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The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Richard Milford
4 hours, 35 minutes
From the author of the multi-award-winning, National Book Award–longlisted, “vivid, fast, funny, way-smart, and verbally inventive” (George Saunders) story collection Heads of the Colored People, comes a sly, spry, tall tale of a debut novel about the murder of an infamous moonshiner and the cacophony of true stories a small town can tell about itself.
Rich Milford is dead. At last.
We find ourselves in Oklahoma, just far enough out of Tulsa, just long enough after the Massacre of 1921. For as long as anyone can remember, the Milfords have led plentiful lives on the backs of the townspeople of Newville. Now, on the ominous brink of the Great Depression and at the height of Prohibition, Richard Milford is an infamous moonshiner and womanizer and, it seems, finally crossed the wrong person at the wrong time. He’s dead and buried with no one but his women to mourn him but a question who killed him, and why?
Top suspects are his four “wives,” Lally, Sophronia, Georgette, and Vivianne. But as their stories burst to light in a volley of competing narratives, the very idea of a true story comes apart before our eyes.
In an electric follow-up to her beloved and critically acclaimed debut collection, Nafissa Thompson-Spires once again serves up a brilliant distillation of front-of-mind happenings—think, cults of personality, capitalism run amok in politics, and rampant societal distrust—this time magicked into taut historical fiction structured as a stupefying line dance. In her uniquely powerful, humorous manner, Thompson-Spires takes on the interdependent clash of the traditional and the new-fangled in this genre-bending, gob-smackingly excellent debut.
From the author of the multi-award-winning, National Book Award–longlisted, “vivid, fast, funny, way-smart, and verbally inventive” (George Saunders) story collection Heads of the Colored People, comes a sly, spry, tall tale of a debut novel about the murder of an infamous moonshiner and the cacophony of true stories a small town can tell about itself.
Rich Milford is dead. At last.
We find ourselves in Oklahoma, just far enough out of Tulsa, just long enough after the Massacre of 1921. For as long as anyone can remember, the Milfords have led plentiful lives on the backs of the townspeople of Newville. Now, on the ominous brink of the Great Depression and at the height of Prohibition, Richard Milford is an infamous moonshiner and womanizer and, it seems, finally crossed the wrong person at the wrong time. He’s dead and buried with no one but his women to mourn him but a question who killed him, and why?
Top suspects are his four “wives,” Lally, Sophronia, Georgette, and Vivianne. But as their stories burst to light in a volley of competing narratives, the very idea of a true story comes apart before our eyes.
In an electric follow-up to her beloved and critically acclaimed debut collection, Nafissa Thompson-Spires once again serves up a brilliant distillation of front-of-mind happenings—think, cults of personality, capitalism run amok in politics, and rampant societal distrust—this time magicked into taut historical fiction structured as a stupefying line dance. In her uniquely powerful, humorous manner, Thompson-Spires takes on the interdependent clash of the traditional and the new-fangled in this genre-bending, gob-smackingly excellent debut.
Audiobook
First published October 6, 2026
About the author
Nafissa Thompson-Spires
7 books521 followersNafissa Thompson-Spires earned a doctorate in English from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Illinois. Her work has appeared in Story Quarterly, Lunch Ticket, and The Feminist Wire, among other publications. She was a 2016 fellow of the Callaloo Writer’s Workshop.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 459 reviews
November 2, 2026
I think I may have just picked this book up with incorrect expectations, and I am finding myself not knowing if this overall experience was positive or negative? So we're settling at a 3 star.
I genuinely think this could be a great book, but I had a rough time with it because I expected more of a thrilling whodunnit mystery vibe, but it instead read more like a historical satire fiction. And I think it might have been written well, but I couldn't see past my roadblock of initial expectations unfortunately!
This book covers some heavy topics. As we dive into the stories of our four wives - we truly learn how despicable Richard Milford was. But the entire story is told through this absurdly, funny, satirical tone which I do enjoy from time to time - but need to be in a very specific mood to want a book like this.
The overall structure was interesting. The book is split into sections where we get each of our wives perspectives as they recount their relationships with Richard and the events that led to his death. This is interspersed with the thoughts and ramblings of the rest of the townspeople, and the overall impression felt very gossip-y which can definitely be fun.
Throughout the whole book, the question doesn't seem to be "who could have done it?" but more like "who ended up ACTUALLY doing it?" because there were SO many people Richard wronged in his life and so many characters who had the motive to kill him. Which again, is a very fun idea but I just genuinely don't think I was in the right mood.
The book passed by like a fever dream, it was so quick at 150 pages. I'm tempted to do a re-read one day when I feel the time is right - but I'm a bit confused of what I actually think about this one!
I genuinely think this could be a great book, but I had a rough time with it because I expected more of a thrilling whodunnit mystery vibe, but it instead read more like a historical satire fiction. And I think it might have been written well, but I couldn't see past my roadblock of initial expectations unfortunately!
This book covers some heavy topics. As we dive into the stories of our four wives - we truly learn how despicable Richard Milford was. But the entire story is told through this absurdly, funny, satirical tone which I do enjoy from time to time - but need to be in a very specific mood to want a book like this.
The overall structure was interesting. The book is split into sections where we get each of our wives perspectives as they recount their relationships with Richard and the events that led to his death. This is interspersed with the thoughts and ramblings of the rest of the townspeople, and the overall impression felt very gossip-y which can definitely be fun.
Throughout the whole book, the question doesn't seem to be "who could have done it?" but more like "who ended up ACTUALLY doing it?" because there were SO many people Richard wronged in his life and so many characters who had the motive to kill him. Which again, is a very fun idea but I just genuinely don't think I was in the right mood.
The book passed by like a fever dream, it was so quick at 150 pages. I'm tempted to do a re-read one day when I feel the time is right - but I'm a bit confused of what I actually think about this one!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Nafissa Thompson-Spires's The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Richard Milford is such a brilliantly multifaceted and powerful punch of a novel, and full of character in every single page. The townspeople, especially, were literally falling over themselves on the pages!! I think their interludes were some of my favorite parts with how satirical they were, and how they absolutely could not STAND Milford at all.
The writing was so vivid, I felt as if I were watching the story play out on a screen - which I am totally manifesting a limited series or movie for...
——
i’ve been meaning to read this, and it’s such a quick read, so time to dive in!
a man is dead and his four wives are suspected…
The writing was so vivid, I felt as if I were watching the story play out on a screen - which I am totally manifesting a limited series or movie for...
——
i’ve been meaning to read this, and it’s such a quick read, so time to dive in!
a man is dead and his four wives are suspected…
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4!! RTF
1920's, Oklahoma. Backdrop of Prohibition and Tulsa Race Massacre.
Richard is a womanizer. He is notorious, rich and has four women who each have a claim to being his wife. We have Lally, his legal wife. Georgette, mother of his 3 children and runs his business. Sophronia, a mother of 10 of his children. And lastly Vivianne, who is a teacher and became involved with him.
When Richard mysteriously dies, each woman is suspected. The thing is, each woman has a compelling version of the truth. Suspiciously enough, his household cook is also somehow connected to the mystery. The novel isn't simply the conventional murder mystery, it's a social satire that delivers multiple versions of the truth with a very unusual storytelling structure, all in under 180 pages!
This novel is featured on BOTM for October! Grab your first $5 copy here: https://www.mybotm.com/bgnrjn6qk0o
Easy to sign up, pause, skip a month or cancel at no additional cost to you. Love BOTM for early releases and you can use your credits on audiobooks too!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Scribner and the author, Nafissa Thompson-Spires for an early ARC.
Publication date: October 6, 2026
1920's, Oklahoma. Backdrop of Prohibition and Tulsa Race Massacre.
Richard is a womanizer. He is notorious, rich and has four women who each have a claim to being his wife. We have Lally, his legal wife. Georgette, mother of his 3 children and runs his business. Sophronia, a mother of 10 of his children. And lastly Vivianne, who is a teacher and became involved with him.
When Richard mysteriously dies, each woman is suspected. The thing is, each woman has a compelling version of the truth. Suspiciously enough, his household cook is also somehow connected to the mystery. The novel isn't simply the conventional murder mystery, it's a social satire that delivers multiple versions of the truth with a very unusual storytelling structure, all in under 180 pages!
This novel is featured on BOTM for October! Grab your first $5 copy here: https://www.mybotm.com/bgnrjn6qk0o
Easy to sign up, pause, skip a month or cancel at no additional cost to you. Love BOTM for early releases and you can use your credits on audiobooks too!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Scribner and the author, Nafissa Thompson-Spires for an early ARC.
Publication date: October 6, 2026
August 31, 2026
What a wild, crazy book this was. It’s one you just have to hang on and go along for the ride. Richard Milford is a nasty piece of work. He makes and sells moonshine. He’s the richest man in a Black town in 1920s Oklahoma. His weird set of beliefs concerning procreation have led him to have four “wives” and a dozen children.
Through the space of one day, there are five “attempts” on his life. So, who is actually to blame for his death? One by one we hear from his housekeeper and his four wives. These are some pissed off women, anger finally overcoming fear. In between the townsfolk, a Greek chorus of there ever was one, weigh in.
You get an accurate feel for the time and place. The Tulsa Massacre has already taken place. Lynchings are occurring on a regular basis. Prohibition is in effect. The author adds in a little spice of folklore and magic realism.
My thanks to Netgalley and Scribner for an advance copy of this book.
Through the space of one day, there are five “attempts” on his life. So, who is actually to blame for his death? One by one we hear from his housekeeper and his four wives. These are some pissed off women, anger finally overcoming fear. In between the townsfolk, a Greek chorus of there ever was one, weigh in.
You get an accurate feel for the time and place. The Tulsa Massacre has already taken place. Lynchings are occurring on a regular basis. Prohibition is in effect. The author adds in a little spice of folklore and magic realism.
My thanks to Netgalley and Scribner for an advance copy of this book.
October 8, 2026
the setup…
It is 1927 Newville, Oklahoma, a thriving black township, and the occasion is Richard (Rich) Milford’s funeral. He was a notorious moonshiner and womanizer, his four “wives” (and twelve children) the only ones seeming to mourn his death. Lally, Sophronia, Georgette and Vivianne are also the main suspects in his supposed murder after his body washed up on the riverbank, bloated and missing a foot. But they aren’t the only ones who might have wanted him dead.
the heart of the story…
I love when stories begin at the end and then work backwards to provide context and color. Each of Rich’s wives, along with the townsfolk, are given voice and boy do they have a lot to say. The writing is lyrical, full of lore that still lives today (the devil beating his wife when the rain pours on a sunny day) and reflective of time and place. It’s highly atmospheric with the townsfolk gossipy and equally as full of character as these four women.
the narration…
Kevin R. Free, Kamali Minter and Adenrele Ojo bring the pages alive, understanding the assignment. They represent the women and the collective townspeoples’ voices and were beyond outstanding.
the bottom line…
Rarely have I read an historical fiction story so rich in character and life, combining mystery, humor, tragedy and history so elegantly. It’s short but powerful and I could easily visualize the town and these remarkable women who deserved so much more than Rich Milford. Who murdered him? Well, that’s as classic as the story.
(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio and Libro.fm for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
It is 1927 Newville, Oklahoma, a thriving black township, and the occasion is Richard (Rich) Milford’s funeral. He was a notorious moonshiner and womanizer, his four “wives” (and twelve children) the only ones seeming to mourn his death. Lally, Sophronia, Georgette and Vivianne are also the main suspects in his supposed murder after his body washed up on the riverbank, bloated and missing a foot. But they aren’t the only ones who might have wanted him dead.
the heart of the story…
I love when stories begin at the end and then work backwards to provide context and color. Each of Rich’s wives, along with the townsfolk, are given voice and boy do they have a lot to say. The writing is lyrical, full of lore that still lives today (the devil beating his wife when the rain pours on a sunny day) and reflective of time and place. It’s highly atmospheric with the townsfolk gossipy and equally as full of character as these four women.
the narration…
Kevin R. Free, Kamali Minter and Adenrele Ojo bring the pages alive, understanding the assignment. They represent the women and the collective townspeoples’ voices and were beyond outstanding.
the bottom line…
Rarely have I read an historical fiction story so rich in character and life, combining mystery, humor, tragedy and history so elegantly. It’s short but powerful and I could easily visualize the town and these remarkable women who deserved so much more than Rich Milford. Who murdered him? Well, that’s as classic as the story.
(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio and Libro.fm for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I’m very undecided about this book! I loved it on audio and really felt hooked to the development of this book. With it being under 200 pages, the author really packs a punch in every sentence. Lots of quick moments and nuances, and you may catch something if you aren’t paying attention. With all that being said, I found myself captivated, but underwhelmed? I think if we had a full length novel to dig in deeper, I would have enjoyed it more.
October 6, 2026
⭐️⭐️½ — 2.5 stars
The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Richard Milford by Nafissa Thompson-Spires is one of those books that I can appreciate more than I actually enjoyed.
Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the aftermath of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, the novel centers on Richard Milford—a womanizer who is now dead and buried—and the question of who killed him. Richard had four wives, although “wives” might be a generous description: there was an actual wife, and then Richard apparently just kept bringing other women home. 😬 Needless to say, there are plenty of people who might have had reason to want him dead.
This is historical fiction, but it’s written in a very unconventional, almost poetic style. It’s offbeat, literary, and much more cerebral than I was expecting. Unfortunately, I often felt like the book was going over my head rather than pulling me into the mystery.
I initially listened to the audiobook, which was gifted to me by Simon Audio, but I was having such a difficult time following the story that I picked up the hardcover I’d purchased through Book of the Month and reread portions with my eyeballs. That helped somewhat, but I still struggled to fully follow the narrative. So I definitely don’t think my difficulty was a reflection of the audio performance—the writing style itself just wasn’t a great match for me.
I can absolutely imagine this finding an enthusiastic audience among readers who love experimental, poetic, and more academic historical fiction. There’s clearly a lot happening here stylistically and thematically, and I wish I had connected with it more.
Unfortunately, I think this was simply a case of the right book finding the wrong reader. I hope it finds the audience that will love it—it just wasn’t me.
Thank you to Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.
The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Richard Milford by Nafissa Thompson-Spires is one of those books that I can appreciate more than I actually enjoyed.
Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the aftermath of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, the novel centers on Richard Milford—a womanizer who is now dead and buried—and the question of who killed him. Richard had four wives, although “wives” might be a generous description: there was an actual wife, and then Richard apparently just kept bringing other women home. 😬 Needless to say, there are plenty of people who might have had reason to want him dead.
This is historical fiction, but it’s written in a very unconventional, almost poetic style. It’s offbeat, literary, and much more cerebral than I was expecting. Unfortunately, I often felt like the book was going over my head rather than pulling me into the mystery.
I initially listened to the audiobook, which was gifted to me by Simon Audio, but I was having such a difficult time following the story that I picked up the hardcover I’d purchased through Book of the Month and reread portions with my eyeballs. That helped somewhat, but I still struggled to fully follow the narrative. So I definitely don’t think my difficulty was a reflection of the audio performance—the writing style itself just wasn’t a great match for me.
I can absolutely imagine this finding an enthusiastic audience among readers who love experimental, poetic, and more academic historical fiction. There’s clearly a lot happening here stylistically and thematically, and I wish I had connected with it more.
Unfortunately, I think this was simply a case of the right book finding the wrong reader. I hope it finds the audience that will love it—it just wasn’t me.
Thank you to Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you Scribner for sending me a free copy!
4.5 stars
At just over 160 pages, this novel set in a fictional Oklahoma town soon after the 1921 Tulsa Massacre, is a wild but brilliant read. It has a little bit of everything and packs a punch. Nafissa Thompson-Spires showed off her creativity and talent in this one.
Richard Milford is a moonshiner during the Prohibition era and has 4 “wives”. When he winds up dead, it’s not like anyone in his hometown of Newville, Oklahoma is all that upset. So who killed him? The wives and housekeeper each have a version of events. The town of Newville also chimes in as a collective voice and shares their thoughts on the Milford household.
Such a clever novel. It’s an oddly fun mystery with sharp social commentary. It blew me away and when that happens, I struggle to do the book justice. I’m a reader not a writer, and as a reader I can say I loved this one and hope others pick up this gem of a read.
4.5 stars
At just over 160 pages, this novel set in a fictional Oklahoma town soon after the 1921 Tulsa Massacre, is a wild but brilliant read. It has a little bit of everything and packs a punch. Nafissa Thompson-Spires showed off her creativity and talent in this one.
Richard Milford is a moonshiner during the Prohibition era and has 4 “wives”. When he winds up dead, it’s not like anyone in his hometown of Newville, Oklahoma is all that upset. So who killed him? The wives and housekeeper each have a version of events. The town of Newville also chimes in as a collective voice and shares their thoughts on the Milford household.
Such a clever novel. It’s an oddly fun mystery with sharp social commentary. It blew me away and when that happens, I struggle to do the book justice. I’m a reader not a writer, and as a reader I can say I loved this one and hope others pick up this gem of a read.
October 28, 2026
This book is well written but it didn't capture my attention. For a whodunit book it lacked the stakes I was hoping for. I wanted more variety in the characters and more drama overall. It is a short quick snack of a book with humor and cleverness but it didn't have really sticking power.
October 14, 2026
WHAT A TOTAL WASTE OF TIME! ABSOLUTE GARBAGE!
The first part of this feels like a bunch of random words strung together almost like a joke. Like the author sat, stared at her screen, and brain dumped because she couldnt figure out where to start. This is supposed to take place in the 1920's, but there are references to modern "dances." Example: the Nae-Nae, the Electric and Cha-Cha slides, the Hustle, Cupid Shuffle, and the Dougie. Quotes follow....
"...we could simultaneously Juba and teach one how to Dougie..."
"...stomp, spit, blow our noses, Cakewalk, C-walk, Charleston, Nae-Nae, Macarena, Wobble, Electric slide, Cha-Cha slides, and do the Hustle on Rich's grave."
"Slide to the left."
"Reverse, reverse. Crisscross."
"Left foot stomp now. Right foot--Charley horse. Back to the graveyard..."
"Last hop this time..."
Just to name a few. I found them ridiculous and unnecessary. If it takes place in early 20th century, use references that fit the time period. It's almost as if it's a modern true crime documentary, but to add the historical element of racism and lynching, she had to place the story in a historical time period to make it make sense.
Also, this sentence:
"The rain came sweeping down the plain, and the wind came right behind the rain, and our modest houses and farms could not sustain..."
Honestly, with all the accusations of AI writing these days, you would think an author would do better than this, because this is exactly how I think AI slop would sound like.
The first part of this feels like a bunch of random words strung together almost like a joke. Like the author sat, stared at her screen, and brain dumped because she couldnt figure out where to start. This is supposed to take place in the 1920's, but there are references to modern "dances." Example: the Nae-Nae, the Electric and Cha-Cha slides, the Hustle, Cupid Shuffle, and the Dougie. Quotes follow....
"...we could simultaneously Juba and teach one how to Dougie..."
"...stomp, spit, blow our noses, Cakewalk, C-walk, Charleston, Nae-Nae, Macarena, Wobble, Electric slide, Cha-Cha slides, and do the Hustle on Rich's grave."
"Slide to the left."
"Reverse, reverse. Crisscross."
"Left foot stomp now. Right foot--Charley horse. Back to the graveyard..."
"Last hop this time..."
Just to name a few. I found them ridiculous and unnecessary. If it takes place in early 20th century, use references that fit the time period. It's almost as if it's a modern true crime documentary, but to add the historical element of racism and lynching, she had to place the story in a historical time period to make it make sense.
Also, this sentence:
"The rain came sweeping down the plain, and the wind came right behind the rain, and our modest houses and farms could not sustain..."
Honestly, with all the accusations of AI writing these days, you would think an author would do better than this, because this is exactly how I think AI slop would sound like.
October 20, 2026
Clever, but the tongue-in-cheek tone and passel of unsympathetic characters left me behind.
Review of advance copy received from Book of the Month
I cannot, I cannot, deal with this writing, these commas, these sentences, this is unreadable to me—how are the other reviews not mentioning this—maybe it’s a me problem, maybe I will try the audiobook.
August 24, 2026
Gosh this was good.
November 2, 2026
Rating - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
At just 176 pages, The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Richard Milford may be short, but it certainly packs a punch!
Reading this felt like stepping into a shadier version of The Help, complete with moonshiners, secrets, and the height of Prohibition. I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and the way the story unfolded through the perspectives of the women in Richard Milford's life, along with the town itself.
Each chapter added another layer to the mystery, and just when I thought I had figured out what happened to Richard Milford, another perspective would reveal something that made me reconsider everything I thought I knew. I loved how each woman's account brought something different to the story, gradually uncovering the complexities of a man whose death was anything but straightforward.
What impressed me most was how much the author managed to accomplish in such a short novel. There was never a point when I felt bored or disconnected from the story. From beginning to end, I was hooked, and the shifting perspectives kept me eager to see what would be revealed next.
I'm genuinely surprised this book doesn't have a higher Goodreads rating. I found it to be an entertaining, cleverly structured read that deserves more attention.
And with the end of the year approaching, if you're looking for a shorter book to help you reach your reading goal without sacrificing an engaging story, I'd absolutely recommend picking this one up!
At just 176 pages, The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Richard Milford may be short, but it certainly packs a punch!
Reading this felt like stepping into a shadier version of The Help, complete with moonshiners, secrets, and the height of Prohibition. I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and the way the story unfolded through the perspectives of the women in Richard Milford's life, along with the town itself.
Each chapter added another layer to the mystery, and just when I thought I had figured out what happened to Richard Milford, another perspective would reveal something that made me reconsider everything I thought I knew. I loved how each woman's account brought something different to the story, gradually uncovering the complexities of a man whose death was anything but straightforward.
What impressed me most was how much the author managed to accomplish in such a short novel. There was never a point when I felt bored or disconnected from the story. From beginning to end, I was hooked, and the shifting perspectives kept me eager to see what would be revealed next.
I'm genuinely surprised this book doesn't have a higher Goodreads rating. I found it to be an entertaining, cleverly structured read that deserves more attention.
And with the end of the year approaching, if you're looking for a shorter book to help you reach your reading goal without sacrificing an engaging story, I'd absolutely recommend picking this one up!
October 9, 2026
A short but brilliantly written examination of gender and power in an all Black town in Oklahoma, Rich Milford is a man plagued by visions and haunted by the memory of his sister, who was sent to a mental institution as a child. The visions command Rich to build an empire, collect wives, and spawn children, and the book is narrated by his three wives (and a woman who wanted to be his wife), each of them miserable and trapped in her own way. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of life under the thumb of a controlling man: pregnancy, desire, queerness, religion, money, fear. I really enjoyed this.
Read
October 29, 2026everyone giving this book a low rating got a little look to em…hmm.
this was fantastic! it’s weird, its funny, it’s Black, and it’s so well written to the point that it breaks the rules. you can do that when you can do that!
one of my favorites of the year
this was fantastic! it’s weird, its funny, it’s Black, and it’s so well written to the point that it breaks the rules. you can do that when you can do that!
one of my favorites of the year
October 12, 2026
The premise of this book had potential, but it wasn’t quite what I expected. I found the writing style a little confusing at times, which made it difficult to follow the story and understand its overall purpose. It also didn’t feel much like the murder mystery I wanted it to be. I struggled to connect with the characters or get a real sense of who they were - perhaps that was intentional? I finished the book very underwhelmed and unsure what kind of book this was supposed to be?
July 28, 2026
THE FOUR WIVES AND FIVE DEATHS OF RICHARD MILFORD by @nafissa.thompson.spires — thanks to @scribnerbooks for the #gifted advance copy.
When I read these masterfully intricate and tangled up sentences, I kept thinking about Charles Dickens. When I felt that accordion push and pull of shrinking and growing time, warping back and forth, I kept thinking about Clarice Lispector.
Whatever this was, whatever it is, it’s all Nafissa Thompson-Spires and I loved every single bit of this hazy, high-brow, blurry-lined highwire act of a novel. Let me just say: It cha-cha’d REAL smooth.
Richard Milford is a miserable, messy, picky polygamist oil tycoon with a whole house full of wives and children. When he turns up dead, washed up in the storm water, bloated and broken and beaten, there aren’t really any tears. Nobody actually liked this man, really, did they?
There is a mystery at the heart of this novel that sucked me in like a vacuum. I emerge now on the other side a bit unsure of myself—what exactly DID happen? Who actually did kill Rich?
A man who tries to live five different lives, five different ways has to die just as many times, does he not?
The timeline, the plot points, the actions and motivations of the main characters, all exquisitely rendered and heartfelt, deliciously alive women that orbit Milford—well it was all so bright as I hovered my magnifying glass over each short chapter, but now as a whole, the dots don’t quite traditionally connect.
This is such a satisfying, haunted tale that I’m honestly just quite in awe of. It’s out in October, and I expect this makes more award lists as they roll out. I picked it up as soon as I saw it on the @center4fiction first novel prize longlist, and I could see it taking the whole thing.
A complex, twisted little fiery masterpiece.
When I read these masterfully intricate and tangled up sentences, I kept thinking about Charles Dickens. When I felt that accordion push and pull of shrinking and growing time, warping back and forth, I kept thinking about Clarice Lispector.
Whatever this was, whatever it is, it’s all Nafissa Thompson-Spires and I loved every single bit of this hazy, high-brow, blurry-lined highwire act of a novel. Let me just say: It cha-cha’d REAL smooth.
Richard Milford is a miserable, messy, picky polygamist oil tycoon with a whole house full of wives and children. When he turns up dead, washed up in the storm water, bloated and broken and beaten, there aren’t really any tears. Nobody actually liked this man, really, did they?
There is a mystery at the heart of this novel that sucked me in like a vacuum. I emerge now on the other side a bit unsure of myself—what exactly DID happen? Who actually did kill Rich?
A man who tries to live five different lives, five different ways has to die just as many times, does he not?
The timeline, the plot points, the actions and motivations of the main characters, all exquisitely rendered and heartfelt, deliciously alive women that orbit Milford—well it was all so bright as I hovered my magnifying glass over each short chapter, but now as a whole, the dots don’t quite traditionally connect.
This is such a satisfying, haunted tale that I’m honestly just quite in awe of. It’s out in October, and I expect this makes more award lists as they roll out. I picked it up as soon as I saw it on the @center4fiction first novel prize longlist, and I could see it taking the whole thing.
A complex, twisted little fiery masterpiece.
October 7, 2026
Its about a man who has multiple wives and then gets murdered and it’s written from the perspective of the people in the town along with the perspective of his wives.
The book had a lot of potential. The story seemed so good and unique but then I didn’t like how it was written at all. It felt rushed, boring and I didn’t feel any sense of shock whereas a lot happened, and I should’ve felt shocked!!!
The book had a lot of potential. The story seemed so good and unique but then I didn’t like how it was written at all. It felt rushed, boring and I didn’t feel any sense of shock whereas a lot happened, and I should’ve felt shocked!!!
October 18, 2026
***3.25 Stars***
What a wild ride. Everyone's an unreliable narrator . . . but in the funnest way. At one point I wondered if I killed Rich?!
Biggest takeaway . . . I don't know what any of these women saw in this man!
October 17, 2026
Sara - not worth it 😄
October 9, 2026
This was fine. Some poetic, beautiful writing, but I didn’t care about any of the characters or their stories. Ultimately forgettable.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5 stars. A little disclaimer before my thoughts😅 My sweet spot for reading is a full length novel. 250 pages plus. I am not someone who enjoys short stories or novellas. I think they take such skill to write, but they just aren’t my jam.
I was sat for this story. A murder mystery in the 1920s in a small Oklahoma town filled with Black residents creating lives, families and legacies for themselves with the all too recent Tulsa massacre fresh on everyone’s minds.
The mystery itself was very Agatha Christie-esque as we are introduced to the suspects (the wives) through each of their POV’s and collectively hear the story of not only the last day of Richard’s life but what led to that day. A true whodunit with craziness and capers. For me, the characters were the gems of the story and the murder plot wasn’t quite as interesting!
Truly, my biggest gripe is that I wish this was a 350 page novel! I found these characters so interesting and each of the women so singular and I wanted more of their stories! So do I wish this was a historical fiction centering on the lives of these four women? Of course I do. Don’t hate the player. Hate the game😅
Thank you, Scribner for the gifted ARC!!
I was sat for this story. A murder mystery in the 1920s in a small Oklahoma town filled with Black residents creating lives, families and legacies for themselves with the all too recent Tulsa massacre fresh on everyone’s minds.
The mystery itself was very Agatha Christie-esque as we are introduced to the suspects (the wives) through each of their POV’s and collectively hear the story of not only the last day of Richard’s life but what led to that day. A true whodunit with craziness and capers. For me, the characters were the gems of the story and the murder plot wasn’t quite as interesting!
Truly, my biggest gripe is that I wish this was a 350 page novel! I found these characters so interesting and each of the women so singular and I wanted more of their stories! So do I wish this was a historical fiction centering on the lives of these four women? Of course I do. Don’t hate the player. Hate the game😅
Thank you, Scribner for the gifted ARC!!
August 31, 2026
This had a slow start for me, but it ended up being so much fun. A good chunk of the narration is local small town gossip and the other chunk is the POVs of the women in this obnoxious man’s life. This was funny and sad and pretty much everything in between.
TW: physical assault, implied r*pe, pregnancy, miscarriage, mention of lynching
TW: physical assault, implied r*pe, pregnancy, miscarriage, mention of lynching
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What we learned about Nafissa Thompson-Spires from her short story collection, Heads of the Colored People is that she has a supple mind for the comedic. And although this novel clocks in at only 176 pages her penchant for the hilarious is fully on display here. A man is dead and we want the how and why. Richard Milford, we learn right from the rip, is dead!
This is actually revealed in the first sentence of the publisher summary. “Rich Milford is dead. At last.” So, in a diversion from novel convention, Nafissa Thompson-Spires makes the town of Newville, a protagonist in this book finely infused with humor. So the town gives the reader perspective from the collective “We” and there are several chapters of Newville, where the “We” speaks. In between the Newville protagonist we get the perspective from the four “wives” really only one and three others who for various reasons decided to join Rich Milford’s home and his program.
Being that the story begins at Rich’s funeral, the fast paced novel only has to flesh out the four wives and housekeeper Alberta, to provide readers with context, motive, and perspective. The five deaths part of the title is alluding to the fact that each of these five women, have reason to believe that Rich died at their own hand. How can that be?
Well, as the hilarity unfolds the reader will be astonished as to how in 176 pages one can explain five distinct differing perspectives while keeping a perpetual smile on your face. A sort of perfect storm metaphorically whine in the midst of a literal storm in Newville. I’m sure that was intentional, as are little subtleties that highlight the “wives” personalities. It’s not so much written as a who-done-it, but more like a what-I-was-doing- when!
And the “wives” are not confessing as such, but just recounting their actions on the day of Rich’s demise. Quite an inventive tale, told with no regard for literary convention, and the funny never stops! What a ride. Thank You to NetGalley and Scribner for an advanced DRC. Book drops Oct. 13, 2026
This is actually revealed in the first sentence of the publisher summary. “Rich Milford is dead. At last.” So, in a diversion from novel convention, Nafissa Thompson-Spires makes the town of Newville, a protagonist in this book finely infused with humor. So the town gives the reader perspective from the collective “We” and there are several chapters of Newville, where the “We” speaks. In between the Newville protagonist we get the perspective from the four “wives” really only one and three others who for various reasons decided to join Rich Milford’s home and his program.
Being that the story begins at Rich’s funeral, the fast paced novel only has to flesh out the four wives and housekeeper Alberta, to provide readers with context, motive, and perspective. The five deaths part of the title is alluding to the fact that each of these five women, have reason to believe that Rich died at their own hand. How can that be?
Well, as the hilarity unfolds the reader will be astonished as to how in 176 pages one can explain five distinct differing perspectives while keeping a perpetual smile on your face. A sort of perfect storm metaphorically whine in the midst of a literal storm in Newville. I’m sure that was intentional, as are little subtleties that highlight the “wives” personalities. It’s not so much written as a who-done-it, but more like a what-I-was-doing- when!
And the “wives” are not confessing as such, but just recounting their actions on the day of Rich’s demise. Quite an inventive tale, told with no regard for literary convention, and the funny never stops! What a ride. Thank You to NetGalley and Scribner for an advanced DRC. Book drops Oct. 13, 2026
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2026
You can show me all the historical evidence that people thought and talked the way this book was written and it still wouldn’t sway me: the tone of this book feels too put on and is a distraction. The narrative value sits somewhere between the song « You’re a Mean One Mr Grinch » and « Clue » the movie…not for me🤷🏼
July 9, 2026
That was a strange book.
October 13, 2026
If there’s one thing Richard Milford had an abundance of, it was audacity. The man seemingly believed he could manipulate his way through life, buy his way out of every humiliation he inflicted, and somehow remain the center of everyone’s universe. And the women in his life? Well, they certainly had their own brand of crazy going on! 😂
I picked this up as an October Book of the Month add-on, not really knowing what to expect, and it turned out to be one of the most unexpectedly entertaining books I’ve read lately.
What I particularly enjoyed was how Nafissa Thompson-Spires structured the story. Each of Richard’s four wives gets an opportunity to tell her side, and with every perspective, another layer of this deeply dysfunctional man and his complicated relationships comes into focus. The more I learned, the more I realized there wasn’t necessarily anyone worth rooting for.
And surprisingly, I was perfectly fine with that.
Richard was despicable, but the women weren’t without their own faults. Lolly’s repeated humiliation, Georgette’s complicated emotional attachments, Sophronia’s perspective on Richard as a father, and Vivian’s increasingly unsettling behavior all added something different to the story. What struck me was how these women, each damaged in their own way, seemed to find something in Richard that they believed they needed. Whether that was love, security, belonging, or the promise of a better life, their circumstances made their relationships fascinating, even when their decisions were absolutely maddening.
But one of my favorite elements was the town of Neuville itself. Those chapters sprinkled between the wives’ perspectives were brilliant! The gossip, the local newspaper, the community’s observations, and everyone’s fascination with the Milford family added a whole other level of humor. Honestly, I think I enjoyed the town more than any individual character. 😂
And speaking of humor, this book had me laughing out loud and shaking my head in disbelief more times than I could count. The dark comedy was easily one of its greatest strengths. Beneath the outrageous behavior and absurd situations, though, there were some interesting themes surrounding manipulation, privilege, emotional vulnerability, and the consequences of unchecked power.
The ending left me thinking about accountability and just how easily people can rationalize their own terrible behavior. It wasn’t necessarily the resolution I expected, but it was certainly fitting for a story where morality seemed to be negotiable and nearly everyone had something to hide.
So why 4.5 instead of five? There’s not necessarily one glaring flaw I can point to. I simply enjoyed the overall reading experience a little more than I loved the complete story. And sometimes that’s the difference.
This turned out to be exactly the palate cleanser I didn’t know I needed. Not because it was light or comforting, but because it was refreshingly different, wickedly funny, and completely unapologetic in its chaos.
I walked away without a single favorite character, but with absolutely no regrets about spending time with this wonderfully dysfunctional bunch.
And honestly? That’s an accomplishment all its own. 🖤
I picked this up as an October Book of the Month add-on, not really knowing what to expect, and it turned out to be one of the most unexpectedly entertaining books I’ve read lately.
What I particularly enjoyed was how Nafissa Thompson-Spires structured the story. Each of Richard’s four wives gets an opportunity to tell her side, and with every perspective, another layer of this deeply dysfunctional man and his complicated relationships comes into focus. The more I learned, the more I realized there wasn’t necessarily anyone worth rooting for.
And surprisingly, I was perfectly fine with that.
Richard was despicable, but the women weren’t without their own faults. Lolly’s repeated humiliation, Georgette’s complicated emotional attachments, Sophronia’s perspective on Richard as a father, and Vivian’s increasingly unsettling behavior all added something different to the story. What struck me was how these women, each damaged in their own way, seemed to find something in Richard that they believed they needed. Whether that was love, security, belonging, or the promise of a better life, their circumstances made their relationships fascinating, even when their decisions were absolutely maddening.
But one of my favorite elements was the town of Neuville itself. Those chapters sprinkled between the wives’ perspectives were brilliant! The gossip, the local newspaper, the community’s observations, and everyone’s fascination with the Milford family added a whole other level of humor. Honestly, I think I enjoyed the town more than any individual character. 😂
And speaking of humor, this book had me laughing out loud and shaking my head in disbelief more times than I could count. The dark comedy was easily one of its greatest strengths. Beneath the outrageous behavior and absurd situations, though, there were some interesting themes surrounding manipulation, privilege, emotional vulnerability, and the consequences of unchecked power.
The ending left me thinking about accountability and just how easily people can rationalize their own terrible behavior. It wasn’t necessarily the resolution I expected, but it was certainly fitting for a story where morality seemed to be negotiable and nearly everyone had something to hide.
So why 4.5 instead of five? There’s not necessarily one glaring flaw I can point to. I simply enjoyed the overall reading experience a little more than I loved the complete story. And sometimes that’s the difference.
This turned out to be exactly the palate cleanser I didn’t know I needed. Not because it was light or comforting, but because it was refreshingly different, wickedly funny, and completely unapologetic in its chaos.
I walked away without a single favorite character, but with absolutely no regrets about spending time with this wonderfully dysfunctional bunch.
And honestly? That’s an accomplishment all its own. 🖤
October 10, 2026
Happy Pub Week to 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑭𝑶𝑼𝑹 𝑾𝑰𝑽𝑬𝑺 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑭𝑰𝑽𝑬 𝑫𝑬𝑨𝑻𝑯𝑺 𝑶𝑭 𝑹𝑰𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑹𝑫 𝑴𝑰𝑳𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑫 𝒃𝒚 𝑵𝒂𝒇𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒂 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒔𝒐𝒏-𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒔, graciously #gifted to me by @scribnerbooks!
This slim novel begins with the funeral of the title character and has a peculiar narrative shift from a collective first person of the town of Newville that pops in between each of the four wives, all somewhat bookendeded by Agatha the cook. This quick and fascinating structure gives insight into this 1921 Oklahoma Black man who made it big and lives bigger...until he doesn't.
All of these pieces of the picture show a somewhat complicated man, but even more about the ways people can be drawn into devastating situations with few ways out. Everyone seems to have reasons disliking Richard, but as each tale comes forth, the darkly comedic truth comes to light. What the town does with the truth is a final finesse.
While only 162 pages (ARC), this quick read packs a punch with a whodunit in an entirely fresh and biting way that asks many questions of how charisma wields power, how vulnerability can entrap, how a community cultivates itself, and how much is too much to take?
This was so good. I loved every second. The structure allowed for surprising grace even as it propelled the how and why forward. I did add the @simon.audio with a stellar cast narration to my experience from @everand_us and I would absolutely recommend that as well!
This slim novel begins with the funeral of the title character and has a peculiar narrative shift from a collective first person of the town of Newville that pops in between each of the four wives, all somewhat bookendeded by Agatha the cook. This quick and fascinating structure gives insight into this 1921 Oklahoma Black man who made it big and lives bigger...until he doesn't.
All of these pieces of the picture show a somewhat complicated man, but even more about the ways people can be drawn into devastating situations with few ways out. Everyone seems to have reasons disliking Richard, but as each tale comes forth, the darkly comedic truth comes to light. What the town does with the truth is a final finesse.
While only 162 pages (ARC), this quick read packs a punch with a whodunit in an entirely fresh and biting way that asks many questions of how charisma wields power, how vulnerability can entrap, how a community cultivates itself, and how much is too much to take?
This was so good. I loved every second. The structure allowed for surprising grace even as it propelled the how and why forward. I did add the @simon.audio with a stellar cast narration to my experience from @everand_us and I would absolutely recommend that as well!
November 1, 2026
Really promising but underdelivered. I left feeling like it should have been much shorter or much longer.
The author could have delivered a punchy short story focused on her commentary on truth and allowed the ambiguous ending to really hit.
Or much longer as a historical epic, allowing us to emotionally connect with the characters and the sense of time and place.
As it is, it tried to do both and didn’t succeed at either.
Overall, the writing was great and it had some poignant moments. It just didn't emotional connect with me.
The author could have delivered a punchy short story focused on her commentary on truth and allowed the ambiguous ending to really hit.
Or much longer as a historical epic, allowing us to emotionally connect with the characters and the sense of time and place.
As it is, it tried to do both and didn’t succeed at either.
Overall, the writing was great and it had some poignant moments. It just didn't emotional connect with me.
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