The Widow

John Grisham

60 pages 2-hour read

John Grisham

The Widow

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2025

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Simon is a disillusioned, financially struggling lawyer who sleeps in a small apartment above his office to avoid his failing marriage. He maintains a secret sports gambling habit that drains his finances. When an elderly widow claims to possess a massive secret fortune, he sees an opportunity to solve his financial woes by taking control of her estate planning.

Key Relationships

Attorney for Eleanor "Netty" Barnett

Estranged husband of Paula Latch

Father of Janie Latch

Father of Buck Latch

Father of Danny Latch

Stepson of Arn

Employer of Matilda "Tillie" Clark

Client of Spade And Chub

Former boyfriend of Yolanda "Landy"

Netty is an 85-year-old widow living a quiet, frugal life in a modest suburban home. She confides in Simon that she possesses a secret fortune worth over $20 million hidden from her late husband's estranged sons. Her claims of immense wealth trigger extreme reactions from the lawyers she consults.

Key Relationships

Client of Simon Latch

Former client of Wally Thackerman

Widow of Harry Korsak

Stepmother of Clyde And Jerry Korsak

Supporting Characters

Wally is a local attorney in Braxton who previously handled Netty Barnett's estate planning. He drafted a highly self-serving will that placed her supposed assets into a trust under his sole control, complete with a hidden cash gift to himself. His actions provide a blueprint for other lawyers looking to exploit vulnerable clients.

Key Relationships

Former attorney for Eleanor "Netty" Barnett

Rival of Simon Latch

Assault victim of Clyde And Jerry Korsak

Clyde and Jerry are the estranged sons of Netty's late husband, Harry Korsak. They harbor a deep sense of entitlement regarding their father's estate and are convinced they are owed a massive inheritance. Clyde is brutish and impulsive, while Jerry employs more calculating methods to secure the money they believe is rightfully theirs.

Key Relationships

Stepsons of Eleanor "Netty" Barnett

Sons of Harry Korsak

Attackers of Wally Thackerman

Clients of Teddy Hammer

Matilda is Simon's loyal and discreet secretary, essentially running the administrative side of his law practice for over a decade. Her professional stability crumbles when she notices Simon taking secret meetings and hiding documents related to Netty Barnett's estate. She grows increasingly suspicious of her boss's uncharacteristic behavior.

Key Relationships

Secretary to Simon Latch

Receptionist for Eleanor "Netty" Barnett

Raymond is a loud and boisterous criminal defense attorney with a highly prominent courtroom reputation. He operates as a cynical pragmatist who understands that public perception and persuasive narratives often outweigh actual evidence in the justice system. He takes on clients facing severe, high-profile charges.

Key Relationships

Defense attorney for Simon Latch

Paula is Simon's wife, enduring a marriage that has deteriorated into emotional distance and financial stress. She works and manages their three children while preparing for an impending divorce. She formally proposes an open marriage as their relationship fractures, prioritizing practicality over affection.

Key Relationships

Estranged wife of Simon Latch

Mother of Janie Latch

Mother of Buck Latch

Mother of Danny Latch

Spade is an unlicensed private investigator, while Chub is a local bookie who runs an illegal sports betting operation out of a pub. Together, they represent the illicit underworld that Simon frequents. They provide him with off-the-books information and facilitate the gambling addiction that worsens his financial ruin.

Key Relationships

Bookie and investigator for Simon Latch

Associate of Zander

Landy is an FBI agent and Simon's former law school girlfriend. She reconnects with him in Braxton, balancing her professional obligations with their shared history and renewed personal interest.

Key Relationships

Former girlfriend of Simon Latch

Janie is Simon and Paula's daughter. She is deeply affected by the tension in her parents' marriage and is heartbroken when they finally announce their divorce.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Simon Latch

Daughter of Paula Latch

Buck is one of Simon and Paula's sons. He begins picking up on gambling terminology from watching sports, reflecting his father's hidden habits.

Key Relationships

Danny is Simon and Paula's son. He reacts emotionally to the news of his parents' impending divorce.

Key Relationships

Teddy is an aggressive, flashy attorney hired to represent the Korsak brothers. He utilizes media leaks and rapid legal maneuvering to challenge the handling of Netty Barnett's estate.

Key Relationships

Attorney for Clyde And Jerry Korsak

Legal adversary of Simon Latch

Detective Barr is a local police investigator who follows up on an anonymous tip regarding a suspicious death. He leads the evidence collection and strictly views the case through a lens of presumed motive.

Key Relationships

Investigator of Simon Latch

Colleague of Cora Cook

Cora is the Commonwealth's Attorney, an older prosecutor known for her revealing clothing choices and steely rigor. She is highly skilled at weaving circumstantial evidence into a persuasive narrative of guilt.

Key Relationships

Colleague of Detective Roger Barr

Prosecutor of Simon Latch

Subordinate to Judge Padma Shyam

Loretta is a charge nurse who oversees Netty's medical care following a severe car accident. She observes the constant flow of visitors and staff with access to the hospital rooms.

Key Relationships

Nurse for Eleanor "Netty" Barnett

Coworker of Oscar Kofie

Professional contact of Simon Latch

Oscar is an X-ray technician employed at the local hospital where Netty is treated. He frequently interacts with staff on the floor and becomes a person of interest to those observing the busy hospital environment.

Key Relationships

Coworker of Loretta Goodwin

Judge Pointer is a local judge in Braxton who handles the initial legal maneuverings surrounding Netty Barnett's estate and subsequent criminal proceedings.

Key Relationships

Judge overseeing Simon Latch

Appointer of Clement Gelly

Buddy is a principal at a high-net-worth wealth management firm in Atlanta. He acts as the financial advisor for the Korsak family, possessing the true history of their assets.

Key Relationships

Financial advisor to Eleanor "Netty" Barnett

Former advisor to Harry Korsak

Harry is Netty's deceased husband and a former employee of the Coca-Cola company. He intentionally kept his sons away from his finances, creating a lasting sense of resentment and mystery regarding his estate.

Key Relationships

Late husband of Eleanor "Netty" Barnett

Late father of Clyde And Jerry Korsak

Clement is a neutral attorney assigned to audit and manage Netty Barnett's estate. He investigates the actual value of her assets, uncovering the truth behind her financial claims.

Key Relationships

Appointee of Judge Mary Blankenship Pointer

Investigator of Buddy Brown

Judge Shyam is a highly competent and ethical jurist. She imposes strict rules, such as gag orders, to limit media influence and ensure procedural fairness in a heavily publicized courtroom.

Key Relationships

Judge presiding over Simon Latch

Judge presiding over Cora Cook

Judge presiding over Raymond Lassiter

Zander is a skilled hacker operating outside the law. She specializes in obtaining secure digital records, employment files, and background information for clients who need unconventional assistance.

Key Relationships

Hired hacker for Simon Latch

Associate of Spade And Chub

Alan is a disillusioned former lawyer who quit practicing law after witnessing gross corporate misconduct. He holds highly sensitive files detailing a major institutional cover-up.

Key Relationships

Informant to Simon Latch

Arn is Simon's unpleasant and financially controlling stepfather. He dominates his wife's finances and refuses to assist his stepson during a crisis.

Key Relationships

Stepfather of Simon Latch