A president dies of natural causes. a vice-presidential vacancy. a congressman brutally murdered. america's widowed first lady turns to press secretary nathaniel freeman--a dashing former college football star--to challenge the speaker of the house, an ambitious rival who has become an "accidental" president. the upstart freeman copes with a critically ill wife, a powerful opposing political machine, his personal doubts, and an assassin's attempt on his life. meanwhile, sandra sweet, a former female bicycle cop turned rookie detective, and caroline mcrue, an ex-prostitute now tabloid news reporter, form an uneasy partnership to investigate the murder of a powerful congressman. the two suspect a connection between the lawmaker's slaying and the "natural" death of the president. the brash, but inexperienced investigators combine their talents and develop a personal relationship previously unfulfilled in their lives. the intrigue reaches a climax as the latent lust for power and influence places freeman, sweet, and mcrue in a position to choose between victory or integrity, at the cost of their lives. white widow is a nonstop political suspense thriller that questions who the real enemy of the nation is.