Review of 'The Whisky Widow' by Karen Brooks

Review of 'The Whisky Widow' by Karen Brooks

Release date: July 2, 2025

Publisher: HQ Fiction

REVIEW

Nobody but Karen Brooks could write such a riveting and rollicking historical masterpiece like The Whisky Widow! Brimming with detail, suspense, surprise, drama, emotion and intrigue, my head was spinning from all the clever twists and turns and unexpected plot directions. I never saw many of them coming! I was on the edge of my seat flipping the pages as fast as I could into the wee hours of the night. This complex tale certainly fired my imagination from start to finish. I was completely invested at all levels and my heart raced more than once! Other times I shed tears in the sad and tragic moments. It was easy to get invested in the well-developed characters’ lives. I felt their pain, loss, heartbreak and disappointment. And sympathised in their struggles against injustice. But also cheered at their special victories.

Set in 1780, The Whisky Widow, covers a tumultuous period of Scottish history. Whiskey and the Scots go hand in hand. There are lots of emotional connections and associations, too. It was a risky and dangerous venture to be making, smuggling and trading this fiery liquid. The Scots often fought hard for freedom to do what they loved and to choose their own livelihood. Conditions were poor and everyone struggled. But the excise officers often proved vengeful and murder and framing of the innocent were common occurrences. Sometimes these acts were fuelled by jealousy and greed and a means to cut the competition.

The dislike of the Highlanders by the English comes through loudly but also there were battles within the close knit community. Distrust of those coming into their circle, was common. When Greer moves into Glasglen with her daughter, she finds out quickly the locals don’t trust her. It seems for a while no matter what she does to contribute to the community, many members will not change their minds. Or not until something horrible happens and she is put in an unexpected position. Even then it is an uphill battle but once her strengths take centre stage and she fires up with gusto, they begin to take notice. Her journey to gaining respect may have been a challenging one, but she eventually achieves success. Some like Tam, (a character I adored and is proven to be her equal) admire her for her skills and determination and ability to overcome the odds.

There are numerous cultural references in The Whisky Widow that stood out to me. One is the co-existence of Christian and ancient customs and how that played out in the Highlanders’ lives. A second are the mentioned conflicts that existed among the Scots. Plus the surprising prejudice and distrust between the Highlanders and Lowlanders. These points are seen in The Whisky Widow in substantial measures. I also marvelled at Karen’s expert use of the local language giving the dialogue authenticity. And the detailed descriptions of the Scottish surrounds are so explicit they provide a true immersive experience. I was fully transported to the historical setting that placed me in the heart of the action making me feel part of the scenes.

In the end, this is a story about courage, a resilient smart woman leading those she loves to victory. She fights through the betrayal, brings together the uncooperative, gets out of some tight corners through clever thinking and persuasive speech, knows how to manipulate the manipulators and transforms those around her. Greer is a bold woman to be admired and her strength shines like a beacon. Motivated by her honest passion for beloved Tam and her daughter, Fen, and care for her community—she ploughs ahead like a steamroller. Although many locals initially did not want to know her, she proves her worth and turns opinions around. An absolute stunning novel that should not be missed. Full of history, mystery and mayhem! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 Thanks to HQ Fiction and Netgalley for the ARC.