The Widow

Lorna's husband, Michael, was never a monster, she insists, even as the police close in on him. He was a devoted father to their six-year-old daughter and a loving partner. Then, shortly after officers question him about the disappearance of a young mother from their small village, he steps in front of a lorry and dies.

At the funeral, Lorna stands beside her daughter and tells friends and neighbours that Michael died innocent. But the whispers have begun, and the people around her are determined to uncover what really happened. Only Lorna knows about the phone she discovered hidden in his toolbox, and she is determined to keep its secrets buried.

Lorna's priority is protecting her child from the truth about her father, and she will go to great lengths to erase any sign of wrongdoing in their home. The danger is that the more she hides, the more attention she draws to herself. The novel is by K.L. Slater, author of the bestselling The Marriage.