Quick Synopsis

When the four partners of a prominent law firm are killed in a mysterious plane crash, their widows must come together to uncover the truth in this explosive, edge-of-your-seat novel.

Publisher’s Synopsis

1985, Rhode Island.

A private jet carrying four partners of a Providence law firm crashes outside New York City, killing all aboard but leaving behind more questions than answers and setting the stage for four widows to find the truth.

Justine: a former fashion model adjusting to suburban life

Camille: a beautiful, young second wife whom some suspect is a gold digger

Meredith: a stripper who was in a relationship with the firm’s only female partner

Krystle: a founding partner’s wife committed to the firm being a legacy for her sons

While the crash is initially ruled a tragic accident, something’s not adding up: the team wasn’t supposed to be in New York that day, and it’s soon revealed there was a very large sum of cash that burned up with the plane.

The scene is as wild as ’80s neon, and the manic chase to uncover the Mafia-laced secrets gives this rip-roaring read a rad vibe that will linger long after the ’80s soundtrack fades and the hairspray falls.

Book Review

One of my favorite books of 2023 was Blood Sisters by Vanessa Lillie. When I learned that she cowrote a book with other established authors, I was excited to pick it up and even more so knowing it took place in Providence, Rhode Island where I formerly lived. What I did not realize was Young Rich Widows was an Audible serial that was popular enough for it to be published in book form.

Young Rich Widows is a light mystery/thriller about four women drawn together by their husbands’ law partnership and their sudden deaths in a plane crash. However, the husbands were not supposed to be traveling to New York that day. When they learn a large sum of cash burnt up on the plane, the women team up to discover their husbands’ secrets and whether the plane crash was actually an accident.

I am used to reading novels typically written by one or two authors. My interest was piqued by the premise of four different people crafting a cohesive narrative. Each of the authors wrote a different widow/main character, supplying them with both distinct personalities and voices. For me, this was one of the novel’s greatest strengths, along with the widows’ snarkiness. I never had an issue mixing up which women was which, and I enjoyed that the narrative is told from four different POVs that differ in voice and style. It is worth mentioning that some of the POVs/widows excelled and intrigued over others. Although I would not say the setting was a prominent feature of the book, I loved reading about places I personally know.

Despite having a unique narrative voice, the story’s execution did not quite work for me. It is hard to pinpoint what exactly needed to be better. I think I would have liked a bit more context and descriptions in the tale, rather than mostly thoughts, dialogue, and actions. In addition, I did not find the plot particularly exciting and easily forgot it once I finished the novel.

Overall, Young Rich Widows is a light, fun story perfect for a mindless and entertaining beach read. The authors plan to make this a series, and I think I will pick up the next book.

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Character Development