The River Widow Audiobook By Ann Howard Creel cover art

The River Widow

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The River Widow

By: Ann Howard Creel
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.00

Buy for $20.00

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

From the bestselling author of The Whiskey Sea comes a stirring novel of a young woman’s survival and liberation during the Great Depression.

In 1937, with flood waters approaching, Adah Branch accidentally kills her abusive husband, Lester, and surrenders his body to the raging river, only to be swept away herself.

So begins her story of survival, return to civilization, defense against accusations of murder, and the fight to save herself and her stepdaughter, Daisy, from the clutches of her husband’s notoriously cruel family, who have their sights set on revenge for Lester’s death. Essentially trapped, Adah must plan an escape.

But when she develops feelings for the one person essential to her plan’s success, she faces a painful choice: Will she choose to risk everything saving Daisy or take the new life offered by a loving man?

©2018 Ann Howard Creel. (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
Family Life Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about The River Widow

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    357
  • 4 Stars
    261
  • 3 Stars
    152
  • 2 Stars
    43
  • 1 Stars
    16
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    430
  • 4 Stars
    211
  • 3 Stars
    71
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
    7
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    299
  • 4 Stars
    217
  • 3 Stars
    151
  • 2 Stars
    50
  • 1 Stars
    19

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Dark

I’ve enjoyed other Ann Howard Creel books and find her an author capable of leaving her reader on cliffs edge with each page of her book. The River widow, although, perhaps, relatable to someone leading a similar life, was very dark to me. Rather than awesome intrigue, as I’ve felt with her other books, I felt a heavy dread throughout. More than once I thought about deleting the book from my library. Only hope for the main character kept me moving forward. I have mixed feelings about recommending this to other readers.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

27 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Very intense listen

Story was very heavy and I should have picked a better time to listen to it. There was no levity at all. No emotional relief. Performance was very good.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well written, well performed.

The author got me heavily invested right away. She painted vivid pictures of the time period, the people, and the surroundings. An easy, engaging listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

39 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Kept me engaged and guessing the entire book.

This is a beautifully written story of tragedy, desire, and love. Creel's suspenseful and masterfully crafted book kept me fully engaged and guessing to the very end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

This is a powerful story.

Very good story..moving and deep. It kept me involved all the way through. I recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

took forever to be free

Held my interest but was long and drawn out almost stopped listening but a ok finish.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Endings....

No spoilers, but the ending was nothing like I thought it would be. I'm no critic by any means however, this really left something to be desired. Same as this review...

all I can say is, if you really want this audiobook use a credit (if you have several) or wait for a free/bogo sale.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good book. Terrible ending.

Dark story with many suspenseful situations. The ending could have turned this story into a more hopeful and happy ending but the author leaves the lives of Adah and Daisy hanging. If you're looking for a feel good read with a happily ever after...... this is not the book for you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Blah...

Not enough here to hold my interest and the narrator wasn't the best. I trudge though it but would not recommend this.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Had to take breaks from the tension

This story was an endurance test in subversive cruelty and manipulation. The tension between characters and MC's inner turmoil are razor sharp. As I listened to the book in the evenings, I found myself getting angry and stressed about the character's deteriorating situation. Though I sometimes was frustrated that she didn't stand up for herself, it was believable, especially in that time. The writing was clear and poetic. This is not an action novel. It is a suspenseful drama. The ending did feel a little quick, but it was altogether plausible and provided closure without feeling forced.

The narrator did an excellent job with accents and drawls, and was overall pleasant to listen to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!