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The Badass Widows: A Mystery
Not yet published
Expected 6 Mar 26Secret Crime-Fighting Widows take on the San Francisco Bay Area
How do widows get through their grief? They become bad asses and form a secret band of crime fighters of course.
Former FBI agent Beth Winstead has recently lost her husband after a long isolating decline. Determined to build a new life, she joins a rowing club on San Francisco Bay. When Beth rescues widowed rape victim Elena from a derelict sailboat, her sense of purpose is rekindled. They are soon joined by widows Anneke and Zoe and, almost as a joke, they form a secret group of do-gooder crime fighters. They begin small but before long, they’re committing bold acts of secret justice and are hooked on the “rush” it provides. Meanwhile, someone is stalking Beth and Elena. And not every mission is successful. A betrayal from within puts all of their lives in danger. In the end, the widows must decide whether they have found their new calling or made a foolish and dangerous mistake.
About the Author
Valerie Saul earned a doctorate in audiology, a master’s degree in speech pathology and a bachelor’s degree in psychology followed by an unconventional career in hearing healthcare in the US, New Zealand, South Korea and Singapore. She attended the Stanford Continuing Studies Creative Writing program and participates in multiple critique groups. She is a voracious, omnivorous reader. When she’s not writing stories about badass older women, she can be found hiking the Marin headlands with her husband or rowing a shell on San Francisco Bay.
Praise for The Badass A Mystery
“The Badass Widows is both riveting and utterly charming—a perfect blend of Killers of a Certain Age and The Thursday Murder Club. The Bay Area setting shines, especially the scenes on the water, which are so vivid you can almost taste the salt air. Packed with intrigue, a twisty plot, and a cast of unforgettable characters, The Badass Widows celebrates friendship, resilience, and the fierce humor that comes from women who’ve lived a little—and aren’t done yet. I loved every page of their secret crusade to make the world a better place.” —Lynn Rankin-Esquer author of Murder, Mess and the Tangerine Dress
“Saul’s debut, The Badass Widows, is a propulsive romp delivered with warmth and humor.” —Suzy Vitello, author of Bitterroot and Griftopia
“Saul’s wry wit and keen eye for the absurdities of aging make for a fun read in this adventure-mystery. But don’t be deceived. With her cast of feisty, complex characters, Saul shows us that age is no barrier to courage and resilience. Perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club.” —Lisa Manterfield, author of All Our Lies Are True
"Cozy mystery lovers rejoice! Badass Widows introduces an original and exciting new series. In the tradition of Murder She Wrote and The Marlow Murder Club, Valerie Saul brings us Beth Winstead, a retired FBI agent, and a team of highly competent older women. Armed with professional skills, as well as the wisdom and compassion of age, the badass widows are a force to be reckoned with. Add the unique setting of Sausalito, California, and a heroine who crews a racing shell under the Golden Gate Bridge, and I’m hooked.
How do widows get through their grief? They become bad asses and form a secret band of crime fighters of course.
Former FBI agent Beth Winstead has recently lost her husband after a long isolating decline. Determined to build a new life, she joins a rowing club on San Francisco Bay. When Beth rescues widowed rape victim Elena from a derelict sailboat, her sense of purpose is rekindled. They are soon joined by widows Anneke and Zoe and, almost as a joke, they form a secret group of do-gooder crime fighters. They begin small but before long, they’re committing bold acts of secret justice and are hooked on the “rush” it provides. Meanwhile, someone is stalking Beth and Elena. And not every mission is successful. A betrayal from within puts all of their lives in danger. In the end, the widows must decide whether they have found their new calling or made a foolish and dangerous mistake.
About the Author
Valerie Saul earned a doctorate in audiology, a master’s degree in speech pathology and a bachelor’s degree in psychology followed by an unconventional career in hearing healthcare in the US, New Zealand, South Korea and Singapore. She attended the Stanford Continuing Studies Creative Writing program and participates in multiple critique groups. She is a voracious, omnivorous reader. When she’s not writing stories about badass older women, she can be found hiking the Marin headlands with her husband or rowing a shell on San Francisco Bay.
Praise for The Badass A Mystery
“The Badass Widows is both riveting and utterly charming—a perfect blend of Killers of a Certain Age and The Thursday Murder Club. The Bay Area setting shines, especially the scenes on the water, which are so vivid you can almost taste the salt air. Packed with intrigue, a twisty plot, and a cast of unforgettable characters, The Badass Widows celebrates friendship, resilience, and the fierce humor that comes from women who’ve lived a little—and aren’t done yet. I loved every page of their secret crusade to make the world a better place.” —Lynn Rankin-Esquer author of Murder, Mess and the Tangerine Dress
“Saul’s debut, The Badass Widows, is a propulsive romp delivered with warmth and humor.” —Suzy Vitello, author of Bitterroot and Griftopia
“Saul’s wry wit and keen eye for the absurdities of aging make for a fun read in this adventure-mystery. But don’t be deceived. With her cast of feisty, complex characters, Saul shows us that age is no barrier to courage and resilience. Perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club.” —Lisa Manterfield, author of All Our Lies Are True
"Cozy mystery lovers rejoice! Badass Widows introduces an original and exciting new series. In the tradition of Murder She Wrote and The Marlow Murder Club, Valerie Saul brings us Beth Winstead, a retired FBI agent, and a team of highly competent older women. Armed with professional skills, as well as the wisdom and compassion of age, the badass widows are a force to be reckoned with. Add the unique setting of Sausalito, California, and a heroine who crews a racing shell under the Golden Gate Bridge, and I’m hooked.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 6, 2026
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Valerie Saul
2 books1 followerValerie has a doctorate in audiology, a master's degree in special education and a bachelor's in psychology from Stanford University. An unconventional career in hearing healthcare led to work in the United States, New Zealand, South Korea and Singapore. Back home in California now, she writes about badass women of a certain age when she’s not hiking the Marin headlands or rowing a racing shell on San Francisco Bay.
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Enjoyed!
This was a new author to me, so I didn't know what to expect from this book. What I discovered was a story that moved along very fast, the writing was witty and kept me entertained, and sensitive subjects were dealt with delicately.
Beth, a recent widow and a retired FBI agent is feeling at loose ends. She joins a rowing club and meets a few other women in her same demographic and they form a bond as friends and as people wanting to help victims of wrong-doing. They meet Elena, a survivor of kidnapping and abuse. They meet Mia, a young woman living on a boat and help her find mooring. They meet Naomi, an older woman being taken advantage of by a family member. Beth, Anneke, Zoe, Elena and Charlie make it their work to help others, sometimes at their own peril.
This book will be appreciated by anyone who enjoys Fern Michael's Sisterhood series, same premise but with a group of older women. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
This was a new author to me, so I didn't know what to expect from this book. What I discovered was a story that moved along very fast, the writing was witty and kept me entertained, and sensitive subjects were dealt with delicately.
Beth, a recent widow and a retired FBI agent is feeling at loose ends. She joins a rowing club and meets a few other women in her same demographic and they form a bond as friends and as people wanting to help victims of wrong-doing. They meet Elena, a survivor of kidnapping and abuse. They meet Mia, a young woman living on a boat and help her find mooring. They meet Naomi, an older woman being taken advantage of by a family member. Beth, Anneke, Zoe, Elena and Charlie make it their work to help others, sometimes at their own peril.
This book will be appreciated by anyone who enjoys Fern Michael's Sisterhood series, same premise but with a group of older women. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 of 1 review