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There are currently 23 member reviews
for Black Widows
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Leslie R. (Arlington, VA)
Just my cup of tea
I wish I had never read this book...so I could start over! As an inveterate reader of fiction, drawn to murder mysteries, courtroom drama, and police procedurals, I have read many books advertised as "page turners," even one called "un-putdownable." I have always dismissed those descriptions as hyperbole until I read Black Widows. What an engrossing, fun read! The author's technique of switching the narrative back and forth among the three sister-wives and moving back and forth in time is surprisingly easy to follow and perfect for this novel. Among my favorite characters were the two police detectives involved in the investigation. The dialogue, both between them and with the sister-wives, was so realistic, I felt like I was sitting in the room with them. Any reader who enjoys mining for clues will find Black Widows a fascinating and very satisfying read.
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JWW
Full of surprises to the very end
A very long book and I anticipated boredom somewhere along the way. Uhuhh...this one kept me guessing and interested the whole time. Obviously well researched and there must have been direct contact with participants in this whole unorthodox way of life to be able to relate in such detail. Outstanding delivery of the different personalities and thoughts of each wife and secondary characters. Amazing what humans will do to survive and what they will believe. Highly recommend this book for a fascinating story of some interesting characters and a good mystery to the end.
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Meg G. (Mobile, AL)
This one keeps you guessing....
Black Widows by Cate Quinn was one book that definitely kept me on my toes. I would like to begin by complimenting the author, Cate Quinn on the exceptional job she did on, character development. She did an amazing job on giving the reader a closer look into each of our main characters. It was really well done. The overall flow of the book was also very well done. Each chapter was told by one of the three main characters and it really added to the "psychological thriller" genre that I personally, cannot get enough of. The only negative aspect for me and it really is not a bad thing but I could not help but to somewhat compare, Black Widows to the HBO television series, Big Love. Obviously it was very different but both had three wives and somehow that is where my mind went every time. Overall, Black Widows is a fun, smart, and thrilling read. I will definitely recommend this book to all my book loving friends.
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Patricia B. (Norwood, MA)
Which Wife Did It?
When Polygamist Blake Nelson is found dead in a secluded homestead in Utah, the question is which wife is guilty of this heinous murder? All three wives certainly had a motive, but when they are now doubting each other, hence the plot thickens.
These sister-wives have their own secrets, come from very different backgrounds, the only thing in common is their now dead husband.. Black Widows is an intense, suspenseful, page- turner for sure!
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Carol W. (Fredericksburg, TX)
black widows a complex mystery
Three women each married to Blake Nelson in a plural marriage. Living out in the northern wilderness of Utah this family is isolated from the rest of the world.
Blake is found murdered at his fishing hole and the wives are the first to be accused. Rachel, the first wife is not like by the other wives and runs the family.
Tina the 2nd sister wife is from Vegsa and will lead the sisters to find the real murder.
Emily the 3rd sister wife is charged with the murder. She sees herself as Cagney in the TV story and tries to help police solve the crime. The police, the mother of Blake and Homestead, a cult location all play major roles in the plot.
This is an interesting view of the practice that the Mormon Church long discredited. The sister wives find they must work together to overcome both the basis of the practice and the attitude of the police. Emily is key in this process.
I found the book enjoyable and not until the end do you begin to see the murderer. Thought the ending a bit too good to be true. Recommended for a pleasant day of reading.
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Gloria K. (Madison, WI)
Black Widows by Cate Quinn
I found Black Widows intriguing because it reads like a triptych, a set of three themes intended to be appreciated together. The first theme is a mystery, "Who killed Blake Nelson?" The second theme creates an understanding of Latter Day Saints and their beliefs about life, death, polygamy, and sacred undergarments, The third theme focuses on the dynamics of three wives sharing one husband while living all together under one roof. As a daily practice each wife wondered who will be sharing the marriage bed with Brad tonight? As complex as these themes are, I think the author skillfully tied them together to make for a very different but interesting read. I enjoyed the book because it challenged me to think about how I might behave and react in this situation. Would I feel included or rejected? Would I be able to live with the other two wives in harmony, or would jealousy win out?
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Mary M. (Swansea, MA)
Black Widows by Cate Quinn
Overall I found Black Widows to be a good read. Polygamy is an interesting subject matter and I enjoyed reading about it from the perspectives of three very different sister-wives. That format worked well! I also enjoyed the sometimes humorous interactions between the wives. It reminded me somewhat of The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall which also portrayed a very compassionate and at times funny look at the characters.
However make no mistake about it, Black Widows is a mystery. I found the length of the book somewhat tedious but the surprise ending certainly makes up for that. This book will appeal to mystery fans!
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