The Other Widow

by LynDee Walker

An absolutely addictive and completely gripping psychological thriller

Our husbands died. Our husbands lied. Can I trust her?

I lost my husband Wayne last night. He was in a car crash—and worse, Trevor Malone was the other victim. Everyone knows Trevor, and his rich, beautiful wife Josephine. I cannot understand what Wayne was doing on that slick, dark country road…

Then, when Wayne’s things are returned to me, instead of a sweat-stained T-shirt my fingers touch buttery-soft fabric—Trevor’s Giorgio Armani suit. There’s a note in the pocket that causes cold fear to close around my heart… I need to know the truth.

When I return it to the other widow, she practically snatches the bag off me, a fake smile frozen in place.

I make myself at home on her soft leather couch, dabbing my red-rimmed eyes with a tissue. I silently congratulate myself on my performance.

I hated my husband. I’m not making friends with Josephine because of our shared trauma. And now that I’m in her house I’m not going anywhere.

She thinks she’s living a nightmare now, but it’s only just beginning…

A completely gripping listen that will have you staying up late into the night. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Jeneva Rose and Lisa Jewell.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Psychological Thriller

398 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 9, 2026

About the author

LynDee Walker writes about strong women who can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Her books have appeared on finalist lists for the Agatha and International Thriller awards—and once, on the weekly Amazon Charts US national bestsellers list smack in between two of her writing heroes.

LynDee is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime. Before she started writing fiction, LynDee was an award-winning journalist who covered everything from ribbon cuttings and high school football to capital murder trials and high level police corruption. Her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines across the United States. She has written more than 20 novels and feels lucky every day to get to play with her imaginary friends for a living.

LynDee's favorite things are family, hydrangeas, porches, beaches, and books. She lives in Richmond, Virginia, where she is working on her next novel when she's not juggling laundry, children's sports schedules, and two very happily spoiled rescue dogs.

Reviews

[Tini]

Everything is bigger in Texas. Even widowhood.

4.5 stars rounded up.

When future oil heiress Josephine Malone and struggling hotel maid Shelby Harris suddenly find themselves widowed by the same car accident, an unlikely friendship develops between two women who seemingly have very little in common. But soon enough, both begin to realize that their marriages may have been built on far more secrets than they ever imagined.

With two unreliable narrators, plenty of intrigue, and more than a few twists, this novel was anything but a car crash. I always really enjoy LynDee Walker's books, and The Other Widow was no exception. While the pacing was a little slower than in some of her other novels and the overall length exceeded what was necessary, the alternating perspectives and steadily unfolding revelations kept me flying through this thriller.

Twisted and thoroughly entertaining, The Other Widow delivered exactly the kind of deliciously deceptive thriller I was hoping for. In addition to the wholly original plot idea, I really liked the three-part structure used to gradually reveal what really happened, and the dueling perspectives, vast secrets, and numerous twists kept me turning pages. And that ending? I have a feeling we'll be arguing about that one.

Many thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

"The Other Widow" was published on July 9, 2026, and is available now.

[Bookaholic__Reviews]

The other widow is a story about two women who couldn't be more different that are bound by tragedy. Josephine Malone is wealthy and Shelby Harris isn't. Josephine is a bit of a socialite while Shelby is a maid, after loosing both of their husbands in the same accident they form a friendship.

The story is told from dual perspectives and it doesn't take long for the twists and turns to start. The story is addictive and easy to read. It has just the right amount of suspense and secrets to keep you interested.

If you enjoy unreliable narrators, plot twists, secrets and strong female leads then I definitely recommend this book. I think this author would be well received by people who enjoy reading books from Mcfadden and Jewell.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50)]

The Other Widow
By: LynDee Walker
Pub Date: July 9, 2026
Publisher: Bookouture

Two men die in a crash. Now she is a widow. Wayne has died and when she receives his items from the crash there is a note in his suit pocket.

Problem is the suit is not her husbands, but the driver. The Ominous. What did the note say that is freaking her out?

Get ready for secrets, twists, betrayal and more. A fun one

[jesse sant]

this was really bad

[Katie]

DNF at 18%. I simply could not bring myself to care 🤷‍♀️

[Twobchelm]

A waste of time ….

[Rachel the Page-Turner]

This book’s synopsis is quite vague, and as I was reading the book and thinking about how I’d review it, I understood why! This story is of two women, Shelby and Josephine, who come together in the most unlikely of ways. Their husbands were in a car accident and neither of them made it out alive. At the hospital, when the wives were given their husbands’ belongings, the bags were switched. Shelby ended up with Josephine’s husband’s Armani suit, and Josephine ends up with Shelby’s husbands ragged work clothes.

Eventually the two women meet to exchange the bags, and then an unexpected friendship is born. Shelby is a working class woman with no kids, her husband was a jerk, and they live on the “poor” side of town. Josephine’s family is very rich, relatively famous, and she has two teenage sons. When you come down to it though, these are both women who just lost their husbands and needed each other’s support.

Then everything you think you know flips as this book takes you into a second and third part. The first part is in the present, the second part is six weeks before the accident, and the final part is six months in the future. You start off thinking this is a regular story of loss, but it soon becomes an exciting thriller. In hindsight, I can see how I should have figured out the ending, but I didn’t even come close. This is a really good book about friendship, motherhood…and revenge. Four stars!

(Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book’s tour. “The Other Widow” will be released on July 9, 2026.)

[Heather Cairns]

Brilliant book

[Nancy Walker]

This was a psychological thriller about 2 widows. It was a page turner that surprised me in the end!

[Angel **Book Junkie**]

Okay LynDee Walker... who gave you permission to absolutely wreck my detective skills like this?

Let's start with the characters because Shelby and Josephine completely stole the show. One is a maid trying to make ends meet, the other is a wealthy socialite living a life most people only see on Instagram. Their husbands die in the same car accident, and suddenly these two women from opposite ends of the financial spectrum are forced into the same orbit. The contrast between their lives was fascinating, and I loved watching their stories unfold.

This book isn't just a mystery—it's a reminder that money can buy a lot of things, but it certainly can't protect you from secrets, grief, or the consequences of bad decisions. More than once I found myself questioning people's motives and thinking, "Well... maybe my life choices aren't looking too bad after all."

The pacing was chef's kiss. Every time I thought I had the mystery neatly wrapped up with a bow, LynDee Walker casually snatched it out of my hands and said, "Try again." I happily accepted defeat because I was wrong... repeatedly.

And can we talk about that ending? WITHOUT actually talking about it because spoilers are rude. Let's just say my eyebrows shot into my hairline, I stared into space for a solid minute, and immediately wanted to discuss it with someone. I genuinely did not see it coming, and that's becoming harder and harder to say with psychological thrillers these days.

The writing pulled me in from the very beginning, the characters felt layered and believable, and the mystery never lost momentum. Every chapter gave me another reason to say, "Okay, just one more," until suddenly it was way past my bedtime.

Final Verdict

If you love thrillers that pair unforgettable characters with a fresh, original premise and enough twists to make your head spin, The Other Widow needs to move to the top of your TBR immediately. This has earned a spot among my favorite reads of 2026, and that shiny 5-star rating was never in doubt. Come for the mystery, stay for the emotional punches, and prepare to have your theories completely humbled. LynDee Walker absolutely knocked this one out of the park. 👏📚

[Stacey]

3.5 stars

The Other Widow is an interesting psychological thriller. It is well written and the premise is engaging. It is told from dual POVs so you hear from both women who lost husbands in a car crash. The story is told in multiple timelines - the time of the accident, 6 weeks before, then 6 months after.

The story keeps you guessing. My only issue with this is that it was way too long. That unnecessary length made it feel repetitive and draggy in parts. If it had been shorter it would definitely have been more tension filled in parts.

I saw some reviewers bothered by the ending but I didn’t have that issue 🤷🏽‍♀️. Overall, this is a solid thriller and fans of the genre will enjoy it.

[Denise]

Two women from vastly different backgrounds form an unlikely friendship when they meet after their husbands die In the same car accident. Their story unfolds and the secrets they’re each hiding are slowly revealed through alternating points of view. This story is filled with the kind of twists that make you question who you can really trust and keeps you wondering how far each woman is willing to go to get what they want. An entertaining thriller!

[Tania Hamlyn]

This book will have you guessing all the way through. Great lead female characters with totally different backgrounds but so many secrets. A brilliant read.

[Andrea]

This was middle of the road for me. If you don’t mind unbelievable twists you’ll probably really like it.

[Kaitlin Ellzy]

Not sure what the hype was about this.

[Marissa (holdme.thrillme)]

What a wild ride this book was! Between the first pages and the end of the book my perception of the characters and their intentions changed completely. There are plenty of twists to keep you guessing and turning those pages. I’ve read a lot of books about rich people behaving badly recently and this was a unique take on the trope because sometimes not everything is what it seems and things aren’t always black and white. This is a fast paced read that will keeping you turning those pages until the very end, which I definitely don’t see coming!

[Steph Nakrasius]

3.5

[Etta Storrs]

Really a true 3.5 and if I had been able to read it in a shorter span, I probably would’ve given it a 4 but days off created a lull. Some details made it more confusing rather than adding to the plot and I REALLY felt like name wise, Josephine and Wayne / Shelby and Trevor would’ve made more sense, not sure why I couldn’t get past that!

[Sara]

The other widow is a story of two women from totally different backgrounds who become connected when their husbands die in the same car wreck
I was totally hooked. I read this in a little over a day.
There so many twists and turns I couldn’t put this book down.
The ending came as a total surprise.
I highly recommend for Freida McFadden fans
Thank you #Bookouture and #NetGalley for the ARC

[Kim McFall]

I flew right through this one! It's a fast paced popcorn thriller that you will not be able to put down.

This is only my second book by this author and I now want to go back and read all of her books!

The theme of this one is secrets, lies and unhinged twists. I'm here for it all!

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader copy!

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer]

The Other Widow by Lynn D Walker, Shelby is a cleaning lady at a local hotel and is barely making it but when she learns her husband was killed in a car crash all she can feel is relief. there was another passenger in the car a man who also died in his widow Josephine isn’t taking the news so lightly. Her and her husband share two sons but she don’t know whether to be devastated or not. unlike Shelby Josephine has grown up in the lap of luxury and upon getting married just moved a little ways down the street. The two women become fast friends she even hires Shelby as a nanny/maid for the two boys Shelby is loving this she grew up in foster care after her parents died and she’s never had a real family in this family in this nice safe mansion is the first time she’s ever felt like part of the family. it seems the further they get away from the night of the crash the more secrets are uncovered not only were their husbands double dealing but someone else is double dealing triple dealing and in some cases quadruple dealing I mean this person‘s loyalty is to no one except their self and I mean they are a real piece of work. It isn’t long before Josephine gets arrested for attempted murder of her husband because they knew the crash was caused by the brake lines having holes punctured in them. OK I’m a stop the pretense that I can do justice to this book that is oh so so extremely long… 439 pages long but one of those books you don’t realize it until it’s over, because it is so good. there is so much I didn’t put in this review like over $1 million that is owed to a gangster Justine‘s decades of secret her dysfunctional parents her sons beloved yet dead first love there’s just so much in this book and it’s all so worth reading until you get to the end. when the end started I was like OK well maybe there’s another chapter and it’s not gonna end like I think it’s going to end but oh no it ended just like that exactly like I didn’t want to. There are so many opinions I have about the end of this book but I cannot say anything because it would give spoilers and I cannot stand when people do that just know if you have read the end in the book and it’s entirety you know exactly what I’m talking about a lot of a rating when I give ratings has to do with the end because how do you come away from the book feeling and I despite this being so compulsive so good left the book really just pissed off but I digress it is still worth reading I don’t think I will read it again but I would definitely recommend it I really for real fans like myself because I love her books wish she would come out with an alternative ending because that was such a disappointment I would’ve given this book 5 glowing stars if not for that letdown of an ending. Since that is my own personal opinion I still recommend this book. because this one is a doozy! #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,

[Cheyenne Joy Mijdam]

ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Other Widow by Lyndee Walker
Published: July 9, 2026

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Lyndee Walker for the ARC. Also, thank you for reminding me that grief, revenge, and secrets make an alarmingly entertaining combination… especially when they’re happening to fictional people instead of me.

I absolutely loved this.

From the first pages, this book had me hooked. I barely looked up because every chapter whispered, “Just one more.” We all know that’s a lie books tell before it’s suddenly 2 a.m.

Is everything completely realistic? Probably not. Did I care? Not even a little. That’s the magic of fiction. Sometimes reality gets to take a coffee break while chaos clocks in for work.

What I loved most was watching two women from completely different worlds collide. One has money, one doesn’t. They have nothing in common except devastating loss and a truth that’s been buried for far too long. Watching them slowly become connected—whether they wanted to or not—was fascinating. It felt messy, emotional, uncomfortable, and surprisingly human.

And, of course… secrets.
Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned from psychological thrillers, it’s that secrets never stay quietly in the basement. They grow mold, ruin lives, and eventually kick the front door down.

This genuinely played out like a movie in my head. I could see every scene, every confrontation, every moment where I thought, “Oh… this isn’t going where I expected.” That’s exactly what I want from a psychological thriller.

I’m not a spoiler goblin, so that’s all you’re getting.

Five stars from me. Curl up somewhere comfortable, grab your favorite drink, pet your emotional support cricket, and prepare to question everyone’s motives. And when you’re finished, maybe take a moment to appreciate your own relationships… or congratulate yourself for staying gloriously single. Either way, your life is probably a lot less complicated than this one.

[Leanne]

The Other Widow is a tense, addictive psychological thriller that sinks its hooks in from the very first line. Two women, bound by tragedy, sit side by side in shared grief—yet only one of them is telling the truth. Their husbands died in the same accident, but the secrets left behind are anything but shared.

Our narrator, a hotel maid with a quiet resilience, suddenly finds herself pulled into the orbit of Josephine Malone, a wealthy widow whose perfect life is beginning to crack. Their unlikely friendship feels tender at first, two women clinging to each other in the aftermath of loss. But the discovery of a hidden note in Josephine’s husband’s suit pocket shifts everything. That note doesn’t just hint at betrayal—it threatens to unravel the truth about what really happened to both men.

As the narrator embeds herself deeper into Josephine’s home, comforting her children and soothing her grief, the tension coils tighter. She’s searching for answers, but she’s also hiding who she really is. And Josephine, fragile as she seems, is not as blind—or as harmless—as she appears.

The novel thrives on this dual unease: two widows circling each other, each with something to lose, each with something to hide. Every chapter adds another layer of suspicion, another twist that makes you question who is manipulating whom.

Fast‑paced, atmospheric, and deliciously twisty, The Other Widow delivers exactly the kind of late‑night, page‑turning suspense fans of Freida McFadden and Lisa Jewell adore. It’s a gripping exploration of grief, deception, and the dangerous comfort of a stranger who understands you a little too well.

With thanks to LynDee Walker, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Sonja Charters]

This is my third read by this author now and I have to say that they just keep getting better!

The Pastor's Wife and The Housewife Next Door were brilliant reads and looking back I'm not sure why I didn't 5* them, but this book just had me from the very start and I just could not put this down.

 

Two women from opposite sides of town, one working class, the other rich and almost famous. The contrast could not be more obvious.

But when their husbands die in the same car accident, the women are drawn together when the hospital accidentally switches their belongings.

Now, just two widows in need of mutual support, their friendship grows.

 

This (same as the blurb) is pretty much all I can say about this book, because I'm true LynDee fashion, this book totally messed with my head and there's honestly nothing else I can say that won't be a spoiler.

 

Part one takes us through the present day events and we see the women starting out on this unlikely friendship.

We really get to know both women through this part and I certainly created a picture of both their lives with their husbands - I felt so sad for their losses and really wanted them to solve the mystery of the crash.

 

Then we head into part two which allows us to see the events as they run up to the crash and this puts a whole new spin on things we thought we knew before.

When part three kicks in, I was completely in shock and pretty much didn't breath for the final section!

 

There were so many twists and turns and these characters made me question my own judgement and theories so much.

 

This was such an exciting and fast paced read.

Perfectly plotted to keep us in suspense from start to finish and brilliantly written.

I was completely hooked from the start and so immersed that I didn't even go to bed one night - I just had to keep reading.

 

Another excellent read to add to my growing collection and I'm already excited for what might come next ....

 

 

 
 

[Angela Knight]

Loved This!!!

The Other Widow was such a good read! I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end. What really worked for me was the multiple POVs, the family dynamics, the different settings, and how layered the characters were. Nobody in this book is completely innocent, and the more you learn about these people, the more you realize that everything that looks good isn’t necessarily good—and everything that looks bad isn’t necessarily what it seems.

I loved how the mystery kept unfolding. Every time I thought I understood what was happening, another secret came out that made me look at something I’d already read completely differently. And the reveals didn’t feel like twists thrown in just for shock value. The pieces actually connected and made earlier moments in the story mean more.

The characters were probably my favorite part. They’re messy, complicated, sometimes frustrating, and definitely not all likable, but they were interesting enough that I genuinely cared about figuring out their histories and motivations. Even the relationships and family backgrounds felt important to the overall mystery rather than like filler.

And that ending?! I was literally screaming. 😂 Once everything came together, so many things that had been confusing throughout the book suddenly made sense. The payoff was worth it.

This is exactly what I want from a thriller: interesting characters, secrets, family drama, multiple perspectives, good pacing, and enough psychological depth to keep me thinking while I’m reading.

[Susan Belman]

This one felt different from a lot of the domestic thrillers I've been reading lately, and I was happy for the change of pace. Once the secrets started unraveling... wow. Some of those twists completely caught me off guard, and that's getting harder and harder to do. I don't want to say too much because this is one of those books that's best experienced without knowing what's coming. Just know that every time I thought I had things figured out, another surprise was waiting around the corner. Let’s be real, it wasn't a perfect read for me. The pacing slowed down in a few places, and there were a handful of characters who felt like they should have had a bigger impact than they ultimately did. They served a purpose, but I found myself wishing they had been introduced or developed a little more so their roles landed with more weight. I was also a little on the fence about how everything ultimately connected. It definitely makes for an entertaining thriller, but it asked me to stretch my disbelief just a bit more than I usually like.

Even with those minor issues, I had a great time reading this one. The fresh premise, constant secrets, and genuinely surprising twists kept me turning the pages, and I never knew who I could trust. If you enjoy psychological thrillers packed with deception, hidden identities, and plenty of "wait...WHAT?!" moments, this is absolutely worth picking up.

[Georgia Williams]

This book starts with a car crash that kills two men—Wayne and Trevor—and leaves their widows, Shelby and Josephine, to deal with the aftermath. But there’s a major problem. When Shelby gets Wayne’s things back, it isn’t his shirt in the bag; it’s Trevor’s expensive suit with a note that makes everything suspicious. Shelby decides to get close to Josephine to find the truth, all while pretending she’s grieving like a normal widow.
What I Loved
It hits the ground running.You don't have to wait for the story to kick in. It gets straight to the point from the very first page.
The dual perspectives.Switching between Shelby and Josephine keeps the pace up. It’s interesting to see how they interact with each other versus what they are actually thinking behind their fake smiles.
The ending.Honestly, I never saw it coming. It’s always a good time when a book manages to pull a fast one on you.
What I Didn't Like
The name.I know this is a small thing, but I really disliked the name "Crockett." Every time it popped up, it just pulled me out of the story a little bit.
Final Thoughts
If you want a fast, twisty read that doesn't waste your time with a slow start, this is a solid pick. It’s fun, the tension is high, and the mystery keeps you guessing until the very end. Just try to ignore the names if they aren't your cup of tea!

[Andria Lambert]

This is the first book I have read by this author, though I have purchased two more that are on my tbr.
Two men were involved in a fatal car accident. Their widows(Josephine and Shelby) meet each other and develop a friendship. They are from two completely different worlds as Shelby has no kids, and she's working class struggling to make ends meet. Josephine is very rich, and has two sons. That also means their husbands were worlds apart, not likely friends, so why and what were they doing together to die in the same accident? The book is divided into three parts, part 1 is the present, part 2 is six weeks earlier, and part 3 is six months in the future. The book is also told from alternating points of view from Josephine and Shelby. I can say that nothing is at it seems and I don't want to give spoilers as to ruin the story, but it does have secrets, lies, twists and turns, betrayal, revenge and more. Both women have motives and something to hide, and its very hard to tell who is manipulating who and the ending wasn't what I expected. I thought it was fairly fast-paced and kept me intrigued and turning the pages all the way to the ending. This book was an excellent domestic thriller with some unexpected twists and turns and I am certainly interested in reading more books by the author.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the complimentary copy of the story.

[Susan]

The setup of the book hooked me instantly: two women, Josephine and Shelby, lose their husbands in the same car accident and end up bonding over their shared grief. Except due to a hospital mix-up, they send the wrong belongings home with each of them, and suddenly two very different lives start colliding in ways neither woman could have imagined
What really pulled me in was the contrast between the two narrators. Josephine has the money, the mansion, and the "perfect" marriage on the surface, while Shelby is barely scraping by with a beat-up car and a husband who was more trouble than help. I loved not knowing who to trust, or root for as the secrets started to pop up.

I also appreciated how much heart Walker wove into the suspense. Josephine's younger son is on the autism spectrum, and the way his mother and brother embrace him, plus how Shelby naturally bonds with him. It made me care about the characters.

The ending of the book I did not see it coming. Just when I thought I'd figured out where things were headed, the story flipped and everything changed.

I would definitely recommend this book. It was a great read.

[Vanessa]

The Other Widow by LynDee Walker was an excellent Psychological Thriller that will have you gripped from the very beginning, it was so addictive I ended up sitting in the shade in my garden reading it until I had finished. Superb book from start to finish with brilliant twists and turns throughout and excellent main characters, Shelby and Josephine, their worlds collide together when their husbands were killed in a car accident and they were both in the same car.

They did not know each other or did they?

Why were they in the same car?

So many questions that are left unanswered for Shelby and Josephine . . . . Especially as they have nothing in common . . . . . . one has money and the other one doesn't!

This book was a great page turner and Ijust had to keep reading to find out these answers why their husbands were in the came car accident!

WoW, this book was a messy one but an enjoyable read. I highly recommend this book. 5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ read.

Big Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy.