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The Widow Kiss
Three dead husbands. Three mysterious deaths. One very wealthy widow.
Beatrice Finch has terrible luck with they keep ending up dead. The latest is Alistair Finch, found dead in his study. No struggle, no poison, just instant rigor mortis and a face frozen in shock. Beatrice has now buried three husbands, inheriting fortunes each time.
With Maddie Crow on the case and botanical witch Lily Teake uncovering magical twists at every turn, they must determine whether it's atrociously bad karma or good planning. But the deeper they dig, the more complicated the family dynamics become. There's the resentful stepchild, the desperate nephew, and enough old grudges to fuel a dozen revenge plots.
The investigation leads through elegant estates, family secrets, and a glittering masquerade ball where everyone wears masks—literally and figuratively. As the magical evidence mounts even higher than Detective Ross Hamilton's scepticism, Maddie must untangle the threads of what might be the deadliest curse and the perfect crime.
Because when "till death do us part" happens suspiciously often, it's time to call a curse breaker.
Welcome back to Stratford-upon-Avon, where marriage can be murder and nothing is quite what it seems.
Perfect for fans of cozy paranormal mysteries with British charm and just enough romance to warm the heart with supernatural intrigue, a determined curse-breaker and a sceptical detective who's beginning to question everything he thought he knew about the world.
Beatrice Finch has terrible luck with they keep ending up dead. The latest is Alistair Finch, found dead in his study. No struggle, no poison, just instant rigor mortis and a face frozen in shock. Beatrice has now buried three husbands, inheriting fortunes each time.
With Maddie Crow on the case and botanical witch Lily Teake uncovering magical twists at every turn, they must determine whether it's atrociously bad karma or good planning. But the deeper they dig, the more complicated the family dynamics become. There's the resentful stepchild, the desperate nephew, and enough old grudges to fuel a dozen revenge plots.
The investigation leads through elegant estates, family secrets, and a glittering masquerade ball where everyone wears masks—literally and figuratively. As the magical evidence mounts even higher than Detective Ross Hamilton's scepticism, Maddie must untangle the threads of what might be the deadliest curse and the perfect crime.
Because when "till death do us part" happens suspiciously often, it's time to call a curse breaker.
Welcome back to Stratford-upon-Avon, where marriage can be murder and nothing is quite what it seems.
Perfect for fans of cozy paranormal mysteries with British charm and just enough romance to warm the heart with supernatural intrigue, a determined curse-breaker and a sceptical detective who's beginning to question everything he thought he knew about the world.
- GenresFantasy
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2025
About the author
Claire Robyns
38 books124 followersClaire Robyns writes mystery, romance and adventure, because sometimes one life really can have it all (between the pages of a book, at least.)
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 7, 2025
I just don’t like Maddie. She just spends most of her time having no idea about anything and then suddenly it’s like she knows all the answers out of nowhere.
January 23, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 — The Widow Kiss
Another easy, cosy read — I’m really enjoying this paranormal detective series.
What I loved most is the author’s writing style. The descriptions feel fresh and different, which makes the book really enjoyable. The humour sprinkled throughout genuinely made me smile, and I’m liking how the relationships are slowly building across the series.
What started to get a little annoying, though, was when her ex came back. The back-and-forth felt like filler and dragged on longer than necessary. I get that it was meant to deepen our understanding of her background, but it probably could’ve been a chapter or two shorter for me.
Detective Ross… I love him. He’s cute, don’t get me wrong. But come on. After three books, he still doesn’t believe in magic?! Maddie, please — just whip out some intentional magic and call it a day already.
I’d also love to see more depth in Maddie’s relationship with Crooks. More connection, more feeling — it sometimes feels like something’s missing there. And while we’re at it… Crooks, give her the living room already.
All that aside, these are enjoyable, short books that are easy to get lost in, and I’ll definitely be continuing the series.
Another easy, cosy read — I’m really enjoying this paranormal detective series.
What I loved most is the author’s writing style. The descriptions feel fresh and different, which makes the book really enjoyable. The humour sprinkled throughout genuinely made me smile, and I’m liking how the relationships are slowly building across the series.
What started to get a little annoying, though, was when her ex came back. The back-and-forth felt like filler and dragged on longer than necessary. I get that it was meant to deepen our understanding of her background, but it probably could’ve been a chapter or two shorter for me.
Detective Ross… I love him. He’s cute, don’t get me wrong. But come on. After three books, he still doesn’t believe in magic?! Maddie, please — just whip out some intentional magic and call it a day already.
I’d also love to see more depth in Maddie’s relationship with Crooks. More connection, more feeling — it sometimes feels like something’s missing there. And while we’re at it… Crooks, give her the living room already.
All that aside, these are enjoyable, short books that are easy to get lost in, and I’ll definitely be continuing the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2026
The Widows Kiss by Claire Robyns
Rating : 4⭐
Format : eBook 💻
Released : 2nd December 2025
Pages : 245
Duration : 3 days
----------------
3rd in the series and yes I'm smashing through these.
This time the will they won't they relationship between Maddie and Ross somehow gets even nearer, a figure from Maddie's past comes back to wreck havoc and a woman who collects dead husbands gets another one for her collection.
All in all just another episode of the Curse Breaker Witches series.
****
Reviews for books in series are har to write, so much has already happened, so much more to come and add into this the fact that this is an indie book that isn't on everyone's radar it's double hard, but that being said this.....
Good book........
Ok yeah I need to write more so here goes, this one is probably the strongest in the series so far (for me) the characters by now are well formed with their relationships playing a major part, the pacing is good, the mystery is good, the reveal is good
So yeah good book.
Rating : 4⭐
Format : eBook 💻
Released : 2nd December 2025
Pages : 245
Duration : 3 days
----------------
3rd in the series and yes I'm smashing through these.
This time the will they won't they relationship between Maddie and Ross somehow gets even nearer, a figure from Maddie's past comes back to wreck havoc and a woman who collects dead husbands gets another one for her collection.
All in all just another episode of the Curse Breaker Witches series.
****
Reviews for books in series are har to write, so much has already happened, so much more to come and add into this the fact that this is an indie book that isn't on everyone's radar it's double hard, but that being said this.....
Good book........
Ok yeah I need to write more so here goes, this one is probably the strongest in the series so far (for me) the characters by now are well formed with their relationships playing a major part, the pacing is good, the mystery is good, the reveal is good
So yeah good book.
April 19, 2026
Husbands dropping dead is a mystery, which Maddie endeavours to solve. It's proving a bit difficult, with plant magic and whatnot. So, we have a murder, we have magic, we still have Crooks, joined for the first time by enchanted tarot cards. And we have an ex drama and a slowly developing romance between Maddie and Ross. It was very well balanced and I loved everything!
December 10, 2025
Another brilliant book and such an easy read. I love the magical elements in the book, the bookshop, the friends and the detective All make it a beautiful book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews