Review: Seven Wives #2
From IDW Crime
The investigation continues in Seven Wives #2 and we get to know this family more from IDW Crime, the new imprint from IDW Publishing.
The murder of Matthew Dunn — husband, father, and leader — has devastated the Dunn family. Or so they’d like outsiders to believe. As the detectives unravel the case before them by interrogating Matthew’s seven wives, they discover he was not the saint he painted himself to be. Although some of the widows mourn the loss, the Dunns may be safer free from the heavy hand with which Matthew ruled.
But his presence lingers, and the detectives sense the FLDS leader has more secrets hiding behind every door.
Author: Zoe Tunnell
Artist: Keyla Valerio
The investigation continues to gather momentum as we delve deeper into the family, the victim and those connected to the church. This is another well-paced issue, gradually revealing more pieces of the puzzle without giving too much away. Every conversation and interview feels like it has a purpose, with each character linking into another and adding another layer to the mystery. While the wives all have their own stories to tell, each offering a slightly different perspective on events, there still isn’t enough evidence to point towards a definite killer. Instead, every revelation seems to raise even more questions than it answers.
What we do gain, however, is a much clearer picture of the victim himself. As more people speak about him, it becomes increasingly apparent that he was far from being a sympathetic figure. His violent tendencies are explored in greater detail, and there is also a strong sense of hypocrisy surrounding the way he lived his life. The image that emerges is of a man who demanded obedience from others while failing to live by the standards he expected. Combined with the testimony from his son and the significant reveal towards the end of the issue, it creates even more uncertainty over who was ultimately responsible for his death. At this point, there are several believable suspects, each with understandable motives.
Before that reveal, one of the most interesting moments comes during the interview with one of the wives. Unlike many of the others, she was not born into the church, giving her a unique perspective on the community and its way of life. Her conversation becomes even more compelling when it is revealed that she shares a connection with one of the investigators through their school days. That unexpected link adds another dimension to the story and helps break down the barrier between the investigators and the people they are questioning. It also provides readers with a valuable outsider’s view of the church, making it easier to understand some of its customs and the pressures placed upon those living within it.
As the mystery unfolds, the creative team continues to balance the procedural investigation with the personal stories of everyone involved. Each interview feels meaningful, and the slow unveiling of secrets keeps the suspense high throughout. Rather than relying on dramatic twists every few pages, the issue builds tension through its careful pacing and the gradual uncovering of hidden relationships, making the eventual revelations feel earned.
The mystery surrounding the murder remains just as compelling by the final page. If anything, the investigation feels even more complicated than it did before, with darker secrets beginning to emerge from beneath the surface. It is clear there is still much left to discover, both about the church itself and the people connected to the victim, leaving plenty to explore in the issues ahead.
The artwork continues to complement the story perfectly. The characters’ expressions help sell the emotional weight of each interview, while the layouts keep the investigation easy to follow despite the number of people involved. I especially enjoyed the use of colour during the flashback sequences, which immediately distinguishes them from the present-day investigation while also giving those moments a distinctive atmosphere. It is an effective visual technique that enhances the storytelling and helps make this an absorbing and gripping mystery from beginning to end.
