“Widow’s Walk” by Jane Willan – Book Review #JaneWillan @sibyllinepress.bsky.social #BookSky #WidowsWalk #BookReview

I loved the cover of this novel with its autumn vibes. When I read the blurb it evoked memories of watching “The Vicar Of Dibley” starring Dawn French, and folks who enjoyed that TV series will quite likely enjoy this book as well.

With a small town, coastal Maine setting, some eccentric characters,  social commentary, delightful animals, and more than a little humour, this book had a lot going for it. For some, it might lean toward the religious a bit too much.

Miranda McCurdy had left her job as a sought-after Boston chef to attend the seminary. Now she is an Episcopalian priest at a Maine parish that is infused with tradition and closed-mindedness. Miranda suggests some changes to how the church might celebrate Thanksgiving. She is met with resistance at every turn. Then, when she later suggests that her church provide sanctuary for a pregnant Honduran woman, she has proposed ‘a bridge too far’ for her intransigent and inflexible parishioners.

Miranda, who is a widow, lives alone with a charming and amusing pygmy hedgehog named Howard. When she is bequeathed a very large, slobbery, Irish wolfhound ‘puppy’, she sees the inherent complications that will no doubt arise.

Miranda and her church secretary are at logger-heads at the beginning, but the Irish wolfhound ‘puppy’ captures the heart of the frosty church secretary, and works as a catalyst for friendship between the women.

This novel has a strong ‘romance’ element running throughout that in my opinion detracted from the overall message. Essentially, it was about a church community that discovers the power of compassion, empathy, and the advantages of progressive change. It skilfully explores a faith-based stance on the timely issue of ICE and the immigrant issue in today’s American society. A good ‘cozy’ read excellent for this time of year and this specific political landscape.

Fictionophile rating = 3.5 stars
rounded up for Amazon

You can read an exerpt of the first chapter of this book courtesy of Sibylline Press.

This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Sibylline Press via Edelweiss.

Publication date: October 21, 2025

Publisher: Sibylline Press

ISBN: 9781960573452 – 292 pages

Reverend Jane Willan is Pastor of the Congregational Church of Paxton, Massachusetts. Jane has a Master’s of Science degree from Boston University, and a Master’s of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School. Jane Willan is the author of the Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Mystery series, cozy whodunits where faith, community, and murder intertwine.

When not writing or preaching, Jane enjoys New England’s beauty with her husband Don, their rescue dog, Ollie, and a cat named Winnie.

Learn more at janewillan.com.