The price of loyalty
As the villagers of Lynwick gather to watch the annual firework display, Kate Shaw considers how happy her life is. She has a loving and hardworking husband, Michael – who works as a land manager for the nearby Wadebridge Estate; a lovely daughter, Tansy, adored by both parents; and lives in a picturesque village where she is acquainted with all her fellow residents.
Sadly, life has not been so kind to her friend and neighbour, Donna, whose younger sister, Matilda, mysteriously disappeared without a trace 23 years ago. Not knowing what happened to her, Donna is now over-protective of her daughter Ellie to the point of obsession. Her husband Paul’s many infidelities do not help either, especially after Michael spotted him in a hotel with another woman and immediately informed Donna – which inevitably caused a rift between the two men. Kate cannot understand why Donna keeps forgiving Paul and, when he shows signs of having yet another affair, tries to convince her friend to confront him, but Donna refuses to listen.
With total faith in her own husband’s fidelity, when Zuzana Beros – an attractive young Polish woman – rents one of the estate cottages managed by Michael, Kate goes out of her way to make her feel welcomed. But when Michael’s boss, Irene Wadebridge, hints at a growing friendship between him and Zuzana, seeds of doubt begin to grow in Kate’s mind. So, when Zuzana disappears during the village’s annual Christmas lights event, and the police suspect Michael of being responsible, Kate is not sure what to believe.
Michael is adamant he had nothing to do with Zuzana’s disappearance. Tragically, he is then killed by a lorry while crossing the road, and the villagers are convinced that guilt drove him to suicide. Not wanting Tansy to think badly of her father, Kate tries to protect her daughter from the gossips. However, when she receives a threatening letter from some of the villagers, accusing her of withholding information and demanding that she leaves the village, she realises she has to find out the truth about Zuzana to prove her husband’s innocence.
‘The Widow’ is a well-crafted mystery thriller in which the action is very much driven by the more unpalatable aspects of living in a close-knit community; a place where people are often judged by rampant gossip rather than firm evidence. The storyline weaves together the mystery and investigation of three missing persons who all disappeared from the same village – albeit several years apart.
With the first disappearance now a cold case and the second currently under investigation, the story initially revolves around the third disappearance – that of a young Polish woman. As the police start to accumulate damning evidence against Michael, the story is interspersed with details of each missing person’s back story. This provides an insight into their lives and the possible connection between them. Add to this the ongoing tension between Kate and Donna over Paul’s infidelities and the result is an intriguing mystery that will keep you gripped until the final shocking revelation. Definitely a good read.
Sadly, life has not been so kind to her friend and neighbour, Donna, whose younger sister, Matilda, mysteriously disappeared without a trace 23 years ago. Not knowing what happened to her, Donna is now over-protective of her daughter Ellie to the point of obsession. Her husband Paul’s many infidelities do not help either, especially after Michael spotted him in a hotel with another woman and immediately informed Donna – which inevitably caused a rift between the two men. Kate cannot understand why Donna keeps forgiving Paul and, when he shows signs of having yet another affair, tries to convince her friend to confront him, but Donna refuses to listen.
With total faith in her own husband’s fidelity, when Zuzana Beros – an attractive young Polish woman – rents one of the estate cottages managed by Michael, Kate goes out of her way to make her feel welcomed. But when Michael’s boss, Irene Wadebridge, hints at a growing friendship between him and Zuzana, seeds of doubt begin to grow in Kate’s mind. So, when Zuzana disappears during the village’s annual Christmas lights event, and the police suspect Michael of being responsible, Kate is not sure what to believe.
Michael is adamant he had nothing to do with Zuzana’s disappearance. Tragically, he is then killed by a lorry while crossing the road, and the villagers are convinced that guilt drove him to suicide. Not wanting Tansy to think badly of her father, Kate tries to protect her daughter from the gossips. However, when she receives a threatening letter from some of the villagers, accusing her of withholding information and demanding that she leaves the village, she realises she has to find out the truth about Zuzana to prove her husband’s innocence.
‘The Widow’ is a well-crafted mystery thriller in which the action is very much driven by the more unpalatable aspects of living in a close-knit community; a place where people are often judged by rampant gossip rather than firm evidence. The storyline weaves together the mystery and investigation of three missing persons who all disappeared from the same village – albeit several years apart.
With the first disappearance now a cold case and the second currently under investigation, the story initially revolves around the third disappearance – that of a young Polish woman. As the police start to accumulate damning evidence against Michael, the story is interspersed with details of each missing person’s back story. This provides an insight into their lives and the possible connection between them. Add to this the ongoing tension between Kate and Donna over Paul’s infidelities and the result is an intriguing mystery that will keep you gripped until the final shocking revelation. Definitely a good read.
No comments have been added yet.
