The fact that a man married 3 women and the women banded together to solve his murder and determining one of them was the black widow was the most fictitious part of the book for me. The amount of effort these women put it to get to the truth after learning that their lives were lies, is insane. I was just shocked throughout the book.
The mystery was pretty obvious with them zeroing in on the suspect pretty early on with their unsual interest in the other wife.

A fun and cozy crime read. Not one of my favourites unfortunately, I read a lot of this sort of genre in between slightly more intense reads, but this one didn’t grip me as much as usual.
Still a fun palette cleanser which is quick and easy to read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc

Death of a Ghostwriter is a cozy mystery that delivers an entertaining, if slightly uneven, story of deception, unexpected friendships, and amateur sleuthing. The novel kicks off with the shocking death of Albert Franklynn in a suspicious car accident. But the real twist comes when his wife, Sylvie, arrives at the morgue—only to find two other women also claiming to be Albert’s spouse. As the dust settles, it becomes clear that Albert wasn’t just a loving husband—he was a serial liar leading multiple lives. And someone wanted him dead.

Despite their initial shock and heartbreak, Sylvie and one of Albert’s other widows, Liz, form an unlikely alliance to uncover the truth. With the police dragging their feet, the women take matters into their own hands, determined to find out who killed Albert—and why. Along the way, they navigate a tangled web of secrets, hidden identities, and a social circle full of potential suspects.

The premise of the novel is undeniably intriguing, and the dynamic between the three women is one of its biggest strengths. Their reluctant camaraderie evolves into genuine friendship, adding warmth and humor to the story. The small village setting of Monksworthy, with its charming tea shops and nosy neighbors, creates the perfect backdrop for a cozy mystery.

However, the pacing is uneven. The book starts off strong with its jaw-dropping revelation, but the momentum slows as the focus shifts to the women’s frequent meetings, where they discuss pastries almost as much as they do the case. While their friendship is enjoyable to watch unfold, it sometimes overshadows the mystery itself. The police presence in the investigation also feels oddly absent, making the amateur sleuthing seem a little too easy at times.

Additionally, given the title, I expected the "ghostwriter" aspect to play a more significant role in the plot. Instead, it remains more of a background detail, which felt like a missed opportunity. The final resolution, while satisfying, comes together a bit too quickly, leaving some loose ends that could have been explored further.

Overall, Death of a Ghostwriter is an enjoyable, lighthearted read perfect for fans of cozy mysteries, especially those who love character-driven plots and an element of humor. While the execution has its flaws, the central mystery and the dynamic between the widows make it an entertaining ride. If the series continues, I’d be curious to see how these women tackle another case—perhaps with a bit more balance between the mystery and the tea shop chatter.

Albert is dead, killed in a car accident.

Sylvie can't believe her beloved husband on nearly 40 years, Bertie, is gone, but that's not the only surprise. Albert was murdered, and he had a double, no, make that a triple, life. Sylvie, along with her best friend Liz and one of Albert's other wives join together to uncover the mysteries of Albert's life and death.

This was not my normal go to book, but was a cute and fun quick read. I started it on a Tuesday evening and finished it on Wednesday evening.

I enjoyed Sylvie and her interactions with the other characters. If was fun to see the ladies jump head first into solving Albert's mysteries and get into shenanigans along the way. I didn't really feel like there were that many surprises or big reveals that I didn't see coming before they happened.

I definitely wouldn't put this book to the top of your TBR if you've got other books calling your name, but if you are between books, this is a quick light-hearted read that I found enjoyable.

If you like books that take totally unexpected turns, as I do, you are going to enjoy this read. Albert dies in a car crash. His widow is brought to the morgue to identify him. And his other widow. And his other widow. Yes, Bertie has been a busy boy but it all catches up to him when he meets his match in a Black Widow. Wife #1 Sylv and wife #2 Hannah should hate each other but after the initial shock wears off, they discover they have more in common than a polygamous husband.

The two women bond and not only support each other through the chaos Albert has left them but also realize that they need to find his killer because the police do not seem to be getting anywhere. Complicating things a bit is Simon, twin of Liz who becomes the third musketeer. He is a police officer but not on the case. But these are incredibly resourceful women who can call upon friends to help weed through the lies and deceits to stop a serial murderer.

The book held me from beginning to end and I loved the relationships of the three women and those lucky enough to call them friends. Five purrs and two paws up.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC

An unlikely trio of sleuthes teams up to solve a murder. When their husband dies two widows shows up to identify his body and simultaneously finds out about each other. Then they team up to see who actually killed their husband and why. A cozy mystery for sure. It was a bit far fetch but it was funny and entertaining.

After her husband dies in a car crash Sylvie discovers that he had two other wives. Along with one of the wives, and her best friend she sets out to try and find out all about his secret life. While this is not bad as far as cozy mysteries go, and you definitely shouldn't expect them to be realistic, certain things just seem to be far fetched, even more than usual. If you found out that your spouse had another wife/husband would you instantly become best friends with this person and invite them to stay in your house?

4.5 stars~
Imagine waiting on your husband to come home, only to have the police arrive to tell you that they were at the scene of his car accident and he is deceased, then you show up to the morgue and find out that not only is there another wife, younger than you, but also another much younger wife who seems to have disappeared, and who may be the suspect in your husband's death. Would you be able to put aside the hurt and pain and work with the second 'wife', to find out what happened to your errant husband? Sylvie does just that, and as the two actually become friends, they find out that their husband lied to all of them about a great many things and they need to find his new wife asap. A fun cozy, I can see this turning into a fun TV series!

Sleuthing Trio..
The death of Albert Franklynn comes as a shock to his wife, and now widow, Sylvie - but when three grieving widows turn up to identify his body, the shock trebles. As clear as it that Franklynn has been less than a devoted husband, the three women turn their attention to his more than mysterious death. So begins an unexpected and unlikely sleuthing trio. An enjoyable mystery with a frothy plot populated with a well crafted cast of characters in a well imagined village setting. A promising start to a new series.

This didn't really fell like a mystery, but it was certainly a very cozy read for the winter months. All the twists felt a little forced, and that took away from the general appeal of the book. I would have liked one more specific and intense twist rather that the multiple ones this read provided. Overall I would recommend this more as an easy book to read cuddled in a blanked rather than the listed mystery/thriller categorization.

This was a good start to a new series. The characters are engaging and likeable and make a good start to an interesting partnership.. The story has several twists and an interesting plot however it did feel like there were too many unbelievable surprises and the end felt a little rushed but a good start. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Death of a Ghostwriter" is a delightful, cozy mystery, perfect for fans of "The Thursday Murder Club." The story follows the investigation of a murder and a mystery surrounding Albert, a man who wasn't who he claimed to be. Three women take on the case, and in classic Miss Marple style, they set out to solve it. This book is well-written, with a charming plot, making it ideal for those who enjoy mysteries without blood and gore. Set against a classic British backdrop, the story unfolds smoothly, with the author providing a thorough and clear narrative from start to finish. There are no plot holes, and everything is precise and concise. While some might find this straightforward approach a bit dull, if you appreciate good writing and clear storylines, this book is perfect for you.

Thanks to Joffe Books and Net Galley for this ARC. After about 4 chapters i thought about giving up and i'm so glad i didn't. This ended up being a really funny novel. The characters are great, the plot was ok, not much of a mystery but a very good cozy light read. I do hope this isn't just a one off

This was my first Cozy mystery. It kept me entertained and couldn’t wait to turn the page. Just when i think i had it figured out BAM! PLOT TWIST! Very well written!

I enjoyed this cozy mystery featuring three women in a small English town. Sylvie and Liz are long time friends and business partners. When Sylvie’s husband dies in an accident, she finds out he had two other wives. One of them, Harriet, becomes friends with Sylvie and Liz as they try to work out what happened. I liked the characters, and thought the story was fun to read. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

This book isn’t a good fit for me. It’s more telling than showing, with little action. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

The perfect cozy mystery. It was not too slow that it felt boring, not too gritty that the atmosphere got too dark. It was just the perfect amount of fun and intriguing. Might not be the most original work of fiction, but thoroughly enjoyable. A perfect palate cleanser.

3.5

Death of a Ghostwriter begins with the death of Albert Franklynn, husband of Sylvie, who is killed in a terrible car accident. The problems begin when Sylvie goes to identify her husband's body only to find another woman, Harriet Joyce, there for the exact same reason. And the shocks don't end there. The question is who is Albert really?

This story has several twists and an interesting plot that kept my interest throughout. There were times that it felt like the author was trying to cram in too many unbelievable surprises and the end felt a little rushed but otherwise it's a fun read with a reasonably fast-paced story. The main characters of Harriet, Sylvie and Liz are all engaging and likeable.

I suppose this would be described as a "cosy" mystery because it's not gory and indescribably difficult to understand. It would definitely appeal to fans of Thursday Murder Club or similar books. Recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for the advance review copy.

Death of a Ghostwriter has all the makings of a charming cozy mystery: a picturesque English village, quirky characters, and an intriguing murder case. When Albert Franklynn’s sudden death reveals his shocking double—or rather, triple—life as a husband to three women, the story takes a hilarious and chaotic turn. Sylvie, Albert’s first wife, teams up with his other two widows, Liz and Harriet, to uncover the truth behind his murder, setting the stage for an unconventional sleuthing trio.

The premise is unique and entertaining, and I loved the dynamic between the three widows as they begrudgingly work together despite their differences. Each character brought something special to the table—Sylvie’s warmth and resilience, Harriet’s sharp analytical mind, and Liz’s no-nonsense practicality. The backdrop of Monksworthy, with its tea rooms, cobblestone streets, and nosy villagers, added a cozy charm that made me feel right at home.

However, while the book had its strengths, it fell short in pacing and plot development. The mystery, though intriguing, lacked the twists and turns I was hoping for, and the humor didn’t always land for me. Some parts dragged, and I found myself more invested in the character dynamics than the actual whodunit.