November 2025 Book Discussion - The Widow by John Grisham

And well I finished to read the book and I don't know if it's just me, but when I read a book or watch a movie, I love complete endings, not loose ends, like the ending here felt. Even though I never connected with any of the characters, nor did any of them become my favorite, I liked that the plot moved very quickly at the beginning, without any preamble, and perhaps that's precisely what I didn't like about the ending. I don't feel like it's the telling of a complete story, but rather the recounting of an anecdote. The author didn't delve deeper into the issues that were left hanging, perhaps as a starting point for a second novel? Like Michelle, I wonder what happened to the will, was it contested or not? what happened to Matilda and her new relationship with Jerry? and especially when Simon tells her that Jerry isn't her type, it made me wonder if she wasn't in a relationship for convenience, because after all, Jerry is one of the heirs. And well, in the end, the question is, what happened to Simon? Did he leave town, and where did he go? Did he start a new relationship with Landy? Because I don't think he would go back to Paula after she showed her complete lack of empathy right when Simon needed her more than ever. And I don't mean to say that Simon was any better; in fact, it bothered me immensely that after Zander and Cooley helped him so much and saved him from ending up in prison for life, he reveals his contacts to the FBI, what Cooley does in prison, and even suggests having a better system to control those kinds of activities. And here I think, hey Simon, weren't those illegal activities what kept you out of prison? I don't mean to say that I support those kinds of activities, but I was disgusted that Simon practiced a double standard throughout the entire book, in everything. I don't see him as a good man, nor a bad one, but as an imperfect human being who didn't understand basic concepts like loyalty and honesty.
The book is very good at bringing us closer to and immersing us in the legal world, a world full of legal locks, obstacles, processes, trials, etc., and perhaps that is where the richness of this book lies, in seeing it as a fragment of the lives of the characters, a case dealt with in a courtroom, its background and resolution without going any further, or giving more information about the future of the characters.
 
I'm having so much fun reading and then checking here to revel your spoilers once I get past the chapter you talk about! It is so fun to see what everyone is/was thinking! I'm almost finished (on chapter 59), hope I can find time to read today! I can't wait to see the ending!
 
I am halfway through and really enjoying it. I can't wait to get to the end and then read everyone's thoughts on it.
 
I received the paperback version in the mail two days ago and have managed to read the first chapter! I started with Audible, but it must have been a bad time for me because I could not comprehend anything that I heard! LOL! I love John Grisham, and I will catch up quickly as soon as I can find a quiet time to read!

**Edit to say - I am now on chapter 9! Who-hoo!!**
 
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I finished the book 2 days ago, I wanted to take a little time to collect my final thoughts before I posted.
I really enjoyed reading all your thoughts and opinions. I agree that the ending felt a little disappointing. I am not a fan of loose ends and there were quite a few points that never got addressed. I wanted to know more about the will and how everything actually played out. I wanted more clarity on Simon's relationships and whether he continues practicing law. There were just a lot of unanswered questions.

I love an ending with a twist, but this one felt a little lackluster for me. I cannot quite pinpoint why, but it did not have that punch or jaw dropping moment I was hoping for. It ended up feeling more like a shoulder shrug, and I still cannot figure out exactly what was missing.

All that said, I still really liked the book and I definitely want to read more from John Grisham. I loved the character development and I really enjoy his writing style. Overall, I give it a solid 7 out of 10 stars.

Looking forward to December's book pick! This has been so much fun!! <3
 
@GingerScraps I too fell that the end wasn't at all what I was waiting for. I can't say the ending was rushed, because the entire novel, from beginning to end, unfolded very quickly. But what bothered me about the ending was the lingering doubt, or rather the certainty, that corruption exists, and that money can allow dangerous criminals, like a serial killer in this case, to roam free and prey on new victims, simply because a corrupted law firm and a prestigious hospital decide to cover up the evidence to protect its reputation. I think that's what bothered me most about the book, besides the fact that Simon's fate was never revealed. I believe that if this book were adapted into a film, it would be necessary to include an epilogue that answers all the loose ends.
The book's narrative was easy to understand; in fact, it's one of those books that can captivate the reader from the start and keep him hooked, and being the first book from the author that I've read, I really enjoyed it so much.
I can't wait to read the next book too
 
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carla said:
I received the paperback version in the mail two days ago and have managed to read the first chapter! I started with Audible, but it must have been a bad time for me because I could not comprehend anything that I heard! LOL! I love John Grisham, and I will catch up quickly as soon as I can find a quiet time to read!

**Edit to say - I am now on chapter 9! Who-hoo!!**
Click to expand...
How are you coming along @carla ? Are you enjoying the book?


Does everyone have the December book ready to start reading soon?!
 
Just another comment on The Widow. My legal brain was pretty much fine with the ending -- Simon was acquitted. I do wonder if he for sure got his law license back, though. My guess is that he did. I believe that the will he drew up for Eleanor was the valid will, but I doubt it was contested because it wasn't worth much so it probably was never probated. I believe she knew she was practically destitute, so that's why she had Simon buy her lunches and never paid her legal bills.
 
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@lizziej
Spoiler!
 
@lizziej thank you so much for your valuable comment. It's always good to listen to a legal expert; after all, there are legal terms and processes that those of us unfamiliar with the subject can't understand. I also think Simon regained his license at some point, and if the law was his passion, he certainly returned to practicing after being acquitted. Like Anne-Marie, I was pleased that he spent time with his children before the trial and that he called them afterward to give them the good news.
 
Finished :)

While I did enjoy this book and was hooked from the start. I felt let down and disappointed by the ending. The fun of a murder mystery for me is trying to guess who did it before the murderer is revealed. Giving thought to which character might have motive or opportunity etc. But the murderer was not really known to the reader. I found that I was not at all interested in this randomly introduced serial killer lol. The characters were well developed and I was totally immersed in the writing style and pace. I felt sorry for, and was irritated by Simon at the same time. Was quite fond of Eleanor and intrigued by Tillie. The supporting cast were all interesting and brought to life beautifully. So I felt like the murderer was kind of pulled out of nowhere. But I guess that a lot of people might like that twist. I agree with @Belis2mi in that I also needed to know more about Eleanor. Her character was cut off without us knowing how much she really knew. And I too would have loved a stronger character somewhere in the story. But I did really enjoy it.
I have loved reading everyone's thoughts very much too. Bring on the next book
 
@KarenJB thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I also love mystery novels like Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot; they make me feel involved in the story and challenge my intelligence. I didn't like the ending either. Perhaps if it were adapted into a film script, it would be interesting to see alternative endings, maybe Tillie and Jerry acting together? or Wally orchestring a complex plan including Landy. Although I never connected with any of the characters, I felt sorry for Simon, especially because his relationships (with his clients, his community, his family and even with his secretary) were marked by a longing for connection and a fear of failure, and when he tried to rationalize his actions, deceiving himself, instead of accept the responsability of his actions. I too enjoyed the book. wating to read your thoughts on the next book :)
 
My takeaway was that John Grisham’s message is that innocent people can be found guilty of a crime they did not commit based on no hard evidence presented to the jury. Simon was presumed guilty by townspeople before his verdict by the jury. Even as a member of the legal system, he was railroaded. Simon was greedy (gambler) and tried to take advantage of Eleanor. Eleanor lived in the past and refused to come face to face with the reality that most of her fortune was gone. She never paid for meals or legal fees owed to Simon. She drove recklessly and ended up in the hospital. She was preyed on by a serial killer, Oscar Kofie, an employee of the hospital that was entrusted to care for her.

Greed and the legal system (attorney Victor Mulroney settling a 50 million lawsuit with the hospital, Fendamar Health, and never bringing the killer to the authorities) failed Eleanor as well since her killer, serial killer Oscar Kofie, was never brought to justice and continued to kill, with Eleanor being his latest victim. Kofie abused drugs. Is was not mentioned that the Hospitals where Kofie worked conducted random drug testing of their employees. It was mentioned that Kofie abused cocaine with fellow coworkers at parties in two different hospitals.
 
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