The WidowThe Widow
What it's about
Simon Latch is a small-town lawyer in Virginia, barely paying his bills, gambling too much and watching his marriage fail. Then Eleanor Barnett, an elderly widow, comes in for a new will, and it turns out she may be sitting on a fortune. Simon sees a chance. When Eleanor dies under suspicious circumstances, Simon is charged with her murder.
Why it's worth reading
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's Grisham's first true whodunit.
You'll love it if you liked
The Rainmaker
The Client
Presumed InnocentGood to know
Simon is a flawed hero. The trial takes up much of the book.
By the numbers
- Readers38 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller70 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz50 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #141 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #191 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1109 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by John Grisham
The Pelican BriefThe ClientThe Rainmaker
The GuardiansIf you like this, read next
The Correspondent
The Housemaid
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
Remarkably Bright Creatures
The Tainted Cup
The Frozen RiverExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Widow worth reading?
Yes. It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It ranks #1,109 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Widow about?
Simon Latch is a small-town lawyer in Virginia, barely paying his bills, gambling too much and watching his marriage fail. Then Eleanor Barnett, an elderly widow, comes in for a new will, and it turns out she may be sitting on a fortune. Simon sees a chance. When Eleanor dies under suspicious circumstances, Simon is charged with her murder.
How long does it take to read The Widow?
About 11 hours (428 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Widow?
If you liked it, try The Rainmaker by John Grisham, The Client by John Grisham or Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow.