The Widow

By: Fiona Barton

Narrated by: Hannah Curtis, Nicholas Guy Smith, Jayne Entwistle, Steve West, Mandy Williams

Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

For fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train, an electrifying thriller that will take you into the dark spaces that exist between a husband and a wife.

When the police started asking questions, Jean Taylor turned into a different woman. One who enabled her and her husband to carry on, when more bad things began to happen...

But that woman’s husband died last week. And Jean doesn’t have to be her anymore.

There’s a lot Jean hasn’t said over the years about the crime her husband was suspected of committing. She was too busy being the perfect wife, standing by her man while living with the accusing glares and the anonymous harassment.

Now there’s no reason to stay quiet. There are people who want to hear her story. They want to know what it was like living with that man. She can tell them that there were secrets. There always are in a marriage.

The truth - that’s all anyone wants. But the one lesson Jean has learned in the last few years is that she can make people believe anything...

List of readers:

• "The Mother" read by Jayne Entwistle
• "The Detective" read by Nicholas Guy Smith
• "The Widow" read by Hannah Curtis
• "The Husband" read by Steve West
• "The Reporter" read by Mandy Williams

©2016 Fiona Barton (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“If you liked Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train, you might want to pick up The Widow by Fiona Barton. Engrossing. Suspenseful.” (Stephen King)

“The ultimate psychological thriller! Barton carefully unspools this dark, intimate tale of a terrible crime, a stifling marriage, and the lies spouses tell not just to each other, but to themselves in order to make it through.” (Lisa Gardner, number one New York Times best-selling author of Find Her and Right Behind You)

“A twisted psychological thriller you’ll have trouble putting down.” (People)

Disturbing but very good.

The story was original but the subject matter could be upsetting to some. Still, it was presented tastefully without unnecessary gory details. It was realistic and gave me a lot to think about. The performances were spot on. Overall I do recommend this book, but not to somehow who would be sensitive to hard topics (I don't want to give too much away). It was worth a credit.

Fantastic Thriller

This was the best suspense/thriller/mystery I've ever listened to. An outstanding production including first rate narrators. If there is one book in this genre I would recommend above anything else I've listened to, it would be this breathtaking and unputdownable audiobook.

Suspenseful drama; thoughtful resolution

Having recently finished "The Girl on the Train" and "The Double Bind", I wanted something in the same vein, and "The Widow" didn't disappoint. Told from various points of view read by different narrators to keep them distinct while listening, the book lends itself well to audio. It kept me guessing about the direction it would take, and I found that I was looking forward to times when I could listen so as to finish the narrative. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys suspenseful thrillers.

Kept me on the edge of my seat.

Loved the way the story unfolded from all different perspectives. Will look for others by her.

I couldn't stop listening

This book has it all, and I strongly recommend it!

Once I fully realized what this book was about, I was worried that it would turn me away from the book, but it was done in such a unobtrusive way. While the topic is disturbing, she presented in a way that left my unable to put the book down, because I needed to know what happened next, and I needed to know now.

The narrators were all amazing, and really added to the experience and the story. They were all perfect for their characters and they voices matched how I imaged in each of the character would look and sound.

The Widow

This story has a very slow start and predictable ending...but had to listen and confirm

Créative Development

The story unfold creatively through the narration of the indidual character. Research on sex addiction well documented. A dark story well told. Enjoyed it vert much

attention holder

Could not stop listening. The timeline and narration spot on. One is drawn into the drama of kidnapping, media coverage good and bad, and interwoven life stories.

Decent, it kept my interest for a day

Ive read better, Ive read worse but all in all it was good. I think I was expecting the end to be a little more exciting or devious. The book ended exactly like you assume it was going to; about half way through all signs point to that conclusion.

Wonderful twists and turns

It was overall a wonderful book but at times it was a little hard to follow with the several povs all going on at the same time