Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

THE WIDOW is a creepy tale, exquisitely told. Jean Taylor is a perfect London housewife, a little untidy. Her husband, Glen, is controlling. He married her young and convinced her of his importance in the world. Most of it was a lie, but Jean doesn't seem particularly upset by that. In fact she's not particularly upset about much of anything, including the fact that Glen was just run over by a bus. What does upset her is the ever-present horde of reporters wanting to get her story. It seems that Glen just may have kidnapped beautiful little Bella, who was out playing in her yard one minute and, the next minute, was gone. Despite Bella's mother's tearful pleas on the media, and the dedicated detecting of Bob Sparks, no trace of Bella is ever found. Glen is the prime suspect. His truck was seen in the area the day Bella was snatched. And there are other clues, as well. But nothing can be proved. And so Jean and Glen continue to live their "normal" life, Bob Sparks continues to obsessively pursue the case, and crack reporter Kate Waters continues to pursue Jean for the real heretofore untold story. How much does Jean really know? What did Glen really do? Was he the monster others thought him to be? What happened to little Bella? What can Bob Sparks discover from the midst of his own obsessions? FIONA BARTON's carefully written tale explores the tale from three points of view: Jean's, Kate Waters', and Bob Sparks'. For the record, contrary to the blurbs, THE WIDOW is not THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN. In fact, I wish reviewers would stop plastering that on the covers of books. It is, however, a compellingly eerie story. What's great about it? Lots. Here are the Top Ten Things That Are Great About THE WIDOW: 10. Fiona Barton can really write. Her sentences flow, the moods emerge from the pages, the story tracks well. 9. Mysteriously creepy. You'll be wondering until the very end. What did happen to Bella? 8. The many disguises of a monster. You've seen the little internet quizzes where you have to pick out the serial killer and you invariably pick the investment banker or the scout leader. The point is correct: it is not always easy to spot a monster. 7. Look in the dictionary under co-dependent and you will find pictures of Glen and Jean. He has his way things need to be done and she adapts. They stick together while they are not really together. The description of the dynamic is fascinating. 6. Something to ponder. Can you really live with someone day in and day out and not know who or what they really are? 5. Ever deal with someone who has excuses for every behavior? Nothing is ever his fault? Meet Glen. Be glad you didn't marry him. 4. Three story-lines are told in perfect balance with each other. 3. Character, character, character. Barton has come up with four wildly diverse characters: Jean, Glen, Kate Waters, and Bob Sparks. They are delicately drawn and understood. 2. A nice time capsule from 2006 - 2010. 1. The surprise. Wait for it. No fair skipping ahead.