Questions for Fiona Barton

[Penguin Random House Canada]

Hello Everyone!

We have the great honour of hosting a Periscope with the author of The Widow, Fiona Barton, this week! Comment below with your questions and tune in March 2nd at 1:30pm EST on the @PenguinCanada twitter account and get to see her live in the office.

Watch now: https://www.periscope.tv/w/1rmGPwaDQEyKN

Thanks,
Fatuma

[Sandra]

Hello Fatuma,
While reading this book, I wondered if Jean was as submissive as she makes herself out to be. Her obsession with having a child was not a huge part of the plot, but an integral one, I thought. My question for Fiona is simply: When you were writing this book, was Jean meant to be an unreliable character and should we take everything she says as truth or a bit of a lie? I noticed in the discussion thread that everyone seemed to feel sorry for Jean and to a certain extent I also did, but I was also very suspicious of her actions right from the start of the novel. Hard to answer without spoilers, I know, but maybe the author can shed some light without giving too much away...

[Annie]

My question for Fiona Barton is when did Jean begin to suspect her husband was involved? Was it when he came home on the day of the kidnapping and said that he was in the area for a delivery and it was better to say that he was home at four that day to avoid getting him in trouble or was it much later?

[Patricia]

I enjoyed The Widow so much. I began to suspect Jean was more involved than I'd originally thought and not just with the cover up. Also, maybe she found it gratifying and believed Glen did it to get a little girl for her. I found the circumstances of his death very convenient and wonder if she gave him a quick nudge. I think Jean is the one to watch in all this.

[Nikki (nikkitheknack's In the Stacks)]

I really enjoyed the book and I have a couple of questions for Fiona:

1. Was there anything in particular that inspired you to write about such a dark topic?

2. I loved reading about the case from different perspectives, particularly Kate's and DI Sparkes's. Their reactions and perspectives all seemed so true to how I imagine a person in each of those roles would react. Were you able to talk to real people in those positions - i.e. police officers & reporters - while you wrote The Widow?

Thank you for talking to us about The Widow, Fiona!

[Susan]

My questions for Fiona:
I know that authors put a lot of research into their books and the details have to be accurate and true to life. How much research did you do into sex in internet chat rooms and child pornography? I felt sick just from reading about it in The Widow but you must have had to delve into the topic more extensively. How did you cope with what you learned?
Thanks! :)

[Christine]

Hi Fatuma,

Can the author, Fiona Barton shed some light on Glen's childhood? We have a glimpse of the animosity between father and son.

I also, am curious to know what inspired the author to write about such a dark subject.

[Zoë]

I am curious, did you start the book knowing what happened to Bella, or is it something you discovered while writing? What was the inspiration for the story?

[Penguin Random House Canada]

Check out a LIVE Q&A with author of The Widow, Fiona Barton - happening now: https://www.periscope.tv/w/1rmGPwaDQEyKN

[Sandra]

Thanks for doing this Q&A! I'm so happy that the author answered my question about Jean.