🩸 Horror Fiction

A Sugar Baby & A Black Widow

✍️ Tabitha Swann
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$10.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A detective dates murder suspects to frame one for his lover.

The plot revolves around Tony, a middle-aged homicide detective dealing with marital collapse. He investigates the death of a wealthy client, suspecting his hired companions are involved. By impersonating another rich man, he infiltrates their circle. His growing attachment to one woman drives him to manipulate the investigation. He seeks evidence to pin the crime on a different sugar baby. This allows him to pursue a relationship with his chosen partner without legal consequences. The story highlights the dangers of letting personal longing override professional integrity. It explores how isolation can lead to dangerous rationalizations. The narrative structure follows Tony’s dual life as both investigator and participant in the very world he is trying to solve.

Key Themes
murder investigation sugar dating moral corruption
Literary Context

Published by Trellis Publishing in 2021, this work engages with contemporary anxieties surrounding transactional relationships and modern masculinity. It reflects the era’s fascination with digital-age dating dynamics and the erosion of traditional moral codes in professional settings.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Gillian Flynn · Tana French · Paula Hawkins
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Trellis Publishing 📅 2021 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9798224812752

📝 Description: A Sugar Baby & A Black Widow

Tabitha Swann’s A Sugar Baby & A Black Widow presents a noir thriller centered on Tony, a homicide detective navigating the aftermath of an unexpected divorce. The narrative follows his investigation into the murder of a wealthy man, with initial suspicion falling upon one of the companions he hired. To uncover the truth, Tony adopts the guise of a rich client and begins dating each of the sugar babies individually. As Tony spends time with these women, he develops genuine feelings for one specific target. This emotional attachment complicates his professional duty, leading him to consider framing another suspect to secure a future with the woman he loves. The story examines the intersection of grief, deception, and romantic obsession within the modern dating landscape. Swann constructs a plot where moral boundaries blur as the protagonist prioritizes personal desire over justice. The narrative relies on character-driven tension rather than supernatural elements, grounding its horror in psychological manipulation and criminal deceit. Readers seeking straightforward police procedurals may find the ethical ambiguity unsettling, while those who enjoy flawed protagonists in romantic suspense will likely engage with Tony’s descent. The book offers a look at how personal crises can distort professional judgment.

💎 Our verdict on A Sugar Baby & A Black Widow

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Swann constructs a tense psychological thriller where moral ambiguity drives the narrative forward. The book excels in portraying the dangerous rationalizations that stem from isolation and professional failure. By grounding its horror in human deceit rather than supernatural elements, it offers a chilling exploration of modern dating dynamics. The characterization is strong, particularly in depicting how grief can warp judgment. This story suits readers who prefer ethical complexity over clear-cut resolutions. It effectively balances romantic suspense with criminal investigation, creating a unique atmosphere of dread derived from interpersonal manipulation and the loss of self.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who enjoy flawed protagonists navigating complex emotional landscapes will find this book compelling. It appeals to those interested in the psychological underpinnings of criminal behavior and the distortions caused by personal crisis. The narrative offers a gripping look at how professional integrity can be compromised by romantic obsession. Those fascinated by the tension between justice and desire will engage deeply with Tony’s descent. It is ideal for fans of dark, character-driven stories that challenge ethical norms without relying on genre clichés.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Swann constructs a tense psychological thriller where moral ambiguity drives the narrative forward. The book excels in portraying the dangerous rationalizations that stem from isolation and professional failure. By grounding its horror in human deceit rather than supernatural elements, it offers a chilling exploration of modern dating dynamics. The characterization is strong, particularly in depicting how grief can warp judgment. This story suits readers who prefer ethical complexity over clear-cut resolutions. It effectively balances romantic suspense with criminal investigation, creating a unique atmosphere of dread derived from interpersonal manipulation and the loss of self.

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