The Widow

"What do you wear to your arrest? It was one of those questions that one never thinks about, not even hardened criminals." ~ 50%

Simon Latch is a small-time lawyer billing just enough hours to pay his bills. Until he meets Eleanor Barnett, an elderly widow, requesting a new will. Her late husband left her a fortune that no one knows about. Once Simon hooks the richest client of his career, he goes above, beyond and between the lines of ethics to keep her wealth secret and assets in his hands. When she dies under suspicious circumstances, Simon finds himself on trial for murder with a motive that is hard to ignore.

I don't even know what to say in this review. Grisham is known for his legal fiction. The courtroom drama. The realistic cases and verdicts. The suspense. But this?! Ain't it. The Widow features a scumbag greedy main character with not one good redeeming quality. The plot was made into something bigger than it should've been. The writing didn't even seem like Grisham's signature style. The foray into whodunit land was a flop by my standards.

If you are a Grisham fan with FOMO, then read The Widow. I could be in the minority with my final thoughts so judge for yourself. 

Happy Pub Day, John Grisham! The Widow is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: The Widow
Author: John Grisham
Published: October 2025
Pages: 407
Edition: Galley
Genre: Legal Thriller
Rating: 🖤 🖤