Quinn explores the creepy world of polygamy in this story of murder and revenge. Rachel, Tina and Emily are all wives to one man, Blake Nelson, who lives with his “family” in a remote corner of Utah. When Blake meets an untimely demise, his wives tell police they can’t believe anyone would hurt their beloved husband. He was such a good, kind, gentle man….. This cat and mouse thriller had me hooked on page one.

Black Widows by Cate Quinn
Black Widows is set in Utah and is all about a Mormon who follows the old ways of polygamy and has three wives. When one of these wives then kills him the mystery is which one it was who actually carried out the deed. It is a fascinating story told from the three viewpoints. Each chapter in the novel conveys the thoughts of one of the wives and in some you are able to witness the same event from different viewpoints.
There is Rachel the one legal wife who always does as she is told and is suffering from the trauma of having previously been in a cult. Emily, who has converted to Mormonism from Catholicism and and is a naïve, simple girl. Then there isTina, the ex-showgirl and former drug addict with her whip sharp wit who injects some humour into the novel. There are so many layers woven into the story and it is fascinating to see the dynamics of the relationships between the women change. It is a story which is driven by the characters and their interrelationships as we gradually unearth the secrets.
The clues for the police to follow are thin on the ground. It is an interesting and satisfying mystery and the denouement is very pleasing. I would like to thank the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this intriguing mystery thriller, based in Utah, and giving the reader a vivid insight into plural marriage, religious sects and surviving out on a remote ranch in the desert. The story unfolds from the rolling viewpoints of the three widows, who were sister wives to Blake Nelson, who was found murdered on his ranch, in a way that initially looked like suicide, but is soon found to be homicide. The dynamic between the three widows is fascinating and the plot ramps up throughout the book. It keeps you guessing and changing your mind and wondering about everyone and everything it throws at you. And there is a lot. Secrets, Lies. Cults. Sects. Abuse. The writer has pulled off a brilliant twisting plot and transports you to Utah, then Nevada, then back to Utah and provides an insight into another world, that is, thankfully, inaccessible to most of us. The story was well told and if my advanced draft copy had not had so many editorial mistakes to contend with (typos, wrong words, repeat words) then it would have been a five star read for me. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Orion, for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Black Widows is a thriller - which of Blake Nelson’s three wives killed him near their isolated home in Utah? The first wife - Rachel with her secret past at the homestead, the second wife - ex catholic Emily or third wife - Vegas hustler Tina? It also gives us an unusual and fascinating glimpse into contemporary Mormon culture and the polygamy of Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints. Their sister love binds them together

In the desert of Utah Blake Nelson has been living with his 3 "Wives". Rachel, the first wife who cooks and cleans and always does as she is told.
Tina, sister wife is the total opposite of Rachel, wild and wilful and Emily the youngest sister wife who is quiet and shy.
When Blakes body is found the police initially suspect suicide but quickly come to realise that he was murdered.
Living in such a remote place they suspect that either Rachel, Tina or Emily killed him.
They quickly focus their attention on Rachel who seems to be the strongest of the three, with seemingly the most reason to want Blake dead.
The three women set out to prove their innocence but they all have their doubts about each other.
Told through the eyes of each of the women the story unfolds in such a way that you are never sure who the killer is and what the motive was.
It twists and turns and keeps you hooked to the last page.

A great read in the sense of a whodunnit storyline. The plot follows 3 wives, Rachel, Emily and Tina, all of whom are married to Blake who at the start of the book is found murdered. A multi-perspective look into the wives and them all suspecting each other the book is full of twists and turns and keeps you on your toes. I thought that the subject matter was well researched, well written and the character development was done very well. A enjoyable read overall.

There is an old joke that what a husband wants as a wife is ‘a maid in the parlour, a cook in the kitchen and a whore in the bedroom’. Blake Nelson is a polygamist Mormon with three wives who roughly fit the pattern so should be the happiest man in the world. Unfortunately, Blake is dead, strangled by person or persons unknown while out fishing in the creek that runs through his property. The latter is in the middle of nowhere, or more exactly the flat, sandy wilderness of Utah, far from civilisation and completely ‘off-grid’. Very few people know of its location and there is no obvious reason why anyone might want him dead. There are no signs of a struggle.
From the police’s point of view there are only three people who could have done it – the three widows. Strictly speaking only one of these is his widow, because polygamy is illegal. First wife, Rachel, is traumatised by the experiences she had as a child trapped in a religious cult; sister-wife Emily is a naïve, perhaps a little simple, girl clinging to the belief that her mother hasn’t disowned her; sister-wife Tina is a reformed drug-addict, sometimes prostitute, ex-con.
As for motive, there are obvious domestic and sexual tensions in this menage a quatre, more than sufficient for charges to be made. Each appears to suspect one of the others. Clues are thin and the police struggle. In order to explain the background to the investigation it is necessary to describe the various particularities of Mormonism (legal and illegal versions) and the author handles this extremely well by passing the narrative back and forth between the three women. Each chapter, there are 106 many quite short, covers the thoughts of one of the three, providing context, or, experience, or conversation. Some allow the reader to see the same scene from different perspectives. The whole works as an excellent murder mystery but also as an analysis of the life experiences of women in this patriarchal society. The denouement and the after effects are eminently satisfactory.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

Black Widows by Cate Quinn is a 4 star read.
Blake has 3 wives, Rachel, Tina and Emma all three are total opposites of each other so when Blake is found dead the police question each of them but they all say the same thing, Blake was a good man and they don’t know who would want to kill him, but is that the truth? This book is totally unique in its storyline, I have never read or even heard of anything like it.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley.

Narrated in first person by all three women we learn of their present life in Utah as wives of Blake Nelson and members of the Latter Day Saints/Mormon community. The strictness of preparing for the end of days with the canning of goods, polygamy and the wearing of holy under garments to name just a few lifestyle rituals that are seen as strange by outsiders.

We first meet Rachel the chief wife after the police have visited to inform her of Blake’s death. Devout and strict does her past holds clues to the present? Then we meet Tina sister wife and an ex drug addict and prostitute Blake met in Vegas as a volunteer and young, naive, innocent Emily the latest sister wife to be brought in to the fold.

As all three are interviewed by Officers Brewer and Carlson I wondered if they would sell each other out? With suspicion, jealousy and no love lost between the three I was shaking my head at disbelief that this four way marriage was more of a nightmare than I first thought. Little did I know of the shocks still to come. As the past is brought to light I had my suspect and motive. Did I get it right??? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

This is definitely a slow burn character led thriller. But trust me these characters are worth the time, I loved all three wives even Rachel who was far from easy to like. Tina had the best lines and her dead pan humour was a welcome relief after the dark horrors. For those of a delicate nature I suggest that if you read this you do it wearing bunny pjs and with a basket of kittens or puppies on standby. There are some scenes of a graphic nature and dark topics that I did not know were coming, you have been warned.

Who can you trust when you know they are all lying to keep their secrets? Brimming with tension this kept me hooked right up to the explosive denouement.

I feel as if this book was written with me in mind - I loved it THAT much!

Blake Nelson lived on an isolated farm out in the desert, but now he's dead. His wife killed him - but which one? Rachel, the first wife is obedient and dutiful. Trisha, the second wife is anything but, while Emily, the youngest has never known any other kind of life. They don't know why anyone would kill a good man like their husband - at least, that's what they tell the police.

As I've mentioned before, I don't re-read the blurb before I begin reading so I never know what to expect. I've been fascinated by plural marriage ever since watching the tv series Big Love; not so much the intimate part but more the idea of several women sharing one kitchen! This is my first novel by Cate Quinn and I have to say it's beautifully written. The characters are individually crafted and each one - not just the wives - sparks a curiosity for the reader. The dynamics between all three wives is quite beguiling and kept me hooked all the way through. I had no idea who the killer was until it was in print in front of me. Very carefully plotted and such an enigmatic read. I'm happy to both recommend this novel and give it 4.5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

If you like a good whodunnit this is a definite must read. A murder mystery that begins with the discovery of the body of Blake, a married man with not one but three wives, who has been murdered. The finger quickly points to one of the three wives. Is the murderer Rachel, Tina or Emily who have all lived together in a polygamous Mormon marriage with Blake? All three women with complicated pasts, estranged from their families and definitely not welcome by Blake's. This one kept me me guessing to the very last pages and still took me by surprise. I loved every page

Blake Nelson is a religious man of the Mormon faith who practices plural marriages. First wife Rachael and sister wives, Emily and later Tina all share Blake and live in a remote ranch out in the middle of nowhere to avoid the contempt of locals and possibility of prosecution. Home life isn’t idyllic as all the wives are total opposites and are not very keen on each other. Tensions run high resulting jealousy and episodes of domestic violence. When Blake is found murdered at a lake whilst fishing late at night suspicion falls on the wives but are things as straight forward as that.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book the depiction of the Mormon faith added an interesting dimension to the “who done it” theme of the story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've never read anything like Black Widows before and I loved it!
Ruth, Tina and Emily are in a polygamous marriage with Blake, out in a homestead in the middle of the Utah desert, miles from anywhere. 'Black Widows' starts with Blake being found dead and, with no love lost between them, the three wives all suspect one another. The story is told from the view point of each of the wives, giving you fantastic insights into their thoughts and concerns about one another, and all of their back stories, which add another layer of intrigue.
I loved reading about a lifestyle so different from anything I will ever experience, and thought the author's storytelling was very well handled.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read it.

This was such a good read and the fact I find the subject matter (polygamy, sister wives, Mormon, LDS church) so interesting, oh and my other favourite subject matter, murder, it was a win win for me. The story is told from our three sister wives perspective, they are so all unique and different almost polar opposites yet all love and married, two of them be it spiritually, to the same man. This was really well written and felt it dealt with the storyline quite realistically.

This is a well written thriller. Excellent plot. Kept me guessing to the end. Would recommend to lovers of crime fiction. I couldn't put it down.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel, Tina and Emily have only one thing in common: their husband, Blake. But when he’s found murdered, each one of them is a suspect. Their journey to figure out what really happened that morning results in a jaw-dropping and unforgettable read.

I'd heard a lot of amazing things about this one before I started it -- and they were all 1000% right. It's a deliciously dark read, and one that will keep you guessing right until the big reveal (I thought I'd had it figured out about six different times; each time I was horribly wrong).

I loved the way that we got insight into each of the wives and their stories; it added a new dimension to the characters that made it impossible not to root for them...even if you think one's the murderer.

This is a very brave choice of subject for a book which is clearly very well researched. Blake Nelson has been murdered on his isolated estate in Utah where he lives with his three wives. He has taken advantage of the relaxed attitude to polygamy in the state. He was brought up in the church of Latter Day Saints but his lifestyle is not totally acceptable to that denomination. His wives are Rachel, Tina and Emily. They are suspected of his murder but that is too obvious to be the answer. The book deals with attitudes to religion, women, child molestation and other difficult topics. It is perceptive, honest but not judgemental. The story moves to an unexpected ending. Not every reader will find the subject matter comfortable but it is well written.

Blake Nelson’s fishing trip ended in his horrific death. His mutilated body discovered on the riverbank. Blake is a Mormon, in a polygamous marriage with three women – Rachel, Emily and Tina. All are now being interviewed by the police.
This is quite a different crime thriller from the norm. A slow story that draws you in. Told from each of the three wives’ points of view the reader discovers what their alibis are, where they were on the day of his death. But more than that, their individual voices give us an insight into their personality; and their history. How they fitted into this multi-wife marriage, their relationship with each other and in some cases, their resentment. It is soon clear that each wife suspects the other is the murderer. But who really did kill Blake? And why?
This book slowly gets inside the heads of all three wives. Every time I had made up my mind about who the guilty party was, something would change and throw me completely off course. Not your usual crime thriller, but a compulsive read, nevertheless.
My thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing for an ARC of Black Widows in exchange for an honest review

What an insight into polygamous Mormon marriage and the insidious nature of cults. How men believe they are superior and women and you children are emotionally and physically abused. Imagine your state of mind if you were the 'Prophet's' daughter. Add into the melting pot two other wives, a mother-in-law who's only task is to save her son and what do you have - MURDER.
Brilliant, riveting and informative.

Black Widows by Kate Quinn Pub Date 4th Feb 2021
Blake Nelson is found dead under the desert sun in Utah's wilds, where he lives hidden away with his three wives.
No one else knows the location of the off-the-grid ranch.
Rachel, Tina and Emily
Three wives
One dead husband
Who's the killer?
An enjoyable read. The characters are strong, they're all well developed, and their individual personalities are evident. The story is told from each wife's point of view, making it an enthralling read because they are all so different, so you see the same circumstances portrayed in many ways.
The pace is fast, and the plot kept me interested to the end.
Many readers might dodge a book containing detailed intimidation, polygamy and cults: this story has them all.
I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery.
I want to thank NetGallery, HQ and author Kate Quinn for a pre-publication copy to review.