot on, with plenty of twists to keep me guessing, and the final reveal tied the decades-old crime neatly back to the present-day drama. If I had one quibble, it’s that DI Wallace only makes a small appearance this time—but the widows more than carry the story themselves.
Verdict: A witty, heartwarming, and delightfully twisty cozy mystery. Fans of small-town intrigue and sharp, clever sleuths will love diving into this one.
This is the third entry in Amanda Ashby’s Widows’ Detective Club series, and it might be the most entertaining yet. The setup is delightfully dramatic—sabotaged wedding, feuding villages, and a mystery buried (literally) for decades. Ginny and her friends are as witty and resourceful as ever, each bringing a different strength to the sleuthing. I particularly enjoyed how their investigation stretched beyond Little Shaw, giving us fresh settings and an even wider cast of colorful, suspicious characters.
What makes this series shine, though, is the heart beneath the humor. Ginny continues to grow—moving forward from grief, finding her voice, and leaning into her unexpected role as an amateur detective. And of course, Edgar the cat once again adds his own brand of snarky paw prints to the mystery.
The pacing was spot on, with plenty of twists to keep me guessing, and the final reveal tied the decades-old crime neatly back to the present-day drama. If I had one quibble, it’s that DI Wallace only makes a small appearance this time—but the widows more than carry the story themselves.
Verdict: A witty, heartwarming, and delightfully twisty cozy mystery. Fans of small-town intrigue and sharp, clever sleuths will love diving into this one.
May 25, 2025
Amanda Ashby’s The Widow’s Guide to Skulduggery is a charmingly quirky entry in the cozy crime genre — think The Thursday Murder Club meets Midsomer Murders, with just the right mix of mischief and mayhem.
When a skull shows up at a wedding (delivered by the ring-bearing dog, no less), Ginny Cole and her fellow widowed sleuths — JM, Tuppence, and Hen — dive headfirst into yet another mystery. What starts as a strange disruption quickly unearths long-buried secrets, tangled village rivalries, and a decades-old death that may not be as settled as everyone thought.
The strength of this book lies in its characters. The “Widows’ Detective Club” is full of wit, loyalty, and unexpected emotional depth. Ashby writes older women not as stereotypes, but as vibrant, clever investigators who are still evolving in their second act. Their camaraderie is the soul of the story, and it’s easy to root for them.
That said, newcomers to the series may find the large cast a bit overwhelming at first. The plot can also feel more whimsical than logical in places — with a few red herrings and detours that don’t quite land. But those are minor quibbles in a story that’s clearly designed more for fun than forensic realism.
This is a feel-good mystery with teeth. There’s enough intrigue to keep you turning the pages, but the real pleasure is in the ride — cocktails, curses, chaos, and all. A warm, witty, and lightly twisted cozy mystery that proves murder is just another reason to get the gang back together.
When a skull shows up at a wedding (delivered by the ring-bearing dog, no less), Ginny Cole and her fellow widowed sleuths — JM, Tuppence, and Hen — dive headfirst into yet another mystery. What starts as a strange disruption quickly unearths long-buried secrets, tangled village rivalries, and a decades-old death that may not be as settled as everyone thought.
The strength of this book lies in its characters. The “Widows’ Detective Club” is full of wit, loyalty, and unexpected emotional depth. Ashby writes older women not as stereotypes, but as vibrant, clever investigators who are still evolving in their second act. Their camaraderie is the soul of the story, and it’s easy to root for them.
That said, newcomers to the series may find the large cast a bit overwhelming at first. The plot can also feel more whimsical than logical in places — with a few red herrings and detours that don’t quite land. But those are minor quibbles in a story that’s clearly designed more for fun than forensic realism.
This is a feel-good mystery with teeth. There’s enough intrigue to keep you turning the pages, but the real pleasure is in the ride — cocktails, curses, chaos, and all. A warm, witty, and lightly twisted cozy mystery that proves murder is just another reason to get the gang back together.
July 6, 2025
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.
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.
October 31, 2025
This is an undemanding novel which is an okay read, but it isn’t memorable. For me, much of it was unconvincing and didn’t ring true.
This is the third novel in a series, but it stands alone effectively. There are a couple of references to previous investigations, but I didn’t feel that I was lacking any information.
It’s the behaviour of people that I found unconvincing. The emphasis on social class in a small village seemed to belong to an earlier time. Breaking up with your fiancé altogether because your wedding was disrupted by the discovery of a skull is excessively dramatic. There were numerous times when characters said or did things that just didn’t ring true.
I also found the unwinding of the crime a little unconvincing. It’s true that people do things for nutty reasons, but I just found the motivations here lacked credibility.
Characters tended to be either good or bad. There wasn’t a lot of room for shades of grey. Despite this, the characters of the widows were one of the strengths of the novel. Ashby does an excellent job of depicting the grief of losing a long term partner and the challenges of making a new kind of life for yourself.
To be frank, I was probably not quite the right audience for this novel. This is essentially a cosy mystery, and I tend to like my crime a bit darker and more modern. Readers who prefer a sense of a time gone past, minimal gore, and a gentle approach to investigation will probably enjoy this.
If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
This is the third novel in a series, but it stands alone effectively. There are a couple of references to previous investigations, but I didn’t feel that I was lacking any information.
It’s the behaviour of people that I found unconvincing. The emphasis on social class in a small village seemed to belong to an earlier time. Breaking up with your fiancé altogether because your wedding was disrupted by the discovery of a skull is excessively dramatic. There were numerous times when characters said or did things that just didn’t ring true.
I also found the unwinding of the crime a little unconvincing. It’s true that people do things for nutty reasons, but I just found the motivations here lacked credibility.
Characters tended to be either good or bad. There wasn’t a lot of room for shades of grey. Despite this, the characters of the widows were one of the strengths of the novel. Ashby does an excellent job of depicting the grief of losing a long term partner and the challenges of making a new kind of life for yourself.
To be frank, I was probably not quite the right audience for this novel. This is essentially a cosy mystery, and I tend to like my crime a bit darker and more modern. Readers who prefer a sense of a time gone past, minimal gore, and a gentle approach to investigation will probably enjoy this.
If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
May 25, 2025
Title: The WIdow’s Guide to Skulduggery
Series: The Widow’ Detective Club Book #3
Author: Amanda Ashby
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pub Date : June 30, 2025
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Pages: 280
Saturday July 26, 2025 is a perfect day for a wedding. The sky is blue with a light breeze keeping the July weather any bride would kill for that is if this crazy wedding party didn’t already kill each other first.
The wedding photographer calls her employer that she had not signed up for this circus and isn’t staying any longer!
The next thing a human skull gatecrashes this big day, as a dog digs up a skull and dumps it at the bride’s feet. The wed it officially becomes the worst wedding ever!
The widows are attending this wedding and Ginny Cole suspect that this day was deliberately sabotaged. Together with her fellow widows in crime-solving: JM, Tuppence, and Hen, she decides to uncover who wanted this marriage dead on arrival.
The police have no interest in a twenty-year-old skull, so Ginny and her friends have free rein to investigate. But untangling a web of family feuds and ancient village rivalries soon escalates into much more when a new body turns up…
Although this is Book #3 in this series it was my first - so I had a bit of catching up. I did enjoy it and I just may go back and read the other two!
Want to thank NetGalley and Storm Publishers for granting me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 30, 2024
Series: The Widow’ Detective Club Book #3
Author: Amanda Ashby
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pub Date : June 30, 2025
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Pages: 280
Saturday July 26, 2025 is a perfect day for a wedding. The sky is blue with a light breeze keeping the July weather any bride would kill for that is if this crazy wedding party didn’t already kill each other first.
The wedding photographer calls her employer that she had not signed up for this circus and isn’t staying any longer!
The next thing a human skull gatecrashes this big day, as a dog digs up a skull and dumps it at the bride’s feet. The wed it officially becomes the worst wedding ever!
The widows are attending this wedding and Ginny Cole suspect that this day was deliberately sabotaged. Together with her fellow widows in crime-solving: JM, Tuppence, and Hen, she decides to uncover who wanted this marriage dead on arrival.
The police have no interest in a twenty-year-old skull, so Ginny and her friends have free rein to investigate. But untangling a web of family feuds and ancient village rivalries soon escalates into much more when a new body turns up…
Although this is Book #3 in this series it was my first - so I had a bit of catching up. I did enjoy it and I just may go back and read the other two!
Want to thank NetGalley and Storm Publishers for granting me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 30, 2024
June 8, 2025
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.
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.
July 4, 2025
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.
*****
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.
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