Editorial Content for The Widow

In THE WIDOW, Kaira Rouda uses multiple points of view as she plots a novel that by turns grips and repels us. Jody is the wife of Ohio congressman Martin Asher. They met in law school, and while she had hoped for him to reach higher than "mere" congressman, there he's been for over three decades. And while she loves being the spouse of a Member of Congress, with all the attendant functions and perks, she's tired of his indiscretions and his complaints about her spending.

"The plot, the twists, the political shenanigans and the outright traitorous activities are all thrilling. But where Rouda's writing really shines is in her depiction of the characters."

Jody is a fascinating main character as she readily admits that feeling emotion is not something she is able to do. She has learned to fake it and does it beautifully. But she also punishes Martin for his wrongdoing in a rather chilling manner. He's been complaining about the extravagance of the wedding she’s planning for their daughter, who unfortunately is marrying the son of a wealthy staunch Republican. And when, at the rehearsal dinner, that family outshines the wedding and uses it to make an announcement that they know will embarrass the Ashers, Jody is furious.

But the next day, during the wedding, Martin drops dead and Jody becomes the title character: the widow. That horrifying incident, unsurprisingly, ruins the ceremony. Jody decides that with Martin gone, she will not just fade into the woodwork and is determined to take his place in government. After all, it's practically a widow's responsibility to run for the seat of her deceased spouse.

As the story unfolds, we see more and more how ruthless Jody is. We also find out what Martin was hiding from her in terms of his unsavory connections and the lengths to which he would go in order to pay for the lifestyle she demanded. And through the voice of Mimi, who runs a think tank with her wealthy husband and has known both Martin and Jody since law school, we learn about the shadowy characters who influence from behind the scenes.

Those of us who don’t know what being a Member of Congress entails will find some of the details --- about the daily activities of both the actual member and the spouse --- extremely revealing. And while we may read about "K Street" occasionally and how they write bills that are passed by the House and Senate, whose members have not even read them in their entirety, Rouda demonstrates how that actually happens and the power of those who pay for the "K Street" lobbyists. It's frightening.

The plot, the twists, the political shenanigans and the outright traitorous activities are all thrilling. But where Rouda's writing really shines is in her depiction of the characters. Through the first person points of view of Jody, Martin and Mimi, we understand each of their motivations, goals and regrets.

Because we feel so involved in their twisty machinations, we keep reading to find out what happens to Jody and if her diabolical plans succeed. THE WIDOW is a quick read because of that but is no less enjoyable. Jody is an unusual protagonist whose ruthlessness and emotionless persona are chilling.