Review: Seven Wives #1
From IDW Crime
From IDW Crime, the new imprint from IDW Publishing, is a murder mystery in Seven Wives #1.
Forty-nine witnesses, seven wives, one dead husband.
On Monday, April 17, at 9:04 a.m., two police detectives are dispatched to investigate a death on a Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints compound in remote Arizona. Matthew Dunn, the patriarch of the Dunn family, has been found stabbed on the pulpit of his temple, basking in the blood-soaked gaze of his savior.
Detectives Aguilar and Halwell begin the arduous task of questioning each of Matthew’s seven wives and quickly encounter a brick wall of memorized Scripture, canned platitudes, and locked lips. It becomes clear that the women’s intricately braided hair, voices with sweet affectations, and modest clothing aren’t just signs of Matthew’s brainwashing but armor they use to protect their family. But with each interrogation, the cracks begin to show — the abuse, the truth of living and surviving in this cult — and the detectives uncover the unholy gospel of Matthew Dunn.
Author: Zoe Tunnell
Artists: Mirka Andolfo, and V Gagnon
IDW Publishing continues to build an impressive catalogue with its crime-focused imprint, and Seven Wives #1 is a murder mystery that immediately pulled me in and kept me guessing throughout. Having recently found myself on a bit of a detective-and-mystery binge — from revisiting classic episodes of Murder, She Wrote to working through the Knives Out films — this comic felt like a perfect fit for that same layered whodunnit storytelling.
The central mystery is instantly compelling. A murder has taken place in circumstances where, realistically, somebody should have witnessed something, yet every person involved insists they saw nothing at all. That alone creates a fascinating setup, immediately establishing suspicion and distrust amongst the characters. The issue does an excellent job of introducing a wide range of suspects without making any of them feel interchangeable. Each character has their own personality, motivations, and secrets, which makes trying to piece together the truth genuinely engaging.
What strengthens the story even further is the inclusion of the cult-like religious organisation at the heart of the mystery. The victim’s position within this church adds an extra layer of tension and unease to the investigation. There is a constant feeling that the detectives are not simply dealing with an ordinary murder case, but with something tied to manipulation, loyalty, and hidden agendas. That atmosphere gives the comic a darker edge and makes the investigation feel far more dangerous than it first appears.
The concept of the “seven wives” itself is handled very cleverly. The writing constantly shifts suspicion from one person to another, and by the time the issue reaches its later stages, it becomes clear that the pool of suspects may extend far beyond the seven women named in the title. The script keeps introducing new doubts, hidden relationships, and conflicting accounts, ensuring the mystery never feels straightforward. I particularly enjoyed how naturally the story drip-feeds information rather than overwhelming readers with exposition.
The detectives investigating the case are also a major highlight. Too often in crime stories, the investigators can feel secondary to the mystery itself, but here they are given strong personalities and distinct dynamics from the beginning. Their interactions help ground the story, and their differing approaches to the case make the investigation more interesting to follow. You get the sense that there are stories behind them, too, which should make future issues even more engaging.
By the end of the issue, the revelations are handled extremely well. Rather than offering simple answers, the comic deepens the mystery and raises even more questions. Every new piece of information seems to uncover another hidden layer, keeping the tension high and leaving the reader eager to continue. The final moments in particular do a strong job of ending the issue on a note that keeps you hooked for what comes next.
Visually, the comic is equally impressive. The artwork captures both the grounded crime elements and the story's more unsettling undertones perfectly. The use of colour and shading is especially effective during the flashback sequences, helping to distinguish past events while also adding to the uneasy atmosphere. Some panels carry a real sense of paranoia, which fits the tone of the story incredibly well.
Overall, this is a very strong opening issue that successfully blends classic murder mystery storytelling with cult intrigue and psychological tension. It introduces an intriguing cast of characters, establishes a compelling central mystery, and leaves readers with plenty of unanswered questions to think about. There is clearly much more still waiting to be uncovered, and I am very interested to see how the story develops from here.
