What a suspense filled book!! This book definitely tops my most favorite book!!!! You must read this amazing thriller!! Don't plan on doing anything else until you finish this book!!!!!!

I really enjoyed this one! With complex characters, just enough twists and turns, this thriller kept me guessing until the end. I will definitely recommend this one.

What a book. I would compare this to Behind Her Eyes or even His and Hers. It was that good.

We have Lila, a woman with a past that she would like to keep as is. In the past. She has a husband whom she has common ground with. When he goes missing, she is the first suspect. She's smart and it helps that she is a lawyer, has not practiced in a while but she's still quick witted.

This book has a couple twists, one you can catch on to, but I am sure the author knew that. Probably why we have one that was not so easy to figure out.

Great debut from Darby Kane. I look forward to more.

I've said this before and I'll say it again: romance authors write some of the best thrillers I've ever read, and I think it's because they have that innate ability to capitalize on tension and really plot something successful around that. I was invested in the hook of Kane's novel from the very first blurb (a woman who kills her husband, only to discover that his body is... not where she left it), but this book had so many twists and turns that I genuinely couldn't have guessed the biggest one until the very end when my suspicions were confirmed. This has everything I wanted in a domestic suspense thriller — complex characters, an addicting story, and an ending that ultimately proved very satisfying.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Darby had me at "shouldnt a dead husband stay dead". Pretty Little Wife was everything that I look for in a domestic thriller and then some.

Sandy M’s review of Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane
Domestic Thrilled published by William Morrow Paperbacks 29 Dec 20

Sometimes I’m a bit fearful when a favorite author begins to write in a different genre under a pseudonym. There’s just enough tweaking differences to make those new books just not as great as what we’re used to from them. So I had a bit of trepidation when I learned Darby Kane is one of my all-time favorites, HelenKay Dimon, author extraordinaire. Ms. Dimon writes romantic and contemporary suspense so well, you can’t put those books down. Would I like this new book, a thriller with no romance? Well, there was only one way to find out.

I read it. Yep, I sure did. And I had the darnedest time turning my e-reader off at a decent hour of the night. Thank the heavens! So needless to say, Ms. Dimon/Kane surprised the ever-lovin’ stuffin’ out of me – so much so I can’t wait for her next thriller.

Lila Ridgefield has just discovered some horrible information about her husband. Her missing husband. Little by little we learn this info is too much for Lila and she’s the one who decided to step up to the plate and extinguish the asshole jerk and his tendencies. But suddenly the tables are turned on Lila and she’s not sure what the hell is going on – is Aaron dead? Why wasn’t he found where she left him? And so many more questions. She’s one cool cookie, however. She keeps her wits about her – she’s an attorney and has pretty much seen it all – and you have to admire the heck out of her as se faces another cool cookie, Ginny, the police detective on the case. As much as Ginny suspects things are not on the up-and-up with Lila, there’s no evidence so far to prove she had anything to do with her husband’s disappearance.

A terrific cat-and-mouse game ensues, Lila and Ginny trying to figure out what in the world happened to Aaron but from opposite sides of the fence. There’s also the school principal where Aaron worked, as well as Aaron’s brother, who staunchly support Lila as the case progresses. On top of that, someone out there does know the truth because Lila begins to receive notes about Aaron, letting Lila know this somebody has taken care of her carelessness in trying to rid the world of her husband. I also have to give a nod to Ginny’s partner, who is a bit greener than Ginny when it comes to investigating, but he adds a nice layer to the whole mystery.

This is not your normal thriller where you’ll guess right at every clue along the way. Ms. Kane keeps you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails, refusing to sleep, and never figuring out what happened until the very end. Twists and turns have never kept me on a back-and-forth path like this in all my reading years. If you’ve been having a difficult time lately finding a good book, pick this one up. Now!! I can guarantee you’ll be hooked right off the bat and won’t experience one moment of boredom.

There is another book, The Replacement Wife, scheduled next, but unfortunately that’s way down the road. However, you can bet I’m going to be first in line to get my copy when the time comes. As usual, Ms. Dimon/Kane is not letting me down in her work one bit. I should have known better.

Grade: A+

Pretty Little Wife is a psychological thriller that just keeps you guessing. After Lila uncovers some disgusting information about her husband and he subsequently disappears, the twists just keep on coming. With a lead investigator determined to figure out the truth, some missing women in the community, and a podcast keeping everyone up to date, there's nowhere for Lila to run. What she thinks she knows turns out not to be the truth at all, and she is determined to figure out what is going on before someone else gets hurt.

This is a twisty thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. There were a number of surprises throughout the book, and while I successfully figured out some of them, others shocked me. The ending felt satisfying for all the characters.

I definitely recommend this if you are into psychological thrillers where there is more than meets the eye.

Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I thought this will be creepy like the series YOU but it is definitely more interesting. likeable characters, twisted and gripping story and a real page-turner. truly an enjoyable read.

"That's how they win. They destroy you in silence until you're afraid of speaking out. They attack in your own damn house, where you should be safe."

Lila Ridgefield has always told herself that Aaron wasn't an abusive husband -- but she was wrong. Damaged as she was from childhood trauma, Lila has a stoic personality and fails to understand just how dangerous Aaron is. Until she finds the videos. Her solution seems sound and takes lots of planning. It should have been the end of her problems, but then Aaron goes missing and this can't be right since she arranged things so well and remembers exactly where she left his body. NO SPOILERS.

What a great domestic thriller to end my 2020 reading list! I loved the story line and the narrative was quite twisty and fun. I found this very hard to put down and it kept me guessing until the end. I found the characters quite interesting and well-developed. I was never quite sure which version of events to believe and whom to root for, but i was quite satisfied with the conclusion. There's a lot going on in this suspense novel and I think fans of this genre will not be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. Lila finds a very disturbing video of her husband, Aaron, having sex with his students. Before you know it, Aaron is missing but Lila does not seem to be very concerned about it. The police are brought in and the lead investigator, Ginny, believes Lila has something to do with her husband missing. Lila just really seemed so cold hearted until the story unfolded about her father being in jail for the things he did to her best friend she grew up with. Lila is comforted by Aaron's brother, Jared, while everyone is searching for Aaron. This is when the story unfolds and becomes seriously twisted. I did enjoy this book and the ending actually made me feel sick to my stomach.

Pretty Little Wife is the debut thriller by author Darby Kane. It’s a twisted tale about a school teacher/coach named Aaron and his wife Lila and the not so typical life they lead. The wife’s past is absolutely horrible as her father had been a very despicable man and did some really horrible things. Then after living through that, she marries Aaron and the horror begins again. Turns out Aaron and his brother Jared are actually worse then her father was. The story keeps you guessing, always wondering if Lila was evil, a tortured soul or after vigilante justice. I think my favorite character in the story was Ginny Davis. She was the senior investigator in the Criminal Investigation Division. She seemed very intelligent and when she had a feeling about something, she followed through even if it meant not following the rules. She was very determined. The stories setting took place in Ithaca, New York and Ginny worked for the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office. This I thought was pretty neat as I live not far from there. The author has done her research because what she said of the area was spot on. This is a book that I believe any thriller lover will enjoy, I know I did! I’d like to thank the Scene of the Crime Early Read Program and NetGalley for the arc to read and review. I enjoyed this and am rating it at 4 stars.

I’m all about the thrillers right now and I can’t wait until you can get your hands on this one (hitting store shelves on December 29th) because it kept me guessing all the way up until the final pages. As a seasoned thriller reader, you know that is no easing feat anymore!

Lilia is a complex character with a dark past and becomes one of the prime suspects when her husband goes missing. The two are in a loveless marriage and it would come to a surprise to no one if Lila ended up killing him, after the way he has treated her.

He’s not the only one who has gone missing though and as the police (and true crime podcasts) start digging into Aaron’s disappearance, they begin to wonder if a few unsolved missing person cases might be connected to this.

Lila killed her husband though so she’s a little less worried…until the body disappears and she starts receiving messages that indicate that he might still be alive.

Say what?!

The readers gets to follow along on each twisty path and Kane does an incredible job weaving these stories together. The ending is oh-so-satisfying. Make sure you add this one to your stack this month!

I enjoyed this book. It was full of action, suspense and thriller on top. This is a new author for me and I look forward to reading more from them. This is a well developed story that kept me turning pages to the end. I enjoyed how the story pulled me in right from the beginning and the twists and turns had me guessing to the end. I had no problems connecting to the characters as the brought the story to life. Lila was a great character and what she brought to the story. She made the story interesting and entertaining. I felt bad for her in parts but then she had this other side to her too, that made you not want to trust her. I highly recommend this book.

What happened to Aaron Ridgefield? Beloved teacher and coach, he would never not show up for work. Ever. Where is he? Definitely not where is wife, Lila left him. She planned the perfect murder complete with a reveal of his dastardly deeds and left his car parked on school grounds. She could have sworn he was dead when she left him there, but if he wasn’t…? That won’t bode well for her.
PRETTY LITTLE WIFE is Darby Kane’s debut and it’s a doozy. Lila isn’t the most likeable person, but as the story goes on and more layers are peeled back, she becomes understandable at least. With her past, her marriage to Aaron seemed to be the perfect compromise, undemanding and understanding. Until she uncovers his secret and she realizes that her husband isn’t what he seems and her marriage is comfortable when she’s conforming. Ginny was the perfect person to challenge Lila as the detective worked to figure out where Aaron went and how Lila fit into his disappearance. Add in a local podcast that is shining a spotlight on several girls that have gone missing in the area, and you have a twisted thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and hanging on by your fingernails. This is a well-written thriller that will surprise at every turn on it’s way to a gratifying ending.
This was a well-written novel that kept me lost in the pages as I tried to unravel the mystery of what happened to Aaron Ridgeway. I can’t wait to see what Kane comes up with for her next novel.
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.
#prettylittlewife #darbykane #sceneofthecrime #harpercollins #williammorrow

Today is release day!! What an amazing debut this was. A spine tingling, fast paced thriller that everyone is bound to want to read. The book starts off with Lila killing her husband and driving him to his job and leaving him there. But WAIT! Now he has been reported missing and his car, nor him are anywhere to be found. There is also one of his students missing. How does this all tie into Lila and her husband? Is he really dead? Buckle up because this is going to be one wild ride that you don't want to miss.

“There’s more than one way to end a marriage”

thank you to Netgalley, harper Collins, and William Morrow Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lila Ridgefield learns about her husband’s wrongdoings and plots to kill him. However, after his body disappears, she finds herself in a tangled cat-and-mouse game with the police after learning that he might be connected to unexplained disappearances involving young women

I was hesitant going into “Pretty Little Wife” by Darby Kane after reading so many domestic thrillers with all the same tropes, but I was not disappointed! What started out with “Gone Girl” vibes evolved into something much more complex and twisted as more secrets were revealed and Lila found herself further entangled in a web of marital lies and cover-ups.

One thing I really enjoyed about this thriller is that we see the perspective of Ginny, the investigator working the disappearances. It’s not often that you get to see the protagonist's POV as well as the people investigating the case, so it was refreshing.

there were times I couldn’t stop reading because of the way Darby ends the chapters. She rarely gives you the full twist at the end of each chapter, so to find out what’s happening, you have to read the next one—or more. It really keeps you on your toes.

A few parts of the book felt a little predictable, but at this point, that’s expected due to the number of books I've read in this genre. Without giving any spoilers, there was at least one part that really bothered me because of how unrealistic it was, specifically in regard to the institutional review board and research guidelines in sociology and academia, but that’s me being a nerd.

Other than a some minor things, I thought “Pretty Little Wife” was a taut, unexpected, and sometimes brutal thriller offering twist after twist. It’s perfect for fans of domestic suspense, especially “Gone Girl” and “My Lovely Wife.” You can officially buy this one today (12/29)!

👰🏼👰🏼👰🏼👰🏼/5

Fasten your seatbelt because this book is one crazy ride!

Is it possible to read a story where none of the characters are likable and yet you still enjoyed the story? Yes. Yes it is. This story has suspense and mystery. Secrets and lies and I was there for it. Most if not all the characters didn’t do it for me but I found Lila interesting. She gave nothing away and did not apologize for anything. I respected that. There’s a lot of twists and turns. Some I saw coming and others surprised me. As the story progressed, I found myself more and more invested and was rapidly page turning because I knew the ending would blow my mind. It sure did! Wow…..

I highly enjoyed this book! I really liked the dark vibe it gave off and the many twists the author threw in there. It made my little black heart happy. Darby Kane is a new to me author. Her storytelling and writing is really good. I can’t wait to read more by this author! Add this to your TBR if you love suspense with a dark vibe. I give this 4 stars.

Wow! This book had so many twists and turns I didn’t want to stop reading. I had to know what happened!
Lila and Aaron have the perfect marriage from the outside. Lila is beautiful and Aaron is a high school teacher who gives back to the community, but we learn early on that Aaron has a horrible secret.
There are girls missing in the area, and when Aaron winds up missing, it’s hard to believe the two aren’t related.
Lila is confused because she knows her husband isn’t coming home, but the body isn’t where she left it.
Alternating between multiple POV and back and forth in time, this book doesn’t disappoint with suspense. I had so many theories of what happened, but didn’t fully guess the twist, and I like being surprised. Even at the end, more secrets were revealed and I loved how delicious this book was.
Thank you to Harper Collins, Netgalley and the author for an early copy.

Wow! That was a wild ride! Just when I thought I'd guessed what was going on, the author threw in another plot twist. I had a love/hate relationship with most of the characters and I think that was intended. There was always the "why don't you just...". Overall, I really enjoyed it and will look for other books by Darby Kane.

This is a dark, quick thriller that leaves you guessing (on some things) until the twisted and disturbing end.

Lila Ridgefield is tired of being abused by her husband (who is a loved and highly-respected high school coach,) but when she finds a disturbing video of her husband with another girl, it’s the last straw, and she decides to do something about it, and attempts to make his death look like it’s self-inflicted. But now her husband is missing – really missing. Lila knows where she left his body, but it’s not where she left it, and police and the community are focused on prosecuting her for his disappearance. In the same community, though, there are also three women who have gone missing recently, and reporters are asking if all these disappearances are connected… and so is Lila.

When I say that this was a dark book, keep in mind that if you can’t stand books with torture or child abuse, steer clear or skim those parts. They’re not explicit (thank you, Darby Kane,) but they’re definitely in there. And for being dead from the beginning of the book. Lila’s husband was creepy, especially as Lila learns more and more about him and his past.

And the ending itself is worth the read. I knew who did everything from the moment the specific character was introduced (there's definitely a formula for these books,) but it was definitely worth the satisfaction of reading how it all ends.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Scene of the Crime from William Morrow Publishing in exchange for my honest review. It did not influence my opinion.