The Widows

November 1, 2018
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 differences--Lily grew up in a prosperous family, Marvena has had a hardscrabble life--while 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.

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December 15, 2018
Set in Appalachian Ohio, Montgomery's absorbing debut begins with the 1924 collapse of the coal mine called the Widowmaker. Marvena, whose husband died in the tragedy, vows to continue his work of unionizing the miners. Lily's husband, Daniel, the sheriff, is murdered a few months later. She doesn't buy the explanations for how and why he died, and her determination to uncover the truth is made easier when she is appointed acting sheriff. The men who have the real power in town don't think a woman will ask too many questions, but they don't know Lily. Her investigation leads to the discovery that Daniel had secrets. He was accepting bribes for turning a blind eye to local moonshiners, and he and Marvena had a history. Meanwhile, Marvena is desperate to find her 16-year-old daughter, Eula, who has gone missing from the brothel politely termed a boarding house. As Lily and Marvena dig deeper, links between Daniel's murder and Eula's disappearance emerge. Both women are based on historical figures, and the novel will be appreciated by readers who like strong female characters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

Starred review from October 1, 2018

DEBUT In Kinship, OH, 1924, Lily Ross's husband, Daniel, is killed in the line of duty as sheriff. The griefstricken Lily grapples with unanswered questions and her new duties as acting sheriff. Her sorrow is compounded by the sudden appearance of Marvena Whitcomb, a coal miner's widow, who shares a past with Daniel and whose daughter, Eula, is currently missing. An unlikely pair, underestimated by everyone, Lily and Marvena navigate Daniel's secrets, investigate Eula's disappearance, dodge conflicting loyalties among the moonshine distributors, and bond over their shared loss as the tension between the coal miners and mine owners escalates. On the edge of discovering the truth, they suffer one final, mutual betrayal, which propels them toward a series of clever and emotionally satisfying solutions. VERDICT Inspired by the true story of Maude Collins, Ohio's first female sheriff, and prominent labor and community organizer Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, Montgomery's debut novel features two tough-as-nails, strong-willed women whose empathy leaves a lasting impression. A simultaneous examination of women's rights, coal mining, prohibition, and Appalachian life, make this is a fantastic choice for historical fiction fans. [See Prepub Alert, 7/9/18.]--Tina Panik, Avon Free P.L., CT

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