THE WOLFE WIDOW is Book three in the Book Collector cozy mystery series by Victoria Abbott. The series follows Jordan Bingham as she finds books for rabid mystery aficionado Vera Van Alst as well as acting as the protector of Vera's rare collection. Although THE WOLFE WIDOW is part of a series, I believe it can be read and enjoyed by readers who may be new to the series. However, having read the previous books, I can say that this is a series worth devouring.

As much as I enjoyed reading the previous Book Collector book, THE WOLFE WIDOW is my favorite in the series so far. Jordan is put in the unenviable position of trying to help protect a woman who not only refuses her help, but is also a woman who is the focus of extreme dislike by many in the local community. Not only does Jordan have this uphill battle to fight, but is pretty much on her own due to the disappearance of her closest friends and allies. In spite of all these things working against her, THE WOLFE WIDOW is extremely entertaining and had me laughing as I continued reading. Jordan's few supporters -- including her uncle Mick, the always amusing and prone to chaos uncle Kev, and the delightfully prodigious Van Alst chef Signora Panetone -- create wonderfully light and comic moments.

There are a few murders in THE WOLFE WIDOW -- both in the past as well as the present -- but the crux of the story is the mysterious Muriel Delgado and the puzzle of discovering what hold she has over Jordan's boss. The mystery pulls the reader in and Jordan's near isolation makes her an even more sympathetic character in this story. Although I've never read any of the Nero Wolfe stories by Rex Stout, I think the trivia about those books littered throughout THE WOLFE WIDOW to be interesting.

THE WOLFE WIDOW is both comic genius and a delightfully engaging mystery. Each book in this Book Collector mystery series just seems to get better and better. I can't wait to see what's in store for these characters in the next installment and what classic mystery author Victoria Abbott chooses to focus on. For anyone who enjoys humor in cozy mysteries, as well as classic mystery trivia -- THE WOLFE WIDOW will not disappoint.

Book Summary

As Thanksgiving approaches, Jordan Bingham is grateful for her job researching rare books for Vera Van Alst, the infamous curmudgeon of Harrison Falls, New York. But when an uninvited guest makes an appearance, much more than dinner is disrupted—and Jordan is thankful just to be alive…

Vera Van Alst doesn’t normally receive visitors without appointment, but she agrees to see the imperious Muriel Delgado upon arrival. Shortly thereafter, Jordan is told that her position is being terminated. Evicted from the Van Alst House, Jordan is determined to find out what hold Muriel has over her erstwhile employer.

It seems Muriel has designs on Vera’s money and property— not to mention a particular interest in her collection of Nero Wolfe first editions. When Jordan discovers a deadly connection between Muriel and the Van Alst family, it’s up to her to put the house in order and stop a killer from going back to press.