The widows

Title:

The widows

Author:

Montgomery, Jess, author.

Personal Author:

Montgomery, Jess, author.

ISBN:

9781250184528

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

327 pages : map ; 25 cm

Abstract:

When Lily Ross learns that her husband, Daniel Ross, the town's widely respected sheriff, is killed while transporting a prisoner, she is devastated and vows to avenge his death. Hours after his funeral, a stranger appears at her door. Marvena Whitcomb, a coal miner's widow, is unaware that Daniel has died, and begs to speak with him about her missing daughter. From miles away but worlds apart, Lily and Marvena's lives collide as they realize that Daniel was not the man that either of them believed him to be--and that his murder is far more complex than either of them could have imagined. Inspired by the true story of Ohio's first female sheriff, this is a powerful debut about two women's search for justice as they take on the corruption at the heart of their community.

Personal Subject:

Collins, Maude, 1893-1972-Fiction.

Jones, Mother, 1837-1930-Fiction.

Subject Term:

Nineteen twenties -- Fiction.

Geographic Term:

Ohio -- History -- 20th century -- Fiction.

Genre:

Biographical fiction.

Historical fiction.

Summary:

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Shelf Number	Status
Searching... Broad Rock	Book	M MONTGOM	Searching... Unknown
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Searching... Main Library	Book	M MONTGOM	Searching... Unknown
Searching... West End	Book	M MONTGOM	Searching... Unknown

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On Order

Summary

" The Widows kept me on the edge of my seat. Montgomery is a masterful storyteller." --Lee Martin, author of Pulitzer Prize-Finalist The Bright Forever

Kinship, Ohio, 1924: When Lily Ross learns that her husband, Daniel Ross, the town's widely respected sheriff, is killed while transporting a prisoner, she is devastated and vows to avenge his death.

Hours after his funeral, a stranger appears at her door. Marvena Whitcomb, a coal miner's widow, is unaware that Daniel has died, and begs to speak with him about her missing daughter.

From miles away but worlds apart, Lily and Marvena's lives collide as they realize that Daniel was not the man that either of them believed him to be--and that his murder is far more complex than either of them could have imagined.

Inspired by the true story of Ohio's first female sheriff, this is a powerful debut about two women's search for justice as they take on the corruption at the heart of their community.

" The Widows is a gripping, beautifully written nove l about two women avenging the murder of the man they both loved."--Hallie Ephron, New York Times bestselling author of You'll Never Know, Dear

"Jess Montgomery's gorgeous writing can be just as dark and terrifying as a subterranean cave when the candle is snuffed out, but her prose can just as easily lead you to the surface for a gasp of air and a glimpse of blinding, beautiful sunlight. This is a powerful novel : a tale of loss, greed, and violence, and the story of two powerful women who refuse to stand down."--Wiley Cash, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Ballad , A Land More Kind than Home , and This Dark Road to Mercy

"[A] flinty, heartfelt mystery that sings of hawks and history , of coal mines and the urgent fight for social justice."--Julia Keller, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Bone on Bone

Reviews (1)

Kirkus Review

Montgomery's debut novel introduces Lily Ross, a sheriff's widow in 1920s Appalachian Ohio who takes on her husband Daniel's work in order to solve his murder, and Marvena, Daniel's childhood sweetheart, who helps Lily while also organizing mineworkers.Marvena shows up at Lily's house on the day of Daniel's funeral, looking for Daniel to ask if he's learned anything about her missing daughter, Eula, or her brother Tom, a miner who's been jailed recently for his union talk. The women have more than Daniel in common: Marvena's common-law husband, John, a veteran of the real-life Battle for Blair Mountain mineworkers' uprising, and Lily's father, the town grocer, died together trying to rescue trapped miners six months earlier. Bonded by their common losses, their determination to learn what happened to Daniel, and their concern for better working conditions for miners, Lily and Marvena become allies. Montgomery portrays their class differencesLily grew up in a prosperous family, Marvena has had a hardscrabble lifewhile convincing readers that the two women's strong wills and shared tragedies are grounds for their alliance. The mysteries of Daniel's murder and Eula's disappearance lead to an unexpected outcome and a surprising murderer. As the book draws to a close, Lily, who was appointed sheriff by men who thought she'd cause them no trouble, is running for the position in her own right, perhaps setting the stage for further installments. Montgomery effectively provides backstory through her characters' memories, but some of those passages are longer than necessary. Occasional interruptions to explain things like how to make sorghum are distracting, and many of the minor characters are not well fleshed-out. However, these are small problems in an otherwise engaging debut. An extensive Author's Note provides insight into the women and historical events that inspired Montgomery.Vivid historical details, an intriguing mystery, and strong female characters. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.