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The Widows’ Guide to Foul Play
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04 August 2026

It's pantomime season in Little Shaw, and librarian Ginny Cole has been roped in to help. The local theatre has persuaded national treasure and famously difficult diva, Monica Larkwell, to star in their production of Mother Goose, and while the celebrity's return to the village after thirty years hasn't exactly gone smoothly, at least nobody's dead. Until, that is, Ginny discovers Monica's body in her dressing room, crushed beneath a fallen chandelier.
Sure that this was no accident, Ginny gathers up the widows' detective club and takes on the role of amateur sleuth. But between navigating Monica's volatile entourage and unearthing secrets the actress spent decades trying to bury, this case is messier than anything Little Shaw has seen before. And then there's the CCTV footage: the culprit was caught on camera, disguised in a giant, purple, feathered goose costume…
The widows have faced some strange cases, but a killer in a comedy bird suit…? But there's nothing funny about murder, and if they don't solve this case soon, it might be curtains for them all.
A wonderfully twisty and hilarious cozy mystery perfect for fans of Robert Thorogood, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett and The Thursday Murder Club series.
'I just loved this book, I read it in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. The story was so good, I just had to read on to find out more. This book has some amazing characters they just seem so much fun.' Reader review, 5 stars
'Had everything I love about a cozy mystery—an excellent cast of (sometimes eccentric) characters, a quirky cat, a charming village…and a grumpy detective inspector who glares at everyone (I loved him!)… There were lots of twists and turns and the mystery kept me guessing right to the end… Highly recommended!' Reader review, 5 stars
'Such an entertaining and fun cozy murder mystery… The group of widows are so charming, adorable and quirky… you want to be their friends and join their group… I can't wait to read the next book, and I can't wait to see what trouble the widows get into next.' Reader review, 5 stars
'If you liked The Thursday Murder Club, this book is for you. I loved this cozy mystery! Ginny and her amateur detective friends are a hoot.' Reader review, 5 stars
'I couldn't put it down… The characters are believable and the story unfolded at an excellent pace – I loved it and will recommend it to all my friends.' Reader review, 5 stars
'An utterly delightful read… It's a very cozy mystery and has MC Beaton vibes which I love… For anyone looking for a book that combines heartwarming characters and just the right amount of mystery.' Reader review, 5 stars
'This was delightful!… I was especially drawn in by the quirky characters, whacky hijinks, and an especially twisty, really-hard-to-guess mystery! Ginny and her new friends were a delight to read about. If you like Sister Boniface or Agatha Raisin, you will enjoy this series!' Reader review, 5 stars
'This was such a lovely read! I love an older character and a cozy murder mystery… So many twists and I didn't ever consider the killer… Perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club!' Reader review, 5 stars
'I so loved this… read with a smile… Sometimes you take a chance when reading a new author, and I'm so very glad I did.' Reader review, 5 stars
'I felt extremely entertained by this motley crew of community characters, and I love feisty, elderly women just doing what they want… The plot was also really interesting, and full of female friendship and village life… Recommended as this incredibly warmhearted cosy mystery with great characters is cracking good fun.' Reader review, 5 stars
'Full of fun characters and hilarious escapades, mostly involving the three widows who take Ginny under their wing, and who have a reputation for being troublemakers… I recommend it for any lover of cosy mysteries.' Reader review, 5 stars
'Had me hooked. Brilliant characters and great storytelling which kept me guessing right up to the end.' Reader review, 5 stars
'What a wonderful story!… The ladies are such a fun group!… Loved all the crazy characters we meet along the way… A thoroughly enjoyable cozy mystery!' Reader review, 5 stars
'Have raced through this book and already told some of my friends about it and we had a good laugh about retiring and murder!' Reader review, 5 stars