The Widow - a struggling small-town lawyer is arrested for murder just as his future was looking up.

Simon Latch is a lawyer in Virginia specializing in bankruptcy, trusts, and wills. He's struggling financially and has a gambling problem. While he loves his two children, his marriage is falling apart. When Eleanor "Netty" Barnett visits his office, Simon believes that his luck is about to turn around. Netty, an 85-year-old widow, wants Simon to prepare a new will for her. Having inherited a fortune in stock from her late husband, she wants to keep her millions a secret, especially from her stepsons, intending to leave everything to charity. Simon must earn Netty's trust and be clever in the will he creates so that he benefits from it after Netty dies. In the months that follow, Netty becomes extremely demanding of Simon but never provides him with the requested proof of her wealth. Then, in a twist of fate, Simon is arrested for murder. Guess whose?

Although John Grisham is renowned for his legal thrillers, The Widow is his first traditional whodunit mystery. While courtroom drama is present, Simon, who insists on his innocence, takes matters into his own hands and desperately searches for the killer. With an excellent cast of characters, many unlikeable ones, you'll find yourself rooting for the morally ambiguous lawyer. Add this to the list of enjoyable reads by Grisham.

Many thanks to Doubleday Books for the advance.

Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars.

Mystery Thriller.

Publication Date: October 21, 2025.

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