The Widows

Written by Suzette Mayr

Narrated by Maureen Jones and Daniel Matmor

Refusing to accept being dismissed by a society that leaves little space for old women, three friends plan a daring and extraordinary adventure

Hannelore, Clotilde, and Frau Schnadelhuber are tired of living in a world that does not allow old women to be seen or heard. Determined to prove their worth to a society devoted to youth, the three women set out to undertake a dangerous stunt that’s not to be ignored. With the assistance of Cleopatra Maria, the 26-year-old genius granddaughter of Hannelore and grandniece of Clotilde, the four women steal the barrel from a travelling show and drive it across Canada with a plan to ride it over the Niagara Falls.

Coloured by real-life quotes about daredevils who have actually attempted to take the plunge over the Falls, The Widows weaves together the stories of Hannelore, Clotilde, and Frau Schnadelhuber both before and during their grand adventure.

Bespeak Audio Editions brings Canadian voices to the world with audiobook editions of some of the country’s greatest works of literature, performed by Canadian actors.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ECW
• Release date: Jan 31, 2020
• ISBN: 9781773055312

Suzette Mayr

Suzette Mayr is the author of the novels Dr. Edith Vane and the Hares of Crawley Hall, Monoceros, Moon Honey, The Widows, and Venous Hum. The Widows was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book in the Canada-Caribbean region, and has been translated into German. Moon Honey was shortlisted for the Writers' Guild of Alberta's Best First Book and Best Novel Awards. Monoceros won the ReLit Award, the City of Calgary W. O. Mitchell Book Prize, was longlisted for the 2011 Giller Prize, and shortlisted for a Ferro-Grumley Award for LGBT Fiction, and the Georges Bugnet Award for Fiction. She and her partner live in a house in Calgary close to a park teeming with coyotes.