Novella Review: The Widow’s Husband’s Secret Lie by Freida McFadden
The Widow’s Husband’s Secret Lie
Author: Freida McFadden
Published: August 12, 2024
Paperback: 123 pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: October 5-8, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Novella Description:
My husband is dead.
I attended his funeral. I watched his casket be lowered six feet into the ground. (Actually, it may have been only five feet, but that still seems like more than enough.) And then we ate an array of finger sandwiches and deviled eggs and miniature beef wellingtons that cost more than my first car.
My point is, Grant is gone. And so are all his many, many deep, dark secrets which I never really ever bothered to ask him about. He is never coming back.
So why do I still see his face everywhere I go?
Jessica’s Review:
This was a fun and refreshing read. I had been in a bit of a ‘book funk’ with the physical book I was reading, and after at least two weeks of not picking that one up at all I decided to DNF it and pick up The Widow’s Husband’s Secret Lie hoping that Ms. McFadden could pull me out of my funk… And she did: For that I say ‘Thank You’!
It seems that people who have been critical have not noticed what is on the cover: A Satirical Novella. If you Google ‘satire’, this is what comes up: The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.
And this novella does that! I really enjoyed it from the beginning! I laughed and also had my mouth drop at a couple of the twists. I did actually call the major final twist relatively early on, and when it got there I said, “I knew it!” I was proud I figured out a McFadden Final Twist!
McFadden pokes fun at herself and the thriller genre in general, so if you are a fan of hers or thrillers then you should enjoy this. There are ‘easter eggs’ throughout the novella in regards to her other novels, and you may pick up on them or not depending on how many or how often you read her books.
After it’s over there is a seven page ‘short’ titled BAD DATE SOS!!! That gears you up for her newest novel The Boyfriend which I am currently listening to. (I will probably have it finished by the time this review posts.
The Widow’s Husband’s Secret Lie is a quick and fun read that I definitely recommend for the McFadden fans and Thriller readers.