I love twisty thrillers and I wanted to like this more but ugh, the characters. I will definitely will try another from this author though!
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the copy .

What the Wife Knew by Darby Kane is a sharp, suspenseful thriller with just the right amount of bite. The standout here is absolutely the main character. She’s gutsy, sarcastic, and refreshingly bold — the kind of narrator who keeps you hooked because you genuinely want to know what she’ll do next.

The plot itself is compelling, but it’s her reactions and dry wit that elevate the entire experience. You’re not just reading to see what happens — you’re reading to see how she handles it, and that makes a big difference.

Fans of Gone Girl or The Silent Patient will feel right at home with this one. Expect family secrets, layered characters, and a definite WTF twist at the end that pulls the rug out from under you in the best way.

Thank you NetGalley and William Marrow Publishing for my DRC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What The Wife Knew
By: Darby Kane
Publisher: William Morrow
Pub Date: 12/10/24

When Addison Daughtry’s husband Richmond is murdered, just 97 days into their marriage, everyone's secrets, lies and schemes will be discovered as the investigation unfolds. Having been Richmond’s second wife and only having been married for such a short period of time the investigation begins to focus on Addison, but she has a rock solid alibi. Richmond’s first wife Kathryn has the support of the community and has everyone hating Addison before they even know her. But who really killed Richmond? Was Richmond really who he pretended to be and what about his big secrets? Addison has her secrets too and what does Kathryn know about Richmond’s past?
This was an excellent thriller that kept you guessing. I kept thinking I had things right only to be proven wrong in the next turn.
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This was such a good mystery that had me guessing right until the end! My first read from Darby Kane and it definitely won’t be my last.

A twisty domestic drama and thriller that kept me entertained.

This book brings dysfunctional family stories to a whole new level. The battle of the Doughertys has a cast of characters you will love and hate. Told from different points of view and in a shifting timeline, Addison Dougherty, the new wife, reflects on her short marriage to the recently deceased Dr. Richmond Dougherty. Ex Kathryn is livid at the loss of a substantial amount of money and she uses hers and Richard’s two children as pawns. There’s a great deal of expert manipulation and gaslighting going on and as the secrets and lies slowly leak out, the climax reveals a master of deception and a revenge plot that is heinous in every way.

I can’t say too much about the characters as not to spoil the story but what a collection the author has assembled. There’s a lot more going on with several plot lines as I kept trying to guess who did what to whom and why. It was fun in a nasty sort of way with a couple of these ladies really going beyond he pale to show us who they really are. You know the quote about unhappy families being unique in the causes of their situation. Anyway, it was all good fun and I read it in a matter of hours.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrators, Helen Laser and Andrew Eiden, did a fabulous job of voicing the characters and giving that great dramatic flair to the production. It really enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

The first 2/3 was great- off to the races. Great thriller. And the last 1/3 was very slow and predictable. Just an okay book overall.

This book went around my elbow to get to my thumb as my mom used to say. In a totally good way. Addison and Richmond get married quickly after he divorces his first wife. Everyone in town thinks Addison is just a trophy wife after his money, but she’s really out to destroy him. He ends up deader than a door nail, but Addison isn’t the one who killed him.

Flew through this read from Darby Kane- which I usually do. The complexity of the multiple storylines and many potential suspects kept my attention greatly. While I first thought the final twist was unnecessary, I've found that after finishing that read, that has stuck with me and kept me engaged / thinking about the level of evil that exists. Sign of a good story.

Yes still in 2025, I’m going to pick up any book with wife in the title. I’m a sucker for a messy marriage book. I was hooked in the very beginning, but the more I read, unfortunately, the more I lost interest. There were just so many storylines and twists that I didn’t love. I think I would have been more invested if the book was more focused and less repetitive. However, hats off to Kane for her creativeness. When I was summarizing the book back, it was pretty wild to me just how many smaller stories she was able to create (I could never)..

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Meet Dr. Richmond Dougherty: pediatric surgeon, beloved hometown hero, walking miracle of past tragedy — and now, most importantly, mysteriously dead at the bottom of a staircase. Enter stage left: Addison Dougherty, his new, much-younger wife and now very rich widow. The marriage lasted 97 days, but the side-eyes from neighbors and law enforcement? Instant and unrelenting.

Addison, of course, claims innocence. But let’s just say her “tragic love story” is raising more red flags than a political protest. Richmond had two shady accidents before the fatal fall. The town is turning into a pitchfork-wielding mob led by Kathryn — wife number one, childhood sweetheart, and now unofficial CEO of the Addison Hate Club.

But here’s the twist: Addison had a plan — and Richmond dying wasn’t supposed to be part of it. She was going to ruin him, not bury him. Now, with threatening notes showing up in her bedroom (“You will pay.” Real subtle, stalker), she’s being hunted, haunted, and hounded — and yet somehow, she’s not giving up. Because Addison? She’s not just a widow. She’s a woman with unfinished business.

The first half of this book? Chef’s kiss. Suspense, drama, scandal — the writing had me locked in like a soap opera with a body count. Addison is a deliciously shady lead with just enough vulnerability to keep you hooked. I was ready to slap 5 stars on this and recommend it to every true-crime-loving, revenge-thriller-reading friend I know.

But alas… the second half happened.

Things got a little tangled. Minor characters kept popping up like side quests in a video game no one asked for. The two big reveals at the end? Let's just say they didn’t pack the shocking punch I hoped for — more like a shrug and a “meh.” It had all the makings of a five-star thriller, but the landing was a bit wobbly.

An addictive first half full of secrets, suspense, and shady intentions—but ultimately, it fizzled when it should’ve exploded. Still worth reading if you love twisty domestic thrillers and rich-widow-in-danger vibes. Just manage those expectations for the final act.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC.

One thing about me is I'm GOING to eat up a mystery thriller. Period. I loved the morally gray characters and the plot that I kept guessing wrong.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was like stepping into a storm, twists struck like lightning, sharp and relentless, leaving my head spinning! From the first page, you're dropped straight into chaos, and I couldn't look away. It's the ultimate popcorn thriller: fast, juicy, brimming with secrets, lies, and revenge.

But while I was initially hooked, my feelings are mixed. Why is that? Because at the halfway mark things went straight into melodramatic mayhem. The second half veers into full-on dramatic spectacle, with twists stacked like dominoes, some clever, others so exaggerated they bordered on absurd.

Still, there's no denying the ride was gripping, but I was ready to get off by the end. Despite its flaws (and perhaps because of them), this is the kind of wild, binge-worthy read that pulls you along like a runaway train. Just don't expect realism because this ride flirts shamelessly with the fantastical.

I recommend if you crave twisty drama, don't mind a little chaos, and enjoy a thriller with flair-even if it flies a bit too close to the sun!⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dr. Richmond Dougherty has fallen down the stairs and died and the prime suspect is his new young wife of 97 days, Addison. Addison blackmailed Richmond into marriage, wants to destroy him, take his money and kill him... but someone took that opportunity away from her. There are plenty of people with motive, yet she's prime suspect number one!

What the Wife Knew is filled with twists, turns, and unexpected revelations that keeps you guessing the entire time! There is so much family dysfunction in this book.. Between Addison and her mother, as well as Richmond's ex-wife and kids towards Addison!! All of the characters are flawed and messy and it makes the entire ride of reading this book all the more enjoyable!

Darby Kane did a fantastic job of creating domestic thriller that is worth reading!!

This book started off strong - I was hooked after the first chapter! Unfortunately it went down hill from there. While still an okay read, the book slowed down a lot and it was a bit of a slog to get through as it was difficult to connect to the main character. Overall it was okay to read but ultimately forgettable.

HOLY. MOLY. Darby Kane has outdone herself with this one. Twists. Turns. Secrets. Lies. While I won’t mention what it’s loosely based on IRL or it’ll spoil it but OMG you have to READ/LISTEN NOW! Even when you think the last rock has been turned over, the last secret uncovered….BAM.

Thank you NetGalley, Derby Kane, and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I love Freida McFadden books and often caught myself comparing this author to her. I enjoyed the writing style and I appreciated the lack of "are you kidding me?!" moments that are experienced with most books of this type.

I did have some issues connecting with the characters though.

My experience with this author is the books are a fun distraction, but ten minutes later, I remember nothing. It's fine to pass the time.

A twisted tale with a shocking end that you will not see coming.

Darby Kane writes with the pen the same way that a spider spins its web. With traps and tricks at every turn! This is one of those books that will NOT disappoint!

This was an easy listen with an entertaining plot that alternates between timelines as well as POV’s. It was a good popcorn domestic thriller packed with drama.

Solid 4 stars.

If you love Freida McFadden books, you need to check this one out. It's got all the twists and turns but has much better writing and fewer "you've got to be kidding me" moments.

The only thing keeping this book from 5 stars is the likability of the characters. Without giving anything away, I will say that I was rooting for one main character who really annoyed me during the book by the end of the story.

The majority of this book is told from the perspective of Addison, who we find out right away is married to a man she finds vile, but is in some kind of blackmail plot against him. Her husband, the renowned and loved Dr. Richmond Dougherty is a hero in his community, but a monster at home.

When Dougherty is found dead, all fingers point to Addison. While Addison may have some dark secrets in her past, she did not kill her husband (even though she was eager to see his demise). Who did kill him, and who continues to leave her threats?

This book leaves you guessing all the way through, and the plot gets thicker and twistier as you go.

I enjoyed reading this book and will definitely be checking out more of Darby Kane's work.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger Warnings: assault, mother-daughter issues, domestic abuse