Wicked Wanted Widows
The Widows #3
Narrators: Ariel Blake, Dina Pearlman, Karissa Vacker, Barrie Kreinik, Kevin T. Collins, Helen Laser, Neil Hellegers
ISBN: 9781464255502
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: 08/25/2026
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
The Widows are back in this thrilling third installment of the Young Rich Widows series!
This time, a Providence bank robbery-turned-kidnapping creates chaos, as rescuing one of their own finds them on the wrong side of the law, risking everything they've built since their spouses' murders: their friendship, their freedom, and even their lives.
To save Meredith, the widows find themselves breaking out of jails and into graveyards, chasing the ghosts of indentured servants, and racing through the pirate tunnels under Providence.
As if jailbreaks weren't enough, old loves have also come to haunt many of the widows. For Krystle, bringing her friend home risks exposing more of Sal's criminal past and destroying any chance of a post-prison happily-ever-after. For Justine, it means throwing herself into the crosshairs of both the law and her mother-in-law, threatening custody of her son and the career she needs to give them a fresh start. For Camille, bringing her bestie home tests her responsibilities to her new, found family and the firm she inherited.
Pressuring the widows' loyalty even more are Meredith's own conflicted feelings about newcomer Grace. Meredith begins to question what she's really running from— or returning to. Sure, it's 1988, and "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" is blaring on the radio. But maybe bad girls have the real blast.
The widows' genuine bond has gotten them out of sticky situations time and time again. In this treacherous world of liars and thieves, however, their ties to each other will have to withstand the pull of what they want for themselves. And sisterhood might not be enough to save them.
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My Review
Intro
Kimberly Belle, Vanessa Lillie, and Cate Holahan deliver a sensational, high-octane finale to their hit collaborative trilogy with Wicked Wanted Widows. To celebrate the paperback edition this review honors a completely addictive, female-driven mob thriller that concludes the series in grand, oversized '80s style.
🪝The Hook
A routine bank deposit in Providence turns into a full-scale robbery and kidnapping, forcing three glamorous law-firm widows back into action to save one of their own.
🛗Elevator Pitch
It’s 1988, and "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" is blaring on the radio—but the Widows are busy running from the law. When Meredith is taken hostage during a bank heist by an Irish art thief, fellow partners Krystle, Justine, and Camille must shatter their quiet lives, execute jailbreaks, and dig through historical bootlegger tunnels under Providence to get her back.
Setting
The neon-soaked streets, maximum-security prisons, and secret pirate tunnels of Providence, Rhode Island, with a quick, atmospheric side trip to Salem, Massachusetts during Halloween.
👠 Vibe
Totally '80s, campy, fast-paced, and highly chaotic with heavy doses of big hair, dangerous glamour, and female solidarity.
🔍 Genre
Female-Driven Mob Thriller / Over-the-Top Suspense.
👥 Themes
Fierce sisterhood, the weight of a spouse's criminal legacy, choosing your own family, and how "bad girls" have the most fun.
Standout Characters
~The Core Widows (Krystle, Justine, Camille, and Meredith): Independent, fierce, and entirely unique, these women run their late husbands' mafia-affiliated law firm and strip clubs while constantly outmaneuvering the police.
~Grace Flaherty: A brilliant newcomer and Irish art thief who targets Meredith, dragging a priceless heirloom revenge plot into the mix.
✍🏻Author Writing Standout
The co-authors master the cliffhanger chapter ending. Their signature collaborative style bounces flawlessly between the multiple distinct points of view of the widows, keeping the narrative flowing with witty banter and frantic, nonstop action.
Title Significance & Metaphor
Wicked Wanted Widows captures the exact moment our heroines are forced to land on the wrong side of the law to protect their own crew. The story moves like a Ferrari Testarossa with no brakes—sleek, fast, unapologetic, and completely unconcerned with speed limits.
Audio Standout
🎧 The multi-cast ensemble narration is a spectacular audio drama masterpiece. Each narrator embodies their specific widow with unparalleled vocal distinction, emphasizing the distinct, escalating panic of a hostage situation and the cool, calculated bravado of women taking control of the New England underworld.
💭My Thoughts
The moment I cracked open the first page, I knew I was at the mercy of a storytelling team that knows exactly how to manipulate your heart rate. Having read every single one of Kimberly Belle's books, I can safely say her signature blend of high stakes and rich emotional tension shines brilliantly alongside her co-authors.
The pacing is absolutely blistering—short, sharp chapters terminate in jolting cliffhangers that practically force your fingers to flip the page. Watching these independent, stylish women navigate the art heist and real historical underground tunnels is pure, unadulterated entertainment. While the plot leans beautifully into over-the-top, glorious '80s camp, the genuine bond of sisterhood anchors the story in authentic emotion.
Why You Should Read
As a massive fan of this series, I promise this third installment delivers a perfect, satisfying conclusion filled with relentless pacing, complex plotting, and unforgettable characters.
Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 / 5 Stars An absolute knockout. Wicked Wanted Widows is an electrifying, high-voltage triumph that completely redefines the female modern mob thriller. It is fierce, flawless, and undeniably addictive.
Recs & Read Alikes
I highly recommend reading the Young Rich Widows series in exact chronological order so you can experience the dynamic growth and evolving underworld history of this incredible crew!
Book 1: Young Rich Widows
The mandatory introduction to the private jet crash that starts it all.
Book 2: Desperate Deadly Widows
The intense follow-up as the ladies entrench themselves in the firm.
Book 3: Wicked Wanted Widows
This incredible grand finale!
Bonus Genre Companion: The Hunting Wives by May Cobb
Special thanks to partner, Sourcebooks Landmark and NEtGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 25, 2026
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About the Authors
Kimberly Belle
Kimberly Belle is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of suspense novels including The Paris Widow, The Marriage Lie, a Goodreads Choice Awards semifinalist for Best Mystery & Thriller, and the co-authored #1 Audible Original, Young Rich Widows. Her books have been published in dozens of languages and optioned for film and television. WEBSITE
Cate Holahan
Cate Holahan is a USA Today Bestselling thriller/suspense author and screenwriter. She has seven standalone novels and is co-author of the #1 Audible bestselling series Young Rich Widows, its sequels Desperate Deadly Widows and Wild Wicked Widows, and its planned fourth installment. Her eighth solo book, Last Looks, will be published by Thomas & Mercer in 2026. She lives in Tenafly, NJ, with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs, and spends many a break in Jamaica, where she’s also a citizen. WEBSITE
Vanessa Lillie
Vanessa Lillie is the USA Today bestselling author of Blood Sisters, which was a Target Book Club pick and GMA Book Club Buzz Pick, as well as a best mystery of the year from the Washington Post and Reader’s Digest. The sequel, The Bone Thief, releases October 28th. Her other bestselling thrillers are Little Voices, For the Best and she’s the creator and coauthor of the Young Rich Widows series set in Providence, RI where she lives. Originally from Miami, Oklahoma, she is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Vanessa was a Sisters in Crime board member and wrote a weekly column for the Providence Journal about her experiences during the first year of the pandemic. She hosts a weekly Instagram Live show, ‘Twas the Night Before Book Launch, where she chats with authors the night before their book is out in the world. WEBSITE
