(12/29/2015)
Fiona Barton's "The Widow" is a debut novel. Taking into account Barton's newness in the psychological thriller genre, the book is engaging, but has a few troublesome areas.
The novel has a respectable plot that moves quickly. Barton also creates memorable and sympathetic characters. However, the author often abruptly shifts in time from 2006, when two-year-old Bella Elliot is kidnapped, to 2010, when Glen Taylor, the accused, dies. The book focuses more on how Taylor's widow, Jean, handles the aftermath of Glen's dishonesty. The jumps in time spoil some of the fun in finding out what happens to the characters.