⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "What the Wife Knew" by Darby Kane: A Twisty Domestic Thriller Full of Suspense!

Darby Kane has done it again! "What the Wife Knew" is an electrifying, edge-of-your-seat domestic thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. The plot revolves around Addison, the young and mysterious new wife of Dr. Richmond Dougherty, a national hero who dies under suspicious circumstances. As the story unravels, we find out that Richmond’s death may have been inevitable—but not for the reasons everyone thinks!

What I loved most about this novel was its gripping twists and the constant feeling of unease. Kane expertly plays with the reader’s perception, making you question who you can trust. Is Addison the mastermind behind it all, or is there something even more sinister lurking beneath the surface? The way Kane teases out the secrets, both from Richmond’s past and Addison’s carefully hidden motives, kept me turning the pages late into the night.

The characters are richly developed, with Addison standing out as a fierce and complex protagonist who refuses to be the victim, even as she faces growing threats from all sides. Kathryn, Richmond's first wife, adds another layer of intrigue and tension, as she seems determined to see Addison pay for her husband's death. The small-town setting also heightens the sense of claustrophobia and rising hostility as the investigation unfolds.

What makes this book a standout for me is its dark humor and clever plotting. Addison’s unapologetic determination to forge ahead, even after Richmond’s death, adds a unique twist that sets this thriller apart. And just when you think you have it all figured out, Kane throws in another curveball!

If you’re a fan of domestic thrillers with strong, multi-layered characters and unexpected plot turns, "What the Wife Knew" is a must-read. It’s a wild ride full of suspense, secrets, and betrayal that will leave you guessing until the very last page!

Thank you NetGalley and Darby Kane for the ARC!
***All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone***

A twisty read about murder, secrets and lies and toxic family relationships, told in dual points of views and flashbacks to the past. I enjoyed the short chapters and the many twists and turns, including the final unsettling revelation near the end of the novel. There are several unlikeable characters and a plucky, damaged main character. This was a quick, easy to read popcorn thriller

Readers who like stories about murder and family dysfunction should check this one out.

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

This book had such potential to be 5 stars. It started out strong and immediately had me intrigued. I was thinking about all of these different outcomes and who the real murderer was. But when I got to about chapter 40 I was thinking dang, how much is left in this book? Which is never something you should be thinking about when you're only halfway through. This book has 70 chapters which is WAY too many. The author could have cut about 25 chapters and still gotten their point across. The ending didn’t feel as satisfying because by the time I got there I was just ready to be finished with this book. I also guessed the ending pretty early on so there was no shock factor for me. I do appreciate that the author tried to add in some additional twists but at a certain point it becomes too twisty and doesn’t make sense. Overall, this was a good book but the pacing goes from fast to slow and the writing can feel a bit repetitive. I would still highly recommend it.

Darby Kane is back! I have gleefully picked up a new book and look forward to her release dates and What the Wife Knew did NOT disappoint.

This story was fast paced, riveting and full of twists and turns. I thought I figured out the ending but was second guessing myself and almost broke out notecards and string to see if I could figure it out before the end!

What the Wife Knew comes out 12/10/24 and you won’t want to miss it! Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for honest feedback

3.25⭐️ I love past Darby Kanes and was so excited to receive the ARC for this one.
Pros: action packed from the start, a plot unlike any others I’ve read
Cons: Character development was just ok for me. I didn’t feel deep emotions toward anyone. I also felt like we were going for a huge shock factor, but instead details just kept changing and it wasn’t completely effective.


Thank you Net Galley and William Morrow for the advance reader copy.

Love a domestic thriller and throw in dual pov, wooo. A solid 3 stars. Just a fun and easy read, nothing shocking.

This book is nothing short of entertaining, though it did start a little rocky for me. In the beginning I considered DNFing it because it was very slow, and I was confused. However, I stuck it out and I am so glad I did because I ended up loving this book so much. This is one of my favorite thriller authors and I look forward to everything they write, and this book was no different! Ah this book ended up being so good! There was so much going on, it was a roller coaster ride of emotions and gripping scenes. This is how psychological thrillers should be written! They suck the reader in and get them invested, then BAM things take a wicked turn, and I adore them. The writing was captivating, and the author wove such a twisted tale, it was great. I loved the main character, even though she was not the most likeable at times. But I liked her because I felt her motives and desires were realistic and ones that I understood. I was so lost in the story my mind wasn’t even trying to figure the twists out, I was all in and invested in devouring this read so the author could tell me. I love it when a story does that to me.

If you are looking for a fast-paced revenge, psychological thriller, then you will not want to miss this one.

Some say revenge is a dish, best served hot. But honestly, I prefer methodical revenge that is planned with the long game in mind.

This book delivers a fantastic psychological thriller with revenge in mind. A hot new wife snags a wealthy famous surgeon and everyone has it out for her. The neighbors whisper about her, the stepchildren and ex wife despise her, but why is it that he's the one who ends up dead?

Great story with multiple POVs and flashes back between 2 different timelines. I did find a small lull in the middle of the book that made it drag but hang it there because the ending definitely makes up for it.

Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC of #WhatTheWifeKnew by Darby Kane. Add this one to your wishlist and keep your eyes peeled when it hits the shelves on December 10, 2024.

Another good read from Darby Kane! I was able to easily predict who actually killed Richmond but, I didn’t see all the other little surprises and twists coming.

OH. MY. GOD!!! There are simply no words for the utter perfection held within the pages of What the Wife Knew. From the morally gray characters to the twisty, twisty plot, I was spellbound from the epic first line until the breathtaking final last page. I’m not joking. A fast-paced, revenge-filled storyline that was filled with plot charging drama, I couldn’t get enough of this mind-blowing psychological thriller. Trust me when I say that you’re going to have a hard time putting this one down no ifs, ands, or buts.

As much as I loved the whip-cracking plot, the characters were what made this book sing. A combination of thoroughly unlikeable characters and one strong, snarky protagonist at the center of the action, I became more and more invested as the plot rolled along. Addison, however, was firmly my favorite. Bringing to life dysfunctional family dynamics, it was her dynamite character arc that brought it all full circle by the downright explosive conclusion as I enthusiastically cheered her on from the sidelines.

Returning to the intoxicating premise, I was beyond thrilled to finally find a synopsis that—for once—didn’t even hint at the shocking twists and turns. With dual POVs and plenty of flashbacks, the puzzle pieces slowly slotted into place with a steady IV drip of jaw-dropping revelations. Packed full of devious schemes, long-buried secrets, and unthinkable lies, all I could do was hold on for dear life as Darby Kane pulled the wool firmly—and happily—over my eyes.

All in all, while I already knew that this book was sure to be a slam dunk due to the author, I had no clue it was going to turn into my favorite of Ms. Kane’s—at least so far. It’s also not surprising that all of my colleagues at Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse have been clamoring over this one for weeks. Action-packed, thrilling, and smartly plotted, I highly advise you to clear your calendar before picking up this novel. After all, you’ll surely be ignoring chores, sleep, and maybe even your children just to read one more hypnotic page. Rating of 5+ stars.

Thank you to Darby Kane, William Morrow, and NetGalley for my complimentary physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.

War of the roses!🔪🌹
Does anyone come away unscathed?

The main characters:
Kathryn - The first wife and mother of Richmond’s two children. She may be the ex but she’s not about to let go and watch another woman waltz off with her extravagant life, I mean her husband.😉

Addison - You guessed it, the new wife. She’s in the marriage for everything except love. You’ll find out her reasons soon enough.

Richmond -The knight in shining armor. Pediatric surgeon. Pillar of the community. A man everyone looks up to. Everyone except his current wife. Now why would that be?

I really enjoyed most of the book but the ending just didn’t work for me. I’m all about a shocking final twist. Always in search of that final jaw-dropping moment where you sit back and let out a whispered “wow”. But this ending just went a bit too OTT🙈.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow

I think a solid 3 stars!! Maybe 3.5. Having a dual POV and back and forth timeline always keeps me entertained 🤷🏼‍♀️ I was really into how the FMC was strong and smart. The plot kept me interested but none of the twists shocked me! it was still a fun and easy read!

This book started out so strong! Addison finds herself newly widowed after her husband is murdered and the whole town thinks she’s the one who did it. She did in fact want her husband dead, but someone else must have beat her to the punch. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened and Addison’s snarky narration fully drew me into the story. I thought for sure I was going to love this one!

However, around the halfway mark, it all goes off the rails. The text becomes repetitive, the characters’ motives no longer make sense, and the twists just don’t work. It all becomes very heavy handed and overly drawn out.

From the very beginning, What the Wife Knew, had me hooked. The plot pulls you in fast, and I couldn’t wait to uncover who was behind Richmond’s murder. I really enjoyed the way the story shifted between flashbacks of Richmond and Addison, his new wife. The characters were written so well-it was easy to “love to hate” Richmond’s ex-wife while feeling sympathy for her children. Overall, this is a gripping thriller that keeps you guessing until the end. If you’re a fan of mystery and suspense, this book would be a great choice!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was able to get an ARC for this book. I am glad to say the book did not disappoint; It met my expectations. I will say, initially, I was drawn in by the title, I was then drawn in by Addison, whom I found to have many layers to her. I enjoyed the way the story was written from two different points of view, with the different time lines, and short chapters. Be ready if you read this for multiple twist and turns.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Wow, just wow! I finished this book in two days and truly had trouble putting it down to go to bed between the two. I’ve read many revenge-based psychological thrillers, but this was a first where the main character wasn’t getting the revenge for themselves OR someone who was dead and couldn’t do it themselves. This book forces readers to examine the relationships between mothers and daughters, and family as a whole, as the main character struggles to decide who in the family she can trust. Not only was the story well written and thought out, it was clear that Darby Kane put a lot of thought into the interactions between the characters - that each one had a purpose. There were no extra scenes simply for the use of adding length to the book. There was also no extra fluff during character conversations. Rather, there was well throughout dialogue, a lot of which held surprising humor. It was clear throughout the book and throughout each interaction who the main character was starting to like, dislike, trust, etc. The well written nature of this made me as a reader like, dislike, and trust characters as well. Over all, I loved this book. It was the first one I’ve ever read written by Darby Kane, but there is no way it will be my last!

Decent thriller. Loved the "him" and "her" chapter delineation, but that plus the shifts in time period were difficult for me to keep up with. I do like this author and will read more from her!

I’m honestly not really sure where to start with this review. It had the ingredients for a great story, but I struggled to get into it. Richmond was reprehensible. His ex wife was certainly unpleasant, and the detective and lawyer came off as slimy individuals as well. I didn’t mind the main character, although she was clearly intended to come across as manipulative and possibly selfish. That said, even with established character personalities and a interesting (and twisty) plot, the book seemed to drag a little.

The ending, however, did get me. It made me skin crawl a bit, but it did legitimately surprise me.

This was alright! I enjoyed the first half, but you lost me in the last. Very, very unlikeable characters and almost too many characters in general. The plot twists were there but one of them felt very unnecessary. It was very fast paced but once I finished the last page I wasn't satisfied. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

This was my first book by this author, and it was very enjoyable. A very good suspense that just keeps throwing jaw droppers at you, it makes you keep wondering what is next. It takes a bit to get used to the different flashbacks, but they are pretty well explained so not too hard to follow. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.