In Darby Kane’s newest novel, What the Wife Knew — just like in her previous novel Pretty Little Wife — Kane gives us a cold female protagonist and a husband with extremely dark secrets. The author plays with making the female protagonist unlikable, refusing to explain herself or ally with any of the people around her.

Rich doctor Richmond Dougherty, has abruptly ditched his high school sweetheart wife for the young, beautiful Addison, and then died by misadventure about 3 months into their marriage. Of course, Addison is immediately under suspicion. The flaw in the obvious evil-golddigger narrative is that Addison has barely touched the money she’s inherited. And although she doesn’t want the first Mrs. Dougherty to get a penny more than the initial divorce settlement, Addison’s been pretty quick to pay tuition for Richmond’s children.

Just like in Pretty Little Wife, there are a few references to the wife’s dark past and hints that she could say way more if she felt like it. But Addison doesn’t feel like it, responding with sarcastic quips whenever anyone wants to know about her new husband, his series of accidents before this accidental death, why she keeps a bat next to her (separate) bed, or where that bat could have gone.

I actually didn’t find Addison unlikable, it seemed more like marrying Richard was her terrible minimum-wage job and she was just trying to get through it as fast as possible. Lila, in Pretty Little Wife, has an annoying streak, which helped her seem unpleasant and suspicious to me, not just to the other characters in the book. But Addison just seemed like she wanted to go home.

Richmond, the husband, is well-known and well-loved. He was a teenage hero and is now a popular and successful pediatric surgeon. Even if we thriller readers know Darby Kane is setting it all up drop a huge reveal on us, he seems like a real hometown hero. Ok, look, I don’t want to spoil the reveal, but a few times, I saw part of Richmond’s hidden secrets could be, and then it went even darker than I could have guessed.

I can’t really discuss What The Wife Knew in a lot of detail without revealing more of the plot, and this is the kind of book where you really don’t want spoilers, the kind where you want to put the clues together for yourself. Psychological thrillers work well when they build suspense and tension, which — for me — has to hinge on curiosity and caring about the characters. Addison’s not instantly likable, but the curiosity about her strange “marriage” and all of Richmond’s “accidents” pulled me in. Besides, I kind of knew the author would play with a heroine that’s not particularly relatable. This pulled me into the unpredictable plot.

Complex characters like these can power good psychological thrillers, too. Here, we had a lot of complicated relationships, particularly between mothers and their children, almost like in a family saga. Unraveling characters’ motivations and backstories always adds to a thriller, and once again, Kane gives us readers clear hints to let us predict and see some of it coming… and then the book went way darker than I could have guessed.

Overall, this is a twisty, dark thriller without gore. It’s still a murder mystery, so there’s some blood, but the main focus is on the twisted motivations and on the layers of lies covering lies in this book.

Great read. I really am enjoying this author. This booked sucked you right in from the start and kept you going and guessing throughout the book. Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy of this book. I will be reviewing for friends and family.

This is my new favorite thriller from Darby Kane! It's a dark, twisty book of what happens behind closed doors... and who doesn't love a little revenge, too?

Dr. Richmond Dougherty is a famous surgeon, loved by all--he saves kids after all!--but now he's also dead, due to a tragic fall down the stairs. Addison, the main character, and his NEW wife, inherits everything. The book starts right after his death, and we learn she purposefully wormed her way into his life for her own means... but did she kill him?

What the Wife Knew is a very good domestic drama/psychological suspense thriller. OMG, what a wonderful read! So much dysfunction, so many complex machinations on all sides, so many twists and turns. A taut, clever story with good pacing full of secrets and surprises. This was an enjoyable escape from start to finish.

I can't wait to read more from this author!

My thanks to William Morrow for allowing me to read a DRC of this novel via NetGalley. Publication is 12/10/24. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

This book is written in 2 viewpoints and switches timelines, but still manages to be easy to follow. The story comes together more and more as you read with plenty of twists. I would definitely recommend this book.

This was for sure a who did it kind of book!! It kept me guessing the whole time!
I knew the ex wife was up to something but also couldn’t figure out exactly what revenge Addison was trying to get. Just when I thought I would have things figured out it would have be all tripped up again! A great quick thriller!!
Thank you NetGalley for the arc!!

Deliciously twisted and so well written! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

When first starting this book, I wasn't sure from whose POV the story would be told—the long-time first wife of Richmond Dougherty, mother of his two children and high-school sweetheart, or the second wife who he married less than 100 days before his death. Turns out it's a dual POV but not from both wives. No this story is told primarily from the POV of Addison Dougherty—the second wife—the one who is only upset that Richmond is dead because she isn't the one who got to kill him. And sprinkled in is the a few chapters from the husband himself, the infamous Richmond—husband, father, renowned surgeon, survivor, and overall hero.

I could not put this book down! The short chapters—and the seemingly cliffhanger endings to each one—kept me turning the page until I hit the Acknowledgements but still I want more! Will definitely be reading more by Darby Kane.

What the Wife Knew by Darby Kane is full of twists and turns and dysfunctional family relationships. This is a quick paced read that will keep the reader hooked from beginning to end.

Addison is being framed for killing her husband Richard, She wanted tp be the one to do it, but someone beat her to it.
She has to deal with his ex wife and son accusing her of doing it for the money.
She has to deal with his lawyer who is now HER lawyer after his death, and somehow it isn't a conflict of interest.

She only got him to marry her because she was holding his secret over his head and wanted him to pay for it. While I like the plot and premise of the book, the first half seemed to really drag for me. I put the book down, went to something else, and then came back to this one.

Overall, if you are a fan of books with suspense and thrills, this is for you. Thank you to #netgalley for this #arc

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the eARC.

What the Wife Knew by Darby Kane featured some of my favorite parts of Kane's work. Short chapters, easy to get through, characters you love to hate, and a few good plot twists. This book was crushing it for me, right up until the last twist. Just was so hard to rectify in my mind what people are willing to do to each other for their own sets of reasons. I won't spoil this, but just know you are going to hate almost everyone in this book. :)

3.5/5, maybe 4. Need to think on it.

What did Addison know about Richmond that he immediately divorced his wife and married her?

While they were married for only a short time, he has a third accident that kills him.

Everyone thinks she murdered him, but she said she didn’t.

She wanted to be the one that murdered him but somebody beat her to it. She also did some stupid things that would make her look guilty whether she is or not.

Join in the intrigue and the mysteries of each unlikable character in this book. One is nastier than the other, and secrets abound as well as blackmail.

You won’t know who to trust or who to like.

The revelations are good ones.

Ms. Kane keeps you guessing even though at first you weren’t sure how this was going to play out or if you would like it. 4/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was a pretty alright book. I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. It just kinda was right in the middle for me. I liked the suspense and family drama. I didn't like how the chapters were not named and used pronouns instead. It's so much easier to just use names and less confusion for the readers. Overall, I enjoyed the twists and turns and found this one much more interesting than the other Darby Kane book I've read.


Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and William Morrow books for an ARC for a review!

WOW!! I think I read most of Darby Kane’s books but this one was outrageous. It was so convoluted but it was definitely a twisted, crazy story. So if you read the blurb you know that Addison marries Richmond Doughtery a renowned Pediatric surgeon because she is forced to by her mother. They have the goods on him and everything he did when he was young. Who he killed etc. so he is blackmailed by Addison to marry her, divorce his current wife or she will expose him for everything he has done which is really a lot of terrible things. But before she can do anything he is found dead, beaten by a bat, and whomever killed him is trying to frame Addison. There are many moving parts and people in this novel. His ex wife, her two children, Addison’s mother, the lawyer, Elias, other Doctors etc. Without giving away any spoilers, this book with each chapter kept getting wilder than one can expect. The killer is finally revealed but there is a major, major twist at the end that is WILD. So if you are a fan of psychological thrillers this is a must read. I want to thank Net galley and the publisher for this ARC and this is my honest review. If you read this book, hold on for you are in for a truly bumpy wild ride!!!

I really enjoyed this book. It was about a young woman who married an older man who got killed. The book was told from her perspective both now and in the past, as well as his perspective. I always enjoy dual perspectives in books and this one was no exception. It kept me guessing as far as who killed the husband, but there was a plot twist at the end I didn’t see coming 😳
If you enjoy murder mystery, who done it books, then I’d recommend this one. It was a quick easy read.

I was intrigued at the beginning of the book, but it was a struggle to get through. There were too many minor characters that did not contribute to the plot. This book had potential, but it fell flat and the middle dragged on.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've read all of Darby Kane books but this one is my least favorite. I dnf it 25% in. I just could;t get into it. The story was all over the place and I got bored with it. Overall it will not stop me from reading what else she writes.

Thank you to Darby Kane, William Morrow | William Morrow Paperbacks, and NetGalley for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Dr. Richmond Dougherty is a renowned pediatric surgeon, an infamous tragedy survivor, and a national hero. He’s also very dead—thanks to a fall down the stairs. His neighbors angrily point a finger at the newest Ms. Dougherty, Addison. The sudden marriage to the mysterious young woman only lasted ninety-seven days, and he’d had two suspicious “accidents” during that time. Now Addison is a very rich widow.

Overall I loved this story! This was my first book from Darby Kane and I really enjoyed the pace, writing style, and shorter chapters. I found it to be fast paced and it held my attention from the very start and didn't let up. I found Addison to be a character that I rooted for more and more, especially as you learn more about Richmond and Kathryn, not even to mention throwing Addison's crazy and poor excuse for a mother into the mix and a detective who is hell bent on getting Addison behind bars. The characters were well developed and each one seemed to bring their own set of mystery and secrets. I enjoyed the overall plot and the subplots along the way. With plenty of red herrings and shocking twists, this is a must read!

A digital copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and William Morrow. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Addison Dougherty's husband, Dr. Richmond Dougherty has died. He survived a school shooting when he was younger. He comes from money and his death makes Addison a very wealthy widow. The police think she murdered Richmond. His ex-wife thinks so too and shares this info all around town. Between the police, the ex-wife, Richmond's college/high school aged children, and the town. Addison can't get a moment of peace to grieve. But does she want too? On top of it all, her estranged mother shows up.
This story shows how one man's wealth and notoriety can influence a town. Is Addison guilty of the crime that the town suspects her of? And why did she really marry Richmond so quickly. Her only friend it seems is Elias, Richmond's lawyer. But can she trust him?
This kept me guessing and just when I thought I had it all figured out, it turns out I didn't!
This review posted to the following sites on 10/15/2024
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Wow… This book was amazing!

So twisty, disturbing and suspenseful that you can’t put it down.

Fast paced, wild and very well written. Darby Kane did an incredible job with this book.

When I thought I was figuring out what was going on and who did it, boom… a twist falls like a bombshell.

I loved the character of Addison, she was very sarcastic and I was glued to the pages since the start.

This book was so entertaining and so full of action, I highly recommend.

Please add this book to your TBR now!

Thank you so much Darby Kane for the giveaway win of my physical copy.

Also thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the ARC.

Publication Day 12/10/24

Well, all I have to say is... I didn't see it coming! The twists and turns in this story made me want more! I am not sure who was more unhinged: Richmond, Kathryn, or Addisons' mother. They were all consumed by greed and did anything to get what they wanted regardless of who got hurt in the process.

Addisons' mother really irritated me. Who would do that to her own child?! Why use her like that knowing what could have happened with Richmond once they married?! I was so upset at the end!! But I guess money does buy freedom after all.

It is a 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me! I recommend it! It had the right amount of suspense, thrill, mystery, and action.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review! 😊