The Widow of Walcha cover art

The Widow of Walcha

A true story of love, lies and murder in a small country town

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The Widow of Walcha

By: Emma Partridge
Narrated by: Jo Van Es
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About this listen

 The Widow of Walcha is a shocking true story about death, love and lies in the small NSW town of Walcha.

Shortlisted, 2023 Danger Awards, Nonfiction category

All farmer Mathew Dunbar ever wanted was to find love and have a family of his own. That’s why, just months after meeting Natasha Darcy, the much-loved grazier didn’t hesitate to sign over his multi-million-dollar estate to her.

When Mathew died in an apparent suicide soon afterwards, in a stranger-than-fiction twist, Natasha's estranged husband – who she was once charged with trying to kill – was the first paramedic on the scene.

Journalist and author Emma Partridge travelled to the cool and misty town of Walcha in the NSW Northern Tablelands shortly after Mathew Dunbar's death, drawn by the town's collective worry that Natasha was going to get away with murder. Partridge spent months researching the case, interviewing Mathew’s friends, family and Natasha herself in an attempt to uncover her sickening web of lies and crimes.

The Widow of Walcha is about one of the most extraordinary criminal trials in Australia’s history and reveals Natasha’s sickening crimes against those she claimed to love, fuelled by her obsession with money. Con Artists, Hoaxes & Deceptions Crime Murder True Crime Exciting Scary

Critic Reviews

'Emma Partridge's account of the trial of the Widow of Walcha is as gripping as a novel ... an Australian true crime story containing many of the elements of a fictional crime novel: bizarre murder, suicide, theft, bribery, blackmail, love, hate, drugs, co-incidence, change of a will and lies.'
'This was wild ... [Emma Partridge] has done an amazing job here, travelling to Walcha and speaking to so many people, fleshing out history, trying to track down people from Natasha’s past and sort the truth from the lies ... Highly, highly recommended.'
'5 stars ... one of the best Australian true crime accounts I've ever read!'
All stars
Most relevant
Intriguing story and well told. Narrator is mostly fine, she portrays Natasha Darcy very well.

Probably my favourite audiobook so far

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I could not stop listening to this book. Walcha is not far from where I live on the Northern Tablelands and a lot of people I know knew Mathew. The lengths she went to, to murder him are unforgettable amd unforgivable.
Great book!

Intriguing Book

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Truly unbelievable the lengths this woman went to for most of her life. The lives she has ruined, the heartache she caused, the lies and the crimes. Just when you thought there couldn't possibly be anymore....there was.

I got chills when it was said "He is not in love with her, he is in love with the kids." I said these exact words to my then partner, after having attended their wedding on Keppel Is.

MIND BOGGLING

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Still lingering on in my mind five days later. A believable, yet unbelievable story. Consumed much of my brain capacity

Loved every inch

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A well told, true story of a calculating killer. A tragic end RIP Matthew Dunbar

You can't make this up

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.