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Two Widows
I’d grown desperate for company since the discovery of the dead woman in town…
Gloria lives alone in an old farmhouse surrounded by empty land, miles from the nearest town in northern Michigan. Widowed and grieving her husband, mourning her broken relationship with her estranged son, lonely Gloria searches for answers in self-help books and has only faded photographs and stacks of unpaid bills for company. Her days all look the same.
Then the dead body of an unidentified young woman is found on the beach near Gloria’s house.
When freelance travel writer Beth arrives with her trailer to live on Gloria’s land, Gloria is relieved not to be alone. The police have no suspects in the murder and fearless Beth makes Gloria feel safe. Then Gloria discovers Beth is a widow too: the women become closer and begin to share their secrets.
But soon Gloria starts to wonder… what does she actually know about Beth? About what brought her to this isolated spot? About how her husband really died? Is it a coincidence that she’s arrived just as this small town has seen its first murder in decades?
Gloria thought that Beth had told her all her secrets. She was wrong.
A deeply compelling suspense novel that will have you hooked, Two Widows is a gripping thriller that will keep you up all night. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, The Couple Next Door and The Woman in the Window.
Gloria lives alone in an old farmhouse surrounded by empty land, miles from the nearest town in northern Michigan. Widowed and grieving her husband, mourning her broken relationship with her estranged son, lonely Gloria searches for answers in self-help books and has only faded photographs and stacks of unpaid bills for company. Her days all look the same.
Then the dead body of an unidentified young woman is found on the beach near Gloria’s house.
When freelance travel writer Beth arrives with her trailer to live on Gloria’s land, Gloria is relieved not to be alone. The police have no suspects in the murder and fearless Beth makes Gloria feel safe. Then Gloria discovers Beth is a widow too: the women become closer and begin to share their secrets.
But soon Gloria starts to wonder… what does she actually know about Beth? About what brought her to this isolated spot? About how her husband really died? Is it a coincidence that she’s arrived just as this small town has seen its first murder in decades?
Gloria thought that Beth had told her all her secrets. She was wrong.
A deeply compelling suspense novel that will have you hooked, Two Widows is a gripping thriller that will keep you up all night. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, The Couple Next Door and The Woman in the Window.
308 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2020
2066 people are currently reading
907 people want to read
About the author
Laura Wolfe
12 books333 followersLaura Wolfe is a bestselling author of twisty, fast-paced psychological thrillers. Her books include a 2024 Silver Falchion Award Winner (PROM QUEEN) and a 2024 ITW Award Nominee (THE IN-LAWS). Laura loves animals and nature. When she's not working on her next book, you can find her hiking through the woods, doting on her rescue dog, or binge-watching true crime documentaries and calling it research. She enjoys living with her husband, son, and daughter in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
July 21, 2020
Two Widows is a thriller about....and stay with me, here....two widows. I really liked the creativity of the story: that two widows from different generations could become friends when one of them moved in next door with her tiny house. (If you don’t know what a tiny house is, Google it or read this book...you will be fascinated and amazed.) In addition to the two widows and the tiny house, there is a mysterious tenant, a cheating husband, and a possible serial killer running around. Lots of potential for drama! The writer does a very good job unfolding the story suspensefully and it was a fun setup.
I was very interested for the first 70 percent of the book or so. The mystery has a solid plot and a lot of good red herrings. For me though, the direction the book took in the last third or so was somewhat anti-climactic and disappointing. I thought a couple of the red herrings would have made better resolutions and was hoping for a final shocking twist. Nevertheless, still a solid thriller if you’re in the mood for an ably written page-turning mystery that is a quick read.
Thanks to Laura Wolfe, Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance copy! ⭐️3.5 stars⭐️
I was very interested for the first 70 percent of the book or so. The mystery has a solid plot and a lot of good red herrings. For me though, the direction the book took in the last third or so was somewhat anti-climactic and disappointing. I thought a couple of the red herrings would have made better resolutions and was hoping for a final shocking twist. Nevertheless, still a solid thriller if you’re in the mood for an ably written page-turning mystery that is a quick read.
Thanks to Laura Wolfe, Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance copy! ⭐️3.5 stars⭐️
July 8, 2020
Two Widows by Laura Wolfe is a novel that almost slipped through my net, but I am so happy to say that it did not. This is a most impressive debut, and I am adding Ms Wolfe to my list of authors to watch.
Gloria is grieving the death of her husband and reading self help books as a way to strengthen her resolve to continue her life as an independent and capable woman when Beth enters her life. Beth pays Gloria to rent some space on her property and plans to park her tiny house on it for the forseeable future. Lonely Gloria is only too happy for the company, and the women quickly bond, with Beth revealing that she has also recently lost her husband to a tragic accident. Gloria is desperate for the companionship that will sustain her, but has she mislaid her trust in the mysterious new tenant?
This was a compelling mystery from the very start, and it kept me guessing until the very end. I enjoyed the alternating perspectives of the two women, and found myself emotionally invested in both of their stories in equal measure. I will definitely be on the lookout for more from this exciting new author in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
Gloria is grieving the death of her husband and reading self help books as a way to strengthen her resolve to continue her life as an independent and capable woman when Beth enters her life. Beth pays Gloria to rent some space on her property and plans to park her tiny house on it for the forseeable future. Lonely Gloria is only too happy for the company, and the women quickly bond, with Beth revealing that she has also recently lost her husband to a tragic accident. Gloria is desperate for the companionship that will sustain her, but has she mislaid her trust in the mysterious new tenant?
This was a compelling mystery from the very start, and it kept me guessing until the very end. I enjoyed the alternating perspectives of the two women, and found myself emotionally invested in both of their stories in equal measure. I will definitely be on the lookout for more from this exciting new author in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
August 25, 2020
Gloria lives in an old farmhouse surrounded by empty land. She's widowed and grieves her husband and mourns her broken relationship with her son, Ethan. The body of an unidentified young woman was found on the beach near Gloria's house. Freelance travel writer, Beth arrived with her trailer to live on Gloria's land. Gloria is relieved not to be living on her own. When Gloria learns that Beth is a widow, they become close friends and begin to share secrets.
Two women from different generations become friends. The story is told in alternating chapters by Gloria and Beth. Beth's point of view was told in the past. The murder mystery was interesting. The story touches on: betrayal friendship and love. There's lots going on in this book including two murders. The ending is satisfactory.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Laura Wolfe for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Two women from different generations become friends. The story is told in alternating chapters by Gloria and Beth. Beth's point of view was told in the past. The murder mystery was interesting. The story touches on: betrayal friendship and love. There's lots going on in this book including two murders. The ending is satisfactory.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Laura Wolfe for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2020
Gloria lives in northern Michigan on a decent but remote patch of land. 2 years ago her husband died of colon cancer and now she often feels lonely. She lost contact with her son Ethan after reacting badly on his revelation that he’s gay, something she now regrets. The zealot ladies of her church ostracised her for being the mother of a gay person. So now she’s stuck in a rut with only a pile of self-help books to keep her company. When a woman is found dead on a nearby beach, she feels a bit uncomfortable with living so far away. She puts up an advert for the apartment above her garage because money is tight. But when a younger woman asks to lease part of her field to park her trailer (sorry, tiny house), she accepts. When they find out that they’re both widows, they connect pretty well and become friends. Gloria starts thinking of Beth as the daughter she never had. The same week, she rents the apartment to Joe, a painter but Beth doesn’t seem very pleased with the new neighbour.
When Gloria seems him going into the woods at night with something that looks like a rifle, she starts to worry that he could be the killer. Personally, I don’t believe those lurk in the woods at night to search for victims. But who knows?
Beth tells that she’s a travel writer with an assignment to write a series of articles about the area. Gloria introduces her to Amanda, her former tenant as a source for information. Then, the young woman goes missing. But after a while, Gloria notices that some of the things that Beth tells aren’t true.
The story of the friendship between the 2 women is told by Gloria alone. After every chapter, there’s another one about what happened in the past, told by Beth. She starts out as a happily married woman who just finds out about being pregnant. She’s a successful journalist and her husband is a hotshot investment banker. But things go awry. It’s clear that she’s hiding certain things about her past from Gloria, but that’s not a crime, is it? Is she feigning her friendship? Is she a killer? All those things are possibilities that are merely hinted at and never said outright. Suspicion creeps upon you, the more you learn about her past. But all those things have to be considered in the right light and with the circumstances taken into the account. Sometimes things aren’t what they appear to be and other times they are.
It’s a very slow book, only in the last quarter things pick up a bit and actions start to happen. The largest part is more a feel-good story that focuses on the different sorts of family- and friendship- relations and their dynamics. The whole segment about Beth’s mum, dad, and sister is drawn out too long for a psychological thriller. It’s not a bad book, but the blurb and the classification are a bit misleading. It was not what I expected. I kept on waiting for the misleading or creepy to happen and stir up the tension, but the suspense was on a rather low level. Now the last quart of the book was great, with an emotional ending. But I guess this book wasn’t exactly my thing.
I thank Bookouture and Netgalley for a free ARC; this is my honest unbiased review of it.
When Gloria seems him going into the woods at night with something that looks like a rifle, she starts to worry that he could be the killer. Personally, I don’t believe those lurk in the woods at night to search for victims. But who knows?
Beth tells that she’s a travel writer with an assignment to write a series of articles about the area. Gloria introduces her to Amanda, her former tenant as a source for information. Then, the young woman goes missing. But after a while, Gloria notices that some of the things that Beth tells aren’t true.
The story of the friendship between the 2 women is told by Gloria alone. After every chapter, there’s another one about what happened in the past, told by Beth. She starts out as a happily married woman who just finds out about being pregnant. She’s a successful journalist and her husband is a hotshot investment banker. But things go awry. It’s clear that she’s hiding certain things about her past from Gloria, but that’s not a crime, is it? Is she feigning her friendship? Is she a killer? All those things are possibilities that are merely hinted at and never said outright. Suspicion creeps upon you, the more you learn about her past. But all those things have to be considered in the right light and with the circumstances taken into the account. Sometimes things aren’t what they appear to be and other times they are.
It’s a very slow book, only in the last quarter things pick up a bit and actions start to happen. The largest part is more a feel-good story that focuses on the different sorts of family- and friendship- relations and their dynamics. The whole segment about Beth’s mum, dad, and sister is drawn out too long for a psychological thriller. It’s not a bad book, but the blurb and the classification are a bit misleading. It was not what I expected. I kept on waiting for the misleading or creepy to happen and stir up the tension, but the suspense was on a rather low level. Now the last quart of the book was great, with an emotional ending. But I guess this book wasn’t exactly my thing.
I thank Bookouture and Netgalley for a free ARC; this is my honest unbiased review of it.
August 25, 2020
Gloria lives in an old farmhouse surrounded by empty land. She's widowed and grieves her husband and mourns her broken relationship with her son, Ethan. The body of an unidentified young woman was found on the beach near Gloria's house. Freelance travel writer, Betharrives with her trailer to live on Gloria's land. Gloria was relieved not to be living on her own. When Gloria learns that Beth is a widow, they become close friends and begin to share secrets.
Two women from different generations become friends. The story is told in alternating chapters by Gloria and Beth. Be tv's point of view is told in the past. The murder mystery was interesting. The story touches on: betrayal, friendship and love. There's lots going on in this book including two murders. The ending is satisfactory.
Two women from different generations become friends. The story is told in alternating chapters by Gloria and Beth. Be tv's point of view is told in the past. The murder mystery was interesting. The story touches on: betrayal, friendship and love. There's lots going on in this book including two murders. The ending is satisfactory.
December 24, 2021
3 stars
You can read all of my reviews at NerdGirlLovesBooks.
This was an easy-to-read mystery/thriller set in northern Michigan.
Gloria is a lonely widow living in a house far out in the country. She is grieving the loss of her husband, doesn't have any friends, and is estranged from her only child, a son that lives in San Francisco. She tries to improve her life by reading self-help books and taking their suggested actions.
Gloria rents out an area in a field near her house to Beth, a freelance travel journalist driving through the country with a tiny house on a trailer. When she discovers that Beth is also a widow, Gloria hopes that Beth can become the friend that she really needs. Gloria also rents an apartment over her garage to an artist that needs a central location from which to attend various art fairs in the region.
Glora is concerned about the recent murder of a young woman near her house, and is thankful to have more people living near her house. When another young girl is reported missing, tensions rise. As Gloria observes the erratic behavior of her tenants, she begins to wonder what, exactly, she really knows about them. Their recent arrival in the area is suspicious and she begins to wonder if they could be involved.
The beginning of the book is slow. The author repeatedly brought up the events that occurred at Gloria's church and her estrangement with her son. This repetition isn't necessary (the events are not complicated) and it became irritating the more it was done. Most of the storylines were predictable and I was able to figure them out early in the book, but there were a couple surprises in the book. Even though I knew a lot of what was going to happen, it was still fun to see how the author got there. The book ends in a predictable, clean and tidy way, but that's ok. It was expected.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture for an honest review.
You can read all of my reviews at NerdGirlLovesBooks.
This was an easy-to-read mystery/thriller set in northern Michigan.
Gloria is a lonely widow living in a house far out in the country. She is grieving the loss of her husband, doesn't have any friends, and is estranged from her only child, a son that lives in San Francisco. She tries to improve her life by reading self-help books and taking their suggested actions.
Gloria rents out an area in a field near her house to Beth, a freelance travel journalist driving through the country with a tiny house on a trailer. When she discovers that Beth is also a widow, Gloria hopes that Beth can become the friend that she really needs. Gloria also rents an apartment over her garage to an artist that needs a central location from which to attend various art fairs in the region.
Glora is concerned about the recent murder of a young woman near her house, and is thankful to have more people living near her house. When another young girl is reported missing, tensions rise. As Gloria observes the erratic behavior of her tenants, she begins to wonder what, exactly, she really knows about them. Their recent arrival in the area is suspicious and she begins to wonder if they could be involved.
The beginning of the book is slow. The author repeatedly brought up the events that occurred at Gloria's church and her estrangement with her son. This repetition isn't necessary (the events are not complicated) and it became irritating the more it was done. Most of the storylines were predictable and I was able to figure them out early in the book, but there were a couple surprises in the book. Even though I knew a lot of what was going to happen, it was still fun to see how the author got there. The book ends in a predictable, clean and tidy way, but that's ok. It was expected.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture for an honest review.
July 3, 2020
Two widows who connect through their stories of having lost a loved one and trying to explore new parameters of life.
Gloria lives alone in an old farmhouse. Widowed and grieving her husband, mourning her broken relationship with her estranged son, lonely Gloria searches for answers in self-help books.
Beth, freelance travel writer arrives with her trailer to live on Gloria’s land. Gloria is relieved not to be alone and feels safe.
But then two young women are found murdered in decades. Gloria starts to wonder… what does she actually know about Beth?
I found this book very well written. The book is narrated in alternating chapters between Gloria and Beth. I liked the character development of both the Gloria and Beth, wherein their past and present was revealed so as to gradually lead up to the suspense part of the book.
It was a page-turner for me with all the twists and secrets. I had made so many guesses but all of them turned wrong.
My only disappointment after reading this book, was its ending. After such an amazing plot throughout the book, it just kind of felt flat for me.
But keeping that aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
Thank You to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!!
Gloria lives alone in an old farmhouse. Widowed and grieving her husband, mourning her broken relationship with her estranged son, lonely Gloria searches for answers in self-help books.
Beth, freelance travel writer arrives with her trailer to live on Gloria’s land. Gloria is relieved not to be alone and feels safe.
But then two young women are found murdered in decades. Gloria starts to wonder… what does she actually know about Beth?
I found this book very well written. The book is narrated in alternating chapters between Gloria and Beth. I liked the character development of both the Gloria and Beth, wherein their past and present was revealed so as to gradually lead up to the suspense part of the book.
It was a page-turner for me with all the twists and secrets. I had made so many guesses but all of them turned wrong.
My only disappointment after reading this book, was its ending. After such an amazing plot throughout the book, it just kind of felt flat for me.
But keeping that aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
Thank You to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!!
June 28, 2020
this is so good .Elizabeth has it all lovely house loving husband and they are expecting a baby but does she have it all .Gloria lives on her own now as her husband has passed away .i so do not want to give the plot away so its a must read how it all comes together is brilliant .
August 28, 2020
Whoa!! A thriller which transformed into absolute girl power!! Woohoo. My first book by the talented author Laura Wolfe, and you betcha I had fun times with the story. It was wonderful how 3 characters could twist and turn the book on its vertices and leave me so well entrenched in my own theories of what could have happened and where it was headed.
GLORIA the widow who preferred her solitude after her son moved away from her due to a disagreement. Beth, recently bereaved, who rented the field from Gloria for her tiny house. JOE a new lodger with suspicious movements.
The story revolved around them, and the author built up so much of suspense that I could barely let go of my kindle. I was a bundle of excitement. I had to know the secrets buried in their hearts. Furtive actions were the norm, and Gloria was quite a sleuth when she tried to get to the bottom of things.
A dead body, or two, made the plotline murkier along with shaded backgrounds of all the characters. Richly told to me in dual timelines Gloria in the present and Beth in her past, the author subtly weaved her magic by making me so immersed in their lives. Emotions raged through me at their tough times, empathy at others. I had to admit at times, I was more vengeant than the characters.
The book was a brilliant showcase for the author’s writing. I was glued to my kindle for a couple of hours. Time so well spent. A captivating read.
GLORIA the widow who preferred her solitude after her son moved away from her due to a disagreement. Beth, recently bereaved, who rented the field from Gloria for her tiny house. JOE a new lodger with suspicious movements.
The story revolved around them, and the author built up so much of suspense that I could barely let go of my kindle. I was a bundle of excitement. I had to know the secrets buried in their hearts. Furtive actions were the norm, and Gloria was quite a sleuth when she tried to get to the bottom of things.
A dead body, or two, made the plotline murkier along with shaded backgrounds of all the characters. Richly told to me in dual timelines Gloria in the present and Beth in her past, the author subtly weaved her magic by making me so immersed in their lives. Emotions raged through me at their tough times, empathy at others. I had to admit at times, I was more vengeant than the characters.
The book was a brilliant showcase for the author’s writing. I was glued to my kindle for a couple of hours. Time so well spent. A captivating read.
August 9, 2020
Wow! An outstanding book! A stunner. Just wonderful. I could not put this book down. One of my standout reads of the year! I loved Gloria so very much and was rooting for her. Beautiful writing, pacy, suspenseful and brilliant story. Please read this book.
June 17, 2025
I enjoyed reading this thriller/murder mystery all the way to the end.
Gloria is grieving from the loss of her husband Charlie. Gloria sister Caroline is a recovering drug addict.
Beth is widowed and has loss her 19 week pregnant son when she had a car accident.
The girls become friends and start to share their past and secrets.
Very good story all the way to the end.
Gloria is grieving from the loss of her husband Charlie. Gloria sister Caroline is a recovering drug addict.
Beth is widowed and has loss her 19 week pregnant son when she had a car accident.
The girls become friends and start to share their past and secrets.
Very good story all the way to the end.
June 29, 2020
Thank you to netgalley and Bookouture for the arc of Two widows by Laura Wolfe.
This follows a woman named Gloria in whom lives alone in her farmhouse in which is fully neighboured by empty acres of land, this is miles from any nearest town, she is a Widow and is hardly grieving her husband's death and she is mourning for her broken relationship with her son whom she is estranged too, so she is lonely and all on her own she she ends up searches and delving for answers and help from self-help books and has only photographs in which have severely faded and she had stacks upon stacks of unpaid bills. Then mysteriously the dead body of an unidentified young woman is found upon on the beach near her house....
but When freelance travel writer Beth comes with her trailer to live on her land in which makes her so happy to not be alone anymore but the thing curiously is that the police have no suspects for the murder which occured so Beth makes her feel much safer to have someone else nearby... Turns out which Beth is a widow as well so the both of them bond and become closer and get to know each other they start in which to share secrets with each other... she thought that Beth had told her all her secrets she was hiding but She was wrong.
I loved this book, read within 1 day, it had me gripped wanting more as of their secrets and all the twists which happen it was well written and loved it
5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This follows a woman named Gloria in whom lives alone in her farmhouse in which is fully neighboured by empty acres of land, this is miles from any nearest town, she is a Widow and is hardly grieving her husband's death and she is mourning for her broken relationship with her son whom she is estranged too, so she is lonely and all on her own she she ends up searches and delving for answers and help from self-help books and has only photographs in which have severely faded and she had stacks upon stacks of unpaid bills. Then mysteriously the dead body of an unidentified young woman is found upon on the beach near her house....
but When freelance travel writer Beth comes with her trailer to live on her land in which makes her so happy to not be alone anymore but the thing curiously is that the police have no suspects for the murder which occured so Beth makes her feel much safer to have someone else nearby... Turns out which Beth is a widow as well so the both of them bond and become closer and get to know each other they start in which to share secrets with each other... she thought that Beth had told her all her secrets she was hiding but She was wrong.
I loved this book, read within 1 day, it had me gripped wanting more as of their secrets and all the twists which happen it was well written and loved it
5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
March 29, 2021
Review coming soon.
July 3, 2020
This was a super fast paced read. Told in alternating points of view, it's the story of Gloria, an older woman living alone on a huge farm, and Beth, a younger woman who rents land from her to park her tiny house. Both women are recently widowed and seem to have nothing in common, but become fast friends. Central to the story is a string of unsolved murders happening nearby.
I enjoyed the cadence of the alternating chapters- the ones from Beth's perspective were told in the past, and explained the chain of events leading up to the present, which was told in Gloria's chapters. I found both women to be endearing, albeit a little naive, and their friendship felt realistic.
The murder mystery was interesting and provided me some surprises, though I do feel like it all got wrapped up a little too quickly- there was a lot leading up to it and then it tied everything together abruptly, Along those same lines, pretty much every problem anyone encountered in the book got solved without much work- it felt like an issue was identified, an action was taken to fix it, and then everything was fine. It would have been good to have a little more conflict, or at least perseverance, throughout.
That aside, I liked the book and I stayed up late to finish it. I'd be interested in reading other books by this author. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the cadence of the alternating chapters- the ones from Beth's perspective were told in the past, and explained the chain of events leading up to the present, which was told in Gloria's chapters. I found both women to be endearing, albeit a little naive, and their friendship felt realistic.
The murder mystery was interesting and provided me some surprises, though I do feel like it all got wrapped up a little too quickly- there was a lot leading up to it and then it tied everything together abruptly, Along those same lines, pretty much every problem anyone encountered in the book got solved without much work- it felt like an issue was identified, an action was taken to fix it, and then everything was fine. It would have been good to have a little more conflict, or at least perseverance, throughout.
That aside, I liked the book and I stayed up late to finish it. I'd be interested in reading other books by this author. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2020
Two Widows is a thriller that tells the story of two different women with quite contrasted lives. Gloria lives in northern Michigan in a rural farmhouse, where she had resided with her husband and her son. Elizabeth is just starting out her life, with a handsome husband to call her own and some big news for their future. Their lives intertwine into a story that will leave you on the edge of your seat trying to decipher how it will ultimately resolve.
I really enjoyed this read! I was hooked from the beginning, and thought I had everything figured out. The clues that the author gives lead you in a pretty straightforward direction, until the plot shifts and you are led down a completely different trail. I would definitely look forward to reading other books by Laura Wolfe after reading this. Thank you NetGalley for an amazing read!
I really enjoyed this read! I was hooked from the beginning, and thought I had everything figured out. The clues that the author gives lead you in a pretty straightforward direction, until the plot shifts and you are led down a completely different trail. I would definitely look forward to reading other books by Laura Wolfe after reading this. Thank you NetGalley for an amazing read!
July 5, 2020
Two Widows has many twists and turns to the plot. Gloria lives alone until a young woman pulls in with her tiny house. They form a friendship, but then Beth's actions become odd and suspicious. Readers learn about Beth' story and all the anguish she endured. The ending is satisfactory. This book kept my attention. I had to keep reading without breaks so I knew what happened. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 27, 2020
I absolutely loved this book from the first page! Gloria is a widow who is feeling a financial pinch so she rents space in a field to Elizabeth (Beth) Ramsey for the summer for her "tiny home." Shortly after that, she rents her garage apartment to Joe Miles, an artist, who is a little rough around the edges. Gloria feels safer with her two renters because there was a recent murder in town and then another one. The story is told in a now and then format with Gloria and Elizabeth as the narrators. Lots of exciting things happen in this book and it kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. What I liked best about this book is the fact that it took place in Northern Michigan, my home state, so every town they mentioned brought back memories for me. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this fantastic read in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to future books from Author Laura Wolfe.
August 9, 2020
Omg can you inhale a book. I read it in one sitting. Such a pageturner. I never knew what was coming up Next..
September 28, 2020
I binge-read the entire book this weekend as summer turned to fall as I cozied up in bed! This is a very strong debut from Laura Wolfe and definitely an author to watch.
Two Widows is an atmospheric suspense set in the Michigan countryside. The story is told from two different points of view: Gloria, an elderly lady who is a church-goer, a widow, and a mother to a grown-up gay man living in San Francisco, and thirty-year-old Beth, also a widow, with a disturbing past.
Gloria is still grieving the loss of her husband, Charlie, and gets comfort from a particular self-help book. Along comes thirty-year-old Beth, who rents a small piece of Gloria's land, living in her "tiny house" (a cool and beautiful alternative to a trailer, that Beth can hook up on her truck and tow with her).
The book alternates between Beth's past and Gloria's present. We find out, little by little, about the devastation Beth has left behind and her dark, dangerous secrets. Why is her husband dead? What is she running from and why is she here?
What I loved about this novel most was the portrait of Gloria, so well painted. She is a woman in the middle of a life-changing transformation, helped along by Beth. You can't help but root for her all the way. Along comes, in the middle of all the intrigue, a male tenant, an artist (or is he?) who leases the room above Gloria's garage. Meanwhile, there has been a murder, a young woman found dead in the nearby town. Danger lurks around every corner.
The tale is tense, slow-burn, with a cast of fascinating characters, and set in beautiful Northern Michigan. It made me want to buy a tiny house and explore this gorgeous state (especially as my mom was from Michigan!)
Bravo, Laura, for bringing us this suspenseful tale of friendship, hardship, betrayal, and murder. I enjoyed every minute!
Two Widows is an atmospheric suspense set in the Michigan countryside. The story is told from two different points of view: Gloria, an elderly lady who is a church-goer, a widow, and a mother to a grown-up gay man living in San Francisco, and thirty-year-old Beth, also a widow, with a disturbing past.
Gloria is still grieving the loss of her husband, Charlie, and gets comfort from a particular self-help book. Along comes thirty-year-old Beth, who rents a small piece of Gloria's land, living in her "tiny house" (a cool and beautiful alternative to a trailer, that Beth can hook up on her truck and tow with her).
The book alternates between Beth's past and Gloria's present. We find out, little by little, about the devastation Beth has left behind and her dark, dangerous secrets. Why is her husband dead? What is she running from and why is she here?
What I loved about this novel most was the portrait of Gloria, so well painted. She is a woman in the middle of a life-changing transformation, helped along by Beth. You can't help but root for her all the way. Along comes, in the middle of all the intrigue, a male tenant, an artist (or is he?) who leases the room above Gloria's garage. Meanwhile, there has been a murder, a young woman found dead in the nearby town. Danger lurks around every corner.
The tale is tense, slow-burn, with a cast of fascinating characters, and set in beautiful Northern Michigan. It made me want to buy a tiny house and explore this gorgeous state (especially as my mom was from Michigan!)
Bravo, Laura, for bringing us this suspenseful tale of friendship, hardship, betrayal, and murder. I enjoyed every minute!
August 6, 2020
Wow what a read full of suspense.This book touches on betrayal , love,friendship and acceptance . Lots of twist and turns and suspense I highly recommend this book the ending was not what I expected
August 30, 2020
The chapters of this intricately plotted thriller alternated between the perspectives of Elizabeth (before) and Gloria (now) two diverse, strong willed characters who came from opposite sides of the social divide. The before chapters covered Elizabeth's marriage to Jason, her interactions with her troubled sister and the events leading up to Jason's death. I couldn't avoid not feeling a lot of sympathy for Elizabeth as she was put through hell and her perfect life crumbled into pieces around her. The now chapters introduced us to Gloria, a older lady who had inadvertently pushed her beloved son Ethan away and lived a lonely, isolated life in her old farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. Throughout the book, I struggled to decide whether I liked Gloria or not, she was a complex character who could be very judgemental at times, interfering and just a bit clingy and obsessive. Maybe her behaviour was affected by her continuing grief over the death of her beloved husband? Or maybe she was just lonely and not used to interacting with other people? There was numerous moments when I felt like reaching into my kindle, giving her a good shaking and demanding to know what the hell she thought she was doing. This story didn't have a large cast of characters but the ones who did appear were a mixed bag of realistic individuals. Some likeable, some not so likeable and a few who were not who they appeared to be.
This gripping story is a enthralling blend of domestic drama, murder mystery and psychological thriller that hooks the reader in, keeps you guessing and totally mesmerized as the two women's stories unfolded before your captivated eyes. The author's words flowed with ease, the moving between the two time frames never felt disjointed and many of the chapters ended on a cliff hanger, giving the reader a very bad case of just one more chapter syndrome. This is a extremely well written debut thriller and I look forward to reading more of this author's books in the future.
This gripping story is a enthralling blend of domestic drama, murder mystery and psychological thriller that hooks the reader in, keeps you guessing and totally mesmerized as the two women's stories unfolded before your captivated eyes. The author's words flowed with ease, the moving between the two time frames never felt disjointed and many of the chapters ended on a cliff hanger, giving the reader a very bad case of just one more chapter syndrome. This is a extremely well written debut thriller and I look forward to reading more of this author's books in the future.
August 15, 2020
This book was provided to me from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is written from 2 different points of views/timelines, Gloria is Now and Beth is Before. Gloria, a widow rents out a piece of her land to Beth, who owns a "tiny house". Gloria also has a garage apartment, that she rents out to Joe, an artist. Gloria's husband Charlie has died and she is all alone and befriends Beth. Beth is also a widow, but her story leads up to Gloria's current timeline. This was very well written and was not confusing. I really enjoyed this story. I liked the back and forth and it made you understand the events of "now". There was enough suspense and mystery to keep me reading. I was never bored. A woman's body is discovered right be Beth moves in. And a little time later, Amanda, Beth's new friend and Gloria's former renter is missing. Thank you bookouur, netgalley and Laura Wolfe for this book.
March 18, 2021
Last 60% was really good.
August 5, 2020
Two Widows was a nice thriller you could really get your teeth into. I really liked the main characters, Gloria and Beth, thought the plot line flowed well and found this book really hard to put down. A very enjoyable read that I can highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.
August 1, 2020
Two widows from entirely different worlds and generations come together.
The chapters alternate between the two main characters and I loved how the characters develop thoughout the book and the connections they shared!
Full of drama, suspense and suspicion.
The chapters alternate between the two main characters and I loved how the characters develop thoughout the book and the connections they shared!
Full of drama, suspense and suspicion.
June 22, 2020
I received this ARC from @Netgalley. I have to say it was extremely refreshing to read a thriller that wasn't predictable. There was a lot of moving factors and I thought I had it all figured out until about 85% when the truth was discovered. This book is a great discovery book, not only of the characters self reflection but the solving of TWO small town mysteries. Each character grows within the storyline and the author brings up some controversial topics and how the main character struggles with acceptance and chooses family over small town bullies. The only con of this story is I was not gripping the book needing to finish. I enjoyed the story overall and would recommend it but its a light read and great for true crime lovers and investigating readers.
#dowtimereading
#dowtimereading
September 7, 2020
Wow, what a book! Well written, suspense dripping, thrill giving, chill inducing, and so much more! Written in an amazing way, which provided insight to the characters in a way that I felt really let you take in more stories than one! I will definitely be looking for more by this author, who knows how to write in such a way that you gave a hard time putting down the book! My recommendation, don’t delay, grab today!
Will buzz around and use lower amazon reviewer number!
Will buzz around and use lower amazon reviewer number!
July 1, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for the ARC which I received in exchange for my honest review. Two Widows is a domestic thriller told in a dual narration by Gloria and Beth. Gloria is an older woman who lives on an isolated farm. Gloria has been widowed for about two years and is struggling both financially and emotionally after the death of her husband. A formerly religious woman, Gloria mishandled her adult son's disclosure regarding his sexual orientation and thus finds herself alone and forced to rent out a portion of her property in order to make ends meet. Beth is a young widow who rents out a field on Gloria's property to temporarily park her tiny house while she conducts research for a travel magazine/blog.
Although there are some 30 years between them, the women form an unlikely but ultimately unbreakable bond. The author uses the clever device of plotting the book in alternating chapters from Gloria's view in the present to Beth's view from the past. Although there is an underlying murder mystery (multiple murders in fact) this book is at its core a character study of two women who overcome heartache and make a conscious choice to embrace love and forgiveness. The author tackles some really tough topics in a very clever manner and I was actively rooting for both Gloria and Beth.
The novel has some twists and turns and was a fast-paced read. Although I felt that the wrap up of the murder mystery was a little too neat and tidy and thus a bit unrealistic, I was so invested in both Gloria and Beth that it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. The ending was quite emotionally satisfying and I highly recommend placing this novel on your summer reading list.
Although there are some 30 years between them, the women form an unlikely but ultimately unbreakable bond. The author uses the clever device of plotting the book in alternating chapters from Gloria's view in the present to Beth's view from the past. Although there is an underlying murder mystery (multiple murders in fact) this book is at its core a character study of two women who overcome heartache and make a conscious choice to embrace love and forgiveness. The author tackles some really tough topics in a very clever manner and I was actively rooting for both Gloria and Beth.
The novel has some twists and turns and was a fast-paced read. Although I felt that the wrap up of the murder mystery was a little too neat and tidy and thus a bit unrealistic, I was so invested in both Gloria and Beth that it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. The ending was quite emotionally satisfying and I highly recommend placing this novel on your summer reading list.
August 27, 2020
Gloria is widow living alone in her farmhouse surrounded by vacant land. She has recently leased some land to a new tenant, Beth Ramsey. She has brought a tiny house on a trailer. It is so efficient. She is a freelance writer about popular destinations in Michigan.
Gloria’s husband, Charlie, died two years ago and she finds living alone to be quite difficult. Her son is gay and lives in California. She has not heard from him in quite awhile. She had allowed her homophobic church friends to influence her opinion of his lifestyle. Thus, they are at odds with one another and Gloria regrets allowing others to influence her.
Gloria has a small apartment to rent above her garage. A scruffy man, calling himself Charlie, shows up inquiring about the apartment. He is an artist and can pay upfront. She had recently rented to a local girl. Gloria is a bit hesitant to rent to a man, but agrees. She needs the money to supplement her small income.
Soon, a woman is found murdered on a nearby beach which frightens Gloria. She is more aware of keeping her doors locked. She and Beth become close and share about their lives. Gloria truly enjoys her company. Gloria is trying hard to become a better person through self-help books.
The story goes back and forth telling the reader about Beth’s past. It’s quite compelling and we wonder what she’s capable of. Could she be a murderer?
This was a terrific story that took awhile to build. At first I thought it seemed rather slow and repetitive, but toward the end, it quickly grew quite frightening and I found myself rooting for Beth. Why, you may ask. Well you have to read this one. It’s good.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Gloria’s husband, Charlie, died two years ago and she finds living alone to be quite difficult. Her son is gay and lives in California. She has not heard from him in quite awhile. She had allowed her homophobic church friends to influence her opinion of his lifestyle. Thus, they are at odds with one another and Gloria regrets allowing others to influence her.
Gloria has a small apartment to rent above her garage. A scruffy man, calling himself Charlie, shows up inquiring about the apartment. He is an artist and can pay upfront. She had recently rented to a local girl. Gloria is a bit hesitant to rent to a man, but agrees. She needs the money to supplement her small income.
Soon, a woman is found murdered on a nearby beach which frightens Gloria. She is more aware of keeping her doors locked. She and Beth become close and share about their lives. Gloria truly enjoys her company. Gloria is trying hard to become a better person through self-help books.
The story goes back and forth telling the reader about Beth’s past. It’s quite compelling and we wonder what she’s capable of. Could she be a murderer?
This was a terrific story that took awhile to build. At first I thought it seemed rather slow and repetitive, but toward the end, it quickly grew quite frightening and I found myself rooting for Beth. Why, you may ask. Well you have to read this one. It’s good.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
August 31, 2020
Two Widows by Laura Wolfe is a pyschological thriller that had me immediately. This is the first time I have read anything by this author and if this book is anything to go by, it won't be the last.
The story is told by two women, Grace and Beth. Beth narrates the past and Grace the present. We learn of Beths past marriage and events leading up to her husband Jasons death and we see the tragedy as her perfect life crumbles Beth drew a lot of sympathy from me as I witnessed the carnage around her.
The present chapters are told by Grace as I said previously. We know find out that she has pushed her son, Ethan, out of her life by accident rather than design, and she spends her days in isolation at her farmhouse in the middle of nowhere.Grace is a complex woman and I still, even now can't decide if she was just an interfering woman anyway or if her husbands death had caused this behaviour.I thought the author had made very real characters with real flaws and this made the story a good one too.
Two Widows is a story that weaved together a number of genres such as, murder mystery and psychological thriller and created a story that truly grabs you. The stories of both women keep unfolding as you read and the chapters,slipping back and forth are a natural story progression.
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the copy of the book to give you my reviee today.
The story is told by two women, Grace and Beth. Beth narrates the past and Grace the present. We learn of Beths past marriage and events leading up to her husband Jasons death and we see the tragedy as her perfect life crumbles Beth drew a lot of sympathy from me as I witnessed the carnage around her.
The present chapters are told by Grace as I said previously. We know find out that she has pushed her son, Ethan, out of her life by accident rather than design, and she spends her days in isolation at her farmhouse in the middle of nowhere.Grace is a complex woman and I still, even now can't decide if she was just an interfering woman anyway or if her husbands death had caused this behaviour.I thought the author had made very real characters with real flaws and this made the story a good one too.
Two Widows is a story that weaved together a number of genres such as, murder mystery and psychological thriller and created a story that truly grabs you. The stories of both women keep unfolding as you read and the chapters,slipping back and forth are a natural story progression.
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the copy of the book to give you my reviee today.
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