The Self-Made Widow
Clever
Emotional
Witty

The Self-Made Widow

From the cocreator of Deadpool and author of Suburban Dicks comes a diabolically funny murder mystery that features two unlikely sleuths investigating a murder that reveals the dark underbelly of suburban marriage. After mother of five and former FBI profiler Andie Stern solved a murder—and unraveled a decades-old conspiracy—in her New Jersey town, both her husband and the West Windsor police hoped that she would set aside crime-fighting and go back to carpools, changing diapers, and lunches with her group of mom-friends, who she secretly calls The Cellulitists. Even so, Andie can’t help but get involved when the husband of Queen Bee Molly Goode is found dead. Though all signs point to natural causes, Andie begins to dig into the case and soon risks more than just the clique’s wrath, because what she discovers might hit shockingly close to home. Meanwhile, journalist Kenny Lee is enjoying a rehabilitated image after his success as Andie’s sidekick. But when an anonymous phone call tips him off that Molly Goode killed her husband, he’s soon drawn back into the thicket of suburban scandals, uncovering secrets, affairs, and a huge sum of money. Hellbent on justice and hoping not to kill each other in the process, Andie and Kenny dust off their suburban sleuthing caps once again.
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Reviews

Photo of Lynn Braden
Lynn Braden@ftbooklover
4.5 stars
Jul 4, 2022

When the death of Molly's husband is ruled a heart attack, everyone thinks his heart defect finally caught up with him, but Kenny Lee gets an anonymous call from a woman saying that Molly killed her husband. Kenny Lee's reporter instincts kick in, so he contacts Andrea Stern and discovers that she also suspects her friend of murder. Andie along with Kenny and his team embark on an investigation that reveals multiple secrets being kept by all of Andie's friends that she has dubbed the Cellulitists - cellulite + elitists and eventually leads a little too close to home.

The Self-Made Widow is another winner in the Suburban Dicks series. Once again, I don't understand why more people aren't talking about another of Fabian Nicieza's books. This twisty procedural is full of secrets and clues that once again attacks the mystery from two different perspectives. As well as a crackerjack plot, everything about suburban life is put under the microscope, adding layers to this humorous and emotional story. Both Andie and Kenny question their own life choices and what their futures might hold, making readers ponder their own choices. Overall, The Self-Made Widow is another exceptional mystery that examines the pros and cons of suburban life.

+8
Photo of nadine
nadine@diine
5 stars
Jan 17, 2024
Photo of Jennifer
Jennifer@mrslibrarian
4 stars
Jul 6, 2022