Ahhhhh. Once again, Sandra Brannan has totally taken my breath away with her writing. Widow's Might brings back the Liv that I was waiting for, a completely twisted murder that kept me reading, and a fabulous cast of characters. What I love most about this books in this series are how easy they are to get into. Read a page, and you're already hooked.

It's hard to remember that this book takes place only a few short days after the last book ends. My favorite part about Liv's character has always been how strong she is, and that doesn't change here. She's slow to anger, quick to empathy, and a downright wonderful person. As an added bonus, we meet her sister in this book. Elizabeth is like Liv multiplied by ten. I completely adored her! A woman who gives any cause a hundred percent of her time and effort, she is just as strong as her sister, and even more stubborn. The two of them are a force to be reckoned with, that's for sure!

The romance is ramped up a bit in this third book as well, although it still does a fabulous job of staying in the background. Agents Pierce and Linwood are the polar opposites of one another, but Liv finds chemistry with both of these wonderful men. It's a a breath of fresh air to have a bit of romance thrown in between all the work that goes into solving the mysteries. Let me be the first to say that no matter which of these two men Liv chooses, I'm all for it! I'll take the other one off her hands any day.

Clues are laid out in bits in pieces, always giving the reader just enough to be on the cusp of solving the murders, but never enough to quite get there. It's deliciously frustrating. What I most enjoyed about this particular book in the series (and missed in the second book) is getting a chance to see from the murderer's point of view. Having the opportunity to see into the twisted mine of "The Crooked Man" is a treat. Creepy, yet completely fascinating.

So yes, Widow's Might gets a huge five starts from me! It brought back everything that I was missing in the last book, and kept me reading well into the night. If you haven't yet started this series I highly recommend it! Liv is sure to steal your heart, as will all the other characters in this series. Full of twists and turns, Widow's Might is the stuff of late nights spent reading. I cannot wait for more! ( )

A Liv Bergen mystery set in the Black Hills of South Dakota. People are dying all over the place - some from previous novels - and Liv (a new recruit & dog handler for the FBI), Streeter Pierce (lead agent & potential love interest), and other FBI agents, Jack Linwood & Jenna Tate piece the mystery together. All murders involve men who had no family and left their land to a conservation group. Proof that revenge will eat you up when you let it. This was festering from the age of 7. Oh, dear. It was OK. Hard to keep track of all the dead people. ( )

Originally Reviewed At:Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: ARC provided by the publisher
Reviewer: Heather


Widow’s Might is the third installment in the Liv Bergen mysteries. I’ll disclose that I have not had the chance to read the previous books, though I am sure I would enjoy them. With that being said, I would like to let everyone know that I wouldn’t say its necessary, but always recommended for awesomely written stories.


This suspense filled murder mystery begins in Liv’s home state where she has found herself thrown into a decade long investigation of the Crooked Man. Belluah, the prestige trailing hound, along with the FBI, she must help to piece together the motives, the cold trails, and protect one sweet, terminally ill, woman from the killer before he can strike her dead. Can Liv, the miner, step to the plate and take command of Belluah?


This was an awesome adventure that keeps the reader on its toes. You are given clues as you read through the story along with rich history on Custards Expedition and Little Big Horn. Entwined into it all is the plot. Rich and thick with suspense as each report comes in, new discoveries are found, or Belluah and Liv are chasing down fresh scents on cold serial cases of a killer who has killed every year for the last 12 years.


But there is more, much more to this tale than meets the eye. While the FBI has known that the murders are connected, there are some clues that only history can tell.


My honest opinion is that anyone 18 or older, loves mysteries, enjoys history, and likes a story that will suck you in…well yeah this book is for you. By the time I was finished {2 days}, I found myself wanting to read more. I also found myself thinking that it would make a great television show. That alone is a rarity since I don’t watch television a whole lot. ( )

You cannot meet this author – as I had the opportunity to do at the 12th Annual SIBA (Southern Independent Book Association) Convention this past September - and not like her immediately. So I have been avoiding reading her book – what if I hated it? Fortunately, it is totally not an issue. I liked it so much I actually intend to go back and read earlier books in the Liv Bergen Mystery Series, even though I hate going backwards in series! But I really like these characters, and the author’s voice as channeled through main protagonist Live Bergen is as charming as is her real-life voice as Sandra Brannan.

Liv is an attractive 29-year old miner working in Livermore, Colorado who doesn’t go out much, and says she has never apologized for “keeping my nose to the limestone.” Yet somehow [presumably elucidated in earlier books in the series], she had become involved with a murder case in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and got to know the FBI agents on the scene investigating it. And now, it so happens she gets mixed up with yet another murder case, only a short time after the last. This murder looks like one committed by a bizarre and methodical serial killer known as “The Crooked Man.” FBI Special Agent Streeter Pierce (secretly called Agent Adonis by Liv) has been frustrated by these cases for thirteen years now, but with Liv’s knowledge of the area and the assistance of two other agents (also-gorgeous Jack Linwood and also-gorgeous Jenna Tate), there are finally some breakthroughs. It also helps immensely that the latest intended victim of The Crooked Man, a feisty widow named Helma Hanson, managed to survive. As the protagonists work towards solving the crime, we also learn a lot about General George Armstrong Custer’s 1874 expedition into the Black Hills, and about the disputes between conservationists and ranchers over the preservation of natural resources and historic sites in South Dakota.

Evaluation: Other than the fact that everyone in this book is either “a looker” or “drop-dead gorgeous” I was delighted with this book. (And what the heck – maybe the Black Hills has more appeal than I knew!) Well, there was also the problem that what occurred in earlier books seems to be pretty important, but isn't made all that clear to readers just jumping in at book three. Thus, I would recommend starting with the two earlier books in the series, In The Belly of Jonah, and Lot’s Return to Sodom. (Yes, all the titles are biblical references, and yes, one could even define this book, and perhaps the others, as Christian fiction.) But don’t let all these caveats deter you! This is a very likable book, with great characters. The author’s self-deprecating humor and talent as a raconteur are just as charming as can be. (And now, I’m off to order the two previous books….) ( )

This is the type of book and series that keeps you coming back for more. In this story, someone has tried to kill a dying woman. The mystery is why. For those who follow my reviews, you know I like a strong female lead and this book fits the bill with the likable Liv Bergen.

The characters are well thought out and ones you want to know better. I had not yet read the first two books and initially I felt like the story picked up where book two ended. I was able to catch up and read this as a stand alone mystery; however, Liv Bergen is a character I want to know better so I will go back and read the first two books in the series.

The story moves at a great place and keeps you wondering what will happen next. A very enjoyable read.

Reader received a complimentary copy from Good Reads First Reads. ( )