The Black Widow by Cynthia Fridsma is a unique spin on the heartbreaking disaster of the Boston Marathon in 2013. Jack, an agent at the Anti-terrorist Unit, wanted to spend the day of the Boston Marathon with his girlfriend Catherine. With his backup keeping an eye on things, Jack was satisfied. However, when two bombs detonated and chaos ensued, Jack knew he had to keep Catherine safe and protect other people. Investigating for the culprit was like chasing a ghost, and Jack knew they needed help. The Nightbird team looked into paranormal activities. Sybil and the rest of the Nightbird members needed to work with ATU before things got worse. A vampire named Black Widow had joined the terrorists, with plans to terrorize the whole Boston area with biological bombs and paranormal activity. It would take everything for the ATU to stop them before it was too late.

I loved the action-packed beginning of The Black Widow, and I loved the characters even more. Jack, Catherine, Sybil, and the rest of the crew were beautifully fleshed out. The pace was just right to make sure these characters developed at a steady pace while also giving readers a rare insight into their minds. The multiple POVs were a great way to make sure readers got up close and personal with these characters. I loved Sybil’s almost-aggressive approach to the issue and how level-headed Jack was. Each of these characters had a role to play, and author Cynthia Fridsma did a great job of highlighting their best assets. Such a wonderful reading experience, I loved every second of this fast-paced, action-packed thriller!

Jack, his counterparts at Boston’s Anti-terrorism Unit, and the local police were having a hard time connecting the dots between the attacks that had hit the city. First, it was the bombing near the Boston marathon tracks, which Jack and his wife had fallen victim to, except that, unlike the other casualties, he and his wife had only suffered a few bruises. Before they could process this, two more separate murders were reported within the city. A group of vampires chosen to protect the city of Boston against supernatural beings discovers the attacks are linked to Sally, an evil and vengeful vampire. It turns out Sally’s plans put the city of Boston and the whole of the United States in the face of a looming disaster. Find out how it all goes down in Cynthia Fridsma’s The Black Widow.

Cynthia Fridsma forges quite an interesting plot for her novel The Black Widow. She uses short and twisted sentences which she loads with appropriate expressions. She gives her narration by switching between her characters and their designated scenes. She aligns her thoughts and ideas consistently, giving her storyline a good flow. She accompanies her narration with an ominous tone, accentuating the mood and setting of the story. Cynthia Fridsma did a great job of developing her characters. She uses introspection and depictions to bring out the traits of her characters. If you are looking for a horror story with fast-paced action scenes and a touch of a romantic tale, Cynthia Fridsma's The Black Widow will be an enthralling read for you.