The Lottery Winner Widows Club by Elly Vine review
A daring, thrilling new direction for Lucy Vine.
The Lottery Winner Widows Club by Elly Vine: The key details
- Publish date: 26 March 2026
- Genre: Comedy/crime
- Publisher: Wildfire
- Available formats: Hardback, audio and ebook
- Series/standalone: Standalone
- Length: 384 pages
Blurb: Having just lost her husband in a freak accident, Paula is gobsmacked when, two days later, she wins the lottery – with a ticket he bought. Out of nowhere, she is approached by a tight-knit trio of other glamorous jackpot winners who tell her that they’ve been where she is now. That grief looks good on her. That freedom does, too.
There’s just one problem: Paula didn’t kill her husband. She loved him, of course.
But something about their world is hard to resist. And when other people come sniffing around for a share of Paula’s winnings, she’s faced with the ultimate choice: hold onto her old life, or accept help from her new friends, whose methods are a little more . . . unconventional.
The Lottery Winner Widows Club by Elly Vine: The review
My third read from Lucy Vine – this time under the name Elly Vine – might be my favourite. Darker and more thrilling than her usual rom-com fare, The Lottery Winner Widows Club is still filled with her hallmark wit, heart and soul. It feels more grown-up, more ambitious, and I’ve loved every moment of it.
Paula is the focus of this tale, which floats somewhere between being a dark comedy and a crime/thriller. She’s having quite the week, having found out she’s won the lottery and lost her husband in the space of 24 hours. It’s a lot to comprehend – and it becomes even more confusing when a trio of women turn up, claiming they’ve all also won the lottery… and they’ve all killed their husbands.
There’s only one problem: Paula didn’t kill hers. And so begins a whirlwind of Paula discovering a new life; one without her husband, one where she’s rich beyond her wildest dreams, and one where she has these mysterious, intriguing friends to contend with.
This is a gripping novel, not least because you’ll instantly feel for Paula, and you’ll likely come to love the other women of the Lottery Winner Widows Club too. There are plenty of characters to absolutely hate, too, but you’ll have to read to find out more about them.
I gasped out loud at times, and my heart broke in moments for the traumas these women have loved through – there are emotional themes here, and despite the frequent levity, Vine isn’t afraid to get dark. There are some surprising twists and turns too, with the narrative never feeling slow or letting up. You’ll be gripped from start to finish, and desperate to know more about Paula and her new friends in general.
This is such a strong ‘debut’ from Elly, and I really hope Lucy Vine continues writing more daring, thrilling fiction. The blend of comedy and crime without falling into ‘cosy’ territory is seriously refreshing, and I’d love to read more.
Thanks to Wildfire for providing a copy of the book.
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