The Lottery Winner Widows Club

by Elly Vine

'An absolute hoot. Twisty, turny, funny and absolutely marvellous.' - MILLY JOHNSON
'Riotously funny, gripping and twisty' - CRESSIDA MCLAUGHLIN
'Joyous, dark, witty as hell. A devilishly funny celebration of female friendship' - EMMA JANE UNSWORTH
'A funny and touching crime romp' - CLAIRE MCGOWAN
'Fun, fabulous and a force to be reckoned with' - LUCY DIAMOND

Meet The Lottery Winner Widows Club - a fabulous, filthy-rich sisterhood whose husbands all hit the jackpot . . . and then mysteriously dropped dead.

Paula is having a surreal week. Having just lost her husband, John, in a freak car accident, she's utterly gobsmacked when, two days later, she wins the lottery - with the ticket he bought.

Just as she thinks things can't get crazier, Paula is approached by a tight-knit trio of glamorous women - also jackpot winners - with dead husbands, suspiciously large bank accounts . . . and a very specific interest in Paula.

They tell her that they've been where she is now. That grief looks good on her. That freedom does, too. There's just one Paula didn't kill her husband. She loved him, of course.

But something about their world - lavish, secretive, thrilling - is hard to resist. And when word of Paula's jackpot win spreads and others come sniffing around for a share, she's faced with the ultimate hold onto her old life, or accept help from her new friends, whose methods are a little more . . . unconventional.

Twisty, mischievous, and deliciously dark, The Lottery Winner Widows Club is a story of luck, lies, and the dangerous appeal of starting over, from a fresh new voice in the crime world.

MORE PRAISE FOR THE LOTTERY WINNER WIDOWS CLUB:
'This book is so good it's criminal' - DAISY BUCHANAN
'A riotous romp. Fun, funny and full of heart' - ASIA MACKAY
'A super fun book about female friendship and solidarity' - JULIE MAE COHEN
'The feel-good novel par excellence! I bloody loved it!' - HARPER FORD
'Full of humour and deliciously deadly intent' - KATE STOREY
'Such a joy! A true escape' - LAURA PEARSON
'Deliciously fun with a delightful cast of characters!' - FIONA GIBSON
'People always say 'I laughed out loud' but they hardly ever do? I ACTUALLY DID! A lot!' - CAROLINE CORCORAN
'The perfect blend of darkness and humour.' - KATE WESTON
'Utterly delicious' - LAURA WOOD
'Hilarious, twisty and hugely satisfying!' - LUCY NICHOL
'First Wives Club meets Bad Sisters' - ZAC HAMMETT
'An emotional depth I didn't see coming' - REBECCA RYAN
'An absolute slam-dunk. Wildly funny and wholly bingeable' - ROSIE WALSH
'Will make you laugh, cheer and weep - sometimes all at once' - JUSTIN MYERS
'A perfect read' - SALMA EL-WARDANY
'The twist shook me to my core' - OLIVIA BEIRNE
'A fabulously enjoyable romp' - PJ ELLIS
'Bags of fun and warmth' - HANNAH DOYLE
'Perfect mix of comedy and drama' - JULIE HAWORTH
'Truly original' - SOPHIE COUSENS
'We Solve Murders meets First

Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 26, 2026

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the premise of this book but my favourite part was the friendships that came out of a highly unusual situation, especially as everyone in the friendship group were such different characters.

I liked that we found out more about Paula & Johns relationship quite far into the book as I was then hooked from about halfway through and wanting to find out more.

I think there were a few parts of the book that were a little repetitive in places, but overall I did enjoy!

[mel_neverendingtbr · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read, I couldn’t put it down. I definitely didn’t see some of the twists and turns coming.

Paula’s husband John dies whilst away on a work trip, 2 days later she finds out that they have won the lottery.

Whilst also dealing with her grief for her husband she gets a visit from a trio of women who also have won the lottery and also all have dead husbands.

Then the news comes out to the public that she’s won the lottery and lost her husband and then there is lots of speculation that she killed him. When the news comes out, she gets lots of messages and calls from people wanting her money, who can she trust?

As she starts to get used to her husband not being around, what will happen when a shocking discovery and secrets come to light? Will she be able to move on?

Received from Netgally

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Wildfire for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

This had such a beautiful, eye-popping cover which I loved.

Elly Vine is a pseudonym for Lucy Vine, so this is her debut novel under that name. I have looked at her Lucy Vine books but I haven't read any, and so I had no expectations going in.

This was fun. It's funny and naughty; is it the most sophisticated of writing? No, but I didn't really mind as the story was interesting enough that it didn't really matter.

I loved this group of women. They're strangers who someone become friends, bonding over shared experiences. They're all so different and made it exciting to read.

Paula was an interesting protagonist. She's obviously been hit with two shocks - one good and one bad - and she's just trying to keep her head above water, and it's not helped by her family, although I accept they are just trying to support her. But I really felt for her and just wanted her to get through this. She is a bit of a doormat at times, and that is a bit annoying but I forgive her.

I will say the tone is a bit haphazard. It's not a big issue, it doesn't spoil the reading of it, but it tries to be serious but wrapped up in comedy, but it doesn't always gel, so you get a bit confused as to how you're meant to feel about it.

It is a bit repetitive at times, particularly in the middle it sags slightly, but on the whole it was quite easy to read and for the most part it zoomed by.

Whilst it is ultimately a funny comedy, an uplifting, quite frivolous book, it does touch upon some difficult subjects, particularly that of bereavement and grief, and I think she's handled that very well.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve ever wondered what might happen if Desperate Housewives met a murder mystery with a designer handbag budget, Elly Vine’s The Lottery Winner Widows Club delivers that fantasy with a wicked grin.

The story kicks off with Paula, freshly widowed and reeling from grief, who suddenly finds herself a lottery winner thanks to a ticket bought by her late husband. But just as she’s trying to make sense of her surreal new reality, she’s swept into the orbit of three glamorous, wealthy women whose husbands also died under suspiciously convenient circumstances. Coincidence? Or something far more deliciously sinister?

Vine’s prose is sharp and mischievous, laced with dark humour and a touch of glitter. The plot dances between grief and greed, loyalty and liberation, all while keeping the reader guessing who’s playing the game—and who’s rewriting the rules. Paula’s journey from stunned widow to potential femme fatale is both thrilling and oddly empowering.

This isn’t just a whodunit—it’s a “what would you do?” wrapped in diamonds and secrets. Perfect for fans of twisty thrillers with a stylish edge and a dash of sass.

With thanks to Elly Vine, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into this book, I must confess, however, I later understood why. I got a bit frustrated by Paula the main character, whose life has just been turned upside down by the death of her husband and her massive lottery win soon after, but you need to be patient and then you understand more why she is as easily pushed around as she is.
I enjoyed the plot thoroughly and it’s very well thought out, sure, some of it is a bit far-fetched but it’s fiction……poetic licence is allowed. I also enjoyed thinking about what I might do first if I won a huge amount on the lottery. What I found a little hard to believe was that her two grown up children at no point so much as suggested that she give them any money!
As the book went on I got more and more engrossed in it and by the three-quarters of the way through I was looking for excuses to sit down and read………….always a good sign.
It’s my first book by this author, I’d be happy to read more.
My thanks, as always go to the author, the publishers and to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

[Farah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Paula's husband dies in a car accident whilst travelling in Europe, she and her two adult children are left feeling bereft. Not even Paula's unexpected win at the lottery, with the ticket that she bought jointly with her husband, feels like much of a consolation.

But what does provide an unexpected source of help are the mysterious women who called themselves the lottery winners' widows, who somehow provide Paula with the joy and friendship she needs to put her life back on track once again. Until she realises that these women are widows thanks to their own actions...

This is a brilliant, hilarious book that somehow deals with some very serious topics even as it makes you laugh continuously. The characters are brought vividly to life on the page, and every one of them is memorable even the supporting cast. It gets 4.5 stars. Highly recommended!

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Mags Schofield · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book left me a bit confused.
It tackles a very serious subject in a very frivolous way and it seems very incongruous to me. The premiss and the subject jar with each other and what saves the book for me is the characterisation. Every person is real and has their faults and flaws. I despaired of all of them and their behaviours and decisions at times. I wondered where the book was going at times, especially with Paula / Pauline and her Porsche, and at times it seemed to descend into a Brian Rix Farce (yes, I'm showing my age here) This seemed to detract from the very serious heart of the book, coercive behaviour and how it effects the victims. .The second half seemed to calm down slightly and address some of the issues, but the whole thing left me in two minds until the ens.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[KathVBtn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Lucy Vine’s writing so I knew we were in for a treat. Paula is suddenly widowed, her late husband John was on the other side of the world when he was in a cock rush.

Paula’s head is reeling minutes before,, she had found out that they had won the lottery and now have £21 million sitting in the bank.

Paula is befriended by other lottery winner widows, all who have a tale to tell. We follow the women through their well funded adventures, spending money like there’s no tomorrow but there’s a social w against Paula who is accused of killing John for the money.

There are some very emotional parts of the story quickly followed by hilarious sections and there were some neat twists in the story.

[Vicci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy hell. This delicious read was 5 stars from the very first page.

The story follows Paula, a newly widowed lottery winner. When two strange women turn up at her door calling themselves 'The Lottery Winner Widows Club' Paula finds herself on the precipice of the most extraordinary friendship. What will they teach her? What havoc awaits? And most importantly... what will she buy first?! I laughed, I cried, I absolutely fell in love with this extraordinary group of women.

This is so much more than crime-comedy. Its about self discovery, standing up for what you believe in and the absolute joy of finding your tribe. Elly Vine, you absolutely nailed it 👌

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to be honest I didn’t love this as much as I hoped I would. I think I was expecting something different to what it was. It comes with quite a lot of trigger warnings alongside abuse. I was hoping for a more lighthearted book which part of this was but there was something more unsettling that comes alongside it. The twists were good and I enjoyed some of the light humour. The writing was easy to follow. I would say go in reading this knowing it’s not as lighthearted as the cover suggests. I felt very sad for the main character at times.

Thank you netgalley for the chance to review this in return for an honest review.

[Mairi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book in parts but also found it a little disconcerting how lightly the subject of abuse was treated. The characters were a little unbelievable but the friendships that developer between them heartwarming. The second half of the book did help explain some of their behaviours in the first part.
I can imagine it as a TV series / film and the comedic parts may shine there.

[Susan Care · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellently written book with a deliciously dark underbelly and exploring some unexpected themes. When Paula receives the news that her husband has been killed and that she has won the lottery she struggles to cope. Any more information would give too much away, but this is one to read.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an absolute pleasure to read. The main characters were fantastic and the whole idea was brilliant. Lots of humour but also some sensitive subjects were covered well. I’d love this to be the start of a journey with these ladies and see further books about them.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Lucy Nichol · Rating 5 out of 5]

If anyone can put the fun in thriller its Elly Vine! A hilarious, twisty and hugely satisfying crime novel. You’ll be batting for Paula and co from the off

[Gem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Headline, Wildfire and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Lottery Winner Widows Club.

This was a fun read, albeit with dark, underlying subject matter.

I didn’t see any of the twists coming and it was perfectly tied up in the end, an entertaining thriller.

[Christine Rennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lottery Winners Widows Club by Elly Vine is a very entertaining story about a woman who wins the lottery days after her husband dies in strange circumstances. She then is introduced to a group of women who all have something in common. They too have been orrery winners whose husband die in mysterious circumstances.
Paula then finds herself in this club of rich empowered women and finds herself having fun and having friends for the first time in years and realises that she is enjoying her life.
A very entertaining, funny and enjoyable read.
Highly recommended

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of ‘The Lottery Winner Widows Club’ by Elly Vine, due to be published on 26 March 2026 by Headline, Wildfire.

Paula, dealing with the unexpected news of her husband’s death in Austria, learns that they have won the lottery - £21 million to be exact. She’s shell shocked, unsure what to do with the money whilst navigating her life as a widow.

Enter Teddy, Audrey and Ivy - three fellow recent widows who also happen to have won the lottery, who bring Paula back to life and get up to wonderful antics together.

This was a light hearted, amusing story which has well written characters, centring around the four main female protagonists. It’s a story of flourishing friendship, love, grief, acceptance and revenge. A fun read that is recommended.