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The Widow's Secret
It’s the secrets you don’t know that will kill you.
Married couple Leona and Wayne Woodrow are celebrating their anniversary with a hike on the Appalachian Trail when Wayne slips and falls off a cliff. A search party turns up his bloodied clothing, but not his body.
An inheritance and a huge payout from a life insurance policy do little to ease Leona’s grief. Adding to her stress is Wayne’s brother, Michael, who makes it clear he suspects Leona is somehow responsible for Wayne’s death.
When Michael is shot dead and his wife Chelsea vanishes, Leona finds herself the prime suspect in a twisted plot of secrets, betrayal, and murder.
Leona is sure that what’s been happening is connected to a secret in Wayne’s family. And she’s right. But she has no idea just how shocking that secret is and just how far its keepers will go to protect it…
The Widow’s Secret is a terrifying psychological thriller perfect for fans of K.L. Slater, Miranda Rijks, and Teresa Driscoll.
Married couple Leona and Wayne Woodrow are celebrating their anniversary with a hike on the Appalachian Trail when Wayne slips and falls off a cliff. A search party turns up his bloodied clothing, but not his body.
An inheritance and a huge payout from a life insurance policy do little to ease Leona’s grief. Adding to her stress is Wayne’s brother, Michael, who makes it clear he suspects Leona is somehow responsible for Wayne’s death.
When Michael is shot dead and his wife Chelsea vanishes, Leona finds herself the prime suspect in a twisted plot of secrets, betrayal, and murder.
Leona is sure that what’s been happening is connected to a secret in Wayne’s family. And she’s right. But she has no idea just how shocking that secret is and just how far its keepers will go to protect it…
The Widow’s Secret is a terrifying psychological thriller perfect for fans of K.L. Slater, Miranda Rijks, and Teresa Driscoll.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2023
649 people are currently reading
527 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
December 15, 2024
The Widow's Secret is a 2023 release from Theo Baxter, a new author to me. I found it on NetGalley as one of the most requested mysteries this year, so I decided to give it a chance. This one was a tough book for me, but there were several good aspects as well as those that had distracting issues. The protagonist, Leona, is in her early thirties and married to a lawyer who seems like a good husband that is super busy at work. But then he agrees to take time off and go hiking. Shortly into the trip, he falls over a cliff and disappears. While his body is never found, bloody clothes are all that remain. Obviously he must have faked his death right? Kicks off what promises to be a great mystery. The brother hates the widowed sister-in-law and then he is later found dead. Leona looks guilty and a detective tries to help her. Typical mystery plot that easily hooks readers and leaves you at the forefront of solving the crime alongside the widow.
Unfortunately, the writing quality was way too simple to truly hook the reader as a complex thriller. Maybe the author intended this to be a straightforward-tell-the-reader what's happening instead of showing it and dropping suspenseful clues in clever twists and turns... sadly, it was a miss for me. Too often there was repetition of information and the main character's thoughts were that of a young child. I rarely comment on an author's writing style unless it is a mismatch for the plot; I think but could be wrong that the author is still learning the craft and needs time to develop a stronger voice. Nothing at all was wrong with it, and there is definitely talent in building a story and giving personalities to characters. Just felt like it was 25% too long, awkward/stilted dialog where for pages it was discussing trivial things (or rehashing the plot). One or two more deep edits could've made this much stronger. I don't like giving a negative review... and I wouldn't say this was a bad book... but I do think it wasn't quite ready for publication. But the good thing is that the author shows promise and hopefully pushes more next time.
Unfortunately, the writing quality was way too simple to truly hook the reader as a complex thriller. Maybe the author intended this to be a straightforward-tell-the-reader what's happening instead of showing it and dropping suspenseful clues in clever twists and turns... sadly, it was a miss for me. Too often there was repetition of information and the main character's thoughts were that of a young child. I rarely comment on an author's writing style unless it is a mismatch for the plot; I think but could be wrong that the author is still learning the craft and needs time to develop a stronger voice. Nothing at all was wrong with it, and there is definitely talent in building a story and giving personalities to characters. Just felt like it was 25% too long, awkward/stilted dialog where for pages it was discussing trivial things (or rehashing the plot). One or two more deep edits could've made this much stronger. I don't like giving a negative review... and I wouldn't say this was a bad book... but I do think it wasn't quite ready for publication. But the good thing is that the author shows promise and hopefully pushes more next time.
January 17, 2023
Married couple Leona and Wade Woodrow are celebrating their anniversary with a hike on the Appalachian Trail when Wade slips and falls of a cliff. A search party turns up his bloodied clothing, but not his body. An inheritance and huge payout from a life insurance policy do little to ease Leona's grief. Adding to her stress is Wade's brother, Wayne, who makes it clear he suspects Loena is somehow responsible for Wade's death. When Wayne is shot dead and his wife Chelsea vanishes, Leona finds herself the prime suspect in a twisted plot of secrets, betrayal and murder.
The pace is fast from the beginning. The characters are well rounded, and some will get under your skin. You can almost feel Leona's grief dripping from the pages. Once I was pulled into the story, I could not put the book down. I could tell where the story was heading, but that doesn't disappoint me if it's a well written story. There are lots of twists in this well written book and it held my attention throughout.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #InkubatorBooks and the author #TheoBaxter for my ARC of #TheWidowsSecret in exchange for an honest review.
The pace is fast from the beginning. The characters are well rounded, and some will get under your skin. You can almost feel Leona's grief dripping from the pages. Once I was pulled into the story, I could not put the book down. I could tell where the story was heading, but that doesn't disappoint me if it's a well written story. There are lots of twists in this well written book and it held my attention throughout.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #InkubatorBooks and the author #TheoBaxter for my ARC of #TheWidowsSecret in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2025
COMPELLING PREMISE:
A married couple celebrates their anniversary with a hike on the Appalachian Trail.
The husband slips and falls off a cliff.
Was he pushed?
BRILLIANT TWIST.
I enjoyed the book's twist, revealed midway through the storyline.
WHY NOT 5 STARS?
This was a YYYA (Young, Young, Young Adult) book.
Characterizations were painstakingly shallow.
Quite frankly, this entire book was written at a 3rd-grade reading level. (Huh?)
I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Michelle Price.
February 10, 2023
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.
The Widows Secret is a fast-paced, twisty read that brought a current missing person case near me to the forefront of my mind throughout this book. Leona and her husband Wade are off celebrating their wedding anniversary by hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Wade has an accident and falls off a cliff edge. After a search party look for him, they find some of his clothing with blood on it but no trace of Wade. When Wades brother accuses Leona of being responsible of his brothers death Nd is later found dead by gunshot and his wife Chelsea suddenly disappearing, Leona finds herself as number one suspect for a twisted and intricate plot made up of secrets, lies and betrayal as well as being accused of murder. I did predict the ending of this one, but the twists were amazing. Definitely one to read if you enjoy quick, fast-paced thrillers.
The Widows Secret is a fast-paced, twisty read that brought a current missing person case near me to the forefront of my mind throughout this book. Leona and her husband Wade are off celebrating their wedding anniversary by hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Wade has an accident and falls off a cliff edge. After a search party look for him, they find some of his clothing with blood on it but no trace of Wade. When Wades brother accuses Leona of being responsible of his brothers death Nd is later found dead by gunshot and his wife Chelsea suddenly disappearing, Leona finds herself as number one suspect for a twisted and intricate plot made up of secrets, lies and betrayal as well as being accused of murder. I did predict the ending of this one, but the twists were amazing. Definitely one to read if you enjoy quick, fast-paced thrillers.
January 29, 2023
This book had a good premise but I found it predicable and a little boring. Note that the character names in the version of the book I read differ from what is in the synopsis. The story centers on Leona and Wayne who have a seemingly perfect marriage when he disappears on a hiking trip and she realizes that all might not be as it seems. Wayne’s brother, Michael, is convinced Leona causes Wayne’s death and will do anything to take her down.
Much of this book is repetitive and focused on Leona’s inner thoughts. I found myself skimming some pages because of this. I also felt that Leona was very immature and naive and so not make decisions I thought normal people would make. The other characters seemed one dimensional to me- I couldn’t figure out what made the various relationships work of why Wayne’s brother Michael hates Leona because he thought she was a gold digger when she made it very clear she came into the marriage with her own money, and Michael’s own wife didn’t seem to have done so. The twist in the story was interesting but I saw it coming from the get-go.
Overall, the story held my interest but the lack of dimension in the characters and the predictability didn’t make this one memorable for me. I’d give it 2.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Much of this book is repetitive and focused on Leona’s inner thoughts. I found myself skimming some pages because of this. I also felt that Leona was very immature and naive and so not make decisions I thought normal people would make. The other characters seemed one dimensional to me- I couldn’t figure out what made the various relationships work of why Wayne’s brother Michael hates Leona because he thought she was a gold digger when she made it very clear she came into the marriage with her own money, and Michael’s own wife didn’t seem to have done so. The twist in the story was interesting but I saw it coming from the get-go.
Overall, the story held my interest but the lack of dimension in the characters and the predictability didn’t make this one memorable for me. I’d give it 2.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 31, 2023
Lenore is devastated when she loses Wayne in a horrible hiking accident. Wayne was her only family thankfully her sister-in-law has stuck by her side despite what her husband Michael is saying about the widow. Even at the funeral he screamed at the top of his lungs that she was a murderer and cursed her out in front of everyone. She has since started seeing a psychiatrist due to her nightmares and one she’s not having nightmares she’s suffering from insomnia. It doesn’t help a few months later when is called in to the police department in downtown Boston this is where she meets Jeremy the detective assigned to investigate whether or not she killed her husband. He comes from a wealthy family and Michael sense losing the civil suit has made it his passion in life to send her to prison for something she didn’t even do. So when the handsome detective tells Lenore he believes her she feels much better. but when her sister-in-law insists they get together to try and talk things out. Lenore doesn’t feel so confident. Then when there’s another murder and they try to make it look like Lenore did it instead of feeling crazy and not getting enough sleep Lenore gets pissed and I was out to find out who is doing this to her. This is one crazy book! I loved the ending but the journey was also really good. This is a solid read. If you love thrillers you’ll definitely love this book. I love thrillers with a happy ending and that’s this book. So good so good so good! Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 9, 2023
This sounded like a very good book but, unfortunately I guessed the ending very early on. I didn’t like the characters at all. So shallow and selfish. The whole book was not as good as I’d hoped. Yes, it was twisty but, so obvious which spoiled the whole story for me. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
April 24, 2024
While the protagonist was frustrating at times, this was needed to further the plot. While a bit silly, I really enjoyed it. There were several plot twists that were easy to guess, but that didn’t take any of the enjoyment away. I like that he usually has enjoyable endings that don’t try to push some stupid additional twist that ruins it. He reminds me bit like Daniel Hurst-easy reads for a lazy day!
February 8, 2023
I wanted to like it...
So I'm obsessed with Psychological Thrillers, I devour them and gladly flip through the pages so quickly to find out whodunit. But I have to say, I'm a bit underwhelmed. Let me explain.
From the beginning, the writing read clinical and mechanical. It felt like I was reading a report than a novel. I was never immersed. It was kind of like I was reading something someone was recounting with an insane amount of details. Also, on that same wavelength, I'm not entirely sure why this book is in third person if 87% of it was filled with Leona's thoughts of if she should or shouldn't. If she should be hurting or not. Her inner monologue was a bit much especially from third person POV.
I also don't think this should've been marketed as a psychological thriller. There was nothing particularly thrilling or psychological at play. Instead, I could see where it could be marketed as contemporary fiction or drama, or even suspense by a stretch, but no not psychological.
Leona was insufferable. I know characters are meant to grind your gears sometimes but she was genuinely and totally insufferable. Her decisions were not simply stupid, they put the entire investigation at stake and ruin her life. She acts without thinking (hard to believe since she spends so much time in her head, but I digress)
The story was pretty slow and there wasn't a thrilling twist at the end. I wanted nothing more than to be duped so I could feel a little better at the end of the book but there was nothing, no unbelievable payoff. Nothing.
Read this if you crave a drama where all the cards are on the table.
P.S. the end felt a little rushed after the constancy of an internal monologue in the rest of the book, not sure if that was an artistic choice or not.
P.P.S I have no clue what the widow's secret is. Or what the Woodrow's would do anything to protect. Kinda feels a bit misleading.
So I'm obsessed with Psychological Thrillers, I devour them and gladly flip through the pages so quickly to find out whodunit. But I have to say, I'm a bit underwhelmed. Let me explain.
From the beginning, the writing read clinical and mechanical. It felt like I was reading a report than a novel. I was never immersed. It was kind of like I was reading something someone was recounting with an insane amount of details. Also, on that same wavelength, I'm not entirely sure why this book is in third person if 87% of it was filled with Leona's thoughts of if she should or shouldn't. If she should be hurting or not. Her inner monologue was a bit much especially from third person POV.
I also don't think this should've been marketed as a psychological thriller. There was nothing particularly thrilling or psychological at play. Instead, I could see where it could be marketed as contemporary fiction or drama, or even suspense by a stretch, but no not psychological.
Leona was insufferable. I know characters are meant to grind your gears sometimes but she was genuinely and totally insufferable. Her decisions were not simply stupid, they put the entire investigation at stake and ruin her life. She acts without thinking (hard to believe since she spends so much time in her head, but I digress)
The story was pretty slow and there wasn't a thrilling twist at the end. I wanted nothing more than to be duped so I could feel a little better at the end of the book but there was nothing, no unbelievable payoff. Nothing.
Read this if you crave a drama where all the cards are on the table.
P.S. the end felt a little rushed after the constancy of an internal monologue in the rest of the book, not sure if that was an artistic choice or not.
P.P.S I have no clue what the widow's secret is. Or what the Woodrow's would do anything to protect. Kinda feels a bit misleading.
January 12, 2023
Book Title: The Widow’s Secret
Author: Theo Baxter
Publisher: Inkubator Books
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: January 29, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars!
Leona and Wayne Woodrow are celebrating their fifth anniversary with a hike on the Appalachian Trail. Wayne slips and falls off a cliff. Leona didn’t see him fall but heard his scream and immediately looked over the cliff. She search but didn’t call 911 immediately as she didn’t have cell reception. When she came upon other hikers they called 911 for her. The search team didn’t find anything but the dogs did find Wayne’s backpack with some bloody clothes. Figuring his body was carried off by animals the search ended.
Wayne’s brother, Michael believes Leona is responsible as there is a large insurance policy she will be inheriting.
Next Michael is found dead and his wife Chelsea is missing.
Yikes! what is going on? Does Leona have anything to do with THIS?
I am a big Psychological Thriller fan ~ Love and expect twists and turns.
Although there were times I was yelling at Leona ~ but I liked her!
Want to thank NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 29, 2023
Author: Theo Baxter
Publisher: Inkubator Books
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: January 29, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars!
Leona and Wayne Woodrow are celebrating their fifth anniversary with a hike on the Appalachian Trail. Wayne slips and falls off a cliff. Leona didn’t see him fall but heard his scream and immediately looked over the cliff. She search but didn’t call 911 immediately as she didn’t have cell reception. When she came upon other hikers they called 911 for her. The search team didn’t find anything but the dogs did find Wayne’s backpack with some bloody clothes. Figuring his body was carried off by animals the search ended.
Wayne’s brother, Michael believes Leona is responsible as there is a large insurance policy she will be inheriting.
Next Michael is found dead and his wife Chelsea is missing.
Yikes! what is going on? Does Leona have anything to do with THIS?
I am a big Psychological Thriller fan ~ Love and expect twists and turns.
Although there were times I was yelling at Leona ~ but I liked her!
Want to thank NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 29, 2023
March 31, 2023
For a first book, The Widow’s Secret is above average.
The Widow herself is very well-etched. We feel her pain, we even feel her fears, and worse we boil at her stubbornness. Given bouts of self-talk rather long in duration, our Widow has a believable backstory. And as the protagonist, she stands tallest while others either show sparks or simply subsist. The twists and turns are mysterious.
With a better trim, this book can easily touch 4.5. Looking forward to reading many more books from Baxter’s pen.
Our gratitude to Theo Baxter and NetGalley for providing a copy in the Read Now section. However, their generosity does NOT influence this review.
The Widow herself is very well-etched. We feel her pain, we even feel her fears, and worse we boil at her stubbornness. Given bouts of self-talk rather long in duration, our Widow has a believable backstory. And as the protagonist, she stands tallest while others either show sparks or simply subsist. The twists and turns are mysterious.
With a better trim, this book can easily touch 4.5. Looking forward to reading many more books from Baxter’s pen.
Our gratitude to Theo Baxter and NetGalley for providing a copy in the Read Now section. However, their generosity does NOT influence this review.
January 13, 2023
I got about 35-40% and had to stop. I definitely got hooked in in the beginning but as it progressed I felt the character development just dropped off & it got too catty for me.
I also couldn’t handle the childishness and constant harassing / immaturity from Leona’s brother in law. 🙃
I did guess the ending (I skimmed to the end to at least see if my suspicions were correct) about 30% in - so more predictability would’ve been nice.
Thank you to NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review!
I also couldn’t handle the childishness and constant harassing / immaturity from Leona’s brother in law. 🙃
I did guess the ending (I skimmed to the end to at least see if my suspicions were correct) about 30% in - so more predictability would’ve been nice.
Thank you to NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2023
Unoriginal and boring. A 'twist' you could have seen miles away. Maybe good for beginners mystery readers...I skimmed a lot...
February 5, 2023
The Widow's Secret
by Theo Baxter
4🌟🌟🌟🌟
Description
Some secrets are worth dying for. This one is worth killing for.
Married couple Leona and Wade Woodrow are celebrating their anniversary with a hike on the Appalachian Trail when Wade slips and falls off a cliff. A search party turns up his bloodied clothing, but not his body.
An inheritance and a huge payout from a life insurance policy do little to ease Leona’s grief. Adding to her stress is Wade’s brother, Wayne, who makes it clear he suspects Leona is somehow responsible for Wade’s death.When Wayne is shot dead and his wife Chelsea vanishes, Leona finds herself the prime suspect in a twisted plot of secrets, betrayal, and murder.
Leona is sure that what’s been happening is connected to a secret in Wade’s family. And she’s right. But she has no idea just how shocking that secret is and just how far its keepers will go to protect it…
🛑 🛑🛑 My Review 🛑🛑🛑
I had 3 issues with this book. One being the name of the book .You would think with the title being "The Widow's Secret" that the widow has some kind of major secret that will come out. But she don't. Her husband and Sister n Law does. My second issue is the name of the brother. In the description it says Wayne's brother is named Wade. The brothers in the e-arc I read were named Wayne and Michael. This had me a little confused. So i kept reading thinking maybe he has another brother. After awhile i started back over thinking maybe i read the name wrong. But nope the names are wrong. Hopefully they catch this before it is published. The third thing is Leona hates Michael for all of the things he starts doing to her. I must say i would too. But then in the snap of a finger she is determined to get justice for Michael. I was like wow where did that come from. If these 3 things were fixed then it would be a 5 star review. The author done a lot of repeating from about 60 % on which also annoyed me. I am struggling between a 3 or 4 star review.
Now that is out of the way lets talk about the good. I was glued from the first page to the last! It's not too often I'm able to find books that hold my interest like this! I read this in one sitting!! It was jam packed with action. I loved every min of it. I would love to see this book turned into a lifetime movie. If your one to love lifetime movies then this book is definitely for you.
#TheWidowsSecret #NetGalley.
by Theo Baxter
4🌟🌟🌟🌟
Description
Some secrets are worth dying for. This one is worth killing for.
Married couple Leona and Wade Woodrow are celebrating their anniversary with a hike on the Appalachian Trail when Wade slips and falls off a cliff. A search party turns up his bloodied clothing, but not his body.
An inheritance and a huge payout from a life insurance policy do little to ease Leona’s grief. Adding to her stress is Wade’s brother, Wayne, who makes it clear he suspects Leona is somehow responsible for Wade’s death.When Wayne is shot dead and his wife Chelsea vanishes, Leona finds herself the prime suspect in a twisted plot of secrets, betrayal, and murder.
Leona is sure that what’s been happening is connected to a secret in Wade’s family. And she’s right. But she has no idea just how shocking that secret is and just how far its keepers will go to protect it…
🛑 🛑🛑 My Review 🛑🛑🛑
I had 3 issues with this book. One being the name of the book .You would think with the title being "The Widow's Secret" that the widow has some kind of major secret that will come out. But she don't. Her husband and Sister n Law does. My second issue is the name of the brother. In the description it says Wayne's brother is named Wade. The brothers in the e-arc I read were named Wayne and Michael. This had me a little confused. So i kept reading thinking maybe he has another brother. After awhile i started back over thinking maybe i read the name wrong. But nope the names are wrong. Hopefully they catch this before it is published. The third thing is Leona hates Michael for all of the things he starts doing to her. I must say i would too. But then in the snap of a finger she is determined to get justice for Michael. I was like wow where did that come from. If these 3 things were fixed then it would be a 5 star review. The author done a lot of repeating from about 60 % on which also annoyed me. I am struggling between a 3 or 4 star review.
Now that is out of the way lets talk about the good. I was glued from the first page to the last! It's not too often I'm able to find books that hold my interest like this! I read this in one sitting!! It was jam packed with action. I loved every min of it. I would love to see this book turned into a lifetime movie. If your one to love lifetime movies then this book is definitely for you.
#TheWidowsSecret #NetGalley.
February 10, 2023
I received an advance review #giftedcopy and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, Partner @inkubatorbooks and @zooloosbooktours.
I continue to be amazed by this author. This is the fourth book I've read by and boy does he know how to create engaging and realistic psychological thrillers. Every book I've read has kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting more. This book was no different and this author is an auo-buy for me!
In The Widow's Secret, we meet Leona who is desperate to find out who is framing her for her husband's murder. Leona is a strong female lead. While she comes off as naive at times, she is no shrinking violet. She was madly in love with her husband and trusted him completely only to be betrayed in the end.
The characters are well written and realistic. I felt myself feeling empathy for Leona while also rooting for her to get to the bottom of things so she can move on with her life. The descriptions are accurate and compelling, I felt like I was walking beside the characters as I read this book.
Overall, I highly recommend and can't wait to see what's next from this author!
I continue to be amazed by this author. This is the fourth book I've read by and boy does he know how to create engaging and realistic psychological thrillers. Every book I've read has kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting more. This book was no different and this author is an auo-buy for me!
In The Widow's Secret, we meet Leona who is desperate to find out who is framing her for her husband's murder. Leona is a strong female lead. While she comes off as naive at times, she is no shrinking violet. She was madly in love with her husband and trusted him completely only to be betrayed in the end.
The characters are well written and realistic. I felt myself feeling empathy for Leona while also rooting for her to get to the bottom of things so she can move on with her life. The descriptions are accurate and compelling, I felt like I was walking beside the characters as I read this book.
Overall, I highly recommend and can't wait to see what's next from this author!
February 22, 2023
THIS. IS. (not Sparta)SSUFFERR!! *PUNCH*
this was god-awful experience. nothing like a thriller, don't read it. Let's pretend I read this because you wouldn't have to. Nothing new to give, no suspense, nothing compelling.
As Awful and overly simplified language as you can imagine, the same poor, dried-out vocabulary in every sentence, on every new page. It's like the author has just learned English. A2 English textbook, basically. You can check my highlights and notes from Kindle that i made visible on purpose :/
a ,,book'', written by a completely untalented person. 😖😦
And still, it had to take up COMPLETELY unnecessary 346 pages and 41 chapters! final 10-12 chapters were almost exactly the same, with same extremely dumb inner monologues, or some sh*t...
I didn't even feel anything, no character had any personality, all of them were so flat. There are so many italics so you can't even guess who is thinking, the author or a character.
If this was a movie, it would probably get 2 out of 10 on IMDb.
I hoped suspense and compelling story would make up for its simple language as in ,,The Housemaid'''s case.
so the verdict is: Read MY review, not this ,,book''😎
this was god-awful experience. nothing like a thriller, don't read it. Let's pretend I read this because you wouldn't have to. Nothing new to give, no suspense, nothing compelling.
As Awful and overly simplified language as you can imagine, the same poor, dried-out vocabulary in every sentence, on every new page. It's like the author has just learned English. A2 English textbook, basically. You can check my highlights and notes from Kindle that i made visible on purpose :/
a ,,book'', written by a completely untalented person. 😖😦
And still, it had to take up COMPLETELY unnecessary 346 pages and 41 chapters! final 10-12 chapters were almost exactly the same, with same extremely dumb inner monologues, or some sh*t...
I didn't even feel anything, no character had any personality, all of them were so flat. There are so many italics so you can't even guess who is thinking, the author or a character.
If this was a movie, it would probably get 2 out of 10 on IMDb.
I hoped suspense and compelling story would make up for its simple language as in ,,The Housemaid'''s case.
so the verdict is: Read MY review, not this ,,book''😎
January 21, 2023
I loved the idea of this book. What I got from this book, felt like half of a story. Personally, I loved Leona as a character and think that her grief and the way that it was written was nothing short of masterful. The description was something that anyone who has ever lost a loved one can relate too. Every other character fell flat. There was nothing in the book that spoke to the motivations of any other character - for example, Wayne, Chelsea’s Michael and Jeremy. How did Wayne and Chelsea’s relationship start and how did they manage to keep it a secret from Michael? We got no scenes of them interacting before Wayne’s accident and then are told they’re in love? What in Chelsea’s past made her thirst for money? Why is Jeremy the only person who believes Leona is innocent? I loved the book- I just felt as though the entire thing just needed more context. What I would have loved was another 100 pages of content.
I want to thank NetGalley and Theo Baxter for allowing me to read The Widow’s Secret before its release!
I want to thank NetGalley and Theo Baxter for allowing me to read The Widow’s Secret before its release!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2023
The Widow's Secret by Theo Baxter is a pacey read that pulled me in from the start, though my interest waned slightly as the narrative progressed.
Leona is hiking with her husband Wade on the Appalachian trail when he suddenly slips and falls to his death. In shock and grieving, Leona finds herself in a battle with Wade's brother Wayne, who accuses Leona of murder. Leona's only ally, it seems, is Wayne's wife Chelsea, who soon goes missing following her own husband's death. Suddenly, Leona is plunged into a world of mayhem with only her wits to unravel it all.
This was a quick read that kept me quite entertained, though I never felt truly invested. 3.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC.
Leona is hiking with her husband Wade on the Appalachian trail when he suddenly slips and falls to his death. In shock and grieving, Leona finds herself in a battle with Wade's brother Wayne, who accuses Leona of murder. Leona's only ally, it seems, is Wayne's wife Chelsea, who soon goes missing following her own husband's death. Suddenly, Leona is plunged into a world of mayhem with only her wits to unravel it all.
This was a quick read that kept me quite entertained, though I never felt truly invested. 3.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC.
January 12, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for an honest review.
It was definitely a fast paced thriller. The surprise element is broken in the first half of the story and the other half is how the culprits are found and are being punished. There is no jaw dropping twist if you are looking for one.
If you are looking for a fast paced quick read, The Widow's Secret is definitely one to try.
It was definitely a fast paced thriller. The surprise element is broken in the first half of the story and the other half is how the culprits are found and are being punished. There is no jaw dropping twist if you are looking for one.
If you are looking for a fast paced quick read, The Widow's Secret is definitely one to try.
January 21, 2023
I'm not sure if it is me or what but I truly could not get into this book. I needed it to have more. More structure, more depth to the characters and plot line. Sorry for the negative review, but it is honest. Thank you netgally for this ARC.
April 27, 2023
Leona Woodrow has been feeling alone in her marriage of five years to Wayne, as he has been working longer and longer hours, with little proper time together. Their fifth wedding anniversary is coming up and she wonders if he has even remembered, until he surprises her with a long weekend of hiking on the Appalachian Trail, something she has always wanted to do! Wayne has hiked and climbed with her in the past, even though it isn’t his favourite activity, but he did it for her. They spend their first nights in a B&B, until they finally set off on the trail, reaching a hard part of the trial where they could go along a difficult path along a cliff, or take an easier route. Leona has a bit of a bad feeling and is happy to go the easy route, but Wayne says they have done harder routes in the past, so they go along the cliff. Stopping for a break, she is busy taking photos and doesn’t notice that Wayne has fallen as he was behind her, all she hears is his scream then nothing. She can’t see where he went as there are trees covering everything below them. Her phone is out of charge and so she looks for as long as she can, before going back to the trail head and getting help. No trace of Wayne is found for days, until eventually his pack and some bloody clothing are found, ripped and torn. That is the only trace, apart from a tooth. No bones or remains! It is deemed an accident, but Wayne’s estranged brother Michael does not agree and he calls her a murderer.
Leona is having a hard enough time adjusting to life without Wayne, all alone now for a different reason. She is suffering nightmares and from depression, unable to even get herself out of bed or dressed each day. Michael had never liked the fact Wayne married Leona, calling her a gold digger because of the inheritance he received after their parents died. He ignored the fact that Leona had money of her own, having lost her own parents at a young age, something that they had in common. But Michael ramps up his hatred of her after his brother’s accidental death, even trying to get the police to arrest her for murder, harassing her with phone calls and more. Only his wife Chelsea is a bright spot, helping to get Leona up and out of the house, even off to a therapist. The funeral is an absolute mess with the chaos he causes, but it only gets worse when Leona inherits his shares in the family business and an insurance claim, which Michael seems to think belong to him alone! Chelsea tries to act as a buffer and make peace, suggesting a dinner together, but when Leona discovers Michael’s dead body, lazy police officers arrest her and accuse her of both murders. Chelsea has disappeared and Leona thinks she is in danger rather than behind anything. What Leona doesn’t realise is the full extent of the secrets and betrayal within Wayne’s family and murder is at the core of it and it seems she is the scapegoat. She is lucky that one detective believes in her and isn’t as eager to accuse her with just circumstantial evidence. He has to fight hard to get his captain to agree with him and prove Leona needs protection, as it seems someone is trying to kill her now! Lots of the story you can make a pretty good guess at what has really happened and why, but there are still a few twists and turns to surprise you. Leona certainly messes things up a good bit, but things work out in the end and might even bring a bright spot to the end of the darkness she has endured. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Leona is having a hard enough time adjusting to life without Wayne, all alone now for a different reason. She is suffering nightmares and from depression, unable to even get herself out of bed or dressed each day. Michael had never liked the fact Wayne married Leona, calling her a gold digger because of the inheritance he received after their parents died. He ignored the fact that Leona had money of her own, having lost her own parents at a young age, something that they had in common. But Michael ramps up his hatred of her after his brother’s accidental death, even trying to get the police to arrest her for murder, harassing her with phone calls and more. Only his wife Chelsea is a bright spot, helping to get Leona up and out of the house, even off to a therapist. The funeral is an absolute mess with the chaos he causes, but it only gets worse when Leona inherits his shares in the family business and an insurance claim, which Michael seems to think belong to him alone! Chelsea tries to act as a buffer and make peace, suggesting a dinner together, but when Leona discovers Michael’s dead body, lazy police officers arrest her and accuse her of both murders. Chelsea has disappeared and Leona thinks she is in danger rather than behind anything. What Leona doesn’t realise is the full extent of the secrets and betrayal within Wayne’s family and murder is at the core of it and it seems she is the scapegoat. She is lucky that one detective believes in her and isn’t as eager to accuse her with just circumstantial evidence. He has to fight hard to get his captain to agree with him and prove Leona needs protection, as it seems someone is trying to kill her now! Lots of the story you can make a pretty good guess at what has really happened and why, but there are still a few twists and turns to surprise you. Leona certainly messes things up a good bit, but things work out in the end and might even bring a bright spot to the end of the darkness she has endured. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
March 10, 2023
If I had to describe this book, what would I call it?
Thriller: light edition.
Or, a cozy thriller.
It is ok to invent my own genres, right?
This was a quick and easy read. Perfect for a Friday night after a busy week when you want to curl up with a cup of tea or a glass of wine and grab an entertaining read.
As I was reading it, I was having a strange déjà vu sensation that I have read this kind of writing before. Not the story, not the things happening in the book, not the characters, but the language. The way it is written. The words that are used. The way the sentences are made. I looked at the name of the author – nope, I have never read anything by this author before. Weird. I looked the author up online and turns out this is a sibling of Cole Baxter. I have read a few of his books. They too have a touch of the same way to word things.
The story was somewhat predictable, which makes it an easy Friday night read.
The writing style was somewhat very simple, simplistic even, as if it was written by a middle grade student. Then again, this also adds to the book being an easy Friday night read. Easy, short, uncomplicated sentences. No big words. No deep thoughts.
I am not sure if I would call it a breathtaking psychological thriller – a light edition thriller maybe. A chick-lit version of a thriller maybe.
Also, it did feel a little bit strange to read a book written by another person, yet the book made me think of the books written by the author’s sibling, and overall the feel of the book was very much like those of the sibling’s books.
Thriller: light edition.
Or, a cozy thriller.
It is ok to invent my own genres, right?
This was a quick and easy read. Perfect for a Friday night after a busy week when you want to curl up with a cup of tea or a glass of wine and grab an entertaining read.
As I was reading it, I was having a strange déjà vu sensation that I have read this kind of writing before. Not the story, not the things happening in the book, not the characters, but the language. The way it is written. The words that are used. The way the sentences are made. I looked at the name of the author – nope, I have never read anything by this author before. Weird. I looked the author up online and turns out this is a sibling of Cole Baxter. I have read a few of his books. They too have a touch of the same way to word things.
The story was somewhat predictable, which makes it an easy Friday night read.
The writing style was somewhat very simple, simplistic even, as if it was written by a middle grade student. Then again, this also adds to the book being an easy Friday night read. Easy, short, uncomplicated sentences. No big words. No deep thoughts.
I am not sure if I would call it a breathtaking psychological thriller – a light edition thriller maybe. A chick-lit version of a thriller maybe.
Also, it did feel a little bit strange to read a book written by another person, yet the book made me think of the books written by the author’s sibling, and overall the feel of the book was very much like those of the sibling’s books.
January 29, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I had high hopes for this book. The synopsis drew me in, and I felt like it had the potential for a good read.
Now, whilst reading, I thought this was a debut novel from Baxter… especially as his brother’s books are listed in an “if you like this, try these” instead of Theo’s. So, I assumed, but I was wrong. As I was reading, I did make allowances for it being a first book.
I felt like the premise of the story was good but that it wasn’t quite meaty enough. I wasn’t gripped by it in the way I expected it to be. I hate saying that I predicted the outcome, but I really did. I won’t give anything away, but I’m not sure there was anything I genuinely didn’t see coming. This makes me sad… and sorry!
The characters were okay, but again, I wasn’t madly drawn into any of them.
For me, it almost felt a bit forced. I’m my notes, I have written, “it feels a bit wooden”. I know that is a comment usually saved for on-screen acting rather than anything written. However, it just kept coming back to me as a feeling.
Although I wasn’t a fan of the book, I did see a glimmer of hope. For me, the dialogue and story padding (for want of a better word) let this book down. I think that if these two things were a bit more polished and tightened up a bit, Baxter’s future books could be much more intriguing to read
I had high hopes for this book. The synopsis drew me in, and I felt like it had the potential for a good read.
Now, whilst reading, I thought this was a debut novel from Baxter… especially as his brother’s books are listed in an “if you like this, try these” instead of Theo’s. So, I assumed, but I was wrong. As I was reading, I did make allowances for it being a first book.
I felt like the premise of the story was good but that it wasn’t quite meaty enough. I wasn’t gripped by it in the way I expected it to be. I hate saying that I predicted the outcome, but I really did. I won’t give anything away, but I’m not sure there was anything I genuinely didn’t see coming. This makes me sad… and sorry!
The characters were okay, but again, I wasn’t madly drawn into any of them.
For me, it almost felt a bit forced. I’m my notes, I have written, “it feels a bit wooden”. I know that is a comment usually saved for on-screen acting rather than anything written. However, it just kept coming back to me as a feeling.
Although I wasn’t a fan of the book, I did see a glimmer of hope. For me, the dialogue and story padding (for want of a better word) let this book down. I think that if these two things were a bit more polished and tightened up a bit, Baxter’s future books could be much more intriguing to read
October 14, 2023
Some secrets are worth dying for. This one is worth killing for.
Married couple Leona and Wade Woodrow are celebrating their anniversary with a hike on the Appalachian Trail when Wade slips and falls off a cliff. A search party turns up his bloodied clothing, but not his body.
An inheritance and a huge payout from a life insurance policy do little to ease Leona’s grief. Adding to her stress is Wade’s brother, Wayne, who makes it clear he suspects Leona is somehow responsible for Wade’s death.
When Wayne is shot dead and his wife Chelsea vanishes, Leona finds herself the prime suspect in a twisted plot of secrets, betrayal, and murder.
Leona is sure that what’s been happening is connected to a secret in Wade’s family. And she’s right. But she has no idea just how shocking that secret is and just how far its keepers will go to protect it…
This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Married couple Leona and Wade Woodrow are celebrating their anniversary with a hike on the Appalachian Trail when Wade slips and falls off a cliff. A search party turns up his bloodied clothing, but not his body.
An inheritance and a huge payout from a life insurance policy do little to ease Leona’s grief. Adding to her stress is Wade’s brother, Wayne, who makes it clear he suspects Leona is somehow responsible for Wade’s death.
When Wayne is shot dead and his wife Chelsea vanishes, Leona finds herself the prime suspect in a twisted plot of secrets, betrayal, and murder.
Leona is sure that what’s been happening is connected to a secret in Wade’s family. And she’s right. But she has no idea just how shocking that secret is and just how far its keepers will go to protect it…
This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
November 11, 2023
Needs Work
First off - the story itself is good, if predictable. I stayed with it just to find out a few things. But the writing is barely so-so. The author spends a lot of time saying the same things over and over. There are issues with grammar. And I think it wouldn't hurt for her to buy a thesaurus and use it.
One particularly odd things was the sudden use of profanity. Two thirds of the way through, all of a sudden the protagonist starts throwing the F word around. It wasn't inappropriate, but it was completely random. The character hadn't talked that way earlier. And then, just as abruptly, she stopped. Strange, that.
Also of note, I feel the reader is supposed to like the protagonist and find her sympathetic. Instead, she's annoying and at one point I was rooting for her demise.
Finally, a bit of research would not go amiss. This author has a limited understanding of law enforcement procedure as well as how the legal system works. Or else she simply doesn't know how to adequately convey it. Either way, it's a problem
All in all, I'd say this book needed editing, big time. I'm not tempted to try anything else by this author.
First off - the story itself is good, if predictable. I stayed with it just to find out a few things. But the writing is barely so-so. The author spends a lot of time saying the same things over and over. There are issues with grammar. And I think it wouldn't hurt for her to buy a thesaurus and use it.
One particularly odd things was the sudden use of profanity. Two thirds of the way through, all of a sudden the protagonist starts throwing the F word around. It wasn't inappropriate, but it was completely random. The character hadn't talked that way earlier. And then, just as abruptly, she stopped. Strange, that.
Also of note, I feel the reader is supposed to like the protagonist and find her sympathetic. Instead, she's annoying and at one point I was rooting for her demise.
Finally, a bit of research would not go amiss. This author has a limited understanding of law enforcement procedure as well as how the legal system works. Or else she simply doesn't know how to adequately convey it. Either way, it's a problem
All in all, I'd say this book needed editing, big time. I'm not tempted to try anything else by this author.
February 6, 2023
Avoid This Book At All Costs! …
This tale is nothing more than the thoughts of a Highly Disturbed, Pitiful and Sad Woman, and it doesn’t make for very good, believable or enjoyable reading (with emphasis on the latter goals that every Reader should have)!
And to add to the problems with this story — There is NEVER a ‘Secret’ that is Revealed, nor is this is a ‘Gripping, Psychological thriller with a Chilling Twist’ that is advertised by Amazon (they should be fined for inaccurate hype!).
3 stars was a generous rating; the story COULD have been 4-stars, if The Author had made an attempt to include some character development for ANYONE in the book — But, instead, the Author simply sticks with the Main Character’s endless predicament — but this woman is sick and can’t be made to see reason or gain any common sense, even from the people close to her. Consequently, this is not a very good book or tale.
This tale is nothing more than the thoughts of a Highly Disturbed, Pitiful and Sad Woman, and it doesn’t make for very good, believable or enjoyable reading (with emphasis on the latter goals that every Reader should have)!
And to add to the problems with this story — There is NEVER a ‘Secret’ that is Revealed, nor is this is a ‘Gripping, Psychological thriller with a Chilling Twist’ that is advertised by Amazon (they should be fined for inaccurate hype!).
3 stars was a generous rating; the story COULD have been 4-stars, if The Author had made an attempt to include some character development for ANYONE in the book — But, instead, the Author simply sticks with the Main Character’s endless predicament — but this woman is sick and can’t be made to see reason or gain any common sense, even from the people close to her. Consequently, this is not a very good book or tale.
October 6, 2023
Oh, my goodness; I really enjoyed this book (except for all of the "F bombs")! I opened my Kindle, and this, somehow, popped up on it. I figured it was meant to be and decided to give it a try, even though I did not recall ever downloading it. Wayne and Leona have what is (to her) the perfect marriage (until it wasn't). Leona grieves him something terrible when he falls of a cliff while they're hiking and is presumed dead. I could feel her sorrow, having lost my own husband. Anything else, I feel, would be a spoiler.
I started the story at bedtime last night, thinking I could read myself to sleep, but it held my interest too much to let go. In fact. I got up at intervals throughout the night and read a little more each time. Had to finish it when I got up today. While I did, pretty much, figure out the plot way ahead of time, that did not affect my interest. Now I need to read some more Theo Baxter.
I started the story at bedtime last night, thinking I could read myself to sleep, but it held my interest too much to let go. In fact. I got up at intervals throughout the night and read a little more each time. Had to finish it when I got up today. While I did, pretty much, figure out the plot way ahead of time, that did not affect my interest. Now I need to read some more Theo Baxter.
May 11, 2025
I enjoyed reading this thriller. I enjoyed this author's writing style as well as their attention to details that brought their twists and turns to life. Their creativity of the plot had me turning pages fast to the end. I found this story to be well written and hard to put down. This is a story about how well you know your spuse's family. Wayne and Leona are hiking on a trail when Wayne falls from a cliff. Here is the problem .. the only thing they find is bloody clothes. Leona goes through so much but through all of it she starts to question iif everything has to do with a secret in Wayne's family. I enjoyed Leona and how the other characters were supportive of her. Each character is connectable and made the story easy to read. I enjoyed watching the growth of the plot throughout which kept the story engaging. This is a fast paced story that I really did enjoy reading. I look forward to seeing what is next for this author. I highly recommend this book.
February 28, 2023
Couldn't put it down!!
I knew I was going to love this book, I purchased it without reading the book description. Theo Baxter is one of the many authors I'm glad Amazon recommended to me. If you're looking for a new author to read I highly recommend Theo Baxter.
I enjoy his writing style, it's gritty but not too much to the point where you can't finish the book. He also writes in a way; where you are drawn in and before you know it you've finished the book. Also just when you think you've figured out how the book will end he wrote a plot twist you didn't see coming. If you like reading psychological thrillers Theo Baxter is the author you need to read.
I don't want to spoil the book, however you think it ends you may be wrong.....
I knew I was going to love this book, I purchased it without reading the book description. Theo Baxter is one of the many authors I'm glad Amazon recommended to me. If you're looking for a new author to read I highly recommend Theo Baxter.
I enjoy his writing style, it's gritty but not too much to the point where you can't finish the book. He also writes in a way; where you are drawn in and before you know it you've finished the book. Also just when you think you've figured out how the book will end he wrote a plot twist you didn't see coming. If you like reading psychological thrillers Theo Baxter is the author you need to read.
I don't want to spoil the book, however you think it ends you may be wrong.....
February 9, 2023
Twisted plot, secrets, betrayal, and murder. What more do you want from a thriller?
This story was fast paced from the beginning, keeping me locked into this book. All the characters were likeable, but I could not stand Leona's brother-in-law Michael, at all! So full of hate and anger towards Leona, and for what reason? As for Leona, the description of her grief of losing her husband felt so real and I felt such empathy for her character.
I thought I had guessed the direction this story was heading so it had me reading it even faster to see if I was correct lol. This was such a well written story and I highly recommend reading it.
This story was fast paced from the beginning, keeping me locked into this book. All the characters were likeable, but I could not stand Leona's brother-in-law Michael, at all! So full of hate and anger towards Leona, and for what reason? As for Leona, the description of her grief of losing her husband felt so real and I felt such empathy for her character.
I thought I had guessed the direction this story was heading so it had me reading it even faster to see if I was correct lol. This was such a well written story and I highly recommend reading it.
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