Crime Novel Debuts Strong

Author Valerie Saul's background is not in law enforcement or private investigation, but in science and healthcare; she holds a doctorate in audiology and has worked as a clinician and college professor in the U.S., New Zealand, South Korea, and Singapore. A two-time cancer survivor, Saul says her "uncommon life" and experiences in the Stanford Continuing Studies Creative Writing program have informed her writing. The inspiration for "The Badass Widows: A Mystery" came from Saul's frustration with the narrow depiction of older women in contemporary fiction. She aimed to create characters who are more than just caregivers and grandmothers, reflecting her belief that society underestimates women over 50. The book was initially conceived as a "romp," but the personal losses Saul experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic led her to also explore themes of grief and starting over. The novel's plot centers on four Bay Area widows, including a former FBI agent, who form a secret society of crime fighters. What starts as a joke with minor capers soon escalates into them committing bold acts of "secret justice." The story is set against the backdrop of the San Francisco Bay, with the protagonist joining a rowing club to rebuild her life. "The Badass Widows" is published by Sibylline Press, a publishing house founded in 2022 that exclusively publishes the work of women authors over the age of 50. The press aims to provide a platform for "bold storytelling" and complex women over fifty, giving their narratives center stage. The book has drawn early comparisons to other popular crime novels featuring older protagonists, such as Richard Osman's "The Thursday Murder Club" and Deanna Raybourn's "Killers of a Certain Age." This places it within a growing trend of crime fiction that features unconventional, and often older, female sleuths. Saul has indicated that she is planning to write more books featuring the "badass widows," signaling a potential new series in the crime mystery genre.