Rhonda Nelson, The Future Widows' Club

Rhonda Nelson, The Future Widows' Club - In Moon Valley, Jolie Marshal regrets marrying charming SOB Chris who embezzled money from their company, leaving friends and her mother potentially in the lurch. When she can pay back her "creditors", she will divorce Chris, who she married when vulnerable following the death of her father and rejection by her boyfriend Jake, who was not ready for a wife.

The Future Widows' Club invites Jolie to join their group. Finding solace, she agrees and begins following some of the rules like taking out life insurance on her spouse. However, someone was irate when they shot Chris in the heart and cut off his penis. Could it be Sheriff Dean who has pictures of his wife with Chris? Or Police Officer Jake who is livid that this worm hit Jolie, the woman he still loves and regrets he let down? Or perhaps the grieving widow who just took out insurance on the rat?

THE FUTURE WIDOWS' CLUB is a strange, dark, humorous romance with police procedural elements to add excitement to the question of who killed Chris. The storyline initially appears to be one of an abused spouse but switches gear once the merry widows invite Jolie to join. Rhonda Nelson writes a strong, satirical, dark look at society that accepts plenty of abusive "values" under the label of protecting the family.

Harriet Klausner